Admiring the Light

Ep 4

Up scribbling away lore plans in her notebook, her bedroom silent other than Callie's little sleep grunts, Natalie jumped when her phone ringtone went off. "Wah-?" It wasn't a number from her contacts, but she picked up anyway. "IRS, you owe us 5,000 dollars, please provide your credit card details."

She wasn't expecting the dry, higher pitched monotone on the other end, speeding along too fast for her ears to follow. But she quickly noticed the lack of a drawl, or really any accent, her words crisp. "Hi there, this is new student Caitlyn Gray, I was directed to one Natalie Perry for basketball?"

"Uh- girl, it's a little early in the mornin' for this, don'tcha think? Come meet me on Monday and we'll discuss details!" With a few presses, Natalie saved Caitlyn's number in her contacts. A disgruntled sigh she got back leaving her mind scrambling, the other girl hung up on her before she could reply. Is this how it feels to talk to me? She wondered, she thought she was a fairly respectful girl.

"Hm." Her phone buzzed again, a text from this new girl. "If she's bored she should just go walk around town, go to the library." She muttered to herself, Edgewater was safe to explore alone, there was no reason to be bothering her so early on a Saturday. Her teenage priorities laid elsewhere, her laundry, her next meal, she could get to know the new girl later.

'the library is open :D try there! i'll be free later!!'

Swiftly distracted by her dog as she knelt down to let Callie jump on her, she itched the base of her tail with a smile.. "Who's a good girl? Is it Callie? Is Callie the best girl? I think she is! Boop!"

Making little pew noises of different pitches until she had her own rendition of Tem Shop while she gathered her dirty laundry in her arms, Natalie managed to drop half the pile before even reaching the door. "Oh dear-" Bending over to collect what she had lost proved to be further unsuccessful, as everything else tumbled after.

"I'll just do it later." With Natalie's procrastination habits taking over, she stepped over the mound and kicked a space out for the older pitbull to leave if she wanted. Callie had made herself at home in the messy sheets, shedding her chocolate fur everywhere with slow, deep breaths. The teen didn't often sleep with her dog, but she didn't question the new naptime spot.

"Time check-" She mumbled to herself, looking over to see 7:10 am on her alarm clock. "Hey, Sport, where y'all at?" She turned her attention across the hall.

"Mom left for work, breakfast is on the counter." Guinevere deadpanned the message. *How much sleep did she get?* Natalie saw her heavy eyelids, but smiled anyway. "Mind telling me what y'all ate, Sport?"

"We split an omelet, mom said there's bacon on the counter if you don't want it." She flopped back down into her pillow. "It's probably chewy now, I'm good."

For an athlete, Natalie ate a champion breakfast. Or so she thought, tossing generic waffles in their oven of a toaster, and bringing the last of the orange juice right from the spout to her mouth. "Because cups are for tryhards."

She stepped on the pedal to open the garbage, and again, and again. While it refused to bend to her will, she tried to physically pry the stubborn can open, but it still wouldn't budge. A second attempt proved to be just as unsuccessful, as the open garbage bag near the front door silently judged her.

"The heck is wrong here?? Ow!" The tall girl hit her head on a lower part of the ceiling. Rubbing her head, only then did her minty eyes drift to the open bag waiting for her. "Ohhh.."

Am I supposed to be taking this out? Natalie pushed her carton of orange juice down into the bag, though no instructions seemed to be left for her. "Probably best to do it anyway." She slung it over her broad shoulder, throwing open the front door to put it with the other bags.