Serendipity

Chapter 4. Lucky Boy

Chapter Four ~ Lucky Boy 

The rain was persistent but not heavy. It was still warm outside but the skies were darkening by the second.  I knew I would eventually have to take cover before the thunderstorm began.

We had been here for a week now. In that amount of time I found out that it rarely rained in Clearbourough, but when it did, it rained like there was no tomorrow.  

A coffee shop was quickly looming on my left and I decided that would have to do. I stepped through the doorway and shook off the excess water droplets from my jacket. The windows in the shop were already starting to steam up, and a long line of men and women waited to order a serving of comfort in a cup. 

I waited patiently as the machines coughed and sputtered out order after order. The coffee odor was rich in the air, there was no doubt about that. There was no need to drink the coffee, you could practically breathe it in. I took a seat at one of the tables nearest the window and scrolled through my new cell phone.  

I don’t know why I decided to do that considering that I had no contacts or applications on the phone other than the necessary, but it was something to make me look occupied.  

“Mind if I sit here?”  

My bright blue eyes flickered upwards to come in contact with a small dainty female with a comforting smile on her face. Sam.  

I placed my phone face down on the table and sat back in my seat. “No, please do.”  

“Thanks.” She offered me a friendly smile before she pulled out the chair opposite from me and sat down. “Uh, you’re friends with Melanie, right? I don’t quite remember your name.” 

“Damien.”  

“Damien,” she repeated before her sweet and innocent smile reappeared. “Nice to meet you.”  

I sighed and let the tension flow from my body. Since when did I have trouble talking to girls? “You come here often?” 

“It’s the only Starbucks in town,” she informed me, “everyone comes here.”  

“I haven’t really broadened my horizons, yet.” I shrugged it off and attempted to give her a friendly smile.   

“Melanie told me you were new in town,” she added, biting down on her bottom lip nervously. “We don’t really get new people often. Care to explain?” She grabbed a hold of her coffee cup and brought it to her mouth to take a sip. 

“My dad and I move a lot,” I told her nonchalantly. “He chose this place for the beach. He really enjoys the water.”  

“Why?”  

I glanced down at the coffee table and scoffed. “Uh, I don’t really know. Some people just feel at ease when they’re near water.”  

“Why?” she questioned, “it’s just water.”  

“Maybe to you,” I pointed out, “but it probably means something entirely different to him.” 

She narrowed her eyes slightly at me before taking another sip of her coffee. “How about you?” she inquired. “Did you want to move here?” 

“Is that a trick question?” 

With a giggle, Sam set her coffee cup back on the table and leaned forward with all her attention on me. “I know from first hand experience that sometimes parents think they’re doing what’s best for their children. But in reality, the children never have a say in any of the decisions. It’s their way or the highway.”