11 Days With Keira Rudd

4: The Day Keira Rudd forced me to commit a crime

"The Day Keira Rudd forced me 
to commit a crime"

[Day 4]

"Good morning Riley", the unmistakable voice of Keira Rudd whispers into my ear and I jump out of bed. My glance rests on the clock hanging above my door. 8.34 AM. A Sunday.

"W-what are you d-doing here?", I stammer before she looks at me with one ineffable grin present on her beautiful face.

"Since you've finally accepted me as your friend, I thought it's just right to spend the day together", she answers and I tell her that I've never accepted her as my friend. Of course, our conversation yesterday hinted towards me accepting her as being a friend, but I have never called her a friend. Secretly, I want her to be my friend – maybe even more, even though I don't really know what more means – and naturally, I want to spend more time with her, but I don't want to be a boy who just takes. There is nothing I could give her in return for taking her reputation. She said that she doesn't care about her label as being Miss drop-dead-gorgeous, but I've read an article saying that girls usually say the opposite of what they mean. Confusing, isn't it?

"Do I have to recall the definition of privacy?"

"Of course not. I've already told you that I listen to everything you have to say Einstein", she mumbles and a strange feeling travels through me. Guilt. Keira tries hard, harder than I have ever expected anyone to try to become my friend.

"I still don't understand. Why me?"

"Butterflies can't see their incredible wings. They can't see their own beauty, but everyone else can Einstein", she replies. Seeing their own beauty. A beauty you can't see yourself.

"I've seen that beauty in you when you bumped into me three days ago. You just needed a little push and a small make-over including new hair, some contacts and new, expensive clothes to see it yourself", she explains. It is ridiculous. Changing my hair, my appearance doesn't turn me into another person.

My parents were thrilled about my new appearance when I stepped through the front door. My mother cried and told me how beautiful I was. How proud she was that I finally changed something about myself. My father, on the other hand, laid a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently. They have always loved me, but in this moment they were proud. Proud of me trying to grow out of my shell. Thanks to Keira Rudd.

To be honest, Keira didn't want me to change completely. She told the hairstylist that she only want her to put some gel in my hair, showing me how to perform the magic which would change me forever. We also bought some contacts to get rid of my thick, black glasses, but I've told her that I want to keep them. They belong to me. She nodded understandingly.

"I've researched some information and this is what I've found out Keira", I start and she stares at me with her beautiful blue eyes. Listening to whatever I have to say. "If someone expects you to change for him or her, it means that he or she doesn't like the way you actually are."

"Did you google that?", she asks and I nod quietly. It bothers me that she wanted me to change. If she really wants to be friends with Riley Young, she should accept me the way I am. Not a fantasy she wants me to be.

"Riley", she breathes and takes a step into my direction. My feet takes me a few steps back, keeping the distance between us. 

First, she pushed me off a cliff after my lecture about how dangerous this whole idea was. She told me the sweet lie of jumping together and that no one ever died jumping off the same cliff. 2. she wanted me to change and buy clothes which I don't feel comfortable in. I've said no, but her blue eyes make me feel so weak. Persuading me to give it a try because what did I have to lose? A reputation I didn't own?