Chapter Two

It doesn't take long for other people to arrive. Just five minutes later, the sound of the door being thrown wide open echoes throughout the house, causing me to jump in surprise. Reese on her part, merely lets out a barely audible sigh, before reaching into the pockets of her shirt and pulling out a pair of earbuds, one of which she shoves into her left ear.

"Reese!" a loud voice sounds off the walls. "We're home."

Reese blows her hair out of her face, a slightly annoyed but mostly relieved look on her face. She pushes herself up from the couch and marches toward the opening. Halfway there, she stops and turns around as if she's somehow forgotten that I'm here.

"C'mon," her voice comes out a hoarse whisper.

I get up from my own seat and follow her back to the enterence where two other girls are waiting. One has a natural tan to her skin along with long, crazy curly black hair and dark eyes, the other waist length brown hair that's been pulled into a long intricate braid and green eyes. I can only assume these are two of my other house mates.

"We've got some Chinese," the brunette says holding up a bag with a bright red design on it. She clearly notices me, but is choosing not to acknowledge my exsistance quite yet. "And McDonald's for this picky eater over here," she nods over to the crazy haired girl. "So we're all set for movie night. Now, I know you had your heart set on Big Hero 6, but the library didn't have it, and the quality on every website sucks so we had to settle for Dracula: Dead and Lovin' It. We both still say that there's no way this is anywhere near as good as Spaceballs, but seeing as it's your turn to choose the movie, we decided we'll live." she pauses just for the briefest of moments, her green eyes flickering towards me. "I see you've finally shown up. Knowing Reese, she probably hasn't shown you where your room is, instead opting to make us do it-"

"Okay, Kyra," the crazy haired girl laughs, slapping a tanned hand over the brunette's mouth. "Why don't you shut up for five seconds so the poor boy can get a word in."

I can't help but be slightly greatful for her interruption. Somehow I imagined that the girl-Kyra, I imagine her name must be-probably would easilly be able to go on talking all the way into tomorrow if someone hadn't stopped her.

"Ah, hi," I smile slightly over at the two of them, "I'm Kai Small."

I mentally prepare myself for another onslot as Kyra opens her mouth again, but the black haired girl jumps in before she can get a word out. This is a talent she must have gathered over the time they've spent as friends.

"Kari Ramsay," she says, a smile of her own gracing her face. "And this loquacious person over here is Kyra Croxen."

"Pretty sure you used 'loquacious' wrong," Reese cuts in with a raised eyebrow. I can't help but notice that she's standing just a bit straighter, her shoulders pushed back slightly more as if these girls were somehow feeding her self confidence.

Kari shrugs and offers a wide smile. "The meaning doesn't change."

"And what does it mean exactly?" I can't help but ask.

"Chatty."

Ah. Yeah, somehow despite having only knowing the girl for less than two minutes, I can already conclude that that's probably an accurate description of Kyra. The fact that her face literally seems to be turning red from being unable to talk really isn't helping.

"Here," Kari steps forward, "I'll show you where your room is. The boys should be back soon enough to help settle you in."

"Sweet," Kyra lets out with a loud sigh. "Then Reese and I will go start getting set up for the movie. We'll put everything in the fridge-don't worry, I'll cover your burgers with bread so that the buns don't get hard-"

"Kyra," Reese cuts in, stepping toward the brunette and leaning heavily on the other girl's shoulder. "You're doing it again."

Kyra let out a loud groan, but to her credit shut up. She drew her arms around herself and glared pathetically over at the blonde out of the corner of her eye. Reese barely paid her any attention to her though merely continuing to stare at me. Well, not so much at me as in my direction. Her gaze seems to pass right by my left ear, but that still doesn't keep my face from heating up slightly.

"So," I say awkwardly as I follow Kari down a long hallway after we've finally separated from the other two. Somehow I'm finding it hard to imagine three people so unbelievably different being friends. "Did you three meet here?"

"Hm?" Kari turns around before laughing and shaking her head. "Oh no. Reese and I go way back. We've been best friends since the fourth grade. I met Kyra our Freshman year. We actually moved in because we wanted to live together and get away from our families. Plus, the rent isn't half bad."

I can't help but be a bit surprised at that, but decide not to comment on it. The three of them did seem to get along well enough, despite the horribly different personalities they all possessed, but maybe that was why they worked.

"Alright," Kari sighs after another minute or so, stopping by a room at the left hand of the hallway. "This will be yours. Inside is a list of all the numbers you may need, as well as all your personal belongings. If you get lost do feel free to call any of us. We know how it is."

I nod as she backs out of the way so I can open up the door. However, before I do so, I can't help but turn around and ask when the others will be arriving.

Kari frowns as if she's not too sure how to answer this question. "Fridays they usually stay out late, however they did promise to come home early to help you get settled." she sighs. "Of course, knowing them that might have been a bunch of shit." she waves her hand dismissively. "They'll be here soon enough though."

"Okay," I nod at her with a smile, still feeling a bit awkward, as if I'm supposed to be more polite than myself. "Thank you."

"No problem!" Kari moves to head back down the hallway, but stops before winking over her shoulder. "Don't go falling for August now. He's mine."

TUGTGTG

The creaking of my door wakes me up later that night. I crack an eye open to catch the blury sight of my alarm clock-one of the few things I've managed to set up. 3:41am. Great. Who the fuck is coming in at this hour?

I pull the blanket away from my head and squint my eyes to see who disrupted my slumber. It's a man with chin length blood red hair that's pulled back into a messy ponytail. His eyes are bloodshot as if he's been drinking, but that isn't what I'm focused on as an angry, raspy voice leaves his throat.

"What the fuck are you doing in my house?"

It's the knife he has aimed right at my face.