Henry's POV
I was back at school with Jasper and Maggie when Uncle Bryan found us. "Jasper, Maggie, Henry, we have another transfer student. She's only supposed to be here for two months but I want you to make her feel welcome. And try to keep her out of trouble. Lord knows we don't need another Henry around here." He said before walking away.
"What do you think he meant by another Henry?" Maggie asked us. Jasper shrugged.
"I guess we can find out." I said.
"So we know she's a girl and she's new but that can't be all he meant by being another Henry." Jasper said. "Come on we'll talk to Elaine." Jasper said and we followed him to Uncle Bryan's office.
"Henry!" Elaine exclaimed as soon as she saw me. "What can I do for you?"
"We're looking for information on the new student? Maybe a transfer? Dad said we have to show her around." Jasper told her.
"Absolutely! She'll be here in five minutes. Now if you'll excuse me I do have some things to do. Have a good day Henry!" She called before picking up a stack of folders and walking out of the room. I waved and she smiled before walking out the doors.
"What do you think she'll be like?" Jasper asked.
"Maybe her parents are archeologists too." I shrugged not knowing what to expect. Then a girl walked through the door.
"Hi, my name is Riley Winchester. I'm looking for a..." She looked down at the paper in her hand. "Henry Griffin?" She must be the transfer!
"That's me!" I grinned and waved. "This is Japer and Maggie. We're all going to show you around." She looked at me and shrugged.
"So first things first, I know my dad said you weren't staying long but you still have to sign up for a museum internship. The DOUM room is pretty much all that's left and my dad was hoping you could keep Henry company there." Jasper said a bit sheepishly.
"That's fine." She shrugged. She didn't seem excited to be here which I understood.
"So where did you come from?" Maggie suddenly asked her.
"Africa?" Jasper asked excited.
"Antarctica?" Maggie asked Neither of them giving her a chance to answer.
"Australia." Riley answered. One eyebrow arching in surprise and a bit of irritation. I could tell she had clearly spent time outside. Her skin was a golden tan and her t-shirt showed off her arms, muscled but all lean muscle. Her figure was slim but she had that rough don't mess with me look.
"Have you ever been to the states before?" I asked her.
"Every once in awhile." She didn't say anything more than that.
"So I guess we'll show you around so you can get a feel for the place." Maggie said sensing the awkward tension. We lead her out of the office and she just happened to have the same first class as Jasper, Maggie and I did. Class started and there were already whispers about Riley. She was sitting with us for one thing but she was very attractive and she dressed more like she was from here than I did when I first got here.
"You must be Riley Winchester." Julian Morneau said with dislike when he entered the classroom.
"I am." Riley said flatly just watching him like a hawk watches a mouse. Julian didn't say anything, he just nodded and started the lesson. She hadn't said another word by the end of the class and Jasper and I didn't know what to think of her. She was hard to read according to Jasper. I wasn't great at reading people anyway so I figured the fact that I couldn't read her meant nothing. She was in most of my classes so I lead her around most of the day. She didn't say much so I talked for her telling her about all my adventures and she listened in between classes. The only words I heard her say all day were the ones she said when I met her and when she had to introduce herself to the class.
"So how's Riley?" Maggie asked me when she, Jasper and I were in the DOUM rooms after school working on another art project.
"She seems to be fine." I shrugged.
"What do you mean seems to be?" Jasper asked as he painted a plastic tube.
"She's a great listener. She just doesn't talk much." I answered.
"How much did she tell you about herself?" Maggie asked looking up from her tube.
"Nothing beyond what she told us when we met her." I said again. "I get the feeling she's getting a feel for the atmosphere here."
"Yeah." Jasper snorted. "Or she's hiding something."
"Not everyone has something to hide Jasper." Maggie sighed. "Maybe she's just really shy. I mean if her parents are archaeologists then she's probably heard of Henry. Maybe she was intimidated by him."
"Maggie, nobody is intimidated by Henry Griffin when they first meet him." Jasper snorted again gesturing to me.
"I'm a friendly person Jasper! I don't want to intimidate people." I said simply. "I'll apologize to her tomorrow."
"Henry, I don't think That will help." Maggie said cautiously.
"What makes you say that?" I asked Maggie, genuinely curious.
"Well, Riley seems to be the independent type and I don't think telling her you think you intimidate her will go over well." Maggie tried to explain.
"Maggie is probably right." Jasper added looking at me wryly.
"So what do I do?" I asked them. People never were my strong suit. They knew that too after what happened last year with my parents and me possibly leaving for Mongolia.
"You keep talking to her I guess. I mean she stuck with you most of the day didn't she?" Maggie asked me curiously as she put the tube she finished painting down to dry. I shrugged in assent. "She probably feels closer to you than anyone else her at Smithson."
