(You guys know this is already chapter 13? I swear I just started this story.)

The sound of Tay-Yun talking on the phone slowly brought Teller out of his slumber. He didn't want to interrupt, though, so he let himself doze until the call ended some ten or fifteen minutes later. 

"Good morning, kid." 

Ah, he knew that I wasn't asleep. 

Smiling, Teller opened his eyes and stretched his arms over his head on the pillows. His back arched a bit as the muscles pulled, then he relaxed with a content sigh. 

"Morning." He said, then glanced up at Tay-Yun where he sat against a mound of pillows near the edge of the bed. "Why did you bring me in here again last night?" 

Tay-Yun raised an eyebrow at him. "You walked up the stairs." 

Smart ass. 

Sitting up, Teller matched Tay-Yun's expression. "Before that." 

"You snore loudly on the sofa." 

Teller scowled. "I do not! You said I didn't before." 

The guy looked hesitant, but after a moment he took his phone from the nightstand where he'd set it a few moments ago and pulled up a video. When Teller was offered the phone, he took it. 

It showed him sprawled out over the sofa, mouth open, snoring loud enough to wake the dead. 

Hello embarrassment, my name is Teller. Nice to meet you. 

He handed the phone back, then reached up and scratched the back of his head. "I didn't wake up anyone else, did I?" He asked, worried that the others had all heard him, too. 

Tay-Yun shook his head, making Teller sigh with relief. "But." Looking up, Teller frowned. But what? 

Holding up his phone, Tay-Yun grinned and leaned over, putting them a little too close after what happened the previous night. "I'll keep the video, just in case." 

In case? Is he blackmailing me? 

"In case what? I'm a nobody. Who will care if they see that video?" He said as he climbed out of the large bed. 

The look on Tay-Yun's face started off as something akin to agreement, but then he grinned and tossed his phone back onto the nightstand. "You know. You don't have to be a nobody." 

Of course he didn't have to be one. Anyone could be famous if they did something dumb enough, but he was content just being himself... and finding a job. He didn't have to pay for his grandmother's hospital bills anymore, but he still had to pay for himself. He didn't want to have to rely on her anymore. 

"Hey," he said as he turned to face Tay-Yun, shifting his feet a little because of the chill from the tile floor. "Can you drive me around a bit later so that I can look for a job?" 

It might just be short term, since he was only visiting for a month or so, but maybe he could get lucky and find something that just wanted an extra person to fill in a spot for a short time.

"No. Ask Sahn-Re or En-Ti, I have to go in with Wan-Nu later." Tay-Yun said as he got up, too. "And I'm using the shower first." 

Hah. 

Teller was out the door before Tay-Yun could even blink. He ran to the living room and unzipped his backpack, startling Wan-Nu, who was sitting in the recliner with a cup of coffee, watching the news. 

"In a hurry?" He asked with a warm smile. 

Teller gave him one in return before darting off toward the bathroom with a pair of boxers in his hand. His legs still hurt, but he wasn't going to let Tay-Yun win after the guy tried to mess with him. He slid inside and locked the door right before the handle shook. 

"You brat! Open the door!" 

Grinning, Teller quickly tugged off his clothing, relieved himself, and hopped into the shower. He only spared his dark bruises a slight glance before getting busy cleaning himself. Honestly, he wasn't sure whose soap he was using, since there were several bottles of each, but he liked the one that smelled like eucalyptus. 

He was just soaping up his body when he heard the unmistakable sound of the lock clicking open. Uh oh. "You're dead, kid." Tay-Yun said as Teller peaked around the edge of the curtain. 

"Actually, I'm naked, but close." 

Not really, though. 

Tay-Yun grabbed a towel from a small shelf on the wall and held it out to him. "Get out." He grumbled. Teller was about to reply when he noticed En-Ti step into the doorway, a curious expression on his face and a red toothbrush in his hand. 

He doesn't just leave it in here? 

"What are you doing to the poor guy, Tay-Yun?" 

Yeah, leave this poor guy alone. 

