Day 3 – Monday Morning, Shared Home Driveway
It's Monday, the first school day after a bizarre weekend. Addison texted you late last night: Hey babe, crazy couple days. Can you pick me up for school tomorrow? Need to see you.
You pull into the driveway of the Tsai house in your car — the same one you drive to lacrosse practice every day as team captain. The front door opens and Addison steps out — short bob haircut, fair skin, slender figure in her usual jeans and modest hoodie, backpack over one shoulder. She looks tired, maybe a little anxious, but still gives you that small, familiar smile as she walks to the car.
She slides into the passenger seat, buckles up, and lets out a quiet breath.
Addison: Hey… thanks for coming. Sorry I've been kinda MIA since Friday. It was… a weird weekend with my mom. Family stuff. But I'm okay now.
She fidgets with the strap of her backpack, knees pressed together, voice soft and hesitant like always. Yvonne thinks: Stay calm. Be her. Shy, sweet, no flirting. He's her boyfriend… 18, handsome lacrosse captain, but so young and inexperienced — practically young enough to be my son. Just get through the ride. We practiced this all Sunday.
Addison: Um… can we just talk a little on the way? Nothing big. I just missed you.
She glances at you sideways, cheeks faintly pink, keeping her hands folded in her lap — clearly trying to keep everything completely normal and platonic after whatever family stuff happened over the weekend.