After my final class, World Mythology, ended, I went outside to the student parking lot to drive back to my apartment. As I walked, I kept feeling a pair of eyes on me. I glanced around but couldn't find anyone. Feeling anxious, I got in my car and put the key in the ignition,

BAM!

"Yahhhh!!!"

I yelled in surprise as I turned to see Bex's hand pressed against the window. I rolled it down and glared at him,

"What the hell? You scared the shit outta me!"

I playfully glared at him as he smiled awkwardly,

"Sorry about that. Do you still want to come over to work on the project?"

"Oh! Yeah I do. Sorry I totally forgot. Get in I'll drive to your house. Is Jackson with you?"

As if on cue, Jackson popped out from behind Bex's left shoulder and smiled,

"Yep!"

I giggled and motioned for both of them to get in. Jackson sat in the seat behind me and Bex took the passenger seat so he could give me directions. As we pulled away from the school Jackson spoke up,

"So, (Y/N), how was your first day?"

I smiled,

"Not too bad. I got to meet all of you guys so I'm glad about that. I honestly didn't expect to make any friends."

"Why?" Bex asked curiously. I shrugged,

"I just thought that since I was coming in senior year all the friend groups were already formed. I didn't really care if I didn't have friends, honestly. I tend to prepare for the worst so that if I ended up being a loner I wouldn't be upset."

I explained to the boys in my car. Bex's eyes grew distant and I saw Jackson smile comfortingly in the rear view mirror,

"Well you'll always have a place with us, (Y/N). Never forget that. Be careful though, we might not want to let you go~"

I laughed at his sing song tone at the end of his last sentence. Bex snapped his fingers,

"Take a right turn here. We're almost at our house."

I nodded and took a right turn down a quiet street. We drove past a few houses before Bex told me to pull into the driveway of the house on my left. When I got out of the car my eyes widened at the abode in front of me. It was a two story house that had a typical McMansion exterior. I felt someone tap my shoulder and turned to see Jackson smiling at me with an emotion I couldn't place in his eyes,

"Let's go in."

He said quietly as Bex opened the front door,

"Ladies first."

He said, holding the door open for me. I thanked him and stepped inside. Their interior was as impressive as the exterior. The floor was a polished dark wood with tanned walls. The light grey wrap around couch looked incredibly comfortable. As I examined the room more carefully and looked at the decor, I realized something. The house looked more like a showcase house. It didn't look lived in by any means. It was almost too clean and neat,

"Who keeps the house clean?" I asked,

"I do." Bex responded, "A place for everything and everything in it's place. As it should be."

I nodded in understanding,

That's an odd way to put it. Something isn't right...

I thought to myself, but decided not to push it as Senri entered the room. The second he saw me the honor student sighed in irritation,

"Why is she here?"

I crossed my arms and fixed my cold stare on him as I answered,

"I'm here to work on an English project with Bex and Jackson. Why are you here?"

The blonde intellectual raised an eyebrow at me before smirking haughtily,

"Ah, so Bex and Jackson didn't tell you. I live here with them as well. March and Riki also reside here."

I tilted my head in confusion, "Why?"

Senri cast an expectant look to Bex, who cleared his throat,

"Because March and I said they could. We own the house outright. March invited Jackson to live with us and I approached Riki's parents about it since they travel a lot. Riki was the one who mentioned Senri and wanted him to live here too. March and I were a little skeptical at first but it worked out pretty well."

I nodded, processing the information before speaking,

"So it's just the five of you who live here?" I inquired. Bex nodded,

"Yeah. March should already be home and I think Riki is working so he'll be home a little later."

I looked at the intimidating grandfather clock in the corner,

"Well it's 4:00 now and I have to be at work by 7:30 so that gives us almost three and a half hours to get this whole thing done."

The boys nodded and I turned to Bex,

"Where do you guys want to go to work?"

"We can work in my room. It's pretty big." Jackson offered. Bex glared at him but said nothing as I nodded,

"Sounds good. Lead the way."

I said casually as Jackson walked up the stairs, Bex following behind him. I caught Senri glaring at me and raised an eyebrow,

"You need something?"

His cold glare dissolved when I spoke and was replaced with a cool smirk,

"Do have fun up there with the boys."

"Just what exactly are you implying?"

"That you are willingly entering the bedroom of a teenage male with his friend. Who knows what could happen." I scoffed at his response,

"You know if you keep insulting everyone around you like this, eventually you'll end up alone. No matter how smart you are, it won't shield you from loneliness. A higher intellect isn't an excuse to treat everyone around you like crap. It isn't an excuse to be a bully."

I spoke harshly, casting a cutting glare at him. His eye twitched and his jaw clenched when I called him a bully, but I was too annoyed to care as I ascended the steps to go find Jackson and Bex, leaving the intellectual completely taken aback,

I wonder if anyone has ever told him that before?

I thought to myself as I entered Jackson's room. I looked around and saw his walls were a navy blue and he had a black carpet. His bed was shoved against the far right wall with a desk next to it with two computers on top. Next to his desk was a small bookshelf filled with CD's and video games for his Xbox on the opposite end of the room. I looked at Jackson, who was sitting on his bed,

"So what do you guys wanna do for the next three and a half hours?"

Jackson pulled out a class copy of Romeo and Juliet, handing it to me as he spoke,

"Find the balcony scene and we can start practicing lines. Bex has another copy."

Bex pulled out his copy and flipped to the page where the balcony scene started and began reading,

"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!"

He continued to recite Romeo's soliloquy until it was my turn to speak. Right as I was about to, however, I heard a voice behind me,

"(Y/N)? What brings you here?"