Colibrì

2.

There was something about Beverly Hills that made Aderyn want to throw up. Probably how people living there were disgustingly rich. And to think that she was about to become one of them... She hated it already. Kind of.

She'd lived in L.A. her whole life, but she'd never been important enough to drive through Beverly Hills and park in one of the millionaires' villas' driveways.

However, since she got that call from the Hummingbirds's producer, she was expected to move into their mansion with them, so that they could all work on their music. They did have to go on tour soon, after all.

The driver that had picked her up from her modest apartment in L.A. parked in front of a monumental villa. When Aderyn stepped outside of the black SUV, she had to take off her sunglasses and gape at the immensity of the mansion.

Nine-thousand square feet spread on two floors of pure, unsettling wealth, with a water feature that welcomed her as she stepped through the gated entrance. Glass doors and entire walls made of glass, as well as balconies for each room and expensive materials making up the rest of the villa.

She knew there was more, too. In the back there was undoubtedly a pool, and something told her there was a movie theater and spacious garage for the bandmates' expensive cars.

All this wealth just because an edit of Hawkins went viral years ago. Their fame had been so random and lucky it was irritating.

After what felt like an eternity, Aderyn arrived at the massive black glass front door. She felt so out of place. Mastering the courage, she rang the doorbell of her new home.

Some minutes later, after the driver had brought up her luggage, the door opened, revealing bits of the luxurious inside.

Aderyn found herself standing in front of the band's bass guitarist, Arden, whose wet, blond hair was slicked away from his face. He'd either just got out of the shower or the pool.

"G'day, how you going?" he greeted her with a polite, handsome smile.

Aderyn gave him a friendly smile back that didn't reach her ears. "Hi."

"Here, let me help you with those." He reached for the two full bags and lifted them off the floor. "Was the drive okay?"

They walked inside the house and she was struck by the beauty of it. "Yeah," she absently replied, her chin tilted up as she followed the tall walls and looked around.

He noticed her shock and smiled. "I know. You'll get used to it."

"If I don't get lost before."

"It'll happen the first few days, then you'll learn," he joked, though it wasn't totally untrue. "Come, I'll show you your room."

As expected, the bedroom was huge. It even had its own terrace, right through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

"I'll let you get settled in. Come downstairs with us when you're ready so we can get to know each other." Arden set down her bags and stood in the doorway with a small smile. "Welcome home, Aderyn."

She smiled in a thankful way. "You can call me Addie."

"Okay, then, Addie. It's good to have you here."

She nodded. "It's good to be here." She stuffed her hands in the back pockets of her low-waisted jeans. "I'll see you later, then, okay?"

"Yeah. Later."

He left her alone in the room and she got started on her luggage. Not before she'd tried the massive bed, though. She hopped on it and lay down. Sigh. She could add this bed to the list of pros of being the new Hummingbird.