Page 15

Look at me!

Honk! HONK!

I hit the horn, hoping that it will finally gain her attention, but all it does is cause her to lurch into the intersection.

Another car misses her by less than a foot, and my heart jumps into my mouth.

For the rest of her journey, I stay directly behind her, but I don’t honk again. Only when we make it to the seedy apartment complex do I split up from her, circling around the side. Parking, I watch as she makes her way up two sets of stairs and into her apartment.

I stay out there the rest of the night, but as the time passes I realize exactly what has made me so curious.

Back when I was a teenager, I was plagued with bad luck; it is the curse of the Rouxs… Except…

Sixteen years ago, my misfortune had dispersed, and at the time, I thought it was linked to my father’s death.

But the more I think on it… The more I question…

What if I gave her my bad luck?

8

Snap! Crackle! POP!

Cinnamon

Why was Bran in such a rush to get back to the apartment complex? And whose car was he borrowing? He almost made me cause a wreck honking behind me.

At least, I assumed it was him, he was always a terrible driver and loved to follow me home if he saw me out.

But the thought leaves my mind as I focus on the cinderblock stairs that separate me from my bed. Using the rail, I force myself up them, ignoring my battered knees screaming in protest.

So.

Fucking.

Many.

Near the top a vision of myself moving back in with Sherry circulates, but I shake it away.

Panting, I lean back against my front door, assessing my newest injuries.

Honestly, a broken nose and two split knees are nothing compared to some of the other accidents I have incurred, but they still sting.

It’s just the universe’s way of showing you you’re on the wrong path.

Shaking my head, I clear Aunt Sherry’s words. My memory flashes back to my eventful outing.

Durian was being an entire asshole again.

If he were like that all the time, I would have cut him from my life, but he only decided to get handsy while drinking and then conveniently forget the next day.

Exhaling, I push off from the door and head to the bathroom to fix my nose and knees.

***

Showered, nose back in place, and knees bandaged, I settle down in my desk chair.

Should I just check before bed?