Deuce-ace Roommates

02: Arrival

"Daisy Esteban?" He curiously asks, with anticipation thick in his tone, I'm sure he was desperate for my arrival.

"Daisy Esteban..." I repeated, nervously confirming his assumption.

His lips pull into a relieved smile before he begins. "I'm Hopper. Welcome to San Francisco, Miss Hunter believe you will enjoy my ride to your location."

Not knowing what to say for being unexpectedly welcomed at the airport by some stranger who knows your name doesn't happen regularly. I mutter. "Mmm, I'm sorry for keeping you."

"Not at all." He smiles and begins transferring my stuff to the truck. "I heard you came from Asia, you must have the longest day up there." His two fingers pointed to the sky and I nod to the accuracy of his statement.

"It was."

"Great." He politely smiles when everything is all in place, he swings open the door to the backside urging me to get in. "Let's drive you home so you could rest."

I return a smile and nod in agreement before sliding myself into the cozy comfort of the luxurious car.

When I got admitted to Stanford university it came with different packages, not only did I get to pay only ten percent of my tuition fees after my first year, Riley also suggests I stay with her. She insisted we have all the experience together, I can't say no to that, she's the only one I have left in America apart from my imprisoned father.

Riley's boyfriend KC which she had been with for over three years had agreed to let me in his small house that she moved in less than a month ago for her college life. Although I wanted to pay my rent Riley would always refuse anytime I brought up the conversation.

She would constantly gush over KC in different letters she's sent back then. I might never have seen them together but I was sure they were deeply in love and gradually growing together. I can't say I didn't envy them, no one wouldn't after all. Mostly when you've never had someone loved you in that way.

Back when I was ten I usually believe; Kaiser and I would be just like my parent someday but it all ended when we left that afternoon and the boy next door vanished away in my life.

"Where are we?" I ask Hopper when the car pulled by the facade of a luxurious glassy building with at least twenty floors.

He looked through the rare mirror as he responds. "Center Yorker. Miss Esteban."

"Pardon? Why?" I asked, confounded.

He only smiles and climbs out of the driver's side, refusing to answer my question.

It's a small house, Riley had said.

But this isn't a small house, hell this isn't a house at all, this is some highly refined building of penthouses. Where am I then?

Okay, this man must be mistaking me for someone else.

With an agape mouth and wrinkled forehead, I scramble out of the car and exhale a nervous laugh. "Hopper, I think there has been some misunderstanding, this is not where I should be."

His forehead form some crease. "Aren't you Miss Hunter's guest?" He pauses from loading off my heavy items of luggage.

"I am." I nod, only nothing makes meaning to my surrounding.

"She's staying on the highest floor. Come I would lead your way." He assures, grabbing all my belongings with him as he makes his way into the standard lobby, to the elevator corridor.

Baffled, I could only follow. Watching the busy entrance hall and the woman behind the reception desk.

"This elevator only leads to the twenty-seventh floor, where you'll be staying." He points out when we step into the supposed personal elevator.

What the hell?

I didn't nod or show any means of understanding because I don't understand a single thing. That by the moment the elevator chimes open, I have entirely drawn cluelessly further.

Not a hall or some anteroom greeted us. We stand in one of the most elegant penthouses I only see on catalogs.

Telling me the twenty-seventh floor only has one house, and that house is where I would be staying.

"Hopper, I assure you this is absolutely a mistake." I panicked and turn to face the man who looks completely at peace with everything.

"Oh my Goodness... Daisy Esteban!"

I heard some fruity voice mumble and I tilt forward where I found a slender girl of somewhat my size, although an inch taller, in pink bow tie button high waist beach shorts and white one-sleeve crop top watching me with wide eyes and dropped jaw.

"Riley Hunter?" I exhale a surprise smile and blink rapidly, trying to control the burns behind my eyes.

Yes, I easily get emotional.

"Damn girl... give me a hug." She runs over to me, her slim body swallowed mine and I could inhale the smell of honey and carrot from her golden blonde hair.

"You..."

"You didn't tell me you're so pretty." She cuts me off.

"You didn't tell me the same." I retort in her ear while she giggles.

We pull back and laugh at ourselves.

"I can't believe we're in the same room." She shook her head.

"You look like a model, some Hollywood tv star," I tell her.

Riley Hunter is very opposite of how I've pictured her mentally, I knew she must be beautiful... I believe every girl is beautiful. But I didn't expect to see some slim tanned skin, silky hair, and deep ocean blue piercing eyes. She's just gorgeous.

"Really? I thought I look like some athletic."

"Just the runways style," I smirk.

"Well for your information I'm jealous of you. How can a person have such healthy long hair?" Her fingers twirl the edges of my light caramel brown hair that rest around my waist. "Your eyes are big just like the Kardashians." She pulls me into another long hug. "And you smell like... I can't quite find the right word for it."

I quickly waggle out from her hold and slowly sniff my arms. "Do I smell?"

She's burst into laughter and shake her head "I mean you smell very good."

"Oh." I have an embarrassing sigh.

"Come I would show you around the house, KC won't be home until eight, we have the time to ourselves." She informs me.