The Melody of Light

by M. L. Rice

  Afterward, she pulled out her cell phone and made a list of all of the things she would need to buy immediately from the store. The bed had no linens, she had no towels, the kitchen was completely bare except for an old bottle of mustard and a packet of baking soda in the refrigerator, and she had to go out and buy one nicer set of clothes for all of the interviews she was bound to have as soon as she started looking for a job.

  When the list was complete, she sat on the window seat next to the nightstand and took a moment to gaze out across the tops of the live oak trees that grew in front of the small apartment complex.

  She took a deep breath and smiled. “Day one. Let’s go.”

  *

  Riley face-planted onto the bed. It was stiff and barely jiggled as her weight fell on it.

  “Ow,” she said, her voice muffled by her newly purchased comforter.

  It had been a long couple of days. All of her shopping was now done, and she had even been to four job interviews. Her fingers were crossed for the sales position at the local musical instrument store, but she feared that with her lack of work experience she would only get offered the stocker position at the small local organic grocery store…if that. But no, she couldn’t worry yet. She had only been on her own for two days, and she had three months to get used to her new city before she moved into the dorm.

  As she was pondering what she was going to do with herself in the next weeks, her cell phone rang. She jumped up and grabbed it off the side table, hoping it was Aidan checking in to see how she was doing. It was a number she didn’t recognize.

  She answered the call and smiled as she learned that she had been hired as a barista at the small coffee shop only a few blocks from the UT campus. She told the woman on the phone that she would indeed be able to start tomorrow and jammed her fist silently into the air in triumph.

  Two days in Austin, two days as a real life human being, and she already had a job. Surely that was a world record. She hung up the phone and looked around the bare room. What now?

  “Celebrate.”

  She got up off the bed and rummaged through the three bags of groceries she had brought home. She set two bottles of sarsaparilla, a frozen tikka masala dish, and Blue Bell strawberry ice cream on the counter. That, paired with a night spent streaming episodes of Battlestar Galactica on her computer, made for a pleasant evening indeed.

  *

  Working at the coffee shop turned out to be a perfect job for her. She always had to work the late shift, but she didn’t mind. It gave her time to play her cello without disturbing anyone during the day.

  “Don’t look now, but that skinny brown-haired girl is back. Table four.”

  Riley turned from the sink behind the coffee bar to look at the isolated table by the bookshelf. The coffee shop was busy despite it being just after midnight, but the brown-haired girl with the glasses was the only one looking directly at her.

  “Girl, what’d I say?” Koji, her flamboyantly gay and super-hyper coworker, slapped the back of her head. It was too late, though. She had been caught looking by the familiar young woman in the corner. Riley turned around quickly, unable to hide her embarrassment.

  “You know, she never used to come in as often before you started working here,” he said, nudging Riley with his hip as she continued vigorously scrubbing the dirty blender in the sink.

  Riley shook her head. “I’ve only been here for two and a half months, and she doesn’t come in any more often than our other regulars. People do like coffee at night too, you know. College town and whatnot? And we’re right next to campus.”

  Koji pursed his lips. “Mmm-hmm. You can keep paddling up denial until you reach the sea, but that girl likes you. I catch her staring all the time. When she orders coffee from you I can see her struggling to say something else, but she chickens out.”

  Riley blushed, but didn’t say anything.

  “You should go talk to her.”

  “Right.”

  Koji clicked his tongue. “It’s not like you don’t have an excuse. You could ask her if she needs anything else. A refill, some biscotti…the intimate companionship of an adorable blue-eyed redhead such as yourself.”

  “It would be so obvious. No, thanks. And…shut up.”

  He turned around as customers approached the register, but said over his shoulder, “Okay, but you’re missing out. That girl is cute…in a nerdy, mousy, geek chic, I-bet-she’s-wild-in-private kind of way.”

  Riley just shook her head. Still, she chanced one last glance over at the shy girl in the corner. Their eyes met, and they both looked away quickly. Riley tried to hide the smile that formed. Maybe she should go talk to her…later. Much, much later.

