As Richard set up the video camera he wondered what he would say; he had no problem being honest, but he did have a problem knowing what he wanted. A year ago he knew all he wanted was a drink. He didn't care who he hurt in the process or who he had to hurt to get what he wanted. Now without the alcohol and drugs to hide behind, he had no excuses.
"Where do I want to see my sex life by the end of this class? Well, I'd like to have one again. It seems like since, she jumped I haven't had much of one. Not really a matter of their not being any opportunity but more of not the right person. I always, I used to think that if I ever found the one. You know THE ONE, that I was supposed to be with I'd never let her go. Well we see how well that one turned out. She um, she's seeing someone new. A freshman, I don't know how I feel about that yet. But I guess I don't really get a choice now do I? I'm such a screw-up."
Hitting the stop button Richard got up moving to the bar of his apartment. There wasn't any alcohol left, so he knew that wouldn't be a problem. Grabbing himself a soda, he began to drink it. Instead of sitting in his apartment alone he decided to go to the Bugle office instead. It was only mid-day; he knew that there would be things to do.
Walking into his office he sat down to the pile of stories that needed to be read over. Richard was diligently at work until he heard the knock on his door.
"Excuse me?" said a soft spoken voice. Richard looked up to see a girl who he figured was a high school student doing her college visit.
"What do you want?" Richard replied not looking up from the article he was reading. He had a deadline to meet and he didn't have time to indulge a doughy-eyed, high school student.
"Um are you Richard Thorne? One of your reporters told me to come find you." She said cautiously. "Um, someone wanted to do a story on me?"
"Really, what's your name sweetheart?" Richard said putting on the slight charm, maybe she was another chipy who had slept with Professor Dixon.
"Haley Carlton." She said moving towards his desk to sit in the chair across from it.
"Really, you're Haley?" One of his staffer's had told him about this girl. "Okay well, were going to set you up with one of our senior staff writers." Richard said, standing up. Walking her over to the desk of the person who was supposed to write the article, he quickly turned and went back to his office. Looking over he smiled at the young girl looking over at him. 'Haley Carlton' Richard thought to himself. She wasn't what Richard had pictured at all. A second semester 17 year-old college freshman with a 4.0, not all that fascinating but miraculous none the less. Seeing that the staff writer hadn't shown up yet, Richard went back out to her. "I don't know where Sean is right now, but how about we go get a cup of coffee while you wait?" Richard asked, trying to be polite.
"Sure." Haley said standing up; Richard beat her to her backpack carrying it for her. "Thanks. So do you do this for all the girls who get stories written about them?" She asked as they sat at a table in the union.
"Definitely, not." He said. "So how are you enjoying your first year at Bedford?"
"It's okay. Too much homework, not enough sleep. My roommate well lets just say she enjoys the company of many men." Haley said shyly. "It tends to keep me up to the very late hours, trying to sleep."
"Ah you have one of those roommates." Richard laughed. "Well, if you can't beat them, join them." When Haley looked up she had a dear in headlights look on her face. "I was joking. So what's your major going to be?"
"Um well I haven't actually decided yet but I was leaning towards something to do with English." She said stirring her coffee.
"Ever considered writing for the Bugle?" Richard asked just trying to pass the time. "Were always looking for new writers."
"I'll get back to you on that. Let me survive my first year here first." Haley joked. "So why are you doing this? I mean having coffee with me."
"Honestly, you looked really uncomfortable sitting at the Bugle." Richard admitted.
"Well sorry but I'm not a big fan of new situations." Haley admitted.
"Then college must be driving you crazy. One new situation after another." Richard said knowing the ins and outs of the first year.
"I'm managing. I've kind of learned that nothing is easy here." Haley said.
"Well that's not true. It's really easy to skip all your classes. It's also really easy to get alcohol." Richard told her.
"Well that's okay I don't drink."
"Really, that's very unheard of. Give it a few weeks or at least until finals."
"You know Richard not everyone is alike. Not all student's act the same."
"Really, how are you so different than the other 25,000 people on this campus?" Richard said baiting her challenge.
"Well for starters I don't drink. I also didn't get here because my rich parents paid my way." Haley spat sitting a little taller in her chair.
"You're probably a virgin too." Richard joked. When Haley didn't respond he wondered if he had gone too far. "I'm sorry, uh that was too far."
"Well it's not like it's not true. Yes I'm a virgin, I'm also only 17 so it's not like I'm legal either." Haley said trying to lighten the situation. "I know I'm supposed to be waiting for your writer but I have to get to class. So-" Haley stood to leave grabbing her messenger bag and slinging it around her body. "I'll stop by the office another time for the interview?"
"Yeah just give me a call, we'll make sure to set it up." Richard said standing with her handing her a card from his pocket. "It was nice to meet you Haley." Richard shook her hand hoping that it wouldn't be the last time that he saw her.