I woke up, blinking a few times to take in my surroundings. Right, I was back in my dorm. I heard rhythmic breathing beside me, glancing over to see that Ellie had taken my arm hostage and was cuddling against me. Skin against skin, I thought, the feel unfamiliar.787Please respect copyright.PENANA9YwROSXVhe
787Please respect copyright.PENANAXDMkAqlDfl
Months ago, when I had first met Ellie, she was skeptical when I didn't want to shake hands. She kept a wary eye on me all day, and finally when we arrived in our shared dorm for the first time, she cornered me.787Please respect copyright.PENANA1LsnGLZqeY
787Please respect copyright.PENANArXDFJVVNDR
"What's your deal?" she had said. "You refuse to touch anyone, whether it's a handshake or a graze of the finger! Are you some sort of germaphobe?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8TSeOWmY3
787Please respect copyright.PENANAu2OVSr12xw
"U-Uh..." I backed against the wall. "N-No, it's just...I c-can't say..."787Please respect copyright.PENANADKyYTZrSwq
787Please respect copyright.PENANAByd3AnskSw
"You can't say? Come on, enough bull!"787Please respect copyright.PENANAiSrItWL5VW
787Please respect copyright.PENANAIsXvLZsgs7
"I really can't...I'm sorry."787Please respect copyright.PENANAA3WTsQMNuf
787Please respect copyright.PENANA6AqXxLksV0
"Tell me!" She narrowed her eyes, and swiftly pulled off my glove. "Hey!" I exclaimed.787Please respect copyright.PENANAgKXSVRl1op
787Please respect copyright.PENANA0yHEf8ncPx
"No. You're gonna have to get over this, okay? I'll help you through it. It's for your own good." Then she grabbed my hand with hers.787Please respect copyright.PENANAuOBVslvhn7
787Please respect copyright.PENANA7aNbUCbJJo
Skin on skin. Her memories all flashing through my head in a daze, circling, stifling, suffocating. I could only stand there and let it happen. A while later, I woke up. Ellie was leaning over me, a worried look in her eyes. "Jesus Christ! Are you okay?!" She had offered a hand, but quickly withdrew it. I blinked, but smiled, and took her hand. Nothing appeared.787Please respect copyright.PENANAPmCSwJzzhn
787Please respect copyright.PENANAwgB2x4Twhf
"I need to tell you something." I had said.787Please respect copyright.PENANAusdkjr81ge
787Please respect copyright.PENANADeg8Nzg8E4
I flashed back to reality, Ellie's grip on my arm lighter than imagined. I slipped out of her grasp quietly, not daring to wake her. Glancing at the time, I saw it was five minutes before my alarm would have gone off. God dammit. I walked over to a mirror, conveniently located beside our dresser. What a bedhead, as per usual. I grabbed my brush from atop the dresser, my eyes catching onto Ellie's wallet.787Please respect copyright.PENANAC4LAZoEr8K
787Please respect copyright.PENANA3mEqfVS3w0
I hesitated, and glanced at her. She wouldn't know the difference, would she? No, I smiled. She wouldn't. I pulled open a drawer, and searched until I found my wallet. Digging around, I pulled out two twenty dollar bills and placed them inside Ellie's wallet. Thanks, but you need it more than I do. I gingerly put her wallet back where I found it, and went back to combing the knots out of my hair just in time to hear the beeping of the alarm startle Ellie awake.787Please respect copyright.PENANAE30etTygQL
787Please respect copyright.PENANA7kAh4M4jtk
"I'm awake!" she announced, shooting out of bed. I laughed. "Relax, it's the first alarm. You have plenty of time until class to get ready."787Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZNF0P9u25
787Please respect copyright.PENANAGsWQMDDCEw
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. For a second I thought I slept in again. What day is it again?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAH5AKX6bDH8
787Please respect copyright.PENANAEyRJAKsPdJ
"Monday."787Please respect copyright.PENANATIb8Uueynx
787Please respect copyright.PENANAW9Kd09YNPc
She made a face.787Please respect copyright.PENANATuQ2ZzYu7z
787Please respect copyright.PENANA8pbj9DLNrn
"I have English first thing? My schedule is bogus."787Please respect copyright.PENANAYgqdGnOQHq
787Please respect copyright.PENANAJB1JfVutFd
"Nobody says bogus any more."787Please respect copyright.PENANAZkGt8yBHka
787Please respect copyright.PENANAPPNcsntioE
