Serendipity (noun: ser·en·dip·i·ty \ˌser-ən-ˈdi-pə-tē\: fortunate happenstance or pleasant surprise)
December 21st, 2010
It starts with a coffee.
Black, three sugars, two shots of cream.
And two hands reaching for the cup.
"Oh, sorry," she says, as their hands brush together.
"Not at all," he gestures towards the cup, "must have ordered the same thing. Please, take it."
"Are you sure," she asks, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Absolutely," he says, just as the same order is called out. He grabs his coffee. "Sorry again, for trying to steal your coffee."
She smiles. "It was no problem." She slowly backs out of the coffee shop, and that should be the last she sees of him.
Except it isn't.
Less than thirty minutes later, they bump into each other in a store, reaching for the same tie.
"You've got to be kidding me," he says. "Either this is a really strange coincedence, or you're following me."
She just laughs, and releases her hold on the tie. "Strange coincedence. But you keep the tie. It's only fair, since you gave up the coffee."
"Are you sure," he asks.
"Absolutely," she says.
This time, it's his turn to walk away.
An hour later, things border on ridiculous when they reach for the same book in an antique book store.
"Do you think the universe is trying to tell us something," he asks, laughing, and releasing his hold on the book.
"Possibly."
"Well, in that case, would you like to go grab something to eat?"
She checks her phone, "I'm sorry, normally I would say yes, but I should really be going."
"Well, here," he pulls out a five dollar bill, quickly writing down a name and a number. "Call me tomorrow?"
She bites her lip, and then hesitantly takes the bill. "I've got a better idea," she says, and runs up to the counter, giving the man a few bills for the book, including the five he just handed her.
When she gets back, he looks at her incredulously.
"What'd you do that for," he asks, eyebrows nearly up to his hairline.
"If the universe is really trying to tell us something, then I'll get that five dollar bill again, and I'll know to call you."
"That sounds crazy," he says. "And what about you?"
She searches her handbag, and smiles when she finds her copy of Sense & Sensibility. "Tell you what, I'll write my name and number in here, and sell it to a used book shop tomorrow, and if you manage to find it, then you'll know to call me."
"Which bookshop?"
She laughs. "That's just it, I can't tell you. If we're going to leave this up to fate, then I'll just have to trust that you picked the right bookshop." She begins to walk out of the bookstore.
"I'm Lucas, by the way," he calls out.
She turns to smile at him, one last time. "Riley."
A/N: So, I may have watched the movie Serendipity. And I may have thought it'd make a great Rucas AU. I just really love the idea that no matter what, fate will push Lucas and Riley together. I'm a big sucker for that kind of thing. Anyways, hopefully I'll post chapters semi-regularly, but we'll see. Now to go finish a new chapter of "So Hello From The Other Side". Love you guys!