Written in the Stars

Chapter One - The Corner Cup

They say everyone has a story written for them.

Sometimes, you meet the person who changes everything without even realizing it. Sometimes, the most important moments don't feel important at all when they're happening. And sometimes, your story begins with something as simple as getting lost.

For me, it started with a pair of missing keys.

"Okay." I stood in the middle of my new apartment and took a slow breath, looking around at the boxes still scattered everywhere. "New city. New apartment. New job."

I nodded to myself, as if saying it out loud would somehow make me feel more prepared. "And absolutely no idea what I'm doing."

Great. Totally under control.

Except for the fact that I had no idea where my keys were. Or my phone.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. "I need a fresh start."

That was what I'd been telling myself ever since I'd moved. A fresh start meant leaving the familiar behind. New apartment. New job. New routines. No expectations.

Today was supposed to be the beginning of all of it.

"Today is going to be different." I paused, considering my words. "Today is going to be amazing."

Another pause.

"Probably."

I sighed, looking around the apartment. "Hopefully."

My eyes narrowed as I glanced toward the mess surrounding me. "Please. Let me find my keys first."

I checked the kitchen. Nothing. The counter? Nothing. The living room? Still nothing.

I crouched beside the couch and looked underneath it, even though I knew perfectly well I hadn't put my keys there. "Come on..."

Nothing.

I stood and searched through the pockets of the clothes I'd worn the day before. Still nothing.

Then I froze.

Wait.

Slowly, I reached into my pants pocket. My fingers closed around something metallic, and I pulled out my keys.

I stared at them for a moment before letting out a disbelieving laugh. "You have got to be kidding me. They're in my pants pocket."

Of course they were.

I shook my head and grabbed my phone from the counter. "Okay, Sienna. I've got this."

I wasn't entirely convinced, but I had somewhere to be. So I grabbed my bag and headed out.

The problem with moving to a new city was that everything looked familiar enough to trick you into thinking you knew where you were going.

Until you didn't.

I stood on the sidewalk, staring down at my phone. "Okay... according to this, it's supposed to be right around here."

I looked up at the unfamiliar streets, then back at my phone. "Somewhere."

The little blue dot insisted I was close. I wasn't convinced.

"It said I was only a few minutes away." I turned around, trying to figure out which direction I was supposed to be facing. "Which would be great if I actually knew where I was going."

I started walking, checking the map every few seconds. "Maybe it's this way."

I turned down the street, walked a little farther, then stopped. "No."