Sad. Beautiful. Tragic. (BK1)

Episode 5: Party Play

Episode 5: Party Play

Anna finally got to the office on Monday morning. She started her computer and looked over previous articles she'd been working on. Nothing going on in the city stood out to her so she never finished any pieces she started.

She sighed exhaustively and grabbed her Nikon Camera from the desk drawer. She pulled the neck strap around her neck and put on her jacket before leaving the building. She walked down the street toward the Glades. The sidewalks were crowded as usual, full of people trying to get from point A to point B. Anna made it to the Glades a little after noon.

She looked for something to catch her eye and maybe give her some inspiration but found no such thing. Her work was going down the toilet and she needed to get back to where she was before previous events. Her whole life was secretly going down the toilet. She didn't tell anyone or show it at all. But it was, and it was going down fast.

Anna crossed the deserted street when she came upon a familiar green sign. She walked inside the club and saw Thea behind the bar writing alcohol stock on a clipboard.She walked to the bar before Thea noticed her. "Hey, what are you doing all the way out here? Shouldn't you be writing some novel of an article behind a desk?" Thea asked.

Anna chuckled and leaned her hip on the bar. "Please tell me you have something going on I can write about," Anna said.

"Writer's block or lack of excitement?" Thea asked, glancing at Anna from her paper.

"Both," Anna decided. Thea chuckled lightly and put the clipboard on the bar in between them. She looked at Anna and smiled. "My mom is running for mayor. You could write about that," Thea suggested.

"She is? Oh, that's great. I need more than a topic, though," Anna said.

"She's hosting a gala tonight for her election..." Thea said.

"I could interview her there for the article," Anna finished.

"Exactly. You could come as my personal guest," Thea said.

Anna smiled and stood up. "Thank you, Thea," she said. "You're a life saver."

Thea nodded and said, "Glad to help" before picking up her clipboard and resuming her stock taking.

Anna turned and started for the door when Oliver walked in. he smiled and met her halfway to the door. "What brings you here?" he asked, slipping his hands into his jean pockets.

"I was walking by and thought I'd stop in and make sure Thea wasn't dying of boredom," Anna said.

"I thought you had work," he said.

"I did, I mean, I do," she gestured her camera a second. "Writing these things isn't as easy as portrayed."

"Are you doing anything tonight?" he asked. "My mother is hosting an election gala and I was thinking of taking you with me." Anna crossed her arms and smirked. "Only thinking?" she asked.

"I was going to ask," Oliver said, with a smile.

"As it turns out I was already going to be there. Maybe I could save you a dance...if you're lucky," Anna said, walking past him to the door. After she left Verdant she walked back to the busy city streets. She made her way back to the office and went straight to the Editor's office. She knocked on the glass door before walking in.

The Editor of The Starling Gazette, Joanne Bourne, stood by the window on the far wall holding a phone to her ear. "Yes, yes...yes, I understand...thank you for your time," she said. She walked back to her wooden desk and set the phone on the base. She sat in her chair and looked up at Anna. "Can I help you, Miss Rogue?" she asked.