chapter 3

I began to eat a lot more than I usually did. I'd slack off, watch a show, and just eat snacks that I'd bring from the foyer to the TV Room. Usually, I'd take a box of doughnuts and that satisfied me until my next meal, whether it be lunch or dinner. We didn't eat food from the mansion everyday, since Finn wasn't usually home and was off on business ventures for the day or was at meetings. Since they couldn't eat food from the mansion all the time, Finn allowed Keaton and I to order whatever we wanted from Postmates or delivery. Or we could even go out in the town and dine at someplace else.

One day, I locked myself in my room, playing video games and eating a pizza I had ordered. Keaton came in, laptop in hand, and said: "We really need to start looking for a new place."

"Ugh," I rolled my eyes. "Can't we just stay here forever?"

"As much as I'd love that as well, I don't think that's a possibility. We can't just crash here forever!"

"But Finn's our friend! We need a lot more time to fully catch up."

"Finn's your friend, right now, because of all this food he's got laying around here. I gotta say, I'm loving every second here in this house... but we really can't stay here forever."

"I know, I was only joking."

"Sweet," Keaton said. He walked over and at on my bed. "Scoot over. Look what I found." He lifted the screen of his laptop, typed his password, and showed me the window. "This apartment is perfect and it's in our budget. We could totally get this house if we find an agent, quick."

After scrolling through the images of the apartment and the comment the previous owners have stated, I agreed with Keaton. It was a good apartment, nothing more. "I like it," I finally said.

"Sweet! You cool with me finding an agent?"

"Why don't we just ask Finn? I'm sure he knows a lot of legit people in the business, don't you think?"


"Good call. We'll wait 'till he shows up for dinner and we'll ask him there." Keaton smiled and quickly left the room. I resumed my eating and gaming session subsequently.

***

We did just as I proposed. Once we started dinner, we informed Finn of our finding. As we explained, he confused look had consumed his face. "Wait," he cut us off, "Why do you guys wanna move out? Have I not been a good host?"

"Huh?" I asked.

"I'm sorry. What was it I had done? The dress code for dinner? Too much or too little food around the house? Me not being here most of the day. Look, that last part is out of my control, but I could abolish the dress code and I could up the ante on the food around the house or lower it. Whatever you guys want, really. I'll do whatever it takes to be a good host. I can't believe that you guys are already thinking about leaving after only a couple of weeks. I feel ashamed."

Finn's behavior was quite alarming and strange at first, but I soon realized that Finn had misunderstood something. Instead of staying for a short amount of time, he believed that Keaton and I would be living at his mansion. Oh boy, was I excited.

Keaton didn't make the connection, however. "Uhh, but I thought-"

"Now, now, Keaton. I say we should just drop the whole issue," I interrupted.

"Huh?" He looked confused, but he soon had a light-bulb moment. "O-Oh!"

I turned my attention toward Finn. "We were only thinking about it since we thought we were getting in your way. We thought were beginning to be a bother to you."

"Oh, that's farthest from the truth! I've had so much fun with you guys here in the mansion. I couldn't be happier with you both here!"


"So, I guess we could put this behind us?"

"Certainly," Finn assured. "Have some more food."

***

The following day, during breakfast, one of the three butlers had come in the dining hall and handed me a pen and a piece of paper. I asked what it was but he gave no answer and continued to do his job. I found his behavior strange, but I ignored it. The piece of paper read: "Dear Cole, I'm extremely sorry about lackadaisical hosting abilities. The news hit me quite hard yesterday, so to make it up to you and Keaton, I've prepared a survey. Please answer the following questions truthfully so I know how to help you guys have an even better stay here! -Finn"

The questions followed:

"Are you happy with your stay here so far?"
I answered: "somewhat."

"If no or somewhat, is it because of my absence?"
I answered: "No, I understand that you are busy and have a tight schedule. I would never hold you against that."

"Is the food scattered around the house too much or too little?"
Obviously there was an outlandishly high number of food and sweets around the house but just for fun I answered: "too little."

"If there was anything I can add to this mansion to make your stay more pleasurable, what would it be?"
Again, as a joke, I answered: "A lot more food."

I handed the survey back to the butler and resumed my breakfast. I didn't know how impactful the answers to my questions would truly be.