Part One: Welcome to the Party

 

 

            Jake Weidman was never a practical boy. In fact, his heritage made him the perfect candidate for rebellious tendencies. His father was in the marines. His mother was a business woman. And he was an only child. Everything for him was a way to get attention. So it was no consequence he had actually agreed to living in a house of eight strangers for one crazy experiment. The fact and knowledge that everyone had a particular fear aroused his curiosity. Even more so that they even picked him, of all people, to join them. He had such a common fear, common among children even more so. And yet he claimed he was not scared of death, even though his fear had everything to do with death.

            He was a stereo typical hipster, spiky hair, band shirt, CD player, and all.  Completely with the uncanny ability to piss people off on an indie whim. Which he used at the moment, as the other cars stayed still in traffic, he road on past him on his black Suzuki motorcycle. Loud blaring rock music rang in his ears. The music was being transmitted from his pitch black Ipod, which was being held on a rectangular holder on his bike. It seemed as if he where just one big flash of black. He even wore blacks leather gloves and a black helmet to hide his pale skin. He was a swerve of nonexistent color against the deep smoggy grays of the city.

            "That isnt fair!" A short blonde haired man yelled out of his hummer’s window. He pulled his glasses down a bit as he watched Jake ride past him. "Stupid, a*****e!" Jake replied with the wave of a finger.

            Within moments he was at the house, well more like mansion. It was absolutely brilliant, painted brick red with white colanders in front and a huge white door. There was a big drive way too. He quickly parked his motorcycle and took off his helmet. You could see his face clearly now. He was a younger man, maybe in his 20s, with pitch-black hair and the brightest blue eyes. He smirked as he grabbed his black suite case and then walked to the front door.

            "Hello?" He asked in his deep voice as he kept knocking, but on one answered. Finally he tried the doorknob, which he would’ve tried in the first place if it hadn’t been for common courtesy, and surprisingly it opened. The whole house was a sudden boom of light and music. The music that was playing was oddly enough the B52s, a song called Rock Lobster. His knowledge of every album ever made since 1958 caught the pop legends puff, and he immediately recognized them. The first thing he saw when he walked in was two walls on either side of the door, some stairs, and a huge hallway. Down the hallway further where other rooms. He looked around and took a step forward. "I wonder if anyones here."
            Suddenly he saw a young girl dancing out of the living room. She did a spin, flipping her layered brown hair around and then kicked. Although very graceful when she danced, she lacked the- she tripped and would’ve hit the staircase if it hadn’t been for Jake. He dropped his stuff and dove under her just in time to catch the falling young girl. They both landed with a thump. She looked up at him for a second motionless and stunned. Then she sat up and looked at him straight in the eyes. The look she gave was priceless. Her eyes bore into his soul and scanned his every molecule. It was as if she were a scientist and had just discovered a new species of eggplant.

            "Well, that’s a wonderful thanks." He said rolling his eyes and sat up. She just stared at him. "Hello?" He waved a hand in front of her face.
            "Oh! You’re one of my new house mates!" She suddenly hugged him, making him immediately fall back. "I’m so happy to meet you! I’m Scout!" She said letting go and smiling.
            "Jake." He said propping himself up on one arm and rubbing his head. "Nice to meet you."
            "The sign says meet everyone in the living room but no one else is here." Scout stood up and brushed herself off. "So I turned on the radio."
            Jake stood up finally and looked at her. She was short compared to him, 52, while he was up to 5’10. And she was small for her age, though she looked only 16. she had a thin waist and fit legs and arms. It seemed the only fat she had went straight to her b***s and her butt, which Jake immediately investigated himself. Everything about the uncongenial creature that stood clumsy and off balance before him was redeemably cute. In fact everything she did oozed with cuteness. Her outfit even had a girlish cuteness. Of course wearing man-made butterfly wings isn’t normal, but it went with the outfit. She looked at him strangely for a moment and then smiled.

            "You're very cute, but I’m not huge into the independent snob scene.” She said putting her chin up and walking in the kitchen which was a room over. The kitchen looked like something you would see out of a Good Homes magazine. Everything was clean and white, with black marble counters, and blue appliances. The ceiling light was blue, the chairs had blue tops, and the toaster was even a stylish light blue. It was decorated very nicely. 'Someone had really put in some effort and care into this place' he thought.  “It’s just too Marxist for me.”

            “What? Marxist?!” Jake followed her, a little annoyed by the comment.

            “Well, that’s all you are right? Modern liberals are nothing but closet communists with unrealistic individual ideals.” Scout retorted.