Tay-Yun glared over his shoulder before turning his attention back to Teller and shoving the towel closer. "I was going to shower and he ran in here. He needs to get out." 

The chuckle from En-Ti brought both of their eyes back to him. "He already washed his hair and I can smell Sahn-Re's body wash. Just let him finish rinsing off. The more you stall him, the more hot water you're wasting." 

Before Tay-Yun could turn back around, Teller ducked back under the water and hurried to wipe the soap away. Not twenty seconds later he was grabbing the towel from Tay-Yun, who had remained standing there with a scowl on his face. 

"You know, you aren't as nice as they make you out to be on all those interviews." Teller noted as he wiped the water from his body, then wrapped the towel around his waist before stepping out of the shower and onto the soft floor mat in front of it. 

A whistle brought his eyes over to En-Ti, who had moved to brush his teeth by the sink. From the looks of it, he had just finished putting toothpaste on the brush. 

"A bit skinny, but not bad, kid." 

His compliment drew a blush to Teller's face. He wasn't sure what to say in response, and thankfully, his phone decided to ring from the living room before he could find something stupid to utter. 

Hurrying from the room after grabbing the boxers he'd left on the back of the toilet, he was careful not to slip on the floor as he made his way to the sofa and quickly fished his phone from his bag. Ike. He let the call go to voicemail, then checked the mail once it had finished recording. 

"Hey Teller, please call me or text me an address so we can at least meet up and talk. I swear I won't tell Mr. Canzoni. I just, I know you need the money from this, and honestly, I really do to. I can make a deal with you, though. We have a show tonight, and I'll pay you half of what I get. I did get Mr. Canzoni to accept to still pay you if you show up, so that's over double what you would normally make. So please, just get in contact with me." 

Blinking as the recording clicked off, Teller wasn't sure what to make of it. He stared at his phone until he felt a hand settle onto his shoulder, making him jump a bit before looking over it to see a smiling Sahn-Re. 

"You smell good, but why do you look so worried?" 

Licking his lips nervously, Teller held up his  phone for a second, then realized that he was still quite naked besides the towel around his waist. 

"Um, can I get a moment to change?" He said as he reached down and grabbed his bag. 

"Sure, you can just use my room if you want." Sahn-Re said, earning a nod from Teller and a thanks as he walked in and shut the door. 

He was changed in a pair of dark faded jeans and a black T-shirt a few moments later. He'd also dried his hair somewhat well with the towel, but as he walked back over to Sahn-Re, the guy grabbed the towel and began scrubbing his damp hair with a quiet laugh. 

"You are going to get a cold if you don't dry your hair better, Teller." 

Digging his hands into his pockets, Teller let the guy do what he wanted until the towel was suddenly removed and tossed over Sahn-Re's head by En-Ti as he walked by. 

"You're nagging at him, Sahn." He said as he headed for the kitchen. 

Teller couldn't help but grin when Sahn-Re pulled the towel from his head, a scowl on his face until he turned back to Teller. His smile returned that second, making him realize that they probably just picked on each other in such a way often. 

"You said you would say what the phone call was?" Sahn-Re reminded him. 

"Ah, right. It was Ike." 

The happy expression immediately dropped from Sahn-Re's face, turning into fury. "I'll beat him up if he tries to get near you again!" 

Teller chuckled and reached forward, messing up Sahn-Re's styled hair before heading for the kitchen. He heard the guy hot on his heels, so he didn't bother slowing down until he needed to reach up into a cupboard to take a cup for water. 

"He wants to meet up. He offered me my normal salary to sing tonight, plus half of his own." 

"No." Tay-Yun said as he stepped into the room in just a pair of dress pants and a towel around his shoulders. 

Well, at least the photos they'd taken of him at their beach shoot hadn't been fake, like part of his personality. The guy had a nice body. Not that he was checking him out or anything. Just an observation. 

"I can make my own decisions." Teller said as he crossed his arms over his chest, only to earn a look from Tay-Yun that made him feel like he was eight instead of eighteen. 

