Elizabeth Dawson wiped the sweat from her forehead as she gathered up her things and zipped them into her backpack. Cheer practice always wore her out and she was anxious to get to her dorm room and take a shower. Next to her, her friend Kayla Powers chattered mindlessly at rapid speed. Elizabeth chuckled to herself as her friend rambled on. Boys and parties were at the top of Kayla's priority list these days. School, on the other hand, didn't seem to be on that list at all. Kayla was struggling to keep her average up in order to remain eligible for the squad. Elizabeth took it upon herself to tutor her, but studying with Kayla was a nightmare. All she ever wanted to do was gossip.

As she half listened to her friends one-sided conversation, she glanced up at the bleachers that faced the field. It was common for people, especially boys, to park themselves on the wood seats and watch the cheerleaders practice, but they usually disappeared as soon as it was over. Today, there were two guys still seated in the highest section. The sun was in her eyes, and she couldn't tell if they were staring in her direction, but the thought made her uncomfortable. She wasn't used to the open way men would leer at a woman out here.

She was about to cut her friend off in the middle of her story and say goodbye when something interesting caught her ear.

"What was that about Friday night?"

"I have a date!"

Kayla's excitement showed in her face as her rosy cheeks glowed and her eyes sparkled. Elizabeth smiled to herself as she realized Kayla had been so focused on talking that she hadn't even realized no one was listening.

"With who?"

"Brad Richter. You know, that guy we met at that party last week. Tall, dreamy eyes, cute butt." Kayla's eyebrows wiggled suggestively. "He plays football for State. Linebacker...I think."

Elizabeth laughed. "He's their quarterback Kay. Their star quarterback."

Kayla blew off the correction with a wave of her hand. "Quarterback, shmarterback. I don't care about football. I just like the way they look in those uniforms!" Her bright smile showed off her pearly white teeth. "I have to figure out what to wear. I need to dazzle him."

As Kayla continued with her incessant rambling, Elizabeth looked at her friend. With curly blonde hair, big blue eyes and a petite figure, there was no doubt that Kayla could easily dazzle any man she came into contact with. Her bubbly personality was another thing that made Elizabeth jealous. She knew that she herself had been much like Kayla months before, but moving to a new state and attending college where she knew no one had turned her into a very quiet, unassuming freshmen. Boys looked through her, not at her. Her southern drawl was the only thing that garnered anyone's attention, and usually that attention was negative. People always assumed she was an ignorant country girl although that was about as far from the truth as you could get from the truth.

Kayla's voice cut into her thoughts again.

"I completely forgot about my meeting with Professor Landry. I have to run Lizzy, talk to you later!"

There was no time to remind her friend how much she hated that nickname as she watched Kayla scurry across the field towards the English building. Elizabeth stared after her for a moment, before letting her gaze wander up towards the bleachers again. The guys that had been sitting there were gone. In fact, she realized as she glanced around, nearly everyone was gone.

She slung her backpack over her shoulder and turned in the direction of the dorms. After the two hour practice, her muscles were tired. She could hardly wait to sit down and relax, but knew she had a long walk home first. The sports fields stretched on as far as the eye could see. Beyond that, the tree-line sidewalks made a path through the commons, past the fountain and down towards the dorms. Whoever designed this school must have planned this, she thought to herself. Walking was the only way to get to the fields from the dorms, and surely all of that cardio would help to keep any athlete in top shape.

She heard the footsteps and turned just as the man causing them fell into step beside her. She immediately recognized him as one of the boys she had seen in the bleachers. Up close, she could better appreciate the view. He was tall, easily a foot taller than her own height of 5'2'' and well built. His brown hair looked messy, but she was sure it had taken him a long time to get it that way. Blue eyes peered at her from underneath eyelashes she would kill for and his lips parted into a friendly smile.

"Hey."

"Hello," she replied quickly. It would have been rude not to respond, she told herself, but ducked her head down to make it clear that she wasn't interested in conversation. The boy didn't seem to take a hint, because he didn't continue past her.

