~In The Blink Of An Eye~

**Hey Everyone! Welcome to my new story! I cannot tell you how many stories got scrapped, rearranged, deleted, pondered, and so forth before I came to this one. (Unfortunately, Spellbound did not work out.) Yes, it's another Derek Hale fanfic, but I hope you'll all enjoy regardless! Please, feel free to leave a review telling me what you think! Also, pronunciations are at the bottom!**

"You're kidding, right?"

"Of course I'm not kidding, this is important! Now, stay right there."

I sighed, but plastered what I hoped was a sweet smile on my face, and posed, my hands on my hips, my body turned slightly to the left. The prop behind me was a large sunset canvas backdrop, one that had taken Crys almost a year to pay for.

I felt ridiculous in the almost obscene black one piece swimsuit she had gotten for this 'special' occasion. But, she had insisted. "No one has your specific kind of beauty, Ria, it's just natural." She had said to me.

I didn't feel beautiful. I felt like just an average young woman, trying to fight her way through college to become a nurse. That fight came with bags under the eyes, exhaustion, and a physical lack of ability to do anything besides study and do homework.

Add on to the fact that I'd never been in any kind of relationship, purely due to the fact that anytime I was around a man, I turned into a bumbling idiot, and that sealed the deal. I wasn't beautiful, I was your average joe with average intelligence and the desire to simply have an average life.

Crys was my best friend. She had been for years. Things were difficult in her home life, but instead of letting her mother try and decide her destiny, she made up her mind to be anything but what her mother wanted. Two years separated our age, but sometimes, I began to think her brain capacity made her older than me, for she was certainly wiser.

Crys was always meant to be a professional photographer. She just had the eye that it took. Candids were her specialty. I saw plenty of mine on her wall right now. Unfortunately for me, I was her favorite person in the world to snap pictures of. Crys saw in me what other people, including myself, did not. I assumed it was just her gift and talent, but she constantly reminded me that it was not 'her' but 'me'.

She brought me back to reality by snapping her fingers repeatedly in my face.

"Hello? Earth to Ria North, did you hear what I said?" "No, I'm sorry, I was lost in thought." "I could tell. Your resting bitch face syndrome had kicked in. I need you to look as though you're actually enjoying this scene, fake as it may be. Need I remind you that this project is due tomorrow?"

I had to laugh, and before I could blink, she'd snapped another photo, catching me in the middle of my grin. "Oh, that's a winner," she mumbled, before sticking her eye back to the camera.

Finally, Crys's photoshoot was over, and I could take off the offending garment I wore. Once I was back in my black jeans and baggy shirt, I felt better. I didn't tell Crys goodbye as I left, mostly because I knew she wouldn't hear me, she was too busy working on her project, but also because I needed to just leave. Her photo sessions always gave me anxiety, because I knew that she'd be presenting my body or face to her teacher, and if he deemed it good enough, it would go on his wall for a short time, free for anyone to look at.

I smiled to myself as I shook my earbuds free my denim jacket pocket. There wasn't anything that a little P!nk wouldn't fix. Gently, I pushed the buds into my ears and cranked up the volume, putting up my walls and blank faces onto those I passed by. I put my hands into the pockets of my jacket and walked outside, letting the wind whip through my hair. It was getting chilly, as it was nearing autumn.

I found my favorite place under a large sycamore tree at the back of the campus. I laid on my back, staring up at the browning leaves, blinking when sunshine rays shot through. I crossed my legs at the ankles and closed my eyes. Soon, I would have to go in and call my parents, and let them know everything was fine, what my grades were like, if I had met anyone (a very HUGE no).

My parents were the lights of my life. I adored them, as they seemed to me. My one want in life was to make them proud, and what better way than to chase after my dream of becoming an obstetrics nurse? I loved kids, though I doubted that I would ever get to have any of my own.

At twenty-three, having never even had my first kiss, I was beginning to feel like an old maid, and with each birthday that passed, I felt like my chances lessened. I always became such a dope around guys. Maybe being stupid was cute to guys, or some of them anyway, but being an outright doof with no control over my limbs or the ability to make myself stop talking was not attractive. I'd had them tell me this right to my face, not that they didn't deserve to have that opinion.

My cheeks flared remembering the one date I had been on. It was a 'date' as friends, with a local guy from the church I used to attend. I had been fifteen at the time, and he was just six months older. Our parents had thought it would be a great idea to get to know each other, so we were forced to agree to a get together. We went to eat at a nearby café, where I made a complete fool of myself. I tripped over the rug in the waiting area and bashed my knee on the ground. He had been a gentlemen, helping me up and asking if I was okay. I had begged for that to be the only bad thing that happened, but it wasn't.

