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I sometimes found comfort in the silence between us, it was a convenient place to hide when neither of us knew what to say.

"I just wish you told us you were leaving today," she said. Her voice sounded defeated, which made me want to apologise.

"It was all very unexpected, Mum," I responded, leaving more silence to fall between us.

In all honesty, I knew I was moving days ago, I just didn't want to tell her or my brothers unless I had to. I couldn't bear any guilt they would place on me for moving out of home - but I had my reasons.

"I can get off work and come and say goodbye?" She suggested. I could hear the hope in her voice.

"No, it's okay, I'll be gone by the time you get here." It pained me to say it, but I knew that if she knew I was leaving, she would have tried to convince me to stay.

She sighed into the phone as her response.

A creak in the hardwood floor signalled Emmett's arrival. He leaned against the door frame with concern laced in his eyes.

"Look ma, I've got to go. We're about to leave," I said, my eyes on Emmett.

"Okay, Ali." She sighed again. "Be safe, tell Emmett I said hi."

"Thanks, I will."

"I love you," She spoke.

"You too." A slight pause before I responded. I hung up and put my phone into my pocket.

"You okay, kid?" Emmett asked, his eyebrows turned inwards in concern.

I nodded my head, looking around the empty space that was once my room. Bear wooden floor, white walls and single metal frame bed in the corner. My room - absent of life.

"We ready to go?" I asked, smiling at Emmett.

"Only three more boxes to go at the front."

"Yay," I said, with relief. I walked out of the room with Emmett. We put the remaining boxes in the boot of his large black ute and jumped into the front passenger seat.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked, putting his keys into the ignition.

I turned to him; his eyebrows pulled together with worry. A look I had become familiar with.

"I've never wanted anything more. I've got the job close by, I can pay the rent for a couple months," I paused, looking at Emmett. "You and I both know that I need this."

He nodded his head, turning on the car completely.

"You do need this," he smiled. "I can't believe you've lived with a single bed for this long," he said laughing, which made me laugh in return.

Emmett has this infectious laugh that could make a room full of people smile.

Emmett had been my next-door neighbour since we were toddlers. Emmett is almost double the size of me in width and height, with dark skin, dark eyes and hair shaved into a buzz cut. Being a rugby player, his body was lean with muscle and the mere sight of him would scare any stranger, but his heart was gold. His mother, five sisters and himself were more of a family to me than my own family. Without them, I don't know where I would be today.

Emmett was a year older than me which meant he started school earlier and finished school before me. When Emmett graduated, he was offered a scholarship to play rugby union with one of the best universities some distance away from home. So, he and two other of his friends from university decided to rent out a place together and that's where he had been all year. A couple months after I graduated, he extended the invitation to me, and that had been the plan ever since. Now, a year later, here we are, driving to the new place.

"When do you start work up here?" He asked.

"On Tuesday. I'm excited," I said with genuine excitement.

When Emmett asked if I wanted to live with them, I said yes immediately, but I needed a plan. The first thing I did was look for jobs available and thankfully found a job I loved quite quickly. I would be working as a bartender at a bar called the Bar. The only thing I was missing out on was my own car.

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"When am I not?" I joked, nervously picking at my dark maroon nails, but I could sense his unease.

"I'm fine, really." I looked towards him; his eyes glued to the road.

"Okay," he said with certainty. "You just worry me sometimes."

"I worry you all the time," I laughed and watched as his firm mouth tipped slightly at the edges.

I let my hand hang out of the window, making waved in the wind with my hand and dozed off hallway through the trip.

"Wake up!" Emmett shoved my arm hard, forcing me into the door.

"Ow, you bastard!" I shoved him back.

"Don't. Hit. The. Driver!" He said in between each hit. He laughed, fending me off with one arm.

"Why'd you wake me?" I was annoyed. My heart was racing from being abruptly awoken from my nap.

"We're almost there."

"How long was I out?"

"Almost a decade! You've left me kind of lonesome in here," he stated with his lips puckered which made me laugh.

"I'm sure you managed."

"Barely."

He rounded a corner and began slowing the car down, my eyes dragging around the scenery. The house was in the heart of the area, everything that one could need was a couple blocks away.

"There!" Emmett pointed at the house.

It had a four-step brown porch rising to the house and running across the front. The brown brick of the one-story house looked strange against the white outline on the windows, but nevertheless it was beautiful.