When the guy walked over, Teller forced himself to stay where he was, though he felt the need to back up. "You got yourself into such a terrible situation that you could barely walk, yet you want to say that you can make your own decisions? Yes, you probably can, but you're an absolute idiot if you think that we'll let you walk right back there without tying you up first." 

To Teller's surprise, Sahn-Re and En-Ti bother nodded in agreement. Then, when Wan-Nu walked in a few moments later, he just grinned. "Are we scolding Teller? I heard a bit of it from the living room." 

The group nodded while Teller scowled at his cup of water. "It can't hurt to meet him in public." He mumbled, earning a glare from Tay-Yun. 

Before anyone could respond, his phone began ringing in his free hand. He checked the caller I.D. right before Tay-Yun swiped the device and answered it with a growl. "Hello?" 

"Put Teller on, Tay-Yun." Came Ike's voice, loud and clear through the speaker in the silent room. 

"So glad you remember my name." Tay-Yun said with a sarcastic smile on his face as he leaned against the counter and crossed his legs. 

Teller expected Ike to start arguing with Tay-Yun, so he wasn't surprised when he immediately asked for him. Of course, Tay-Yun decided to be difficult. 

"No. You can talk to me." 

Ike growled. "He can make his own decisions!" 

Funny how I just said that. 

"I will be making this decision." Tay-Yun replied in Korean, making Ike even more angry judging from the yell on the other end of the phone. 

When the guy had calmed down a few moments later, he replied. "Fine, I got it. I'm talking to you. Can you set up a time where I can meet with him? I don't care if you guys are with him, but I need to talk to him. We have a show tonight." 

"I guess you will just have to fake sick." Tay-Yun said, drawing a chuckle from Sahn-Re and a grin from En-Ti before he sipped at the tea he'd made. 

"Dude, I know he needs this money and I need it to. Come on, it can't hurt to just meet with me." Ike said, his voice sounding close to pleading. 

I didn't know Ike could beg. I like the sound of it. 

Tay-Yun looked over at him with a raised eyebrow, making Teller shrug. He was right, as long as it was just Ike, and he had Ello with him, it couldn't hurt. Pursing his lips, Teller thought about it for another moment before slowly nodding. 

"Fine. You may come here, right now. I have to leave in an hour, so move." Tay-Yun said before giving Ike the address, then hanging up. 

Teller was a bit shocked that they'd given him their own address, but then again, they always likely had reporters lurking about, and cameras everywhere. If anyone from Mimic tried anything, they'd be arrested quickly. 

The group disappeared out the kitchen door once Tay-Yun tossed him his phone back. Deciding that he shouldn't just stand around waiting, Teller went to the fridge. Hopefully they didn't mind him taking something for breakfast. 

Opening the door, he looked inside, then frowned. Why is it all take out containers and juice or alcohol? Wait, there were a few eggs on the door, and what looked like an old bag of flour, but that still didn't really help much. 

"Just eat which you want. We don't cook much." Wan-Nu said, having already returned. He looked sharp in a dark blue suit and dress pants. The slim black-framed glasses made the outfit look even more classy. 

"Oh, okay." Teller said, looking back into the fridge. He really couldn't decide if he wanted to check them all and risk taking someone's food though. He always hated it when someone ate something that he'd been looking forward to. 

His grandmother loved taking his food, just to get him frustrated. He could swear that it was a past time that she treasured. 

"Here. You should like this." Wan-Nu said from right next to him, making Teller jump when the other man leaned into the fridge and pulled out a container that looked to have a decent amount of weight to it. 

Not knowing how to decline, Teller took the container, then the proffered chopsticks that Wan-Nu handed him a moment later. "Eat up before he comes." He said, making Teller nod as he set the container on the kitchen counter and opened it. 

Oh, kimbap. 

He had a feeling that the house was never without the easily-obtainable food. He wouldn't complain, though. If he could, he'd eat it daily. There were so many different varieties that it couldn't possibly get old. 

