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.791Please respect copyright.PENANA4RINduvg5K
791Please respect copyright.PENANAjEblOMZJat
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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAcLErZ7RpNr
791Please respect copyright.PENANAzUnrDrP9p4
"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?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAbbwiTn9iEW
791Please respect copyright.PENANA20Ij6FW4Fd
"U-Uh..." I backed against the wall. "N-No, it's just...I c-can't say..."791Please respect copyright.PENANA90ah7SbrxV
791Please respect copyright.PENANAROwyk0Zb0q
"You can't say? Come on, enough bull!"791Please respect copyright.PENANA6RJwb7z24l
791Please respect copyright.PENANAxR5yMAFRXc
"I really can't...I'm sorry."791Please respect copyright.PENANAyxs40B1n8d
791Please respect copyright.PENANAmAf6pvfp1C
"Tell me!" She narrowed her eyes, and swiftly pulled off my glove. "Hey!" I exclaimed.791Please respect copyright.PENANAgi5j65rz5B
791Please respect copyright.PENANABv8VfbDyEy
"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.791Please respect copyright.PENANA0iwoQddjHR
791Please respect copyright.PENANArcnzGMJl5M
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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAarEBnFbn5Y
791Please respect copyright.PENANAAx5PXmxj7a
"I need to tell you something." I had said.791Please respect copyright.PENANAPezeMd52OZ
791Please respect copyright.PENANAuqurGlk5Ma
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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAvtwrZfYFbG
791Please respect copyright.PENANAVMWqQMZpb5
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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAfubPcmmREg
791Please respect copyright.PENANABPcMx9hHUF
"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."791Please respect copyright.PENANAAYHn8BQEe0
791Please respect copyright.PENANAsSHnFp0VMS
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. For a second I thought I slept in again. What day is it again?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAX4CFRaqigB
791Please respect copyright.PENANA1u7C50fGSK
"Monday."791Please respect copyright.PENANA7hSnMdohjg
791Please respect copyright.PENANA44yt5oULKX
She made a face.791Please respect copyright.PENANAZHSxFqlJvp
791Please respect copyright.PENANA4c8asXH7ut
"I have English first thing? My schedule is bogus."791Please respect copyright.PENANAkG7ZHZUntl
791Please respect copyright.PENANAKp8LpW3O5G
"Nobody says bogus any more."791Please respect copyright.PENANAzk2ryHeRBA
791Please respect copyright.PENANAy3DbqwcX2S
"I do. Can you pass me my pit stick?"791Please respect copyright.PENANA1zfB7e8WsH
791Please respect copyright.PENANAjY93yuWFPF
"Why do you call it that?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAXw3Ck2IYVE
791Please respect copyright.PENANAKv4fnIvXld
"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?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAPu7oh9cx9t
791Please respect copyright.PENANAxT53glbrPd
"Law." I glanced over at my textbook, a whopping seven hundred pounds to throw around.791Please respect copyright.PENANAVXHi0bZwDV
791Please respect copyright.PENANAC3HAspllWy
"Oh, yeah. How is law anyway? I've been considering switching." 791Please respect copyright.PENANAVUI3z6BuwX
791Please respect copyright.PENANAFyCcYUzRRN
"It's not you, I'll say that much." I smiled. "You really don't have a plan, do you?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAsdWCIyLlKA
791Please respect copyright.PENANAqchcTW9RXO
Ellie glanced to the side. "Maybe. What about you, Miss Lawyer?" 791Please respect copyright.PENANAeqOWBf29nR
791Please respect copyright.PENANA3Zb1zDsvIQ
I giggled. "Well, it's precisely that. You already know I'm going to be a lawyer. Why ask again?" 791Please respect copyright.PENANAAoWWNopLZM
791Please respect copyright.PENANARtulfm4pzF
"I don't want to be an engineer." 791Please respect copyright.PENANAtKvZLf6nbs
791Please respect copyright.PENANAUlVoylNqUd
"Then don't. You're only in the basic courses, aren't you? You can still switch to whatever come next semester." 791Please respect copyright.PENANAWog0ZzYZVM
791Please respect copyright.PENANAniOhpQACEw
"Do you think I'd make it as a Designer?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAo8U71LCa4r
791Please respect copyright.PENANAfwN776NOpJ
"Like a fashion one?" 791Please respect copyright.PENANAEUngJMrn7t
791Please respect copyright.PENANAyAZC9QovED
"No, an Interior Designer. Or an Architect. I love that crap." 791Please respect copyright.PENANAjDbKNTTt2r
791Please respect copyright.PENANAXBKszQKERx
"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. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAnrPF7tf3bw