"I'll walk you home."

"That's really not necessary. I'm eighteen years old, I'm perfectly capable of walking myself home."

"Would it hurt to have some company along?"

"I'm in a hurry," she cautioned, attempting to discourage him. He shrugged.

"That's alright, I'm done with my classes for the day. Nowhere else to be."

Of course not.

Stone silent, she walked on. They stepped off of the field and onto the sidewalk. It was at least another half mile before they would arrive at the dorms, and she silently contemplated ways to get him to leave her alone. Perhaps she could say she had changed her mind and wanted to study at the library. Except she suddenly couldn't remember where the library was. If it was all the way across campus like the classrooms were, she would have him by her side much longer than she wanted and would make a longer trip for herself. Her feet vetoed that idea quickly. Void of any other ideas, she gave up. It wouldn't kill her to let him walk her home. He didn't look like a serial killer anyway.

Yeah and that's what everyone said about Ted Bundy too, she thought to herself. As though the tag-a-long could read her mind, he flashed her a friendly smile. "I always hate seeing a lady walking alone."

"My hero," she said quietly, and the stranger laughed quietly to himself. What a stupid thing to say, she chided herself, but at least he laughed.

Content to keep his company, Elizabeth found herself with nothing else to say. She couldn't believe how shy she had become in the short time she had been here. People back home would never recognize this meek girl as the same pageant princess who once exuded all the confidence in the world. Once upon a time she would have been one of those girls she often saw on campus, flirting outrageously with whichever boy happened by and chatting away the afternoon with friends. The girl she used to be would have this boy beside her eating out of the palm of her hand, begging for a chance to take her out some night.

She felt like nothing more than a shadow of her former self as she struggled to think of something clever to say.

"Looks like it might rain."

I did not just say that, Elizabeth assured herself. They were in Seattle for goodness sakes, it always looked as though it might rain!

"A little water never hurt anybody. I've lived here all my life, I'm used to getting wet." She nodded and watched as he eyed her critically.

"Just a hint, but white shirts aren't the best attire for women around here. Unless you like being stared at. When it rains, your clothes get wet and..."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest as he trailed off, huffing to herself. Her cheeks turned pink as she realized what must be on his mind. Pervert. She was just about to tell him she could make it the rest of the way just fine when a loud, booming voice rang out.

"Hey Westbrook, going to Carmichael's party Saturday night?"

They both stopped and looked towards the origin of the sound, a tall, carrot topped man with a bushy beard who looked as though he had never shaved a day in his life was smiling at them. He looked to be half a dozen years older than any other student on campus, but his attire gave off the aura of a frat boy. Her companion smiled back and reached out to shake his hand while Elizabeth wondered just how many times the guy had failed in order for him to still be in college.

"Might. I might have plans."

Elizabeth noticed the way he tilted his head in her direction as he said this. Red Hair nodded and walked away without a goodbye.

When they were alone, they resumed walking. "Westbrook huh?"

"Ryan Westbrook. Actually, it's Theodore Ryan Westbrook, but nobody calls me Theodore and you can't either."

She nodded in acknowledgement, but said nothing.

"Do you have a name? Or should I just call you beautiful?"

She politely turned her head away so that he wouldn't see her roll her eyes at him.

"Elizabeth Dawson. I won't call you Theodore if you don't call me Lizzy."

His blue eyes shone with amusement.

"Agreed. So Elizabeth, you're not from around here are you?"

Captain Obvious, she thought to herself. "What makes you think that? I haven't perfected my Washington accent yet?"

He laughed. "Not quite. And from the sound of that drawl, you have a ways to go darlin'," he added in a bad imitation.

Comments like that usually made her angry, but this guy was such a goofball that she couldn't help herself. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

He swayed against her gently and nudged her with his arm. "It's okay to laugh you know."

Her smile broadened despite her attempt to control it as he moved away from her. "Much better."

