Chapter Two: Snow, Spills, and Strange Luck
764 Words
The next morning, Julia trudged into Brookfield High, fully expecting her usual disaster streak. Her boots slipped slightly on the icy sidewalk, and she cursed under her breath. Normally, she would have tripped outright, but today, something strange happened. Her backpack snagged on a railing, and instead of pitching her forward, she stayed upright, landing with only a minor stumble.
Julia frowned, patting her pocket where the charm lay. Coincidence, she told herself, but a tiny spark of curiosity peeked through her skepticism.
Inside the school, the hallways buzzed with students rushing to class. Lockers slammed, laughter echoed, and someone nearly ran into her—but Liam appeared out of nowhere, steadying her arm.
“You’re on a roll today,” he said, grinning. “Almost got flattened by a human freight train.”
Julia rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Thanks… I think.”
By mid-morning, Julia realized her bad luck seemed to be shifting. A spilled tray in the cafeteria slid toward her feet, but instead of ruining her lunch, Liam caught it in a swift motion.
“Are you following me or something?” she asked, exasperated but secretly amused
“I could say the same about you,” he replied, a playful twinkle in his eye
Her cheeks warmed. Somehow, his presence made everything feel lighter. Even her notebook, torn in her breakfast disaster, stayed mostly intact when she opened it to start class.
Later, in chemistry, Julia’s pen slipped from her fingers and rolled toward the edge of the table. Normally, it would have fallen to the floor, perhaps even knocking over a beaker. But Liam, seated across from her, flicked it back before it could escape.
“You really do need a human safety net,” Julia whispered, though her voice carried a note of awe
“And you clearly need a charm in your pocket,” he teased, glancing at her bag without touching it
She flushed, fingers tightening around the warm charm. Could it really be magic, or was Liam just… naturally everywhere?
After class, Julia headed to the library to finish her homework. A snow-covered backpack strap tripped her again, but Liam’s hand caught her arm in time. This seemed to happen more and more, and she couldn’t tell if she was imagining it or if the charm was truly at work.
“You’re like my personal guardian angel,” she said with a small laugh
“More like a convenient coincidence,” he said with a grin, though she could see amusement in his eyes
They walked together through the courtyard during lunch, snow crunching beneath their boots. The winter sunlight glinted off the charm in her pocket, and Julia felt a warm, almost ticklish sensation, as if it were urging her to notice Liam more closely.
“So,” Liam said, pretending to be casual, “do you always survive your mornings without catastrophic events, or is today a special occasion?”
Julia laughed. “This is a new record. Maybe it’s the charm. Or maybe it’s you following me around, keeping me safe.”
“You think a tiny golden trinket can control your luck?” he asked, raising an eyebrow
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Maybe I just want it to. Maybe I just… want a little good luck for once.”
Liam’s smile softened. “Well, if anyone deserves a break, it’s you. So maybe it’s real.”
They shared a quiet moment, watching the snow fall, soft flakes landing on their scarves and hair. Julia realized she hadn’t felt this calm, this… happy, in a long time. Maybe she was starting to believe in the charm—or maybe she was just starting to believe in Liam.
By the time the last bell rang, Julia’s charm had stayed warm in her pocket, and her day had passed without a single true disaster. She caught Liam at the exit, offering him a playful shove as she tried to step through a slushy puddle.
“You’re lucky,” he said, holding out his hand so she wouldn’t slip
“No,” she said, smiling. “I think I’m just getting better at surviving… with a little help.”
He laughed, a warm, easy sound that made her heart flutter. As they walked out into the snow-covered streets, Julia tucked the charm deeper into her pocket, feeling it pulse softly. Something was changing, she realized. Her luck, her heart, maybe even her life.
And for the first time, she was looking forward to what came next.
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- Writer