The one Wan-Nu had given him tasted like shrimp, kimchi, avocado, and sesame seeds with a spicy paste. It was delicious, and Teller had to keep himself from drooling as he quickly ate several pieces. He hadn't realized that he'd been so hungry until he slowed down after half the container had been emptied. 

"I picked a good one?" Wan-Nu asked, a hint of humor in his voice as he picked up one of the pieces and popped it into his mouth. He winced, then chewed and swallowed. "Too spicy for me." 

En-Ti walked in then and headed straight for them, borrowing Teller's chopsticks to take a piece of the kimbap. "Has to be one you ordered." Wan-Nu said, getting a nod from En-Ti as he clearly enjoyed the spicy bite. 

Sahn-Re bounced in next. He was wearing a normal set of clothing, jeans, a white and orange T-shirt and an orange and black jacket. He walked over to the food, too, and Teller, knowing what he likely planned, lifted a piece of the kimbap up with his chopsticks. Sahn-Re beamed at him and took the bite from the untesil happily. He seemed to have no issue with the spiciness, just like En-Ti. 

The doorbell rang before Tay-Yun showed up, triggering a mad dash for it. Teller wanted to get there before anyone else, especially Sahn-Re, to keep a fight from breaking out. He managed to make it there first, only to be picked up from behind and toted backward by En-Ti, allowing Wan-Nu and Sahn-Re to answer the door. 

Ike looked about ready to lift his arms and defend himself, and Teller couldn't blame him. If Wan-Nu wasn't resting an arm against Sahn-Re's chest, the slightly shorter guy would have likely gone after him. 

"Hello. Come in." Wan-Nu said, taking a step back, moving Sahn-Re out of the way just enough so that Ike could slip inside. 

"Come on. We know he's just hear to drag him back to that hell. Let me hit him a few times and he'll leave with his tail between his legs." Sahn-Re growled, though it sounded far cuter than it should have from such an angry guy. 

They all followed Ike toward the living room. Tay-Yun was standing by the sofa with his arms crossed and, thankfully, a white, long-sleeved dress shirt on. He nodded to the seat on the couch and Ike hesitantly sat. Sahn-Re jumped over the back and took the spot to his left while Wan-Nu slid into the spot on his right. 

He looks absolutely confused. Hilarious. 

Grinning, Teller sat on the arm of the sofa when he saw En-Ti do it on the opposite side. Tay-Yun sat on the coffee table after pushing it back a bit. Ike was thoroughly surrounded and clearly feeling it. 

"Okay... well, I just wanted to make a deal with you guys." He said, his eyes darting around, not sure whose they should meet. 

Wan-Nu leaned forward, his arms on his knees as he turned his body slightly to look at Ike. "What kind of deal? He will not go back with you for anything." He said, taking the words right of Teller's own mouth. 

"That's okay." Ike mumbled, staring down at his hands twisting in his lap. 

"Then why are you here?" Tay-Yun asked, clearly already annoyed with the situation. 

Ike lifted his head and narrowed his eyes on Tay-Yun. "You're that guy that keeps answering his phone." 

Grinning, Tay-Yun shrugged. "So what if I am?" He answered in Korean. 

Ike immediately began grinding his teeth, trying to hold back a cuss. Teller tensed a little, ready to defend himself out of instinct, since Ike had joined in a few times when Mr. Canzoni had decided to use him as a punching bag, but to his surprise, Sahn-Re reached up and flicked him in the left cheek, immediately braking his focus as he turned his head to face Sahn-Re as his hand came up to rub the sore spot. 

"Do not look at my friend like that." Sahn-Re growled as he crossed his arms over his chest. His jacket was a bit too long, because one of his hands disappeared into the sleeve as he completed the gesture. 

I know you're trying to look tough, but you still just can't pull it off. The guy was just cute, in a hyper way. 

Ike seemed to be considering his words before Tay-Yun snapped his fingers in the guys face, drawing his attention back to him, as well as earning himself a scowl. 

