Cartels

chapter 3―broke

❝ we're just young, dumb, and broke, but we still got love to give ❞

- khalid

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Chanel?

Chanel?!

I was abruptly snapped out of my slumber by someone calling out my name. I blinked a few times before my eyes adjusted to the bright hospital lights. Oh yeah, I forgot I'm in a hospital.

"Hey dad," I greeted sweetly with a small grin.

"Hey sweetheart," he replied with a sad smile. Tears started to appear in his hazel irises which I inherited. 

"Dad, what's wrong?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"It's just... I'm so sorry sweetheart. I was eating healthy just so we can avoid this situation. I know I'm growing old and things will happen to me, but I never thought it would be this soon. I can't burden you with my hospital bills," he explains as tears fall from his eyes.

"Dad, no. You couldn't have predicted a stroke and you will never be a burden to me. I will figure out a way to pay the bills off, I promise," I hushed him.

"Oh, sweetie. What did I do to deserve you?" I smiled before giving him a small hug. 

"Now, I brought cards so we can play," I say as I wiggle my eyebrows.

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After a few hours of playing numerous card games with my dad, I decided to head home for the night. Slowly, I trudge up the stairs to my dorm only to see Cassidy standing in front of the door.

"Chanel! Oh my god!" she yelled as she flung her arms around me.

"What? What happened?"

"You tell me! I haven't seen you during lunch and it got me really worried! You didn't even leave a text or call!" I scratched the back of my neck.

"Oh yeah, about that... my dad's in the hospital."

"Oh my gosh! Is he okay? Are you okay? Do I need to dip into our ice cream stash?"

"Yes, he's fine. He suffered from a stroke and they found a blood clot in his-" I looked at Cassidy's slightly confused expression, "you know what never mind." Even though Cass was incredibly smart, she could never handle the medical field. She could never tolerate the mere mention of anything related to blood or tissue or organs. 

"Well, I know two dudes who can make you feel better!"

"Mike and Ike?" I questioned.

"Mmm, close. Ben and Jerry" she smiled as she dragged me up more flights of stairs to her dorm. We settled on her couch, bundled in blankets, watching The Office.

Just as Michael declared bankruptcy, I started to tear up involuntarily, an action which did not go unnoticed by Cass. Stupid emotions.

"Honey, what's wrong?" she asked comfortingly.

"Nothing, it's just... I have to find a way to pay the hospital bills and I'm basically broke and I didn't plan for this to happen and I used my money from the grocery store to pay for my college fees which isn't a lot and I don't know what I'm going to do to get the money because I need a buttload of cash stat!" I wailed as I dug my face into the soft blankets.

"Shhh, its going to be okay, Chanel. I mean you always figure it out. Like ALWAYS figure it out. How do you do that? Like ALWAYS find a way to succeed?" She asked as she rubbed my arm.

"I DON'T KNOW" I wailed, "I can't figure this out! It's too complicated! Nothing lines up!"

"Okay, okay. First, let's calm down. Deep breaths! After me! Breathe in, breathe out. In, out," Cass instructed.

"That's what she said," I muttered as I took deep breaths. Once I was breathing normally and my tears dried up, Cass stood in front of me with her hands on her hips.

"I have a great idea! Why don't we manifest!" she clapped excitedly.

"Okay, you know I don't believe in this voodoo sh*t." 

"Come on! I mean what other options do you have! Besides it's 100% effective."

"Whatever," I muttered as I rolled my eyes.

"Okay so in order to manifest you must, number one, choose what you want to manifest. Believe it, see it, feel it," Cass explains dramatically.

"I want to be filthy rich," I stated in a bored tone.

"Okay now we're gonna use the 369 method. It's usually meant for love and sh*t but we're gonna try this on your dad!" I raised my eyebrow and shrugged.

"First, write the person's name three times," Cass instructed as she handed me a notebook and a pen. After writing Daniel Gibson thrice, neatly, Cass continued on her manifestation rant.

"Now write the intention six times." Underneath my dad's name, I wrote 'Will be happy and healthy' repeatedly.

"Okay, lastly, write what you want him to say to you nine times," she said as she sits down next to me.

I continued to write 'I'm debt-free and healthy because of you' nine times.

"Now what?" I ask impatiently.

"Now, you wait for it to happen. But you have to believe!" Cass says as she taked the notebook out of my hand. I shake my head in disbelief.

"You sound like those psychic scam artists."

"Hey! You owe me five bucks if it doesn't work by tomorrow!"

"You have a lot of faith in this." we giggled together and turned our attention back to the screen. After a few moments, Cass spoke up again.

"Chanel?"

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you get the money by playing poker. I mean you do have that weird talent of figuring out people's life by just looking at them. Plus you can get a hell of a lot of money." I thought about it for a moment before responding.

"It's dangerous," and we left the topic at that.

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{A/N}

the third chapter! omg i'm so excited for the plot to thicken! and trust me my loves, it will thicken soon enough! two more prizes await! onward!