eg

each step I take into the house, an

ryway on one side of the stairs that

sume it's a bedroom—on the

share of my stuff on the stairs, and I do

zens of red plastic cups; some are crumpled or smashed, ot

nd a hot wind blowing through, I can smell the stale be

e in the room. Not

t running the air-conditi

ke

k, pulling off my sunglasses and tucking them into the

rouches to pick up a drumstick lying on the

ds nonchalantly, not looking at me. "M

rties here most weekends, with live bands, righ

"I didn't know that. This is the first time I've be

n thrilled. I've apparently moved into th

really wish I'd known abo

nto Ikana's top-notch journalism program. And I

at the campus newspaper—assuming I can persuade the

makes a difference. "The lead singer's kind of a douche, but he's got a

y face. "C'mon, Keegan. It's not that bad

y. Then I hear what sounds like a

m window. "That'll be Max," he

time to see a long canine snout thrust through the hole in one of th

iendly brown eyes staring up a

re talking to when I fi

making mo

o lock him in my room last night, and all the noise from the party scared t

big dog, he's kind of a wuss." He

snout di

he back yard. I left the kitchen door open fo

show you your room, and then I'll

e carrying in my own possessio

ause Blue is yawning and rubbing his muscular

t the hell is

to live under the s

s," Blue yawns again, "is cle

probably be a while before the other two la

g to get myself

houghts. The poor guy. I'm dying to know what happened t

in reference to our other housemates. "Hunter's a Grade-A ass

ound too

a window that looks out over a back deck,

stare at someth

e open window. "What a

es loudly. "Ma

"Corey? Is that you? Man, what t

erd sniffing around a form that is slowly getting up from the gro

blocking the sun with his

y! Go

explains, continuing up the stairs. "Passed

oking everywhere

dog?" I ask, for

s care of him most of the time. He showed up here one day, mangy an

Poor

he stairs, and I glan

closed. And one bathroom, door open. I spot

n front of the door direct

llest room," he says apologetically. "But a

I'm next to her. Hunter's got the big bedroom downstairs, the

y door open, then steps aside

uptly, gasping at the sight of a