My First Glance: An On My Own Prequel

guess I can be the new guy,” I said, shaking my head.
“Well, you’re the only one starting at DSU this semester,” Miles said.
I looked around at them. “Yeah, I guess you guys have all been here a while.”
“For a couple of years now, but we can show you the ropes if you want. School’s hard, fun, and can be intriguing,” Pacey said, grinning.
Tanner didn’t say much, and I had to wonder if the guy liked me or not. Not that I cared. I had enough friends. Right?
Pacey continued. “Anyway, pick one.”
I pulled out a Twizzler and didn’t look at it. Sanders went next, and then Tanner reached forward, pulling one out silently as Miles took the next, and Pacey looked down at the last one.
“Well, then. I guess that makes sense,” Pacey said, and I frowned.
I looked down at the extra-long Twizzler in my hand and snorted. “I wasn’t expecting that,” I said.
Sanders glanced at my candy before schooling his face. “No big deal. The third-sized room has the biggest tub. Mackenzie will like that.” He winked.
I wasn’t about to ask.
Tanner held up his very short Twizzler. “Looks like I drew the proverbial short straw. None of the rooms are tiny, though, so it’s not a big deal. By the way, there were two desks in the office, and two in the library. We can just claim which ones we want. There’s also a large desk in the alcove for whoever wants the fifth. The other four are the same in size, although I think the view in the library is better.”
“Then you can take that one,” I said, looking at the others. “Since you kind of got the short end of the stick on the room.”
Tanner shrugged. “That’s fine with me. Hopefully, we can get some studying done because I actually want to graduate one of these days,” he said dryly.
“Same here,” I said quickly.
“I’ll take the alcove since I’m in the middle of room sizes,” Sanders added.
“Okay, on that logical path, I’ll share the library with you,” Miles said, and Tanner nodded.
I looked at Pacey. “Looks like we’re study mates,” I said.
Pacey just smiled, a blond brow rising. “Looks like. Do you want to ask the rest of your family in so they can help you unpack?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure they have their ears to the wood.”
The front door opened, and Violet walked in, her cheeks red but a smile on her face. “Well, this pregnant woman would really love to know where your bathroom is, if that’s okay,” she said quickly, blushing even harder.
I laughed and looked up at the guys. “Do you mind?” I asked.
“I am not going to stand in the way of a pregnant woman for anything,” Pacey said and gestured towards the door next to the library. “There you go, it’s the half-bath, although it has two sinks for some reason. How this house has five and a half bathrooms, I’ll never know. It’s like a Tardis in here.”
“You know Doctor Who?” Miles asked, a smile on his face.
Pacey shrugged. “I know a lot of things.”
“We’ve got a lot in the truck, just tell us where to go,” Cameron said. “By the way, I’m Cameron, this is Aiden. If you guys need anything, just let us know,” Cameron said, and everybody finished introducing themselves as Violet came back out.
She smiled as she looked around. “This place is gorgeous. The fact that everything is hand-carved wood everywhere, it’s like we’re in the Clue mansion.”
“Let’s not actually have this be a Clue murder mystery, though,” I said quickly, then Miles and Pacey burst out laughing, along with my family. Tanner didn’t laugh, but his eyes did brighten a bit. Well, at least I could make the guy chuckle a bit. Sanders looked down at his phone, texting quickly, not paying attention.
We set about unpacking my truck, and by the time Brendon and the other wives arrived, we were helping my new roommates unpack their stuff, too. I seemed to have the most things, but it was probably because I’d had six people helping me pack, constantly giving me things because they were amazing and wanted me to feel loved. I hadn’t been spoiled in my life before this, and they were doing their best to help out.
Aiden and his wife went to unpack the kitchen, while I helped where I could. I loved cooking, and according to Aiden, I was a decent chef. But I wasn’t the only one helping out. Tanner had come in to watch every place Aiden put something, nodding approvingly at the spices and other things. Tanner had his own array of jars and cookware, and I couldn’t help but be surprised. Seemed the quiet and brooding one also liked to cook. Looked like we would all eat well, or he would have some really good food for himself. Either was fine with me. I just didn’t want to be the one who ended up cooking for everybody.
Violet went about labeling, and even though Pacey mock-grimaced, I could see the other guys appreciated it. There was a huge chef’s stove and refrigerator in the kitchen, way more expensive and fancier than I’d ever had. Violet made sure the two bottom drawers of the fridge were equally separated so each of us could have our stuff, while the condiments and the other drawers and shelves were for staples or other things that we shared. It only made sense, given it was four people who didn’t really know each other. At least she didn’t bring out her fancy label maker.
“Just in case,” Violet said. “When I was living in a home with three other girls and not family members, everybody got catty about yogurt. It was a whole thing. I don’t really want you guys dealing with that. You can totally take away the labels later.”
I kind of like them,” Miles said, shrugging. “I mean, my last roommate constantly stole my food and my books. And my shoes. He even tried