Discovering Riley

Chapter 2-Trouble

Chapter 2

Riley’s POV

“How was your last class?” Liz asked me once I stepped out. She was at the door waiting for me with a huge smile on her face. “Don’t you just love this school?”

“Answer to the first question: good. Answer to the second: so far.” I grinned. I was getting a bit more comfortable around her now. She was a really nice person and so bubbly. “And I really appreciate you showing me around.”

“You really need to stop thanking me. It’s my pleasure.” She giggled and linked our arms. “Come on, let me show you what we do for fun here.”

“This is our student lounge.”

“Wow.” I looked around the large room in amazement. There was an area for games with pool tables and whatnot. And the other side had couches and tables for students to just hang out.

“Wow is correct.” Liz grinned. “Come on.”

Adam’s POV

Freddy slammed twenty dollars onto the pool table. “Twenty bucks say you can’t get three into one hole at the same time.”

“Twenty bucks it is then.” I positioned the stick towards the white ball and examined the whole table. With were the ball is right, it would be hard to get anything into one of the wholes. But with a little help…

“Movere.” I murmured and pushed the stick a little, watching as the white ball moved on its own accord. It knocked against the yellow ball and then slowly hit the red one and then the green one before all three of them fell into one hole.

“That’s impossible…” Freddy muttered to himself.

I stood up straight and grinned at him. Josh and Derek were frowning at what I’d done. I ignored them.

“Thanks for the free money.” I told him and grabbed the twenty he’d put down.

Shaking his head in disbelief, he made is way out of the students’ lounge.

“I thought you said no magic.” Derek told me.

“That wasn’t magic. That was luck.” I said.

Josh banged a fist against the pool table angrily. “Bullshit. You told us it was dangerous to use it and you just did it like it was nothing. Riley--”

“It is dangerous. What I did was nothing.” I cut him off, not wanting him to mention her at all. “We’re still off the radar. We’re still safe. Everyone’s safe, okay?”

“Fine.” They mumbled.

I gave them a reassuring look to ease their worries even though mines weren’t. They haven’t attacked us for two years now since Riley had died in that fire. Whoever or whatever this Riley is, isn’t the same Riley I knew. I don’t feel our connection anymore. When I was near the old Riley, whenever we’re near eachother our power is at its highest. But I don’t feel anything from this one. She didn’t even seem to recognize me when Liz introduced me to her.

Either something’s wrong with her or someone is playing with our heads.

I suddenly felt a small hand slip into my own. I turned around to find Liz there with Riley. I had to force myself to not look at Riley and stare into her familiar blue eyes.

“Hey, babe.” Liz leaned up and gave me a light kiss on the lips. When she pulled away, I noticed Riley glance away, a blush forming on her cheeks.

I hated that it wasn’t her that I was kissing. When she died those two years ago, I was completely dead inside. I thought I wouldn’t love anyone again until I met Liz our freshman year here. She was sweet and kind. She reminded me of Riley a bit. And I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve fallen for her. But seeing Riley now, my first love, it’s nerve-racking. Her very presence is threatening my relationship with Liz even if she doesn’t realize it.

“So, what are you guys up to?” Liz asked, cutting through my thoughts.

“Actually, I was just leaving.” Josh told her, setting his stick on the pool table. Giving me a glance, he disappeared from the lounge.

I clenched my teeth at Josh’s attitude. Is he really that angry about me using a little magic?

“I’m going to see what’s up with him. Cya later guys.” Derek told all of us and left as well.

“Did you guys have an argument or something?” Liz asked me.

I shrugged. “We were just playing a bit of pool, though. Want to play?”

“Sure.” She turned around. “Riley, you want to play?”

“No thanks. I don’t really know how to play.” She said. I couldn’t help but let my eyes wander over her face. She looked exactly like I’d remembered, just a bit older. My eyes made its way down her face to her neck. I narrowed my brows when they landed on the necklace around her neck. It didn’t look familiar, but it still bothered me.

“Actually, I think I’m going to head back to the dorms.” She continued. “I have a bunch of homework.”

“Do you need help finding your way back there?” Liz suggested.

Riley smiled at her, a smile I’m all too used to. “No, I think I remember my way back. Thanks and have fun.”

“That doesn’t sound too convincing…” Liz told her.

“I really can find my way. Don’t worry. Bye.” Riley laughed and made her way out of the student lounge.

“Do you really think she’ll be okay?” Liz asked me as she pressed herself against my side.

I wrapped an arm across her shoulder and nodded. “She’ll be okay.”

Riley’s POV

And there it goes again. That noise.

I looked around to see if anyone else noticed the sound, but it didn’t seem like anyone did. Frowning, I stepped closer to the forest that was behind the school, this time hearing the noise become unbearably loud now. It sounded more like a scream.

It sounded like someone was in trouble.

Without a second thought, I dashed into the forest towards the screams. I didn’t even know what I’d do when I found whoever was in trouble; all I knew was that I needed to help in whatever way I could.

Panting, I came up to a clearing just as the screams abruptly stopped.

“I guess she is a witch after all.”

I spun around to find Josh there, grinning to himself. His black hair blew around in the wind giving him this scary look.

“Witch? What are you even doing here?” I asked him, cautiously taking a step back. “I heard screaming…”

He tilted his head to the side. “And you thought you could help?”

I gulped and took a couple more steps back. This my first day here and I’m about to get attacked by some crazy student who believes in witches. Maybe this university thing wasn’t a good idea.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

I then heard footsteps behind me and flipped around. It was Derek. He frowned when he saw me and Josh. “Riley, I’m sorry.” He apologized before Josh advanced towards me.

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