Chapter 3.1- The Only One

            It was certainly true, what they said, about the number 1. It was the loneliest number Mariah had ever known also. Not that she’d intended to be the only one in the kitchen as she stepped up to the cake.

            Her mother was off doing who knows what, and Mariah didn’t feel like wrestling with her. She’d tried to call Andre, but he and Kelci were at some dinner party her dad was throwing for the big wigs in his company. If she’d wanted to, she could have called Roger. He would have been here in a heartbeat she knew, but something held her back. And so it was her, and only her, celebrating her birthday.

            A particularly heavy roll of thunder dully shook the window panes.

            At least the weather mimicked how Mariah was feeling. The sun was still out revealing a blazing sunset, but the sudden downpour was gloomy and dreary, muting the brilliance of light.

            Shrugging a little, Mariah watched the smoke from her candles drift upward. Oh well. If nothing else, she was graduating tomorrow, finishing with school forever. That was something at least.

            Well, uh, look out world. Here I come, was Mariah’s wry thought to herself as she posed, trying to get used to her new body.

            Oh, who was she kidding anyway? It was high time she got used to being alone in the big house, doing things by herself, for herself. She was being pathetic! Wanting someone else to be here? Puh.

            Feeling useless because she had no one to take care of since her mother was actually being active, for once? That shouldn’t be bothering her! She should be happy! She wasn’t a teenager any longer!

            And so she sat to nibble at her cake, trying not to think about how many more empty hours had to pass before graduation tomorrow, before Andre would come to say his goodbyes, before her mother would pass leaving her truly, and utterly, alone.

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            Mariah checked the stove for the umpteenth time that day with the burner ON. She’d been so nauseous though! Surely the stove wasn’t getting hot enough and so she was eating undercooked foods. Then she’d get worms. And mutant bacteria. And she’d die an agonizingly painful death in the hospital while news channels obsessed over her grizzly demise, using it as a warning to all other sims to properly cook their food.

            Yet no matter how much she checked the temperatures on all her cooked foods with a food thermometer, the nausea persisted.

            It could also all be chalked up to losing her mother. Waves of grief would also hit her at random moments. 

            Of course, a lot of that could be guilt over selling off so many of her mother’s precious collectables shortly before she died.

Layla had emerged from her room, took one look at the bare floors and thin shelves before suddenly expiring. Mariah was sure it was her fault. She shouldn’t have changed things around. She knew it was traumatic for some people in her mother’s condition to have things suddenly change.

            The worst was when the nausea and the guilt of grief would hit at the same time. When she’d gone to visit her parents’ graves to lay flowers she almost thought she’d have to find a bush the nausea was so bad.

            Slowly, Mariah adjusted to being on her own. Roger would call occasionally to give her updates on how Police Academy was going for him and she began to think about getting a job herself. Maybe the tedium was causing the nausea?

            Or maybe not.

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            I Don't

            Is Over

            I Can't

            Never Wanted

            The End

            Massaging her temples, Mariah read through the letter in front of her again. Again, the words slipped through her mind leaving only traces of their meaning behind. If only the pounding might stop, maybe she could focus.

            “Dammit, Mariah!” Roger’s voice boomed out after beating fiercely on the door for the umpteenth time. “I can see you through the windows! And I hear you crying! Let.Me.In!”

            A few hiccupping sobs was the only reply she would give him though. Or could give him either.

            “I know your mom is gone,” Roger’s voice finally had softened enough for her to hear the slight catch. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be here for you. But Academy is over and I’m here now. Please let me in.”

            Judging by his shadow, Mariah assumed he’d put his forehead against the glass and she scoffed. Wouldn’t this all be so much simpler if it were only about her mother?

            “Please, ‘Riah.”

            Sighing heavily, she rolled her eyes. Maybe if she just let him in he’d see the mess she’d created for herself. And then he’d go away. And then she could figure out just what the letter was saying, determine how bad it all actually was.

            And despite herself, she was curious. She hadn’t seen him since graduation. How had he changed after training to join the police force?

            “If you don’t open this door by the time I count to five, I’ll break it down!”

            There was no need for that. And so she hefted herself out of her chair, slowly, trying to keep her precarious balance.

            But she was too late. She’d barely taken 2 steps when Roger finally tried the unlocked door knob and came crashing in, nearly falling himself.

            Well, Police Academy hadn’t made him that much more coordinated. Oh well.

            Eyes closed, she took a deep breath, trying to give him time to regain his composure. Then she squared her shoulders, defiantly showing him just what kind of a state she was in. Hair unkempt. Makeup smeared and melting. Tear stained. Round bellied. 

            Then she saw who stood in front of her.

            That was Roger?

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*Ducks and hides from Urunwa. Better shots will be next time! I promise! But I did promise, and deliver, shots of Roger without glasses this time. Sorry they’re so far away.

            Welcome to Mariah’s rein as the 3rd Sixkiller Heiress! Woot, yay! So, quickly, just to make sure it made sense since a lot of that was silent. As you can see, Mariah grew up all and she’s Layla passed the day after Mariah aged up. I’ll put a pic or two up of her passing on Tumblr, but it wasn’t anything special. It happened shortly after Andre came over graduation night. (And I hope you noticed that he didn’t even stay the entire night.) After that it was just, well, Hey look! Generation 4 is on the way!

