A/N- Hi, I guess...
This is my first AU but I really like this idea so bear with me if it's all just build up and establishing what's going on for the first few chapters!
I'm not going to pretend I'll update regularly (shoutout to all of you who have say through my first [and terrible] Navrina fic!) but I'll definitely try- at least for the first few weeks!
[I hope this is a lot better than the first chapter of my other Navrina story...]
Disclaimer: My second legacy is actually one which allows me to own certain book series...
I'm kidding- I totally got you! But really; I don't own the Lorien Legacies.
Marina is a maid at the student rooms at a fancy collage. Everyday is like the other, a repetitive monotony of folding and dusting- until she opens up to one of the students and allows herself friends for the first time middle school.
I carefully balanced the pile of laundry on one hand as I plucked a Masterkey out of my pocket and unlocked the door to room 8. Humming to myself, I entered the room. It was always a pigsty, so I knew I'd be there a while, but I didn't anticipate to see someone lying on the bed. I jumped, somehow managing to keep hold of all if the clothes I was carrying, and began to apologise.
"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry sir, I didn't expect to see you! I'll come back later, I'm so sorry" I told the man, picking up the clothes and hastily trying to fold them half-decently.
"No, no. It's fine I swear. Carry on." The man- who looked not much older than a boy- told me. Nodding, I apologised again but he waved it off. After a while, when I was putting his laundry away, the man spoke again.
"How do you know where the drawers are?"
"I'm sorry sir?" I replied, not understanding what he was meaning.
"How do you know where everything goes?" He asked, making himself clearer.
"They're all the same sir," I told him, "In every room, they're the same order." He nodded as if he understood, but still looked confused.
"Every room? Every single one?"
"Well, nearly every room. Some people mess up the drawers just to confuse us." I explained, rolling my eyes.
"Isn't that a lot of hassle for such a stupid thing? Who even does that?" The man asked.
"The man in number 9 does, but he isn't my problem anymore. Maddy begged me to let her have his room a month before she left, now Sophia takes care of it." Number nine- Stan something- is the source of much giggling between all of the female staff, him and number four, but he has a girlfriend. Nearly all of them swoon over him- not me though, the guy seemed a bit pretentious.
"Nine? Stan does that! He's one of my best friends you see, but I can see where you're coming from- he's annoying at the best of times." I smile and carry on my work.
"I'm Naveen by the way, so call me Naveen instead of sir." He piped up again.
"Naveen," I started, seeing that this man was a chatter, "That's unusual."
"It's Indian, that's where I was born. Both of my parents were American, but they moved there for charity work- you know, helping people living in slums. A few months after they moved my mom fell pregnant with me and when I was one she enrolled for the army." Naveen's cheery expression turned solemn, I could tell what came next. "When I was two, she was shot. My dad moved us back to the US and here I am still!" He finished with a sad attempt at a smile. I looked at him with sympathy. It was the first time I really noticed what he looked like. He had long-ish dark curls and green eyes that would put even the greenest and most lush jungle to shame. His fading blue t-shirt showed extremely tanned, muscular arms and- I had to admit- he was really good looking.
"My mom died in war." I said meekly, "In Afghanistan when I was seven. Strange how we both have moms who died in wars, huh?"
"Yeah. I mean- it's rare enough to meet someone whose father died in war, but this isn't exactly the way we should have been introduced..." Nodding, I carried on working, trying to ignore my feelings- it doesn't end well whenever I think of my parents. "I didn't catch your name?"
"Oh, um, Marina." I told him. No-one ever asked for my name, ever, I was just a maid. Sometimes Jackie or Sophia and the rest of them who push their butts into the faces of poor guys they find 'hot' would get asked for their number, but they're all very forward and physically attractive. Even though I'm a much nicer person than any of them, I've been sent away one too many times because the clients want 'that pretty blonde one who served me yesterday'.
"That's a really nice name, Marina" Naveen smiled into his words.
"Thanks," I told him, "I chose it myself." He nodded briefly then looked at me, perplexed.
"I'm just kidding, my parents chose it." Naveen grinned happily, probably admiring my incredulous wit (note the sarcasm).
"Marina, though. What is it, Italian?"
"Spanish," I corrected him, "I was supposed to be born in Spain, but I came six weeks before my parents were expecting me and they were planning to move to Spain in three days when my mom went into labour."
"Six weeks!" Naveen proclaimed, shocked.
"Yeah, I put a spanner in the works when both my mom and I had to be in hospital for the first two weeks of my life."
"Wow. I've never stayed one night in a hospital!" I shrugged, smiling at his enthusiastic comments. "So what about siblings? Have any brothers or sisters?" He asked curiously.
"One, I have a little sister called Ella, she's 15. What about you?"
"Nope. I was a lonely lonesome child. All my friends in India had at least one sibling, even though they always wanted to get rid of them, so I've always wanted my dad to have another kid. He married this woman Lola a few years back, perfect summary of a wicked stepmother. She hates me and the feeling's neutral, so if they ever had a baby- it would be at least 19 years younger than me for a start- but it would also probably hate me."
"Well then it would be a stupid baby like Evil-Lola." I remarked, sticking up for this stranger as if he was my friend. He smiled at me again, I'd noticed that he does that a lot.
"Would, uh, would you like to sit down?"
"Oh no, I couldn't. I'm working" I refused.
"Okay, fair enough. Do you come and clean every day at the same time?" I told him I did. "Great, tomorrow- make sure this is the last room you come to so you can come and talk to me. No exceptions!" After trying to tell him that staff couldn't just stop working and talk with the guests I reluctantly agreed.
"See you tomorrow!" Naveen exclaimed as I left. Now I'd have to talk to him whenever we pass in the corridor. Great.
A/N- I'm really going to try and update this as soon as possible! My pet cow Matilda (who may or may not be real) and I both promise we will return with a new chapter and a new pasture for everyone soon!
(But seriously- you want a pasture? Matilda knows some people, just let us know.)
I'm going to look back at this in the future [tomorrow] and be so embarrassed...
