7

"I get that, Bree. But I don't think you should let him bother you. He's just not social. He has a few bad times, too. Don't pay much attention to him."

 Bree swallowed and licked her lips. Clearly, she was losing it. Her lips were getting drier by the second.

"Well, what about the others?" She asked.

"They'll talk to you. In fact, they're sweating in uncertainty. But, be rest assured that they're super sweet."

"Okay."

"So, no fears. They're also really, really nervous too. So that sums it up."

"Sure...." Bree said and tried to calm down. Where she sat, she tried to take calming deep breaths. She tried to let the air conditioner dry her hands, but it was hard.

"So, the three guys share the house. Erwina has her own place in the city. Though she comes to stay at our apartment sometimes. She's not super loud, but she's friendly enough."

 Bree nodded.

"Great."

★★★

★★★

"We're close." Ashley said, and Bree's heart kicked harder this time. She momentarily raised her fingernails to her mouth again and bit them. She was trying to hide the apprehension and nervous imaginings at the back of her mind. But it was harder than she thought. She didn't know what to expect. Were they going to be nice to her? Or would they look like Ashley and make her stammer? Where would Alejandro be standing? Would he embarrass her like he seemed to really want to?

 Bree tried some more to not let it show. But, still, it wasn't working.

★★★

★★★

 They got past an AI-powered gate and slinked under a building that stood up powerfully in the evening sunlight's glow.

 The house had Bree staring like a parochial creep.

 It was situated along a lonely side of the connecting highway, a short distance away from the city.

 Standing mightily in a simple but luxurious style, the barndominium spoke of manly aesthetics. It stood serenely and spoke of dark attractiveness. Truly, it belonged to men with enticing visions and preferences.

 There were tall, evergreen trees shading the sides till the back of the building. It made one ache to see what would lie behind the house.

 Antique and jaw-dropping with shades of brown in deep and light colors, creamy colors, and black, Bree could see the homely glow of fluorescent lights in the house.

 It was beautiful. And by God, she was going to be going inside and meeting the strangers who lived in it.

 Except for one person, though.

 Someone her heart dreaded.

 Alejandro.

★★★

★★★

"Oh my God, I think I peed my pants!" She blurted and looked down at her lowerside.

 Everyone in the automatic bus turned to look at her. Including the doorman. Everyone seemed expressionless even though the situation at hand was strange. No one screamed outside that way.

 She didn't know what to do.

 A beautiful girl was sitting there in weird, large glasses plus a can of milk in one hand, looking like she could disappear or something. She had blurted out of panic, but now everyone was noticing her. In the silence.

 She shifted her glasses on her nose, lost for what to do. She was getting hysterical and swallowed hard, looking around.

 She got up and quickly waved at the doorman, and the bus halted.

 Frantically, she snatched her shoulder bag and shopping bags and hurried out. She was really in need of a pee.

"Oh God!" She cried to herself. "I'll never hold in my wee ever again. Oh, Bellows."

 She tumbled towards the first person available on the lane.

"Oh, please, please, please! Public restroom!"

 The stranger pointed towards one of the tainted glass toilets, and instantly she ran for it, limping along and careful not to irritate her bladder.

★★★

★★★

 Alejandro didn't expect much when Ashley said she was bringing Bree over. He thought maybe he'd surely see her as another random campus girl lustfully tagging along for attention, vibes, and snacks. But then she walked in.

 Bree.

 She didn't look like trouble. Hell, she looked quiet — the kind of girl you'd see sitting alone by the sea, earbuds in, mind somewhere far away. But the room shifted a bit when she stepped in. Not dramatically — just enough to make you notice.

 Her lips were the first thing that hit him. This soft, pouty pink and firm that felt… like he knew it. Still, it felt like they didn't belong in a girl that young.

 She wasn't trying to impress anyone, and maybe that's what made her impossible to ignore.

 She looked around like she was sensing something anyone else couldn't. Not scared — just alert, curious in a way that made Alejandro nervous for no reason. And when she smiled at the others? It was warm, real. Beautiful.

 Her presence was subtle, but it lingered. Like perfume on old letters.

 And deep down, Alejandro had this weird gut feeling.

 He felt like he'd met her before now. He felt like she really belonged here and needed to stay. Like, she was allowed to come in and run all around like she owned the place. The feeling had always been there, though. Only that it felt much stronger and more blatant now.

 Something older was remembering her.

 But a part of him tore away in irritation, and he looked down sharply.

 The guys were down there, mingling and making her laugh shyly like when she'd first met Ashley earlier.

 Alejandro couldn't bear it anymore.

 He took a quick sip of his wine and quietly retreated to his room.

★★★

★★★

 When Bree had gotten out of the vehicle, she'd instantly felt like this was okay to be called home. Though she was ashening in fear and uncertainty, she was kind of excited. She'd felt so many emotions, but she tried to calm her mind.

 When Ashley led the way, Bree still stared at her surroundings. She was thrilled.

 They walked through a lit-up and scanty-but-luxuriously furnished walkway, and before Ashley could grab the double door's handle, it came open.

 Bree's heart tugged, and she instinctively stared up at the strange creatures who stood there. There were two guys with two strange eyes. It was the first thing anyone had to notice. Built perfectly on angular, manly faces. Bree didn't know what to say to such outrageous beauty.

 Of course, no one could describe them in words. They were beyond anything Bree had seen.

 But then....

"Heyy...." The one who seemed to be younger said, his sharp but strange eyes lit up like sudden fireworks at the New Year's festival. "I'm Rolando Steele...."

"Rolando, you don't have to give an autobiography." The older guy interrupted fondly and held out a hand to Bree, which she quickly grabbed after wiping her sweaty palms fast on the side of her jeans. "I'm Maverick."

 And he pulled Bree in, gently.

She was beginning to blush.

"Guys, this is Bree." Ashley said, and Bree still saw one more person who instantly made her begin to wonder.

"Why are they all looking non-human? Dumbfounding? Breathtaking? Are they artificial or cosmetic kinds of people? How are they related?"

 Bree didn't even know that she herself had lost focus and was staring at the sets of wildly attractive and perfectly crafted beings, her smile still plastered on her face.

 The new lady was blonde with prominent and sharp eyes that didn't seem real.

 She had a wildness to her physique, and Bree couldn't dare to miss the fiery, dragon-like tattoo running down from her left shoulder to her arm. But, despite that, she had a kind smile. And Bree responded the same.

"Hi." she said.

"Hi. I'm Erwina." The blonde replied and gestured for her to come in.

 Gladly, Bree stepped in some more till an image flickered from the side of her eye.

The others were talking, but she quickly tried to see who it was, and it was a very easy guess.

 Yes, it was Alejandro's retreating form. Something swelled within her again, and Bree desperately tried to control herself and look unaffected. But, well, she really tried.