Chapter 1
Right outside Wess Dorm, there is a path that leads to the downtown Houston area. It begins just before Wess, runs alongside the rows of dorm windows, then snakes through a small overgrown field of tall sunflowers and grass till it reaches the busy city sidewalk. It serves as a bridge between the calm, bubble-like world of Riess College and the urban, ever-changing life in Houston.
Along this path walked a girl, around twenty years old. She had just left her bio lab at the Research center and was walking back to her dorm in Wess. She walked slowly, or rather, not slowly, but leisurely down the walkway, winding through the blooming flowers, gazing up at the sun, smiling at its shine. A tune played through her AirPods, and she sang along the words to pass the time. She arrived at the corner where the path crossed the road at Wess and tripped on the slightly uneven concrete joint before the road. She smiled and chuckled embarrassedly to herself.
She briefly looked both ways before crossing the road then walked along the sidewalk till she reached the corner where she turned into the building. She shifted her backpack to the side to grab her keys from the front pocket, then unlocked the door to her shared suite and went inside. Her dorm was right at the corner of Wess, so from her window, she could see anyone who walked down the path and all those who entered the dorm. She never really bothered to pay attention to them, though. She was usually caught up in her work, books, or music.
After going inside, she placed her bag in her room and headed to the suite bathroom for a shower. She undressed but then realized she had forgotten to bring in clothes for after her shower, so she wrapped herself in a towel and peeked outside the door. None of her suitemates were there, and there seemed to be no one outside the window, so she quickly dashed to her room, grabbed what she needed, and dashed right back.
Shawn
I had just finished my bio lab in the Research Center and was about to hop in my car to drive back to campus when I got a phone call from Mason.
Mason was my best friend, or at least the closest thing you could have to one after five months at Riess. He and I were in three classes together, and once we started seeing each other often, we figured we might as well become friends. My homework and lab grades benefited greatly from our friendship, so I was thankful.
“What’s up, Mason?”
“Hey, I think I left my notebook in your car last week. Could you bring it to Wess today? I know you just had lab. You could bring it here and grab lunch with me at our dining hall.”
His notebook?
I rummaged around my car, moving aside homework and candy wrappers. Found it.
“Yeah, I found it. I’ll be there in about ten minutes. See ya.”
“Thanks, Shawn. See you.”
I grabbed his notebook, locked my car, and began to walk. I knew there was a path to Wess from here, but I never took it because my dorm was farther away, and driving was faster.
Where was that path?
I kept walking while looking around in Riess’s general direction.
Ah! There it is.
I found the path, recognizable by its Riess-stamped fire hydrant, and began the walk to Wess. I was in a hurry since I was hungry, and I didn’t want the dining hall line to get too long. Everyone knew it was the best in the university.
As I turned with the winding path, I saw a girl up ahead walking. She looked familiar, at least from what I could see from the back.
She looks like that girl from lab, right? What was her name... Ryanne? Rena?
I couldn’t quite remember. Oh, well. I kept walking, but I didn’t want to get too close, or it could look like I was following her. So I slowed down a little bit. Anything to avoid any form of awkwardness. From the distance, I could see she had some music playing in her ears. She was swaying a little to the song. Her head bobbed side to side and her feet seemed to walk with the beat of some rhythm.
How cute. I wonder what she’s listening to.
The path twisted, and I suddenly lost sight of her. I don’t know why, but I increased my speed a little bit until I reached the place where the path turned, and I could see her again. Again, I slowed down. She tilted her head back and looked at the sun, smiling widely. A little more of her face became clear.
What was her name? I should know this... definitely, something with an R. But what?
As my brain shuffled through the lists of female names beginning with an R, I heard the sound of someone singing. It was the girl. She was singing. I couldn’t quite catch the song, but her voice.... it was light and bright. It was refreshing and sweet. I relaxed and listened to her song, blending in with the wind rustling the tall grasses and the hum of the city behind us. Suddenly, the sound stopped. I opened my eyes.
Wait, why were they closed?...
I shook my head and looked ahead. The girl seemed to have tripped on something. She chuckled and crossed the road, her backpack charms clinking with her steps. I smiled.
Ring ring.
I looked down to pick up my phone. Mason.
“Where are you, man? I’ve been waiting for ten minutes already! The line is past the doors. You’re lucky I’m saving you a spot. Come on!”
“I’m coming, I’m coming! Be patient! I’m almost there. I’m doing you a favor remember? Don’t forget that.”
“I know. Thanks, man. But, seriously, hurry up.”
Jeez. What’s the rush? It’s only been like 5 minutes!
I looked at my watch.
Oh.
It had been twelve minutes. I did need to hurry up, so I quickened my pace and crossed the road. As I walked past the Wess dorm windows, I looked at the blinds. Some are closed up, some are closed down. I’d always wondered why people chose one way or another. The angle of the sun, the angles from passersby’s views to the different levels of windows. I was reasoning through the many possible explanations when something moved quickly behind one of the open windows. My eye glanced to see what it was.
It was a girl.
Wait a second. It looks like... Oh my gosh! It’s her. It’s the girl. From the path. And she’s wearing a tow... a TOWEL?