  *

  “I can’t believe that I finally get out of training after all these months and I’m still doing grunt work,” Aidan whined as he carried two heavy boxes of books up the dormitory stairs. “How could you buy so many books in only three months?”

  “Oh, stop complaining. I have, like, four possessions to my name. It’s not like this is hard for a solider like you.”

  “Marine,” he huffed.

  “Sorry. A Marine like you.”

  “Just remember that you promised we can go out after we’re done moving you in. No way in hell am I going to hang out in a college town for a week without meeting some of the ladies. We’ve gotta go to Sixth Street! Craig and Rafael texted me already about the shit they’re getting into back home, and believe me, it’s a hell of a lot more fun than this.”

  Riley turned around in the middle of the stairwell and glared down at him. “Aidan, damn it, you can go if you want to! It’s not my fault your leave happened to fall at the same time as the start of school!” She stamped her foot in frustration.

  “Whoa! Temper, Sis! You know I’m just kidding. I’m happy to help you move in. Really.”

  Riley deflated. She hated losing her temper so easily. “I’m sorry. I just feel guilty. Your buddies are off having fun and you’re stuck with your volatile little sister.”

  “Riley.” Aidan peeked out from behind the boxes he was holding. “Don’t feel guilty. I love you. I wouldn’t miss this for anything, and please keep moving because these boxes are hella heavy.”

  “Oh. Sorry.” She turned and carried her cello up the rest of the way to the third floor.

  She found her room number, and when she opened the door, she was startled to see that the girl whom she assumed to be her new roommate was already completely moved in. Her eyes widened as she took in a bed draped with a bright purple satin bedspread against the far wall, lacy pillows, a study desk that was completely covered with cosmetics, large pink wooden Greek letters nailed into the wall, and posters of half-naked male soccer players taking up the rest of the real estate.

  “Oh God.” The words slipped out before Riley could stop them.

  Her new roommate heard her and leaned forward to see who had walked in. Her smile broadened as their eyes met. “OMG, roomie?”

  Riley smiled nervously and set her cello case against the wall. “Looks like it.” She walked in and set her box on her own uncomfortable-looking bed and then offered her hand. “Hi, I’m Riley. Riley Gordon.”

  Riley noticed that the girl’s white-blond hair sparkled in the light from the window. She knew that her own probably looked lifeless and dull. Riley felt downright homely next to this girl.

  “It’s so good to meet you, Riley! I’m Brooke.” She took Riley’s hand and pulled her into an uncomfortably close hug. “Oh, we’re going to have so much fun I just know it!” She swayed back and forth as Riley struggled to breathe. It was only when Aidan walked into the room that she stopped suddenly and let out a small gasp.

  Riley turned her head with difficulty and explained, “That’s my brother Aidan. He’s helping me move.”

  Aidan smiled and moved past them to set the rest of the boxes on Riley’s bed. Brooke’s demeanor changed dramatically. She let go of Riley and slowly sashayed over to where Aidan stood in his tigh
t USMC T-shirt that showed every muscle in his arms and chest.

  “Hi, Aidan.” Her voice had lost its bubbly quality and was now slightly lower and infinitely more breathy.

  Riley rolled her eyes. Here we go again. She wished she had a hundredth of the charm and good looks of her brother. It was so annoying knowing that no matter what she did he was always going to be the one that would be the center of attention. Where Aidan was adored, Riley was ignored.

  “Do you go to school here too?” Brooke asked hopefully.

  Aidan smiled, “Nope. I’m in the Marine Corps.” He pointed unnecessarily to his shirt. “Just helping Riley get settled before I have to go back.”

  Brooke looked enamored. “Oh, a Marine. How brave! Well, don’t you worry about anything. Riley and I are going to be BFFs, and we’re going to have the best time ever, aren’t we?” She looked over her shoulder.

  Riley smiled halfheartedly.

