Serendipity

Chapter 4. Lucky Boy

I thought about what she said for a moment. I never consented to steal with my father, it sort of just happened. Of course I knew that stealing was wrong, but it was the only thing that was consistent my whole life. I never questioned Dad about what we were doing, there was no need to. I knew that no matter what I said, he would ignore me or laugh it off like a joke.  

I returned my full attention to her. “You know from first hand experience?” I questioned, “What happened?” 

She laughed as she leaned back in her seat. “Let’s just say, I never wanted to move here. I lived in a rich neighborhood and everything was fine, it was normal. You know, once everyone has the same opportunities as you do, it’s a normal life. But we moved here, and well, now we’re the face of the town. You have no idea how many people pretend to be my friend just because I’m rich.” 

“That sounds like a tough life.” 

“It really is a tough life,” she agreed, nodding her head. “Money changes people, Damien. It’s a cruel world we live in.”

I licked my lips, not knowing how else to respond. 

A man appeared from behind of Sam and touched her shoulder gently, speaking in a dangerously low tone. “The rain’s getting heavy. We better go.” 

I shot my eyes to the mysterious man to see none other than the infamous Levi Samuels. I mentally cursed to myself at how he seemed to be everywhere I went. He noticed my stare, causing an arrogant smirk to stretch across his face. 

“Damien.” 

Sam looked over her shoulder at her brother. “You know him?”  

“Yeah,” he chuckled, “we’ve bumped into each other a few times." He ran his fingers through his perfectly combed chestnut locks, flexing his muscles in the process. 

Sam grinned at her brother before she stood from her seat. “It was nice talking to you, Damien.” She waved slightly at me as she pushed her chair in with her free hand and threw her arm around her brother’s shoulder. 

They walked away together, in sync, almost. Like siblings do. It was obvious that they had a very close relationship. Just as they were about to exit the door, Levi glanced over his shoulder to look at me and winked. 

This caused me to completely freeze. I couldn’t move a muscle or even blink for that matter because I was a man and another man had just winked at me. He must have sensed my distress because he burst out into hysterics as he and his sister exited the coffee shop. 

I shook my head in disbelief, trying to rid my brain of the memory. Oh joy, this was going to be a long evening.  

*          *          *           *

Dad woke me up at seven the next morning. He sat on the edge of the bed with a glass of orange juice in his hand. He took a long sip of the orange liquid, smacked his lips, then turned to me. “I’m in the mood for donuts.” 

“Lovely,” I mumbled, “bring me back one.” I pulled the sheets over my head and shut my eyes. 

Dad chuckled. “This is unlike you. Usually you’re up at six thirty every morning ready to make breakfast.”  

“I’m tired.” 

“Please, I have to meet Sally later.”  

“Fine,” I yelled through gritted teeth, pulling down the sheets from above my head. I forced my eyes open and they stung momentarily. “But I hope you know that the time it took for you to woke me up, you’d already be halfway there.”