IGNITE

three.

‹ 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐬𝐨𝐧 ›

The scent of strawberries and vanilla invaded my senses, swirling around my head as I paused in the threshold of the living room. My eyes remained fixed on the wide-eyed redhead seated on the couch, her legs crossed as she gently stroked a fat, orange cat.

Sickeningly green eyes studied me, shimmering with a blend of apprehension and curiosity, their gaze tracing an icy-hot trail over my skin as they assessed every inch of me. I tore my eyes from the girl, meeting the anxious stare of my best friend and raising a questioning brow.

"Who the fuck is this?"

Kai sighed, running a hand through his inky hair as he gestured to the girl, whose assessing gaze remained fixed on me. "Uh, this is Poppy—or, Piper—she's our..."

My eyes narrowed at the slight hesitation, and I cocked my head to the side. "Our what?"

"Poppy here is our new roommate," Ryan finished, lazily draping a tattooed arm over the redhead—Piper's—slim frame, a hold which she quickly moved out of. "There was a mix up with the paperwork, so she's stuck with us!"

I snorted—a harsh, mocking sound that seemed to startle Piper, if the slight flinch was any indication. I watched as she swallowed heavily, her hands clenching on her lap, before she gave a soft nod. "It's nice to meet you, Greyson." A manicured hand reached up, tucking a strand of ginger hair behind a pierced ear, and she smiled—a sweet, innocent little thing that had a frown tugging at the corners of my mouth.

"Whatever," I muttered, pushing myself off the doorframe, and ignoring the curious glances of my friends as I trudged down the hallway. "You guys have fun."

Kai was on me before I could reach for the doorknob of the last empty room in the house, and if the scent of strawberries and vanilla were any indication, I knew who the room beside me belonged to. His ringed hand caught my shoulder, halting my movements—or, trying to—before he spoke, his tone a hushed murmur. "You're being a dick, dude."

I shrugged off his grip, my back stiffening as I turned to glare at the dark-haired boy, the brown of my eyes darkening with an emotion I didn't want, or know how to name. "No, I'm being fucking realistic," I countered, my voice quiet and controlled, despite the anger boiling in my gut. Pushing open the door, I tossed my bag onto the bed, ignoring the sound of Kai following closely behind me, shutting the door behind him.

"I know she's not what you were expecting, none of us were expecting her, but..." he trailed off, wincing slightly as if predicting my response to his next words. "She's kind of cool if you give her a chance."

A sardonic laugh tumbled from my lips, and I raised a brow, watching as he leaned against the wall, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. "I don't want another friend, Kai, especially not Strawberry fucking Shortcake out there." I crossed the room, pulling open the door of what I assumed was the closet, only to be met with a large bathroom, and the entrance to Piper's room directly across from me. "You're kidding me," I muttered, shaking my head as I glared at the offending doorway. "You know this is just going to end badly, right? I mean, what happens if we have the crew over and there's a doe-eyed redhead sitting on our couch, reeking innocence? That shit won't fly with the guys, you know that as well as I do." My hands twitched at my side, desperate for the weight of a cigarette between my fingers.

Kai sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't know what you want me to say, Grey. She's our roommate, whether you like it or not, so you might as well try to get along." There was a long beat of silence before he continued. "Now, I am going out to the living room, where I am going to continue to get to know our roommate, and I'd love it if you joined."