A Change of View

Chapter 1
College. Why do you have to pay so much money in order to get a decent job these days? Looking at that sign introducing the school is going to become an everyday thing, along with taking the bus back and forth five days a week. There are so many people sentencing themselves for two to four years of education—if not more—that is deemed necessary to make a living in today’s society. Getting accepted to a college was the easy part, now completing the goal of graduating and making something of you was facing the thousands of students that will be attending this school.

Riley Miller glanced up when the bus came to a stop in front of the school and sighed. Day one of years of torture, she thought to herself. She got off of the bus and looked around. From where she was standing, Riley couldn’t see much, mainly a lot of bushes, trees, and random people walking around. This is a different part of the school from what she saw at orientation but there was one thing she did see that she recognized: she was still the loner girl with no one to talk to. Riley sighed and started walking, ignoring all of the gossip occurring around her from people who were getting back in touch or walking together to class. Every day of school growing up for Riley was being the loner girl. She was never considered weird, just quiet. Not many people realized that the reason why she was quiet was because no one had bothered breaking that quiet and talk to her. Even as the thought crossed Riley’s mind she knew it was a two way street: she could have easily have talked to someone just as they could have talked to her. What did that matter anyway? Riley enjoyed her quiet; it gave her a chance to watch what was going on around her. Riley was a good observer; she could sit for hours watching people walk by or listen to a conversation without passing judgment.
Not many people recognized the quiet ones, and Riley made a point in not being intrusive. She just sat back and watched. It was amazing what people did when they didn’t think anyone was paying attention to them. Riley could spend hours sitting at a table in the dining area doing school work and listen to the on-goings of people around her. The best part was that those people could trust her with the known location of Pandora’s Box and Riley wouldn’t tell a soul, not even her betta fish—wrongfully named Shark Bait by her father.

It was easy to be invisible to those around you when you are plain anyway, Riley thought to herself as she sat on a bench to watch those walking by. Her first class didn’t start for another two hours but she couldn’t stand being stuck at the rental house with Emily and Kate much longer. Plus Kate would have corned Riley with evil thoughts about first impressions. Riley has only known Emily and Kate for a month when she became their roommate. Emily is always on the phone, and how she manages to turn off her phone for class is a mystery to even a brilliant observer like Riley. Kate is a former teen beauty queen and always has a mirror in her hand. Riley is the odd one of the trio but they managed to hit it off and get along. Riley figured she would find her classes and then the library. She was sure the library was where the next few years of her life would occur anyway. Emily wouldn’t disturb her because she had other people to talk to, but Kate just didn’t understand Riley.

Kate thinks that Riley isn’t the quiet girl she appears to be and is determined to prove it. Every night Kate tried to influence Riley in some way to “better herself.” Riley shuddered at last night’s ‘influence.’ Kate had come into Riley’s room with a fifteen minute speech on making a good first impression on the first day of school. The worst part was when Kate began to instruct Riley on the clothes she should wear and how to do her hair and make-up. Riley shuddered again.

Glancing at her phone when it rang, Riley sighed when she saw Kate’s number. She knew what Kate was going to say: “Why didn’t you where the pink skirt I set out for you? Don’t you know how important first impressions are?”

“Hello?”

“Hyde! How could you!” Kate wined into the phone. Riley stifled another sigh over the nick name Kate had given her when she made the mistake of going out with Kate and Emily one time. Riley looked around the campus with golden-brown eyes that were more gold then brown when in the sun and remembered that night. It took Kate two weeks to talk Riley into going to a party with her and Emily. Riley doesn’t go out much because parties are too loud to observe people in quiet and when you go with others you tend to get stuck having to socialize. So maybe once a year, if that, will Riley go to a party, but when she does go out, Riley knows how to carefully apply all the make-up and what to wear. So when she walked out of her room to go to the party she had Emily in silence for the first time since they’ve met. Since that day Kate has called Riley Hyde in hopes of Riley turning back into Jekyll.

“Kate, you do realize that Hyde is what Jekyll turns into right? Not the other way around?”