Emmett pulled up into a small parking lot next to the house and parked next to two unfamiliar cars in the parking lot, which reminded me that I needed to find a car soon.

Emmett had already unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped down from the car, heading towards the back to retrieve my belongings. His smile was broad which made me smile in return. I could feel an excitement radiating off of him as I grabbed the two closes boxes towards me.

"Come on, it's going to be fun with you around." He nudged my shoulder softly, careful not the knock over his tower of boxes.

I followed him up the steps and had to put the boxes down to open the door, but other than that we made it inside with ease.

"You know you could have just kicked the door down," I laughed making him laugh too.

Emmett put the boxes down on the floor and I followed pursuit.

"Hey, Zac!" Emmett practically shouted. I looked at Emmett to see who he was looking at only to follow his eyes to a person in front of us.

He was attractive. Very attractive. His face was angular with those type of features that were meant for magazines or posters. With high cheekbones and a layer of dark stubble, he looked like he was in his early twenties. His skin was tanned, and his brown hair fell down in soft waves on his forehead. It looked soft to touch.

He was standing there holding a bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other, wearing grey sweatpants and a loose white t-shirt that couldn't conceal his broad shoulders.

I looked away quickly.

Zac dropped his spoon in his bowl when he looked back at me. His eyes travelled down my body like he was assessing me, and I resisted the urge to turn a full three-sixty for him.

Not that there is a lot to assess.

I knew I was good looking, but I wouldn't say I was attractive. I'm short with more curves than I needed, with un-tameable dark brown long curls and beady dark brown eyes to match. There was nothing special about me. I was the girl next door - your brothers' best friend. If it weren't for my curves kicking in and the slight cleavage I possessed, I would never have been noticed by any guy.

"Did you just wake up?" Emmett said with a smile on his face.

"Yep," He smiled, and I swear I almost lost my balance. "I probably would have still been asleep if I wasn't so God damn hungry!"

Emmett laughed, and I watched him laugh with the same adoring appreciation. He had this throaty laugh that was so infectious that I couldn't help but smile myself.

Emmett looked down at me with the faint remain of a smile, "Ali, this is Zac." He looked between us. "Zac, this is Ali."

"Ah! Fresh meat." Zac nodded and spooned some serial into his mouth.

"Nothing like you've ever tasted," I laughed, awkwardly.

Zac spurted his milk out of his mouth and began to cough, milk dribbled down his chin as he tried to contain a smile.

"You okay?" Emmett asked with concern in his voice and smile on his face.

"Yeah, just wrong pipe," he laughed.

"Is this all your stuff?" Zac asked after a moment of laugh-coughing. One of his eyebrows raised waiting for my response- I wish I could do that.

"There's some more in the car," Emmett spoke first.

"Okay, let's go get it," Zac spoke cheerfully. He placed his bowel onto the island in the kitchen and I followed pursuit out the door to the car to retrieve more boxes. Two trips later and all the boxes were placed on the floor of my new room.

Emmett had told me that this house was very symmetrical. When you walk in through the front door, the kitchen sat to the right and the dining room was to the left. Our bedrooms were all connected together in a 'U' shaped corridor that shaped around the back of the house, each of our bedrooms were located at each corner and in the centre of the 'U' was the living room. Towards the back strip of the corridor was the laundry room along with some linen closets. My room was to the front right of the corridor, only a wall away from the kitchen. I was grateful to have this room because Emmett's room was only down the corridor from me, a bathroom in between.

My bedroom was beautiful. There was a white four posted bed with a queen-sized mattress that sat directly in the middle of the large room, along with a white bedside table. The large window to the left were concealed in floral drapes and there were doors infused into the wall on my left, indicating a wardrobe. The walls were a white cream colour and the floor was hard wood, it was a strange mix but for some reason, it made the room look welcoming.

I loved it.

"I told you it was a nice room," Emmett said from behind me.

"There's a lot of room," I said, looking from the boxes on the floor dispersed across the wide-open space, it was probably double the size of my last room.

Emmett nodded in agreement. "Okay, let's start on the bed sheets." He began searching for the box with my bedding items in it and we got to work.

He took one side of the bed while I took the other, trying to push down the sides of the tight sheet, but Emmett was struggling.

"Push it down that way," I said. "No- the other way- stop!" I laughed as Emmett lost hold of the sheet and the two top sides sprang back.

