Unknown Beginning

Part 24

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 James. Riley hadn't opened the text yet but her stomach flipped when she saw James' name. Pulling herself together, Riley saw James asked about meeting at the library Monday night to go over what needed to be printed for their next group meeting with Becca and Cassidy. Riley exhaled. It wouldn't be true alone time with James 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 Tyler'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. 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 James, saved the computer next to her, and was diligently working when James showed up.

"Hey" James 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." James replied. Then, "How was your Thanksgiving?"

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

"Oh." James 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 James 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 Kristin?"

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

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

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

"That's super cool" Riley smiled and was about to inquire further when James 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 James 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" James laughed.

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

James glanced down, definitely blushing this time and said "I can't. I'm meeting Kristin 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."

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

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

James 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. James rushed in after her and moved to take the papers from Riley.

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

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

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

James 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," James whispered back.

Closing the distance between them, Riley reached out to trace the tattoo with her fingers. She saw James shiver slightly and knew she wasn't the only one with electricity coursing through her body. James watched Riley's face intently as she ran her fingers over James' ribs. Neither girl was breathing when Riley's eyes finally met James' gaze. Riley had spread her hand now to wrap around James' 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 James' eyes. The desire.

Not breaking eye contact, Riley slowly stepped back, letting her arm fall from James. Riley's eyes flicked once more to the black ink before James 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."

James simply looked at the papers in Riley's outstretched hand. It seemed James' 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 Kristin..."

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

Riley watched James 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 James would be going the opposite direction to the dining hall and thus turned to walk to her dorm alone. "Night" she heard James reply and turned briefly to see James 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.