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."
