Chapter 1.34

Chapter 1.34- Cross a Line

            “You have no idea how lucky you are,” Galen had followed Arden’s brother Thorne Swanson home while she was at her Art Club after school. “My mother will never let a laptop into the house.”

            A grunt was the only response Thorne made as he bent over his homework.

            “Really, man,” Galen looked wistfully at the bit of technology sitting in front of him, teasing him, taunting him, calling his name. “I’d just about kill to get one.”

            “And yet you’re planning on living with your parents after graduation?” Thorne answered. “Dude, self-falgellation won’t get you to Simvana.”

            “Do you even know what flagellation means?”

            “Dude, do you know how annoying you sound pining over a computer?”

            “Hey, don’t knock it. You’ve never gone without, you don’t know what it’s like.”

            “Without a computer?” Thorne shook his head at Galen. “Dude. Seriously. It’s a computer. Not food. ‘Sides, thought you were gonna get your sister to be the one to live with the ‘rents.”

            “I haven’t been able to get to that point yet. I’ve only now managed to get her interested in someone, no thanks to you.”

            “Tried man,” Thorne responded. “Tried. Arden is still mad I didn’t manage to make it with her.”

            “Hah hah!” Galen laughed. “Yeah! She went for that Loner Lau instead of you, my muscled friend!”

            “Maybe I should have gone over to your house instead of had her here? I dunno. Sucks. But now you’re the one stuck with him for the rest of his life.”

            “Not so fast,” Galen tried to interrupt too late. “With Layla sticking around for her boyfriend, Arden and I can get our own house and leave those two with mom and dad. We’ll only come by once a week or so.”

            “When did Arden cook that one up?”

            “When she found out Layla had finally accepted a date,” Galen said without thinking. “Hey! Arden doesn’t ‘cook stuff up!’”

            His face softening, Galen prepared to expound on his girlfriend’s many virutes. Noticing what was about to happen, Thorne rolled his eyes. There was good reason he usually avoided hanging around with his sister and Galen. At the best of times Arden was a nightmare, and Galen was empty headed enough to go along with whatever she wanted without question.

            “Arden knows that Layla can’t take care of my parents on our own,” even Galen’s voice was dewy. “And you can’t take care of your parents on your own, so we’ll help both of you whenever we can!”

            With a slam of the front door, Galen’s fair maid entered the scene. Thorne moved over to check his Simsbook page on the laptop next to him.

            Arden went to peer over Thorne’s shoulder checking the latest on the feeds to make sure she wasn’t behind on any gossip. Finally, Galen couldn’t stand it any longer and went around the table to hug her.

            “Arden, explain to Thorne how we’re going to help him with your parents,” Galen pled. “He seems to think it’s all a joke.”

            “What rotten weather outside,” Arden ignored Galen’s plea. “They ought to outlaw this drizzly fog! It makes my hair all frizzy.”

            “Really, sweetheart,” Galen tried to get Arden to pay attention to him. “Thorne laughed when I told him we’d be taking turns helping with parents. Mine and yours.”

            A smile equal parts acid and sneer crept across Arden’s face.

            “Don’t listen to Thorne,” she smirked. “He’s just upset that your sister didn’t pick him. Now he’s got nobody to take to the movies on Friday nights when even that Loser Lau has someone.”

            A light bulb went on in Galen’s head.

            “Oooooohhhhhh,” He nodded. Arden was always able to explain everything so that it made so much sense.

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            At lunch that day, Anthony had invited Layla over to his house after school. She had been tempted, incredibly tempted, to say no. Generally, she used the time after homework to wander around looking for more gemstones and metals to sell to the jeweler.

            But there had been a look in his eye that she couldn’t refuse. It was like when he had asked her to dance. It wasn’t a question, it was a statement.

            And so Layla found herself in the Lau home, eyes roving over the rather frilly decorating job with Anthony and his sister Amie.

            “So, um,” Layla scrambled for words. She hated talking in front of people she knew didn’t like her. And Amie really didn’t like Layla. Amie and Layla’s other enemy Selena were now close friends. “Uh, you have a really nice house. It’s big!”