They walked in silence for a moment. Elizabeth peeked at him out of the corner of her eye as they made their way past the fountain. She noted how many people waved and called out greetings to him as they passed, and the envious looks on women's faces as Ryan sauntered along next to her. Apparently he was much more well known to all of these students than he was to her. It made her wonder why he was paying any attention to her. Surely a guy who could get this much attention had better things to do than walk a freshman home.

Lost in thought, she forgot to watch where she was going and tripped over a backpack someone had left lying on the grass. Ryan's hand reached out and grabbed her bag, preventing her from tumbling forward. Blushing, she muttered a quick thanks and glued her eyes to the ground to prevent any more embarrassing incidents. Must I always make a fool of myself, she asked herself thoughtfully. Not only had she tripped in front of a boy that was interested in walking her home, but there were also several dozen students lazing around between classes to act as witnesses. It was not the impression she was looking to make at her new school. This fresh start wasn't turning out the way she had hoped.

As they left the quad and rounded the corner towards her dorm, Elizabeth looked over at him. "My building is just up ahead. It really isn't necessary for you to walk all that way."

"I don't mind."

"You're going to have a long walk back to your room," she insisted, glancing in the direction of the boys' dorms. She stopped in hopes that he would follow suit, but he continued on, seemingly unaware that she was no longer beside him.

He shook his head. "Upperclassman. I'm renting a place off campus. You coming?"

Defeated, she trudged along behind him, struggling to keep up with his longer stride. Surely it wasn't the smartest idea to allow a strange man to walk you home and find out where you lived, but she wasn't sure how to get rid of him. It wasn't in her nature to be rude and just tell him to go away.

As though he could read her thoughts, he stopped abruptly in front of the door to her building. "Think you can make it upstairs without hurting yourself?"

Her frown was involuntary, but relayed her emotions just the same. "No offense," he added quickly. "It's just that you seem to have a flair for falling down."

"I tripped once."

"You also fell twice at practice," he pointed out.

She had been hoping he hadn't noticed that. "I'm still getting used to the new routines."

Silence fell over them and she looked everywhere but at him as she waited for him to leave. People darted by the doorway left and right as they hurried off to class, while others lingered. Elizabeth noticed that one of the girls who lived down the hall slowed her pace as she passed, and watched as the girl checked Ryan out fully before giggling and disappearing into the building.

"You have beautiful eyes."

She snapped back to attention. The compliment was thrown out so randomly that it caught her off guard. "Thanks," she stammered, embarrassed. Was this guy for real?

As she pondered, he shifted the weight of his bag on his shoulder. "I should go. You have things to do." It was a statement, much like everything else he said; he never seemed to question anything. How anyone could be so sure of themself was a mystery to her. He oozed self confidence. And sex appeal, if she was honest with herself.

"I think you should give me your phone number."

"Why would I give you my phone number? I barely know you."

"That's precisely why you should. You need to get to know me better." Logic was not his strong suit, but his charm certainly was intriguing. He was unlike anyone she had ever met before, and she decided that qualified as a good thing. She knew she needed to get to know more people here, and make a life where she would spend the next four years. Every stranger was just a friend waiting to happen after all, or so the quote claimed.

Maybe more than a friend. He was really cute, and he seemed nice enough. The neatly ironed button up shirt and khaki slacks gave him a neat appearance despite his bedhead hairstyle, much like most of the boys she was used to dating. He was the kind of guy her parents would approve of, the kind of guy they would want her to date. She could finally write home to say she was meeting the "right" kind of people.

"Alright," she mumbled, still somewhat hesitant. She rattled off her number and watched as he programmed it into his cell phone. When he was through, he winked at her and wandered off without so much as a goodbye. She watched until he turned the corner and was out of sight before she ran up the stairs and up to her room. As she shut the door behind her, a familiar jangle came from her backpack. She reached in and pulled out her cell phone, not recognizing the number on the display screen.

"Hello?" she asked breathlessly.

"Just checking," came the familiar voice. He said nothing else, but she would have sworn she heard faint laughter before he hung up.