"You're hopeless," I laughed making him laugh in return.

After another minute of getting a sheet and my maroon doona cover and pillows on the bed we were complete. It felt more like home with my familiar doona cover, but not entirely. I still felt like an outsider.

"It will feel more like home soon, Ali," Emmett spoke. I swear, sometimes he can read my mind.

"How did you know I was thinking that?"

"Because I thought that when I first got here," he smiled. "I mean, the guys are great, and I get along with them well, but it was different to home."

I smiled up at him. Home for me wasn't really home. I was so grateful to get away when I had the opportunity, if anything I just feel like an intruder.

"I just feel like an intruder," I spoke my thoughts. I was so dependent on Emmett for everything.

"Hopefully, you won't feel like that for long," he smiled a goofy smile and opened his large arms open to me and I allowed him to engulf me into his arms.

A knock on the door pulled us apart.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," Zac smiled a half smile, but his eyes held no humour when he said it.

"Nothing at all, what's up?" Emmett replied.

"I've just had the greatest idea in human history," Zac said as he walked into my new room. He sat on my bed kicking his feet up and laying back onto the poster of the bed. He slowly rested his arms behind his head as he looked between Emmett and I standing at the foot. Seeing him on my bed gave me dark thoughts, and I smiled to myself, brushing the thoughts aside quickly.

"Is that a rare occasion?" I laughed, making Emmett chuckle.

Zac licked his lips before responding with a smile soon stretching on his mouth, my eyes were keeping focus on his lips.

"We're going to the Garden of Eden tonight," Zac said as if a matter of factly. He puckered his lips and looked at the both of us for a response and nodding his head enthusiastically.

"What's the Garden of Eden?" I asked, making Zac sit up on my bed.

"It is the place of Gods' creation," he said with the straightest face humanly possible.

"Is he over-exaggerating?" I asked, looking at Emmett.

"Only slightly," Emmett smiled.

"We are going, Emmett! Or so help me God I will drag your black ass to kingdom come," Zac declared making Emmett holler out a laugh.

"We have to see with Burney," Emmett spoke between laughing. "But you have to stop with the biblical references, dude it's old."

"Amen," Zac crossed his heart in response.

"OH, MY GOODNESS!" A voice from the other room screamed, then followed the sound of a door closing.

Zac and Emmett looked at each other and spoke in unison, "Burney."

Zac jumped off of my bed and was the first out the door, Emmett and I following him.

"Well, speaking of the devil," Zac smiled, looking at Emmett as if he poked a bear. "It's about time, Burney," Zac spoke, sarcasm laced in his voice.

"Fucking tell me about it," Burney said, his voice high pitched. He was shorter than the other two boys with thinning brown hair and thick black rimmed glasses. He reminded me a lot of a young Stanford Blatch from 'Sex and the City'.

"I won't go into too much detail, but some bitch decided to have an epileptic fit a couple minutes before the lecture was over, it was very unexpected! I hope she's okay, we all had to be evacuated like our asses were on fire!" He spoke quickly. "So, then we couldn't leave the bitching of a room because that bitch of a professor didn't think it was okay- anyway, then the train was late and then this bitch of the bus trip took so long... and now I'm here."

"I don't think she 'decided' to have an epileptic fit, Burney," Zac laughed.

"Yeah, I know, it was just an inconvenience," he smiled at Zac and then his eyes landed on me. "OH, MY GOODNESS! She's here!" he walked up to me and gave me an impromptu hug making me tense at his touch.

"Hi, I'm Bernard, but everyone calls me Burney."

"Okay Burney, lay of the fresh meat... She's not ready for tenderising just yet," Zac said, pulling Burney away from me and gave me a sly wink with a devilish half smile.

My breath hitched in my throat and I quickly turned away from him.

"Anyway, Garden of Eden tonight?" Zac continued.

"Oh, my Goodness... Yes! Let's celebrate our new arrival," Burney replied. "Is it okay that it's Sunday, we always go Tuesday?"

"We'll make an exception for our new fresh meat. So, it's settled," Zac declared looking at both Emmett and I. "Be ready in thirty minutes or I will be very disappointed."

Zac put his hand out in the middle of all of us before lifting it up in the air before cheering, "Go Power Rangers!"

Emmett walked me back to our room as we started debated on who was which coloured Power Ranger.

"How do I dress?" I asked Emmett.

"What you're wearing now is fine."