            In the background Amie snorted, making Anthony frown at her.

            “Thanks,” Anthony responded heartily as his sister got up. Hopefully she’d heard enough and would leave the room. “My mom has this ridiculous notion that she wants enough kids to fill a house. Dad says she picked this house so she could have lots of kids.”

            Nodding, Layla put on a weak smile. Why wouldn’t Amie leave the room?

            Layla couldn’t meet Anthony’s eyes any longer. Instead, she studied the baseboards, the parquet, the little topiary on the table, the stains on the wallpaper.

            The next thing she heard, unfortunately, was not calculated to make her feel any better either.

            “What do you usually do after school?” Anthony asked heartily for the benefit of Amie. “Other than homework I mean. I know you do that after school.”

            Really? An open-ended question? She was supposed to improvise about what she did after school?

            Layla gaped at Anthony. After a few seconds though, she caught his look. He was trying to get her to say something, anything. Then it dawned on her. If Amie had something important to tell Selena, she would leave quickly wouldn’t she?

            Gasping, Layla launched.

            “Yes! Yes, I do stuff after school. I love to go outside! I go outside a lot. I go fishing sometimes. My Dad taught me,” Layla rambled stiffly.

            After brightening when she finally said something, it was Anthony’s turn to gape. ‘I go outside?’ Amie would never leave. Worse, she might start thinking Layla was a bit simple.

            Behind Layla, Amie was rocking with silent giggles.

            “I like the solitude,” Layla finally started to find her stride. “It’s so peaceful and quiet. Sometimes I’ll even pack some food, hike somewhere remote, and do my homework out there. The open-ness of it all sometimes wraps me up. It’s really freeing to be able to do whatever and not have anyone watching you, or listening to you. Just nature and you. Maybe you should come with me sometime. Then we can be alone.”

            Anthony struggled to keep his face impassive. His widened eyes were a give-away though. Seems like Layla had had enough and wanted to drop a few not so subtle hints.

Unfortunately, a single glance at Amie showed him that Layla’s attempts to get Amie out of the room hadn’t worked. She still stood in the room, smirking.

There wasn’t much Anthony could do without point-blank telling Amie to leave the room. But if dropping hints and being polite didn’t work, so be it. Time to put on a show and hope Layla didn’t run out the front door.

            “Seeing as my sister won’t leave us alone, maybe we should move to a different room,” Anthony put on his most suggestive expression hoping it worked. “A room where perhaps we’ll have at least a little privacy?”

            Blinking hard, Layla had no problems showing just how worried she was by his behavior. But privacy meant Amie would have to leave them alone. And Anthony had invited her over insinuating that there was something he needed to discuss with her in private. Perhaps he hadn’t known that Amie would be home this afternoon. Should she run or should she stay? What if he had decided to take this “relationship” seriously? Was that why he was acting this way?

            Voice shaking worse than her knees, Layla finally answered. “Alright.”

            With a huff, Amie turned on her heel and marched up the stairs as Anthony guided Layla into the family’s living room.

            “Sorry about her,” Anthony apologized. “She’s actually part of the problem and some of what I asked you here to talk about. It wouldn't do to discuss it at school."

            All talked out for a little bit, Layla nodded, raising her eyebrows.

            “Yeah, um,” nervousness crept into his tone. “Amie has kind of dropped hints that at school people don’t think we’re really in a relationship. She’s trying to pressure me into going on a date with Selena since it doesn’t seem like you and I are exclusive or anything.”

            “So just tell her that we are and ignore her.” Layla wasn’t going to take the bait.

            “It’s not just her,” Anthony was getting a little agitated. “Most of the school has noticed it. Haven’t you listened to the gossip floating around?”

            Layla gave him a blank look. She never listened to gossip if she could help it. She had Phedra for that.

            “You’ve got a couple of boys who are ready to start where Galen left off,” Anthony swallowed hard. “And I’ve now got Selena dropping significant hints about the dance coming up. We’re going to have to start looking like a couple or no one is going to believe us.”

