Riley

Frans

Riley, the boy who changed my life. Before I met Riley, my life was boring. I didn't really have a view on life and I did a lot of idiotic things. After I met Riley, all of that changed.

It started at the beginning of 12th grade, during a university fair. I was at a booth, inquiring about the programs at a place when Riley first approached me.

"I can't believe we're graduating this year!" He exclaimed quietly. His voice sounded quite girlish, but I didn't question it.

"Mmm, yeah..." I said as I was preoccupied with one of the little handouts with the info on the place I was checking out. 

"Do you know what you wanna do after school?" He asked.

I looked up at him.

Riley was lanky. His hair was short and black. His eyes were gray. He was short for a guy his age and his face was round and soft. His smile was bright. He smelled like freshly baked bread.

"I'm thinking about doing law," I replied. "What about you? Any ideas of what you wanna do?"

He sighed and looked at the floor for a second. 

"I don't really know what I'll do. I might just try to get a job and figure things out from there."

"That seems reasonable." I nodded.

Riley's smile became shy, which made me confused. At first, he seemed so confident. Perhaps I'd struck a soft spot without realizing it.

I hadn't seen Riley around much. I might've said hello every now and then, but other than that we wouldn't talk much.

Until then.

"Hey, what's your name?" I asked.

"I'm Riley," he replied. "What's your name?"

"My name is Frans. You may know me as the genius in this school."

"Ah yes, you're on the debate team right?"

"That would be correct." 

"Cool!"

An announcement came on the P.A.

"All students may now return to their classes," said Barb, the school secretary, and announcement lady.

I waved to Riley and we said our goodbyes, then I exited the fair. 

As I walked back to class, a group of guys approached me.

"Ey! Smart kid! You gonna join the team again this year?" Tom asked.

The thing about me is; I got along with everyone. I was on sports teams, I was on the debate team and not to mention, I was an all-around "nice guy." Everyone in school knew and liked me. However, it wasn't easy keeping my reputation. I had to work hard for it, though it paid off in the end.

I had muscle. Not the stereotypical 6-pack that girls look for, but the kind that helps you fight a bear if need be. 

I had naturally blond, which I had dyed purple. I also had glasses and lip piercings. Some people said I looked like a delinquent, but I didn't care. I was happy and that's all that mattered. 

Tom, the I was talking to before I rudely interrupted myself, was a friend of mine. In fact, everyone in that group was my friend. 

Tom was really laid back. He was Asian, something he got bullied about. He shut people up, though when he turned out to be the best rugby player on the team. He had the stereotypical black hair and dark eyes. His sense of humor was just as dark. He had his eyebrows pierced.