"Heeeey! Come on in!" Bramley Applewhite cheerfully called out, swinging the door of the apartment wide open. "Hey! Thanks," Ann MacIntosh smiled, entering the cool, dimly lighted living room. The petite red head looked around; the furniture looked plush, inviting. Everything was soft, muted colors but was not drab. Even the framed painting over the sand colored velour couch was soft and muted. "I swear, it is just so hot...

Sadie collapsed onto the plush loveseat, exhausted. Marissa looked amused at her. “Why the hell does the drive here wear me out so much? It’s not even two hours long.” She tried to laugh out her frustration, but tiredness overtook her. She attempted to release the remainder of the stress by running her hands through her thick, black hair. She shook it out, as if releasing pent-up stress through the top of her head. “A cou...