            Shoulders drooping, Layla nodded. She really didn’t want the Galen-Go-Round of boys to start again. But acting like a couple? That might cross a line she didn’t want crossed. It might cross the line into cruel.

            “I know you were only asking me to go on a hike with you because of Amie, but maybe I could go with you a few times,” Anthony looked almost bleak at his own suggestion. “It would get her to spread it around, and then we’re both a little less on the hook.”

            Frowning even deeper, Layla nodded again. That was her time. Her getaway from it all. She needed it to recharge and regroup. How could she do that with Anthony there? They already did homework together several nights a week.

            “I just don’t want anyone to get hurt,” Layla tried to reason. “Don’t get me wrong, I like you Anthony, but I’m afraid that acting like a couple will make one or the other of us think we really are a couple.”

            “You like me, huh?” Anthony teased.

            Eyes flashing, Layla opened her mouth in a snarl. She’d set him right about that right now. He knew what she meant.

            “I’m kidding I’m kidding I’m kidding, just kidding,” Anthony rattled off hoping to neutralize whatever situation he had accidentally started.

            Layla turned her head. Maybe she could handle the parade of boys after all. At least, no one got hurt but herself then.

            A sudden whisper from Anthony froze her thoughts right then. “Amie is at the bottom of the stairs trying to listen. Play along.”

            Eyes darting to the doorway, Layla could just see a shadow through the banister railing.

            “Aw, kitten!” Anthony purred to her, much louder than the voice he’d been using before. “If I had known that, I would have held your hand in the hallways a long time ago!”

            Layla forced a toothy smile and tried to look genuine. In reality, she was devising a number of ways to kill him in her head.

            “Of course, puppy face!” Layla was going to break his knees. “You should know that I want you to hold my hand! Isn’t that what couples do?” She was going to rip his spleen out through his nipple.

            Anthony leaned in toward her. Layla had visions of chaining him to a wall and force-feeding him the hair that she plucked from his scalp and other more tender places a handful at a time.

            Something of her thoughts must have registered in her face because Anthony suddenly backed up with a nervous chuckle.

            Layla licked her lips, widened her eyes and imagined taking her proverbial rib back- with her bare hands. So absorbed in her fantasies of ways to retaliate she only just registered his whisper through his clenched teeth: “It’s not working, brace yourself.” When suddenly-

            Layla’s jaw locked. Eyes closed she clenched her teeth, pursing her lips. Slowly, she moved her right leg back preparing to thrust her knee into his groin. She had just hooked a thumb under his armpit to push him away, readying to kick and run, when he pulled away on his own.

            “Now then, I know you’ve got to get home since curfew is getting close,” Anthony didn’t even let her get a word in. “So I’ll see you tomorrow Kitten. We’ll do our homework together another day.”

            Stunned, Layla turned, ignored Amie, keeping her cool until she was out the door. It was only when the door was firmly closed behind her that she began to run.

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            They're Back! All shall rise up and shout "Huzzah!" at the re-appearance of the Sixkillers!

So that was fun. Lol

Alright, things will look just a little different in the story. I’ve moved the Sixkillers and company to Riverview as I’m a bit partial to the world and my other save had blown to bits. Also, it’s got a similar coloring to the other world and wide open spaces, which I need coming up. 
I've got a few things planned to get Generation 1 wrapped up and moving along, but first things first: See? Galen isn't quite so bad. Has he taken being a doormat to a whole new low? Sure. But in his defense he really does love Arden. He loves Layla too, he just thinks she should do whatever he tells her to.  
Layla? Should never have bowed to peer pressure. Anthony should never have kissed her without her express consent. However, no one ever said teenagers were wise.
Also, yet again, there will be a delay before the next chapter. This week will be a little busy and I have no more pics. Maybe I'll get back on the every other day routine in the future. Maybe I'll just post whenever I have one. lol

Chapter 1.33

Chapter 1.33-Interested

            For the third time that week, and on the third day of school, Layla had been approached by one of Galen’s friends. Every day had been the same. Either they wanted to go home with her to ‘work on homework,’ or they’d invite her to their house for the same reason. Both days prior, the visit had ended when she’d been asked to go steady. Both days, Layla had laughed.

