Eli

At first, I'm not really sure what to do now that I'm on my own. Then I decide to do what Kelly suggested and start exploring the house a little.

It's sparsely decorated and stylishly furnished, with lots of free space. Lots of space in general. The living room is the biggest room by far, taking up almost the entire first floor. There's a huge TV in front of a large couch that looks like at least five people can comfortably fit on it, and next to the TV there's a shelf filled with DVDs.

As I step closer to examine them, I realize that most of them are cheesy rom-coms, which is almost as surprising as the fact that Lowe still owns DVDs. And then there are also some old black-and-white movies; Sunset Boulevard, The Grapes of Wrath, Double Indemnity. I haven't seen most of them, but they seem like they are a wild mix of genres. It's an interesting peek into the interests of the residents of this house, and I can't help but wonder who bought which ones.

Near the couch there's a fireplace with a bunch of beanbag chairs in front of it. It looks surprisingly cozy, not as sterile and impersonal as I expected this house to be. This impression only intensifies as I walk to the far end of the living room and find a large shelf filled with board games and several tall book shelves.

I feel like just by strolling around the house I get an idea of what Lowe, his brother and this mysterious Naira are like; they apparently enjoy watching movies, reading and playing board games. And then of course there's that passion for music that physically manifests itself in form of a large piano, which seems to be the centrepiece of the room, and the large chest filled with old records.

Connected to the living room is the open kitchen. It's huge, long wooden countertops and a big table in the centre that seats at least eight people. The walls are lined with shelves which hold big jars filled with all kinds of ingredients, herbs are growing in little pots. Someone here clearly enjoys cooking, judging by the variety of tools and ingredients, and I myself can't wait to get to work here; my dad is a cook in a small restaurant, and though I don't have the same kind of passion for cooking, I do enjoy it on occasion.

The entire space is awash with light that spills through the insane amount of large windows; there's almost more glass than concrete, but since the premises are well-warded behind the metal gate, I don't feel observed.

Whistling to myself, I stroll over to the fridge. Sure enough there are at least five containers with leftovers, and even though they look appetizing, I decide to heed Lowe's advice and don't touch them. Probably not a good idea to purposely clash with someone who lives here on my very first day here.

Instead I grab an apple and decide to go out onto the terrace. It's connected to the living room; I use one of the three keys that Kelly gave me to unlock the door. Outside, there's a big swimming pool, surrounded by a few wooden loungers. I sink onto one of them and, looking out at the garden, eat my apple.

So far, so good. I've made it here, I've tried to be polite to everyone I've met so far, and the mansion is even better than I imagined. Now all that's left to do is find something to send Kara to get my first bonus and to show her that it was the right decision to send me here.

I'm just not sure how. I could text her that Nathan will be working on a song with a rapper, but that seems risky, seeing as there probably aren't a lot of people who know about it and I don't want to make myself a subject right away should someone wonder who leaked that bit of information.

I let my gaze wander, taking in the mansion, and suddenly get an idea.

Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I google: nathan lowe mansion. Nothing comes up. Good. Nobody seems to know where exactly Lowe's house is located, that's good.

Grinning to myself, I toss the apple core into a nearby bush and get up. I move around the house carefully, checking for cameras, but can't find any. I guess that Lowe has too many of them in his face on a regular basis to want them on his own property.

Only when I'm sure that it's safe, I jog down to the front gate and peer down the street, not spotting a single car or pedestrian. I briefly debate whether I should go up to my room and get my professional camera or not, but I feel like this is more authentic. So I take my phone and, standing with my back pressed against the gate, take some photos of the house, also zooming in a few times. The results are some slightly grainy pictures that could've been taken by a fan holding their phone through the bars of the gate. I'm pretty proud of myself and make my way back to the house.

After a small detour to the meeting room to sneak a bottle of champagne from the bar, I go back to my room and lock the door behind me. I don't bother unpacking all my things right now and only take my laptop out of my suitcase. Sinking onto the bed, I begin transferring the photos onto my laptop, and from my laptop onto a USB memory drive, just in case someone finds my laptop or my phone lying around. A memory drive is significantly easier to hide and just feels safer to me right now.

Satisfied, I turn the laptop off and, after some consideration, slip the memory drive inside a pair of socks at the bottom of my suitcase.

Finally done with today's work, I grab the champagne and my phone and walk over to the bathroom. I'm here now, so I might as well make the most of it. Self care and stuff, right? So I start running a bath, adding some stuff that smells like roses from one of the bottles from the shelf to turn it into a bubble bath.

I strip quickly, dropping my clothes onto the tiles in a messy pile, before I slowly sink into the bath. My eyes flutter shut as warm water envelops my body like silk, a content little sigh tumbling from my lips. I can't remember the last time I had a bath instead of showering. In my apartment in Reno there's no bathtub, and the one in my family's home was never used; too much hot water. The tension slowly starts to seep out of my body, replaced by a sense of lazy indulgence.