791Please respect copyright.PENANAoN8y7ehjwr
"Hakuna Matata, amigo." 791Please respect copyright.PENANAwJmQzqiua4
791Please respect copyright.PENANA9RUPBhiG48
791Please respect copyright.PENANANipZB968bC
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. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAsz7TIFQjOD
791Please respect copyright.PENANAtNnGyUK8GA
"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. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAuKPRfuXikN
791Please respect copyright.PENANAJk6HBsYY8X
"Pip," I said. "What are you doing here?" 791Please respect copyright.PENANAcr89nfNXSk
791Please respect copyright.PENANAh4noIFxNKt
"Same as you. I'm here to learn." 791Please respect copyright.PENANAs2qormVT7X
791Please respect copyright.PENANA5oSd9h5EHF
I stifled a laugh, returning to unzipping my bag and booting up my laptop. "Really? You, of all people?" 791Please respect copyright.PENANATVcjQ9L1u3
791Please respect copyright.PENANAnWoPcwb1Wx
"Would you believe me if I told you I'm getting a Bachelor of Arts?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAo4kugxDtrN
791Please respect copyright.PENANAE1BEDSLox4
"Somewhat. I've never seen you here before, though. Explain that." 791Please respect copyright.PENANA0H1q04PlN6
791Please respect copyright.PENANAhoovYRgPja
"I always sit in the back corner. Plus, I'm not always this early." He chuckled softly. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAJlEEf9Q7oY
791Please respect copyright.PENANA6wI3nCX4dp
"Hm, I'm not entirely sure about that story. It's a little suspicious. I'll choose to believe you for now, though." 791Please respect copyright.PENANAT6hIE9zoQg
791Please respect copyright.PENANAgx4UXAxfJF
"I'm honoured." He leaned back in his chair. I glanced at the front to see the teacher about to start his lesson. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAybCFq1cbn5
791Please respect copyright.PENANARVfEcI9MTk
"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.791Please respect copyright.PENANABNiA7uVIJp
791Please respect copyright.PENANANVJAgnTfr7
791Please respect copyright.PENANAAqDdwh4u9N
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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAkqI0ht5DMo
791Please respect copyright.PENANAB1HvVVdfjw
"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. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAO3YA60xEXr
791Please respect copyright.PENANAG25DiovJwR
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. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAZg824Z0fgJ
791Please respect copyright.PENANAccPBJ4Pz9D
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.791Please respect copyright.PENANA2JuoeZCKBI
791Please respect copyright.PENANAWavCkEvKPn
We built this city!791Please respect copyright.PENANAAS4V27abJZ
791Please respect copyright.PENANAYzi6hTYEVw
We built this city on rock and roooooll, oooohhhh!791Please respect copyright.PENANAdtXUN9drUt
791Please respect copyright.PENANASTFuDih8Xj
I hummed along with it for a second, pressing the talk button and pressing the cool metal against my ear.791Please respect copyright.PENANAmUaZLT4Vyr
791Please respect copyright.PENANA0b0sB6I3Y0
"Hello?" I said.791Please respect copyright.PENANACuUZJHQPn2
791Please respect copyright.PENANAyi7aSOeIiw
"Riles," a man said. I recognized it as one of the people I knew from court.791Please respect copyright.PENANAfzBDipM9Kg
791Please respect copyright.PENANAm4ZR4pRw4D
"What's up, Marcus?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAxeeSDS0lN6
791Please respect copyright.PENANAomuJZCBctq
"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."791Please respect copyright.PENANAD7B4qHNw29
791Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZcXHHmSxm
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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAjt9guHgtdj
791Please respect copyright.PENANAgQrIwpSA9e
"Detention Center. You remember where that one is, right?"791Please respect copyright.PENANADg5NXBRgYU
791Please respect copyright.PENANAiF3VjW2k4S
"'Course. I'll be there asap. Guess I'll see you around, then."791Please respect copyright.PENANA4Qs9thBJd7
791Please respect copyright.PENANAwENkPQWkw0
"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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAm4eIOYWcHh
791Please respect copyright.PENANAWkJ9cAJizG
791Please respect copyright.PENANAFS4eiL1Kgk
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.791Please respect copyright.PENANACZaGGZoam1
791Please respect copyright.PENANArjC29MRMdA
"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.791Please respect copyright.PENANA0BQB6YSA7G
791Please respect copyright.PENANA5AaKgqWYW7
