Unknown Beginning

Part 18

The next day when Riley arrived at their Psych of Gender class, she found James sitting at a desk two rows back from where Riley normally sat. While Riley made her way to her normal seat in the front row she saw James flick her eyes at the desk to her left where James' backpack rested on the seat. Unsure but suspecting James wanted her to sit there, Riley walked past her usual seat to the one next to James instead. James lifted her bag from the chair, smiling, so Riley could assume her seat there.

Neither said anything at first then Riley said "Thanks for saving me a seat."

James shrugged "No problem. First row is a little too intense for me so I figured this was a good compromise."

"It's perfect," Riley said with an apprehensively flirty smile. She saw James return the smile as the teacher entered the room.

Riley had planned to walk with James after class but forgot that Kristin would be waiting. Instead, Riley fell back to let a few people pass her as she slowly walked in the same direction as James and Kristin, watching them. Was it her imagination or did James seem distracted and uninterested as Kristin talked to her? Riley knew she hadn't imagined James glancing back, searching, and meeting Riley's gaze before turning back to Kristin. Maybe Kristin suspected something because Riley saw Kristin wrap her arm around James' as they turned to head to the dining hall.

Later at practice, Kristin worked to keep James' attention any time she was off the ice. As one of the volunteer student equipment managers, Kristin was often at practices and games and therefore had almost full access to James. Which meant Riley didn't get to talk to James at all before they got on the bus Friday for their away game. The game was local so they wouldn't stay at a hotel that night and also meant Kristin could join them.

Putting James from her mind, Riley peered out the window from her seat on the bus, searching for Kenny. Lately they had mostly seen each other in passing at their dorm or practices since Kenny spent all her free time with her mystery friend. Riley missed Kenny but was more concerned about why Kenny was being so secretive. In that moment Riley spotted a red haired girl pull away from a kiss before turning to head to the bus. Riley knew it was Kenny and now she knew why Kenny wouldn't tell her who the friend was that she'd been spending all her time with. Still looking out the window, watching Kenny come closer, Riley saw the second Kenny realized she'd been seen. Kenny's face fell and she looked guilty as she boarded the bus, moving slowly now.