Andy bought a piano from a local resident who was looking to get rid of it, excited at the high quality of the instrument and buying it almost as soon as he played it to check it was what he wanted. Getting it home was a struggle. He hired a removal van to transport it through town, but getting it in the building took a long time. Now, it took pride of place in his back room, which he deemed 'the music room'. 

He spent most of the day, once it had been safely delivered, playing it, re-learning songs he used to love, and getting up to answer the door when the bell rang. Stood outside was a man he hadn't seen before, with faded green hair and an eyebrow piercing. 

"Well, Rem wasn't lying." 

Andy raised his eyebrow. "Sorry?" 

"Remington. You met him?" 

"Yes, I met Remington." 

"Right. Well, he said you're new." 

"That's true. Are you his housemate?" 

"Yep." He was looking past Andy, trying to figure out how rich he was based off what was inside. "He mentioned me, then." 

"Briefly." 

"He said you two had dinner? In here?" 

"Uh, yes. On Sunday." 

"Right. Well, I'm Clyde." 

"Andy." 

"I know. Rem was telling me about you. That you're from California, and no offense, but your accent pisses me right off." He laughed and Andy kept a straight face. "He wouldn't stop going on about you, actually. All week, you're all I've heard about from him. Andy this, Andy that. Like you're a fucking celebrity." 

"I see. I apologise for being so memorable." 

Clyde gave him an unimpressed look. "Anyway, what're you doing here?" 

"Living?" 

"He could have mentioned you being a smartarse. Fucking useless piece of shit. Never says anything useful." He shook his head. "So, are you, like, a lawyer, or what?" 

"A lawyer?" 

"Well, you must have gotten all this money from somewhere." 

Andy hummed, growing impatient. "No, I'm a singer. I used to be in a band back in California." 

"But not now?" 

"No. I left to start a solo career over here. I got signed by a British label, you see, and they recommended me moving here to be closer to them. Not that it's any of your business." 

"What do you sing? Country?" 

Andy knew he was being deliberately annoying, so he nodded and said, "Yes. I play country." 

"Really?" 

"No, obviously. Rock. What about me makes you think country? Rock, obviously." 

"See, this is what I mean. He went on and on about how good your cooking was and how deep your voice is but didn't fucking think to mention how bloody irritating you are. Typical." 

"Do you greet all new members of the community like this?" Andy asked with a false smile. "Now, if you'd excuse me, I've got some country music to be practicing." 

"Just our luck, having an American twat in the best house, isn't it." 

"It would seem so." 

"Just you here?" 

"Yes. Is that an issue? Would you rather I had a boyfriend for you to annoy, too?" 

"Girlfriend, you mean." 

"No. I don't." He put his hand on the edge of the door. 

Clyde nodded slowly. "So you're gay," he said. "Huh." 

"Is that a problem for you?" 

"No. No. You know, I live with a gay guy." 

"I know." Across the street, he saw David and Frankie walking together, sending them a smile and breathing out in relief when they turned and made their way towards his front steps. "Hey!" He called, desperate to get rid of Clyde. 

"Alright, mate," David said, reaching the top step. Then, looking at the green-haired man, "Clyde." 

"How am I the last to meet you?" Clyde asked. 

"Beats me," Andy muttered. "Hey, Frankie. I just got a piano!" 

"Wicked!" 

"You should come play it at some point." 

"I can't play that well," the boy admitted. "Maybe a few chords." 

"He underestimates his abilities," David said, smiling, but it faded when Clyde spoke. 

"So you sing and play the piano, huh. Clearly, you're a genius." 

Andy was about read to kick him in the crotch. "Clearly." 

"He's awesome," Frankie gushed. "He can scream, you know! He's gonna teach me how." 

"That's great," Clyde said drily. "Well, I should go. Rem's ordering pizza." He stepped past David and down the steps, and once he was out of hearing distance, Andy let out a heavy exhale. 

"Jesus. What's his deal?" 

Shaking his head, David checked he had gone inside his and Remington's house before speaking. "He's insufferable, isn't he? You know, I couldn't believe it when Remington told me he'd found a housemate and that guy showed up. As much as I love the kid, he doesn't half make bad friends." 

"Yeah, Remington mentioned him the other night, said he wasn't that great. But Jesus, I feel personally attacked." 

"He does it to everyone. He's only living in that house because Remington's too nice to tell him to piss off." 

"I'll do it for him," Andy joked. "You guys been anywhere fun?" 

"Just the shops. Tesco is chocka in the summer, always ram-packed. Even in the evening. How's your piano?" 

"Really good. You wanna see it?" He gestured behind him. 

Frankie looked at his dad hopefully, and, taking the shopping bag that was in son's his hand, David said, "Go on, I'll take these. Be back for tea at seven, alright?" 

"Thanks!" 

"See you, man," Andy said, stepping aside to let Frankie in. He led the teenager through to the back room and told him to sit on the piano stool, adding, "Show me what you got." 

Looking at the keys, Frankie hesitantly places his fingers on them, playing quietly the chord of E major. 

"Here, add some bass," Andy suggested, showing him where to put his left hand. "Okay, now move this to there. There. Minor. Play that real loud. Yeah, there ya' go. It's a good chord." He leant against the wall by the piano. "So...Is there a reason that Clyde's such a rude bastard?" 

Frankie shrugged, moved his hands to find another chord. "He's just like that. My dad says he doesn't know how Remington deals with it. But it pays his bills, so I guess that's how. Is this right?" 

"Yeah, perfect. So were they friends before they lived together, or..." 

"What? Oh, not really. They knew each other, but not well." 

"Gotcha." 

"Why?" 

"No reason, I'm just curious and it's interesting." He pressed a key at the bottom of the keyboard. "Oh, yeah, listen to that. Fucking gorgeous."