Unknown Beginning

Part 23

After the game on Saturday, Riley and Kenny headed back to their dorm determined to catch up on all the school work they had neglected the past few days. Several hours later, while Riley was putting away her books, she heard her phone go off. Assuming it was Ben checking how the game went, she picked up her phone then promptly put it back down. It was Hayes. Riley hadn't opened the text yet but her stomach flipped when she saw Hayes' name. Pulling herself together, Riley saw Hayes asked about meeting at the library Monday night to go over what needed to be printed for their next group meeting with Blair and Carly. Riley exhaled. It wouldn't be true alone time with Hayes as they'd be upstairs in the main area where the computers and printer were. Without pausing to think, Riley agreed to the plan.

The hustle and bustle returned to campus Sunday as the rest of the students arrived back to the dorms. Kenny had spent Saturday night at Trevor's and Riley knew she wouldn't be around all day. Always studious, Riley only left her room for food, otherwise remaining in her room, focusing on schoolwork. Riley possessed the opposite of procrastination when it came to school. She would usually write papers as soon as they were assigned, weeks or months in advance of their due date whenever possible. Homework was finished promptly. She even read assigned textbook chapters before class. And she had always been like this. She wasn't sure if it was anxiety, the satisfaction of completing tasks, some weird superiority over finishing things before her classmates or some other unknown reason. This is just how she was and luckily for her, it worked in her favor. That combined with efficiency, effort, and focus meant she always excelled at school. When she was in 4th and 5th grade she would get negative feedback from teachers that she finished her school work too quickly. She never understood why that was bad since her work was still done correctly. But these characteristics were why she graduated in the top 10% of her high school graduating class. And she didn't know it yet but she would also graduate Summa Cum Laude from her current university. Not that any of that was her motivation. It all just seemed to work out that way.

Coincidentally, all of this meant Riley was a fantastic asset to a group project. Which is why Riley showed up fifteen minutes early (as usual) to meet Hayes, saved the computer next to her, and was diligently working when Hayes showed up.

"Hey" Hayes said as she took the seat next to Riley, causing Riley to jump.

Pretending she hadn't just reacted, Riley said cooly "Oh hey. I got some stuff pulled up for us."

"Awesome, thanks." Hayes replied. Then, "How was your Thanksgiving?"

"Really good. It was great to see my family. Plus Kenny came so that was fun too."

"Oh." Hayes said." That's nice." After a moment, "Are you two dating or something?"

"What? Me and Kenny?" Riley asked, bemused. "No no. We're just friends. I'm bi but Kenny's straight. We're strictly friends."

Both girls were avoiding looking at the other as Hayes mumbled "Ah. Right...that's good."

Awkwardly trying to fill the silence Riley asked "How was your Thanksgiving? Did you end up spending it with Brittany?"

"Yeah. It was ok." Hayes replied without gusto. "It kind of sucked not being with my sister."

Riley glanced at Hayes sympathetically, "You two are close?"

Hayes nodded "Really close. Matching tattoos and everything."

"That's super cool" Riley smiled and was about to inquire further when Hayes changed the topic to their project. The two sat working out what materials needed to be printed and what else they needed before their group meeting Thursday. After twenty minutes had passed and they were waiting for the printing to be completed, Riley returned to the previous topic "So you said you and your sister have matching tattoos? Can I see?"

Riley could have sworn Hayes blushed at that. "Maybe another time. It's on my ribs so I can't show you here."

"What about when we get outside?" Riley suggested

"Are you crazy? It's, like, forty degrees out" Hayes laughed.

Feeling bold now Riley offered "You could come back to my dorm and show me there?"

Hayes glanced down, definitely blushing this time and said "I can't. I'm meeting Brittany for dinner soon."

Seeing that everything had been printed, Riley grabbed the papers and turned to leave, teasing "Alright well you can have your papers when I see the tattoo."

Hayes laughed as she followed Riley out and said "Hey I have a linguistics paper in there that is due tomorrow"

Staying out of reach Riley shrugged "Guess you'll have to show me the tattoo then."

Hayes started towards Riley in the hopes of playfully catching her but Riley was too quick and darted up the stairs to the closest building and into the bathroom. Hayes rushed in after her and moved to take the papers from Riley.

Giggling Riley held the papers away from Hayes and admonished "You have to show me first!"

Hayes backed against the bathroom wall in mock defeat "Fine."

Riley was standing with her back to the sinks, facing Hayes, "Fine? As in, you'll show me?" she clarified.

Hayes nodded as she pulled her jacket aside and lifted her shirt to reveal the black inked design across her left ribs. Without thinking, Riley took a step forward and mindlessly whispered "Can I touch it?"

"Yeah," Hayes whispered back.

Closing the distance between them, Riley reached out to trace the tattoo with her fingers. She saw Hayes shiver slightly and knew she wasn't the only one with electricity coursing through her body. Hayes watched Riley's face intently as she ran her fingers over Hayes' ribs. Neither girl was breathing when Riley's eyes finally met Hayes' gaze. Riley had spread her hand now to wrap around Hayes' ribcage while her thumb remained on the tattoo. Had their hearts stopped beating? Surly Riley had gone deaf, the silence pressing aggressively against her ears. There was heat though. Overwhelming heat spreading from Riley's hand to both of their cheeks. There was no question now of the longing in Hayes' eyes. The desire.

Not breaking eye contact, Riley slowly stepped back, letting her arm fall from Hayes. Riley's eyes flicked once more to the black ink before Hayes let the shirt fall back into place. Neither spoke for what felt like an hour yet was really mere seconds until Riley picked up the papers she had rested on the sink and said "I guess these are for you."

Hayes simply looked at the papers in Riley's outstretched hand. It seemed Hayes' ability to control her body hadn't returned yet until she murmured "Yeah, thanks" and took the papers with a slight tremor in her hand.

"Well..." Riley looked around, then at her watch, "You're gonna be late for Brittany..."

For a second Hayes looked as if she had no idea who Brittany was. Or even who she was. But she collected herself enough to say "Right. I'm gonna go now."

Riley watched Hayes hesitate before finally pulling the door open for Riley to walk out first. Riley led them back out into the dark, crisp autumn air and said "Night." She knew Hayes would be going the opposite direction to the dining hall and thus turned to walk to her dorm alone. "Night" she heard Hayes reply and turned briefly to see Hayes watching her. Gazing at the other for only a moment longer, they both slowly resumed their diverging paths. Without knowing, each turned to look for the other once more only at separate times and therefore failed to meet the other's searching eyes.