Chapter 8: Opportunities

Jeff was speeding down the highway doing 85 MPH. Riley was holding on for dear life while squeezing her muffin into a blueberry pancake.

"JEFF!" they finally turned off and reached a stoplight. Riley finally caught her breath and her heart was racing about five miles to catch up to her. "WHO taught you how to drive?"

Jeff laughed, "Matt. Oh, I guess that explains it."

"Trust me, not even Matt drives this badly. Try going the SPEED LIMIT."

"But Ry, the speed limit was 75 and its okay to go ten above, right?"

"I'd just like to get to my class ALIVE and in one peace; in other words, 45 or less."

"That can be done." Jeff turned his attention back to the road as a look of thought crossed his features. Riley picked up on this immediately.

"What?" she asked turning to face him.

"What?" Jeff asked innocently bobbing his head along with the radio.

"That look," Riley stated becoming slightly annoyed. She was usually 10 minutes early for class but thanks to Jeff's 'driving' she was still on time so she wasn't complaining.

"Don't even bother to ask 'what look?' The look that says, 'I think I'm going to ask Riley to do something spontaneous and totally crazy now that she has no life what so ever.'"

"I never said you didn't have a life," Jeff said matter-of-factly.

"Well what's the crazy idea I see floating in your head?"

"If you can see it floating then why do you have to ask?"

Riley was getting really irritated with Jeff's many jokes. One was all she could handle for today.

"Come on, tell me. Who knows, maybe I'll actually say yes."

Jeff beamed but knew she was just setting him up for rejection. "Okay, but promise to hear me out."

"Fine," Riley said staring at the road ahead.

"No that you 'have no life what so ever' as you put it, would you consider coming on the road with us? Please?" He made sure to add the sad little puppy face.

"As much as I would like to, nice puppy face by the way, I'll have to say no. I have schoolwork and big projects and I'm getting my new independent study project. It's too much."

"You can do your work on the road."

Riley saw her stop and slung her messenger bag over her shoulder. "As much as I'd love to hear you beg and plead, I'm just on time to get to class. Have fun at your signing!"

She slammed the car door and walked off to her class. She really did want to go and leave all things behind her, start a new chapter.

'Well I guess that I'll just have to wait for the right opportunity,' Riley thought as she entered the building to attend Journalism 101.

Riley entered the class and got her usual seat in the front row next to her best friend Harmony Phillips, a tall blonde with medium build and sparkling blue eyes.

"Hey HP," Riley said yawning and moving a little slower than usual.

"RyLynn? Oh, Jeff's in town. What happened?"

"Well, I broke up with Chris..." Riley intentionally paused to catch the expected look of pure excitement on her friend's face. Harmony grinned ear to ear, "FINALLY!"

"I know," Riley said beginning to tell her about last night and her complimentary wake-up by the Hardy's.

She was just getting to that mornings plight when as if on cue professor Conner walked in. Professor Connor was a middle-aged woman with grayish hair and brown eyes. She had very few wrinkles and always wore a full length skirt with knee highs, white blouse, and matching blazer.

"Good morning class. It's that time of year when I assign independent projects and internships. This time I have decided to get a list of jobs that might suit your interests and then another list of possibilities.

"Speaking of what's new on the server you might want to check e-mail for your list," Harmony whispered to her friend who was opening her laptop. Riley followed suit by getting her laptop out of her messenger bag. She opened her e-mail and saw the two lists that the professor had been talking about.

The first 3 were related to motocross. She was very tempted to pick one of them but something stopped her.

'That part of your life is over isn't it RyLynn?' she thought to herself. She was looking for something exciting, something that would give her travel options, and something that she could really get into. She found none of that on the recommended list. She finally decided to check her other options. She searched for what seemed like forever. Most of the class had picked their options including Harmony who was doing critique pieces for some fashion magazine.

The bell rang and Riley scrolled down the list once more and found a job option for the WWE.

'Strange twist of fate huh?' This had all she wanted, travel, pretty good pay, and a very cool job description.

'Working on WWE magazine/website. That will suit me well. I can't wait to tell Jeff!' She shut down her laptop and approached Professor Conner.

"Professor, I've found an assignment that interests me," Riley said as she handed her professor her resume and choice card.

"One of the motocross magazines I suppose?" the professor asked taking the piece of paper. Riley shook her head. Professor Connor looked at the card attached with the WWE written at the top.

"I am surprised RyLynn. All the motocross entries are blank and you've chosen wrestling? I mean the work is pretty vigorous with all the research and reporting and what do you know about wrestling? I was hoping a more experience student would help with this."

'Oh great, now I have to bring up my relationship with one of the wrestlers. I really don't want to have to do that.'

"Professor Connor I think it will give me an opportunity to enter a new environment and learn new things."

Professor Connor nodded, "I agree but you're one of my best students and I don't want to see your work slipping because of the amount of travel..."

"Believe me Professor; Riley will be under close supervision when I'm around. And let me say she'd be perfect," said a voice which startled both women. It was none other than the voice of Jeff Hardy who had slipped into the room unnoticed.

"What makes you such an expert young man?" Professor Connor said turning to Jeff.

"I'm Jeff Hardy and I work as a wrestler in the WWE. Miss Carter has knowledge of the business and she's a wonderful writer who I think would make a great addition to the WWE family."

"Well Mr. Hardy I'm impressed. Miss Carter you have your assignment good luck and you have an interview with Mr. McMahon on Monday in Phoenix."

Riley was overcome with excitement. "Thank you professor, I won't let you down. By the end of the semester I'll have an A." She ran out of the room followed closely by Jeff.

"How did you know?" she asked walking to her car.

"A little birdie told me. I thought you had to much work to do," Jeff said mocking his friend.

"Well it looks like I'm coming after all. Give me the keys, I'M driving."