Chapter 1: Ellis
I looked up in irritation from my dinner as a continuous ring started up. With a put-upon sigh, I padded over and picked up the phone. I barely got out a 'He-' before I was cut off.
"Keith? Is that you?" A distinctly masculine voice asked. "Hey, how d'you put on lipstick?"
There was a brief pause as my eyebrow went up and I pulled the phone away from my ear to stare at it. "…What?" I asked flatly, slowly returning the contraption to its previous position. Who was this? Some crossdresser?
"I- I was jus' wonderin' cos my class- we need ta make a paintin', see." The boy on the other end of the line said hastily.
My second eyebrow joined the other. What was with the hick accent?
"I would assume you simply uncapped the tube," I drawled. "And I'm not Keith."
"Yeah.. I sorta figgered after you didn' take the piss outta me for askin' bout lipstick. You're Nick, right?" He asked. "The one who practically rules the casino?"
"Yeah," I said cautiously. "What's it to you?"
"I'm Ellis!" The other announced.
Oooh.. That brown haired kid who hung around Coach. I furrowed my eyebrows. What was the fucker up to?
"Did ya know you live next to me?" He asked curiously. For some reason, his voice echoed. No, he wouldn't...
"…" I slowly glanced out the window, hoping he wasn't where I thought he was. Outside, on my front lawn, was a brunet with a trucker cap and a cellphone. The kid was wearing dirty overalls-really? Shouldn't he be taking a damn shower, not standing on my lawn?- and god knows how much oil.
"Hey, Nick!" The abomination in front of my house shouted.
I pinched the bridge of my nose as I dropped my phone onto the couch. Maybe if I ignored him for long enough, he'd get the hint and go away…
"Nick! Ain'tcha gonna let me in?"
Ugh. If only I was so lucky. With a heavy sigh, I walked over and yanked the door open.
"What are you doing?" I demanded.
"Standing on your lawn," The threat to my peace answered, sounding like it should be obvious.
Great, I was saddled with a smartass.
"I realised." I said flatly. "I mean, what are you doing here?"
"Oh! Coach told me to look for you, so I was gonna phone Keith to ask him where ya lived afte-"
I tuned him out, privately thinking Coach was a smart, smart man. Even if he was an asshole for dumping the kid with me.
"Nick! You listenin'?" The brunet was staring.
"What? What did you say?" I asked.
"I said," He frowned at me. "Can I come in now?"
"Oh. No." I answered, slamming the door in his face.
That was the first time I really met Ellis.