"I do. Can you pass me my pit stick?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAtZsp1fhECC
787Please respect copyright.PENANAHCae4Ir1hs
"Why do you call it that?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAvD5xGIULnr
787Please respect copyright.PENANAjwYPGZF8tf
"Just pass it to me. Please." I rolled my eyes, grabbing her deodorant and throwing it at her. It landed on her chest, causing her to make an "Oomph!" noise, but she accepted it all the same. "What do you have first again?"787Please respect copyright.PENANATfPMKKDRf8
787Please respect copyright.PENANAvbD1XCBpyq
"Law." I glanced over at my textbook, a whopping seven hundred pounds to throw around.787Please respect copyright.PENANA66DIjBHwuh
787Please respect copyright.PENANAn53MdFtQY9
"Oh, yeah. How is law anyway? I've been considering switching." 787Please respect copyright.PENANAucsUV8JrfE
787Please respect copyright.PENANA5hmd3LJB0S
"It's not you, I'll say that much." I smiled. "You really don't have a plan, do you?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAmyrpOnCpKZ
787Please respect copyright.PENANAE3HRmMPB80
Ellie glanced to the side. "Maybe. What about you, Miss Lawyer?" 787Please respect copyright.PENANAmQqq82auo2
787Please respect copyright.PENANAvRAVMRslc3
I giggled. "Well, it's precisely that. You already know I'm going to be a lawyer. Why ask again?" 787Please respect copyright.PENANA8w0C6kaTMA
787Please respect copyright.PENANApDhWVC2JPg
"I don't want to be an engineer." 787Please respect copyright.PENANAWirTLAlf6r
787Please respect copyright.PENANA1cXrvK99G4
"Then don't. You're only in the basic courses, aren't you? You can still switch to whatever come next semester." 787Please respect copyright.PENANAOy6D6FhxLq
787Please respect copyright.PENANAkhXuSaizou
"Do you think I'd make it as a Designer?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAlhn16fqX6y
787Please respect copyright.PENANAXzw9fMFP3J
"Like a fashion one?" 787Please respect copyright.PENANAMFQTLwaM2X
787Please respect copyright.PENANALdh7biYKDZ
"No, an Interior Designer. Or an Architect. I love that crap." 787Please respect copyright.PENANAFvvIpL9ger
787Please respect copyright.PENANAeSxPYoh0Rv
"So go for it." I checked my watch. "Shoot, gotta go. We'll continue this conversation later." I felt bad for cutting it short, but had to get to my classroom sooner rather than later. 787Please respect copyright.PENANA1vnZdGtMTe
787Please respect copyright.PENANA3OSGYRMRqq
"Hakuna Matata, amigo." 787Please respect copyright.PENANAfbPbrfWNIH
787Please respect copyright.PENANAX585RMK1O4
787Please respect copyright.PENANADVvZeHy6kY
I slipped into my regular seat, in the middle of everything. Not too close to the front, but not too far at the same time. I like this spot, it made me feel blended in enough with the rest of the crowd to not freak out about trivial things. 787Please respect copyright.PENANAnukD559ljt
787Please respect copyright.PENANAuRJ5UjEsWV
"Ah, we meet again." The voice made me freeze in my spot, halting all attempts to set up my laptop and looking to my left to see him. 787Please respect copyright.PENANADbEZywa9Vq
787Please respect copyright.PENANAeB6TvPFypc
"Pip," I said. "What are you doing here?" 787Please respect copyright.PENANAcgLB01za2m
787Please respect copyright.PENANAE44en9NVNB
"Same as you. I'm here to learn." 787Please respect copyright.PENANAwVVFhr9SzG
787Please respect copyright.PENANAcv3VpCJscl
I stifled a laugh, returning to unzipping my bag and booting up my laptop. "Really? You, of all people?" 787Please respect copyright.PENANAzJyLtrAODo
787Please respect copyright.PENANAwRAo7DuBLN
"Would you believe me if I told you I'm getting a Bachelor of Arts?"787Please respect copyright.PENANANju5nbf6RO
787Please respect copyright.PENANABSTSNBovH0
"Somewhat. I've never seen you here before, though. Explain that." 787Please respect copyright.PENANAYcKmVgVFz2
787Please respect copyright.PENANAq1ycMrYWSi
"I always sit in the back corner. Plus, I'm not always this early." He chuckled softly. 787Please respect copyright.PENANAfn5y5N1Q25
787Please respect copyright.PENANA23hDFZIaK9
"Hm, I'm not entirely sure about that story. It's a little suspicious. I'll choose to believe you for now, though." 787Please respect copyright.PENANA6MLpaVgiKA
787Please respect copyright.PENANABdU3WmwwS6
