“What do you want to eat, Jade?” someone asked me.  “Apple pie and chocolate,” I grumbled, annoyed that someone was interrupting my good dream.  Dreams about puppies are the best.  “I don't know if they serve that here.”  “Get her a cheeseburger and french fries,” Yaris ordered.  I opened my eyes just a little.  We were in a McDonald's drive thru.  “They have apple pies,” I stated, “get me two of them.  Oh, and the cheeseburger and fries.”

The clock on the radio said 7:43  I had slept for about ten hours.  I was sort of laying down in the backseat with my head on Yaris' lap.  I shot straight up, wide awake.  I don't usually wake up in such a close and comfortable proximity to a man.  “Welcome back to the living,” goaded Theo, who was driving.  Ripley sat in the front passenger seat.  “We are going to stay at a hotel,” Yaris informed me.  “Where are we?  Have we been driving for ten hours?”  I inquired, incredulous.  “Yes,” Ripley answered this time, “there was also a flight in there.”  “A flight?  So, where are we?”  “We will discuss it at the hotel,” Yaris answered. 

Once we got the food, we went straight to the hotel.  A posh hotel.  I couldn't read the name as it was in a foreign language, but it was obvious that it was dripping with money.  These guys like to travel in style.  Yaris handed me my coat and told me to cover my hair.  I put it on and made sure the hood was pulled snug around my face.  He did the same.  We exited the vehicle, and Theo handed the keys to the valet, who in turn handed Theo a ticket.  “No luggage,” Theo told him, and we all turned to go inside.

The twins were waiting for us at the concierge desk.  “Your usual suite, Mr. Brown?” the attendant inquired, with a big smile, in broken English.  “That would be wonderful if it is available, George,” Theo replied.  “For you anything,” George praised, “would you like an escort?” “No, we know the way,” Theo answered as George handed him the key card.  “Have a wonderful stay with us.”  “Thank you.” 

“This place is huge,” I looked at the lobby in wonder.  Yaris intertwined his fingers with mine, probably to keep me with them.  I wasn't exactly paying attention.  There was just too much to look at.  The lobby was decorated in mostly blues and greens and was bigger than my whole house.  In the center was a giant water feature that donned a fountain and numerous statues.  “Not quite,” Yaris said, “your house is pretty big.”  I didn't say that out loud, did I?  My attention immediately went from looking around to studying him.  Does he do Jedi mind tricks?  He shook his head, no, with a smile.  “How?”  He just shook his head no.  We entered an elevator that took us to the top floor.  The penthouse suite, impressive.  The elevator opened to a small deserted vestibule with one door and another elevator door at the other end of the hall.  Theo stuck the key card in the lock, and the door clicked.

The door opened up to a living room with a loveseat, sofa, and chaise lounge all in black leather set to surround the large flat panel television hanging on the wall.  There was a small black coffee table in front of the sofa.  They all sat on a large blue and green striped rug on a dark stained hard wood floor.  The art hanging on the walls even screamed of money.  I unfastened my coat and took it off.  I hung it up in the entryway closet, as did the others.

“We will eat, then we will give you a tour,” Theo said, walking through a door to the right.  I followed him as did the others.  It opened into a kitchen/dining room.  The kitchen had custom light wood cabinets, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances.  An island separated the kitchen from the dining room.  The dining room contained dark cherry wood  cabinets that displayed various swords and knives.  The dining room table boasted the same dark wood as the cabinets and was long enough to seat twelve.  Ripley and Antony both sat food on the table.  Kale followed with the drinks.  I grabbed the only Diet Coke and sat down.  I was famished, having not eaten since my apple this morning.  I dug into my cheeseburger and fries.  Finished with those, I grabbed the two apple pies.  “Girl has an appetite,”  Kale commented, “are you going to share?”  “No,” I answered, “ you snooze, you lose.”  They all just stared at me.  “Fine, would anyone like one of my hot apple pies?” I asked in a tone dripping with honey.  No one answered, so I ate them fast before anyone could change their mind.  They were so delicious I closed my eyes to savor them even more.  I can’t remember apple pies tasting so good, but it had been a long time since I had eaten any.  I honestly can’t wait to taste chocolate.

I opened my eyes.  Why were they all staring at me?  Did I do something embarrassing?  I looked at each of them.  No one said a word.  “What?” I asked.

“I would love to be the one that puts that look on your face,” Theo finally spoke.  Yaris smacked his arm.  “What look?” I asked.  “Pure ecstasy,” he answered.  “Get me some chocolate tomorrow, and you'll see it again,” I replied, feeling my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.  I need out of this conversation fast.