"Sounds simple enough. Can I talk to him?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAAazwAPNw3h
791Please respect copyright.PENANA9VhyPdHPBf
"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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAnEySgC2bjs
791Please respect copyright.PENANAloYD2NwZNV
"Hello," I began.791Please respect copyright.PENANAzj0ZgZ7oSC
791Please respect copyright.PENANAMR7eUcGCo1
"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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAxTwSfNgZWr
791Please respect copyright.PENANAmap2tM61Gy
"So you're William Foreson?" I inquired, pulling out a notebook and pen. He seemed to take on an even more ghastly look.791Please respect copyright.PENANAi0b9XMLd5M
791Please respect copyright.PENANALReYqHcJG5
"You're not one of those reporters, are you?" His voice sounded defeated.791Please respect copyright.PENANA1dixQINUta
791Please respect copyright.PENANAeRT2YXgucK
"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."791Please respect copyright.PENANA6rVtF6xeK2
791Please respect copyright.PENANAZ42iHBlroi
"A becoming lawyer?" William questioned.791Please respect copyright.PENANAM9YxE3NxUU
791Please respect copyright.PENANAISMc1ywsGG
"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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAUQSuZS63kM
791Please respect copyright.PENANAlqH30Q7lR6
"So, I understand that you have recently experienced a great tragedy, William." I decided to start right into it, but not too harshly.791Please respect copyright.PENANAGHKDSVCq5G
791Please respect copyright.PENANAPL3kXMJoSY
"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."791Please respect copyright.PENANAUuahU7ebOW
791Please respect copyright.PENANAoZf6otSY8G
"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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAXCfsWDHJfG
791Please respect copyright.PENANAmD5mGc6utt
791Please respect copyright.PENANAiE00Ue70tl
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. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAWzOcndATrW
791Please respect copyright.PENANAUiH9ZHEUY3
"Where to, Riley?" I almost shouted, but quickly composed myself. "Oops, made ya jump." Pip bounced beside me, an eager smile playing his lips.791Please respect copyright.PENANA0fyMfHtjr3
791Please respect copyright.PENANAsAbiztp5G8
"What do you want?" I sighed.791Please respect copyright.PENANAI5L1rcUdP2
791Please respect copyright.PENANAM7S52XfT4E
"I'm just tagging along. Where to?" he asked again.791Please respect copyright.PENANA7WQlv4gdke
791Please respect copyright.PENANAlRt65U1oT5
"I'm going to get something to eat." I wasn't quite sure why I told him the truth.791Please respect copyright.PENANAzgKD1ky4DU
791Please respect copyright.PENANA2IizS8ecLO
"Two nights in a row? You're going to be broke, and probably gain some weight while you're at it." 791Please respect copyright.PENANALXEN8PjTFr
791Please respect copyright.PENANAPVMy6cSvS5
"Shut up!" I shot him a look. He seemed more pleased than anything.791Please respect copyright.PENANAE7iZ3C9qIu
791Please respect copyright.PENANA61YlvQuYwc
"But, I came here to ask you something." He stopped walking. So did I.791Please respect copyright.PENANAH41R7krg4o
791Please respect copyright.PENANAVtuYHgqC5U
"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.791Please respect copyright.PENANAfAziTMVdC0
791Please respect copyright.PENANAqasTDFfabW
"Would you like to come on a picnic with me? I'll supply the food." He had a playful smile across his lips.791Please respect copyright.PENANApmsBBv7PLp
791Please respect copyright.PENANAw13Oaozlcv
"A picnic?" I questioned. "Surely people don't go on picnics anymore in this day and age."791Please respect copyright.PENANAx38wLewAH3
791Please respect copyright.PENANAxjfwikb4Gv
"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."791Please respect copyright.PENANAyJjqA5zB0R
791Please respect copyright.PENANA2mkWZSekcN
"N-No, that's not it." I pondered the thought for a moment. "A picnic, then? Sure, I have nothing to lose. When?"791Please respect copyright.PENANASDCYetektR
791Please respect copyright.PENANAbn74345YfI
"Tomorrow at noonish. I'll meet you on top of the hill behind the science building, okay?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAwQcFaKqHZu
791Please respect copyright.PENANAYF6pztcwed
"Okay." I smiled, opening my mouth to say goodbye.791Please respect copyright.PENANAiZbfxKN2Rr
791Please respect copyright.PENANAkHi57lphju
"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. 791Please respect copyright.PENANA7gP2bqLrUq
791Please respect copyright.PENANA8JOqKfhKaL
791Please respect copyright.PENANATmsqsxK8Jg
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.