  Brooke turned back to Aidan. “See? I’ll take good care of her. I’m a sophomore so I can show her the ropes. Hey, how about I show you guys around right now?” She smiled at Aidan, who looked to Riley.

  Seeing her nervous face, he replied, “I appreciate it, but we’re actually going to go hang out for a while. I have to leave in a couple of days, and I don’t know when we’ll get to see each other again.”

  Brooke looked disappointed, but said, “Totally cool. You two have fun. Just be sure to come and say bye before you go, okay?” She batted her eyelashes at him.

  Aidan spoke to Riley. “Do you want to unpack now or can you do it later?”

  Riley wanted to get out of that room. She had been there all of two minutes and the girliness of it was already stifling. “I can do it later. Will you walk with me over to the music building? I need to pick up some music before class starts.”

  “You’re a musician?” Brooke asked. Riley thought she heard a note of trepidation in her voice.

  “I am. Cellist. Performance major.” Riley looked at her and smiled with embarrassment. Would this obviously popular girl think that was too geeky?

  “Oh!” There was a pause. “Will you be…practicing in here?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe a little. Why?”

  Brooke’s smile turned a tad fake. “No reason. It’s just…I mean…it’s a small room and…you know…noise and stuff.”

  Riley glanced at Aidan, who shrugged in a “leave me out of this” sort of way. She looked back to Brooke and stated, somewhat defensively, “I’ll make sure you’re not here. I don’t want to be a bother. They have practice rooms at the music building anyway.”

  Brooke’s demeanor changed instantly. “Excellent! Well, anyway. Welcome to Texas and I’ll see you guys later!” She looked at Aidan when she said it. “Have fun!”

  Riley smiled politely. “Thanks. See ya.”

  *

  When they were out of the dorm and walking past the enormous gothic-style football stadium toward the music building, Aidan said, “So. She seems…fun.”

  Riley was trying not to think about it. It was unfair of her to judge someone based solely on a five-minute conversation. She shrugged and simply took in her surroundings as she walked. Students clad in burnt orange and white were everywhere.

  “Maybe she’ll calm down a little when I’m not there. I can’t help that I’m so damn distracting.”

  When Riley didn’t say anything, he playfully bumped her with his hip as they walked up the hill to the school of music. “Come on. You’re exactly where you wanted to be. I need you to be happy about this or I’m going to worry my ass off while I’m gone.”

  Riley turned and smiled at him. “I am, Aidan. I couldn’t be happier. I mean, look at those trees.” She gestured to the gorgeous greenery surrounding them. “It’s beautiful here, it’s one of the best universities in the nation, and they’ve accepted me. Me! Little Orphan Nothing without a penny to her name. This is—” Her voice caught in her throat. “This is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am…so…happy.”

  Aidan smiled and put his arm around her shoulder as they walked. Riley was insanely happy, but she would have given anything in the world for Aidan to take this journey with her. Having him constantly by her side had been her only saving grace as they had grown up, and the thought of making such a drastic life change alone terrified her. Still, she knew that they would still have their emails and video chats. They might be few and far between depending on his deployment, but she knew that they would be her lifelines when things got too hard.

  *

  That evening Riley took Aidan to the coffee shop where she worked. She hadn’t been able to get out of her evening shift, so Aidan was content to spend the four hours keeping her company and working on some of the emails and financial things he had to get done before reporting to his new unit and duty station in Twentynine Palms, California. They would be visiting Sixth Street—the street full of bars, blues joints, and crowds of intoxicated college students—as soon as her shift ended. She had promised, after all.

  “So why the name Metro Haus?”

  Riley shrugged as she pulled the handle on the espresso machine to make him his macchiato. “I think it’s a combination of two other coffee shops that are closed now. That’s what I heard anyway. I think the owners are UT alumni who had a fondness for them. I like it, though. It’s homey.”

  After she set the hot mug in front of Aidan she was pulled forcefully into the back room by Koji.

  “Riles, who is that gorgeous man you’re helping?”