I looked down at myself. My comfy black jeans and grey top didn't seem too appealing... or nice.

"It's not that fancy, Ali," Emmett continued, reading my thoughts.

"YES, IT IS!" Zac shouted from the kitchen making both Emmett and I smile.

As soon as I was in my new bedroom, I began looking through my drawers for some clothes to wear. I dec

Zac sat on a long purple couch in the living room, his feet propped up onto the coffee table in front of him. The remote was in his hand and he continued to channel-surf even with me watching.

Emmett had told me previously that the house was already furnished and that everything was decorated as if it was meant for an elderly lady, but I don't think I completely grasp what he said until now. In the living room, the couch was a bright shade of purple, it was strange compared to the lavish modern style of the kitchens grey marble. Every window was completely covered in floral print, I wondered why none of the boys had taken down the curtains and then wondered if they even knew how; which caused me to laugh when I imagined all the boys struggling and bickering to take them down as if they were in an old comedy commercial.

Zac looked up at me with the sound of my presence. His eyes lingered my face before his eyes drifted down to my chest before he quickly looked away.

ided on tighter black jeans that shaped my hips, along with a dark grey wash shirt with a print on the front and the chest part cut out leaving the fabric on the neck, creating a choker look. Black high heeled boots, a black leather jacket and the very limited amount of jewellery I had topped up my look. I grabbed my handbag with all my necessities in it and went into the bathroom to touch up my makeup, adding darker eyeshadow underneath my eyes and adding blush to my defined cheekbones. My hair was a complete mess, but a quick brush and some spray made my current waves more defined. I pushed what little boobs I had, snug in a tight bra and black singlet, before grabbing my handbag and exiting the bathroom and leaning against the entryway of the corridor that enters into the living room.

"Hey," he said, focussing on his task of changing the channel. I could see his sharp jaw jumping underneath his skin.

"Hey," I responded with a smile on my face.

"We ready?" Emmett jumped out from behind me and walking towards the front door. He wore a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and dark blue jeans with an almost dress jacket, with his large build and graceful walk, he made even the simplest of outfits look runway ready.

"Yeah," I said while following him.

"So much for not dressing up," I said tugging at his jacket.

"I need to make an impression on the ladies," he said which made me laugh.

Zac turned off the TV and came to stand with Emmett and I at the front door. He looked very handsome, even in just dark jeans, a white top, a blue denim jacket and black boots.

"BURNEY! Hurry up and put your face on!" Zac shouted with a smile on his face and we watched as Burney walked out of the first room in the corridor, which meant Zac's room was at the back.

"I'm here, Jesus- shut up!" Burney came up to us and gave Zac a push on the shoulder and the boys laughed.

"Okay, let's go!" Zac cheered heading towards the front door before he abruptly turned on his heels and faced me with a stone-cold face and almost whispered to me. "Also, newbie, if you don't like the food from the Garden of Eden, I'm kicking you out of the house..."

I looked from him to Emmett with shock clearly etched on my face, before I slightly relaxed, noticing the small smile creeping on Zac's' face.

"Let's go, Power Rangers!"

____

The Garden of Eden was only a couple of streets away, so we only walked, the boys talked the whole way filling in the silence.

The Garden of Eden was a small restaurant located on the corner of two streets and the sound of chattering and laughter was audible from a street away. Chairs and tables lingered out the front of the restaurant, the bright lights of the restaurant gave an almost halo like appearance. The small restaurant was made with walls of a dark brown, an almost black, along with large glass windows circling around the restaurant. A wooden sign hung over the entrance of the restaurant reading 'The Garden of Eden', written in white cursive writing, the sign was surrounded by green vines.

I almost laughed when I read the sign, thinking that Zac was only exaggerating when he was calling the restaurant the Garden of Eden.

"Argh! Isn't it beautiful?" Zac spoke when we stood at the front. I watched his eyes glisten as he looked over the restaurant with appreciation. "I want to be married and buried here, okay guys? Make my wishes come true." Making us all laugh.

"Too bad you weren't born here," Emmett said making Zac look at him in shock.

"If only!" he laughed.

Wide steps lead to the large front door, which Emmett opened for all of us and I thanked him as I walked past.

"Hey beautiful!" Zac spoke, walking up to a woman and gave her a kiss on the cheek. The small pang of jealously rose in my chest, until I noticed her swollen belly.

