The train ride from my apartment lasted for well over an hour.

Traveling from the coast to the city hadn’t taken long. What had, though, was the trek from the station to the actual location of the boarding house. Which, of course, was located at the very top of a large hill that overlooked the city below.

As I stood there at the entrance, hands brushing away at the sweat that’d grown on my temple, I took the time to enjoy the scenery. Theo hadn’t mentioned much on what the place would look like, so it was pretty easy to get lost. Without my phone, I definitely would’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere. Luckily, I’d made it in time.

It was nearing sunset now, but not late enough for the sun to completely drop from the sky. No, the lighting was almost the color of orange, with skies that were on the brink of becoming pink, almost purple.

I gripped my luggage handle as a gust of wind ran through the entirety of the place, rustling the trees above, as well as the ivy that covered the gate in front of me.

The boarding house was concealed by it, by a layer of green leaves that grew over the arched metal door that sat open, as if inviting me to enter. It was quaint, very quaint, but it was eerie. Even from where I was standing, I could catch a clear glimpse of the house and how tall it was.

Back then at the cafe, Theo had told me it was a historic place, passed down from generation to generation. His roommate, Felix, had inherited it from his grandmother.

Now, seeing it for the first time, I recognized how old it really was. It must’ve dated back to the 19th century or so, judging from the craftsmanship on the red brick exterior. The porch that ran on the second floor wrapped around the building prettily in black cast iron, while the windows overlooked everything widely with white mansard roofs.

Describing it, I’d say it reminded me of a building that would fit perfectly in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The large boarding house was in the shape of an upside down ‘L’, and it had a small courtyard that sat in the middle of it with floors that were entirely multi-colored mosaic. It was extremely well-kept, and I found myself relieved that nothing had appeared to change much from when it was originally built.

Hesitantly, I walked towards the opened door and into that tiny courtyard, listening to the echoes my shoes made against the elaborate floor below. Above, stringed lights ran from the entrance to the rooftop of the huge building, casting a faint glow upon everything in sight. Somewhere too, I could hear the running water of a fountain nearby. There must’ve been another outdoor area I couldn’t see.

This was no time to explore, though. Theo had informed me that he and his friend Ro were going to arrive later on today. They must’ve been on their way by now, which was good because I’d felt a bit nervous to meet the owner without them.

Considering that I was going to be lying to him, I had the right to feel anxious. Honestly speaking, I felt more guilty than anything. Deep down I knew that this facade was probably not going to work, but I had to keep my faith that Theo would help.

I closed my eyes from the view of the house, to breathe.

I was scared, definitely. This was totally new to me. I’d never lied to someone so blatantly. And if other people were living in such close quarters, then that also meant I would lie to them too.

There was just no way to have a guilt-free conscience throughout my stay, unless I closed myself off entirely. I could be unsociable. I wouldn’t have to engage in conversations with my neighbors. That was an idea, but it was a terrible idea once I thought it over.

Frustrated, I rolled my luggage in front of me and sat on it. Waiting for Theo like this was nerve-wracking, and not to mention irritating. What if the owner showed up and asked me about Ro? What if he didn’t believe me? I hadn’t practiced any lines or lies I could say. I hadn’t even met the guy who was supposed to be my fake boyfriend!

“Lewis?”

I froze.

Oh shit.

Slowly, I rose from my sitting position on the luggage and dusted my clothes off. My back was turned from the entrance-way door, so I hadn’t seen or heard anyone come into the courtyard. The arrival of this person had scared me, to the point where I couldn’t handle the guilt anymore. Maybe it was best to just come clean?

The bundle of nerves in my stomach grew more painful as I turned to meet the individual that was most likely the owner of this place. Fortunately, the anxious feeling lessened, and instead was replaced by sheer shock.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“Fuck.” I’d said aloud. I hadn’t meant to say it aloud.

The intruder looked just as surprised as I did, so much that he had to take a closer look at me. I followed his actions, inching forward and shaking my head at this sudden turn of events.

Felix, the owner, gave a short laugh that sounded much like disbelief. “Lewis . . . what are you doing here?”

“No, no, no.” I pointed at him accusedly, “What are you doing here?”

Felix—

My cousin.

