Blueprints.

Alice’s grievances over eating inside the van were alleviated by the presence of the table. The thing was at just a bit below chest level, but it worked well to keep the bags of fast food there. And despite wanting to eat inside, the girls were still very careful not to leave any stains or the like. I wasn’t eating, though, at least not while I was driving.

We went to the hotel and parked somewhere nearby since we would only be stopping by for a minute or two. I admit I felt some shame when parking the van took me more time and effort than it should have. With Alice there it was like my teacher was watching me flunk a test while silently judging me. She wasn’t actually judging me, but still, it felt awkward.

“It’s your first time driving a vehicle this big, Oliver. Relax,” she told me, giggling. “You do need more practice, though. Hm. And maybe so do I. I’m not too used to driving these, either.”

As we stepped out of the van, we saw Diana already walking towards us. Before even glancing at the van, though, the thing we came to show her, she came up to me and gave me a tender hug.

“Congratulations on your graduation,” she told me, kissing me on the cheek. “I’m sorry I couldn’t go.”

I chuckled. “Thank you. And don’t worry about it. We didn’t stay long, anyway.”

She let me go and proceed to hug and congratulate everyone else, too. Diana’s proper like that. Only then did she move her attention to the new van, eyeing it from side to side.

“So your mom gave you this as a graduation gift?” she asked.

“A little much, right?”

“Maybe, but when you consider you’re moving out of the house through your own means…”

Mmm. That’s right. I hadn’t thought of it like that. One could almost see it as a moving away gift as well.

“It looks great and it’s probably the most useful thing she could give you. Be sure to take care of it, alright? Don’t rely on Alice all the time.”

I nodded. “I will.”

“If she lets you,” Sarah told me. “I get the feeling that van will end up with a turbo at one point or another.”

“Wha…!? Sarah, please, I’m not a maniac! Is that how you guys see me?” Alice pouted with arms crossed.

“Hey, by the way,” Diana continued. “I know this is sudden, but when I asked Luke if I could have a couple of minutes to see you, he wanted me to ask you if you had a moment to see him, too. All of you.”

I blinked. “All of us?”

Diana nodded. “The construction company sent him the preliminary plans for the house and he wants you to check them out with him around, if possible. He says that if you have any complaints or changes you want to make he can let the company know immediately. If you can’t, then he’ll email you the plans.”

I looked back at the girls. “What do you think?”

“That there’s not much time left until we have to start university,” Grace said. “I know Mr. Allen said this company was fast, but I think we should also hurry up with making our decisions.”

“I’m with her,” Alice said. “And we’re already here and in no hurry to be anywhere else. What do we have to lose?”

Everyone seemed to be in agreement with them as well.

“Alright, then. You’ll join us, right? I mean, I need your opinion on the bar I’m building for myself and no one else,” I teased her.

Diana chuckled and shook her head. “Only if I’m not needed anywhere else.”

She took us to Luke’s office, the same place where we’d talked just the other day. He welcomed us with his usual cheer.

“Ah, please come in, everyone. I apologize for the mess. I’ve been moving things here.”

He did say he was making this place his main office now. His empty bookshelves were no longer empty, he had more tables and cabinets that matched his desk and there were boxes, full and empty, pushed against a corner of the room.

“Sorry to intrude…” Noelle said softly. Her shoulders were stiff and she was looking all around. Yeah, it was awkward to be invited into someone’s office for the first time.

“No, miss. I apologize for calling you so suddenly. Diana, please stay with us. I’m sure Oliver wants you to see this, too.”

“...Very well.”

I could also tell Diana felt a bit uncomfortable, likely because she still had stuff to do and it felt wrong for her to be pushing them aside for personal matters.

As Luke turned his computer screen towards us (it was a fairly big screen for a desktop computer) and opened the blueprint files, he took the opportunity to also congratulate us on our graduation.

“This is the start of a new stage of your life for all of you,” he told us. “I do hope you’re all able to adapt quickly. But before that you have your vacations. I recommend enjoying them to the fullest.”

“We’ll try,” I told him.

“Please do. Ah, there we go. Take a look. This is what your house may look like unless you want to make some changes.”

We all studied the first blueprint on the screen. It was a draft of the house from the outside, with notes that said the material used on each part. Three floors and a facade of fieldstone. A small porch at the front entrance and a balcony slightly behind it on the second floor. There was another balcony on the back-left side of the third floor. A detached garage to the right and a pool in the backyard. The roof tiles were of classic clay.

Two staircases would be right at the main entrance on the first floor. The kitchen and dining room shared the same space (I believe they call that a kitchen-diner?) and it would be to the right of the house along with the living room while the library and the bar would be to the left. There was an empty space in the middle, with two small restrooms also in it. An exit at the back would lead to the backyard and the pool.

The second floor would be practically all bedrooms. There were eleven bedrooms and two bathrooms. Four of those bedrooms seemed smaller than the others, so I assumed those would be guest rooms. Then, aside from one bigger room in the middle, the others were pretty much the same size.

Now the third floor was a bit more interesting. The gym would be there, since I’d likely have to stop going to my usual place since I’d be too far from it. It would also have Noelle’s game room right across from it. Another, larger bathroom would be there too, with another empty room to its left. Spaces left for us to give it whatever use we’d need, I suppose. Then there was the music room, a place for me to play music without bothering anyone. Soundproofed, of course. And then behind it… a place labeled ‘The hidden room.’

I swallowed. “C-Can they really do it?” I asked Luke.

“Of course! A door looking like an inconspicuous shelf. Taking advantage of the soundproofing, your ‘special room’ will be right behind your music room. It seems the large pond nearby makes building a basement difficult and the team advises against it.”

It had everything we asked for and more. Mila’s special room, Grace’s library, Sarah’s pool, Alice’s garage, Noelle’s game room, Diana’s bar and my music room. Plenty of bedrooms and plenty of space, both inside and outside.

A project of this size made me doubt the team could finish it all on time, but… Well, let’s just say I never had any reason to worry.

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