"What are you doing working? You should be at home with your feet propped up," Zac spoke with affection laced within his voice.

"You're too kind, Zac," she smiled at him. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, only leaving a fringe to hang on her delicate round face. She wore a dark grey uniform that was very tight around her midsection.

"What are you doing here tonight, it's not Tuesday?" She laughed.

"We're celebrating the arrival of our new roommate!" Zac declared, looking over to me which made her gaze look over towards me.

"Oh! She's stunning," she smiled at me. "Hi, I'm Tracey, I'll be your waiter tonight and probably every Tuesday for the rest of your life," she laughed again, it was a nervous laugh but one that made everyone smile around her.

"So, just the usual tonight?" She looked over at all of us.

"Yes, please!" Zac spoke, cheerfully.

"Okay, well find a table and make yourself comfortable. It should be ready in fifteen minutes, give or take," she smiled a broad smile at all of us, brushing Emmett's shoulder as she walked past to go towards the kitchen.

We found a table next to the window, large enough for the four of us. Once I sat down, I placed my handbag on the back of my chair. Zac sat in front of me, Emmett to my left and Burney to my right.

"So, you come here every Tuesday?" I asked, not to anyone in particular.

"Yep!" Zac replied almost immediately while fiddling with his napkin.

"It's the only night that we all have off." Burney responded. "It started off as a once a month type of thing, but we liked it so much that we kept coming back," he laughed.

Tracey came back then with a bottle of red wine and four red wine glasses and placed them in front of us all and we thanked her individually when she poured us a glass of wine each.

"I would like to make a toast," Zac spoke with his glass raised in the air.

"Oh no," Emmet

Tracey comes over then holding two large bowels of spaghetti and places them in front of Burney and Zac, left and then came back with two other large bowels and placed them in front of Emmett and myself.

"I put extra parmesan cheese on it for you guys, just how you like it," Tracey laughed and put her hand on Zac's shoulder.

"Thanks, Trace! You're a saint," Zac said, already picking up his cutlery.

"Enjoy guys!" Tracey said, before walking away back into the kitchen area.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait, guys..." Zac said with his hands up to the guys next to him to stop them from eating. "The newbie needs to take the first bite..."

t said making us all laugh.

Zac looked over at Emmett with a pout, but he couldn't contain it for long as a broad smile broke over his face.

"Here's to our new roommate!" We all raised our glasses together to clink in the middle with a laugh.

"Thanks." I smiled over my cup after taking a large sip.

They all turned their heads towards me, their eyes eager and waiting.

I picked my fork up slowly trying to contain a straight face as I dig into the spaghetti slowly.

"Today, please, Ali!" Zac almost groaned, which made me laugh.

As soon as I placed the forkful of spaghetti into my mouth I moaned with appreciation.

"OH MY GOD!" I almost screamed at the boys.

Zac laughed, "It's good, right?"

I spooned another forkful into my mouth.

"It's like an orgasm in my mouth!"

The boys laughed and quickly dug into their meals. I didn't realise how hungry I was until I had my first mouthful and only a moment later the plate was clear. The boys soon finished their plates after me and we laughed as we licked the plates with our fingers.

"Here... drink up," Zac said while pouring me another glass.

After my third glass of wine, I was already feeling the alcohol go to my head and we were almost done with the bottle.

"The only problem we have with having another person in the house is that the bottle goes far more quickly," Zac laughed, his words were only slightly slurred. He poured Burney and Emmett the rest of the bottle before playing with it by spinning it on its bottom by holding the mouthpiece with his index finger.

Even Zac's hands were beautiful. His thin fingers were like a pianist, the knuckles slightly protruding his clear skin. His denim jacket was folded up his arms revealing his wrists and a lavish silver watch on his left hand. His eyes were casted down looking at his hands working with the bottle, his long eyelashes casting a shadow over his cheeks. His hair was messy and falling into his eyes. He was so naturally beautiful that it almost hurt to look at him.

He snapped his head up at me, like he knew I was looking at him, and I quickly looked away, grabbing my glass of wine and taking a swig of it.

"So, Ali, what have you got planned for the week?" Burney asked, he was only on his second glass- not that I was counting.

"Umm... I start work on Tuesday, but I- uh- I might start looking for a car during the week," I mattered, trying to look anywhere but at Zac sitting in front of me.

"Emmett mentioned you've been employed somewhere nearby?" Burney continued.

