Rockstar Bay Academy: A Stepbrother Romance

Chapter 3: Moving in with the Cassidys

Kennedy's hands are on her hips as she looks around my new room. "Well, I love it, Lilah."

Pulling the covers up on the bed I've just finished making, I move so that I'm standing next to her. "What is it you love the most?" I ask, trying to see things through her eyes. "The grey-ish walls, the neutral coloured carpet, or the fact that Asher is down the end of the hallway?"

Because those things are negatives in my book.

"Lilah, your room is freaking fantastic. You've got a walk-in closet the size of your old bedroom, plus your own bathroom. Seriously, stop complaining. Do you know what I'd do for my own ensuite with a spa bath?"

"Not having to share a bathroom with my stepbrothers is a plus, and the room is big." I sigh and plop down on the unmade bed. "It's just different to what I'm used to, I guess."

Kennedy joins me on the bed. "That's not a bad thing, Lil. Your last place was a shoebox, no offence. This, on the other hand," she waves her hand around. "You're living in a mansion with rock 'n' roll royalty. You have tennis courts, a pool, a sauna, a gym. You're a minute's walk from the beach. More importantly, there's a music studio in the basement and M.O.D practice there."

I bump her shoulder playfully with mine. "That's why you're really here, isn't it? You don't want to help me unpack at all, you just want to watch the band play."

"I did come to help you unpack, and that's what I'm going to do. That being said, if we happen to run into Declan, I won't pretend to be unhappy."

Kennedy's dreamy-eyed expression makes me snicker. As a pianist and a violinist, Kennedy loves classical music, but rock stars turn her on like nothing else. Specifically, Declan Banks, who graduated from the Academy a couple of years back and joined with the Cassidy brothers and Jamie Garfield to make Masters of Destruction.

"Didn't Kai ask you out?"

"He asked me if I wanted to hang out, but that doesn't mean I can't perve on Declan."

"Well, they'll probably be rehearsing after dinner."

"Can I stay for dinner?" she asks quickly, her eyes gleaming with hope.

At home – my old house – the answer would have been yes automatically since Kennedy was always welcome. I'm not sure if that's the case now. Mum and Jesse are currently downstairs preparing salads and meat for a family barbecue to celebrate us moving in. It might just be a family thing. Then again, Kennedy is my family.

"I'll ask, now give me some help unpacking."

"Yes, master."

Kennedy moves to my chest of drawers where my laptop is currently stationed. She opens it, types the password in – there are no secrets between us – and clicks on my favourite playlist, starting the music playing through the speakers which I hooked up the moment I could.

With music on, our attention turns to the piles of boxes sitting in the corner. "Let's do your vision board first," she suggests.

"My posters are in box number one."

"I know. I helped you pack them, remember? Where are the scissors?"

I hand them to her, and she cuts the tape across the top, taking out the first poster – a picture of Ebony Dalesford, my favourite Australian singer-songwriter.

"I'll hand them to you, you put them up," Kennedy instructs.

Picking up the Blu Tack I've brought in my bag of essential supplies, I tear off a ball and look around my room, looking for the best spot for it to go. The wall the door opened against is the biggest and the best. I'll see it while I'm lying in bed, which will inspire me as I work on my songs.