As I was nervous, I began talking very fast and as I grew aware of the fact that I was rambling, I went nearly inaudible. He was trying to be nice, but the last straw for him was when I reached over to grab a fry from our appetizer and accidentally dumped his Dr. Pepper right onto his crotch, soaking his pants in discolored liquid and creating a sticky mess on the table, floor and seat he was sitting on. I was humiliated, and it only got worse when, red-faced, he stood and said, "I really need to go, Mina, thanks for….everything."

Not only had he gotten my name completely wrong, he left me all alone at that booth with people staring. I ended up paying for what little meal we'd had and then I walked home in drizzling rain. I said nothing to my parents, and the next time it came time to get ready for church, I pretended I was sick so I could stay home.

One of the major mess ups, and so far, thankfully, the only one. Other times included when I got excited or nervous over being flirted with, then proceeded to ruin it by doing something silly or idiotic.

When I opened my eyes again, the sun was setting. P!nk's "Get This Party Started" was blasting in my ears, and I sighed before turning off my MP3 player and standing to walk back inside. I was one of the lucky, rare people that didn't have a roommate, so I was able to come back to my room whenever I wanted. I silently walked through the halls and closed the door behind me, taking out my cellphone and dialing the number subconsciously.

Two rings, then my mother's soft voice appeared. "Hello?" "Hey, Mom." I said, plopping down on my bed. "Darling! Hello, it's so good to hear from you! Ben! It's our daughter!" and I heard the familiar tapping of her finger on the speaker button.

"Hey Daddy," I said softly, so I didn't make the speaker buzz. "Hey baby, how's school going?" he asked. I heard the rustle of his newspaper as he put it down on the table. I could see the scene before me: My dad, his socked feet propped up on the ottoman, my mother in a soft floral day dress, with not one stain on it. They'd probably eaten dinner recently, so I knew the fireplace was lit. I could smell the smoke, mixed with the tobacco of my father's evening pipe. I could hear the crackling of the flames.

"Everything is going fine. Um, I should be able to come home in two weeks." "Sweetie, that's fantastic! We'll be so glad to have you home for your fall break! When will you need to return?" "Not until January." "Wonderful, we'll be a full house again!" "Full house?" I giggled, the way only my dad could make me. "Of course!"

"Ria, I'm going to grocery shop for then! We'll fix all your favorites that first week! It will be so good to have you home, darling." My mother's soft spoken voice flowed like a gentle melody. She was always so pure, perfect, not a hair out of place. As her daughter, you would think that I surely would have gotten more than her eyes. She was elegant, and I was such a mess.

"Thanks Mom, I miss you guys." "We miss you too, sweetheart. Once you get through with schooling, you're coming right back here to stay for a while so we can see you at luxury," My father's deep voice was playful, but I could hear the pain. They really missed me, and not being able to see me constantly was a real hurt, but they wanted me to pursue what I wanted.

"Okay Daddy, I promise." I smiled. I hadn't told them yet, but I'd already been promised a job in my small hometown before I'd left for college. I had told them I'd received a scholarship, they just didn't know why. The hospital in my hometown was a comfy little place, kind and respectful, and helpful, just like the place I had always envisioned working. They told me if I was willing to come back, they'd give me a two year term scholarship, paid. I wanted to surprise them with that.

It wouldn't be but months before I could afford to begin payments on a little home, but at least, they would have access to me at all times.

I finished talking with my parents, and hung up, already feeling better. I would see them so very soon. And, I'd know for sure if I would graduate next year by the time I left. I prayed that I would. I didn't have the money to attend an extra year. I could only hope my grades and studies would be enough. I had been there for almost eighteen months anyway.

After a shower, I settled onto my bed in simple cotton shorts and a plain white tee shirt that was about three sizes too big. I opened my textbook and studied terms and procedures and then began drifting off, dreaming of seeing my parents watch me walk across the stage.

**So! What does everyone think? I just wanted to introduce these characters a little at a time. Pronunciations are:

Ria—(Ree-ah)

Crys—(Chris)

I know you are all smart enough to figure this out, but just in case, I wanted to clear up any confusion, in the case that there was any. These are just the girls nicknames, their full names will be used later! Please R&R! Have a good day!**