“Yes but Jekyll is cuter than Hyde. Hyde is the monster form and the way you look all dressed up makes your plain everyday look Hyde.” Kate sounded so proud of herself for making the similarity Riley dropped the subject.

“Okay Kate, what did I do wrong?” Riley asked warily.

“You promised you would make a good first impression today! You never know who you will meet today and you wearing your grungy jeans and character t-shirt is not a good first impression.” Riley looked down and her ancient jeans and muppets t-shirt and scowled into the phone. “Not only that, Hyde, I know there isn’t a touch of eye shadow on your eyes and your hair is up in that stupid messy bun you always wear.” Riley touched a hand to her golden brown hair, which many people claim as the same color as her eyes, which she now closed in annoyance. When her hair is down it falls down to the center of her back, but right now it was up in a messy bun that was simple to handle. The make-up was something Riley never put on unless she was going out somewhere and school was not worth the time it takes to apply the make-up to Riley.

“Well Kate,” Riley said, “I saw no need to where a pink skirt on the first day of school because first impressions should show who you are and not something you’re not. I don’t believe in giving false fronts so I wasn’t going to wear something that isn’t me—“

“Hyde, you’re impossible!” Kate yelled into the phone. Riley tried to picture Kate’s angelic heart shaped faced angry and just couldn’t do it. Angels weren’t supposed to get mad.

“I know Kate but what’s the fun in winning the first battle without a fight? Besides I don’t like pink, the last time I wore pink was when I was five and my mom still picked out my clothes.” Riley informed her.

“Do you always have to be so difficult, I’m just trying to help you, ya know!” You could practically hear the scowl as she spoke and Riley imagined Kate pulling a hand through her perfectly styled shoulder length blonde hair. “What are you doing a school so soon anyway? You didn’t have to leave for, like, another hour.”

“I wanted to find all my classes.” Riley replied absently knowing Kate wouldn’t believe that.

“Yeah sure, like you really expect me to believe that.” Kate snorted and Riley laughed to herself. “Whatever, just make sure your home by six cuz Emily is having some friends over and you’ll have lots of fun! Enjoy your first day; I’ve only got one class today so I’ll be by later. Oh, don’t forget to stop by the store on your way home it’s your turn to buy milk. And you have mail here; I’ll put it on your bed so it won’t get lost. Do you know the last time—“

“Kate,” When Kate got started, she was almost as bad as Emily. “I’ll pick up some milk on the way home, but I don’t think I’ll participate tonight. I want to get a head start on my history.”

“Oh please!” Kate huffed, “you know what? I’m gonna go shopping this weekend. You need some more stylish clothes. A girl’s wardrobe isn’t complete without some nice stilettos.”

“Kate, don’t you dare—“

“Whatever Hyde, Enjoy your first day and please talk to someone today that you don’t know. Socialization is healthy for you whether or not you want to believe that.” Kate hung up and Riley sighed again. Kate was a psychology major and enjoyed giving her unwanted advice to Riley about becoming a better person. Looking around, Riley wondered if college was the right choice for her. She kept thinking about the college kid stereotype from movies and shuddered in the heat. If she had to face the next years of her life like that, Riley promised herself she would drop out.

Riley looked at her watch and sighed once more at the time, one hour and forty five minutes before class, great. Looking around again Riley started off to find the library. So far the campus didn’t seem so bad, lots of trees and grass. There are random benches everywhere so finding a place to sit shouldn’t be too hard, and if so there was always the grass that would make a great observation spot. Riley walked past a food court and noticed a couple holding hands while having, what appeared to be, a very thorough investigation of each other’s eyes. There was a group of about ten people laughing too loudly and not caring about who heard them. Riley wondered how you could hold any kind of conversation with that many people without someone being excluded.

Paying more attention to her surroundings then where she was going, Riley walked righted into what felt like a wall. Glancing up she noticed it wasn’t a wall but another student. “Sorry” she mumbled and kept walking not noticing the eyes she collided into follow her as she continued on her way. Always a klutz, Riley thought to herself which was another reason she preferred to observe instead of participate. Could she go one day without walking into something? Guess not she thought.