            Today’s unfortunate victim made Layla extra angry. Travis and Galen were good friends. But at least she could tell for sure what was going on now.

            “You’re so good in science! I knew I’d invited the right person over to help me,” Travis was a little too jovial. “Whaddaya say I take you out for dinner as a thank you?”

            Travis is Galen’s best friend.

            “You know,” Layla was having a hard time being nice by now. “You know what? I think I’ll pass this time.”

            The hurt air Travis put on didn’t fool Layla one bit. First of all, he had been flirting heavily with Kimbree Lindon that morning, and according to gossip had asked her to prom twice now. Also, the hurt look didn’t make it anywhere near his eyes. Then there was the small matter of seeing Galen with his head close to Travis’ during lunch.

            “Travis,” Layla’s smile widened. “Travis you don’t have to pretend to be into me. It’s ok, really.”

            Looking up at Layla, he smiled a little, though he looked worried.

            “Really,” Layla repeated. “It’s ok. And I won’t tell Kimbree. She’d be hurt if she knew that you’d asked me out.”

            “Oh, Kimbree is just for fun you know,” he tried to cover.

            “No,” Layla interrupted. “No, she’s not. You’ll get her to say yes sooner rather than later and you’re not interested in me anyhow.”

            Travis fake laughed, making Layla close her eyes and flinch.

            Sighing, Layla decided to just get it out and over with.

            “Alright, Travis,” said Layla. “Let’s go ahead and be honest. I know that Galen asked you to do this. You’ve done your part, now I’m doing mine.”

            Travis’ drew in a breath trying to contradict her without knowing what to say and not wanting to lie either.

            “Oh, now-no no no, It’s not-naw.”

            “Jus-Just, please,” Layla interrupted again. “Please. I know Galen is behind this. And you did your part. But cut the crap. You’re not at all interested in me.”

            Travis finally stopped sputtering and looked a little sheepish.

            “He’s done this to me all week, and I’m tired of it. I’m not looking for a relationship with anyone and no one is going to change my mind of that right now. Tell him that for me, please. It’s time that someone else convinced him of that. He’s not listening to me obviously.”

            “Sorry,” Travis told her timidly.

            “Not a problem,” Layla said. “Just tell him something for me? Tell him to expect to be very rudely awakened by a sharp object in a rather uncomfortable place if he tries it again?”

            Travis guffawed.

            “Absolutely not! Now I want to see what you’re going to do to him!”

            “No, no you really don’t.”

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            The next morning Layla decided to take her problems to the one person who might have some actual advice. Phedra was always up on all the gossip around school and had been teasing Layla about the sudden parade of suitors.

            “That little squirt Galen is behind it all. He even put Travis up to it yesterday,” Layla whined. “But now Travis just thinks it’s funny, and Galen isn’t going to quit because-let’s face it- he’s Galen and he thinks that because we’re twins we’re supposed to be together forever. It’s like he thinks we’re in some weird sibling marriage. PlumbBob, gross.”

            Phedra laughed. She’d managed to navigate the social side of high school by throwing herself into her studies, basically ignoring the social scene. Layla wasn’t dumb and tried to avoid the social chaos of the school hallways, but people were always trying to get close to her.

            “Look,” said Phedra. “I know that you don’t want all this male attention, or a relationship, but you know the old saying. ‘If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!’”

            Layla nodded slowly. This was not the advice she was looking for.

            “I’m not saying you need to fawn over every boy at school, but maybe taking an interest in one of them might send the others packing.”

            Nodding a little more enthusiastically, Layla mulled the idea over.

            “But I still don’t want a relationship,” Layla insisted after a moment of thought. “I don’t want to be tied down to anyone, or even to this town.”

            “Just because you date in high school doesn’t mean you have to get married,” Phedra chuckled a little. “Just because everyone else does it, doesn’t mean you have to.”

            “They do all seem to do that don’t they?”

            “Yeah.”

            “Still doesn’t make me want a relationship.”

            “So, maybe you could pretend.”

