Episode 5: The Storm Before the Calm

January 16th – 22nd


(BLOG post in italtic)

Two weeks away from when rest of my sisters start coming home. It's been years since we were all home together. To bad my brother won't be home, but he's working. There is always a moment when I wish my siblings are all home, I miss spending weekends at Leighton. But Leighton is closed, and my brother is away working. I just hope me and all my sisters get along. Anyone have any experiences about seeing their brothers and sisters after some time away, please share below.

RavenHussar

T3 Collective


Chapter 181: Adams' Apartment

Monday, January 16th, Morning

Slowly, she got up from the breakfast bar, collecting the plates, flatware, and coffee mug, she cleaned them off in the sink. Once she finished cleaning off her breakfast dishes, she put them in the dishwasher. Once done, she sighed and left the kitchenette into the open concept living room.

Elizabeth "Ellie" Scott crossed the living room to the floor to ceiling plate glass windows. She looked out the window onto the Upper East Side. The view was breathtaking, and Ellie always enjoyed the view.

This apartment wasn't her home. Ellie had been staying there the past few days, avoiding the mess her personal life has become. Studying her reflection in the window, she wasn't innocent, but she didn't think she led anyone on.

Turning around, Ellie looked over the apartment. Trin bought this place from her mom to raise her son. It was well-appointed, and for whatever reason, always neat. Ellie was alone in it, Trin went to work and Wyatt to a neighbor's apartment.

Turning back to the window, it's Martin Luther King's Day, no school. People did work, but the kids didn't have school. Shaking her head, she walked down the hallway to the room, Trin let her use.

Ellie dropped on to the bed and reached for her smartphone. Pulling up the messages, she looked through the text messages, and she didn't answer any from Ainsley.

Ellie did answer her other friends, but being vague. Going through the voice messages, she sighed and deleted them all, one was important, it was from Ellery.

Slowly, she rolled onto her back, then sat up. Scrolling through her contacts, Ellie finds one that says Ellery Vilhjalmsson and pressed the call button.

After a few rings, the phone connects, "Hello, Ellie, finally got my message?" Ellery answered.

"Yeah, been hiding out," Ellie said.

"What did you do this time?" Ellery asked.

"Someone got the wrong idea," Ellie said.

"Ellie," Ellery said.

"Are you trying to parent me?" Ellie asked.

"I'm hoping it makes it into your new manuscript," Ellery said.

"Really, Ellery?" Ellie asked.

"Well, it worked, Anna," Ellery said, teasing Ellie.

"Yeah, well, what can I say?" Ellie asked.

"So, how're the articles coming along?" Ellery asked.

"No foreplay, Ellery?" Ellie asked.

"I asked about how you're doing," Ellery said.

Ellie laughed, "I'm getting my laptop today, and you'll get the stuff tomorrow," she said.

"Good, good," Ellery said, "So, we can start talking about your next assignment."

"Well…" Ellie said.

"What are you not telling me, Ellie?" Ellery asked.

"I'm going home to Tree Hill," Ellie said, "For a few weeks."

"Why?" Ellery asked.

"Need some distance," Ellie said.

"That bad?" Ellery asked.

"Also, I have some family stuff to do," Ellie said.

"You're my most productive," Ellery said with a pause, "client."

"Well, maybe you could hook me up with someone with work down there?" Ellie asked.

"Hmmm, I don't know. I could look around," Ellery said.

"Thanks, Ellery," Ellie said.

"I've got some other news," Ellery said.

"What could that be?" Ellie asked.

"A publisher is interested in a squeal for The Girl that Always Wears Purple," Ellery said.

"Why?" Ellie asked.

"It sold well enough, they want to build on the magic," Ellery said.

Ellie sighed, "I guess," she said, "They want to make money."

"We all want to make money," Ellery said.

"Is this because they found out I'm in New York?" Ellie asked.

"I don't know, but it was some guy named Podlark from Stafford and Strauss," Ellery said.

"I don't know. I don't like doing business with Stafford and Strauss," Ellie said.

"Which is odd, most authors would jump at the opportunity to get published. Why's that, Ellie?" Ellery asked.

"I thought I told you," Ellie said.

"Enlighten me," Ellery said.

"Well, my Dad is published by them. One of my best friends is Fallon Stafford, and my sister is a Strauss," Ellie said.

"Well, think about it, they do hold the rights to your book," Ellery said.

"I know," Ellie said, "I know."

"Do you still have those sample chapters?" Ellery asked.

"Yeah, on my laptop," Ellie said.

"Well, send them to me, let's get that book sold," Ellery said.

"Alright," Ellie said.

"Ellie, what's wrong?" Ellery asked.

"Just my head is swimming around," Ellie said.

"You need a break, I get it," Ellery said.

"Also, I need the work, hence why I asked about finding work," Ellie said.

"Tree Hill, right?" Ellery asked.

"Yes, Tree Hill North Carolina," Ellie said.

"Okay," Ellery said and made a humming sound.

"What's up?" Ellie asked.

"I found something interesting," Ellery said.

"Oh yeah," Ellie said.

"Ever hear of the Sketch Dailey?" Ellery asked.

"No, what is it?" Ellie asked.

"It's an E-zine based in Tree Hill," Ellery said.

"Okay," Ellie said.

"They seem always to be looking for someone to write for them," Ellery said.

"What do they specialize in?" Ellie asked.

"Here's the tea," Ellery said.

"The tea?" Ellie asked.

"Just go with it," Ellery said.

"Okay," Ellie said.

"They do investigative writing, something you've want to do," Ellery said.

"Yeah, it's better than some of the stuff I've done," Ellie said.

"Well, here's your chance," Ellery said.

"Okay, why the fuck not, let's toss the dice," Ellie said.

"I'll email you the details and contact information after I get everything worked out," Ellery said.

"Thanks, Ellery," Ellie said.

"You're welcome," Ellery said and disconnected.

Ellie nodded, well at least she'll have work in Tree Hill. She put her phone down, nodded, and decided to take a shower.