Escape | Updated Weekly

2

"Eve?" Tom sounded worried. "Are you okay?". I tried to find the words, but I couldn't stand it when Tom was right. "Can I move in?" I asked shyly. He chuckled down the phone. "It didn't go well then?"

"They're lovely people" I lied

"I just don't think it's for me. There's about 500 people living in these dorms all sharing one bathroom". Tom couldn't stop laughing. I thought it best not to tell Tom about the other stuff. Before I knew it Tom would be trying to put in a complaint and the reception lady already thought I was ridiculous enough as it is. Tom was trying to muffle the phone so that I couldn't hear it but he was doing a terrible job. "Look, you were right. I know I said I didn't want to live with a bunch of 'band boys' but it's sure better than this". Tom managed to get a hold of himself just enough to say "Come round after your lectures. I'll introduce you to the lads".

Tom's uni house was only a two minute walk from campus. Due to Tom being more prepared than me, he managed to secure one of the best houses with his band mates. It was semi detached, 5 bedrooms and had a nearby pub. What more could you ask for? I wasn't sure what to expect. Tom had always talked about his band mates but I'd never had the chance to meet them before now. I knocked on the door and Tom quickly answered. He looked as though he still found it hilarious. "Go on through m'lady" he did an effortless curtsy and hustled me into the hallway. Immediately the smell of men's deodorant hit me. If there wasn't a big enough clue that four lads lived here. That 100% gave it away.

Behind the front door was a small opening, probably to keep all the shoes, the stairs were in front and to the right was the doorway for the living room. I made my way towards all the noises of chatter to be greeted with the 3 boys I'd heard so much about. Without even being told which one was who I could figure it out. Dani was the one with short black hair, dressed all in black like he didn't know other colours existed. Brandon was the one who looked older, again black hair but instead it swept across his face almost covering his eyes. A few facial piercings but nothing too dramatic. And lastly. Mac. I figured that one out just by how moody and out of reach he seemed, but nonetheless he had medium, blonde curly hair and glasses , but not the nerdy type. More like the smart businessman type and was tall like Tom.

"Here's the gang '' Tom announced. Dani and Brandon instantly looked up to welcome me and introduce themselves. "And Mac's sulking in the corner because he can't figure out how to finish his song" Tom finished. Mac rolled his eyes. Tom offered to give me the rest of the house tour. Adjacent to the living room was an open plan kitchen. It looked like it'd barely fit 3 people in at one time let alone 5. Tom took me upstairs to show me the bedrooms. There were four bedrooms that led off from the open space at the top of the landing, the bathroom and a closet. "I thought you said there was space for me?" I asked, looking at the four bedroom doors and wondering where on earth the fifth one was meant to be. Tom looked at me mischievously. He opened what I had assumed was the closet. And to my surprise there was another set of stairs. "what?" I excitedly jogged up the stairs that lead straight into bedroom number 5.

"This is the loft room, '' Tom explained "We figured with you being the only girl you'd wanna have some space. Bit more privacy". I loved it. "Wow. Thank you. Are you sure? This room is huge ''. There was already a bed and desk set up. I could fit two of that tiny dorm room inside this one. I couldn't believe they'd give up the best room in the house for me. Tom grinned from ear to ear, clearly very pleased with himself. "Honestly no one is using it, none of us are even gonna be home enough to appreciate a room this big". I took another glance around the room, all the endless decorating possibilities appearing in front of my own eyes. Tom put his arm around my shoulders. "Besides, I was kinda hoping you wanted to move in. It's the perfect bedroom/ office for a writer". He knew me far too well, it's like he expected me to have left housing to the last minute and would need extra space to work properly at a desk. This was exactly why we were friends.

We went back to the others again. I used this opportunity to get to know the boys. After all they were now a big part of Tom's life. I instantly decided that I liked Dani and Brandon. They were just like Tom with their kindness and humour and I felt as though I'd fit right in with them. Mac was the awkward one. He hadn't spoken much and I had no idea what to say to him.

"Eve you should come join us at rehearsal tomorrow" said Dani excitedly as he picked up a beer and opened it with his teeth, the sight made me cringe thinking about how that could damage them. "You're rehearsing already?". Dani nodded trying to swallow his sip so he could answer quicker, but Tom beat him to it. 

"We're always rehearsing Eve, even if there's no show you gotta keep the practice up". 

"What exactly do you guys have to do for your course? You're already in a band, wouldn't it be easier to just try and sell your music?" Tom rolled his eyes at me, forever wound up that I didn't understand 'the music industry'. Thankfully Brandon was far more forgiving. "Well yeah we could, and that's what we're gonna have to do one day, but we need the skills first and uni will get us to gigs that will have agents there to see us". Tom grabbed my hand willing for me to understand so he never had to explain it again. "We need an agent first Eve" he said smiling. I nudged him playfully , winding him up was my favourite thing to do and now that we were housemates it was gonna be a lot easier.

Tom set his beer down on the table, making a clicking sound as the almost empty bottle hit the wood. "Let's go grab your stuff from the car" he said "Maybe we can get an ice cream after?" I looked up at him with pleading eyes. We would always go out for ice cream at home. It was kind of our thing whenever we hung out. It only seemed right to go try somewhere new.

Tom helped me carry my stuff up to my room. Well I say helped, he practically did it all. I took the bags of clothes and he carried the boxes with all my books in, insisting that he took both at the same time and instantly regretting it. I couldn't help but laugh as he wobbled up the stairs, almost panicking he was gonna drop them all back down them. Once it was finished he agreed that we should reward ourselves with ice cream, so we drove to the nearest parlor. It was about a ten minute drive and the place was called 'Sprinkles'. Once we had chosen our signature choices, Mint chocolate chip for Tom and anything with brownies for me, we sat down in a booth. Despite it being almost 6:30 at night the place still had families sitting with their children running about, screaming and shouting at the top of their lungs whilst at the peak of their sugar high, and the parents slightly regretting their decision to allow them to have ice cream this close to bedtime. The sound never bothered me though, I liked seeing families out, spending quality time together. It was something I never quite knew in my childhood.

Tom noticed me watching them but he didn't say anything, he's the only one to ever know about what life at home was like for me. Not that he ever understood it. His family were always so close and did everything together, but he did understand my constant curiosity. Tom's family basically accepted me with open arms and they feel more like my family than my actual blood, and although I'm so grateful for everything they've given me, it's not the same as knowing the actual people who made you.

"So what's Mac's deal?" I asked, to change the subject. He took a big spoonful ice cream and replied as he was trying to suppress the brain freeze it gave him. "what do you mean?" he placed a hand on his head as if that was gonna help. "Well he barely spoke... to anyone". Tom rubbed his head as his brain freeze died down and then went back in for another big spoonful, not learning his lesson from minutes before. "You just gotta get to know him. Honestly he's a fun guy he's just... I don't know how to describe it. He doesn't really talk about anything personal, he'll write songs about stuff like that he won't ever talk about, besides,  I've known him for so long now that I barely remember what it's like to meet him for the first time". I couldn't help but feel a little like an outsider. Tom and his band mates were, of course, so close to each other. It was gonna take me a while to connect with any of them on a deeper level. "You're gonna be fine Eve" he said, reaching over to grab my hand and reassure me. "One day we'll go back and think, wow... and look where we are now".

And he was right. He was always right.