Amanda Jason: Lucky Number Four

Luckily Henry, my mom’s spirit guide, informed my mother of my condition and she helped me deal. When I was younger, I used to walk up and hug random strangers and end up with wet shoulders on a daily basis from their violent shedding of tears. Try explaining that to your friends. Julie and Kevin were the first to know, but our other friends, well, they took a while to come to terms with the fact that I was different. More different than being redheaded, left-handed, unable to tan, and having the ability to play connect the dots with my freckles.

“Nothing is wrong, Mom. I just woke up,” I reply, hoping that will be the end of her prying.

“Just woke up? People die in bed! It’s after eight. Aren’t you supposed to be at work? You’re sick, that’s it! I will be right over with chicken soup—”

“Mom! Mom, listen I’m not sick. I don’t have to work today. Steven wanted one of his shifts covered, so he took mine today. And I haven’t slept past eight since I was nine,” I say rolling my eyes, then focusing on an ugly brown stain on my ceiling. Where did that come from? What the hell is it?

“So I’ve had this feeling since yesterday that something really rattled you.”

Shoot, I missed the first part of her sentence while I was pondering the ceiling. I hope she believes I’m not sick…at least, not yet. Maybe that stain is some kind of fungus.

Oh hell, I’ve missed more. Concentrate, Dora, concentrate.

“Are you listening, Dora? I’m going to drive into the city and pay you a visit if you don’t answer me,” my mom threatens.

It’s a threat I take seriously, especially since my mom doesn’t drive well in the city. Last time, she flipped off a policeman who cut her off, laid on her horn, and ended up with a ticket. I mean, red lights on a police car mean pull over . I don’t care who you are.

“Yes, Mom, I’m listening. I’m fine, yesterday was fine, and tomorrow I’m sure I’ll be fine. Now give my love to Dad and the grandparents. I have to get up and get ready.”

“Get ready for what? You’re off today. You’re sick, I knew it. I’ll call your dad at work and tell him I need the car—it’s an emergency,” my mom’s worried voice comes through louder.

God, I wish I had listened.

“Mom, I still have school this afternoon, and I’m going to look for…” I say, almost telling her I’m apartment hunting, which until I find one, is not going to be told to anyone, especially her. “A new coffee pot … I kind of broke ours.”

“Are you sure you’re telling me everything?” she demands.

“Yes, Mom. I’ve got to go and beat Kevin for the bathroom. Love you!” I hang up before she can answer, and drag myself out of bed.

I really need to get a good night’s sleep soon. I laid awake for hours last night going over the events at the loft. I’d acted like a complete moron, like I’d never been around such beautiful men before. Most of the night, I pondered what my life would be like living with the three of them. Then the thought of a foursome got into my head, and I stayed awake longer, trying to forget the image I created. I finally went to sleep, only to dream a totally screwed-up dream involving three sex-crazed zombies that looked suspiciously like the three drool-worthy models, but dead looking.

I kept yelling at myself in the dream—okay, someone who looked like me being chased by these creatures—to run, run for the hills. But would she listen? No, she slowed down so much that they grabbed her. Then my phone woke me up. Damn, it was right at the good, or bad, spot, I haven’t quite decided which. Maybe something to ponder in the shower while naked—no, not there. Maybe on the subway to school.

I hear Kevin whistling, and I beat his ass to the bathroom by seconds, shutting the door in his shocked face.

Calculus—a total waste of mine and my professor’s time. When will I ever use this in the field of psychology? I want to be a counselor or a therapist, someone who helps others figure out their problems. Not work with math. Okay, so I may use basic math for doing my checking account, the percent-off sales on my favorite shoes, and other mundane things, but Calculus? When the hell would I ever use this?

I feel a nudge on my shoulder. “Are you as lost as I am?” Karen, a fellow student, whispers.

I nod my head in response. The door to the room is suddenly flung open and a girl who looks to be a freshman runs in with a note in hand. She delivers it to Dr. Parker, the professor.

“Pandora Phillips, you need to report to the office immediately,” booms Dr. Parker, his eyes picking me out of the crowd.

My stomach churns. What’s happened? An accident? A death? Has my mom come to the city to check up on me?

I look down at my cell, and though it’s on silent, it has a signal and there are no new calls. Surely someone would have tried my cell … unless it’s really bad news.

“Pandora, did you hear me?” Mr. Parker’s voice seems louder.

I pick up my backpack and walk in a daze to the exit, following the energetic freshman down the hall. By the time I reach the office, many horrible scenarios have flashed into my mind, and I feel like I’m going to hurl any second.

The first thing I spy in the office is the staff standing in one corner staring at a space that’s blocked from my view by an empty bookcase. They look my way when the perky freshman, who is holding the door open for me, announces my arrival. The four middle-aged women look at me in shock, dazed, in fact, as if in a trance, but with tiny smiles on their faces. They turn their attention back to the space I can’t see, and I walk around the sight-blocking item, seeing immediately what is causing their zombie stares.

There I go with zombie references again.

They look like three mouthwatering trees—yes, trees, as they all tower over my five-foot-four self like trees. Drew, Liam, and the third hottie stand before me. Drew and the third one are wearing huge grins, while Liam looks bored.

“Dora, sorry we interrupted your class, but we had to see you. We want you! Don’t we, boys? Oh, and this is Colin. I don’t think you were properly introduced yesterday,” Drew says with a heart-stopping, mischievous grin.

I hear sighs from my right and turn to see all four women and the freshman smiling like fools while fanning themselves. “They want her,” I hear one of them whisper.

“For Christ’s sake. They mean they want me for their roommate,” I practically yell, and still the five act like they don’t hear me. “Outside, now.” I point to the door and watch in awe as they obey. I turn back and see the eyes of the silly women and girl following their retreat. “I swear, you’d think you’ve never seen male models before,” I say before following the cutest denim-clad butts I’ve ever seen.

A slight autumn breeze swirls leaves around my feet as I stand before the gorgeous trees. “What the hell are you three doing here? How did you find me?” I demand, and then feel smug as I watch Colin’s and Drew’s smiles slip a little. Liam, his arms crossed, still looks bored.

“It wasn’t easy,” Drew says. “You told us your name, and my dad knows some people, and we … well, we tracked you down to your apartment. Your friend was very friendly, but I think she went through a shocked and then angry phase for a few moments when she found out you were looking for another place to stay. Kevin calmed her down. He’s a pretty cool guy.”

“And you bigmouthed behemoths forced my whereabouts from them after telling my secret. What the hell? I didn’t ask for this,” I exclaim. I watch two sets of faces have the grace to look embarrassed, but Liam…you guessed it. Bored. What possessed these three mega famous models to track me down? I know most women would jump at the chance of sharing a space with them, but not me. Look at those silly women drooling over them with their faces plastered to the window. I don’t want my life scrutinized under a microscope by reporters and ending up as some new tabloid fodder. No, I want low-key. I want to finish my degree and find a nice sensible man to settle down with— normal, that’s what I want. I take a deep breath before continuing. “Okay, so the secret is out and I’ll have to make amends, but what is your deal? Why me? There must be a million people you could line up to move in with you guys.”