As Riley neared the library, her mouth dropped open. Booths were everywhere: join my sorority or fraternity. Here was the stereotype she was afraid of. Keeping her golden-brown eyes trained to the ground she continued on through the pack of people hanging around the Rush Week booths.

The problem with a klutz keeping her eyes trained to the ground was not seeing exactly where she was going. Riley walked right into what felt like another wall. “Sorry,” she mumbled again.

“You know if you pay attention to where you are walking you won’t walk into people so often, especially the same person twice.” A silky voice said.

“Yeah, right. Excuse me.” Riley continued towards the library not looking up again.

“This is twice that you have walked into me and all I was doing was standing here, an innocent bystander.” The mystery guy smiled and flashed a dimple on the left side of his mouth when Riley finally acknowledged him.

“Innocent? Yeah right, uh huh. No one is innocent anymore which means the first time was probably an accident and the second time it was intentional. If you’ll excuse me I need to go.” Riley was irritated that she was being forced to socialize when all she wanted to do was get out of the Rush Week crowds. With her eyes again trained to the ground she started off towards the library and once again not noticing the eyes that followed her.

Riley then thought of what Kate said about socializing and decided to send Kate a text about doing what she suggested. *Hey Dr. Frankenstein, I actually talked to someone I didn’t know. So I fulfilled my socialization for today. Pats on the back and enjoy your evening.* Knowing that wasn’t going to be good enough for Kate, Riley realized too late that Kate was now not only going to text back like a maniac, but she was going to have to respond or get another phone call. Closing her eyes, Riley pinched the bridge of her nose when her cell phone signaled a text message was received.

*If you really think talking to one person for 30 seconds counts as enough socialization for one day you are so wrong, Hyde. BTW I like the nick name.* Riley sighed and continued on with the text conversation before Kate decided to call.

*Of course it counts besides I talked to him for like a min.* Riley sighed again at the next text she already knew she was going to get and already wished she could go back in time.

*Him? You mean as in male?! No way! I thought you would talk to some random girl… was this guy super cute?* Riley’s eyes widened as she read the text. Ok maybe not what she was expecting after all.

*I didn’t pay attention, I walked into him and he engaged a brief conversation before I walked away.* What was she thinking; Kate was never going to leave her alone now. How was she going to end the conversation now? Kate wouldn’t buy the ‘I have to go talk to an instructor’ excuse because she is one of those girls that texts in the middle of class and right in front of the instructor. Riley was contemplating how to break off the text conversation when she sat down at an empty table in front of the coffee shop in the library.

*Wait HE started talking first? Wow maybe you should have dropped your books or something so he could have picked him up. Lol.* Riley didn’t bother to glance up when someone sat at the table with her; she was use to being invisible and having random people sitting down around her ignoring her.

*1st of all, all of my stuff is in a book bag so there is no way I could have ‘accidently’ dropped anything and 2nd I didn’t even want to be involved in any type of conversation. I don’t even know why I told you so I’m now going to stop texting you about this and you need to drop the topic, ok? Besides I doubt you’re done painting your face before your class starts in 3 hours and you need to get back to that. I will see you later.* Sitting back Riley sighed and shoved her phone into her pocket. Riley jumped when something bumped her leg.

“Wow that must have been some text to put that look on your face.” A silky voice commented. Riley looked up just in time to see the dimple flash and a humorous laugh in clear blue eyes. Being the observer she was, Riley studied him. Looking at his clear blue eyes, she thought he didn’t miss seeing much. The little half smile he had right now reminded her of someone but right now Riley couldn’t think of whom. Then there was all that dark blonde hair in casual disarray that looked more relaxed then un-kept. She thought he hit about the six foot mark and knew that body had to be toned from the walking into a wall experiences.

“Is there some reason your following me around? I mean I know I’ve walked into you twice—and I still say the second time was your fault—but you seem to be stalking me right now.” Again the dimple flashed, this time followed by a deep throated laugh.

