(Un)Fortunate

Chapter 10

I step out of the shower for the second time today. The bathroom mirror is foggy and the air is so humid it is hard to breathe. I took a long shower today-over a half hour long- and thought about how my life was going right now. I have come to the conclusion that it is not terrible, but also not fabulous. 

After Jen left, soaking wet, I went up to my room, tired, and found myself reading my worn copy of: Of Mice and Men. Its one of my favorite books, as it demonstrates how life isn't always great and that you have to depend on others sometimes. Ever since I read this book in sixth grade, I have always felt its message comforting in times of war and even peace.

After I get out of the shower, I realize it is already dark outside. After attempting to dry my hair, I give up and put on a pair of pink pajama pants with a black bow at the top, and a black tank top. I put my hair up into a french braid to get it out of my face.

There is a knock at my bedroom door.

"Come in," I say, and Brandon appears in the door.

"Do you want to go out to eat or should I order a pizza?" He asks gesturing towards my pajamas.

"Uh, I guess we can go out, just let me change." I say. He nods and closes the door behind him.

I go into my closet and pick out a pair of sweats and slide on my brown Uggs. I leave my hair the way it is and grab my phone from the charger. I don't put on any makeup, even though I should.

I know there will be paparazzi. They will ask about Caleb, and his coma. They wil point there cameras at me and scream at me to answer the question. I bring my sunglasses, just in case.

In the car, I roll down the window and inhale the smell. I love the smell of spring. It smells like flowers and wet grass. Brandon enters the security code into the gate and it slides open, revealing several news vans and at least a dozen paparazzi.

"ELLIE! TELL US ABOUT THE CRASH!" One yells at me, shoving a microphone in my face. I forgot I had the window down. I slide on my shades as I roll up the window. Brandon does the same and honks his horn to let them know to move.

Once they finally realize Brandon will run them over, they clear a path.

"Wow, already camped out. World record!" I joke, rolling down the window again as we pull onto the main road.

"I forgot how vicious they can be," Brandon chuckles.

"Well, you have been away for so long, you forgot what its like to have your picture all over the newspaper. LUCKY," I add, staring into the light, as we approach the outer banks of New York City.

The bright lights of the big city welcome us. I peer around at the soaring buildings above us. We pass a few little boutiques and I see a few shops that are having sales. As we pass a formal dress shop, I remind myself to call the place that is designing my dress for the awards show Caleb is going to in a few weeks. Of course, I have to go. This time, though, its Caleb's manager making me go.

We pull up to a little sushi restaurant. As I get out, a teenaged girl, around the age of thirteen, asks for a pic with me and Brandon. Brandon agrees and I nod. After posing for a few pics, we are about to head inside when the little girl asks if we can give something to Caleb.

"Sure, what is it?" I ask turning the object around in my hand.

"It's a four leaf clover preserved forever in a special glass.I got when I was in the hospital in a coma as well. It helped me pull through, now it can help your brother too."

"Oh, wow, thank you so much!" I say, nearly breaking into tears. She nods, and hurries over to the waiting car.

"Wait!" Brandon says

"Yes," She says, peering up.

"How would you like to meet him?" He says, smiling.

"Really!?" She says, jumping up and down.

"Not now, when he wakes up and is all better and everything," Brandon says, reaching for a paper she is holding out to him.

"Of course! Here is my number! Call when he is awake and ready and all! Thanks sooooooo much, you guys just made my year." She says, tearing up a bit.

We wave goodbye and head into the restaurant.