            This statement actually brought Layla up short. Maybe there was something in that.

            “Well, that might work.”

            “It might be a little mean.”

            “I’m not sticking around.”

            “Are you sure about that?”

            “Of course. You’re not.”

            “I’m me.”

            “And I’m not?”

            Both girls laughed. Of course Layla wasn’t Phedra.

            “Well, my hair isn’t pink or anything, but I am my own sim,” Layla said. “And I’m with you. I want to see what else is out there. I don’t want to stay here and do what everyone else does. Surely there’s more to life than married, babies, work and die. And I could pretend to like someone and that’ll make others leave me alone.”

            “I shouldn’t have said that.”

            “But you did and I’m glad. I’ll find someone and pretend to like them. Then Galen will back off and I can move on with my life.”

            Phedra shook her head sadly. “Laydee. Are you sure about this?”

            “One hundred percent.”

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            Layla’s opportunity to get Galen to back off came sooner than she thought. Well, perhaps it was sooner than she had expected, but Galen was relentless in his campaign to get her to stick around with him. The very next day he pulled his study-buddy stunt again. This time, his patsy was Anthony Lau.

            “Thanks for having me over,” Anthony told Layla. “I’m always a little behind in science.”

            Layla pursed her lips. She would rather have pretended with someone else. Zazzy’s daughter Selena, consequently Layla’s one friend at school, had been soft on Anthony for ages.

            She hated that she would most likely gain a handful of covert enemies at school, but she’d had enough. Forcing a smile she spoke through clenched teeth.

            “I’m so glad you could come over, too.” Under the table she grabbed the table leg, squeezing hard to keep her hands from betraying her discomfort.

            The pair worked in silence for a while, finishing the science questions assigned and moving on to geography without a word between them.

            “So,” Phedra tried to keep her tone light, but this was harder than she thought it might be. “Mrs. Jeffs is a real idiot of a teacher isn’t she?”

            “Yeah,” was Anthony’s cool reply.

            “I’ve read books a century old that are more accurate than she is,” Anthony added as Phedra and Galen arrived home. Both had stayed late for after-school clubs.

            Layla’s smile brightened a little out of relief as her siblings moved to join them in working on homework. She’d really have to push herself, but she needed to fool Galen. And it would be much easier to fool him if he was in the room witnessing it.

            Layla laughed merrily at Anthony’s joke a beat too late. Anthony frowned.

            Phedra sat down heavily next to Layla, her disapprobation visible to Layla.

            Galen however, saw it as a good sign, and looked closely at Layla to make sure this was really working.

            Noticing how much of Galen’s attention she had, Layla decided to turn it up a notch just as Anthony coughed a little.

            “You know we have stuff here on hand I could get you for that cough,” Layla said sweetly. “Even a little vapo-rub I could help you get on. I know how annoying those dry tickly little coughs can be.”

            Galen’s mouth actually dropped. Did he really just hear that?

            Too bad he can’t hear her whispered remark to Phedra.

            “I could sure use a trip to your island right about now. Yeesh.”

            Phedra tucked her chin low, trying to hide her grin from Galen and Anthony.

            Silence slowly stole over the group. Layla dropped the act while Galen was so focused on his own school work, and tried to get her own done.

            She had noticed that Anthony hadn’t said a word since Galen had come in. In fact, he looked a little upset. Maybe this wasn’t something she could go through with. She really didn’t want to hurt anyone. She just wanted Galen to leave her alone.

            “Look, Layla,” Anthony finally said. “Thanks for inviting me over to do school work. Soon as I’m done I’ll head back home.

            Layla frowned. He sounded almost hurt.

            “Well, it’s raining pretty hard out,” Layla said. “Why don’t you stay at least until it clears up? You don’t have an umbrella with you, and wet clothes aren’t very comfy.”

            “Sure, fine.”

            It was the best she could do for now. Well, that and pray that the rain would end quickly so she wouldn’t feel so bad.

            As per usual, Phedra finished her homework before everyone else. Including the two who had been working for almost an hour before she’d even walked back in the house.

            “That bus driver is nuts, like fresh out of the ground peanut nuts” Galen offered completely out of the blue.

