In this weird world, where the type of records made can be way weirder than people, I have managed to create one record myself. Today started with me making a record that was much more unexpected than Snape turning out to be the good one, Always.

Yeah, it was that unexpected.

I woke up early.

For the first time in my whole 21 years of life. You are stunned?

Bruh. Then Jess looked like she had seen a tortoise winning a race against a cheetah. And the whole morning she continued ranting about how the sun has risen from the south that is why I woke up early. So here I am preparing orders for customers while listening to my best friend (who has now lost her sanity). I think the gene of insanity runs in friendships too.

We were busy working and chatting, when the manager of the café came. He was a cheery, amiable yet conscientious 40 year old man whose sole dream was to open a café with his wife. Sadly his wife left him few years back, when she got diagnosed with tumor, but he still continues to run this place in her memory. Talk about love and dreams. I lack in both.

"What is the matter Sir, you look disturbed?" I asked seeing the unusual frown on his face. He was the one to spread smiles, not to frown and look distraught. His next words were shocking and unbelievable.

"I am sorry but I am firing you Miss Johns because of your lack of cooking skills." He said.

"What?" Was the the only word which came out from both my and Jess' s mouth. Is he joking? Is it the first day of the month April?

"Yes, some customers have been complaining about you so I have to fire you as I cannot afford to dishonor the reputation of my café by employing someone who is incapable of excelling in their profession. Here is your payment for this month, you may leave now." He said this without meeting my eyes, handed me the envelope of money, and with that he turned and left.

I was still taking in everything. Am I really jobless now? But what did I do? Who complained and why? Did I really do something wrong?

And with that the pool of self doubt splashed me like the waves on the rock.

"How can he do that? Everybody loves your coffee, this cannot be true! I will go now and talk to him" Jess said and started going after him. Before she could go I held her elbow to stop her.

"No. Leave it" I said composing myself.

She looked at me in disbelief and asked "Why?".

"No don't argue with him he may fire you also....he is not in a good mood. please" I said pleading. I didn't want her to lose the job because of me. I don't know what my fault is but whatever it is I don't want Jess to get in trouble because of me. I don't want her to suffer because of me or my mistakes. After a lot of pleadings, briberies, and threatening, she at last agreed and calmed down.

After that I decided to go home and then go look for another job because if I didn't have this job anymore then I am jobless and that is not going to work. But Jess insisted to come with me. After arguments she finally grumpily agreed. I went home wondering who was the one whom I had served bad coffee. But I could not remember anything, shaking my head I was about to enter the building of my apartment when I saw a man, clad in all black clothes, spitting near the building wall. I couldn't see his face due to the long hood of his black hoodie.

Didn't he study about public property and the responsibility of not harming it?

Anger and irritation took over me as I went towards him with long strides and started scolding him to which he just scowled and left. I sighed in helplessness and realizing that I couldn't do anything now, I went to my room. It was not a very big one of course, but it was homely. I opened the door with the spare key I had and went inside.

As soon as I stepped inside the room, exhaustion and realization of being jobless dawned upon me again as I threw myself on my comfortable bed and closed my eyes. I needed money to stay in this busy city. Ric Hillwood isn't one of those places where in you can sustain yourself without money for even a single day. It was the best place for getting jobs because of which it is also called as the 'Job Hub'. But at the same time, due to the heavy amount of competition with new people coming here everyday, it was equally difficult to get a job.

A sudden and unexpected knock on the door startled me.

Who would it be now? Jess won't be coming for another 3-4 hrs....nothing that we ordered would be coming today so, who could it be?

Well you have to leave this bed and open the door to answer that. My conscience mocked me.

I groaned but nevertheless got up from my bed, and opened the door only to find Mr. Stanley standing there. He was the landlord of this apartment and was quite a fatherly figure for me. His frowning and helpless eyes reminded me of the same look that the manager of the café gave me. This made me wonder if something bad was going to happen.

"Good afternoon Mr. Stanley, how are you?" I asked with a smile ignoring the constant fear of something bad happening.

"I am fine, dear. Actually there is something I wanted to tell you..." He said and I could tell he was hesitating.

"What is the matter sir?" I prompted.

"Actually there is man who lives in our building only .He said that you were misbehaving with him a while ago and that is why he wants me to throw you out from this apartment." He said with a glint of sadness in his eyes.

"Wha..but why I didn't-?" I asked feeling the floor getting swept off my feet. I think I am going to cry.

"I am really sorry dear. If the power to take the final decision rested with me, I would have never approved for this. But I am helpless. He seems to be a rich personality who practically owns this place. Unfortunately, he directly contacted the society committee and they have decided to evict you out of this society. If not, serious action will be taken and then it would a legal case. I suggest you to please pack your things and leave before tomorrow morning." He said and with each word my breathing became labored as the force of reality came crashing down.

