“What list?” Dorian asked, reaching up and snatching it fromCrispin’s hand.
“Hey, I worked hard on that,” Crispin frowned.
“Yeah, well, somehow I don’t think living above a questionablemassage parlour is a good option for Becky. Do you, Dorian?” Kellasked sarcastically.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Dorian said, frowning as hecontinued to study the list.
“It’s at the very bottom of the list,” Crispin grumbledguiltily. “Besides, do you realize how hard it is to find spareaccommodations at this time? Most places are already taken bynow.”
“Well then, she’ll just have to stay here,” Dorian said,chucking the mangled piece of paper back at Crispin. “Those otherso-called places you’ve found aren’t very practicaleither.”
“What’s wrong with them?” Crispin asked.
“They’re halfway across town for starters. How’s she supposedto get to class and back?” Kell said with a frown. “Anyway, Dorianand I have decided she should just stay here.”
“Oh, you have, have you?” Crispin balked indignantly. “So justlike that, my opinion doesn’t matter? What happened to theunanimous vote agreement?”
“Of course, your opinion matters,” Kell said, matter of factly.“It just doesn’t count in this case. I do own the place, remember?That makes it my decision in the end.”
“He’s right, Crisp. It’s his house,” Dorian agreed.
“Oh shut it, you!” Crispin said, looking none to happy. “Fine,but just so you two know, I am not in agreement with you. Mark mywords, she’ll ruin the very fabric of what we’ve strived to achievehere. Our world will never be the same!”
“What the fuck, Crispin?” Dorian snickered. “Becky’s just onesmall girl. You make her out to something so terrible.”
“She’ll upset the balance!” Crispin hissed. “You’ll see. Infact, she already has. She’s got you two wrapped around her littlefinger.”
“Yeah right,” Dorian snickered.
“Come on…” Kell bemoaned. Even though, it may actually be true,he wasn’t ready to admit to it. If Becky was to remain here, therecould be no romantic notions about her. No matter how attached he’dbecome to her, she would be just another tenant in his house. LikeCrispin and Dorian, she would simply be another body renting aroom, albeit a prettier one. That aside, henceforth she would getno special treatment. None at all.
“Mark… my… words,” Crispin hissedcryptically.
“Shut the fuck up and watch the movie,” Dorian said, givingCrispin’s leg a kick.
Chapter 5
A full weeksince she’d fallen ill, Becky finally felt well enough to get outof bed. In fact, she woke up early enough to shower and getproperly dressed for breakfast.
Sadly, though,she was also aware that feeling better meant having to find a newplace to live.
Imagine herrelief when at the breakfast table, she was informed that she waswelcome to remain at the House of Goths if she so desired.
Desire it, she most definitely did! So much so that she couldn’t contain an exuberant squeal ofjoy that almost sent Crispin flying from the room.
“You won’t regret this. I promise!” She followed up with a hugfor both Dorian and Kell. Not wanting to push her luck, though, shesimply smiled sweetly at a scowling Crispin.
“I already do,” he said, raising a perfectly plucked eyebrowbefore turning his attention back to the newspaper he pretended toread.
Ignoring hisunsavoury comment, Becky took a sip of her delicious dark roast andpicked up a flyer of her own to flip through. Baby steps, she toldherself.
***
After breakfast, relieved she wouldn’t have to move out, Beckyexcused herself and returned to her room. There, she did a privatedance of joy. Finally, somewhere to belong! With people who, whilea tad reluctant, at least, knew her by name. More than that, they’dlooked after her while she was sick. Changed her sheets! Herclothes! Yikes!
So what if shehad imposed herself on them? Becky was well aware of the fact thatshe had practically thrown herself on their doorstep like a straykitten. But she had been desperate! There was no way she would havelasted much longer out here on her own.
Becky wasn’texpecting much from them, really. Just a sense of companionship, afeeling of belonging. That would have to be enough for her to getthrough her first year away from home.
Feeling quiteperky, Becky went ahead and unpacked her things. She did her best,given that she didn’t have much storage room. Just a small creakywooden chest of drawers, the tiniest of closets and a rickety oldnight table. It was a good thing she didn’t have much to put away.Just some meagre items of clothing, her books, and artsupplies.
Beingsingle-handedly raised by her granny meant that there wasn’t a lotof money for frivolous things.
She didn’t havea lot of clothes, but what she did have was of good quality.Nothing fancy, but they had been purchased for her with the ideathat such items were meant to last the duration of her years atuniversity. She had four pairs of blue jeans, two pairs of blackdress pants, a couple of skirts, blouses to match and a littleblack dress for special occasions, a pair of boots for the winter,a pair of modest black pumps, and of course, a pair of comfortablesneakers. She had a half a dozen short and long sleeved t-shirts invarious colours, four sweaters for the cooler weather, twocardigans, two requisite hooded sweaters, three sets of pyjamas,some comfy sweats for lounging and two weeks worth of sensiblecotton underwear, bras, and socks.
Becky managedto fit all her clothes in the closet and drawers. The bottomdrawer, she had reserved for her books and art supplies. Crouchingdown, she pulled it open. She was surprised to discover that itwasn’t empty. In fact, there were a couple of black t-shirts, someballed up socks, a questionable girlie magazine, an old musicmagazine with a scary looking dude on the cover, a discarded pewterskull ring, and several pieces of similar jewellery.
Odd… perhapsone of the guys had already claimed this drawer. She really hopedit wasn’t Kelley. She didn’t like to think of him in possession ofthat trashy magazine.
Then again,what did she really know about Kelley? Only that he’d been kind toher so far. So what if he liked to look at pictures of naked women?Why should it bother her so much?
She was sodistracted by her thoughts that she startled and fell back at theknock on
