Chapter Text
Riyos pov
Going to Giver University was something Riyo looked forward to, being out and starting her life! Okay, it was all funded by Enjin still, but she will get a job out of college and then start her own life…but first gotta survive all this.
Out of the house away from the pack…Okay, that does make her sad, missing everyone's closeness. Won't hear that from her mouth though!
Zanka is already taking classes here and they get together often to have study/yap sessions. He does the studying, she does the yapping, the norm.
Then they both do bi-monthly visits back home. It would be weekly but assignments coming in needs to be worked on.
Calls sporadic throughout the week to talk to her dads. Sometimes the siblings, but they message more than anything. Surprisingly Guita messages her a lot, though mainly since she has presented as alpha. So she often asks her for advice. From one female alpha to another.
A few months into her first semester, she was going for a cosmetology degree. Hoping to be able to make it into movie sets to do the famous people's do's. Or just start a small salon nearby to stay close to her pack. Decisions decisions.
Finding a bit of free time to chill out in the lobby of the dorms. Decompress some before starting up more studying, when a familiar tingly feeling distracts her from her relaxation. Someone is looking at her, if her guess is correct, it's been the same person who has been sneaking glances at her since the start of the semester.
Peeking around, there isn't a whole lot going on with the people in the lobby today, aside from the small group she is already with. The girl standing near the dormatory doors catch her attention.
Seems she quickly looks away once feeling like she would be caught. Riyo's shifting wasn't sneaky, she was being bold and staring back at her to observe. They had platinum blonde hair, wearing something that looks like scrubs but also comfy. Looks to be about the same height as Riyo, antsy in the way she stands, kinda cute.
While finishing up her observation, eyes flash up to meet her own in shock, before they advert their gaze yet again.
Huh, light pink eyes, nice.
Turning back around to talk to the group of girls sitting out with her today, wonders if anyone knows her. “Hey girls, does anyone know who that is?”
A chair to her right holds a lady brushing out her long blonde hair in a high ponytail, Noerde, she's a second year Cosmetology student like her.
Then another girl in front of her, same year, forensic investigation. Momoa, she has raven colored hair, always bobbing to music, but somehow always listening to everything around her. She is the one that answers, barely skipping a beat after a small glance upwards to see who it is. “Eishia Stilza, medical degree, 2nd year. Most likely waiting for her brother, August Stilza, 4th year Fashion design.”
“Wow, could you be any less scary with that?” Noerde snorts out as she finishes brushing out her hair and placing the comb back into her purse. Replacing it with her laptop, to start looking at assignments coming up.
“My info is my specialty, you should know this by now Noerde.” Then she turns to Riyo. “That will cost you later,” while jestering slightly behind Riyo. Just like she said, someone is approaching outside, who looks very similar to Eishia. Definitely a few years older, same colored hair that is much longer than hers. Don't know how he keeps it down and not have it in a big tangled mess by the end of the day. Shivering at the thought of her hair not in some kind of bun, braid, or a cool do that she likes, elicits a small shiver at the pain it would be to brush out.
Momoa is always right though, nobody else has anything on her info gathering skills. She requires equal payment of information or saving the favor for later to be returned. “Yeah yeah, I gotcha, thanks.” Riyo replies but her attention is on Eishia again.
Eishia knoticing her brothers approach gathers up a bag to go out and meet him, but sends a glance Riyo’s way. When eyes meet once again Royo swears Eishia turns redder than her hair. Then just as quickly scurries out the exit to meet with her brother and walk away.
Something about her is just telling Riyo she needs to get to know her. A plan slowly starts formulating, next time Riyo will get to talk to her. Maybe ask her to hang out or chat or her number.
If she didn't bolt at the approach if just eye contact had her running away. Gonna have to be sneaky with the approach to catch her before she bolts.
It's okay, she is good at that.
“Girl. Do not tell me what that look on your face is, it's hella creepy.”
“Shut up Noerde, you're just jealous.”
Riyo pulls her own laptop out to start back on assignments, hoping to use Noerde while she is here. Since it's the least she can do for calling her out.
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Eishia Pov
Her perpetual state: Stressed
August is just so espressiver during their walk to his bike. Talking is fine, but he stops to gesture with his hands sometimes body to get points across. Taking to shaking Eishia sometimes if he thinks she isn't lisning. She is, just quietly compartmentalizing everything into his folder of things he talks about.
