Gloria smoothed her hair down, the one brown wispy strand that always escaped from behind her ear, and laughed nervously to herself. She wanted this date to go well. How nice it would be, she thought as she locked eyes with her handsome lab partner, if this was the last first date she ever went on. Daniel had asked her to grab a bite after they'd finished class and she'd quickly texted her roommate she'd have to cancel their dinner plans because LAB PARTNER had finally asked her out. "Yesssss, girl, show him what chemistry really is," Lisa had replied. She and Lisa had been friends since freshman year and now lived with each other off campus as grad students. Gloria grinned and accompanied Daniel out of the classroom and into the fresh air where they'd soon stumbled upon a Chinese restaurant she'd always wanted to try.
Gloria picked up a menu and thought about the last time she'd had Chinese food. She'd been with her Dad, eating at his favorite joint, China Gate. He loved the Sesame Beef and Kungpao chicken and General Tsos. He'd talked about his college days with mischief in his eyes. She had a feeling he'd smoked a lot of pot.
A waitress stopped by to greet them and took Daniel in with wide eyes. A pang of jealousy rippled through Gloria's veins, but she also appreciated that another woman was appreciating her date. He really was gorgeous. And smart. And it seemed like he was nervous too.
"Our restaurant has a tradition, be right back," announced the waitress, her long black hair whipping across her back. She traveled to the back of the kitchen and returned swiftly, two fortune cookies on two trays. She delicately put a tray in front of Daniel. And then she met eyes with Gloria and without breaking contact, slowly pushed the other tray towards her. "I''ll be back to take your order in just a few minutes."
How odd, thought Gloria. Fortune cookies first. She'd never been to a Chinese restaurant that served fortune cookies first. They were always for the end of the meal. A pocket of joy to take with you, a message you could laugh about with your friends and try to decipher. She even had a fortune cookie message or two she'd saved because the slip of paper had been the bearer of good news or an exciting prophecy.
"You first," Gloria pressed Daniel. He smiled and cracked open the cookie, taking it out of the plastic bag.
"You will be invited to a party," he winked at her. "Lucky me, huh?"
Gloria giggled. "Who knows, maybe you will," she responded flirtily.
"Now you," Daniel sat back and Gloria watched the outline of his lips, plump and rosy.
"Okay, okay. On it." Gloria took the fortune cookie out of the bag and cracked it against the table. She slowly picked up the paper and silently read her message. Her large blue eyes widened. She looked up at Daniel. And then all around her. Her body went ice cold
"Whats it say, Gloria?" asked Daniel.
She hesitated.
"Ahhh, you know, I think I'm gonna keep this one to myself for now." Gloria laughed nervously again and gingerly placed the message in her purse.
"No fair!" Daniel shook his head at her, as he picked up his menu and began perusing the items.
Gloria carefully picked up her menu and tried her best to read it, but she could not get the fortune out of her head. Though the slip of paper was now out of sight, all Gloria could see were the words "You are in danger."
