[center][h3] [/h3][/center][h3][hr][color=#B8293B]Addy Spletzer[/color][/h3][hr][sup][i]Spletzer Residence  ||  First Day, Morning[/i][/sup][indent] [/indent]
“Have a good day, Addy!” came her mother’s voice from the kitchen.

[color=#B8293B]“Bye Mom,”[/color] Addy said, planting a kiss on her mother’s forehead before rushing out the door. At the curb was a sleek Mercedes number that she’d never bothered to remember details of, Clarence waving at her from inside.

“Morning, Addy,” he said when she cracked open the car door. She froze.

[color=#B8293B]“What is [i]she[/i] doing here?”[/color] she hissed as Tabs wiggled her fingers at her from the back seat, her grin disgustingly sweet.

“‘Morning, Addy,’” she echoed.

“I needed to talk to you two about the news column,” Clarence said. “If we’re going to publish on Friday, we need to be on the same page starting today, and—Addy, c’mon, Addy!”

With the door just a sliver away from closing, Addy stopped, then opened the door and dropped her bag in before getting in herself. [color=#B8293B]“Drive.”[/color]

The car started down the street, Addy pulling out her phone and starting to scroll through its contents. In the back seat, Tabs snickered.

“We need to finalize the news column,” Clarence said, looking over at Addy. “You two pushed for this Friday’s issue the hardest, and your column is the only one that’s still not finalized, so—”

[color=#B8293B]“The only reason I’m not choosing to walk is because I have the camera equipment in my bag,”[/color] Addy said, not looking up from her phone. [color=#B8293B]“The equipment [i]you[/i] suggested I bring last night.”[/color]

“Addy, you know you wouldn’t have agreed to talk with Tabs before fifth, and we need to present a united front on the first day.”

Addy was silent, her gaze focused firmly on the phone in her hands.

“Oh, real classy, Addy,” Tabs said from the backseat.

[color=#B8293B]“Shut up, Tabitha,”[/color] Addy said.

“The story suggestions,” Clarence continued, ignoring them both, “are: The mayoral election, the volleyball feature, the restaurant closure—”

[color=#B8293B]“Cut that one,”[/color] Addy said.

“That one’s timely. It’s closing next Sunday,” Tabs said.

[color=#B8293B]“Which means we can publish it next week.”[/color]

“And the one week buffer?”

[color=#B8293B]“It’s closing next week, no one cares right now.”[/color]

“Um, hello, that’s why we should care?”

[color=#B8293B]“That’s—”[/color]

“Alright, so what do you suggest running instead then?” Clarence asked.

“The feature on Tuckerson,” Tabs said immediately.

[color=#B8293B]“The antique shop opening,”[/color] Addy said at the same time.

They looked at each other.

“Are you serious? You just said the closing doesn’t matter,” Tabs said.

[color=#B8293B]“I said it’s not [i]timely[/i] and that it can be pushed off a week. But the Tuckerson feature? That’s never timely. This whole year is her twentieth year,”[/color] Addy said.

“But her twentieth year starts now. And antiques? What are we, fifty?”

[color=#B8293B]“We’re old enough to appreciate culture and local businesses.”[/color]

“I’m pretty sure people care more about their childhood diner closing than about some antiques shop opening.”

[color=#B8293B]“It’s opening next Wednesday, so it’s timely and it’s [i]staying around[/i]. Plus it’d be a push towards community.”[/color]

“Alright, we’re running the opening story, [i]because[/i],” Clarence added before Tabs could protest, “it’s the most timely one. We’ll run the closing story next week. Now, the other stories—”

The smile on her face, Addy was sure, was a product of Tabs’ silent challenge: See if I can’t steal one back.

“—the student council piece, the debate club feature—”

“Debate? Clubs don’t start until this week,” Tabs interjected.

[color=#B8293B]“Formally. Informally, some, like [i]this one[/i], started last week,”[/color] Addy said. [color=#B8293B]“And debate has a competition—”[/color]

“In [i]two weeks[/i], not one. Didn’t someone complain about timeliness?”

[color=#B8293B]“We have other clubs to cover later, so if we don’t start now—”[/color]

“We can start when stuff picks up. Right now it’s boring as—”

[color=#B8293B]“Boring? It doesn’t matter if—”[/color]

“Okay, we’re running the Tuckerson story instead of the debate one,” Clarence said. When both girls looked at him, he shrugged. “Proximity. And nostalgia—I had her freshman year, and she’s a good teacher. She deserves a shout-out. Now, the last two stories—feature on the new teacher and the usual encouragement letter from the principal. No problems there, right?”

“No, ” Tabs said. 

Addy stayed silent, which prompted a sigh from Clarence.

"Well, the news column is finalized then," he as he pulled into the school parking lot. 

“Yippee. Now don’t say I wasn't cooperative,” Tabs said, exiting the car as soon as they were parked. 

[color=#B8293B]“Well you weren't,”[/color] Addy muttered as the door closed. 

“Addy, I needed to make sure the news column was okay, and having you two argue about it in class, and on the first day, isn’t going to start us off on the best foot,” Clarence said, his voice as calm as ever. 

[color=#B8293B]“‘The best foot,’ huh,”[/color] Addy repeated. [color=#B8293B]“And here I thought you’d just wanted to spite your parents by making sure we perfumed up your car.”[/color]

“Yeah, she really did a number in here,” Clarence said, dialing up the air.

[color=#B8293B]“As if you don’t offer to drive me every day.”[/color] 

“Well, you don’t wear perfume.”

Addy paused. [color=#B8293B]“You bought me perfume.”[/color]

Clarence’s eyes widened slightly. Under Addy’s glare, he raised his palms, wincing. “I, um, bought you [i]eau de toilette[/i]. It’s lighter than perfume…”

Addy was silent for a moment, then turned to crack open her door.

“Addy,” Clarence said. “You know—”

[color=#B8293B]“You’re right, I do know.”[/color] she said, leaning back to plant a kiss on his lips before sliding out of the car. Popping her head back in, she smiled. [color=#B8293B]“I know I’m buying my own perfume from now on, and I know you’re letting me run my stories next week. See you in fifth, babe.”[/color]

With that, she closed the door, walking briskly towards her first period class. As she did, she whipped out her phone, considering her options for the next week. As usual, Crestwood Hollow was about as interesting as a pile of rocks. At this rate, she might need to do some digging.