After a short but wet ride, the ATVs pulled up to a small apartment complex. The two guys led Drew and Kate to the back of the one-floor building and opened a door.
The apartment was small - two small bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom. Drew could hear other people moving around in the bedroom.
One of the guys - he had said his name was David - motioned around. "Make yourself at home. Sorry we don't have more space; we're all kind of broke. Also, sorry it's a mess. Four guys living together generates a bit of a mess."
Drew swallowed nervously. This wasn't exactly what she had hoped for. She didn't want to be the lone girl living in tight quarters with five guys - that was going to be very awkward. Not to mention her pants were soaked from the ride, and she doubted she'd find anything to wear here. She pulled Kate aside.
"Kate... this is not what I agreed to!" she said nervously. "And I think this falls outside of the bet we made about the better swap!"
Kate shrugged. "I agree, but what do you want to do - go back to the rink?"
"That would be better than this!" Drew hissed. "Give me your keys."
Kate's eyes got wide. "What do you mean? I don't have my keys!"
Drew felt her heart sink. She snatched the purse from where she'd dropped it and ripped it open. Her cell phone, a few dollars, lip gloss, a half a pack of gum... no keys. And, she realized, no Medallion. Both were locked in the rink.
Drew dropped the purse and put her head in her hands. Kate put one hand on her shoulder.
"Hey... we're going to be fine, OK? We know where the stuff is. We'll just... have to wait until we can get in to get it. You're going to be fine."
Drew forced herself to nod, then heard another voice - David again.
"Um... we've got some blankets and stuff for the couch, and Mike has a sleeping bag and air mattress for camping," he said. "You guys are more than welcome to whatever. Oh, and Denise - Mike has some good news for you. Bedroom on the left."
Drew nodded, and slowly walked back, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. She slowly walked into the bedroom to see a tall, blonde-haired man sitting on his bed. He smiled to Drew, motioned for her to sit at the desk, then hung up his cell phone.
"Denise? I'm Mike," he said, holding out his hand. Drew limply shook it.
"Listen, I'm sure when you went to work you weren't planning to end up bunking with five guys in a tiny apartment - four of them total strangers. So I have good news. My sister - she's about your age, just turned 21 - lives in a townhouse on the other side of the island with a few other girls. I called her, and she said they've got plenty of room for you. I can run you over on David's ATV if you like. You might be more comfortable there, and they probably have some extra clothes you can borrow - nobody here has a girlfriend close enough to leave clothes here, so you're not likely to find anything. Of course, I understand if you want to stay with Kevin, and you're welcome to stay... just thought I'd offer."
Drew paused before answering, thinking it over. On one hand, here she had Kate as a lifeline. As someone who'd been a girl for less than an hour, she wasn't sure she could pass living with several. Not to mention they were total strangers. But on the other hand, getting a change of clothes would be great, and she was really uncertain about living with guys in such close quarters. She couldn't get back into the rink until someone unlocked it anyway, and as Kate had said, no one knew she wasn't a real girl...
She struggled with the decision. Go to the girls, or stick with the guys?