"I'm honoured." He leaned back in his chair. I glanced at the front to see the teacher about to start his lesson. 787Please respect copyright.PENANA9kY12kq9pV
787Please respect copyright.PENANABszC0kjunR
"Get ready to learn." I smirked at him, my hands already poised to begin typing at a moments notice. Pip stayed the way he was through the whole lecture, not bothering to take any notes. I found myself wondering why he even bothered to show up if he couldn't make an effort to learn the material. I shook the thought away, telling myself to focus on the matter at hand.787Please respect copyright.PENANAoCYaZPCC5S
787Please respect copyright.PENANAYIWa7uxMwC
787Please respect copyright.PENANAL3lJSqhFF0
The lecture finished almost as quickly as it had started. I did a quick scroll through my notes, three pages full of text. Oh, boy. That would be a monster to study. Shrugging, I closed the lid of my laptop and squished it in my bag.787Please respect copyright.PENANAXo5UEMBW3H
787Please respect copyright.PENANAIb8UrRLktp
"Catch you later," Pip said, waving as he walked out of the room. I still didn't understand what his interest was with me. It was a theory for another day, I suppose. 787Please respect copyright.PENANA3mdAAyIcxo
787Please respect copyright.PENANAo1AhC5dFZM
I strolled out of the room, my mind beginning to wander. It had to be around lunch time...my eyes spotted a vending machine and I made a beeline for it. Reaching into the side pocket of my bag, I pulled out my wallet. Black, standard, and not really much to it. I sighed. Maybe I should get one of those key chains or something, I thought. I put in some of my spare change, hitting the buttons C-4 and watching as my delicious bag of chips slowly unraveled from the metal coil. 787Please respect copyright.PENANAt53JWpg5rC
787Please respect copyright.PENANARWwwQkxttP
With a satisfying plop I went to claim my prize, some sweet Dill Pickle flavoured potato chips. I pulled the crinkly package open, slightly self-conscious that everyone was staring at me, and dug in. I got about three chips down when I heard my phone ring.787Please respect copyright.PENANAYUo8Zzf8iO
787Please respect copyright.PENANAhO5sSwHZ2N
We built this city!787Please respect copyright.PENANA6hQtYxTN2B
787Please respect copyright.PENANAxkpL0oPoG2
We built this city on rock and roooooll, oooohhhh!787Please respect copyright.PENANAnscCb0Ro57
787Please respect copyright.PENANAlHTm1989vA
I hummed along with it for a second, pressing the talk button and pressing the cool metal against my ear.787Please respect copyright.PENANAXvEmMpKC4j
787Please respect copyright.PENANA7TIkQ8NhxM
"Hello?" I said.787Please respect copyright.PENANAtVcqfMes4m
787Please respect copyright.PENANA6X768ReIwb
"Riles," a man said. I recognized it as one of the people I knew from court.787Please respect copyright.PENANATurZb2Bn2h
787Please respect copyright.PENANANHU3E87F1d
"What's up, Marcus?"787Please respect copyright.PENANA2gdciDgOfS
787Please respect copyright.PENANACs6uc8NwoB
"I've found a new case for ya. Woman and children killed in a fire, husband the only one left alive, police think he started the fire, standard crap."787Please respect copyright.PENANA7BcvHxHuB4
787Please respect copyright.PENANAlrkRaj9vzq
I sighed. "Boring, but I'll take it. Where's the guy being held up at?" The faint sound of Marcus ruffling through papers and I got my answer.787Please respect copyright.PENANAzBtLMLd4SE
787Please respect copyright.PENANAZx16hSZKw8
"Detention Center. You remember where that one is, right?"787Please respect copyright.PENANA6iK8jWRSP7
787Please respect copyright.PENANAfEbXzI5omk
"'Course. I'll be there asap. Guess I'll see you around, then."787Please respect copyright.PENANAkJap80cKXL
787Please respect copyright.PENANAjG1TNA90Fh
"Bye." I hung up the phone, sticking it back into my pocket. Did I have any other classes today? There was Psychology at three-thirty, so I have plenty of time to head over there. I crunched on the last of the chips, crinkling up the bag and throwing it in the trash. Next stop: Detention Center.787Please respect copyright.PENANAzwAsJlU30a
787Please respect copyright.PENANAWp789EizAA
787Please respect copyright.PENANAavd89OMvTl
