T.R.A.C.K: Debut Single

Chapter 3: Ashley

For the next few days, I was alone in a mansion that had, at first, felt like the biggest and grandest building I had ever been in in my life.

            Call me crazy, but for the first few hours I was content just lying on a couch and gaping in wonder at the plexiglass ceiling.

            But expensive furniture and gleaming brand-newness aside, the thing that excited me the most was the thought that in a couple days, I would actually have housemates.

            Therefore, I spent the rest of those first few days cleaning like mad.

            “You know, you look good in an apron,” Tyr commented once he moved in, barely a day after I did. After all, I had far less stuff to pack. “Weird, but good.”

            “Haha,” I replied, trying to sound sarcastic. So far, no one has yet to tell me if I succeeded. Apparently it was something about the tone I say it with. “You’re just saying that ‘cause you’re happy you don’t have to spend more money on hiring a housekeeper.”

            “That too,” he admitted. One thing I liked about Tyr: he never tries to hide his flaws. Unlike me. “But I’m serious. You’re pretty good at this too. For a boy.”

            I had to smile at that one. “I do plenty of stuff well for a boy. As you should know.”

            Tyr laughed. It was still a sound I was getting accustomed to. “Careful with your choice of words, especially when Ryder is around. That guy is as straight as an arrow.”

            “…Did I hear my name?”

            “Ryder!” I hastily removed the apron and greeted him with a grin. There was still a curl of distaste in his lip as he appraised me—I knew he judged me differently, but I was also used to it by now. It still hurt, occasionally, especially when I wanted to fit in here so bad. But I was not going to let it hamper my appreciation of everything else that had happened to me since Tyr approached me and turned my life 180 degrees.

            Ryder acknowledged me with a stiff nod and turned back to Tyr a touch too hastily. I tried not to fault him for it.

            “Okay, man, you got me. You made sure I had no way out, and here I am. For the long run. And I brought a lot of stuff so you better show me to my room and I’d better like it, or I’m going make home life hell for you, housemate.”

             I tagged along happily, just as enthusiastic to show Ryder his new room as Tyr undoubtedly was. After all, I had a hand in furnishing it, too. Just the bare essentials, of course. Tyr said we should leave each of them free rein when it came to customizing their own room. When we had five teenage boys in one house, no matter how big said house was, there was only so much private space.

            The mansion had, amongst other things, three stories, a basement, a pool in the back yard and a driveway a mile long. There was a spot in the back that seemed pretty promising, and I had great aspirations for it. But right now I was content with helping out around the house itself, making it moderately habitable for my friends.