The young man continued to stare at me wondrously. We hadn’t seen each other for four years, not since I was maybe eighteen or nineteen. It wasn’t unusual that he’d be glad to see me. I was happy to see him too, though not in these circumstances.

I sat back on my luggage, mouth still open and gawking. To think that the ‘Felix’ Theo had been talking about, was in fact my distant cousin from France. What was Felix even doing outside of his home country? I never thought he would leave.

“Well this is a pleasant surprise.” He told me, hands on his hips as he walked in a perfect circle around me, watching me like I was some strange thing in a museum. “If I’d known Theo was talking about my Lewis, then I would’ve gladly welcomed you earlier.”

Still, I wasn’t sure of what to say. “You’re telling me that you own this place?” I dramatically swung my arm in the direction of the house. “Are you serious? When did you leave France? Do my parents know? How long have you been living here? How are you even roommates with Theo—?”

Felix calmed me down, hands out in front of him, “Lewis, I’m just as surprised as you are right now.”

Surprised? No, I was considering leaving. But, I had nowhere else to go. Dammit.

That was when I remembered my ordeal. Family or not, if Felix found out that I was lying to him, then he would probably tell someone, like my parents or our other cousins—

Wait.

‘He has a few friends and family staying over.’

“Who else is here?” My voice was small, sensing danger.

Felix raised a brow, “Right. You’re not aware of who’s living in my house.”

“Just tell me, Felix. Please.”

“Lucas.” He said, as I moaned pitifully into my hands. “And Damon.”

Those two specific names struck at me. Felix being there was already a huge blow, but now two more of my family members would be living with me? Three of the weirdest cousins I could think of were currently residing in that boarding house, and now I was too.

So much for being a ‘changed’ person. The past was practically at my doorstep, reminding me of the summers I spent with them as a child.

After a moment of silence, I looked up at him, examining him after such a long time.

Felix was two years younger than me, taller, with a striking resemblance to his late grandmother. We’d kept in touch, but not enough for me to know he was living so close by. The fact that Damon and Lucas were also there, was more confusing. Last I heard from Damon, he was living on the other side of the country. 

How had they all come together like this?

“I see that you’ve changed considerably,” He observed. “You look really different, Lewis.”

That statement was enough to make me feel less dread in regards to the living situation I’d put myself under. “ . . . do you think so?”

He must’ve seen how much I’d brightened at that, because he continued, “You’re also dating. Or so I’ve heard.” He grinned. “You grew up too fast.”

I could feel my heart sink into my stomach. I was a bad liar. “Y-yeah . . .”

“Are you waiting for him?” He asked, dragging me deeper into the courtyard. “He’s already here, in the garage.”

What?

“He is?”

Felix stopped, “Did he not call you? Since your boyfriend’s an experienced mechanic, he’s fixing up my car right now.”

“Ro . . .” This was all new to me. “Yeah, yeah he’s a great mechanic.”

The amount of bullshit I was spouting was unbelievable. It was even more unbelievable that Felix wasn’t suspicious of me.

“You really found a great guy, Lewis.” Felix said, sounding genuinely elated over my relationship. My fake relationship. “I’m happy for you, cousin.”

That statement impacted me more than I thought it would. I didn’t dislike Felix. I loved him, as I did with all my family. But this was not the time to be kind!

“ . . . t-thanks.” The guilt in my voice made me cringe.

I was a horrible person for lying, wasn’t I?

The garage was nestled on the side of the building, beside the back gate that opened automatically. A few vehicles were parked in each spot: a red mini cooper, an old motorbike, and a yellow vintage car that I knew belonged to Felix.

Ah, Felix.

Who would’ve thought that I’d see him today? I was glad that his presence was the last of the day’s surprises. I already knew that Lucas and Damon were there, with their own roommates, who, I’d meet much later. For now, it was time to introduce myself to my boyfriend—

Fake . . . boyfriend.

My cousin, who had directed me to the garage with the vaguest of directions, was currently looking for Theo. It was going to be amusing seeing them interact. Two people, who I believed were complete opposites, sharing a single loft? It sounded entertaining. And what with Felix eagerly ditching me to go and find my old friend, I’d recognized that he’d grown fond of Theo too. It was hard not to.