            Phedra snorted. Galen tried to keep up with what was going on, but his cluelessness could sometimes lead to some really off the wall remarks.

            “I guess you could call him a real blooming idiot then, can’t you?” Layla got Galen. Unfortunately, she was usually a pace or two ahead of him. However, instead of only Phedra getting her joke, Anthony laughed along as well looking her full in the face. His eyes held hers a heartbeat longer than she was comfortable with, making her blush.

            Not noticing what was going on, Phedra offered Anthony dinner in the form of a salad she could pull out of a bag. Phedra was awesome at making those salads.

            “Gah, this is so dumb. I’m never going to finish. Might as well skip tomorrow just to finish it,” Galen whines. “Oh, but then I’d be farther behind! And nothing would ever get accomplished.”

            By this time Layla and Phedra have both eaten. Phedra, even, already has a good start on a new book. (By the looks of it a phone book or index of some sort. Seriously EA?)

            Layla is just enjoying Galen’s struggle. After all he’s put her through at school so far, she’s going to relish every moment of his discomfort. Next to her, Anthony lays his fork carefully on his now empty plate and looks at her.

            “Dance with me.” It isn’t a question or even an offer. It’s stated that she will dance with him.

            Out of a habit of obeying others Layla got up following him closer to the little radio sitting on the floor by the front door.

            Anthony’s dancing was a little wild and uncoordinated, making Layla much more uncomfortable that she was already. It took a lot out of her thighs too keep leaning back to make sure that if Anthony fell she would be able to get out of the way.

            “I’m not so bad you know.”

            Startled, Layla finally looked at Anthony.

            “Really, hanging out with me isn’t that bad,” Anthony repeated.

            “No,” Layla replied. “No you’ve been nice.”

            Layla’s cheeks burned even worse than before. She’d hurt someone. Just like Phedra said she would.

            “Actually, nobody’s danced with me since Cyrus left. He was the dancer,” she added. “This is nice. Thank you.”

            Laughter bubbling over, Anthony stopped and clutched his side. Layla watched warily. Finally, he straightened back up.

            “Alright, alright,” he gasped. “You don’t have to go that far! I’m a lousy dancer at the best of times, so you don’t have to pretend about that.”

            “Look, let’s be honest with each other,” Anthony still smiled. “This guy? This guy asked me to come over. But I have wanted to come over and spend time with you for a while now. I just didn’t have the balls to say anything.”

            Layla’s stomach sinks. Shit.

            “Your best friend, Selena? Scares the holy hell outta me. Her mom, too. I want nothing to do with those two. But Selena doesn’t take hints very well, and you my friend, are the only way she will leave me alone. Exactly the same way that I am the only way your brother will leave you alone.”

            Lips curving into a smile, Layla tilts her head in curiosity. This might work out after all.

            “But I can’t ask you to purposely piss off your best friend,” Anthony continues. “However, I can tell you that though you lose her, you gain me. You’re good at science. I’m not. You’re good at geography. I’m not. I’m good at English. You’re not. I’m also very good at trig. You very much are not. So I think we could work out a pretty beneficial trade if you’re at all interested.”

            It takes only a moment for Layla to decide. Selena would be hurt, but she had lots of other friends and often left Layla to her own devices in favor of other, more popular girls. Also, it would get Galen to leave her alone. As she dove into her thoughts she missed the slightly hungry look in Anthony’s eyes while he watched her.

            “Alright,” she responds. “You’re on.”

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            And yes, this means that in game they are technically girlfriend/boyfriend. This way Story Progression would quit trying to pair both of them up with someone. Seriously, Layla had a different boy over or asked to go to a different boys house every school night for a week. It was getting SO annoying. But it works, so whatever. Galen has a girlfriend, too. Arden Swanson. We’ll see her later probably. I have no idea why I have no shots of her. Most likely cause she's not such a looker (neither is Anthony). But Galen is all about Arden. To each his own.

This will be the last update for a little while. Though I have a handful of useable photos, I've got to get my game back up and running. Nasty little bug it seems to have.