Chapter 10

"So your parents are very open."

That's the first sentence Alex says to me when I walk into chemistry today. I sit down next to him and look at the weird expression on his face.

"What?"

"You wouldn't your dear mother finish her statement about your little passions. What could she have said next, I wonder." He starts to grin mischievously.

"It's a good thing you'll never find out."

"Well if that's how you feel, you can come over to my house next time and see what real family drama is." He looks down at his papers, the grin still in place.

"Oh please. You just have a bunch of people under the same roof. That's not drama, that's called normal." I pull a pencil out of my case and start to write the "quick start."

"Yes, that is true. But when you are one of two men in a house with 5 women on a regular bases, that's a lot to handle. I can guarantee you wouldn't survive." He looks up at the board and starts writing as well.

"Oh I know full well that I wouldn't survive. I don't like being around a bunch of girls unless there is at one guy there as a buffer. I'd rip someone's hair out."

"And that is the exact same attitude that they have, how ironic. You really should meet them. They are surprising just like you, and yet so different. Perhaps it has something to do with where they grew up. Perhaps not. Who knows."

Class starts as usual and nothing changes. We present our projects and he tells us that we need to get used to having them. He says they are the best way for the knowledge to get embedded into our brains. I beg to differ.

Our next project will be due next Monday. Yay. Me and Alex already decided to go to his house next. Apparently, that means tomorrow. How lovely. Mom and Dad will just get a kick out this.

---

"I like that kid Alex." Is the first things Dad says to me when we get home. The group is coming over here soon.

"Good for you." I say nonchalantly. I'm trying to get all my homework finished before everyone gets here in 10 minutes.

"You don't like him?" Dad turns my way and looks almost astonished. "I figured you would since he's smart. All your friends are smart."

"Just because someone is smart, does not mean I will automatically like them. The way he walked into class the first day, I don't know, it just kind of set my attitude towards him. I mean he's an okay person, but I have a feeling there's something lurking below the surface." I look up to the side, like I can see him standing there.

"Geez. I just meant do you like him as a friend. You read to much weird stuff." He chuckles lightly and goes to the fridge.

"What I read is not weird. In fact, it's more normal than what you watch. You are obsessed with '90 Day Fiancée.' What's up with that?" I look at him with a smile.

"I watch that because your mother watches it." He grabs a water.

"Yeah, right." I shake my head and look back down at my homework.

The doorbell rings a little while later and Dad goes to answer it. Everyone piles into the house, none without saying hi to my dad. They all join me in the kitchen. As usual, Ashton goes straight to the cabinets, Olivia swats at his hands, and Riley pulls out a can of whip cream. Everyone pulls up a seat, Sam to my right and Abby to my left.

"So what are we going to do this weekend?" Abby asks automatically.

"Abby, it's Tuesday. We've got time." Preston responds before I have time to.

"I vote we go bowling again. I love watching Lily get mad because she can't hit a strike." Sam points out and I stick my tongue out at him. He just grins.

"That could be fun. I'm down." Olivia says next.

"Sorry guys but I have to go move my sister into college." Riley says.

"That sucks. You'll miss the temper tantrums like we normally have." Sam responds. I look at him with raised brows.

"Someone has a death wish." I shake my head slightly.

"You'd never hurt me. Not when my face is this pretty." He looks at me triumphantly.

"Fine, I won't hit your face. I'll hit you on the back of the head, or better yet, I'll kick you in the balls." I smile at him. He moves his hands to protect the previously mentioned area and look away.

"Someone's in a mood." He mutters.

"Likewise." Is all I can return.

We all hang out and play Mario kart. We eat loads of food, and by we I mean Ashton. We talk and we laugh. It's so nice to have a group of people that can make me so happy. They make me feel safe and at home. I'd never change having them for the world.