The New Rival

15

Ally

    I don't know how I got back here.

    I woke up in the same room I left the night prior to go to the roof, my room, but I had no recollection of coming back down.

    The last thing I remembered was looking up at the stars beside Chris after everyone else had left. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in my room and it was eight am.

    I got up slowly and made my way to the bathroom. There were towels folded on the edge of the shower in the bathroom attached to my room.

    When I finished showering, I changed into black leggings and a blue shirt I hadn't worn in months. I think the last time I wore this was when Sabrina dragged me to a bar on our night off. I ripped a hole in the side when I fell onto a stool.

    I wasn't sure if I should wait for someone to come get me or just wander around myself. Then again, Chris did tell me to make myself at home.

    I opened the door and walked into the hallway. It was dead silent. For a house with so many people in it, it's really quiet most of the time.

   I started walking towards the kitchen when a low grunting noise came from a room on the opposite side of the hall. It sounded like someone was working out.

    When I got closer, I heard a loud thud, like something had fallen to the ground, followed by a very out-of-breath person let out a heavy sigh.

    I walked to the edge of the door and stopped when I saw Chris lying on the floor. He was alone in the middle of the same training room we were in yesterday when Teo and Scarlet were fighting.

    I stood there, possibly for too long, watching as Chris laid still on the floor. He was shirtless, making it easy to see the sweat rolling off his abs as his chest rose and fell deep into his body. I didn't even realize I was staring until he sat up and looked at me.

    I cleared my throat and took a step into the room. Chris smiled at me and stood up to get his water bottle leaning on the wall across the room.

    "What were you doing?" I felt compelled to ask.

    I heard him laugh under his breath once he got to the wall. "Good morning to you too," he said once he was facing me again, the water bottle now in his hand.

    "Sorry. Good morning."

    He walked over to me and stopped a foot away. He was still breathing heavily and his hair was messier than usual.

    "I was working out, to answer your question. I assume you know was that means?" He raised an eyebrow with a smirk.

    "Why so early?"

    "Early for you maybe. But here, everyone has started their day already. There aren't many people who haven't left the house yet."

    "Where did they go?"

    He walked past me and waited for me to follow him. I started walking behind him as he went down the hall and towards the other side of the house where a few of the rooms were.

    He continued talking with his head over his shoulder so I could see him while I trailed behind. "Cruiz has deals to finish and a gang to run, Teo and a few others are helping him, Gemma is probably at home or doing something illegal, Angie's in school, and I'm here babysitting you."

    "Angie's in school?"

    "Yeh, she's seventeen."

    "Wait, really?"