Killing (And Other Games)

(Two)

(Two)

Standing on the last step of the stairs, I listen to the sounds coming from the living room. Two people talk unintelligibly whilst a TV blares. I close my eyes, willing myself to take the last step and just go and introduce myself. I spent the entire day unpacking, putting off meeting the rest of the housemates. The blunt greeting-if you could even call it that-from Ryker had left my confidence wounded and I'd scared myself sick about the whole ordeal.

Tugging on my jumper sleeve, I force myself to round the corner and tiptoe into the kitchen side of the living room. I go straight for the cupboard, opening it up and looking very determined in my quest for food. Three gazes burn into me as I search for something edible, and whilst I try to get a better look of at my housemates.

"Christ, I thought he was kidding when he said she was young," a male voice says. I grit my teeth, reaching for a packet of instant noodles. The cupboard is sorrowfully empty with only a few cans of soup and a few packets of noodles on offer for dinner. There's a bag of chips opened, all of them lost their crunch weeks ago, and there's a box of cookies with no cookies inside but otherwise the cupboard is a wasteland.

"You would've thought she'd get the message," a hushed female voice says. I glance up briefly and make eye contact with the girl, looking away instantly. She looks to be about twenty with thick hair the colour of diamonds and washed out blue eyes. She's stunning, to say the least.

"She will," the final voice assures and they seem to be done with the conversation. Feeling that all eyes are still on me, I pretend to look busy. Too bad I don't know where anything is. I look around for a kettle, opening up random cupboards, and find that nothing is where you'd expect it to be. The drawer that seems to be for cutlery is filled with spices, and the cupboard that is perfectly shaped for a toaster is filled with empty cereal boxes. Finally, I know that I have to ask someone where the kettle is if I expect any dinner.

"Um, hi, do you guys know where the kettle is?" My question is met with three stares-the girl's glance merely a frustrated and aggressive one, a younger looking guy glaring openly and a twenty something man with white blonde hair looking at me as if I were an alien. I gulp, smiling unsurely. "Is it in one of these cupboards?" I offer, trying to make the answer easier for them. They're all unresponsive. "Um...is there a kettle at all?"

"There's one wherever you came from. Try going back there," the younger guy mutters, loud enough for me to hear. The girl smirks and turns her back to me, focusing on the TV. The boys follow suit, the younger one's glance lingering for a bit longer. As soon as they turn away I feel my cheeks swelling and my eyes growing hot.

Putting one hand over my mouth I rush out, sobbing as quietly as I can. Never, ever in my life has anyone ever been so hostile-much less three people who I'm expected to live with. Hot and cold emotions run through me, most of all embarrassment. My face burns as I run up the stairs, trying not to be hysterical. I'm so determined to make it to my room in one piece that I run straight into the wall at the top of the stairs. I stumble back, rubbing my forehead, and realise that it's not the wall, it's Ryker. Fantastic.

"Whoa, watch out," Ryker snaps, pushing me aside. A desperate, heaving sob escapes my lips and I burst out crying, unable to control myself. Ryker gives me a half confused, half amused look as I run up the stairs to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. Crashing down onto the bed, I cry and cry and cry until I'm not crying about being embarrassed or judged, I'm crying about my mum kicking me out and then I'm crying about all the boys who ever rejected me and then I'm crying about being so average. Eventually, I'm just crying to indulge myself.

When I snap out of it, still sobbing quietly every once in a while, I pick up my phone and call mum. She answers on the third call, her voice nearly lost in the sound of some restaurant.