Music is "Honey" by Kehlani.

Picture is Claudia Doumit as Sarai Rizkallah.

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Apis Mellifera

Commonly called the European honey bee or western honey bee, A. Mellifera is the most common of the honey bee species. They live in eusocial colonies that can number in the tens of thousands, with a single fertile female called the Queen, many non-reproductive females called workers, and a small portion of fertile males called drones. A. Mellifera can be found on every continent except for Antarctica.

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Chapter One: Mellifera

From the moment I woke up this morning, I convinced myself that today was going to be a good day. It was. It had to be. The past summer has been shit enough for anyone to lose their mind. The death of family I had left and a buzzing in my ear that just won't stop: everything piled up, one shit day after another.

So, if I had to say a prayer to god, make a deal with the devil, or kill a person for no reason, today was going to be a fucking good day.

But when you're in college, moving from home to a dorm room at the beginning of fall semester when everyone has had their roomies for several weeks, things rarely go as planned.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I think, frantically searching my pockets for a single key. The luggage in my other hand and the duffel bag tucked under my arm threaten to fall, but I didn't care. If I don't have this key, I'll have to spend the night outside the empty dorm until my roommate returns in the morning.

Fucking fantastic.

I soon realize that the key to the dorm is long gone. Who knows where it is now? Probably fell out while I was taking an Uber from Hal's--my adoptive father--house, or maybe when I took my jacket off during dinner at Panda Express, or when I changed clothes at the bus station. I sigh and lean my head against the wooden door. Closing my eyes, I heave a heavy sigh.

"This is not how today was supposed to go," I think to myself.

"Having trouble?"

I turn my head sharply towards the voice. A woman around my age stands outside another dorm. A cup of coffee is in her hand, and she wears Star Wars themes pajamas. Her hair is short and blonde, the locks on the top of her head styled backwards in a mohawk style. She flashes a friendly grin as she walks over.

"So, you're the new kid."

I nod, setting my bags on the ground to free my hands. I sign the symbol for, "Hello."

The girl grins. "Ah! So, you're mute. You turned your head when I first spoke, so you're not deaf." She signs, "Nice to meet you."

I smile widely at her, grateful to have met someone already that knows sign language.

"My name's Carol Danvers. Yours?"

I sign the letters, "S-A-R-A-I."

Carol nods, taking a sip of her coffee. "Nice to meet you, Sarai. Having trouble getting into your dorm?"

I groan, quickly signing, "I lost my key. I don't think my roommate is home."

"Oh, she's not. Wanda's never home this early at night. She works at a nearby shop. You're lucky I'm roomies with a girl whose boyfriend can get you in." Carol wanders back over to her dorm. "Pepper!"

"Yeah?" another voice calls back.

"Call your sad excuse of a boyfriend. It's an emergency."

"What kind of emergency?" Pepper asks, coming to the door. She's a pretty ginger, freckles covering her face and body. Her light eyes flicker over to me, and I wave innocently. She places a hand on her hip as she fishes a cellphone from her pocket. "Locked out?"

I nod, and Carol laughs, "Haven't we all been there?"

Pepper dials a number. "Hey, Tony. Can you come over? No, not--no. Not for that. I need your help...Yes, I'm sure. Wanda's new roomie got locked out of the dorm. No, Wanda's not home, that's why I called you, you big idiot." Pepper hangs up and flashes a tired smile. "Tony will be over soon. He's good at breaking into locked rooms."

Carol smirks. "You wouldn't think the son of a billionaire would know how to pick a lock, but oh well."

"Tony?" I sign, confused. "He's the son of a billionaire?"

Carol nods. "Sure is. Tony Stark, son of the famed inventor Howard Stark. Heard of him?"

I gape at her, quickly signing, "Um...yes! Who hasn't? He's basically the guy up there with Jobs and Gates! Why is Tony attending this dump of a college?"

"Good question," Carol laughs loudly, and a door at the end of the hallway opens and closes. A boy around my age with dark hair and eyes appears from the stairwell. "Take your time, Tony."

Tony snickers, rolling his eyes. "Can it, Danvers. I'm here 'cause Peps asked, not because of your overflowing charm."

Carol pretends to be hurt, placing a hand over her heart. "But I'm dating your best friend! You should be nice to me. Don't wanna start a civil war."

Tony smirks, then turns to me with a grin. "Hey there. I'm Tony. And you are...?"

"Her name is Sarai," Carol states. "She's mute. Your sign language needs work."

Tony cocks an eyebrow, giving me a once-over. "Does Sarai have a last name? Or do they not have last names where you're from?"

I laugh silently. "You won't be able to pronounce it."

Carol translates what I said, and Tony grins. "Try me."

