Unknown Beginning

Part 14

Maybe if Riley hadn't been so preoccupied with confusion about the interaction with Hayes in the locker room, she would have noticed something was going on with Kenny. Instead of spending Saturday night and Sunday with Riley, Kenny had left their dorm to hang out with a friend as soon as they got back from their game. Riley was suspicious at first when Kenny put on a full face of makeup and a tight short skirt but her suspicions were confirmed when Kenny texted to say she wouldn't be home that night. Kenny still wouldn't tell Riley who she was with other than 'a friend' so Riley was left wondering but she wasn't worried yet.

As the first full week of November continued on, Riley's situation with Hayes was further complicated in her Psychology of Gender class on Thursday. No one on the team knew that Riley and Hayes had a class together. They both had diligently avoided the other since Riley joined the hockey team and often chose seats on opposite sides of the classroom. Riley, as usual, sat at the front of the classroom while Hayes was in the back. That was until their group project teams were announced with Riley and Hayes together in a group of four. Riley was regretting including this topic in her top three when they had to pick from ten topics. Her top three choices out of the 'Gender and x' prompt had been Gender&Pornography, Gender&Gay Relationships/Marriage, and Gender&Politics. She hadn't been thinking of the fact that Hayes was gay when she selected 'Gender&Gay Relationships' and that this fact may impact Hayes' topic selection, so now they were both stuck in the same group.

Riley only had confirmation that Hayes was a lesbian because Kenny had told her that Hayes had been dating Brittany, their volunteer equipment manager, since the beginning of the school year. Riley hadn't paid much attention to Brittany prior to this information but had noticed after that. Riley noted that Brittany was probably 5'2' like Kenny but where Kenny was petite overall with her lean build and small features, Brittany was softer throughout her body. Brittany also had dark wavy hair that fell to her shoulders and dark eyes that contrasted her light skin. Hayes however was much taller with a solid build, including strong shoulders and legs. Riley guessed Hayes' eyes were hazel as they fluctuated between a light brown and green. Hayes kept her brown hair just past her collarbones and, where Riley had natural red and blonde highlights flecked through her hair, Hayes' hair held remnants of previous artificial blonde highlights only at the bottom now. These details had only been cataloged by Riley last week as she watched Brittany and Hayes leaving together after practice.

Yet now it seemed Riley would get an even more up close view of Hayes off the ice as they stood avoiding eye contact with their new group. The other two girls, Carly and Blair, were exchanging phone numbers now which prompted Riley to take out her own phone. Riley technically already had Hayes' number since Hayes was a captain and part of the team texts that were sent out but Riley had stubbornly refused to save Hayes' number. Unwillingly she held out her phone and asked Hayes to put her number in after Blair and Carly had already entered theirs.

"You already have it," Hayes replied, refusing to take the phone.

"No. I don't." Riley corrected.

"Yes. You do. I've texted the whole team, including you, numerous times" Hayes said, annoyed.

"Yeah well I didn't save your number so I don't have it" Riley explained begrudgingly.

"You didn't save my number" Hayes repeated, even more annoyed now.

Riley inhaled deeply, " Nope. So can you please just put it in my phone now?".

Hayes paused before taking the phone and saying "Damn you're petty."

"Says you" Riley retorted.

Hayes was about to reply when Carly asked "So does Monday work for everyone to meet?"

Hayes was still scowling at Riley as everyone agreed and then packed up their bags to leave. Riley almost walked into Brittany, who was waiting in the hallway, in her hurry to leave. 'Did Brittany always wait here for Hayes after class? How had she never noticed before' Riley thought to herself as she rushed to put distance between herself and Hayes.