It was always a dreary place, the Detention Center. It always made me feel as though there was some sort of impending doom that would strike this building, and this building only. Then again, those who were convicted here probably felt the same. As soon as I walked in the door, the stubbly, tired eyes of Marcus met mine.787Please respect copyright.PENANAXjvi86X8Yx
787Please respect copyright.PENANATUT3YJzQaF
"Hey! You made it." He hurriedly walked towards me, giving me a quick briefing of who we were dealing with. "His name's William Foreson, a mill worker, father, etcetera. While the police are pinning this one on him, he keeps on pleading that he's innocent. You can clear this one up, right?" Marcus spoke rather quickly, but it was a trait I was very well accustomed to by now.787Please respect copyright.PENANAd8ZDNFWBpy
787Please respect copyright.PENANAOKCJalyC4l
"Sounds simple enough. Can I talk to him?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAAzvaSt31VH
787Please respect copyright.PENANAFzEmXHRejN
"Yep. I've gotten the okay from the lady at the desk. He'll come to this spot right here." He guided her to the spot in question, which was as far away from other people as they could get. There was a thick wall of glass that separated the two rooms, and a phone for talking. I sat down patiently, and in a couple minutes a man approached the cubicle, nervously fiddling with his fingers. We both picked up the receivers.787Please respect copyright.PENANAIkrfpIuWHQ
787Please respect copyright.PENANAWq7MV2eXeh
"Hello," I began.787Please respect copyright.PENANA120XhFuB6x
787Please respect copyright.PENANAlXqTmzuput
"Hi," he said hesitantly, his voice obviously exhausted and beaten down. He didn't look too good either. His blonde hair was matted and tangled, the shadow of a beard already thickly growing in, his aqua eyes hiding a tale of sadness that I couldn't decipher.787Please respect copyright.PENANABKOkn9MG08
787Please respect copyright.PENANA1xopyaCUfj
"So you're William Foreson?" I inquired, pulling out a notebook and pen. He seemed to take on an even more ghastly look.787Please respect copyright.PENANAAYVo610MZF
787Please respect copyright.PENANAVzd6tav0tX
"You're not one of those reporters, are you?" His voice sounded defeated.787Please respect copyright.PENANAeHRTfyqK4h
787Please respect copyright.PENANAitj3Q8fcqR
"Wha- of course not!" I objected. "Forgive me, I should have introduced myself. I'm Riley Rhea, a becoming lawyer. I'm here to help you."787Please respect copyright.PENANA1YmknImgc8
787Please respect copyright.PENANAkifjFXdFhA
"A becoming lawyer?" William questioned.787Please respect copyright.PENANAOakcOPa8dq
787Please respect copyright.PENANAa6GFawQalO
"I'm...still in school," I admitted sheepishly. "But I have special...expertise that lets me take on cases. I've already helped solve a handful of other cases, and now I'm here to help you. Is that alright?" William nodded glumly. I couldn't tell if he simply didn't care or if he truly understood. Seeing as the glass between us was a problem, I couldn't just peer into his memories just yet. I suppose it was time to use what I had learned in school to my advantage.787Please respect copyright.PENANAhilCf2M1ax
787Please respect copyright.PENANAaE8cK9DzsV
"So, I understand that you have recently experienced a great tragedy, William." I decided to start right into it, but not too harshly.787Please respect copyright.PENANAtvFngccWcb
787Please respect copyright.PENANAmEC257lFAT
"Call me Will," he insisted. "I should've expected that was why you came to see me. Please, just know that from the bottom of my heart...I'm innocent."787Please respect copyright.PENANAZt16ohDr6m
787Please respect copyright.PENANAmkGMSwOAnd
"I'm not here to convict you, Will," I assured him. "I want to prove your innocence. But, to do that, I need you to answer some questions. Are you willing to cooperate?" He nodded, his eyes boring into me still with that undefined sadness. I figured it must be from losing his family all at once - it would send anyone into a shock. I spent a good hour talking as much out of him as I could. It was a simple story, but a complex problem. According to Will's alibi, he was sleeping next to his wife when the fire started. He tried to save her as well as his two kids, but ultimately couldn't. One of the kids died shortly after getting to the hospital, and the other two within the burning building itself. I figured it wouldn't hurt to visit the building, but I'd have to do it later; my Psych class was approaching quickly.787Please respect copyright.PENANAQv31a51Kz3