The bottle of champagne stands next to the tub, and I reach one hand out to grab it, not caring about the water dripping onto the floor. It takes me two tries to open it, and when the cork finally comes off, the champagne bubbles over. I quickly hold the bottle to my mouth, catching most of it and chuckling quietly.

The golden liquid fizzes and sparkles in my mouth, like a little firework, and I have never felt more at ease. Is this what life is always like for some people? Is it always this, unconcerned idleness and indolent relish? It feels fleeting to me, a state too good to be true, too pleasant to last a lifetime, but is it the same for them?

After a few sips, I set the bottle down again and reach for my phone instead. Careful not to drop it into the water, I call my family.

It only rings twice before someone picks up. "Eli?"

I wince, holding the phone farther away from my ear. "Yeah, hi Mila. How's it going?"

"It's going great!" my sister yells. She's still out of breath, probably from sprinting to the phone. "Guess what happened today!"

I have to smile, absentmindedly flicking a few bubbles with my finger. "Did you win that soccer game you were talking about?"

"Yes! It was awesome, I scored three goals!" I can almost see her before me, jumping around the living room in her sports clothes as she continues shouting into the phone. "The coach said I was the best player of the game!"

"Dammit, I wish I could've been there," I groan.

"Oh, that's okay, dad filmed a few videos he wants to send you so you can see!"

I want to reply, but loud rustling sounds at the other end of the line and after some bickering, I hear Alyssa's higher voice. "Eli! Hey, Eli! Mila wouldn't give me the phone, but I need to talk to you!"

"Hey Lyssie," I say. "What is it?"

"You know Dave from my grade, right? He's the boy who always gives me stickers! He was at our house when you were here once, he's got big glasses and a really big tooth gap and a lisp! Remember?"

"I think?"

Alyssa continues talking even before I can finish my answer. Truly the chattiest nine-year old I know. "He gave me heart stickers today! Does that mean he likes me? 'Cause I think he likes me and Timmy and Alex told me they think he likes me but Lisa said he has a crush on her! What do you think, Eli? It's very important because he asked me to play with him today and you know more about boys than me, 'cause you're a big boy and you've kissed boys, so you're basically a boy expert, right?"

"Sure," I laugh. "Well, did he say anything when he gave you the heart stickers?"

"Yeah, he said Here are some heart stickers."

I stifle a laugh. "Mh... You know what, he definitely likes you. For sure."

Alyssa lets out a victorious yell. "Mila! Mila, did you hear? Eli thinks Dave likes me! I told you!" Holding the phone closer to her mouth again, she says: "Mila said he doesn't like me, but she's dumb. Anyways, Levi wants to talk to you now."

"Good luck with Dave," I chuckle.

There are a few seconds of silence before I hear Levi's voice, much softer than my sisters'. "Eli?"

"Hey there. How are you doing?"

Levi ignores the question and instead says in his familiar seriousness: "I'm glad you landed safely. I was worried."

"Why were you worried?" I ask, alarmed by the way he says it, rushed and sounding a bit choked up.

"Because you said you would land at ten thirty and you didn't call and now it's three already! I..." He sniffles quietly. "I thought something happened. You promised to call!"

I sigh quietly. "I'm sorry, Levi, I didn't know you'd be so worried. I didn't really have the time to call right after I landed."

"But you're alright?"

"Of course I'm alright," I say, trying to sound reassuring. "Los Angeles is great so far."

Levi is silent for a moment. Then he suddenly says: "Did you know that it's illegal to lick a toad in Los Angeles?"

I blink a few times. That sentence is so perfectly Levi, one of those unnecessary facts he always remembers from the insane amount of books he reads. "No, Levi. I didn't know that. I'll try to remember that next time I see a toad."

"You should!" Levi says, satisfied. "Have you seen a toad already?"

"No, I haven't."

"Oh. Well, they are nocturnal, so I suppose the chances are rather small..." he muses.

I hold back a laugh. "I guess so. Listen, I have to go now. Say hi to mum and dad and Layla from me, yeah?"

"Sure."

"And Levi?"

"Yes?"

"You really don't have to worry, okay? I'm doing really well right now."

"Are you going to call again soon?", he asks. Still worried.

"Of course."

There's a short moment of silence, only filled by his soft breaths at the other end of the line, but it feels like it's stretching endlessly. "Levi?" I ask. "Is everything okay? Are you alright?"

His voice is not at all convincing as he answers. "I'm fine."

"What is it? Did something happen at school?" No reply. The water sloshes quietly as I sit up straighter. "Levi, talk to me."

"It's nothing," he mumbles. "Just some guys who said some mean things."

My hand involuntarily clutches the phone tighter. "What did they say?"

His voice is so soft I have trouble understanding him. "Just... stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

"It doesn't matter. I have to go now."

"Levi, wha-"

"Bye, Eli."

The line goes dead.

Sighing quietly, I toss my phone onto my pile of clothes. It's frustrating, to say the least, to know that my brother has problems and won't talk to me about them. And that I can't be there to help him. Shit, I miss my family already.

After a moment, I decide that I've bathed long enough and get out of the bathtub.