Downloads- Objects-St.Patrick's Day Nectar Bottles

'Tis my birthday, and while I've handed out an early birthday gift for my birthday, here's a little something just for St.Patrick's Day. (Though it is still my birthday too! =D)

It's the same nectar bottle as before, but with two new labels. There are two different bottles, each with the new labels.

The Labels for the first bottle-

                  

The labels for the second bottle-

As the original did they come with two recolorable channels, the bottle itself and the cap. Also, the "Nutrition Label" is also on the back

Happy St.Patrick's Day!

Downloads-

St. Patrick's Day Nectar Bottle 1

St. Patrick's Day Nectar Bottle 2

And May You Always Find the Pot of Gold at the End of Every Rainbow!





Chapter 2.52- I Still Have Hope

            “Geez, Rog,” whined Mariah, still rather breathless from shock. “You startled me! Slam the door or something next time so I don’t nearly jump out of my skin when you sneak up like that. PlumbBob.”

            Spring was here, though it was still chilly enough for winter clothing to still be used by those venturing out. Mariah had been scratching designs in the frost flowers on the window when Roger had startled her.

            “I’m sorry,” Roger said. “I didn’t mean to.”

            “It’s alright. What’s up?”

            “You haven’t been around much the last few weeks,” Roger answered softly. “I wanted to know how you were doing.”

            Slightly abashed, Mariah ducked her head. She hadn’t meant for her disappearances to be noticed.

            “I’ve missed you, ‘Riah.”

           “Aw, buddy,” answered Mariah. “I’m sorry. I’ve had a lot of homework to do, and mom’s been extra crazy recently. Like really really bad. I’m kind of wondering if her time might be coming.”

            “I figured things must have been kind of tough,” said Roger. “I’ve been keeping an eye on the cabin to see if you’d come here. When I saw the smoke from the chimney I knew you would be.”

            Mariah nodded, unsure of what to say next, thankful this was the first time she'd lit a fire recently.

            “You know if things get too tough I’m always here to help,” Roger offered with a blush. “I know it’s been a while since your mom has seen me, but surely we can get her used to having someone extra around.”

            Noticing his blush, Mariah saw something else. His skin finally seemed to have lost the blotchiness he’d had since becoming a teen. It had cleared up and was glowing. It looked good on him. And it made her stomach flip, just a little, which confused and embarrassed her.

            “I just don’t know, Rog’,” she sighed. “She leaves pee puddles on the floor and blames them on my dad. The other day? I caught her climbing out of one of the holes she’d dug in the front yard dressed in animal skins and saying she’d been exploring a cave system that included giant mushroom filled grottos, lake systems, and trolls and troglodytes that she scared off with her ‘magic lighter.’”

            Roger snorted, then quickly tried to stifle it when he caught Mariah’s eye.

            “Sorry,” he said somberly. “I know that’s tough for you to have to control and keep quiet. But you’ve got to admit her imagination has grown by leaps and bounds.”

            Catching his eye and soft smile at her, Mariah chuckled a little to herself. Maybe, looking back at it, it was kind of funny.

            “Are you still freaking out about what you’re going to do once school ends?”

            She looked back up quickly, snapped out of the pleasantness she’d felt laughing at her mother with her best friend, instead of being horrified by it and all it meant.

            “You know,” she smiled. “You know I think I might have a few ideas about things I could do. Obviously, Mom will still have to pass first. And so it’s terrible, and makes me feel awful, but I kind of hope she does go soon so I can kind of move on with my life.”

            “It’s not terrible,” Roger nearly interrupted. “And you shouldn’t feel awful for it.”

            Mariah beamed at him, making him blush. Which made her blush. Geez, this was her best friend! Had they not seen each other that much lately? What was up with this?

            “You’re not terrible,” he repeated. “And the person at your house isn’t your mother. She’s been gone a long time now. So wanting to move on after taking care of her all these years? It’s probably pretty normal.”

            “Thanks.”

            “Nothing to thank me for,” answered Roger. “Just keep your chin up.”

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            “Her dad? He really likes you that much?”

            “I think it’s mostly that Kelci is determined that I be well equipped when I pursue my career of choice,” Andre answered her, his thumb caressing hers.

            “She’s certainly got a lot of drive when it comes to getting her way,” Mariah said with a roll of her eyes.

            Andre laughed at her. “You have no idea.”

            For a while now, Mariah thought she’d been comfortable with the status quo between herself and Andre. But having Kelci suddenly spring up on her at Pop! made her realize that she kind of hated the girl and was even a little, dare she say it, jealous?

            When the pair would talk about her, Andre was always emphasizing how her empty headedness bothered him. How it bugged him that he could barely hold an intelligent conversation with her.

            “You’re so amazing,” Andre whispered to her, making her smile. He was trying to change the subject.

            “I know,” Mariah answered carelessly. “But still. So her father pulled strings and you’ve now got a full ride to the prestigious Simvard University. You’ve got it. Drop her.”

