[center][IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/eu0cqv.png[/IMG][/center] Trisha... Adam... Megan... Ethan... Penny... 8... 8... 10... 14... 16... These were the siblings of Vanessa Chambers, listed from youngest to eldest. As always. Vanessa liked listing things this way. Smallest to biggest, least to most, few to many, lowest to highest. "Nessa, I made you something." Trisha, one of the eight year old twins, shyly held out a large paper heart with the words "We will miss you Nessa" sloppily scrawled on the front with several stickers. Vanessa instantly recognized some of them as her sister's most prized (because they were "big and shiny"). Behind her, Vanessa's other siblings were crowded around the television watching Animaniacs. It was a typical Saturday morning, unlike any other. [color=8bc0b5]"Ah, thanks, Trish,[url=http://vocaroo.com/i/s0JRAEhplzgj]"[/url][/color] Vanessa said, admiring the heart for a brief moment before handing it back, [color=8bc0b5]"But you know I can't take it with me, right? I already have too many things to carry as it is.[url=http://vocaroo.com/i/s1I6aljjrSyA]"[/url] [/color] Perhaps most eight year olds would have been completely heartbroken over such a rejection, but Trish was somewhat used to her sister's over-the-top practicality. She pursed her lips and nodded, looking a little irritated if anything. "Are you staying in a water tower?" Adam asked, leaning over the back of the couch with a mouthful of chips. [color=8bc0b5]"No, I'm not staying in a water tower. People don't stay in water towers.[url=http://vocaroo.com/i/s1GYkKSez03s]" [/url][/color] "The Anamaniacs do," he grumbled. With her bag already slung over her shoulder, she briskly walked up to the boy and snatched the bag of chips out of his hands, rolling up the top and tossing them onto the kitchen table. She lightly pinched the boy's ear and leaned down close, [color=8bc0b5]"If you eat chips on the couch while I'm gone, I'll find the crumbs, you know.[url=http://vocaroo.com/i/s168LYZ0Ztq2]"[/url][/color] The boy's eyes widened and he swallowed. His bottom lip stuck out and he made a goofy whimpering sound. "Ok, sis...." "Will you leave already?" Penny yawned irritably, strewn across the armchair with a game boy in hand. Vanessa rolled her eyes, gave everyone one final goodbye hug, and left. Her father had slept in that morning and she didn't want to disturb him. He probably wouldn't even notice she was gone until tonight-- when dinner didn't magically appear on the table. Firmly gripping the wheel of her well polished (and well dented) 88' Ford Escort, her mind went over her list of supplies over and over again. She had purposely packed more than she could carry on the off chance she would be able to drive her car directly to her watchtower. Upon arriving, it immediately became clear that driving her car any further than the office wasn't going to be an option. She found this deeply troubling. She'd brought eight 36 x 36 wood boards to paint. She could easily bring the 12 x 12s, but that was going to really cut down her estimated profit for this summer. She mentally sighed, thinking how she would have to rework the numbers later today as her eyes rested on a picture of her boss' family. [color=ff814f]"Did you get all of that?"[/color] Utterly mortified to realize she'd missed everything her boss had just said, she nodded and smiled without missing a beat, [color=8bc0b5]"Yessir.[url=http://vocaroo.com/i/s0WI5L7V3Apr]"[/url] [/color] The hike through the forest might have been a little more pleasant if Vanessa hadn't been carrying so much, but it was necessary if she was going to make it anywhere near her Summer Savings goal. Although the trees and underbrush were abuzz with life, Vanessa found herself looking up more than down. The forest was thick. She couldn't see the clouds very well... which meant she wouldn't be able to see the stars. Before she got a chance to feel too disappointed, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as they came into view of Watchtower Garden Snake. She noted the massive windows and the way it towered defiantly above the trees. She adored the practical simplicity of the tower and her room. The best part was probably that she didn't have to share it with anyone. During the hike up, she had learned that some of the other employees weren't as fortunate. Not that having a roommate would be the end of the world, but it would definitely be a distraction, as people always were. Upon being handed the binoculars, Nessa only nodded. She didn't feel particularly threatened by Mr. Hanes' warning at all. Of course, he only said that for liability reasons. She'd read the contract they'd had her sign. As long as she followed the rules, she'd be fine. Speaking of rules.... No. She was getting ahead of herself. It was time to unpack and get situated. Then she would need to eat lunch. After approximately (or possibly, exactly) two and a half hours, she picked up the rule book. Just before she was about to open it, however, the staticky "KSH!" of her radio heralded the voice of a girl who sounded about Vanessa's age. [color=72b55e]"Is there anybody out there?[url=http://vocaroo.com/i/s00kPF2SYAfz]"[/url][/color] What? Was there an emergency already? As she began to stand up out of her chair, another voice answered the girl-- this time belonging to a boy. [color=#add8e6]“Oh hey. My name’s Quinten, what about you?[url=http://vocaroo.com/i/s1SaFiOJBOC2]”[/url][/color] [color=8bc0b5][i]Introductions.[/i][/color] She sank back into her chair and picked up the rule book. She didn't want to waste her time with something like that. But she had to admit, it would be useful for everyone to at least know someone existed at Watchtower Garden Snake. Nonetheless, she didn't want to introduce herself more than once, so she pulled the rule book up to her face and idly thumbed through the pages as she listened to the conversation play out. Two down, three to go-- she was going to wait until she was sure everyone was listening. Then she would briefly introduce herself and [i]then[/i] she could get back to reading the rule book.