Finally, Alex shuts up and gives me some peace. I promise to make the most of it. I immediately head towards the low, dense bushes that border the House's garden. Crouching low, I ignore the burst of pain that shoots up my leg and the aching of my bruised limbs. I peek through the branches and spot a group of girls sitting in a circle in the large, overgrown garden. The House is a huge wooden cabin with three floors and space for seven people. Two kitchens, one dining room, three bathrooms and a limited supply of running water, the House is nearly heaven. But it's obvious that these girls have taken it over. I stand up, smooth my hair and lift my leg to step over the hedge.
"Whoa. What are you doing Nova?"
"Getting our group a place to stay for at least one night. Duh."
"Ok, but you don't have to be so snarky about it. And you don't have to do it alone. I'll come with."
"No thanks, and besides they're all girls, you have difficulty talking to me like I'm a normal human being." I plant my leg down on the other side of the bush, I pull my other leg over. "Go get the others. Now." I add, as I see him start to protest. He runs off and I'm free to handle this however I want. The leaves crackle and crunch as I walk over them with my heavy boots, the girls' heads all turn in my direction at the same time. One of them raises a crossbow and points it at my heart. I put my arms up to surrender but she keeps her weapon trained on me.
"Who are you? And what do you want?" She hisses at me.
"I'm Nova, and I only want shelter for me and my friends for one night or so."
"How many friends? And how did you find us?"
"Seven friends, and I used to live here before you. I've only been gone three or four days." The girl lowers her crossbow, but then another raises her weapon and continues the interrogation.
"Who are your friends?"
"My friends? They are Oz, Alex, Jack, Warren, Chris, Aspen and Michael. They're all boys." I add, just in case that influences their decision in any way. All of the girls look at each other and nod.
"You're all in. Tell your friends they can come in and choose their rooms."
"There aren't enough rooms for them to have one each."
"They'll have to share then, won't they?" All the girls head inside and leave me standing alone in the garden to wait for the rest of the guys to come back.

When they finally arrive (I assume Alex got them lost a couple of times), I'm hungry and my legs ache from being on my feet all day.
"Come on, guys. Me and Michael haven't had breakfast and you make me wait hours longer than usual to have lunch." My stomach is moaning in protest, I need food. We walk inside the House and I lead them quickly to the kitchen. Raiding the cupboards I quickly find my supply of stale but in-date bread. Alex, stupid as he is, opens the fridge with the dead battery, reaches in and yelps as his hands find fluffy, mouldy ready-meals.
"Girls," I shout, as loud as I can so they can hear me wherever they are. "My friends are here, if you want to meet them."
"How comfortable are you with these guys?" Oz asks.
"They're the first girls I've seen in months, what does it matter that I'm friends with them the first day I meet them?" I demand, offended that he'd doubt me.
"Oh, hi Nova." Says one of the girls sneaking into the room and standing too close to Oz for my liking.
"Ok, well the guy you're standing too close to is Oz."
"Hi Oz."She says in her whiny, high-pitched voice with a flirtatious hint to it.
"That's Alex, Jack, Michael, Warren, Aspen and Chris." I say pointing to each one in turn; she says hi to each of them but keeps the majority of her focus on Oz.
"Well, I'm Katelyn. I'll introduce you to each of the girls." She looks over at me and asks, "Where did you get that bread?"
"My old stash behind the cupboard." I begin to point but then change my mind; I change the gesture into pulling Oz away from Katelyn.