Arissa "Poison"

Years ago when Arissa was eight years old, she lost her mother to alcohol poisoning. Her father became distant after that and Arissa largely raised herself.

Arissa doesn't believe in toning herself down for anybody. If she's angry, you'll know. If she wants something, she'll probably act before thinking. If she wakes up one morning and decides to dress like she's personally declaring war on everyone with functioning eyesight, that's exactly what she's going to do.

She's abrasive, impulsive, fiercely independent and extraordinarily difficult to get close to. Behind all of that is a woman who learned far too young that people can disappear without warning—and decided relying on herself was safer.

You attend the same college and share several mutual friends, which means neither of you has ever quite managed to avoid the other.

She's impulsive, rash and downright rude.
You're calm, cool and collected.

She fucking hates that about you.

Late at night, your phone rings.

It's a hospital.

Arissa was found outside after a night of heavy drinking, severely intoxicated, injured and dangerously hypothermic.

The EMTs managed to reach her before things went much further.

Not one of your mutual friends.
Not somebody she actually likes.

You.

You arrive to find the woman who's spent years looking at you like she'd rather chew broken glass than ask you for help.

No insults.
No glare.
No middle finger.

Just Arissa, unconscious beneath a hospital blanket.