I let a smile escape from my lips. As much as I was dreading it, the idea of sharing my aunt’s beloved home with the black sheep of my family (4 in this case, including me), didn’t deter me considerably. This was a good chance to catch up, so long as they didn’t annoy me as they usually did.

Damon was an admirable older cousin by about two years? He was living on the east coast for the longest time, but now he was here with us in the west. I wondered, constantly, how he was doing. His career as a writer had been exhausting, but I was ecstatic when he’d found some success. Later on, I’d have to talk to him about it.

Lucas was my younger cousin, younger than Felix by a year. I recalled that he was living in Russia with his intolerable father, though sometimes I used to visit him when he stayed at his grandmother’s estate, close to my hometown. He was a good kid, moody, but with a kind heart. He must have been in college by now, studying botany. I remembered how much he loved flowers.

All in all, this was a good chance to reunite, without having our aunts and uncles in the way. And my cousins would have their own roommates too. What would they be like . . . ?

I peeked from around a corner of the house, near the back that sat close to an elegant fountain. It was made of grey stone, as long as a pool but not nearly wide enough or clean to jump right in. Green, and mossy, with a fountain in the middle that sprayed directly up into the sky, misting me in cool water.

Inner-city living was unbearably hot, unlike my hometown. The coast was breezy, and the ocean kept it at a tolerable temperature. I only hoped this old building would have air conditioning.

But there were other matters I had to focus on, besides the facilities and meeting the other people here. That was why I took my time to look into the opened garage, to come face to face with Felix’s elevated car, upheld by a contraption that I’d seen in many car repair shops.

Two legs stuck out from beneath the vehicle, clothed in tight skinny jeans that were slightly ripped. I could spot the person’s torso, their white T-shirt that was splattered in what looked to be car grease.

Fingers stretched out from under the car, grabbing at a metal tool on the ground and bringing it back to continue fixing whatever it was that needed help. His arms were toned, exactly like someone who worked constantly with their hands.

I stared down at my own attire, grimacing at how plain I was in comparison. Like his shirt, this guy’s Converse were stained, but by text written in ink over and over again. It made me want to take my own pen and start drawing. Later, I could bring out my drawing tablet once I got settled down—once we got settled down. It was no longer I, but we.

Nervous, I cleared my throat.

Was that enough to get his attention?

I waited, inching closer to the lifted car to try and catch a glimpse at what my partner in crime looked like. I’d have to work with him for the next three months. Of course I was curious.

For the second time, I cleared my throat, louder. If this didn’t grab his attention, then I would take him by the legs and slide him out from beneath the car. Was that safe? I knew nothing of repairing cars. It sounded like tough, dangerous work.

Thankfully, he paused. It was a good indicator that he’d heard me. Now all I had to do was wait a little more. If only Theo was there with me, then our introductions wouldn’t be so uncomfortable. Felix would be at his side though, so maybe not.

“Are you . . .” I whispered carefully into my cupped hands, bending to check if he was done. “Are you Ro?”

The man in question slid out gradually to prop himself up on the floor, gazing at me finally. Even laying down, I could tell he was tall.

“Arturo.” He replied, wiping his brow with an oil-smeared hand. “Or just Ro. If that’s alright with you—”

We both paused abruptly. It’d turned so quiet, I could hear the wind.

It was much needed, because . . . because . . .

“Oh.” I said suddenly, unaware of my words. My body stiffened instantly.

“Oh.” He said, too, realizing the situation.

I felt like a solid minute had passed with us just staring at each other in mild confusion. It was, in fact, only a couple of seconds that’d gone by.

I also felt like I’d stopped breathing. (I did).

Oh no.

A sudden feeling of nostalgia overwhelmed me as I stood there, eyes locked onto ones I never thought I’d see again. It was a sensation that mixed my fears and my curiousity together, as if I couldn’t help but be confused as to what I was supposed to feel.

For some unknowable and unfair reason, my first . . . love was right in front of me—and I had no idea how to react to that besides total shock.

First love? Yes. There was no point in denying it.

My mouth opened to say anything, but I could not. These waves of remembrance were keeping me silent, like the memories were holding me back from confronting what I’d hoped to dispel. Early summer then, and early summer now—

We had come back to each other somehow.