“Time for the tour,” Yaris interrupted our little exchange.  I shot up, relieved to get out of it.  I don't have a gutter mind and wouldn't be able to hold my own in a sparring match of that kind.  We threw away our trash and left the kitchen. We went back into the living room.  “As you can see, this is the entertainment room.”  We crossed the room and went through a door on the far side.  It opened into a gym.  We kept walking through the room.  On the other side was another door that opened into a sunroom that contained a private indoor pool.  Then, there was a door that led to a private balcony.   He turned back around and led me back to the entertainment room.  A door on the remaining wall opened to a hallway.  In the hallway, the first door on the left opened to a bathroom.  Across the hall was Ripley's room.  Next, by the bathroom, was Theo's room.  Across the hall, the twins shared a room.  At the end of the hall was Yaris' room.

He opened the door to his room and let me look inside this time.  It looked like a king's lair.  A large, what has to be a California king, four poster mahogany bed.  A large television mounted on the wall, opposite the bed.  A full-length mirror.  Two matching mahogany dressers.  One tall, one short and long with a mirror set on top.  A large matching desk in the corner with a laptop.  All of the decorations and the quilt on the bed, again, in blues and greens.  An extra quilt and sheets were folded on the bed.

He crossed the room and opened another door, “the bathroom.”  A glass walk-in shower, a bathtub large and deep enough for me to spread out and float in, two toilets in stalls with doors and a vanity with two sinks.  Another full-length mirror.  “The closet,” he opened a door.  The closet contained more toiletries than I even knew existed, towels, bathrobes, and my personal favorite, house slippers.  I think that I could get used to this.

“I trust everything is to your liking?” he asked.  I didn't answer.  I didn't know what to say except, “it's beautiful.”  “I have to take care of some business matters.  Would you like to hang out with the others?  I think that they are at the pool.”  “I don't have a bathing suit.”  “Tall dresser, second drawer down, there should be one that will fit you.”  I went to the dresser and found a green and black color blocked tankini that looked to be about my size and went in the bathroom.  It fit perfectly and was about as modest as you can get for a bathing suit.

I walked into the bedroom.  Yaris, sitting at the desk in the corner, facing me, looked up at me, and his jaw dropped.  “Are you okay?” I asked.  “Yes, I-I am fine,” he stammered, “You just, you look beautiful.”  I looked down, feeling uncomfortable with the attention.  “Do you remember where to go?”  I nodded yes.  “I will come and get you in about an hour.”  “Okay.”  I put on the over-sized robe and slippers that I had brought with me from the bathroom and left for the pool.

I was actually kind of relieved that no one was at the pool.  I would have some time alone to think.  I took off the robe and slippers and left them at a lounger.  I just dove in.  I decided to do laps until I was tired or until someone showed up.  The water was a comfortable temperature, not too cold, not too hot.  The chlorine doesn't smell too strong, so hopefully, I won't get a headache.  I swam a few laps, then got tired.  I decided to just float on my back so I could see if someone came in.  Where is everyone?  After floating for a while, I decided to get out and relax on a lounger.

So, I am supposed to know them.  From where?  I, honestly, am confused.  I need to ask questions, but I am so uncomfortable and shy.  Why can't I just ask?  I am sure they would be happy to explain.  I guess I need to know what to ask before I actually ask questions.

I heard a door and voices.  Here they come.  I covered myself with the robe real quick and closed my eyes.  “There she is,” I heard one of them shout.  I opened my eyes, glad that I had covered up.  They were all fully dressed in Jeans and t-shirts.  They all came and sat in chairs around me.  “What have you been up to?” Theo asked.  “I swam some laps.  What have you been up to?”  “We all took a nap,” he answered, “yesterday was a very long day.”  “I wouldn't know since I slept through most of it.  What time is it anyway?”  “It is around nine or ten.”

I heard the door again.  Yaris came strolling in.  “What, no one wanted to swim with you?”  “They were all taking naps, so I swam laps by myself.”  I swear I saw a flash of anger.  “Is that a problem?  It gave me time to think.  It was kind of nice.” “Under the circumstances, you should not be doing anything by yourself.  If it happens again, just come find me.”  “Okay.”  I really don't understand why I can't be alone or why he would be angry about it.  I decided not to question that because I am not even sure who he is angry at.  It's so confusing.

“Are you ready to go to bed?” Yaris asked me.  “I think so,” I answered.  I stood up and put the robe on, showing as little of myself as possible.  “Whoa, wait.  That suit looks wonderful on you.  Why are you trying to hide it?” One of the twins, I think Antony, asked, “show us.”  I stopped, cheeks burning, and opened the robe so they could see.  “Amazing,” Theo commented.  “Jade, you do not ever have to hide yourself from us,” Ripley stated earnestly, “we will not judge you.”  “Okay. Thank you.”  Still embarrassed, I put the robe and slippers on and followed Yaris back through the house and into his room.