"I love it when he sounds so formal," Emmett chuckled, he didn't seem like the alcohol was affecting him at all.

"Yeah, I'm working at a bar called The Bar..." I spoke. Original name, I know. It took only one application, a bar license and two weeks to meet up with the owners to get a job there.

"Oh, I know the place, it's lovely there," Burney continued with the conversation.

"It is," I said, taking another sip of wine.

"Should we get another bottle?" Zac asked, still playing with the empty bottle.

"I don't think so," Emmett said, looking between the three of us. "I think it's time to go home. It's getting late," he laughed, before standing up and going to the front register to Tracey.

I watched him pay for the meal and then turned my eyes towards Zac in front of me, who was staring back at me, but instead of looking away he maintained the eye contact. I watched his eyes lower to my chest and then back up to my face, then he coughs in his throat and then shakes his head.

"Let's go!" Emmett said when he got back to our table.

We walked home with the boys bickering against each other, while I stood to the side and laughed when one of them pushed the other hard enough, they almost fell. Aside from Emmett, we all talked in a roar of drunkenness, I could barely even walk straight, but thankfully Emmett came to my rescue and put his hand around me to keep me stable. Once we rounded the corner, we came to a stop at the front of the house when Zac came to a halt.

"We need to complete the ritual for our new roomie," Zac spoke turning toward Burney with an all-knowing look in his eyes.

Burney put his hand into his pocket and fished out a small metal key and handed it over to Zac with a small smile on his face. Zac took it from him and held the key as if it were the most delicate thing in the world and turned to me with a serious look on his face.

"I hereby declare thee, Ali uh..." he paused and looked towards Emmett.

"Scott," Emmett leaned down to whisper loudly into Zac's ear.

"I hereby declare thee, Ali Scott, to be the fourth and final roommate we shall ever have."

The two other boys had their heads casted down as if they were in a prayer, but the large smiles that spread across their face gave them away.

"You may now kiss the bride," Zac tried to contain a laugh, but a snort came out and we all joined along in a laugh. He lifted up the key in the air as if it was the bread of Christ and placed it gently into my hands.

"Thank you," I laughed.

"After you." Zac moved aside and extended his hand to direct me towards the front door. I walked up the steps to the door and realised that none of the boys followed along with me but were waiting where they were. I slid the key into the keyhole and slowly turned before the door clicked open.

A roar of cheers erupted behind me and I looked behind me to see all the boys with their hands raised and jumping, which only made me laugh more.

I woke up to the sound of mumbled voices and a soft grumbling sound coming from the kitchen next door. My alarm clock on the bedside table next to me read that it was only a little passed nine in the morning. I slowly untangled myself from my sheets and stretched myself out of the bed. I was only wearing an overly large dark grey t-shirt, that fell off my shoulders, and underwear to bed, so I quickly put on a pair of black tracksuit pants before leaving my room.

I walked out of the room and was almost blinded by the light coming in from the opened windows and quickly rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, before stepping into the kitchen.

Emmett and Burney were in the kitchen, Burney was at the stove while Emmett was busying himself with plates, mugs and cutlery.

"Good morning," Emmett said. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Yes, please!" I yawned.

He poured me a cup of coffee and handed it over to me.

"Two sugars?"

"Just how you like it," he responded almost immediately.

"You know, you're the best thing to happen to this world, nay the universe!" I exclaimed as I brought he mug to my lips to take a sip.

"I know," he laughed. "I can't believe you used the word 'nay'."

"Neither can I," I laughed.

"Hey, Ali!" Burney shouted over his shoulder. "Are you okay with a big breakfast this morning? I'm making, eggs, bacon, sausages, mushroom... just the works," he asked. My stomach grumbled in response.

"I will eat anything and everything!"

"I told you," Emmett said.

"I just wanted to confirm," Burney responded, with a shrug of his shoulders. He began flipping something in the pan.

"Did you need any help?" I asked.

"No, I'm all good. My mother's Jewish, so if she ever found out someone was helping me cook, she'd kill me," He said over his shoulder and I laughed. It wasn't until now that I realised, he was wearing a 'kiss the cook' apron. The sizzling of the stove grew louder as he placed bacon onto the stove.

"I'm surprised Zac isn't awake yet," Burney said, but just as he said it, a loud thud came from the back of the house, followed by the sound of running footsteps until Zac appeared in the kitchen.