“Auggie, can we just get to grandmas?” Trying to hurry him up, away from the dorms where the other girl might still be watching her. It was embarissing to be caught staring!
“WHaaaaaa, no rush sista, no big assignments this week. Plus was you even listening when I told you about the cool drink I wanna try making?”
“I just want to be at grandma's already, and yes I was!” Eishia rattles off at least 3/4th of the ingredients and half of the instructions, it would have been a perfect recollection if she wasn't so worried right now.
August finally caves to her demands and walks normally, “Aight, Aight!” but no faster…
They are at parking garage in the normal amount of time. Easily finding August's bike before gearing up, and on their way to grandma's. Just helmets this time as the ride there is short, their home wasn’t far from campus.
Enough time to think. Eishia’s mind always ran way too fast, luckily August knows a good ride will help calm her some before getting back to Grandmas. The rumble loud enough to cover all the anxious thoughts. Allowing her to breathe and think.
Think back to the red hair in an interesting bun, followed by green eyes that pierce and dissect. The colors, so different but go so well together for her. Eishia can't help anytime she sees the redhead. Her own eyes can't help but seek them out in the few instances they've been in the same building. Something about her just demands Eishia’s attention.
Riyo, her name, had been learned one day. Someone she was sitting next to exasperated loudly before slapping her on the shoulder.
Logging that quickly in passing, she had to get to a lab early, double make shure everything was properly sanitized so that the assignment wouldn't be compromised.
Seeing the other around the dorms, they were always surrounded by people, normally talking. One time outside walking off campus with a guy, was tall and also had an interesting haircut.
It never failed, when Eishia caught sight of the red head she couldn't help but stop and watch a small amount, only a bit. Riyo always seemed happy, laughing at something the others had said, or a grin on their face as they scroll their phone.
Maybe if she ever had a few extra minutes to spare to talk. Maybe if she wasn't in a conversation with others. Maybe she would walk up and start a conversation.
… What was Eishia thinking?
Maybe was never going to happen. She could never muster up the courage to talk to someone who isn't a part of her pack, school work, or needed medical help. Plus time? She didn't had any to spare. Any extra was spent studying.
Second year in her medical course has kicked her sideways. Medicine studies has been the hardest and her lowest grade so far. It was passing, but what would her future patients say if they foundiut her medicine knowledge was *passing* and not accurate!
The sight of the building grandma lives in soothes Eishia a bit. Reminding her that she will be there to help Eishia.
Alice Stilza a once renowned doctor, research very valued in classes and studies still todsy. She would still be doing research it it wasn't for a accident. Not anything Alice did! But the accident that took Eishia and August's own parents. Alice canceled anything she was currently working on to take care of her grandkids.
Eventually buying 2 story building. Having the bottomed remodeled to be a clinic and the top to be a place for them to live. It allowed for her work at her own clinic while still taking care of them.
Eishia wanted to be more of a help to her than just reception on the holidays. She's getting older and worried about how many more year's Alice can keep helping people by herself.
Finally arriving, hoping off while August kills the engine, and gets the kickstand out. Eishia rushes into the house. Taking off the suppression collar and inhaling the homely smells while kicking off her shoes. Quickly making way to the kitchen before August is even inside.
“Grandma!” is all the warning she lets out before her arms wrap around Alice. She didn't even budge, not surprised at their arrival right as food was getting finished.
In turn though, her grandma's scent surrounds her, it's a rubbing alcohol smell. Might be weird to others but it's perfect for Alice. The scent always felt right at place to Eishia.
Before the suppression collars were around everyone thought her scent was just how much she spent in the office surrounded by her research. No, she was just meant to be a doctor she would tell them.
Then Alice would compliment Eishia's own scent. It smelt like a freshly opened pack of cotton balls. A subtle and light smell for an omega, but it never bothered her, to be praised by her grandma that their passion for helping people was just ment to be!
“Grandma-ma!”
Speaking of passion, a wrecking ball barrels into them. August has made his way inside. Joining them as they start scenting each other. His own is a strong scent, its closer to an alcohol marker, taking after grandma but adding a tweak of swagger.
“OKAY, OKAY, GET TO YOUR SEATS, TIME TO EAT!” Alice shouts, as if done with the both of them already.
