“Don’t worry about them,” I assure him. “This is nothing new.”
That doesn’t seem to comfort him as he slips past me toward his room. He’s carrying a bundle of bedding, and I offer to help.
“Need a hand making your bed?”
“No, I’ve got it. Thanks.” His voice is a soft mumble, and I watch his back as he walks through the archway leading down to his room.
It’ll be interesting living with the guy. He seems shy, very introverted, which is the opposite of me. It’s gonna be weird for him living in this place. I’m pretty sure it’ll be too loud and chaotic most of the time, but that’s just the way I want it.
I’m keen for parties and games and dinners together.
I have visions of epic video game battles and drinking beers around the table after practice. I’m hoping to have people over and make this place a cool hangout zone.
But is that what everyone else wants?
I probably should have established thatbeforewe all moved in together.
Now’s as good a time as any, I guess.
“House meeting in ten!” I shout, calling into the front yard to alert Charli and Sawyer, plus Ben, who’s just getting out of his car.
Walking through to Jimmy and Mac’s wing, I call toward their bedrooms. “House meeting in ten!”
“Why?” Mac shouts back.
“Because we should probably establish some rules… guidelines… whatever… around this place. Make sure we’re all on the same page.”
He groans, but Jimmy replies, “We’ll be there.”
I nod, once again grateful that Jimmy’s here to keep Mac in check.
It’s going to be an interesting ride living with these guys, and I’m gonna do everything in my power to make sure it’s a smooth one.
38
BEN
I sit at the table,listening to everyone bicker over house rules. I don’t really care what they are, to be honest. Just as long as I can get my studies done and play a good year of basketball, I’m not too fussed.
I decided to be scribe, so I’m jotting down notes.
So far, we’ve established that we have to check in with each house member before throwing a party. Friends are also welcome, but if they start acting like douchebags, anyone has the right to say so, and the person who brought them in needs to then escort them out.
I suggested that on a school night, we have a “quiet after 10 p.m.” policy. People can use headphones if they want to keep doing noisy stuff after that time. Mac grumbled about that one, but Jimmy backed me up, and then Darian negotiated eleven instead of ten.
“So, no one goes into someone else’s room without being invited.”
Doesn’t that kind of go without saying?
I write it down anyway and can’t hide my eye roll when Sawyer taps my computer screen and whispers, “Basketball Base Rules, man. Change the heading.”
“We’re not calling this place Basketball Base.”
That’s so lame.
I shake my head. Sawyer started saying it the second we sat down at the table, like he’d been thinking about it for weeks or something, and he’s being damn persistent.
“The alliteration is beautiful, and it works.”
