The Boy With The X Tattoo

Two

The ride to the house was interesting enough; Colby blasting music while Sam would talk about plans for future videos. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, opening all the snaps that my friends sent me, saying that they missed me already. 

"Do you think the others will like me?" I ask, slipping my phone into my pocket and looking out the front window. Sam chuckles and nods.

"They're all great guys. Totally accepting. I think you'll fit in well." He turns and looks at me as Colby pulls into the half circle driveway, the gate closing behind his car. I smile and hop out, the sudden head rush making me so dizzy I trip over my own feet.

"Shit." I mutter and look at my now slightly bloody knees.

"You okay?" Colby asks when he gets out. I glance up and meet his eyes for a moment. Big mistake. His electric blue eyes meeting my green ones, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Rose?" He asks again and I smile awkwardly. 

"Yeah. I've fallen down concrete stairs before." I say and get up, watching the blood drip onto my white shoes. 

"Okay..." Colby says and I smile.

Good going, Rose. First impression in two years: still a total klutz.

I grab my suitcases out of the trunk and look at Colby, his eyes glancing at my knees. 

I shuffle toward the door, feeling a sharp pain in my knee with each step. I wait for the boys to walk in first, not wanting to scare anyone with the new look. Not even 5 seconds of entering the door, I hear a thud from the stairs and see a dog wagging its tail.

"Didn't know there was another roommate." I muse and Sam laughs. 

"No. That's just Circa. She's Elton's dog." He explains as he kneels down to pet her. He turns to look at me, but his eyes stare at my scratched up knees.

"You've only been here 10 minutes. How in the world did you manage to do that?" Sam asks and I smile awkwardly.

"Talent?" I suggest and look at Colby who just shakes his head in minor disappointment. 

"I'll go get Elton. He's the one who will.... guide you on this new path. Colby, you want to help her with that?" Sam asks his best friend and they have a silent argument. It's mainly just them staring at each other until one of them breaks the contact.

Wonder what that's about.

"Yeah, okay." Colby says and I frown before heading to the kitchen. I open the drawers and dig around until I find some band aids and rubbing alcohol.

"Colby?" I ask, getting a wet paper towel and wiping the blood off my legs before wiping them with the rubbing alcohol.

"Yeah?" He responds, handing me a bandage once I finish cleaning the scrapes.

"Do you not like me? Did I do something wrong?" I ask, opening the other bandage and placing it on my other leg.

"No. I do. I mean, I do like you. You're a great friend." He says, looking at the floor as if it'll grow a face or something.

"Then why did you have a problem with staying with me?" I ask, throwing away the wrapper and paper towels.

"It's nothing. Just-." He gets cut off as a bearded guy walks into the kitchen.

"So..you must be Rose." He says and I nod, his face tense as if he's about to tell bad news.

Which one is this? Corey? Elton? Elton.