The Other Side

Chapter 1: Ray of Sunshine

     My life has not gone my way... I swear I'm a magnet for bad things or mishaps. My name is Rain and I swear I'm a cosmic joke. Seriously who names a kid rain and expects them to bring nothing but sunshine?

   I've never met my biological parents so I couldn't ask them anyway. I was left as a baby at a bus stop with nothing but a bracelet with the name "Rain" on it and my birthday: January 1st 2000. The only ounce of luck that I've experienced was my case worker finding me on her way home from work 24 years ago. Casey Hemings has been my only constant parental figure I've ever had. She's been there for me from getting bounced around the system for my whole life to always getting me out of situations I get myself into.

   Luckily for me I met my one and only best friend or as we refer to each other: Sisters for life,  Layne Rodriguez. We've know each other since we were 5, we bonded instantly and Casey made it her mission to keep us together as much as she could. Layne is the complete opposite of me everything good flows around her where I bring nothing but bad luck.

   'SNAP'

   I'm forced out of the safe space also known as my thoughts as the heel of my work shoes snap making me tumble to the floor. And not just any floor, the grimey side walk of New York city's nightlife.

   As passerby's stare at me I pick myself up and dust myself off noticing the decent sized scrape on my knee. Great just add it to today's list of misfortunes.

  Out of the corner of my eye I see a man dressed in all black with dark hair. I whip my head towards him and he's gone. Seemingly vanished in the chaos of the bustling streets of New York City. And not just any day in New York, New Year's Eve in New York City. Also the day before my birthday. Shaking the odd image I must have imagined out of my head, I keep moving to get back to my small overpriced apartment that I share with Layne.

  As I walk past some of the bars and clubs nearby I see a bunch of people drunk or throwing up on the sidewalk or road, ah New York never gets old. I pop in my headphones as I make my way down the street.

  As I finally walk up the steps of our apartment building I punch in the code to unlock the door to the building. Shoving my hands in my pockets I make my way up the long winding stair case leading to my 6th floor apartment. I will say the fact that we have to walk up six flights of stairs is not my favorite part about living here.

  I huff as I finally reach my apartment door, the number 608 plated on the door with chipped paint in random patches all around the frame. Taking a moment to mentally prepare myself for the mini birthday my bubbly best friend definitely has planned.

  If it weren't for the lack of friends I have it would be much bigger knowing her. I huff and swing the door open.

  "SURPRISE!!!!" Yells Layne and Casey. I jump at the sudden outburst as I take in my decorated apartment. Layne had streamers hanging from the walls and a big cake with candles with the number 24 on it.

  "Casey?!" I exclaimed as I gave her a big hug. I hadn't seen her in 2 years since she lives in Texas. "What are you doing here?!" I chuckled as she gives me a warm motherly hug.

   "I wanted to wait until it was official but I'm moving here, pretty close to your building in fact." She chuckles as she pulls away.

   "No way! How long are you visiting? Are you officially moving?" I let out in a jumble of questions.

  "Well that's part of your surprise, I'm officially here for good! My job transferred me to New York and my first day is tomorrow!"

"Surprise" chuckles Layne as she comes in for a hug "I know you're not huge on birthdays so I figured this would make the birthday celebration more fun."