            “Is that what you think of us?” Jake scoffed.

            “Its just a constructive ideal of the text book definition.” She smiled.

            “Two minutes in and you already have my blood pressure shooting through the roof, you know that right?” He laughed.

            “I tend to do that to people.” She got a water out of the fridge and leaned against the counter. “So, Jake, why are you here?”

            “I don’t know.” He replied.

            "You dont know or you dont want to tell me?" She asked leaning over the counter and looking at him with a small smirk.
            "A little bit of both." Jake smirked and raised an eyebrow. 'I can dig your game kiddo'.

            She smiled and then twisted the water bottles cap for it to open, but it didnt seem to want to budge. She looked at him confused and then tried opening it again. After five times of twisting it she banged it against the counter softly and then tried it, it didnt work. She banged it again harder, and harder, and harder, and finally getting even more frustrated she hit it against the fridge. She kept hitting it against random things like a crazed lunatic until a single doorbell ring stopped her shenanigans. Jake got up and walked around the counter to her.

            He got so close their noses where almost touching and she became a simple captive of his wondrous eyes. He looked straight at her, took the water bottle, popped the cap, and handed it to her. Then Jake Weidman, star in his own mind, walked out of the kitchen.

             "I could’ve done that!" She yelled behind him slightly embarrassed.
            "Uh huh! Keep telling yourself that." He laughed heartily as he opened the door to a young woman. "ello."

            "Hi, Im Katherine." Said the woman as she quickly shook his hand and walked in without him even saying a word to accompany her. She looked around curiously and then back to him. "I guess you’re one of my new house mates."

            She brushed a few strands of curly red hair out of her eyes. Her eyes where a light green. She seemed an athletic girl, her body was fit and in shape. She even wore a pair of soccer shorts and a t-shirt that had a huge soccer ball on it. The woman looked right out of a sports magazine.

            "Uh...Yeah, I guess I am." He shook her hand giving a confused look.
            "Oh! Hello!" Scout came bouncing in. "I’m Scout! Welcome!"

            Katherine shook her hand. "Katherine, but most call me Katie." She seemed relieved to not be alone with Jake.
            “Wonderful to meet you!! I love your outfit.” Scout smiled.

            "I think well get along just fine." Katherine pursed her lips and nodded in approval.
            The doorbell rang, a small humming noise, like a chime.
            "That might be another one of our roommates!" Scout’s smile widened.

            Katherine raised an eyebrow and then set her bag down by the stairs.
            "Hell-o" Scout stood there confused before the site before her. It was like she was in a Zero movie. For a tall man wearing a mask, and a 1800s Mexican salsa dancing outfit stood before her.

            "Good day my dear lady." The man took her hand and kissed it. "For I am-"
            "Don Yuan Demarco." Katie laughed hysterically as she opened the door wider to see. "Back from a costume party?"
            Scout let him in and took a step back, giggling helplessly.
            "I found him outside wearing that silly hat." Said a woman that walked out from behind him. She was looking deep inside her back that bared the label Gucci on it. “Those movers haven’t gotten my things here yet. I’m sorry, I’m Sarah Richardson." She gave a perfect smile upon her pink lips and then looked at Katie.

            Sarah looked like a walking talking Bratz doll. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a bun, and her bright blue eyes stood out like sparkling gems. Along with having a very beach bunny body type, her outfit was a lacy white dress. Her clear complexion and milky skin seemed perfect with her outfit. She oozed money and sex. She turned and smiled.

            "Katherine Hoists." Katie shook her hand firmly and stood her ground.
            "It’s a big, fluffy, white, Don Yuan Demarco!!" Scout ignored Sarah and jumped up and down. She hugged the man, who looked like he had come from a costume party, and said, "Welcome!"
            "At least someones glad to see me." The man smiled. "I am Kevin Crudup." He took off his hat and bowed, showing his slicked back blonde hair.

            "Scout Scott, at your service!" She curtsied. “S.S!”

            "Sorry I’m late guys some guy pissed me off on the road. He drove past everyone like he was frickin king of the road on his black motorcycle, and then he flipped me off! What an a*****e. If I ever see him again Im gunna-" Justin, a short blonde boy, turned and saw Jake leaning against the wall and staring off into space. "You!"

            Jake jumped up almost immediately and looked at Justin. "Oh, hello." He said. Justin took off his glasses and went straight for Jakes neck. He grabbed the color of his shirt and began yelling random cuss words. Jake yelled back, defending himself. As they boys fought a loud timer went off with a small ding.
            "My cookies are done." Scout got up and walked into the kitchen.
            "How childish." Katherine leaned against a wall, as Sarah stood by her watching. “They don’t even know each other and they’re already fighting.”

