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It was May 1st and Elizabeth had only just arrived at the estate days before. She'd left school early with the school's blessing (after all her grades were good enough she didn't really need to attend the last... rather boring days of school). It was early morning and Elizabeth was still snoozing in her bed. If it weren't for the years spent with her grandparents, Elizabeth probably would have been a night owl, but as it stands, her plants needed tending and her body wouldn't let her sleep much longer. The clock hit 6 am and Elizabeth rolled over in bed like clockwork, now facing the window. One of the maids, her personal favorite, was opening the blinds for her as she woke. 

[color=salmon]"Morning, Mary."[/color] Elizabeth greeted her sleepily as she pushed herself upright onto the bed. 

[color=gray]"Good morning, ma'am. Shall I bring in your breakfast?"[/color] Mary responded, already heading towards the door to do so.

[color=salmon]"Nah."[/color] Elizabeth began, pausing to stretch her arms upwards, [color=salmon]"I'll head down to the kitchen myself and then go tend to my garden. Where's Alfred?"[/color] She asked, getting up now to get dressed. 

[color=gray]"I think he's already there pulling weeds, ma'am."[/color] Mary replied, standing at the door, waiting to be dismissed now.

[color=salmon]"Darn it! I told him to wait for me! You go ahead, I'll get dressed real quick and be down before you can say, 'Breakfast's ready!'"[/color] Elizabeth shouted, grinning.

[color=gray]"But-"[/color] Mary began, having already almost said those exact words... or at least implied them but she thought better of it. [color=gray]"Yes ma'am. I'll be there when you arrive."[/color] She finished before leaving the room. As soon as she was gone, Elizabeth raced for her closet and nearly ripped her night gown trying to take it off. 

A few minutes later and she was in a woren pale green t-shirt, well-fitted grass stained jeans, and boots. She brushed her hair quickly and pulled it into a tight pony tail before racing down the halls, down the stairs, and into the kitchen where Mary was waiting with a plate of toast and a glass of OJ. Elizabeth grinned at the short haired, brunette and grabbed the plate quickly. 

[color=salmon]"Thanks Mary!"[/color] She called out as she ran out the back door and towards the garden, skirting past the pool, her OJ sloshing around with a piece of toast hanging from her mouth.

As she rounded the corner into the garden, Alfred straightened from his bent position over the flowers to greet her, [color=khaki]"Good morning, young miss. You know... the plants aren't going anywhere."[/color] 

[color=salmon]"I know Althed, buth Gwanmpa..."[/color] She swallowed what was in her mouth before continuing, [color=salmon]"Grandpa always said that the plants'll feel neglected if you make them wait too long!"[/color] She told him, cheerfully. 

[color=khaki]"Even so, young miss, you'll get a stomach ache if you eat too quickly."[/color] Alfred warned her before returning to his work. 

[color=salmon]"Oh, alright. I'll sit over here and finish eating. How are they looking today?"[/color] She asked while she climbed up the fence and sat down with her food.

[color=khaki]"Just fine, ma'am. I think the squash are coming in very nicely."[/color] He responded, still bent over working. Alfred was getting pretty old, but he still worked in the garden with her every morning. He felt... sort of like a father figure to her now. He hadn't been working for the family for very long but... definitely long enough for Elizabeth to grow attached to him. Although that didn't take much for the extroverted teen. 

[color=salmon]"Have you checked on the bug problem with the tomatoes?"[/color] She asked.

[color=khaki]"Not yet, I was working my way towards that."[/color] He responded, finally straighten up again to look at her. [color=khaki]"If you're done eating, why don't you go get the pest control solution and spray them down."[/color] 

[color=salmon]"Alright."[/color] Elizabeth replied, hoping down and placing the plate and glass on a nearby post. She'd just have to remember to grab them on the way back up to the house. 

A few hours later, Elizabeth was back in the house, nursing a bottle of water while sitting in front of the TV. Her friends were due to arrive any minute. She'd told them to arrive anytime after 11 and those who arrived before 2 would be provided lunch at the estate.