The Shy Billionaire

A Promise is a Promise is a Promise. I think.

Chapter Two

"Will that be all, miss?" The attendant asked me. I nod, barely paying attention. I just wanted to go home, curl up in my soft blanket, and watch Supernatural. I swear, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki got hotter after each season. I love them both, completely and irreversibly. Sigh.

But, like always, something prevents me from doing what I want. It's not that I have a bad life- far from it, really- but occasionally, things tend to go wrong and I'm stuck looking at the mess with a dazed look, wondering what just happened.

Today would be one of those days.

"I-I'm sorry, miss," the man behind the counter said. "I don't understand what's wrong...."

The computer was malfunctioning. It was five o' clock in the afternoon and I had a huge line behind me. All I'd wanted was some Skittles.

"It doesn't want to work!" The young man seemed flustered and nervous as he eyed the other customers in line. He had the only available lane and the manager had taken refuge in the office.

"Can I get some service, please?" someone from the back of the line shouted, obviously trying to hide his impatience. He failed miserably. I was shoved forward as the line grew to be more impatient. They grumbled angrily about having to wait, and as usual, it was my fault.

"What the hell did you do to the kid, girl?" The burly man behind me hissed. He held a coffee cup in one hand and a magazine in the other. I shuddered to think what kind of magazine he possessed.

"I didn't do anything," I informed him. It was a lie. Because obviously things would be fine if I hadn't been here. Too bad I got a craving.

"I don't buy that." He snarled, glaring at me from underneath bushy eyebrows.

"Well, it looks like you won't be buying anything," I observed coolly. Seriously, this gets to be a little old. How do I get blamed for the computer not working? I didn't even touch it! "Chances are you'll leave before the computer is working. You might want a headstart, because it looks like it is about to rain." With that, I turned my attention back to the twitchy attendant in front of me.

"I just don't understand!" he wailed. I did, all too well.

I let my eyes wander around me as I waited. I eyed the cigarettes and thought of Ava. Neither one of us smoked, but the idea was that I could do anything I wanted, right? I continued to look around before finally stopping at the tickets above the attendant's head. They were lottery tickets. I didn't really want one-obviously I was setting myself up for failure- but a promise is a promise is a promise. I think.

I hadn't really meant what I said to my friend, and after all, I could always lie to her and say I did something crazy when in reality I hadn't. But I didn't want to lie to my friend; she was the only one I got. And I did make the promise...

"I'll take one of those," I told the man, pointing behind him. He whirled around as if I had pointed at a zombie behind him. The line groaned as a whole. A knot formed in my stomach. It was stupid, to waste what little money I had on a stupid lottery ticket. What were the chances that I'd win? 1 in 75 million? Something like that. The point is that it would be impossible for me- Chance La Vie- to win the lottery.

There was no way.

"Just get the damn thing, would you?" I grumbled to myself. The attendant's eyes widened and I realized he thought I was talking to him. He frantically nodded and pulled a ticket out. I took three steps backward, causing the line to shuffle back as well. They cursed at me, not realizing that I was doing them a favor. Once I was a safe distance away, the computer miraculously came back on. Everyone cheered but me. I knew that if I stepped back it would work. I'd just been hoping that it wasn't true but, as usual, I was wrong.

"Alright!" The man grinned proudly. "Here you go!" He handed me my change and I thanked him.

I headed outside, where the rain was now flooding the lot. I didn't have an umbrella, seeing as how the weatherman said there would be clear skies today. As a consequence for believing him, I got soaked. Running to my truck, I quickly threw in my things and hopped up. The windows have been broken for the past few days, so they stayed down. I struggled to start my poor truck, but it kept turning over.

"Please," I begged the gods that created motorized transportation. "Please start." The sound of my truck sputtering sank my spirits. Sighing, I pulled out my phone, dialing a number I wish I hadn't known.

"Joe's Towing Service, how can I help you?" a voice said through the speaker.

"Hey, Joe," I said, gripping the phone tighter.

"Chance?" the old man questioned. I nodded, even though he couldn't see me.

"Yeah," I answered. "Look, I know this is short notice and it's pouring rain-"

"Where are you?" he sighed. We've been through this before.

"Gas station on tenth," I informed him. There was a pause as he typed something on his computer. "Thanks, Joe."

"Yeah, yeah." He laughed through the phone. "Okay, I got your location. See you soon."

"Bye, Joe." I sighed and hung up. Today was not my day.

I don't know how it always happened. My mother always said I got the short end of the stick, whatever that means. Apparently, I was born in the middle of the worst wind storm that ever took place this far west. Since that moment, my luck hasn't been the greatest. I've lived day to day dealing with the worst luck possible. I'm not the most graceful person you'll ever meet, not to mention the average looks and brains that shows I don't stand out in the least. I've never been known for outstanding achievements or awards. I've been hit by lightning twice, a car, and a dog. A Doberman to be exact. Let's just say I lose in the game of life.