I’d worried that I left Ashton and Adder a little too long. I know they don’t always get along. I just hoped I would return and not find bloodshed. It was late when I finally got back. I tried being as quiet as I could when I walked in, setting the five bags down. Looking over the room, it seemed things were peaceful. Ashton was still in his bed with the tv on, and I would assume the lump on my bed was Adder.
“Where have you been, mate? Your pet fell asleep waiting for you.” Ashton whispered, nodding in the direction of Adder as he looked up from his phone, noticing me. I looked back to her sleeping form and shrugged. “So? I told her to get some sleep. And I went to the store. One to get food since we barely had any. And two to get her some clothes. You saw the layers she was wearing, and each layer had holes, and none of them were meant for winter wear.” I explain
“Yes, a toothbrush, shaving stuff, deodorant, and body wash. I figured smelling like my Irish spring or his Axe wouldn’t really suit you. Oh, and the clothes on top of my dresser.” he said, pointing to the two neat piles of clothes divided between tops and bottoms. This guy was a saint. Mother Teresa had nothing on this man next to me. In all my life, I’ve never been treated as kindly as I have by Mason. “And the winter outerwear by the door.” he added, pointing to the jacket and boots next to his own.“And I didn’t get anything girlie and nothing preppy promise.” he said, stretching. “The hell, mate!?” I frowned a bit. He’s going overboard. How can I ever repay him for all this? I still don’t feel like I’ve repaid him for the night he saved me in that alley. So now he’s adding to my debt.
Things were more than a little strange and awkward living in the dorm with Mason and Ashton. But, at least during the holiday break, it wasn’t too difficult for me to sneak in and out of the room. And as much as I appreciated Mason’s ‘gift’ of new warmer clothes, I never wore them when I went to the fights. I’d rather keep everyone thinking I’m some street punk fighting to scrap enough cash for her next meal. They’d not as easily underestimate me or be as cocky if I showed up wearing the nice, clean, and obviously new clothes Mason bought me. But if I wasn’t going to the fights, I wore them. Ashton, of all please, I know crazy right, helped me get a job at the warehouse he works. His boss let me work getting paid under the table, no questions asked. Which is good since I have no documentation of who I am. I can’t even remember what my name is. I j
Despite Ashton’s bitching we managed to get through the last months of the semester without anyone knowing Adder was in our room. And it wasn’t like she was cramping his sex life. Tiffany was in London at her University, and Adder and I always found ways to be out of the dorm when they did use the dorm. Which it wasn’t often since Tiffany, like any sane woman, wanted nothing to do with Ashton’s garbage pile of a bed. Today is move-in day. Adder hasn’t had a chance to look at the flat. Our fathers insisted on coming with us to look, which meant we had to leave Adder behind. She understood, not in any hurry to meet either of our fathers. We already had the furniture delivered, so now it was just a matter of taking our things from the dorm. “I still can’t believe you managed to meet your dad’s minimum GPA.” Adder taunted Ashton as we lugged our suitc
It’s strange to look back and see how far I’ve come. To know how much I’ve changed. And to know that change all started with trying to pickpocket Mason. I would never have imagined that interaction would have brought me to where I am today.It’s been nearly three years since I first met Mason, and he’s changed my life, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay him for it. He’s saved my life multiple times, including times since I started living with him. What can I say? I don’t go looking for trouble. It just finds me.Since we moved into the flat just over two years ago, things have been going well. We’ve all found a groove to being flatmates. After the first few months, I stopped going to Mason’s room. It was not good for my sanity to keep sleeping in his bed. And I have my own room,
I know Adder hasn’t lived with us long, but the fact she actually believes not only would I let anyone set me up on a blind date but worse that she thinks I’d forget her birthday is unsettling. Though it at least helps with our plans for a surprise party. We hurried down the stairs knowing we were on a time limit as the bakery would be closing soon. “So, how long do we give it before we go back in and surprise her?” Tiffany asked as we walked, looping her arm with Ashton’s.“Let’s go to the bakery and get the cake. After you can drop me off and go pick up Ollie and Andy. Then give me about fifteen minutes before you come upstairs.” I explained. Ashton raised an eyebrow. “Fifteen minutes is all you need alone with your pet?” he teased. I rolled his eyes. Since Adder moved in with us, he liked to make jokes even back when we shared the d
I hadn’t expected a whole party or that Ollie and Andy would be here too. Not to say I was upset that they were here. Having them all around is like being with family. Or what I think it’s like to be with family. Tiffany is like my big sister, and Ashton is the loser big brother that I love to hate even if I don’t really hate him. Ollie and Andy aren’t around a lot, so they are more like the cousins that show up for big events and take time to relax.Then there’s Mason. I should say he’s like the big brother I always wanted. But that’d be a lie. There’s something more about him. I wish he were more. This is probably why a part of me wishes the others weren’t here. That it was just me and Mason celebrating. That I’d have him all to myself. But I’ll never tell him or anyone that.After a whil
Once we got inside, Ashton grabbed a table. He’s a horrid dancer, so he shooed the rest of us off to have fun. “Just don’t let any blokes try to steal my girl!” he called out after us. Tiffany laughed, rolling her eyes, taking my hand. “Come on, we can dance together, birthday girl.” she grinned.It was fun dancing with Tiffany. There was no judgment and no standard. Which was good because I doubt I’m much better at dancing than Ashton. As we swayed to the rhythm of the music, I felt eyes on us. I didn’t think anything of it. After all, this dress highlighted my scales. And even when I’m in the company of others, there will always be people that don’t like meta-humans.“Hey there, two pretty birds like you shouldn’t be out here dancing alone. Want some company?” a bloke asked, s
I’d been keeping my eye on Adder since we arrived at the club. My eyes never left her as she danced so freely with Tiffany. I watched, practically entranced by the swaying of her hips. I’ve seen her movements in fights, and when we’ve trained, I know she can move. But seeing her tonight, smiling, laughing, as she dances with Tiffany. The new dress I bought her moving in time accenting her body in ways training clothes don’t.I trusted Tiffany to keep her safe. But when two blokes approached them, both Ashton and I tensed. I know Ashton was itching to start a fight. He struck out so many times with birds in the past I don’t think he wanted to risk ever losing the only bird who truly wanted him. He loves Tiffany. I put a hand on his shoulder, trying to hold him back.But I was also trying to hold myself back as they set t