Unknown Beginning

Part 34

Riley had barely finished emptying the contents of her bag onto her desk when she whipped around at the sound of her name. There was James standing in her doorway, leaning nonchalantly against the doorframe.

"What are you doing here?" Riley asked breathlessly.

Looking totally unphased, James replied "Hanging out with Steph."

Shock colored Riley's face "Since when do you know Steph?"

"Since last year" James shrugged, "We've been friends ever since. She's actually probably one of my best friends."

"How did I not know this?" Riley couldn't wrap her head around missing such a big detail. Not only was Steph Riley's suitemate, but they also had a few classes together since Steph's major, Athletic Training, overlapped in classes with Riley's major. Riley felt she might have at least been told about this connection when she first joined the hockey team. It made sense Riley wouldn't know who James was initially despite having one psych class together because James had never come over to hang out with Steph while Riley was here before. In fact, if she hadn't joined the hockey team, Riley may not have ever met James. James was a Psychology major and although Riley was a psychology minor, the chances they'd happen to have any classes together were slim. But once Riley joined the hockey team, Riley thought Steph or James should have told her of their friendship.

"Why didn't either of you tell me you were friends?" Riley admonished.

"I didn't think it mattered," James replied unconcerned.

"Well it does!" Riley exclaimed.

"Why?" James inquired.

"Well you hated me in the beginning so it would have been nice to know that I was living with your best friend."

James took a step into the room "I didn't hate you."

Riley was leaning back with her butt half resting on her desk as she crossed her arms and retorted "Coulda fooled me."

"I didn't hate you," James restated. "I was attracted to you. More attracted to you than I've ever been with anyone. And I didn't want to be. Firstly, I had a girlfriend. But even more, I didn't want to be attracted to you or like you on principle. You just came onto the team so easily. You are too good at hockey. And I knew you would displace one of our starters. I had a million petty reasons not to like you. And none of those even came close to averting my attraction and that pissed me off even more. I never hated you. I wanted to. Desperately. But I couldn't."

By the time James had finished her explanation she had moved to stand in front of Riley. Riley looked up at her and slowly unwound her crossed arms to reach one hand out to hook a finger onto a belt loop at James' hip while her other arm remained wrapped protectively across her stomach.

"I'm sorry I made things so hard for you" James murmured as she slid one foot carefully between Riley's, inching closer. "Will you ever forgive me?"

Riley gulped, her mouth feeling dry at how close James was standing now. Riley looked down at her hands still hooked at James' hip and nodded. James stepped forward slowly so that her knee was now between Riley's own slightly bent knees. James reached to place her curled index finger under Riley's chin as she guided Riley's head up to see her face. Riley peaked up at James from under her lashes while Riley's cheeks flushed faintly pink.

"I love that" James whispered as she now used the back of her index finger to delicately stroke Riley's cheek. Riley's lips parted slightly as her breathing stopped and she met James' gaze.