Serendipity

Chapter 5

It's three in the afternoon and I'm arriving at the dorms.

There's a brand new door where the old one used to be.

I let myself in.

Delaney and Ariella are sitting around the room, talking.

"You're back!" Delaney says.

"Yeah." I say, sighing.

"I'm just warning you, we got a threat from those guys today. I think we either get them expelled, get them to move out, or we move out."

I hesitate.

"Maybe." I say quietly. "What if we move into the campus apartments? Our own kitchen, a bathroom we can share, and our own room."

They both nod.

"We should."

They both have to leave for class, and I sit in the room for a while before changing, removing my makeup, and putting on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

I woke up with an iPhone six next to me and everything synced to it.

It was Mom, of course.

I gave her shit for it.

They told me this morning that they haven't seen the guys, and they still haven't seen them.

I find that fortune cookie while cleaning out my bag, and I hesitate, opening it.

I rip it in two, eating the entire thing before reading my fortune.

You'll meet somebody today who is going to be a fortunate stroke of serendipity. You've seen this person, but never spoke to them.

My lucky numbers are 20, 22, 2, 3, 4, 174

I roll my eyes, setting the fortune on my bed.

Bullshit.

Sighing, I decide to go take care of the rooming situation.

I put on converse, walking out of the dorm, locking the door behind me.

Walk across campus to the College Hall.

I walk in, the air conditioning hitting me.

I take a deep breath.

It feels wonderful in here. It's hot outside.

I walk to the desk, thankful I put my hair into a bun.

"How can I help you?"

"How late is too late to move me and my roommates out of the dorms and into the apartments?" I ask.

"Are you going to be staying on campus over the summer?"

"Yes."

"Then it's not too late." She says.

I've spoken to this woman before. She helped me find my class in freshmen year.

"Alright. How do I go about doing that?"

I explain to her the situation and she nods, checking availability's.

"There is one apartment open, it's three bedrooms, one bathroom. It's building D, room 174."

I nod.

"How much is that a month?"

"It's going to be $1,965 a month." She says.

I sigh.

If it's too expensive for Del and Ari, I'll just pay whatever's left.

"Yeah, I want it please."

"Alright, wonderful. Just letting you know, if you ever want to hide a spare key outside, hide it on the top of the doorframe. Nobody will look there."

"Thank you." I say.

She nods.

"Alright, what's your name?"

"Carmen Schuler."

Her eyes widen.

"Oh, oh, Miss Schuler-"

She looks shocked.

"Do you want me to get the Dean to help you?"

"No." I say, laughing. "I'm not related to the Schuler's."

"Oh." She laughs nervously. "Right. Sorry, I know the Schuler daughter attends this school, and her mother terrifies me. She terrifies the Dean, also."

"Yeah, I've heard." I smile.

We finish up the things, and I have Delaney and Ari transferred also.

She hands me four room keys.

"Please return the key to your dorm when you're done moving out."

"Will do. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome."

I turn around and walk out.

A guy is leaning against the wall to the left of the door.

He walks out behind me.

I recognize him, but I've never actually spoken to him.

His name is Tyler Cerda. He's the male slut of the school. Every girl walking past is glaring at me.

They want him.

I don't.

He's attractive, but I don't like men. I don't like relationships.

I act like he's not there, walking towards the dorms again.

"I know Lucas."

I stop walking.

Lucas. One of the fuckers that harass me, Del, and Ari.

I turn around.

"Cool." I say. "You better not start messing with me."

He grins.

"I don't blame him. You're hot. Wanna come to my apartment? I can show you a good time. I'll take your jeans off, if you'd like."

I raise my hand, and I slap him, getting right in his face.

"Look, fuckface, I don't give a shit how many people love you. I'm a human being, and I'm not your fucking whore. Leave me the hell alone and don't fucking talk to me. Kindly fuck off."

I turn around and walk away.

He stands there, smirking, but he doesn't follow me.