It Doesn't Really Matter, Anyway

2: Introductions

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Four steps.

God, the front of the room is so far away.

But it actually wasn't. It wasn't that big a room, but Rie's courage didn't seem big enough to fill the space. Each step felt laborious, tedious. It felt like she was walking right into the devil's den.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Four steps.

Breathe.

Rie reached the front of the room and ever so slowly turned to face her audience, hoping she would disappear in the process. But no, she was still there, she was still being watched by strangers who were waiting to listen.

Her heart beat faster and faster as she clutched her poem in her hand. 

"Whenever you're ready." pried Sir Jonathan. 

With shaking hands, she unfolded the scrap of paper and took one final deep breath.

She began:

In silence, I live

Other worlds, I see

Each step that I take

Resounds a passion in me

My writing, my refuge

My mind, a sin

Rie, I am called,

T'is a name I've yet to win.

******

"Well, that was... something."

Rie turned to Amy after she took her seat.

"Thanks..."

"Girl, that was G O O D!"

Rie smiled, feeling warm from such a direct compliment.

The rest of the class continued on with the introductions until the very last person had finished and the professor began with the lecture. Rie was intrigued. She had always been "self-taught" in writing, but never properly trained in it. This class was life to her. Amy, on the other hand, seemed to struggle and had asked for a few "lit-sessions" with Rie after class to help better herself in it. According to Amy, it wouldn't only be "lit af" but "literature af" too.

Rie laughed at that. She was starting to warm up to Amy.

"So where are you headed now?" Amy asked.

"Home, probably." 

"Oh? Do you wanna hang out somewhere?"

"Maybe not today. I gotta go back home to my mom, she's all alone."

"Okay, maybe next time then! Or at our lit sesh?"

"At our lit sesh!" Rie replied with a smile. Amy looked extremely excited before she bid Rie farewell and left. Rie turned around and left too.

******

She really did mean to go home. She really did. But then she walked past a book sale and the next thing she knew, she had 3 books in 1 arm and 4 in the other. She wasn't actually going to buy them but they felt really nice to hold... and maybe she could sneak a peak at the first few chapters?

Rie sat down on the floor of the reading area in the book store and piled the books around her. She picked one up and examined it's cover, careful not to accidentally damage the book. She began reading, word by word, page by page.

She didn't just love reading, she was in love with it. The worlds in her books seemed to always be better than her own reality. She flipped through page after page, book after book until-

"Miss?"

Rie spun around, shocked to see that it was suddenly dark out. A man loomed over her, dressed in the employee outfit of the bookstore.

"Hey, Rie right?" He said, eyes squinting as if trying to make her out. He was handsome, with hair worn a little longer than a regular cut, and striking facial features.

"Yes?" Rie blushed. Okay, he was really handsome.

"You're in my BasWri101 class! I'm Tristan." 

"Oh, hey...!" 

"Hey" He chuckled. "Anyway, you can't really just sit here and read... you have to at least buy one of those books."

"Right, sorry, I'll put them back." Rie replied, embarrassed. Tristan eyed her, before continuing. As Rie made to stand up, a book still in her hand, Tristan held out his. Hesitant, Rie paused for a few moments before deciding to take it. Tristan helped her up.

"So which one is your favorite?"

"Huh?" Rie said, taken aback.

"Which one out of those books do you like the most?"

"Um... this one." Rie replied, holding up the book in her hand.

"The Shining? Have you read it?"

"Not yet, but I've watched the film. It's why I'm in here. I wanted to see if I could look at how the book starts out."

"It's a really good read, and a really good choice. You should get it!"

"Maybe when I can." 

"When you can?"

"When I have the money." Rie said, even more embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I'll just put these back!"

Rie rushed over to the book shelves and started putting back the books. Tristan stood next to her, the rest of the books she pulled out in his arms.

"Here, let me help." He said, smiling at her.

Rie paused and then slowly whittled away the pile of books in Tristan's arms until they were all placed back in the shelves. 

"Thanks for the help..."

"It's my job." Tristan replied "I mean, I work here" he said, and then pointed out his uniform.

"Right." Rie giggled. 

"It was nice meeting you, Rie." Tristan said, that charming smile still on his face.

"It was nice meeting you too... Tristan."

"See you around" He said, then spun around to turn back to his job.

****** End of Chapter 2 ******