Saba Kapur - Lucky You

Amberjack Publishing

1472 E. Iron Eagle Dr.

Eagle, ID 83616

http://amberjackpublishing.com

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, fictitious places, and events are the products of the authors imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places, or events is purely coincidental.

Copyright 2018 by Saba Kapur

Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, in part or in whole, in any form whatsoever without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Cataloguing-in-publication data available upon request.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-944995-93-5

eBook ISBN: 978-1-944995-94-2

Cover Design: Stepheny Miller

For my mother, who said:
You better dedicate this one to just me, I dont want to be grouped in withthe rest of the family.

Renowned philosopher and poet Jay-Z once stated that he had ninety-nine problems, which, to anyone else, would seem like a hefty amount. But if you ask me, hes got it pretty good. Hes married to Beyonc, which basically means hes won at life, and hes rich enough to buy a pet dragon if he wanted to. Im not talking about those tiny lizards, either. I mean the huge Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire kind. So, forgive me, but I dont really see how his problems could add up to a number so high. Jay-Z has clearly never had to deal with the stress of being the teenage daughter of a Hollywood movie star.

My name is Gia Winters, and trust me, my life isnt as great as it seems in the fashion magazines. In April of this year, things got a little sucky. My dads exbest friend decided it would be fun to stalk me for months and then kidnap me at the Golden Globe awards. Everyone needs a hobby, and apparently his was being a full-time lunatic. As it turns out, his revenge plan was sort of idiotic because he was really the one to blame for his own failures in life. You dont sleep with your agents wife and then expect to become the next Brad Pitt. For those of you who are rolling your eyes right now, believe me, I cant make this stuff up. I still have the emotional and faded physical scars to prove it.

Five months later, its safe to say nothing is as it used to be. I made the choice to leave sunny Los Angeles for the full college experience in New York, which allows me the pleasure of being trampled by eight million people on dirty streets with skyscrapers. No palm trees. No tanned guys on skateboards. Its all briefcases, trench coats, and cheap hot dogs here. Leaving California wasnt just hard because I was saying goodbye to my dad, my brother, and all my friends. In fact, leaving my sixteen-year-old brother Mike was actually not an emotional experience at all because hes a huge pain in the ass. He only cared about my spike in fame when he realized I could potentially set him up with Cindy Crawfords daughter. Yeah, like that was ever going to happen. But finishing something means starting something new, only I wasnt convinced I was equipped for all the new things being hurled in my direction.

My therapist, Dr. Adele Norton, was one of these new additions. She was pretty, but in a plain-Jane sort of way. She wore a lot of beige, and she had a painting of a bouquet of flowers hanging in her office that made me feel uncomfortable. Sessions with her were like discussing your intimate secrets with a stranger while youre waiting to see the dentist.

Gia, she said, taking a seat on the wine-colored armchair opposite mine. Im so glad youve decided to come back for more sessions this week. I wasnt sure Id see you after our last conversation.

You mean when I told you that therapy was a waste of time, and if I had any life problems Id email Oprah?

She gave me a small smile, the kind you give a small child attempting to discuss politics with you. Yes, that one.

I shrugged. Thought I may as well give it another try. Dad paid you for the whole month.

Well, whatever the reason, I think you made the right choice.

I stared at her blankly. She was clearly thinking hard about something as she watched me in concentration. Maybe she was thinking that the money wasnt worth dealing with my sour attitude. Maybe she was wondering if her hair was wrapped too tightly in that bun on her head. Probably a bit of both, actually.

So... are we going to discuss my parents divorce or something now? I asked, fiddling with the ends of my long, brown hair.

Actually, I think well just talk for a bit. Dr. Norton placed her notebook down on the table that stood between us. She folded her hands in her lap and gave me another gentle smile. Are you excited about starting classes this week?

Sure. Should be fun.

It was not going to be fun. Its not like Id been chilling at home watching sitcoms all day since the little kidnapping incident. I mean, yeah, okay, I had been doing a bit of that, but Id also been crazy busy with all my life changes. The idea of class and homework being crammed into my schedule seemed almost impossible to manage. I was going to have to compromise a bit.

I know a few people who went to NYU, Dr. Norton said earnestly. Its a great school. Im sure youll love it.

Cool.

With any luck, shed keep talking like that until the session ended and save me the trouble of actually participating.

Are you nervous?

No.

Uh, yes. What kind of a stupid question was that? I dug my nails into my palms so that she couldnt see I had been biting them all morning. There goes that two-hour manicure I sat through just last weekend.

College is very different than high school, Dr. Norton went on. And youve only been in New York for a month. Its perfectly normal to be overwhelmed.

Yeah, well, I began with a forced smile, theres nothing really normal about me, now is there?

Dr. Norton was silent for a few long moments, clearly thinking about her bun again. Probably. Well, she finally said. Not every college freshman has the same responsibilities as you do.

It was clear Dr. Norton was struggling to find a polite way to say Not all eighteen-year-olds miss the first week of college because they were attending the most exclusive New York Fashion Week events. But, sure. Lets go with responsibilities.

Those are the perks of being Harry Winterss daughter, I told her.

Dr. Norton leaned over and picked up the notebook. Playtime was over. Time for business. She uncapped her pen, and I felt the dread build up inside me.

How have you been sleeping lately, Gia? Have these past few days been any better?

Yeah, I lied. A little, I guess.

Still having nightmares? You mentioned you had quite a few last week.

And that was the last time I was ever going to tell her about them. I think one session was plenty for her reminders about dealing with unresolved fear and trauma.

I wouldnt call them nightmares, I mumbled. I mean, yesterday I dreamt that I got married to Zac Efron, so thats good, right?

Dr. Norton gave a quiet laugh. Yes, I would say thats a good dream.

I conveniently left out the part where Zac Efron morphed into a faceless figure who shot me, and I got blood all over my Vera Wang wedding dress just before I said my vows. We never even got to the wedding cake or the moment where he serenades me with songs from