"I smell bacon," Zac said, his eyes half closed as if he was still half asleep. He wore his white t-shirt and grey sweatpants. His brown hair stood up in all places on his head. God, he was really beautiful. I don't think I've ever classified a guy as beautiful before, but he was.

Emmett and Burney laughed.

"He's like a Rottweiler," Emmett laughed.

"Really? I saw him more as a German Sheppard," Burney added and the two of them laughed.

"Ha ha, very funny!" Zac responded. He walked further into the kitchen and went straight to Burney, cooking at the stove.

"I've got everything, Zac. Eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms, even pancakes," Burney listed again, making Zac's face light up.

"I fucking love you, Bernard Gad, like so fucking much!" Zac whined, wiping away fake tears.

"I know, I know!" Burney smiled and swatted Zac in the arm with his spatula when he picked a piece of bacon from the pan.

"Coffee," Emmett stated, handing Zac a mug.

"I fucking love you, Emmett Reid, I love you so fucking much!" he laughed again as he took the mug and took a sip. Emmett only stood there shaking his head with a small smile.

Zac turned to me next, his eyes travelled my body before stopping at my face, making me nervous. His smile from earlier almost disappeared when he looked at me. He noticeably swallowed, and his jaw was bouncing underneath his skin.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said and leaned on the marble island I sat at, leaning on his elbows, with his coffee raised to his mouth. I could feel my face heat up when he called me beautiful.

He smelt really good, like rain and mint mixed with the coffee in the room.

"How did you sleep?" A smile pinched up at one of his sides, revealing a dimple.

"Fine and how about you?" I asked. I tried to keep my tone light.

"Like a log," his smile grew wider. He looked directly into my eyes and it was only then that I realised his eyes were the strangest shade of blue, with grey intertwined. He was honestly the most beautiful guy I had ever seen, and it hurt me to think that he would never be interested in someone like me. I could feel my face and chest getting even hotter with every second passing of our unspoken staring contest, the heat rising from my neck.

"Ali, can you help with the plates please?" Emmett asked, causing me to break our eye contact.

"Of course." I hopped off of the stool and quickly grabbed as many plates and cutlery as I could and brought them to the table, grateful for the distraction.

"Does anyone want juice as well or a top up on coffee?" Emmett asked, bringing out some plates of food.

"Both please!" I said, after setting up the table.

"You can get the juice and I'll do your coffee."

I went to the fridge and got a bottle of orange juice out, but as soon as I closed the door to the fridge, Zac stood in front of me, almost too close.

He coughed in his throat. "I'll take the juice and you can get the cups."

I nodded, and quickly moved away from him to a cabinet I thought had the cups in it and collected four glasses.

"Alright everyone. Dig in," Burney said, finishing up on putting the plates full of food onto the table.

Emmett handed me my coffee and we all took our places at the table and dug in.

I was already on my second plate of food before Burney interrupted me.

"You weren't lying, Emmett," Burney laughed.

"What?" I said with my mouth full, looking between the two boys.

"I told him that you could eat," Emmett said with an apologetic smile.

"Piss off!" I laughed. "I love breakfast food."

"I told him that too," Emmett continued.

"So, Ali, what have you got on for today?" Zac asked, he was also finishing off his second plate.

"I don't know, I may need to get clothes ready for work tomorrow night, but I would like to start looking for a car..." I looked towards Emmett, hinting at something. He laughed.

"I will take you to look for a car and I'll even throw in a little Emmett help!" Emmett said, causing me to giggle.

"Thank you!"

"Have you guys got any plans for today?" I added, swallowing the last of my coffee. I looked between the guys for a response.

"I'm doing whatever you're doing!" Emmett said.

"I have to complete an assignment," Burney added, pouting his bottom lip out.

"I have work at 12," Zac said, sharing a look with Burney and they both pouted together.

"Where do you work?" I turned to Zac.

He looked at the two other boys before answering. "I work at a Pharmacy," he said, a matter of factly. He kept his head down, so his brown hair fell across his forehead.

"How long have you been working there?" I asked, finishing off the last on my plate.

"Two years now I think," he laughed, shrugging his shoulders.

I smiled a tight smile at him. He smiled back at me for a brief second before he looked away.

"So, what is for dinner tonight?" Zac looked between the three of us. "I strongly believe we should get pizza!"