787Please respect copyright.PENANA6xPXuC6np3
787Please respect copyright.PENANAeMsUflMTMJ
The evening air was sweet and cool to the senses. I walked across campus, having just finished putting my supplies back in my room, and sought to grab something small to eat. Normally I wouldn't eat out so often - two nights in a row was unheard of - but I felt no obligation to cook tonight, either. I had quite a bit of money to spare, as well, so I could afford another night. 787Please respect copyright.PENANA4q4tNLalAF
787Please respect copyright.PENANAj9dv4Q6HLN
"Where to, Riley?" I almost shouted, but quickly composed myself. "Oops, made ya jump." Pip bounced beside me, an eager smile playing his lips.787Please respect copyright.PENANASRrLvG6lCk
787Please respect copyright.PENANAvyr6TkYW8S
"What do you want?" I sighed.787Please respect copyright.PENANASjwaGV0cw2
787Please respect copyright.PENANAIJ37By1qX3
"I'm just tagging along. Where to?" he asked again.787Please respect copyright.PENANAMFWJlXnHO3
787Please respect copyright.PENANAXpMV4Cio7F
"I'm going to get something to eat." I wasn't quite sure why I told him the truth.787Please respect copyright.PENANA4pc9oP3QY3
787Please respect copyright.PENANAdpA5PT5eet
"Two nights in a row? You're going to be broke, and probably gain some weight while you're at it." 787Please respect copyright.PENANAaRLCVPmd7g
787Please respect copyright.PENANAWLus93sdpf
"Shut up!" I shot him a look. He seemed more pleased than anything.787Please respect copyright.PENANA7AJouCdqKh
787Please respect copyright.PENANAlmWpKy9YXW
"But, I came here to ask you something." He stopped walking. So did I.787Please respect copyright.PENANAViswDnYtp2
787Please respect copyright.PENANA7IaRyKQck0
"Out with it, then." I looked him in the eye. He had very deep, entrancing green eyes, and I found it difficult to stop looking once my gazed was fixed upon him.787Please respect copyright.PENANAwuycGREXwb
787Please respect copyright.PENANA355F5WFHaU
"Would you like to come on a picnic with me? I'll supply the food." He had a playful smile across his lips.787Please respect copyright.PENANAENZMoPBG9d
787Please respect copyright.PENANA4PJIIY62Rc
"A picnic?" I questioned. "Surely people don't go on picnics anymore in this day and age."787Please respect copyright.PENANAMFUvjFXDYz
787Please respect copyright.PENANAV3fkSKm937
"So then let's take a trip to the past." He took a step closer to me. "I'll make sure that nobody will make fun of us or anything, if that's what you're worried about."787Please respect copyright.PENANABUZtYLPVOR
787Please respect copyright.PENANAZKQlX45AfF
"N-No, that's not it." I pondered the thought for a moment. "A picnic, then? Sure, I have nothing to lose. When?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAjs1sv2wGOq
787Please respect copyright.PENANAO4MCNRyGtR
"Tomorrow at noonish. I'll meet you on top of the hill behind the science building, okay?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAPUjK2tJEUY
787Please respect copyright.PENANA5tRTdm1gjH
"Okay." I smiled, opening my mouth to say goodbye.787Please respect copyright.PENANAyfuxVAu5W9
787Please respect copyright.PENANABnJFak9tBf
"It's a date, then." Pip grinned, dashing away before I could say anything. As soon as the words sunk in I had to stop myself from yelling after him. A date? He couldn't be that foolish. Then again, I was the one who accepted...I shook the phrase from my head. Date or not, I needed to get some food in me now if I ever wanted to make it to tomorrow. I continued on my way, trying to decide on what I'd have for dinner instead. 787Please respect copyright.PENANATq1QvIAGMY
787Please respect copyright.PENANA8r44doFfDQ
787Please respect copyright.PENANAo0gAL2GXbX
A-A new chapter? Of a story I haven't updated in a while?! Without warning?! Yeah, actually. I have good plans for this story as well as the others I've been working on, and I figured now would be a good time to update it. Why? I dunno, ask the author. ...wait. Er, anyway, I don't think I'll be updating this story that much in the near future, but I haven't forgotten about Riley and the gang. So here's an unexpected update for you all. Y'all.