Lucky's (Mis)Fortune (MXMXMXM)

Lucky's (Mis)Fortune: CHAPTER TWO

When Professor Danes dismissed the class, everyone didn't have to hear the words twice to start rushing out.

I took my time.

I stretched out in my seat. Then, I glanced to see Liam with his head on his desk in a deep slumber which made me roll my eyes before I started to pack my things up. I was in the middle of putting my pens away when someone approached me. His name was Leo. He always sat in the middle row of the class and seemed to be at his best. Outside the class, though, he seemed to always have a taunting smirk pasted on his face that made him come out as arrogant.

I raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you?"

"Hey," he grinned, "Lucky, right?"

I sighed. "My name's Jordan."

"Right, Jordan. I had something I wanted to ask you."

"Shoot," I said curiously, leaning back on my chair. What could this boy have to say to me?

"I know that it's bad to eavesdrop but I heard earlier that you're looking for a job?" I tensed a little but nodded nonetheless. "I may have something to offer." My ears perked up at that. He must have seen that because he took the liberty to continue what he was saying. "But the job is kinda risky, dangerous, I must say."

I frowned at that. "I don't want anything to do with something that may be illegal," I sighed in disappointment as I zipped my bag up. Just as I was ready to tap Liam to wake up, Leo stopped me.

"Aren't you even a little curious as to what the job is?"

I stopped for a second and watched him. His smirk was still cocky which made me a little mad. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of getting what he wants but I decided to hear him. I was curious. "What is it?"

"A job as a butler."

I frowned in confusion. "Why would you call that risky?"

"The boss is... particular," he answered with a small laugh. "This is the address, we'll be expecting you all day today, you have now until midnight or we'll take it as you don't want the job," he shrugged before walking away nonchalantly.

I took the paper from the desk, turning it over to read the address. '304 Maple Street.'

I shook my head to get rid of my dazed state before turning to Liam and finally waking him up after 20 minutes. "You slept through the whole class," I told him when he finally opened his eyes.

I stood up from my sit. "Wait for me," he said groggily, taking his bag and sloppily putting it where it goes on his back as he stood up.

I scoffed at his half-awake self before walking away, leaving it up to him to follow.

-----

"Lucky wait for me. Lucky," he whined. I just continued walking. I was used to his behavior by now.

"I'll stop if you give me your water bottle," I told him, loud enough for him to hear. I hate taking things from people but desperate times call for desperate decisions. I needed it right now. I only had a gallon of water in my apartment that I saved for emergencies. I would now have to use it for not only drinking but also showering until I'm able to get a job. James has offered before to help me since he understood and related to my situation but I was always against the idea of receiving his help since we're not close enough for that.

"You could just have asked, asshat! You didn't have to make me nearly run!" He groaned dramatically.

I stopped walking and rolled my eyes as I accepted the bottle he handed me.

"Was it me or did someone talk to you in class? I could've sworn I heard someone's voice before I fell into a deeper sleep," he furrowed his eyebrows.

"It was that kid named Leo. He said he had a job to offer me."

"How did he know you needed a job?"

I flicked his forehead. "He heard us talking, obviously."

"Well, he sits in the middle! How could he have heard us?!" He exclaimed, rubbing his forehead as he glared at me.

Huh, I didn't think of that. "He must've been sitting close to the back before class. You know how he hangs out with that girl Vanessa or whatever her name is. Today, she sat close to us so I guess that could be an explanation," I shrugged.

"Do you wanna go eat? I'll pay," he said, eyeing the streets.

It was past one now so we were both understandably hungry. One thing that I liked about being friends with Liam was that he didn't know my situation so he couldn't feel pity for me. He didn't know that I live alone, he thought I lived with both of my parents and older sister and that the only reason I needed a job was to take care of my own needs. So when he offered to pay for me or something similar, I didn't feel angry that he was treating me as a charity case or something. I knew he was doing it as a good person.

With hesitance, I nodded at his request. He instantly pointed at a Jack in Box, his favorite fast food restaurant. I let myself laugh at his predictability which made him look at me with confusion. I shook my head at his questions before walking ahead to the fast food restaurant.

We quickly ordered and sat down at one of the tables near the window. "So, are you gonna take the job Leo offered?" He questioned, sipping his soda.

I hummed thoughtfully. "I'm not sure. He was being weird about it."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Weird, how?" I just shrugged in response before our conversation was cut short when someone behind the counter called our number.

We conversed through our meal and when we were done, we separated ways. It was past five by now and considering it was November, the sun was already going down. As a sudden cold breeze went by, I hugged my old black sweater closer to me.

I hated winter. Before... everything, it used to be my favorite season but it soon became the worst. I didn't have the money to buy adequate attire and usually had to use the same things besides the fact that there was no heater in my apartment. In the summer, it was easy to deal with the weather. I could wear less and use no blanket during the night but in the winter there was no way to redeem the circumstance. I just... had to deal with it. But I was getting used to that. It was the third year I was out of comfort, I was 20 now, on the verge of 21, and I had learned over time how to deal with things. This was just a small inconvenience.

-----

I was sitting on my run-down couch, staring down at the piece of paper. I was considering it. I was desperate. It was seven now, and I had five more hours but I knew that the employer wouldn't really appreciate it if I were to show up at midnight asking for a job. Besides, I knew that this neighborhood was within a 45-minute walking distance so I had to make a decision quickly.

I glanced around the room, conscious that I could be kicked out of this comfort. Even if it wasn't in the best conditions, even if I didn't consider this place my home, it was what I had and I was grateful for it. I didn't want to lose it. Rather, I needed this. I couldn't lose it.

I abruptly stood and grabbed my jacket, phone, keys, and wallet before walking out. I made sure that the troublesome door was locked before running down the stairs, desperate to make it to the address. 

I had been through that part of the city once during a delivery job when I worked in a nearby pizza hut that closed down last year. I knew where I was going, I knew it was where the wealthy lived. It made sense, I noted. What other type of people would hire a butler? The address written on the paper in my hand must belong to someone with a lot of money that perhaps owed a business or worked as a lawyer or doctor.

I decided not to dwell on my thoughts much longer.

Instead, I continued to walk to my destination.