California and You

Chapter Five

I did feel a little bad about going with Jack to meet Grayson and Ethan without the girls. I know that Kat and Kayla especially deserved to meet them more than I did. I didn't want to say that it would be unfair while we were all still back in my room because I didn't want Jack to feel like an ass for being inconsiderate. So I didn't say anything; and I met the twins.

Jack introduced me as "the girl that couldn't figure out what to wear, so that's why we were later than I said we would be."

Fantastic.

They're both nice guys though, and they said I could come over to hangout anytime. We then exchanged numbers and Shawn came out of hiding when they gave me a tour of their surprisingly huge apartment. I mean, as 'huge' as an apartment can be. There's two floors: the main and then the upstairs where the bedrooms are. I was shocked to see what they could afford on top of their own apartment. They're only nineteen, like me. I guess being famous has its advantages.

I really like Ethan, I think. I may even be interested in him, but I have this rule where I don't show any signs of interest until he does first. I know that's pretty lame, but I don't want to look like an idiot by chasing after someone who doesn't want to be chased by me. Just in the hour that I've been here, I've figured out that Ethan is the more sarcastic twin, which I like because I, too, am a very sarcastic person. He also has a blue streak in the front of his hair that I haven't seen in any of their videos yet; but then again, I haven't really been watching any of their videos.

I have always wanted to dye a strand of my hair blue, but I always came to the conclusion that I shouldn't because it won't match everything I wear.

The small talk between the five of us didn't last long though as people began flooding through the front door fifteen minutes before six, and Ethan and Grayson went to greet everyone like they were all old friends. Jack left me too, so now I'm sitting in one of the chairs on the balcony surrounded by a dozen faces I don't know the names of.

"You look thrilled to be here," a voice chuckles above me.

I look up, and then even farther up than I thought was appropriate, into a face that I can't see because the sun is in my eyes. The stranger wears black skinny jeans with slits in the knees, and a white muscle shirt with a black outline of a hand in form of a peace sign.

"Oh, I am," I say after a couple more seconds go by.

He smiles and sits down next to me. "You share a dorm with Nash, Cameron, Matt, and all of them, right?" I now see that he has obviously unnatural bleached hair above a pair of dark eyebrows and a matching pair of dark eyes, but the look seems to suit him quite well actually.

I don't know why him knowing where I live doesn't unsettle me, but it doesn't. "Yeah. I'm Callie."

"Kian." He goes on, "I saw you in one of their videos."

So they kept me in it? I thought they were gonna let me have a look at it first...

"It was hilarious when you came back and hit Hayes and Jack with a balloon."

And that's when I remember the initiation video.

"Oh, yeah," I laugh with him. "I forgot they got that on video." I look around to see if I can find any of my roommates in the crowd. "Have you seen any of them? I came early with Jack, so I don't know when they'll be here or anything."

"Um..." he purses his lips. "I saw Cameron earlier. He was talking to Danielle..." Who's Danielle? "But I haven't seen anyone else, sorry."

I let out a disappointed sigh. I can't go looking for Cameron. That would be weird. "It's okay. I just don't know anyone, and I'm really not usually this boring, I promise."