"What do you want here." He stated with a finality that told Ike that if he didn't answer correctly, that the conversation would be over. 

Huffing, Ike leaned back against the sofa. "I came to ask if you guys can bring him tonight to perform. You can take him back immediately afterward, stand with him while he sings, whatever you want. We'll pay him his salary, and I'll give him half of mine, too." 

"How much do you make?" Tay-Yun asked. 

Ike looked down at his lap and shrugged. "Enough to make me an asshole for not sharing in the first place." 

"He finally says something worth hearing." En-Ti said, adding a slow, sarcastic clap as his sentence ended. 

Teller hadn't realized that several eyes had turned to him until Ike lifted his own to meet Tay-Yun's. "Well, Teller? What do you think?" 

I suddenly get to make a decision now? 

He could definitely use the money... and if the whole Ello group was going to be there. His eyes lowered as he thought hard about his decision, only for them to catch something he hadn't noticed before. 

"What's wrong with your neck?" He asked. 

Ike immediately jerked his left hand up to tug his shirt back into place, covering his right collarbone area. "Nothing." He said with narrowed eyes that told Teller to leave it alone. 

Too bad you're in my territory now. I don't have to listen to you. 

"Hey Sahn-Re, wanna help me get his shirt off?" 'He asked, earning a mischievous smirk from the singer. "Leave it to me." He said right before he shoved Ike. Wan-Nu jumped out of the way just in time for Ike to fall into the spot he had been sitting in. 

"The hell, dude!" Ike yelled. 

He tried to push himself up, but En-Ti's boot pressed down onto his right shoulder, making Ike yelp and immediately drop back down to the cushion. 

"En-Ti, why are you wearing your shoes in the house?" Wan-Nu asked randomly, drawing a chuckle from Tay-Yun as he stood up and leaned over Ike, helping Sahn-Re remove his jacket and shirt. 

Like Teller had suspected, there was a dark purple mark on Ike's right shoulder that ran down half his arm in an awkward pattern. He'd gotten himself between Mr. Canzoni and his fury at me being gone. 

Teller wondered how the other band members were doing, but he had a feeling that Mr. Canzoni wouldn't try anything with them. They actually had to play instruments. All Ike had to was hold a microphone, which only required one arm, and pretend to sing. 

The whole group had fallen silent as they stared at the guy. He could tell that Sahn-Re was having a hard time accepting what clearly happened. Teller knew that he didn't like the guy, at all, but he also knew that he hated people getting hurt, too. 

"I'll be there tonight. Go back." Teller said as he took Ike's shirt from Sahn-Re and picked his jacket up off the floor before handing him both. 

En-Ti silently removed his boot from Ike's shoulder and Sahn-Re returned to his own seat, allowing the guy to get up easily. Ike pulled his shirt on with just a slight wince, then added his jacket and stood up. 

"It's at the Twin Tree convention center." Ike mumbled before hurrying out of the room. The front door was heard opening and closing a moment later, leaving the group in silence once again. 

A collective sigh left everyone a few minutes later. En-Ti got up first, making his way to the bathroom. Wan-Nu stood a few moments later, nodding to Tay-Yun. "I'll go get the car." He said before disappearing down the hall, then out of the house. 

Teller slowly got to his feet and walked to the kitchen. He poked at his remaining kimbap, but couldn't find his previous appetite. Tay-Yun walked over a few minutes later and stole his chopsticks to take a piece. His eyes widened as soon as he started chewing the food. Then they began to water. Oh. He doesn't like very spicy stuff? Well, he did get the plain rice one before... 

"It's really spicy." Teller said, deciding to state the obvious as Tay-Yun poured himself a huge glass of cold water and began swishing it around his mouth. 

He got a glare in response to his words, but Teller couldn't help but grin. "Good to know your weakness, Tay-Yun. Have a good day at the office with Wan-Nu." He said before picking up his remaining food and waiving bye as he walked out of the kitchen, intent on hanging out with Sahn-Re and En-Ti until it was time to go to the concert.