1 | HENRY

The school bell rang, signaling the end of classes and saying that I felt relieved was an understatement. I quickly began to pack my books as I ignored the teacher at the front of the class rambling on about homework and giving a stiff warning to the people who didn't hand theirs in last time.

I sat back and gazed out of the window at the students that poured into the parking lot and the urge to get home grew stronger. I didn't hate school. Infact, I liked it a fair lot. What I didn't like were the people. Especially the righteous, overly social type. The so-called "outgoing" type.

No matter what I did to make myself less noticable, they'd always be people who would want to make friends with me. Despite the aloof air that I had around me, I was never bullied and I was grateful that my freedom wasn't tempered with by immature assholes.

"Henry," Louis, a friend of mine, called as he laid his hand on my shoulder. "It's time to go."

Looking around the class, I realised that only a handful of us were left and the teacher was gone. "Oh." I stood up and put on my backpack.

"How were your lessons? We were given a surprise quiz and I totally wasn't ready for it," he complained as we made our way out of the school building.

"Are you ever ready for anything?" I asked with a chuckle. Even though Louis had energy levels that far exceeded mine, I didn't mind it much.

"I am! But that quiz jumped at me out of nowhere." He buried his face in his hands and groaned. "And I stayed up late chatting with Wendy from french class yesterday."

"You're still crushing on her?" I asked as I glanced at him in mild surprise. 

He dropped his hands to his sides. "Hey, you don't see me criticising your interests."

"You have a new crush every month that's why I'm surprised that you're still talking about Wendy three months in. Also, I'm pretty sure that you'd be caught off guard any day, Mr. I don't study everyday."

He gasped dramatically, as if I had just insulted him. "Who the hell studies everyday? I'm not going to punish myself like that." 

"I study everyday and I'm okay."

"You see, my friend, you must be a mental masochist. The brain pressure gets you off."

I playfully shoved him away from me. "Fuck you." He laughed while regaining his balance and I asked, "Where's Ryan?" 

"He's in detention."

"Again?"

"He was caught using his phone in class and Mr. Garcia was like, 'youths these days don't appreciate the finer things in life because they're too busy looking at their phone screens'" he said, deepening his voice when he was quoting the teacher.

Reaching the parking lot, I noticed the bus and said to Louis, "I'm in a hurry today so, I guess you're going to have to wait for him by yourself."

"What? No way. If you're leaving then so am I." 

I chuckled. "He's going to complain about this."

"I'm not willing to wait for an hour by myself." Before I could say anything, he grabbed my arm and pulled me to the bus stop. "Look! The bus will leave if we delay." 

~

Saying my farewells to Louis, I got off my stop and took a short walk to my house. I usually liked to pass by my late brother, Nathan's, favorite hangout spot after school, but today was the day my package would arrive. Since my mom was home earlier than my dad and I, I didn't want her to find it first or open it. She'd freak out.

I froze at the sight of a handsome, dark haired man seated in front of my house. He wore a white turtle neck shirt and dark blue jeans as he sat on a big, black suitcase with a lit cigarette in-between his lips. A duffle bag lay next to him and he looked bored as he scrolled through his phone. Suddenly he rose his head and our eyes met.

He stood up and removed the cigarette from his mouth, making me notice the snakebite piercing on the right side of his bottom lip. "Hey. You're Henry, right?" He asked before putting his phone into his back pocket.

"Uhm..... Do I know you?" I asked as I kept my distance. For all I knew, this guy could be dangerous. 

His eyes widened in surprise then he laughed and gave his head a light shake. "Figures. I'm Andre, I was one of your brother's best friends."

"I've never seen you before."

"That's because I moved away seven years ago. When I was around, you were very small."

"I see." I looked at the luggage he brought. "Are you lost or...?"

"Your mom didn't mention it to you?"

I frowned. "Mention what?"

"Well, this is awkward." He gave me a small smile. "I'm going to be staying here for some time so could you open up? I've been waiting for a while."

"Andre!?" My mom interrupted as she suddenly walked past me and pulled him into a tight hug. "You're finally here."

He laughed and returned the hug before pulling away. "Yeah. I'm surprised that Henry didn't know that I was coming."

"I expected him to come later so that I could introduce you two." She waved a dismissive hand. "Anyway, get in. Henry, help him out with his luggage and show him to the guest room."

She walked to the door and unlocked it before getting in. I begrudgingly got his duffle bag, that was heavier than it looked, and took it in while he followed behind with his suitcase.

We quietly walked upstairs while Andre hummed a song. It was awkward but I tried my best to ignore him. Reaching the guest bedroom, he walked past me and I glared at his back when I inhaled the smoke from his cigarette.

"Could you not smoke in front of me?" I asked, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice. "I prefer to not die young." 

He nodded although he made no attempt to turn off his cigarette. "Sure." 

"How long will you be staying here?" I asked after putting his bag on the floor.

He looked around the guest room and hummed. "Half a year, maybe?" A groan left my lips before I could stop it and he chuckled. "Want me to leave?"

"Is that a valid option?"

"Brat." He turned to face me and I noticed that his eyes were a piercing, dark shade of brown. "I'd like some privacy, please."

I grit my teeth. "Don't worry. It would be annoying to be in each other's space anyway."

I left the room and stomped downstairs. What the hell was his problem? This was my place, he should be a little more polite. I had no idea who that guy was and I couldn't think of any moment with him. Being a friend of Nate, I thought that he'd be the nicer, intellectual type, but his appearance was completely different from the friends who usually came by. 

Entering the living room, Mom turned to me and grinned. "So.... What do you think?"

I frowned. "Five minutes is hardly enough time to understand someone's character."

"Come on, Henry. You were so clingy to him when you were younger."

"I don't even remember the guy. Since when did our house become a charity home anyway?"

"Don't be rude. Andre is like family even though you didn't interact with him after he moved. He's doing his internship here and I assisted him with accommodation because he doesn't have relatives nearby. Besides, it's expensive living alone with little outside support."

"But you know how I feel about strangers, Mom."

"I know," she pursed her lips hesitantly before letting out a smile. "But isn't it cool having a older male around? It's like having a big brother all over ag-"

"Don't. Please." I let out a deep sigh. "Did anything come for me in the mail?"

She hummed. "I think so. I put everything on the kitchen table so you can check."

"Thanks," I said as I made way to the kitchen. 

As she said, there was a stack of mail and small boxes on the table in the middle of the room. Looking through it, I found my package and did a happy dance internally. Despite being a little irritated by the situation, seeing the package cleared my mood completely. 

"I'm going to my room. Don't disturb me!" I yelled for anyone to hear before rushing into my bedroom upstairs to delve into my hobby.