"R-I-Z-K-A-L-L-A-H," I sign. "It's Arabic."

When Tony hears the name from Carol's lips, he chuckles. "You're not from around here, are you?" He bends down, taking a lock-pick set from his pocket. As he starts to work he makes casual conversation over his shoulder. "So, what's your story? Immigrant? First or second gen? Third maybe?"

"First," I respond. "Moved here after my parents died in Beirut. I was adopted by a man named Hal Chapelo."

Tony gives a small smile over his shoulder. "I'm sorry about your parents, kid."

I shrug. "It was a long time ago." Tony turns back to the locked door. "So, what's your story, Tony? Why are you attending Violet Hill Community College when you could be studying literally anywhere?"

Tony focuses intently on his work and replies, "I like the ambiance. 'Sides, two of my best friends attend here, so I thought I'd put a few semesters on my back here before heading to Harvard or Yale or whatever other soul-sucking university Dad wants me to attend. I don't think he realizes how much those schools make you want to die in a hole, not invent something that changes the world."

I nod, understanding the feeling. "What's your major?"

"I'm multitasking math, physics, and engineering. You?"

"Environmental sciences."

Carol gasps, "Well, what do you know? That's your roommate's major, too! I bet you'll get along great."

Tony pops the door open with a grunt, then rises to his feet again. The door swings open, revealing the interior of the dorm room. It's pretty standard: two twin-sized beds, two small dressers, a window on the back wall, and a door that leads to the adjoining bathroom. The bed closest to the door is set apart with a scarlet-colored duvet and other personal items.

"Peggy and Natasha also share your bathroom," Carol tells me, pointing to the door a few meters down the hall. "They're out of a town for a quick Christmas vacation with their boyfriends before the semester starts tomorrow. Should be back sometime late tonight. Don't freak if you hear lots of noise."

I nod, then sign a quick, "Thank you," to them both.

Tony waves his hand dismissively. "No problem, kid. I remember the sign for thank you good enough. Nice to meet you. What classes do you have tomorrow?"

I pull the schedule I printed from my jacket pocket. "I have Math 115 at 8, Bees and Other Pollinating Insects at 10, and English 101 at 2 in the afternoon."

A wicked grin spreads across his face. "That's crazy! Carol and I both have the same math class. I guess we'll see you tomorrow at 8. Try to get some sleep, kid. It's late. I'll ask the dean to make you another key tomorrow if you want."

I shake my head with a silent laugh. "Quit calling me 'kid.' We're the same age?"

Tony tilts his head as Carol translates. "Are we?" With that, Tony salutes playfully and walks back towards the stairwell.

Once he's gone, Carol snickers and turns back towards me. "You need any help unpacking?"

I shake my head, signing, "No, I'm going to bed. I'll unpack tomorrow. Thank you, though."

"No problem," she smiles. As she turns to leave, she looks over her shoulder. "Welcome to Violet Hill, Sarai Rizkallah."

Left alone again, I grab my suitcases and pull them into the room. I gently place them onto the dresser across from the empty bed. I yawn and stretch, glancing over to my roommates bed. Pictures are hung along the wall, mostly of two people: a boy and a girl. I walk over to get a better look, seeing the photographs dated back almost three years.

The boy is blond, his hair nearly white, and he has a wicked smile and striking blue eyes. If I had met him in real life, I'd probably have thought he was very handsome. The girl beside him in most of the pictures is equally as beautiful. She has long brown hair that falls past her chest in beach waves. Her eyes are green, the kind of green that can see into your soul. She, too, is smiling with the boy. I'd have to guess they were either siblings or lovers. From the surname "Maximoff" on their jerseys in one of the pictures, I'd have to say siblings. Twins, perhaps.

Who are you, Wanda Maximoff?

I look away from the pictures and turn back to my bed. Without changing out of my leggings and sweater, I curl up into the bed and pull myself under the covers. I try to keep my mind of Hal, off what happened over winter break, of what I lost, but my mind tends to linger on thoughts that do me no good. I bite my lip and close my eyes, forcing my brain to sleep.

Sometime later that night, perhaps even early that morning, I awaken to the dorm door opening again. It closes quickly after, and soft footsteps fill the room. They stop by the bed, then I hear the mattress sink as a body is lowered into it. Wanda Maximoff is home at last. Little late for a school night, though.

I ignore the sounds of the new person, soft breathing and covers rustling. I close my eyes again and sigh deeply. Whoever Wanda Maximoff is, whatever she's like, it doesn't really matter right now. All that matters now is trying to catch a few more hours of sleep before my class starts.

Who is Wanda Maximoff? That question will have to wait until the morning.

END CHAPTER ONE.