            “He could also pull all those strings again and I’m out,” he returned smoothly. “I can’t risk that right now.”

            “Why can’t you risk it? Wouldn’t another college do you just as well?”

            “No,” he shook his head at her. “Not if I intend to reach the heights I expect to reach in my career.”

            “How did he even manage to get her in?”

            “Money makes the world go ‘round darlin’. Schools need money, too.”

            “But there is no way she could keep up with the course work, surely.”

            Andre sighed, giving her a penetrating look.

            “Money buys admission. Money buys favors. Money buys tutors and open doors and football tickets and legs up and friends,” he told her as a mischievous grin flitted across his features. “It also buys favorable readings from pretty fortune tellers regarding who will be prom queen and what color dress the prom queen ought to wear.”

            “I saved your neck with that one,” Mariah retorted, the corners of her mouth curling.

            “You worried me sick with that one,” Andre frowned again. “When I saw you after that you looked really drained. I felt really bad recommending you to her. I hope it wasn’t too much effort to see if she’d be queen or not. “

            “So you’re the one who sent her my way?”

            “She’d been so antsy about it; just being in the same room with her was nearly impossible. I remembered you doing it as kids and assumed you must still have that gift. I assumed right. She got to wear that Queen’s Crown last week.”

            “You assumed a lot.”

            “What do you See about me?”

            Turning her head away from him, Mariah determinedly put on an unreadable smile.

            “I control myself around you,” she said with the slightest hint of ice in her voice. “And so I See nothing when we are together. I far prefer being in the moment at those times.”

            Slightly ashamed, Andre looked down. “Sorry.”

            Feeling as if was ruining the moment, Mariah reached over, forcing him to look at her again.

            “I’ve Seen things at other times,” she reassured him. “You’re going to go far. But that still doesn’t mean you need Kelci’s dad to get you there.”

            For a moment, they just laid there gazing at each other. The only sound the logs popping in the fire.

            “Come on,” Mariah jerked her head toward the black skies outside the window. “It’s getting late.”

            Mariah had already finished dressing while Andre continued to fiddle with the buttons on his vest.

            “Here, you’re crooked,” she chuckled. “You missed this one entirely.”

            But her hands betrayed the hurt she was feeling that he wouldn’t drop Kelci for her, shaking so badly she could barely manage the buttons.

            “Mariah,” Andre said, grabbing her wrists the moment she’d corrected the one missing button. “Mariah, you knew this wouldn’t last. We’d talked about this a long time ago.”

            Bowing her head, she took a deep breath.

            “I know,” she admitted. “I know and I feel stupid for it, but I just hoped-”

            “-I hoped too,” he interrupted her. “I had hoped I wouldn’t need Mr.Jenner’s help and would get in on my own merit and pay for my schooling myself so I could leave Kelci behind. But I can’t right now.”

            Still refusing to look at him, Mariah was surprised when she felt his hands on her hips, pulling her nearer to him.

            “I hoped too,” Andre told her firmly. “Okay? Do you get that? And I still have hope. I hope that once I have my degree I can climb the ladder without his assistance. Without his daughter.”

            Lips trembling, Mariah nodded slowly.

            “It’s not like we won’t see each other ever again,” he said. “And there’s still a whole month before graduation where we can see each other before I go.”

            At last, Mariah could hold back her tears no longer.

            “Aw,” Andre pulled her nearer, kissing her forehead. “Tell you what. Save graduation night. Save it for me. We’ll have that one night to remember us always.”

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Originally, my intention had been to end each generation with a Fin to close it out, to move the story on completely anew. But I really feel as though Layla’s story ended when she pulled the trigger on the pistol she held. So there is no Fin for Generation 2. Instead, we will move on to Generation 3 as quietly as possible so as not to interrupt Mariah’s story.

At the time of writing, I have to admit that I have no idea what exactly will happen next excepting a handful of events since I haven’t rolled for Generation 4 yet. This is both thrilling and daunting but I wanted Mariah’s story to be as unhindered by the future as possible. So at this point, I see many paths and an infinite number of endings. Hopefully, you’ll stick around to see just where Mariah takes us.

Also at the time of writing Ignacio has only 4 days left on his age bar and I don’t expect him to live to see Mariah as a YA. Layla has one day further than Mariah has before she is a YA. I’m crossing my fingers that she’ll survive at least until then since I can’t break a rule to save my life at this rate and I’m afraid I’d be crushed if she died before Mariah took over (because I’d FAIL! WAAAAAAAH!) If you’d like to see some of Ignacio and Layla’s adventures as Elders, check out my Tumblr as there are some funnies of the two of them being crazy old coots together. They’re really a lot of fun and I’m all sad that their adventures haven’t fit into Mariah’s story or roll.

            Finally, I want to leave you with this- In a different Game/challenge I play one of my sims’ favorite station was Geek Rock, which led me to some new music. In particular, one song stood out. Roger’s role in the story has long been established, as has Andre’s. And when I heard this song in English I realized that Roger had a theme song. So listen to it and enjoy (don’t watch if you don’t like clowns or mimes) and think of Roger. 

 

End Generation 2