“Ok you are obviously not a social butterfly.” Riley scowled at him waiting for some type of response as to why he was sitting down with her when they’ve only known each other for two minutes. When she didn’t respond right away the dimple deepened.

Riley sighed again and picked up the conversation, “No, I don’t socialize much. I see no point in striking up conversations with the random people I walk into.”

“Does that mean you walk into a lot of people?” The twinkle in his eyes had Riley scowling again. When Riley was about to answer, her phone sounded with an incoming text. She looked at the phone and considered ignoring it but then she would have to talk to the mystery guy and—like he said—she is not a social butterfly. Riley flipped open her phone.
*Hey Ri, I just wanted to tell you that my cousin is attending the same school as us and I found out that you guys have classes together. So if some hot guy with gorgeous blue eyes starts following you around it’s probably Nate.* Riley frowned at the text from Emily, wondering why she didn’t just call. It was obvious she hadn’t talked to Kate yet because Emily would have mentioned something about it.
*Does he know what I look like?* Riley didn’t bother to say anything yet to the mystery man who may or may not be Nate. She was afraid that dimple would still be showing and for some reason that dimple put her on edge.
*Yes, he’s seen the pic of you, me, and Kate on my blogs. He commented that you’re cute.* Riley then did look up at the mystery man with rage in her eyes. She hated being laughed at and knew she had been set up. Being invisible wasn’t a problem but being laughed at just pissed Riley off. Without saying another word, Riley put her phone in her pocket, got up and walked away, not looking back to see if he would follow. When he fell into step next to her, Riley made a bee line for the ladies room still not saying a word.
Riley washed her hands and scowled at the door. Her only hope now was that he wouldn’t be there when she walked back out. She hated being laughed at and that is exactly what was going on. She could almost guarantee Kate knew who she was talking to when she found out the sixty second socialization period was with someone of the male breed. Taking a deep breath, Riley looked in the mirror and composed her face. Looking aloof is much more effective then scowling at him. Hooking her bag on her shoulder, Riley walked out. Mystery man waited for her and Riley had to try her best to keep her aloof face up.

“Are you mad at Emily?” Bingo!

“No Nate, I’m not mad at Emily. I’m mad at you and Kate because now I know the meaning of the fifteen minutes ‘first impressions matter’ conversation. Now if you will please excuse me I’m going to the bookstore then I’m going to wait for my class to start.” Now in a familiar part of the campus, Riley turned to head straight for the bookstore. She should have known Nate would fall into step with her.

“What did I do? All I was doing was try to make polite conversation, is it my fault you didn’t know who I was?” Did he really just ask that? Riley thought.

Riley stopped and scowled at him, forget being aloof. “Is that a joke or do you really expect me to answer that question. You know exactly what Emily is like, so you know she would have told me at the last second if she even remembered to tell me at all. Plus you knew who I was, you’ve seen a picture of me and you have been in touch with Kate. You know what? I’m working my way up to really ticked off right now so you might just want to leave me alone until I’m ready to not kick you right now.”

“Ok, I’ll admit I knew who you were when I first saw you and—to make the first of what I think is going to be many confessions—both times you bumped into me was my fault. I was hoping to get your attention enough that you would recognize me. Guess it didn’t work.” Nate gave Riley a sheepish smile that put a knot in her stomach. Both the comment and the knot made Riley even more irritated. At least she knew why the half smile looked familiar; Emily had that same half smile.

“How could I possibly know who you were? I’ve never even seen you before. Plus I don’t blog like Kate and Emily do. I go on maybe once every two weeks and that’s about it. The only reason why I have a blog page is because of Kate. She threatened me.” Riley was about ready to call Kate and tell her what she really thought of first impressions.

“What do you mean Kate threatened you? And what is wrong with having a blog page? You can keep in touch with your friends.” This guy doesn’t know me at all, Riley thought.

“I don’t know why I’m going to explain this to you, but I am. Kate told me that if I didn’t start a blog page and manage it myself she would do it for me. So that means she would be using my name to say God knows what and I wasn’t going to let that happen. I enjoy being the fly on the wall and not the social butterfly. And if I wanted to keep in touch with my friends I would call them, not post some stupid message online for the whole world to see.” That’s it! Riley was ready to push this guy into some other girl so he would leave her alone. When all Nate did was click his tongue, Riley was about ready to scream.