  “My brother.”

  Koji looked genuinely shocked. “He’s your brother?”

  Riley noticed his confused glance at her face and body. “Don’t look so surprised. I might get my feelings hurt or something.” She glared at him.

  “Oh!” He looked embarrassed. “No! I mean—”

  “Don’t bother.” She shook her head. “I already know.”

  Riley walked back out to where Aidan sat, and she stopped dead in her tracks. Aidan noticed and followed her gaze to the table in the corner.

  “Who’s that?”

  “What?” Riley jumped and looked at him.

  “You stopped as if you’d seen a ghost. Who’s that girl?”

  “No one. A regular.”

  He turned around again.

  “Don’t look!”

  Too late. The brown-haired girl was looking at them both. She blushed and looked down quickly at her iPad where she pointedly poked at the screen.

  Aidan turned back around, a lupine grin on his face.

  “You like her.”

  “What? No! What?”

  “Come on, Riley. You have a little bit of color in those cheeks.”

  “Shut up! No, I don’t.” She could feel her cheeks getting warmer. Traitors.

  To Riley’s horror, Koji chose just that moment to invite himself into their conversation. He leaned on the counter and whispered to Aidan conspiratorially. “That girl comes in almost every night that Riley works. Like clockwork. Your sister has an admirer.”

  “Koji? Are you kidding me right now?” Riley was mortified. She knew that the boys were just teasing her, but the truth was that she did actually think the girl with the glasses was pretty cute and there was just no way that she was going to let them in on that little secret. They’d be sure to embarrass her even more.

  Koji just laughed and motioned to the girl who was now surreptitiously watching them over the rim of her coffee cup. “You guys would make just the cutest little lesbian babies together!”

  Riley turned her back to the corner table and pointed her finger in Koji’s face. “Don’t start. Not now.” She brushed past him and said, “Since we’re both off the clock now, I was going to ask you to come out with us tonight. Do you want to do that or stay here and think of more childish ways to humiliate me?”

  She untied her apron, threw it on the counter, and walked out the door. She knew that they would both follow right behind.

  *

  “So, Koji. How�
��s my little Riley as a barista?” Aidan asked.

  Koji smiled and threw back a shot of tequila. “Not bad. The customers seem to like her.”

  “You mean the girls seem to like her.” Aidan giggled at his own joke.

  “Guys. I’m right here,” Riley said irritably.

  Aidan and Koji had decided to spend the evening at an Irish pub adjacent to Sixth Street. Riley could get in without being twenty-one, and Aidan had wanted to hear the live Celtic band. The only problem was that, now that the boys were both drunk, their conversation had turned to her.

  “I’m your designated driver, you know. I could just leave your asses here and make you walk if I wanted to,” she said in a huff.

  “Aw, c’mon, Sis,” Aidan said as he put his arm around her. “We’re just teasing you. I think it’s cute that a chick’s into you.”

  “Can’t we talk about something else?” Riley didn’t know why she was so annoyed by this subject. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she guessed that it might be because she thought it would be the greatest thing in the world if a cute woman was interested in her, but she didn’t want to deal with the disappointment when it turned out to not be true.

  “Okay, okay,” Aidan said as he moved his arm from her shoulders and took another long drink of his lager. “Koji, what about you? Have you worked at the coffee shop long?”

  “About a year. I hadn’t been there all that long when Riley started this summer.”

  “Are you a student at UT?”

  Koji made a “sort of” motion with his hand and said, “Used to be. After my junior year, I kind of had a crisis of purpose. I’m taking a year off to figure things out.”

  Riley hadn’t known this. She felt unsociable for never having asked him about it before. “What made you have a crisis of purpose?” she asked.

  Koji sipped on his glass of water before answering. “I was a government major on track for pre-law, but then”—he made a snapping motion—“I realized that was what my parents had pushed on me. I mean, nothing’s wrong with that and I’m not mad at them or anything, but it’s just not something I want to do.”