There's a white bathrobe hanging on a hook next to the sink, so I decide to put it on instead of my clothes, and in one of the drawers I find a rose-scented lotion that I treat myself to.

Once I smell like an entire damn rose garden, I exit the bathroom. While doing so, I check my phone, surprised to see that there's one message from an unknown number.

Reading it, I realize that it's from Kelly. Hello Mr. Scott, earlier today I couldn't finish explaining tomorrow's plans to you. You and Mr. Lowe are going to appear together in public for the first time in the afternoon. Where you'll be going is up to you and Mr. Lowe. The stylists will come in around noon tomorrow to get you ready. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call. Have a good first day in Los Angeles.

I wonder how she got my phone number for a moment before I realize that I gave it to Lowe's manager earlier this week.

Leaning against the doorframe, I quickly text my boss to let her know I'll be going out with Nathan tomorrow, and that I'll tell her an exact time and place once I know more. I don't send her the pictures yet, remembering Liz's advice to lay low for the first few days.

When I'm done, my clothes and my phone land on my bed, the bottle of champagne I take with me as I stroll out of the door.

I walk down the stairs and towards the kitchen, when I suddenly hear a strange noise from somewhere behind me.

Turning around, I spot the tiny head of a black cat peeking out from beneath the stairs. I raise a brow at her in surprise. So there's a cat that no one thought to tell me about. Cool, I guess. "Hey you," I murmur, holding out a hand.

I'm surprised when she actually leaves her hiding spot and slowly stalks up to me. Up close, I realize that it's barely a cat, rather a kitten, shiny black with a tiny white spot on her forehead.

Despite not being a big cat-person, I have to admit that she's adorable, and feel compelled to sink to my knees in front of her. The kitten eyes me sceptically but slowly comes closer, until she's brushing against my bare knee.

I reach out and carefully tickle her under her chin. "What's your name, gorgeous? What'cha doing here? Do you belong to Lowe? Or his brother? Or Naira, whoever the fuck that is?"

"I hardly think she's going to answer."

I jump, my head snapping up to look at the person the voice belongs to. There's a girl standing in the threshold of the front door, a set of keys dangling from her fingers.

"And she's mine." The girl shuts the door behind her and walks up to us, scooping the kitten into her arms. Her lips are curled into a displeased little scowl as she looks down at me. "Glad to see you're feeling at home already."

I am suddenly painfully aware of the state I'm in; kneeling on the floor in the entry area wearing nothing but a bathrobe and clutching a bottle of stolen champagne admittedly doesn't make for the most flattering first impression. So I get to my feet, trying to make it look as dignified as possible without flashing her, and say: "My name is Elijah."

"I know," she says, rolling her eyes, and walks straight past me and into the kitchen. "I'm Naira."

So that's her. Determined to find out more about her, I follow her and lean against one of the counters as she takes one of the leftover containers out of the fridge. "What's your kitten called?"

"Neela," she says, sounding absolutely uninterested in speaking another word with me.

I don't mind and use the time to quickly look her over instead. She's short and more on the chubbier side, with long dark curls falling onto her shoulders. The light blue nurse uniform she's wearing contrasts her brown skin tone, about the same shade as mine, but with warmer undertones. As she turns around to put the container into the microwave, I get a good look at her face for the first time; full lips, strong eyebrows, chocolate brown doe eyes. She's undeniably beautiful, I give her that.

"What are you staring at?" she snaps, pushing past me.

I smirk provocatively. "The kitten, of course. Don't flatter yourself."

The look she sends me is darker than Neela's fur. "Listen here, smartass. The last thing I need after a ten hour shift at the hospital is a drunk, half-naked fuckboy trying to hit on me while I make my goddamn ravioli."

"Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine," I grin.

Naira doesn't reply and only sets Neela down on the ground before taking her ravioli out of the microwave. I'm already thinking she's just going to leave without another word, but instead she grabs a fork from one of the drawers and points it at me. "If you want to stay here, better learn when to shut up," she hisses. "And if I hear you talking to Nathan like this only once, I swear I will castrate you. Are we clear?"

"Clear as glass," I answer. I know that I shouldn't be laughing right now, but it's a bit hard to take a 5'3'' tall girl who's threatening you with a fork seriously, especially when you're tipsy.

Naira turns around and heads for the living room. Without looking at me, she says: "Stay away from Nathan."

I roll my eyes at her back and crouch down again to pet Neela, but even before my fingertips can graze her fur, Naira's voice rings out again. "And from my cat, too!"

As if she has understood her owner's words, Neela suddenly darts out of the kitchen.

"Fucking hell," I murmur as I watch her go.

Getting to my feet again and leaning against one of the cupboards, I take another swig from the bottle of champagne. Lowe's words from earlier this day echo in my head; Way to make a first impression. 

+++++++++++++++++++++

I feel like this chapter really lets you get to know Eli a bit better. What do you think of him so far?

Naira and Eli have finally gotten to know each other, and I think it's safe to say they're off to a rocky start. Honestly, I absolutely love writing about them, especially when they're bickering lmao. What do you think their relationship will be like later on? :)