not nosy, just persistant

“Okay, so this man in this picture, and the guy standing beside him, well we need a story put out with the man’s face saying he is wanted for questioning. They are willing to come up with a reward amount as well for anyone who helps bring the guy in for questioning. It’s the standard, 10,00 dollars.” Magnus told her with a smile.” HE continued to walk with her. “I can fax over all the information about him that you would need.”

She studied the photo as they walked, forehead furrowed slightly as she took in the information. “Are we painting him in a good light for questioning or are we going down the fugitive and evil route? And $10,000 is a lot. Must be an important case. For that amount I might track him down myself, for sure would pay off my car.” she said with a slight smirk as she placed the photo under her arm. “Faxing is fine, I can most likely get one of my interns to do it tonight and have it ready for tomorrow’s edition.” 

“Wow. Someone’s pissed you off.” Veronica commented with a soft smile. She knew that the whole kid dying thing was horrible but she agreed that she was tired of hearing about it. Even if she wouldn’t admit it out loud. “Oh, alright. I was supposed to pick up some of the newspapers for work or whatever you do here. I don’t know. The school sent me over here.”

A roll of her eyes showed her agreement in the girls statement. “Just the usual barrel scraping low level assholes wearing shiny tin foil hats. But hey, it comes with the job.” she replied, before looking back towards the girl. The mention of newspapers made her tap her head with a sigh. “Ugh, of course. My promise to Weatherbee. Five years later and that man is still up my ass.” she added with a snort. “I can take you down to the archives, but we’ll have to be quick. That does remind me though I have to actually schedule in some time to come give that journalism talk to the Blue and Gold. What’s your name?” 

Magnus usually would come to Piper and her associates when he had a story that he wanted to be put out. Right now, he was trying to find a man for one of his cases to prove that his client is some what innocent, and he was having trouble. “I can come back later if that would be okay.” He offered to her. “I was bringing you a story that I would hope you’d help me get out there for a case of mine.”

She gave Magnus a look of contemplation before giving a quick cursory glance to her watch. She did value her connections in town, especially with Magnus who normally gave her the first tip off to cases before other journalists and media types. “You have five minutes, but you have to walk and talk with me. What do you need?” she asked, picking up her briefcase and heading out of her office. 

Gathering her papers, she chewed at her lip as she shoved them in her briefcase. That was until someone stopped her in her path and she looked up at them with a light scowl. “Whatever it is, I’m busy and it will have to wait. I have a deadline by six to reach-” 

Charlie nodded at the other. “I actually get that a lot but you shouldn’t judge me based on my friends or what I do in high school. I am not a horrible person because I am on the team or because I am considered popular. None of that really mattered to me, and it still doesn’t to this day. I Just want to be friendly and make my way through high school like everyone else.” CHarlie told her with a smile. “Just basic, chocolate chip but mine are way good.”

“Yes… I bake them for my football buddies all the time.” Charlie asked her, a little nervous at her reaction. “You know I am not trying to kill you or anything, right? It’s just cookies.”

“I never liked the footballers in high school, in fact, I didn’t like and I wasn’t liked by most of the so called popular crowd. They were rude, uncouth and overly provocative so its strange for me to see one who bakes.” Piper never had it easy in high school. An overachiever, her natural nosiness and eye of observation had her disliked by many. Her revile for jocks and cheerleaders still continued to this day. “Forgoing the peanut, what flavour are they?”

Charlie learned to cook and do a lot of things for himself a little after his mother had died. He noticed that his father was going to need the help because he was a bit old school and didn’t know how to do a lot by himself. So, with that, he got really good at cooking and something he really loved to bake was cookies. He made all kinds, even some with a little bit of extra spice for those looking to get faded. “Would you like a cookie?” Charlie offered the person as he walked up, a huge, goofy smile plasterd on his face. “They are peanut-allergy free and they were made with love.”

Savannah certainly still surprised her. The kooks and weirdos of the tourists were a given, but its residents could throw out their own. Who would willingly accept cookies off a rando approaching them? Apparently half of Savannah or whoever else he had been peddling them too. “Peanut allergy-free? My, how sweet.” she replied, taking a small step back from the tray thrust under her nose. “Do you do this often?” she asked, surveying them and then him warily. 

of course Betty already knew that Piper had been a former editor of the Blue & Gold, having learned everything about it herself as soon as she reached high school. a small frown settled on her lips as she wondered what the principal had wanted to speak to her about, worried that it would affect her work on the newspaper. personally, the blonde thought she was doing a great job of it herself. “I’m sure it’s nothing that interesting,” she downplayed, shifting her weight back and forth. her head nodded, ponytail bobbing along with it at the assumption. “yep. probably won’t get a free day from that until competition season is over,” Betty admitted, letting out a sigh as she realized how far away that seemed.

