11 Days With Keira Rudd

3: The Day I became Riley Young

"The Day I became 
Riley Young"

[Day 3]

Saturday morning, 8.43 AM. The sun is shining and someone could think that it is actually quite nice outside, but it's the fall and people easily get tricked around this time of the year. Surely, the sun is shining, but when you look closely, you can see the wind lightly blowing through the trees, causing leaves to dance through the air, turning and twisting until it looks like their spinning their own little pirouettes before they land on the ground which is covered with a frosty surface.

Google: "Did someone ever die jumping off the abandoned cliff in Newport?"

The answer is yes. Two teenagers, both 14, died six months ago. One of them died due to the speed threats which I've mentioned to Keira Rudd and another one died because of a panic attack, which I've also mentioned to her. Not only did she push me off the cliff, risking my life, but she lied to my face in order to calm me down. Keira Rudd, a brilliant genius or an insane lady. I haven't decided yet.

"Riley?", my father's voice calls and I'm walking towards the door, opening it quietly.

"Yes, dad?" I see him standing at the end of our steps, staring at me with a proud smile on his face.

"There's a beautiful girl standing in front of our door. She said her name is Keira Rudd. Your mother is currently talking to her. Such a brilliant lady", he explains and I gulp loudly. What is she doing here?

"What does she want?"

"Maybe she wants to spend time with you, Mister Grinch", he replies and I roll my eyes. Of course, my parents are more than simply thrilled to hear that a girl wants to spend some time with their socially awkward son.

"Alright. Fine. Tell her to come inside", I retreat and the girl with blue eyes is already smiling at me from the other end of the steps.

"I've already invited myself in Riley. Nice to see you too", she greets me and my parents look at her as if she's the miracle they'd prayed for. They're already fancying her or does that still count as having a crush? I still can't tell the difference.

"Yesterday, you've tried to kill me, so what could you possibly want Keira Rudd?", I blat out and the shocked expressions on my parent's faces are hilarious.

"Funny as always Riley. Of course, I didn't try to kill you. We spent our first memory together and today is another day to write history Einstein", she counters with her soft voice and my parents look relieved. Do they believe her more than they believe their son? Social norms. I will never understand them.

"Einstein? What an awesome nickname", my father notes and I give him an evil glare.

"I-I won't go anywhere with you", I joke, but wish that she will take it seriously. Jake and I still have to convince her that the three of us can't be friends for her own sake. Maybe for mine too since I don't want to die before turning, at least, forty years old.

"Riley Young!", my mother warns and I can't believe that the ineffable Keira has already pulled my parents under her spell. Do I have a crush on her? Do I fancy her or do I simply don't like her at all? It's a riddle which I can't solve. Yet.

"No that's absolutely fine Mrs. Young. I've practically thrown myself onto your son yesterday when I refused to accept his rejection of being friends. Jake and Riley don't want to spend time with me and maybe I should admit that I'm defeated", she explains and my mother's eyebrows knit in confusion. It would be more appropriate to say that she had rather thrown me down a cliff.