Scrambling to the table, Eishia and August's are so ready for a home cooked meal! Never having time themselves and the cafeteria food is always the same thing on repeat with no soul flavoring. The weekly home visits are a blessing to their stomachs.
Eishia is quiet as always, but they knotice somehow her normal anxious look seemed different. She seems stuck in her thoughts. Not catching her family members giving each other looks, she hasn't complained much about classes today so that can't be what is causing it. Well the shy girl will open up eventually about it, if not August will drag it out of her like he always does.
~~~~~~~~
It's been a few weeks, classes have ramped up in difficulty. Auggiel has been acting weird and always bugging her, asking if she is alright and wants to talk about something.
The siblings always talk, every day, and Eishia doesn't have anything she really thinks is bugging her, except him right now. She has her classes, projects, studying, and tests to worry about!
“I'm done.”
August looks confused as she starts packing up. Stunned, stays silent for once, until she finishes tidying up. “Wait, what, you can't be serious.”
“Auggie, I can't study like this, you said I needed to relax more. So I'm going back to my dorm room.” with that little explanation, she turns and starts the wall about to her dormatory.
Shure Auggie loves to bother her and make her embarrassed with his actions. But she also gets overwhelmed by him sometimes and wants a bit of alone time.
Making her way across campus in record time for herself. She doesn't do the normal sweep of the common area once she enters the common area downstairs. Just wanting to lay down and maybe let her brain rest before her next seminar in a few hours. She was going to spend it all with August. Looking at sketches he's drawn up for his midterm assignment. That will soon go to be him final assignment of making an outfit for the school to them display in a fashion show after finals.
Getting to the elevator, she presses the button to call it down. When a tap on her shoulder gets her attention.
Surprised Eishia hadn't even noticed someone approached her, must be really out of it after August had gotten on her nerves earlier.
Turning around, double surprised to see Riyo, the red headed girl she had been sneaking glances at these past few months. Oh no, she's gonna think Eishia is a creep for watching her. Tell her off, tell her to stay away, or worse, get her kicked out of the building after reporting her to the RA.
Closeing her eyes, Eishia braces for a verbal blow.
It never comes though, so chances a peek at Riyo. She seems a few inches taller than she remembers. Could have sworn she wasn't this tall the other times she has seen her.
Riyo has a big grin on her face while looking down at her, hands on her hips and a bag halfway hanging off her back as if thrown over in a hurry. “Heya! Are you free right now?”
She is but she had just told August off about wanting to rest. Was this an invitation to hang out? Eishia was never good with that, what if she got drug over to the group of girls that always surrounded Riyo. Eishia would just sit in the corner and be unable to talk with so many people present. That would make her feel worse.
“Come one girl, just me and you, we can watch a movie or something?” Riyo says cutting Eishia out if her anxious thoughts, thinking too much…again.
Wait a movie, does that mean just them two? Eishia thinks she can do that if it was just them.
A quick glance and Riyo is somehow is giving her puppy eyes that definitely fits her better than anything Auggie has ever tried to pull.
They are convincing. The elevator pings at its arrival, better answer her then. Plus August has always told her to step out of her comfort zone and try to make some friends in collage.
So very slightly nods her head, “shure.”
“Really! Amazing, follow me.” Riyo grabs one of Eishia's hand and pulls her into the elevator behind her.
Knoticing as Riyo is inputting her floor number the reason she was taller right now is the platform boots she has on. They seem to be adding a few inches to her height. Somehow walking in them unbothered by the extra height.
Looking at them in awe, how does she do it? She herself, trips over her own feet in flats. Wait friends compliment each other right, this would be a good thing to compliment her on, “n-nice shoes!” Hoping that didn't come out creepy or forced. Needed some kind of conversation in the now moving elevator.
Riyo though looks ecstatic, turning to look directly at her. Her eyes crease with a smile. “Thank you! They are my favorite pair! They go good with most of my outfits. Suck to wear on long days, good for chilling in though. I like your flats! They look comfy!”
Blushing, Eishia looks away quickly. She wasn't expecting a compliment back and the other looked genuine saying it as well. But pulling herself out of her thoughts as the elevator dings its arrival on Riyo’s floor, just one bellow hers.
Maybe this won't be too bad to get closer to someone who isnt August. He definitely would be happy to hear tomorrow that she hung out with someone new.