            The boys continued to fight and bicker until Scout came up and held a plate of chocolate chip cookies. "Everything can be cured with sugar!" She smiled. "Plus, the dark side always has better cookies!"
            Jake grabbed a cookie and stuck it in his mouth, not technically eating and swallowing, but just letting it sit there. Justin looked at them confused for a moment and then turned and looked at Scout.

            "Hey babe. Ill eat your cookies anytime." He gave a killer wink and then took a cookie and bit off of it.
            Jake smacked him over the head simply mumbling. "Perv."
            "Hey! You wanna go again buddy!?" Justin looked him straight in the eye and even stood up a little more to look taller than he really was.
            "What ever, napoleon." Jake mumbled through cookie crumbs and rolled his eyes.
            "You wanna take this outside goth boy!?" Justin screamed louder.
            "Please, lets just calm down." Scout obliviously smiled. "Please?"
            "Anything for you sweet cheeks." Justin winked.
            "What an idiot.” Jake was side tracked when a young woman walked in.
            "Hello everyone." She said, waving her pretty brown hair about and letting it fall in curls around her shoulder. She was tall, 6’2 (with her heals), and beautiful in all realms of light. She had bright blue eyes and pretty milky skin. She gave a slight smirk to everyone. Scout quickly noticed her t-shirt, that was low cut and had in Japanese, the words Live Fast, Die Young on it. It was a long sleeve, with a v-neck, showing more cleavage that most wanted to see, and a dark green color. "I guess you’re my house mates." She tapped her stiletto on the ground ever so slightly.
            Justin’s eyes nearly popped out of his already big head. He ran over to her and put his hands on her hips. "Hey baby, how you doin?" The horny young man whispered in her ear.
            "Men.." she slapped him away and then rolled her eyes. “They’re like chocolate. Sweet, and smooth, and head you straight for the hips!"

            "Exactly why most women become lesbians." Said a tall man from behind her. "Hey, the names Andrew." He gave Scout a wink, and, if it was possible, she lit up even more.
            His red hair seemed to go out in spikes, and his glasses looked even cooler on him than anyone Scout had ever seen. Having pale skin made him look even more geekish than most would think, and the fact that his green shirt said, “Don’t mess with me or Ill frag you” just gave more light to the situation. Though seeming usually smooth in appearance, he had this awkward sort of jest when he looked at each of the women. Like he was deathly afraid they might jump out and kill him, or something.

            "Eight." Jake suddenly burst out.
            "What?" Scout jumped up almost startled and then turned her gaze to him.

            "There’s eight of us, four guys, four girls. I wonder exactly why we were brought here" He crossed his arms and then rested his chin on one of his hands as if a detective would. Everyone fell quiet and looked around at each other as if for the first time, actually taking a good look at one another. "Interesting, isn’t it? We all seem completely different, and yet, there’s something-" He was cut off by a loud booming voice coming from all speakers of the house. And it was only then that Jake realized a camera was in the corner of the wall, by the doorway.
            "Didn’t you read the sign? Meet in the living room." The voice was deep and elderly. Scout halfway jumped out of her skin and onto Jake who was already a bit jumpy. "Now. "
            "Well, we musn't keep our host waiting." Sarah piped up. She smoothed her skirt down and then walked, back straight, chin up, right into the living room.

            The living room was beautiful. Something Martha Stewarts would decorate. It had two red velvet couches and a huge window to the side, the curtains where a silky white, and the walls had black and white art on them. Along with having a glass coffee table, it had a pure black rug over the wood floor. "Come on, you babies." She rolled her eyes and then sat down on the red couch, crossing her legs and sitting her hands on her lap politely.
            "Come on guys, its just some voice." Justin rolled his eyes and walked into the living room. The rest followed. Along with Nyssa walking in politely, Katherine eyeing everyone, Don Yuan Demarco (Kevin) bowing over and over again, and Jake and Scout held tightly against each other scared. Though once they realized how close they where they let go and sat at opposite ends of the room. Andrew tagged along for the fun of solving a mystery. "Now where’s this guy?"

            "I think I deserve the recognition to have a name and not just me this guy." Said an older man who walked in. He took one tan, and yet wrinkled, hand and pushed back some greasy gray hair. "My names Edmond. "
            "Edmond?" Nyssa raised an eyebrow.
            "Yes, young lady." He looked at her as if he where staring right into her soul. “Edmond.”