Ameliorate

Chapter 6: The First Day

The next day, Addison awoke way too early for anything to make sense.

But she still got up, got dressed complete with long fuzzy socks because the floor was too goddamn cold to deal with, and walked downstairs.

She glanced at her watch. 6:21. No one's gonna be awake-

"Hey, Addison," Dave greeted.

Addison's socked feet lost traction for a moment, causing her to whisper "Shit!" before stabilizing. She looked back to the kitchen, where he, Will, Tommy and Toby were eating breakfast around the island. "Hi," She greeted sheepishly. "How's it goin?"

"Are you ok?" Will asked while laughing.

"Yes. I just wasn't expecting anyone else to be up."

"Welcome to jet lag and sleep deprivation," Dave deadpanned.

"Yeah, I should have known. I'm guessing George crashed and was never heard from again?   I didn't see him after he brought his shit upstairs."
"Yeah...I'd be surprised if we saw him before noon," Toby stated.

Addison grabbed a bowl from the cupboard and Tommy slid her the cereal.

"What's the plan for today?" Toby asked.

"What's there to do?" Tommy asked.

"Well," Addison started. "We got the lake, an assload of floats, whatever's in the shed, I don't remember-"

"Can we search the shed?" Toby asked.

"Sure," Addy said, eating her cereal. "One sec."

After finishing their respective breakfasts, the five walked down the hill to the shed. Addy unlocked it, revealing two paddleboards, two kayaks, and a bin of what appeared to be old water toys.

Tommy grinned and reached for the bin, pulling out two water guns.

"That's a mistake, have fun," Addison stated. "Don't shoot anyone who isn't wearing a suit, and don't shoot people in the face, alright?"

"Thanks!" Tommy said before grabbing Toby's hand and sprinting back up to the house, presumably to grab their things to swim.

"How long do you think they're gonna last?" Dave asked.

"Half an hour," Will offered.

"I have faith in them," Addison said.

"Why?"  Dave asked.

"'Cause I'm an idiot."

___

After creeping back up to her room and swiftly changing into her floral one piece, Addison walked her way back out of the house. A light tank top was over her suit and her around over her shoulders.

She walked down the hill and onto the dock where Wilbur, Tommy and Toby were standing and looking at the water.

"D'you think it's cold?" Toby asked.

"Probably," Addison remarked, pulling off the tank top and placing her towel down on one of the lounge chairs. "I'm guessing Dave's inside?"

"Said he was gonna read."

"Nice. Who's going first?"

"Um..."
"We hadn't decided."

"One of those two," Will said.

Addy tied her hair up in a ponytail and took a few steps back.

"Whatcha doin?" Toby asked.

"Getting a running jump."