Southern Boys

Boys

"Well," Mr. Baxter says, "Boys aren't you going to introduce yourselves?"

The boys roll their eyes. Turning towards me. The first one, steps forward and holds out his hand. "I'm Cole," he says, as I shake his hand, "I'll be a freshman in college but I stay here with my father."

"nice to meet you," I say "Cole."

the next one steps up, but this time when I offer my hand, he doesn't take it.

"I'm Tony," he says, never meeting my eyes. "Im gonna be a senior too I guess. I'm his nephew."

"Nice to meet you,"

"whatever," he says, walking towards the stairs I hadn't noticed were to my right.

Mr. Baxter hits him on the back of the head when he walks bye. "Be polite," He hisses. I all of a sudden feel unwelcome.

The next boy steps forward. "Cam, I'm fifteen......and single." He says, winking at me before following Tony up the stairs.

The last boy approaches me. He's smaller than the rest of them, still a kid, actually.

"I'm Nathan," his voice cracks. "I'm 14, I'll be a freshman." he looks at his father, "Can I go upstairs now?"

"How about you show Maria to her room?" Baxter says, handing my rolling bag to Nathan.

The boy rolls his eyes and starts walking up the stairs with my bag. I don't know if I should follow, so I stay where I am.

"Are you coming or what?" Nathan asks.

I quickly climb the stairs and follow him. When I reach the top, I realize how huge this house really is. It's like a hotel, with about twenty rooms on each side. I then realize that while I was marveling at the size of the corridor, Nathan had moved on without me.

He's stopped in front of a door, and has began fiddling with a key. I walk up to him. "Do you need help?"

"Nope." He says, finally sticking the key in the lock, twisting it and opening the door. "After you."