"You're literally the only person that I know who can eat a massive meal, like this, and still wonder what is going to be for the next meals to come," Burney laughed.

"I'm a hungry person," He shrugged.

"Okay, Ali," Emmett said, getting up and collecting the plates. "Start getting ready and then we can head out in an hour to look at some cars, okay?"

"Okay," I responded almost immediately with a grin and after placing my own plate at the sink, I practically ran towards my bedroom.

After putting on a quick application of makeup and choosing loose fitting black balloon pants, a polka dot shirt and converse sneakers on, I was ready to go. I put my hair into a ponytail on the top of my head and quickly looked in the mirror before I left to ensure I looked okay before grabbing my handbag and leaving the room to meet Emmett at the front door.

Emmett and I went to a couple different used car lots nearby, one place in particular only sold monster trucks, which Emmett suggested I wouldn't look too bad driving. After we looked for cars, we ended up going shopping for a little, but we ended up coming home empty handed.

"All I'm saying is that, you have an ass built for a truck," Emmett laughed.

"That is so not funny," I tried to contain a smile, but I broke when he continued to laugh. I sat at the island in the kitchen that I've become so familiar with, while Emmett made us a cup of coffee. "I would look good in a monster truck," I smiled, then grabbed my cup of coffee from Emmett with a smile.

"Are you excited about work tomorrow?" He asked, as he took a seek next to me.

"Surprisingly, yes."

"What time do you start?"

"I start at six."

"And what time do you finish?"

"I finish at two in the morning."

"Just try not to wake me up, okay?"

I laughed. "Only if you make me breakfast in the morning!"

"I think you'll be the one who has to make breakfast for me," he laughed. "Seeing as you're already up."

"Do you want breakfast at three in the morning?" I challenged.

"No," he smiled with his coffee to his mouth.

"Then shut up," I laughed again. I was worried that with me moving in, Emmett and I would become different towards each other, like maybe he would resent me for interfering in his personal life, but from today, I see nothing has changed between our friendship from when we lived next door to now living together.

I finished the last of my drink.

"I need to shower," I said, walking to the sink to wash my cup. "Thank you for taking me today."

"Not a problem," Emmett said, picking up a discarded newspaper left on the bench. "There towels in the first door at the back of the corridor." Emmett pointed down the far corridor to my room.

I walked to my room and gathered my shower supplies and put them into the bathroom that Emmett and I shared before walking down to the corridor to grab a couple towels and went to have a shower.

The shower was large, much larger than what I was used to living back at home. I tipped my hair back under the water and drowned my thoughts.

I washed my hair thoroughly and shaved, planning a to-do-list for work tomorrow and letting all the tension of the move to be washed away. By the time I was done, the sun had set leaving the bathroom settling in a soft light. I used one towel to dry myself off and wrapped it around myself like a strapless dress and used another towel to dry my hair.

I poked my head put of the door.

"Emmett?" I called and after a second later I decided that he wasn't there anymore.

I grabbed one too many towels and decided to put them back into the closet. I padded down the hallway, feeling a couple droplets from my hair fall around me. I saw a faint light at the end of the hallway and realised it wasn't Emmett's room, but the room at the end of the back corridor. I continued walking until I was at Zac's bedroom, his door left half open.

I put the left-over towels in the closet and leaned out to take a peek into the room.

Zac lay in his bed, wearing only grey sweatpants low on his hips, his chest bare. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes ranked over him. He had black beats covering his ears a soft hum came from music playing, his eyes down casted to something in his hand. He was reading a book. He held the book with the back half curled to show only one page, his other hand rested behind his head. The faint light I saw was a bedside lamp and it painted a very nice glow against his caramel skin.

His room was similar to mine, only his bed faced the front of the house, but it was hard to focus on anything else in the room when Zac was there.

I took a step closer, to peer deeper into the room to see what book he was reading, but when I did the floor creaked and Zac's eyes snapped up from his book to inspect the sound, or maybe it was because I was basically halfway through his door now.

He put his book aside and got up from his bed.

I tried to stop my eyes from wandering from his stare, but my eyes quickly dragged his body up and down.

He stopped at his door and raised his hand to put against the door. His eyes quickly dragged down my body that was naked apart from the towel, and my hair was down, soaking my shoulders and the top of the towel. My heart felt as if it was in my throat, it was beating so hard. His eyes ranked up my body and stared into my eyes.

He slammed the door in my face, leaving me breathless.