"Besides didn't you say you were telling her about all your adventures?" Jasper asked with a grin.
"I did." I said my brow wrinkling in confusion. I couldn't figure out where he was going with this.
"Maybe she heard something you two have in common. If you just hit enough stories she may speak up." Jasper grinned even bigger.
"Ask her a few yes or no questions too Henry. Nothing too deep but something about her. Don't just make it about you." Maggie added. "Not that you'll have any problems but just try to keep that in mind."
"Alright. Sounds easy enough." I said. Maggie and Jasper looked at each other before breaking down in laughter. We stayed and worked for another hour bantering while still trying to get our project done. Finally Jasper and I went home and then to bed and to sleep.
"Good morning Jasper!" I called when I heard him tripping down the stairs. He wasn't fully awake yet and was still in his pajamas.
"Henry, why are you up so early?" He mumbled giving me a slight glare.
"Breakfast! I still have to be at school to help Riley around." I grinned. "Plus I thought you and Uncle B could use a good breakfast."
"What is it?" He asked staring at the pancakes I made with undisclosed suspicion.
"Blueberry pancakes. I got the recipe from one of cook books around the house." I smiled.
"We have cook books?" Jasper asked sitting down and grabbing the syrup.
"They were in a box in the basement labeled cook books." I told Jasper.
"Huh. Must have missed those." Jasper said taking a bite. I watched him with a smile and his face lit up as he chewed. "Henry, these are good!" Jasper said taking another bite.
"I know! Well I have to be off so I'll see you in school?" I asked him.
"Wait, how are you getting to school anyway?" Jasper asked looking up from his stack of pancakes.
"Uncle B said he'd take me in early." I grinned and rushed out the door to where Uncle Bryan was waiting.
"So how is Riley settling in anyway?" Uncle Bryan asked me as we rode to Smithson. It wasn't a far drive and traffic wasn't too bad but it still took us five minutes to get there.
"She's really quiet. But she seems to be doing fine. Brixton seems to like her as well." I added.
"So Riley's not a trouble magnet?" Uncle Bryan asked me.
"Is that what you meant by we don't need another Henry around?" I asked him and Uncle Bryan reluctantly nodded.
"It always turns out for the better doesn't it?" I asked him with a smile.
"Usually. That doesn't mean you can stick your nose in places it doesn't belong Henry." Uncle Bryan called as I opened the car door and jumped out rushing towards his office to meet up with Riley again before classes started and hopefully help her get used to Smithson. At least that's what the file Elaine gave me told me to do.
"I suppose you're here to show me around again?" I heard Riley's voice sigh from the doorway.
"Don't worry! Jasper and Maggie will be here soon!" I smiled at her. Riley simply shrugged like she didn't care. "I know you're not going to be here long but maybe you should make yourself at home." I said getting the sense she didn't want to be here. Much like I didn't want to be here when I first arrived.
"Home is where the heart lies, Henry." Riley answered me quietly. That's when I realized the expression she was wearing was a schooled blank expression. The same one she wore every second of every day. Cool indifference and vague interest.
"I love my parents and all but I get what you're saying." I grinned hoping I did understand what she was trying to convey. "My home is here with Uncle Bryan, Jasper and Maggie." Riley simply nodded, polite interest coloring her face. "So where does your heart lie?" I asked her after a minute of silence.
"I think it's almost time for class to start." Riley said gesturing to the clock. I frowned we still had five minutes.
"We have plenty of time." I said looking at her with a pout.
"The early bird catches the worm." Riley answered me with still not raising her voice while she used another expression on me. She didn't say anything to me the rest of our walk to class. She nodded and smiled to a few people who waved to her but didn't stop to even look at me when we reached the door and walked into the classroom.
"What are you doing here early Griffin? And where's Mr. Bartlett and Ms. Winnock?" Julian Morneau asked me looking between me and Riley suspiciously.
"I'm Riley's guide until she gets her bearings." I told him.
"If I may advise you Ms. Winchester," Julian said speaking to Riley. "Stay away from that one and his pals. They attract trouble."
"I'll keep that in mind Professor." Riley told him her tone never shifting from a passive softness to a quiet that according to my instincts held danger. Maggie and Jasper walked in with the rest of the class a few minutes later. Maggie sat beside me and Jasper sat on her other side. Class went on without incident again although I did watch as Riley's eyes followed every move Julian made. He in turn shifted his gaze to her every once in a while and just sneered unpleasantly.
"That was weird." Maggie said after class as Riley had sent one last stare at Julian before walking out the door not even waiting for me.
"Which part?" Jasper asked.
"All of it." Maggie said looking puzzled. "She wasn't glaring at him, or even looking at him like he was boring. She was paying perfect attention and I don't think they know each other."
"Maybe we'll find out." I said as I walked after her waving to Maggie as Jasper and I walked to our next class.