The summer sun beat down on the city of Malibu as a bright red sports car pulled into the driveway of a large, beachfront home. It's three occupants came piling out, each carrying multiple shopping bags. "Just leave your bags wherever, girls," the oldest, Taylor, said as she collapsed onto the expensive sofa. At thirty-three, Taylor still had a tall, statuesque figure thanks to her workout routine and diet and, like her s...

When Jamie woke up the next day, he was, for a moment, surprised and confused to find that the sun was already well and out, shining brightly into his window. Then he remembered. Today was Saturday. Monique and Lucius didn't go into the office on weekends. He lay back down in the comfy bed, the previous night's events replaying in his mind. What exactly had happened? Well, he knows what happened, in the strictest sense. B...

"Morning, Mrs. S!" Bryan stands up from where he'd been leaning over to pick up the mail at the sound of the familiar voice. He squints through the stained-glass window of the front door. Outside, his suburban neighborhood looked as normal as ever. All the uniform houses lined up in a row, their lawns all mowed, proudly displaying their owner's willingness to abide by the Homeowners Association's rules and regulations. Ex...

Jamie walked downstairs the next day, finding Monique cooking breakfast. "Morning," she called over her shoulder as she cracked an egg into a skillet. "How do you take your eggs, hon?" "Scrambled's fine," he answered as he sat at the large glass table. Soon she sat a plate down in front of him and sat next to him with her own plate. "So," she asked, "You excited for your first day?" "Yeah," the young man said, digging rig...

Jamie watches Los Angeles come into view as the plane touches down. The twenty-four-year-old can feel his heart speed up in excitement as he joins the other passengers getting ready to disembark. He didn't know what he'd done to deserve such a stroke of luck. Shortly after graduating college, he and his parents got a call from the Joneses, some of his dad's bosses. They offered him the chance to live with them rent-free w...