Serendipity

Chapter 10

The pic on the side is of the outfit that Carmen is wearing at the end, minus the black hoodie.

The next morning, I wake up, shower, wear my fuzzy pajamas and a hoodie, and go wandering campus again.

I open my box of cigarettes, and find all of them broken.

Pissed, I go right back to the apartment.

"You fucking assholes!" I shout at Delaney and Ari. "You broke my cigarettes!"

"No I didn't." Delaney says.

"Yeah, I have no clue what you're talking about." Ari says quietly.

They look honest.

I let out a frustrated groan and go storming to my room.

I throw myself onto my bed, really angry.

I hear knocking on the apartment door, and then whispers, and finally, footsteps, and then somebody lets themselves into my room.

"Carmen."

I turn around.

"What do you want, Shaun?"

"I want you to be my sister again, not this fucking drg addict."

"I'm not a drug addict!" I shout at him.

Silence.

"I'm worried about you, Car."

"Well don't be. I'm fucking fine."

I stand up. "Now get the fuck out."

He turns around and walks out.

I sit on my bed a while longer, and then I see a scrap of white paper on the dresser.

Frowning, I stand up, padding my way across the room.

I carefully pick up the strip of paper.

The fortune cookie.

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.

The lucky numbers are 20, 22, 2, 3, 4, 174.

I think back to that day.

The next person I spoke to was the receptionist. I'd spoken to her before, in Freshmen year.

After that was-

Oh shit.

Tyler.

I snicker.

Like that's legitimate.

Rolling my eyes, I set the fortune back down.

But I snatch it right back up.

"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."