Nothing got past her, her ability to read people and to read a room had gotten her to the status she was currently at and she didn’t miss the slight change in tone and tension around them as the blue and gold was mentioned. “Like I said, I’m not aware what its about yet. I’m sure though, if it were to concern you, you’d be informed immediately.” her own tone was overly polite, with enough nicety to sound almost rude. “Won’t lie, I hated the cheerleaders back in my day.”

a deep breath was released as Betty pushed her way out of the high school double doors, hand rubbing over her face momentarily. Cheryl had always been on a warpath but considering their senior year was weeks away from starting, things had escalated to a point that almost seemed impossible. practices every single day, combined with early morning runs and a strict diet that the blonde could never seem to remember. glad to be free of her reign she was walking to her car, an automatic grin crossing her face as she saw she wasn’t the only one in the parking lot. “hey. what brings you here on one of the last days of summer?”

“The principal asked me to come in, something about the Blue & Gold- working for the Star and being the former editor of it back in my hey day made him interested. So who knows what he has planned up that tweed little sleeve of his.” she had been leaning against her car, more so reminiscing of her time when she attended Groves. In hindsight, it hadn’t been that long. But it did feel like an age. “I’m guessing Spirit practice?” she said, nodding to her uniform with an amused expression.

@mcrtallyy​

“Oh uhm… Well…” Emily stammered when Hanna began questioning her. Things became strange between them since Hanna moved to the Southside. Alison was constantly on Emily’s case for choosing to still socialize with their friend when she made her choice. But Emily felt wrong for disassociating with Hanna, so she chose to stay in contact with her, despite Alison’s wishes and complaints. “Sure I can help. That is… If I’m welcome here.” She stated slowly. 

She didn’t mean to come across brash nor cruel, but her interior as well as exterior had hardened now she was across on the other side of the line. She still harboured a lot of resentment towards Alison and the northside and her mom- who still refused to see her or answer her calls. But Emily had made a conscious effort to stay in contact, something she valued as she always considered herself closer to Emily than the others. “Just keep your head down and you’ll be fine. I’m hardly going to jump you myself and just try not to look so....peppy. I got more places on my list to visit, so any help is appreciated.” 

“i do love a good power nap, but i guess deadlines are good motivators.” even sugar would chug some monster before an essay, but she couldn’t imagine living off of the energy. she stifled a chuckle at the comment about her age and shook her head. “i don’t think that day is coming any time soon - what college do you go to that’s already handing out assignments?” she asked, assuming the other was only a few years older and in college.

“I’m not in college anymore, but I do think it stemmed from there. I’m Piper, Piper Shaw. A journalist for the Star.” she held out her hand for her to shake, her professional side rearing its ugly head. “But you’re kind for thinking I’m still capable of passing for a college student. What’s your name?”

Emily pursed her lips forward and nodded along with Piper. Her new boss must have been horrible enough if she was talking to her about it. “You’re more than welcome to stay as long as you need or want. My boss doesn’t mind, he likes it when we have a full house.” Emily mused. “Well… If you insist, I’d love a green tea lemonade.” It wasn’t often she was offered free drinks from customers, so she’d take it. 

“I always say, look after those and treat people how you like to be treated and they’ll look after you and that goes to baristas who will eventually get sick of seeing this face every day.” she replied with a laugh, handing over her card for her to swipe. “Charge what you need to, it’s the companies anyway.” she said with a smirk. 

“A celebratory welcome drink from the Piper Shaw?” Mona asked rhetorically. “I really appreciate it. I’ll just have a cold brew, thank you again.” She smiled. It was a genuine smile, not the usual smirk she plastered upon her face. It was because most of the people Mona came in contact with annoyed her. Piper Shaw was probably one of the best newspaper writers she’d ever encountered, and Mona looked up to her. 

“𝘖𝘩 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘺.” 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸? 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. “𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦. 𝘈𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺?”

nathan couldn’t help but gape. and he thought he had a problem with caffeine. this chick was worse than kate marsh with her tea addiction. at least tea didn’t keep you awake for hours on end – if you drank the right one. 

     “lady, I think you might have a problem.”

“Consider that offer revoked if you call me ‘lady’ one more time like that.” she responded, her tone cooler than before. “I’m not ashamed to admit I am a caffeine addict but rather be that than some crack head or dope addict.”