The Game Changer

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

2 years later

"Rissey, wake up!"

"Sunny, five more minutes, alright?" I bargained.

"You're going to be late for your shift at the café! You better get your sleepy ass out of bed or else," Sunny threatened before marching out of my room.

It was just a few hours after my last class and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to take a nap. College seemed fun in movies and television series. In real life, it's 90% papers, reports, tests and 10% partying. I am on my second year in college and majoring in Political Science...or at least I'm trying to stay a Political Science major. Ever since my parents passed, I had to fend for myself. My grandparents helped out, of course, but they couldn't afford to send me to school on their own. To remedy the situation, I had to work two jobs - one in the café on Tuesdays and Thursdays and another in the diner on Saturdays. I also file documents or work shifts in the library. In return, I get a discount on my tuition. If there's money involved and as long as it's legal, I'm all up for it. To top these off, I am constantly trying to survive my classes.

It was a Friday but my boss asked me to come in with the promise of extra cash. I knew I couldn't get away with skipping my shift and that I really needed the money. It's just that I still want to feel like I actually had a choice - that my life's not controlled by the responsibilities mom and dad left me with (which is a total lie, by the way). The rebel that I am, I stayed in bed for another 15 minutes. Sunny, my best friend, eventually got tired and gave up. She retreated to her room, which was previously my old room) and started watching something in Mandarin.

I couldn't bear to see other people living in it, so I decided against selling it. I begged my grandparents to let me keep the house. They moved in with me so they could watch over me and Sunny decided to move in when she turned 18 because she wanted to get away from her strict parents. Albeit ironic, we were all happy living under one roof. We were a family.

I sighed and grabbed the framed photograph on my nightstand; it was a picture of me, mom and dad on my 15th birthday. I smiled and gave each of their images a kiss. I got up and pulled on my jeans, a white shirt and my heart-shaped locket. It was mom's. Grandma gave it to me after she died, and I've worn it every day since. It was like I had a part of her with me everywhere I go.

"Sunny! I'm leaving!" I call out as I jogged downstairs. I got into my car, an old white Camry my grandparents and aunt got for me on my 18th birthday. I took my time driving to the café in the campus. I made my way to the back of the café and entered through the back door , grabbed my apron and got down to business. I followed my routine: for the first 2 hours I smiled at customers from behind the cash register, and for the rest of my shift I served coffee.

"Hey, Rissey, would you mind covering my station for me?" Lindsey, a co-worker, requested.

"What? Why? All my tables are full, Lindsey. What's wrong with yours?" I asked as I poured coffee for a customer.

"See that guy over there? I used to, well, go out with him. He's a jerk, to be honest. I just don't want to see him," she said, anger tainting her voice.

"And...?" I asked.

"He didn't even call!" she replied defensively.

"Where's this guy anyway?" I asked again, finally free to locate the jerk she spoke of.

"There, table 8," she replied, her eyes narrowing like he's a target. I turned towards table 8 and saw him. He was slouched over a book, looking ridiculously bored as his companion talked. He had light brown hair. What caught my attention were his eyes; they were like little sparkling lakes of blue.

"Fine, but take table 3 for me. That professor gives me the creeps," I told Lindsey. She showered me with I owe you's and thank you's. I approached the table and I was pouring coffee, I couldn't help but listen in to their conversation.

"Man, you have to take this seriously," his blonde friend said. "Do you really want to fail? Mom's going to kill us both." Oh, mom. They must be brothers.

"Look, Noah. My heart's not in this stupid Economics book, alright? Seesh," Jerk face replied.

"Ian, come on. Give it a try. It's not that hard to understand," Noah argued. Oh, so Jerk face had a name after all!

"Little brother, you have to stop treating me like I'm your responsibility," Jerk face - I mean Ian - replied harshly.

"Fine, be that way. Find someone else to help you." At this point, Noah got up and shoved his stuff in his back pack. I was stunned so I just stood there like a crazy person. Ian stood up, and I immediately noticed the huge height difference. He was tall and lean, but toned. He was wearing a black sweater and for some reason, I had the urge to drop everything and hug him like a koala.

"Noah, wait!' He called after his brother. He was gone, just like that. As soon as my brain got back from its trip to Mars, I cleaned their table. I noticed something on Noah's chair; it was his wallet. My instincts told me to look for him, to call after him, but he was long gone. I put it inside my back pocket and returned to work.

After my shift was done, I got my free cup of coffee and made my way to my car. I was surprisingly more tired than usual. As I sat down on the driver's seat, I felt like I sat on something. That's when I remembered I still had Noah's wallet with me. I took it out of my pocket and opened it, with the hopes of finding an address so I could give it back.

"Noah Radke," I read, struggling a little with his last name. I saw a calling card and decided to call the number on it.

"Uh, hello?" he said.

"Hi, this is Rissey Montgomery. Is this Noah Rad...uh," I said, embarrassed.

He chuckled before replying, "Radke as in rad-key. And yes, this is Noah speaking."

"You left your wallet at Café Leon and I have it with me right now. Where should I drop this off?"

"Oh my god, you're a life saver! I've been looking for that all over the place. I'll text you my address, would that be okay?" he asked.

"Sure," I replied. It wasn't that far from the café so I didn't mind. When I got to the place, I followed his instructions and eventually found myself in an elevator. I pressed "P" for penthouse.

"Hey!" Noah called out as he made his way down the stairs. "Thank you so much!"

"No problem! Just doing what's right," I said with a smile.

"Would you like anything? I think I have cheesecake in the fridge and I really need someone to help me finish it," he said, flashing me a smile.

"Cheesecake sounds good!" I said way too enthusiastically. He grabs a box from the fridge and opens it. There was half of a cheesecake left. He offered me a fork - he was serious about us finishing it. We took a few bites before he started speaking.

"So, I couldn't help but overhear but, your brother needs a tutor?" I asked him before stuffing my face with cheesecake. I felt like I was too bold to ask.

"Ah, yes. Quite a scene we made. Are you interested in the job?" he asked me with a smile that challenged me.

"Yeah, I could really use the money," I replied, looking down at my fork.

"Well, what makes you think you're qualified for the job?" he asked, raising his eyebrows before chuckling.

"I'm a Political Science major. That thing he was trying to read awhile ago? Easy breezy," I replied.

"You're hired, Miss Montgomery! Congratulations and the best of luck - you are going to need it," he said, giving me firm handshake. He looked nothing like Ian. His features were softer, but he was tall and lean as well. He had blonde hair as opposed to Ian's light brown hair, but had the same beautiful blue eyes.

"Well, I have to run. Text me the details?" I said.

"Sure, I have your number anyway."

He walked me to my car and even opened the car door for me. He said goodbye and I was off.