Chapter One: Superstition

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I don't remember much about my mother, my biological mother that is. From what I heard she was a drug abuser, a woman of the street, That's at least what my social worker said, but in kinder words. Still, I do have one key memory of her, that haunts me to this day now. She came into our roach-infected apartment after I placed my baby brother, Xavier, asleep in his crib. I was sitting on the busted spring couch in our cramped disgusting living room. She sat beside me reeking of the most unholy scents known, on the verge of passing out. I remember she took me by my face with her cold pale hands, her long nails piercings my cheeks. And she spoke so softly yet demanding and said 'Maya, men are the most useless creations ever created, and for your sake never get involved with them.'

But that was fourteen years ago, and for the most part, I moved on. When I was nine I was adopted by a upper-middle-class white family in Ohio. The father, Andrew Tarver, and mother, Laura Tarver, are co-owners of their family-founded real estate firm. And they have two sons in their late twenties, Leo and Oliver. And though they were most definitely an upgrade, when compared to my neglectful mother, my life didn't become an overnight fairytale. Throughout elementary school and middle school, I was teased for my bi-racial identity. And despite my last name being changed to Tarver, my background was found I was taunted for my parent's sinful life, people who I barely knew. It didn't bother me at first, but after a while how much can somebody take?  I didn't inform my adoptive parents, until after my middle school graduation, when Laura found my bag pack one night after I planned to run away. They understood and after many conversations, by the end of the summer I was enrolled in an all-girls catholic highschool. Yet, as life was better there, I received some one the worst news of my life. My younger brother was adopted by a family in San Francisco, we were officially over two thousands miles apart. We lost touch for a little while, but after my high school graduation he found me on social media. Since then I have had one pursuit in particular, and that was getting him and me back together.

To achieve that, I am currently in my second year at River North University, a private university in northeast Ohio not far from the Tarver's home, studying Criminal Justice.  It came as a surprise to many when I decided to pick that is my major when considering my background. But it has a promising outcome,  and after I graduate here I plan to enroll at a law school in San Francisco, and it's not hard to guess why. Yet, it's hard to fit in here. While everyone parties, I study, fun is only temporary. As a result of that, it's tough to make friends, real friends, not project buddies. So I can only imagine in their eyes if they see me at all, I am a loner. But I am okay with that, as long as my goal stays intact... And always remember what my mother taught me.

Presently, I sit at Rosemary's coffee shop, the university cafe, trying to finish the last of my essay for political science. Jazz and classical music have been playing throughout the night, as it's supposed to concentrate the mind. I sit in the back corner, by the window, with my laptop open, and my red hoodie up. The place is nearly empty, as it's a Friday night, and just a few students are here, all spread among the place, trying to finish their work before the due date as winter break is looming over all of us. I take the last sip of my espresso, my energetic savior, prompting me to go get a refill. I stand up and walk over to the counter, where there is no line. Rosemary, rest behind the counter, sitting on a stool, her eyes light up when she's me.

"Refill, please?" I ask returning my cup to her.

"Of course, Maya." She says, taking my cup from me. She goes to back the espresso machine, to refill, my cup. While waiting, I dig into my backpack looking for a four quarters, as that's the refill charge here. By the time rosemary returns, I have a the fours quarter in the hold of my fingertip, ready to give her. "Here you go." She says passing me my drink, as I hear the doorbell chime behind me, as somebody is walking in.

"Thank you." I say dropping, the quarters in the palm of her hand. But she shakes her head in denial and returns the quarters to me.

"No, not you. You're going to need every quarter you can get for your move to San Francisco." She insists. She's a sweet older woman. I would consider her a confidante, as she and I talk from time to time when the coffee shop is not crowded and I am not busy. "But don't tell anybody." She jokes, placing her pointing finger at her lips, as a hush symbol.

"Don't worry, I won't." I reply, mocking her symbol, in a joking way.

"How's the essay treating you?" She asks as I've been sitting there for a near three hours.

"It's challenging." I complain. "But I am almost done, my last paragraph and then conclusion." I rejoice.

"Well, don't worry I am sure..." She stops talking as her eyes turn away but towards the window. "Do you know him?" She asks. I turn back to see a red hair boy, taking a seat at my table.

"Nooo." I say dragging my word, as I find his behavior to be odd.

"Let me know if he gives you, any trouble, and I will force him out." Rosemary says as I walk away from the counter. It's not that I am anti-male or whatever, but why sit directly at my table when there are at least seven unoccupied ones?

"Excuse me?" I call out, but he doesn't hear me, as he already has his earbuds in. I then give a light tug to his jacket, and his blue eyes glances up immediately, and he can only guess what I want as he shoots him this confusing look.

"Hey... Hi." He says, his deep voice quivering. "Were you sitting here?" He asks, pointing at my laptop, and coat.

"Yes, and I will like it back." I demand, calming my tone, as from just his voice alone I can tell he's not into conflict. "Please? There are so many other tables available." I point out.

"I know, but this is my table like I always sit here... I need to sit here." He begs of me, while keeping his charming ways. But I can't help but roll my eyes at him.

"Don't tell me your superstitious?" I ask, crossing my arms. Yet, he shrugs his shoulders, zipping down his jacket to reveal his hoodie that read 'River North University Baseball.' And like that I recognize him, Eliot Keller, during the spring I see his face all plastered over the campus.

"I kind of have to it's kind of my athletic religion." He says trying to make me laugh but I am not breaking. "I just know whenever I sit here, I always get good grades, and I need this to play baseball next semester." He explains. "I promise I will be quiet, you won't even know I am here." He then glances at my cup. "And will buy you as many refills as you want."

"I already have one." I say, before shutting my laptop and placing it in my backpack. As Rosemary sees me, she comes over in our direction.

"Excuse me, this was her seat." She pleads on my side. But there no point in even going on about this, I'll just go home. He's practically this school's Babe Ruth, if this gets back to the dean, I will somehow be the one at fault.

"I know, and I just want to..." He stops talking, as he sees me, puts my long purple puffer coat. "Hey! Hey! Where are you going?" He asks, standing up and trying to stop me.

"Home." I say, getting past him. But before I walk out I need to inform him of something. "By the way your superstition is garbage, these chairs get moved around daily."

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