Maia Shelton

College Isn’t Easy

Twenty-year-old Maia Shelton was coming to realize that.

Barely three weeks into college, and she was already fed up. The courses weren’t easy, assignments piled up every day, and the submission deadlines were ridiculously short—sometimes less than twenty-four hours.

And this was only her first year.

As she sat in class, her hand propped up her head, which felt unbearably heavy from sleepless nights spent scrambling to meet deadlines. She heard the professor’s voice as he lectured, but none of his words stuck.

The only good thing was that it was Friday. At least she’d have some time to rest since her next class wasn’t until 1 p.m. the following day.

Letting out a groan, a bit too loudly, Maia suddenly found all eyes on her—including the professor’s, who shot her a withering glare.

She forced an awkward smile, sinking deeper into her seat, wishing the ground would just swallow her whole.

“Is something the matter, Miss Shelton?” the professor asked, setting down his notebook on the desk.

“Uh… yes, sir. Can I be excused?” she asked nervously.

The professor rolled his eyes, looking fed up, but he still waved his hand, granting her permission to leave.

Grateful for the escape, Maia hurriedly gathered her notebook and belongings and rushed out. She had been sitting at the back of the class near the aisle, making it easy to slip away without drawing too much attention.

In the bathroom, she threw her bag onto the floor and stared at herself in the mirror. She looked pale and exhausted, dark circles deepening under her eyes. With a sigh, she splashed some cold water on her face and gently pinched and slapped her cheeks, trying to bring some color back.

Laughter echoed from outside, signaling a group of girls approaching. Panicking, Maia grabbed her bag and rushed into a stall, standing on the toilet seat to stay hidden.

“I heard Yapaki Lounge is amazing,” one girl said.

“Right? I haven’t been there, but my roommate has, and she said it was amaze-balls! I can’t wait to go,” another voice squealed.

“I heard they’re hiring bartenders,” the first girl added.

“Where did you hear that?” someone else asked.

“Some girls in my accounting class.”

“Oh, great! I know Dayana would be interested—she’s been looking for a job,” the third girl chimed in.

“Yeah, no. Working in a club? With all the perverts that go there every day? No thanks,” the second girl, Shay, said with clear disgust.

“Yeah, whatever, Shay,” the third girl muttered.

A brief silence followed before the sound of the door opening and closing let Maia know the coast was clear. She cautiously stepped out, straightened her dress, and gave herself one last glance in the mirror before leaving.

Checking her gold wristwatch, she saw that her entrepreneurship class was almost over. The thought of sitting through another lecture today made her want to scream.

By the time class ended, Maia grabbed her books and rushed home, desperate for sleep.

Her roommate and best friend, Janata McCoy, was sprawled on the couch, scrolling through Instagram with a bowl of popcorn in her lap.

“You look like shit,” Janata commented, sitting up.

“Thanks. I feel like shit, too,” Maia muttered, dropping her bag and collapsing beside her.

“You know, it’s okay to skip class for a day, right?” Janata said, placing a comforting hand on Maia’s shoulder.

Maia rolled her eyes.

Janata McCoy was Maia’s longtime friend from foster care—the closest thing she had to a sister. Unlike Maia, Janata had never been one for academics. She had dropped out of high school, left foster care at seventeen, and made her way in the world on sheer determination. Three years later, she had a job, her own place, and enough money to afford three square meals a day—luxuries they had both longed for in foster care.

Despite leaving, Janata had never cut Maia off. When Maia reached out about her college plans, Janata had taken her in, fed her, and even helped her secure admission.

Now, Maia felt like a burden. She depended on Janata for everything.

That was why the job opening at Yapaki Lounge had caught her attention.

“Janata,” Maia called hesitantly.

No response.

“Have you heard of Yapaki Lounge?” she tried again.

Janata’s head snapped up. “Yes, why?”

“What do you know about it?”

“You mean aside from the fact that it’s the most popular lounge in Middenhall?” Janata said, emphasizing the. “Why are you asking?”

“No reason,” Maia mumbled. “I overheard some girls talking about it in the bathroom. They said it’s hiring bartenders.”

Janata’s expression shifted, becoming unreadable. “And you’re thinking of applying?”

Maia nodded.

Janata sighed. “Bartending isn’t easy. And I’m not just talking about the workload. I mean dealing with drunk creeps and their sleazy comments. Can you handle that?”

Maia had already thought about it. On her way back from class, the only thing on her mind had been the job opening. She knew working at a club came with challenges, but she had no other options.

For months, she had searched for a job with no luck. Now that she had found an opportunity, she refused to let fear stop her