I looked at him in utter shock and tried to comprehend what he was saying. I did not fight with anyone. I did not even talk to a man let alo-

Oh.

No.

Then it dawned to me. That man who was spitting! But I just said a few words to which he didn't even seem to pay attention as he ignored me and left. So how come?

Mr. Stanley looked at me with pity and muttering a last 'sorry' , he left.

What is happening in my life? So many shocks in one day. I have lost my job. Now how will I send the money to the orphanage ? Also what would I say to Jess? And also where the hell will I live? My head was spinning from so many questions.

I looked at the ticking clock on the wall. 4:00 pm.

Two hours left before Jess comes home. I closed my eyes trying to breathe in and calm myself down. If I don't calm down, I won't be able to think. I needed some fresh air. I need some time to think and plan what I will be doing to get all the blunders that have occurred in the past few hours, right. With that thought I went and changed into a blue jeans and tank top with my converse and went out for some fresh air and a walk.

If the situation had been different, I would have crashed into a dance studio without even thinking. Dancing was always my savior. The control I felt and had while dancing made me feel powerful even when situations and life was not in my control. But sadly, the situation isn't different. It has been a long time.

I was walking down the streets deep in my whirlpool of thoughts keep my head down, when suddenly I bumped into someone. I looked up and realized I was going to fall in a big hole between the street which had a sign of "Under construction".

I need an eye on my head too.

I looked at the person with whom I bumped and who saved me from falling. A man in 20s looked at me. He had cute dimples. He seemed familiar. I furrowed my brows thinking who he was and where I had seen him.

"Yes, you have seen me miss Eva Johns" he said with a wide cute smile, reading my mind somehow.

Oh!

He is the one who came in the café with that jerk that day. What is he doing on the streets when he was a 'billionaire'?

"Oh Ryder" I said remembering him at last. Does anyone know anyone with worse memory than mine?

"Yeah, the one and only." He said with a cheeky smile. A smile made its way on my lips seeing his smile. He really knows how to make someone smile.

"You were going to fall in a dug out hole. What were you thinking about so deeply? Your boyfriend, eh?" He said with a mischievous questioning look.

I chuckled and said "No. I don't even have a boyfriend yet. It is just that - I had a bad day." I said with a weak smile.

"Oh. No worries when I am here. You can share anything you want to, with me. I am your friend only, am I not?" he asked with a pout which made him look more adorable.

"Friend ? We have met only once and this is the second time.." I said playing along.

"Okay you think so. No worries. I am Ryder Walton. I am 21 years old. I love sleeping and eating especially pizza. and I.."

"Stop" I said cutting him in. "You love pizza? That's all we need for our friendship. Consider yourself my friend now." I said with a wide smile, chuckling.

"Wow! That was fast. Now Come on, let us walk and you can tell me about your bad day." Ryder said.

I smiled. It was not because that he liked pizza that I wanted to be his friend. It was because I liked him, his enthusiasm and his positivity. He seemed to be a great friend. So we walked and I told him all about what happened today.

Trust me, it took time.

*

"Okay. That - is really a bad day. But you know the best part of today for you? You found a handsome rich, and most importantly, single man today." He said after I finished, lightning my mood. It felt good to talk to someone. Even though we had spent less than an hour with each other - the connection was instant.

You know the connection Elena had with Stefan? That instant connection - exactly like that. But of course, I had that connection of 'friendship' with Ryder not love.

"Actually I know someone who might help you - will you come?" he asked making me look at at him.

"Who?" I asked curiously. I was desperate for help, and there was no doubt about it.

"You come with me, you can meet him and see if you want his help. What say?" Ryder said.

I thought about it, I contemplated but eventually gave in. What is the harm in trying? Maybe whoever this is might actually be able to help me. I thought and then agreed to go with him. Ryder then took me to his car and he started driving. It was some expensive looking car which I don't know the name of, but it was sexy. The interior smelled of fries and something and I internally chuckled at that. He is a foodie, like me.

"You are not going to kidnap me and then murder me right? And you are definitely not going to hunt me down and bury me somewhere right?" I asked jokingly to Ryder.

"Oh no! But I am definitely taking you to help me to bury a dead body. So you up with that?"

"Of course buddy!" I said laughing.

After 15 mins we arrived at a mansion which was huge. It was really beautiful, exquisite and definitely expensive looking. The name plate outside said - PARKER MANSION. Ryder took me inside and told me to wait in the hall room on as he made me sit on the couch.

I gazed around in awe. The interiors were intricate and magnificent. But as I looked I noticed that though the house was beautiful, worth millions, and of course huge, it lacked that homely feeling. My eyes wandered to each and every detail of the room, which looked more like a hall then a room. Rich. Too damn much.

After sometime, while I was scanning the house, Ryder returned with someone and as I saw the face I could not stop the next words from my mouth.

"you have got to be fricking kidding me."

ks in one day a coincidence? Doesn't seem that way.