“You are the complete opposite of Emily and Kate. How in the world to you three become roommates without ripping out each other’s hair?” The thoughtful express on his face threw Riley off, but she knew what he was thinking. Why was the plain Jane hanging out with the beauty queens? Riley was finally being asked the question she had been asking herself since she met Kate and Emily.

Not knowing how to answer, Riley kept her mouth shut and walked into the bookstore and right into s clothes stand. “Ouch.” Riley mumbled and continued walking rubbing her arm.
“Are you okay?” Riley looked up to see Nate looking at her with real concern. She didn’t know how to respond to that. Riley was used to walking into something and continuing on without anyone noticing. Nate noticing and actually showing concern stopped Riley in her tracks.

“I’m fine.” Riley mumbled, confused. Not even Kate and Emily was concerned when she walked into things. Then again, her roommates were use to her walking into random things. “I’m a klutz; don’t pay any attention to me when I walk into things. I do it all the time.” He frowned at her but didn’t comment.

“You know, you looked like an intelligent person to me.” Nate commented. That turned Riley from confused back to angry.

“Excuse me?! What the hell is that suppose to mean! You have known me for about ten minutes and you are insulting me!” Riley wasn’t paying attention and would have walked into a bookshelf if Nate hadn’t grabbed her elbow and steered her out of the way. “Don’t you dare touch me again!” Riley pulled away and was ready to make a scene when Nate just smiled at her.

“I was just wondering why on earth you would walk into a campus bookstore on the first day of school to buy your books. We are going to be late for class if you insist on buying your books now. Just look at that line. You will be in it for two hours waiting to pay for your books. Then you will have to carry them around all day when you really don’t have too. Besides you should really pay more attention as to where you are going. This isn’t even one of the sections you need; they are on the other side of the store.” Riley hated it when people made a point that made her feel stupid and the dimple that kept creeping out on his face was mocking her. Mumbling under her breath, she turned around and walked out of the store not bothering to look to see if he would follow. When he matched his pace with hers, Riley sighed. “You know, I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“I don’t care what your intentions were. Why do you keep following me?” Riley wanted to sit by herself and be the loner girl again, but Nate wasn’t allowing her to do that.

“I don’t know anyone here and I’m not one of those people who enjoys being by themselves. Kate told me you were here and that you were heading for the library. I thought I would find you.” Great, the fly on the wall found a social butterfly with no one to socialize with, now what?

“Wait a minute! Rewind. What do you mean we are going to be late for class?” Riley didn’t want to have Nate with her all day. She wanted to be alone, not in the company of that dimple. Every time is winked on his cheek; Riley felt a tightening in her chest and didn’t like it.

“Again, I’m making assumptions. Emily knew what your schedule was. When we were talking about my schedule, she noticed that we have a lot of the same classes. Minus your photography class you’re taking and the journalism class I’m taking. Hey, who knows, I may become the journalist and you my photographer for some newspaper.” That damn dimple! Riley couldn’t look him in the face anymore.

“Well you know what they say about people who make assumptions. Plus there is no way that I would become your photographer. You annoy me. Plus, you couldn’t even name the paper you wanted to work for, which means—if you even want to become a journalist—you don’t want to write for a newspaper.” She was getting irritated again, but she wasn’t sure who she was irritated with.

“Wow, perceptive aren’t you?” When he was silent a moment too long to keep the conversation going, Riley glanced up. Nate had a distant look in his clear blue eyes that made Riley think she struck a nerve. When she was about to apologize, he finally spoke. “I don’t want to be a journalist.”

“Then why--?”

“We better get going. Class is going to start in about 5 minutes and you want to make a good first impression don’t you?” Riley grimaced. What was it with first impressions?

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So this is my first posting and is orignial work. I do have a few other chapters done and if you like it i will keep posting them! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter!