Chapter 1.44

Chapter 1.44- Zebra Striped Lobster Tails

            The night before the twins age-up sees Layla again coming home late. Picking her way through the yard, trying not to step on anyone’s snow angel or knock over the small army of snowmen littering the yard Layla had looked over her shoulder to see something rather strange hovering over the street.

            It was like a small, concentrated, sparkling aurora. The lights were so pretty! Dancing and flashing just for her. It made her feel happy. And light. And just a little bit sleepy.

            When the lights suddenly extinguished revealing a, is that a spaceship? Layla’s legs are nearly numb from the cold. She probably wouldn’t have run anyway. What was that? It almost looked like a video game controller. Only it was spinning, and glowing…

            Numb legs or no why is she feeling weightless? She doesn’t like this. And wait? Why is she glowing? Or is that glow coming from… $#!+

            Finally realizing what is going on and getting her brain to respond Layla starts running as fast as she can. She’s a track star, she should be able to outrun this, right?

            Well, all her running skills might have worked with her feet on the ground. But as it is, naw.

            Legs suddenly behind her, top half falling forward Layla threw out her arms, trying to brace for the impact living with gravity has taught her expect. But the fall doesn’t come. Instead the ground is falling away from her.

            Reaching, clawing the air, screaming for her Daddy, kicking, Layla desperately tries to make it stop. But she’s still rising. And suddenly very sleepy, Layla blinks and everything goes fuzzy.

            With a flash the spaceship streaks away into the night. You’d think it would be gone for hours. But just moments later:

            The ship reappears, this time seeming to park on the street outside the Sixkillers’ home.

            It’s a tiny thing really. With spinning arms that Layla can only later describe to her skeptical listeners as “Zebra striped lobster tails” and cool blue lighting the color of Luke Simwalkers original Light Saber (Before George Simcas “fixed” it) tracing along its contours. Inside a dome perched on top, a smooth skinned green alien sits punching buttons with a flash of limbs and without an expression on its taut features.

            Another blinding flash and Layla is standing on the sidewalk directly next to the strange vehicle. Eyes closed to block out anything else unpleasant Layla’s only formed opinion is that aliens suck. Like really suck. Big hairy balls suck.

            Opening her eyes a shocking sight sits in front of her. The alien is still there, finger flying as it calmly pushes button after button on the control panel. A sudden whirring noise is the only warning Layla gets that it might soon shock her even more while taking off as she watches.

            Just as things begin spinning, flashing, and rising Layla’s eyes find a focus. One that will haunt her dreams forever.

            Yeah. That’s how it feels.

            And Layla runs inside hoping to never ever have to relive this birthday gift from the stars again.

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            Heart hammering in absolute happiness Galen looks around with elation. At his demand he’s getting the first ever birthday party the Sixkillers have ever thrown.

            At Layla’s demand, it is for him only.

            There’s probably never been so many people in the living room at one time. But the one person Galen wanted to be in the crowd isn’t here yet. Arden is graduating today, right now in fact, and was very upset that Galen wouldn’t be there. But Helen had already sent out invites and didn’t want to change the time and it wouldn’t be a party without him there.

            As it was, Arden was going to be doubly pissed off that her older brother Jack had blown off her graduation to be here and gawk at the Photography legend Helen had become.

            There are so many things Galen wishes for as he prepares to blow out his candles, but none so much as his wish for Arden to be able to come soon. He thinks today will be the day he officially proposes. It’s the only thing he’ll probably ever be able to surprise her about. She had decided that he would propose as soon as he graduated.

            A cold rush of air announces a latecomer. Galen looks over excitedly hoping it’s Arden. Instead it’s her brother Thorne. But if Thorne is here, surely Arden will be here soon?

            Sparkles!

            Looking up from his survey of himself Galen’s heart leaps as Layla’s stomach sinks. Arden is here.

            Marching past Helen, Galen, and Layla all, Arden gets right up in front of Buck.

            “You must be Buck,” Arden introduces herself. “Cute. We’ll be great friends, I’m sure. Look! I’ve brought Salmon!”

            Buck ignores the Stepford twin be with a roll of his eyes. Galen is about to cut the cake!

            Setting down her plate on the table Arden looks over her shoulder. Sha Sha Black. Ick. Steeling herself to deal with the “rabble” in the house she turns to watch the proceedings.

            “Hi, Helen!” Arden chirps loud enough to be hear across the room. “I’m your future daughter in law. Arden!”

            Galen actually has to take a minute after this. Slowly blinking hoping Arden doesn’t pull this on Layla. They know who Arden is. And just because they’ve never met her it's not like he hasn't talked about her plenty or shown them pictures.

            To his relief Arden behaves very well as everyone has cake and visits the buffet Helen insisted be set out. But she begins her pompous act the moment cake has been cleared, grabbing Galen’s arm and announcing that everyone can dance now. Leading Galen to the center of the room she puts on an overly bright smile making small talk.

            “That loner Lau got Valedictorian for my class. It should have gone to me.” She’s still smiling, but her voice would make babies cry. “And I thought you said your dad was in good health? He’s awfully old isn’t he?”

            Glancing at his dad Arden gasps as Buck doubles up, whimpering about death always visiting when there is a large gathering of sims.

            “Is he okay?” Arden is truly alarmed.

            “Oh,” Galen tries to dismiss his Dad’s odd behavior. “That’s normal. Really, really normal. I swear. He does that all the time about all kinds of things. He even had a phase where he was terrified of Mom because she looked older than he thought she should have.”

            “Well, so long as you’re sure. But it’s just confirmation. Aren’t you glad we’re sticking around to help them out as they get old and senile?”

            “I’m very glad we’re staying here to take care of them.”

            “Here? In town.”

            “Yes. Yes, and No,” Galen gulps in air for a moment. He really hadn’t wanted to tell her his plans right now. “We’re still going to be in town. And we’re going to be in this house with my parents. I want to stay here. With them.”

            Arden’s smile is long gone, her eyes flashing warning signs for the room to see.

            “Really?”

            “Yes, Arden. At least, I’m going to stay here. You can stay or you can go. It’s your choice.”

            Strangely, Galen feels good about saying that. He’d expected to melt into a puddle of goo after making such a declaration to Arden, like maybe her eyes would turn into lasers and she’d melt him for daring to have an opinion of his own, but he’s still standing.

            Arden surprises him still further when she lapses into silence for several songs. Usually she is the first one to assert her right to her own way, but she hasn’t yet.

            

            Just as Galen is starting to feel like he put that little ring in his pocket for nothing a small smile brightens Arden’s face.

            Nodding in time to the music Arden takes a deep breath.

            “Ok,” her voice small and almost meek. “Ok. If that’s what you want, then we’ll live here. But only if I can redecorate the house.”

            His heart flying on newly grown wings the ring in Galen’s pocket starts to sing to him. It’s time.

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            Layla will have a birthday next time. And before anyone says anything about a cliff hanger, we’re not going to see the proposal. Just know it happened. I’ll let you know the outcome next time though. At about the point he was going to propose I needed to focus on Layla who was aging up in another part of the house and couldn’t be in two places at once. As soon as human cloning is viable though, I’ll give the whole two places at once thing a whirl though. Lol.

            As to the abduction the chapter started with, that was my first one ever in game. I had just cleared a haphazard path through the mess of fun Helen, Buck and Galen had unattended in the yard when she got the action “Investigate Strange Anomaly”. Since she goes around collecting anything she can lay her hands on she’s picked up a ton of space rocks which makes your chances of abduction higher. So now it’s happened I’m off to go and get a mod to make it not happen again. But as it was the first, and will now be the only time it happens, I showed it.
            And finally, I've abandoned the use of birthdays in story. I'm using the gamer-esque age-up instead. Seasons totally borked sim"birthday"'s in my brain. And my brain is fried enough on it's own thank you.

Onward!

Chapter 1.43

Chapter 1.43- Intentions

            Early the next morning Layla had run out the door to go to her very own Fortress of Solitude to think. Her Daddy had indeed made her promise to break things off with Anthony sooner rather than later, and she had no idea how to do it. Hoping a little alone time with the snow would help her come up with something she’d headed out.

            Thankfully the crunching of the snow alerted her of a visitor long before he’d arrived. She didn’t even need to turn to guess who would be out looking for her in this weather on a Saturday morning.

            “You know,” Anthony finally spoke from behind her. “You know I stumbled across these very bales of hay just yesterday. Coming across them out here in the middle of nowhere, no farm in sight, I knew that you had put them here. But you weren’t here. So I thought I’d check again today, and here you are.”

            Layla nodded. She had indeed dragged the heavy bales up here to have a softer place to sit a long time ago. She’d never intended to bring anyone here after bringing Buck, and she’d never thought anyone would stumble onto it on their own.

            Making his way around Layla is surprised to see that he is about to sit.

            “If your pants aren’t water-proof-“

            Anthony sat heavily on the snow covered hay.

            “-You’ll get wet if you sit on the snow.” Layla finished helplessly. She didn’t want him here. She wasn’t ready for this yet.
            However, for nearly five minutes, she didn't have to worry about that as he didn't say anything to her. Just sitting there. Thinking. Exactly like she was.

            “On the day I aged up, yesterday, my step-mother came into my room to see me,” Anthony spoke quietly at last, but Layla could feel something else. Something a little sinister.

            “Since I’m now an adult I have no right to her monetary support. I have no right to take up room her own children could use as play room. And she kicked me out.”

            It was all said so matter-of-factly. As though it didn’t rip him to shreds that his dad had allowed this to happen, that he wouldn’t be seeing his siblings any longer.

            “I can’t believe she’d do that,” whispered Layla, scowling.

            “Well, she did.”

            Thinking about anyone being so mean to someone so nice consumes Layla for a moment until she realizes she’s about to do it too.

            “What did you do after she told you to leave?”

            “I packed up my clothes and some things of mine. Dad gave me some of the pictures of my mom that were in the house and a nice wad of cash. Then he helped me call around to find a place to rent with this old dude, Henry McGrub.”

            “McGrub?” Layla repeats thinking he’s made the name up.

            “McGrub. He’s a cook down at the diner. At least someone in the house can cook. I just burn everything.”

            The gentle hiss of the snow was the only sound between the two for a few minutes as Layla digested what he had said. She’d heard lots of pretty awful things about his step-mother, but could hardly imagine that someone would just sever the link between father and son, brothers and sisters like that. Anthony’s half-brother and sister were just toddlers. Would he even get to know them?

            “So I came to see what your plans were,” finally, Anthony broke the quiet. “You and Galen age up tomorrow, right? What are you going to do once you’re legal?”

            “Leave,” Layla doesn’t miss a beat. “I’m going to leave.”

            “Okay,” Anthony kept his voice as level as he could. “Okay, well what about when you come back? What are you going to do then?”

            Sighing, Layla shook her head searching for the right words.

            “I’m not coming back,” said Layla quietly, hoping that straight shooting was best.

            Sitting upright as though an electric jolt had hit him Anthony gave a squawk.

            “You’re not coming back?”

            “No,” anger coloring her tone. “No, I’m not coming back. I’m not going to live here. I don’t even like it here. I never have. If you ever would have asked I would have told you that.”

            “How was I supposed to know to ask?” Another explosion from Anthony. "I’m not a psychic Layla, I can’t read your mind and you’ve never, never, hinted about this at any other time we’ve talked. What’s wrong with here?”

            “I just want to run and jump and play with the wind in my hair and no one telling me what to do. I want to see something else of the world! I want to explore something different! I want to be free!” Trying to lighten the mood a little, Layla said in a little girls voice, sing song and chirping.

            “Seriously,” annoyed and hurt, Anthony’s look burned into Layla’s stomach.

            “I am being serious,” whispered Layla back. “I’m leaving because I don’t fit here and I feel that and believe that and I want to see somewhere else and what it’s like. I don’t want what this little town offers. And as cliché as this may sound, I just want more.”

            Curled into a ball to protect herself from further questions that she didn’t have very good answers to, Layla closed her eyes, wishing he would leave.

            But he didn’t leave. Instead he sat there as still and stony as Layla herself.

            “You know,” spoke Anthony. “You know I always thought you were pretty special. Not just pretty like the other boys at school all said. But there was something else about you. You held yourself apart and above all the petty crap that goes on there. And though you obviously didn’t do badly, you didn’t seem too concerned about your grades. Your brother was the popular one, but you refused to march to the “in-crowds” drum.”

            Sighing, he paused, letting the words sink in.

            “I purposely arranged to run into Galen and get invited to help you with your homework at your house. It took me two days to come up with how to do it. I knew I wasn’t someone Arden wanted around her boyfriend’s sister, but I had to try. And I got it to work by lying about my intentions about you, to you. I can’t tell you how much happiness you’ve given me. First by just saying you were my girlfriend. My girlfriend. And then by acting like it.”

            “I slept better, and started actually caring about other things again just because of the way you lit my entire life up, Layla. At home things were miserable with Amie and my step-mom, but I could leave it all behind and still be right there just by thinking about how when the light hits your hair right, there are golden glints in it. And how your eyes sparkle and dance when you’re happy. How your every curve is so soft and inviting when you move, when you walk.”

            Listening in silence, Layla just hopes some freak meteor will streak down and kill her. It’s the only thing that could make this any better.

            “And I was happiest when I could plan a future for us. For us together. And you’re leaving.”

            Unable to hold it in any longer, Layla hated herself, and let out a small quickly stifled sniffle.

            Hearing her agony, Anthony is swiftly by her side, kneeling in the snow.

            “Don’t tell me you don’t feel anything at all for me either, Layla. I know that’s not true.”

            Shaking her head a little is the best answer Layla can give. She can’t lie.

            “Look, you don’t have to answer me now. You can think about it a little. But plans can be changed, and you can have time to think.”

            “I don’t want to hurt you any further, sweetheart, by pushing for something you aren't ready for. I just want to say a few things more. Please. Please hear me out.”

            Nodding wordlessly, Layla can’t deny that she’ll listen to anything he has to say. She can’t stop her ears up any more than she can suddenly fly away. No matter how much she wants to.

            “Layla, I love you. I’ve loved you for so long, been so patient for you to grow to like me back. And I can wait forever if I need to, I can wait for you. Go out and see something of the world. And then come back to me. Or we can go together even. Just-just think about it. Please.”

            Standing up as suddenly as he had knelt at her side, he took a few paces from his beloved’s side before turning back to her.

            “Please, just think about it. Think about all we could do together. How good we are together. And after you age-up, you can give me your answer then.”

            The sun peeked behind a cloud as Layla curled herself tighter. But it held no warmth for her, only a blinding pain and a realization that the day was already half gone.

            “I love you, Layla.”

            Hearing the crunching of his footsteps as he walked away left Layla more anguished than she had ever been. Phedra had warned her that someone would get hurt. Buck had told her that she had strung this out too long. And the entire time, she had no idea just how right they both were.

            She was a horrible, horrible sim. How could she even imagine torturing him like this? What was wrong with her? He’d been through enough and she had the power to make him happy!

            Quickly uncurling herself, she twisted around. A cry for him to come back on the very tip of her tongue ready to take flight and make him the happiest of sims. But as she took in a sharp ice-cold breath she found she had no voice. She couldn’t do it. She just couldn’t bring herself to say those heavy little words.

            Would life with him be so awful? No, no it wouldn’t. She’d probably even grow to love him back one day. But that just wasn’t what she wanted. And she just couldn’t do it. She just couldn’t do it.

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Eff Sim Torture, I’m a horrible, horrible person to do that to Anthony. And his step-mom (read: SP) really did kick him out the second he aged up. It was sad. Though he had bought his own home I moved in Henry McGrub with him because I needed a second in his house. I’ve got a few outdoor lots placed to shoot on, but this lot and one other that is going to be in an upcoming scene are a little too small to do what I want with the walk-aways. So I need to take control of him and don’t want to leave a household with 4 cats in it (He’s the crazy-cat man!)  while I moved him back and forth. So he gets a roommate as consolation for the torture I’m putting him through. *facepalm
Also, I think the guy  might be called McGlum? But I can't remember and quite frankly McGrub is better for me.

Chapter 1.42

Chapter 1.42- A Little Bummed Out

            “So Layla was outside the door, and I came out and shooed Layla off so she wouldn’t get hurt-“

            In the light of day, after breakfast, a shower, and some sleeping in, Helen thinks she’s got a pretty good adventure to relate to Buck. The kids had hinted at what had happened that morning, but as they had both slept in too the school bus had arrived before they could really get into it.

            “-And Galen was standing over here, I don’t know what was wrong with him. He was next to useless-“

            The only clear thing Buck had gotten from his kids was that Galen’s brand new computer had been stolen. It was also clear to Buck that this was devastating to his son. He’d been so excited that after all these years the family had managed to talk Helen into letting one into the house. And now, it was gone again just a few short weeks later.

            “-The officer came right in, without knocking even-“

            Helen’s recounting of her fight with the intruder had concerned Buck a lot. Today was Helen’s Age-Up, she was getting older and didn’t seem to realize that she might be just a little more frail. That bones and muscles didn’t respond as well with age as they used to. If she’s doing this the day she’s supposed to become an Elder what will do when she actually is one?

            “-But I was SO tired, and the stench of that wretched burglar still clinging to me-“

            Helen still goes on with her story, Buck just thankful she didn’t die, worried about how close she might have come.

            “Next time, honey,” Buck finally interrupts. “Next time if you could please wake me up so I can help. You or the kids could’ve been seriously hurt!”

            “No offence, dear,” Helen has already thought this one through. “But I’m pretty sure once you would have figured out that there was a burglar in our house, that you would have run outside in your night clothes. Then, you would have passed out in the snow. So this morning I’d be helping you nurse a cold, and comforting you and Galen about the burglar. Though I’d have an awesome new photo of you passed out to put up on the wall!”

            Buck chuckled, nodding sagely.

            “You are most likely right, Helen. But there is one other thing we’ve got to talk about.”

            “Which is?”

            “Galen’s computer. We’re getting him a new one, right?”

            Exasperation marked Helen’s face as Buck hurried to continue.

            “Look,” Buck said. “You saw for yourself that Galen handled it responsibly. That Layla and Galen were both home more, and that both of them took a little better charge of their lives. We should replace it. It’s done good and hasn’t bothered you at all.”

            “Excuse me, I think-I think I’m-I’m gonna-ah-Ah-AAAH-“

            Helen reared her head back, Buck hurrying to cover his face.

            “Chooo!” The sneeze was very fake sounding.

            “Excuse me,” Helen giggled. “But I’m allergic to technology.”

            “We’re replacing it.”

            “Fine. Just don’t let me know when.”

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            There were six candles on her cake. There was a candle in each of the differently colored stars denominating each age up she’d gone through plus today’s age up to elder. She’d only seen a cake with this many candles on it once before, on Buck’s cake. Buck was the only Elder she’d ever been close to. And Helen was justifiably terrified of becoming old.

            Her family more than made up for her lack of enthusiasm though by being louder than usual for an age up. Apparently, it was something Phedra had cooked up earlier after calling Helen to wish her a happy Age-Up Day. Seems Helen had seemed a little bummed out about it all to her, and Phedra had called each of the others to make sure they were all extra happy for Mom’s sake. Phedra even had decided to stay the night at the village with a phone just so she could call tomorrow to make sure everything was okay.

            Taking an extra deep breath, Helen bent to blow out the six menacing candles on her cake.

            Watching behind her was Buck, so happy that maybe Helen would slow down her photography now that she was getting a little older. They had talked about it a lot lately. Helen had decided that it was time to soften her look a little bit. She really didn’t want to be that ‘scary old woman’ as an elder.

            Crap. She really wasn’t ready for this!

            Galen is stunned. Layla shocked. Even Buck is surprised. Helen is growing old.

            No use acting surprised, or hurt, or annoyed, or shocked, or any of that. Helen is old. It happens to all sims and has finally claimed her as well.

            Across the room, Galen watches his mother dig into her cake. He’d never really given a thought to how old his parents might be. And last night his mother was so vital and alive. Too alive to look as frail to him as she does now. She’s thin with delicate bones. Bones can break. Buck has even complained of aching joints and creaking bones. Maybe Arden knew more than he did when she had planned to take care of their parents. Perhaps they really did need someone around.

            Softer hair, softer make up, but still a jacket and jeans. Buck is as pleased by her age up as she was with his. It’ll take him some getting used to, but it shouldn’t be too hard. She’s still as lovely to him as when she was sprightly and young.

            A comfortable quiet descends on the table as everyone tucks into the large cake. There are two empty chairs in front of Buck that bring a jarring thought to his head. In just a few days’ time it will be Galen and Layla’s turn. Galen has asked for a party. The first one this family will have had. But Layla indicated she preferred to be left out of such a celebration, wanting to be alone when she finally became an adult.

            Buck also wondered if she didn’t want her boyfriend over for it… and it hits him what’s wrong. What he’s been missing. He’d forgotten in all the hoopla, and bringing it up in front of everyone would be awkward but he just can’t let it go. She’d promised him. And after all he went through for her she’d better have kept her promise.

            “So have you seen your young man since he aged up?” Buck tries to be discreet. At least he had waited for Helen to wander off.

            “No, I haven’t.” Layla daren’t meet her father’s eye. She’d promised to break things off with Anthony before anyone got hurt worse. But she really didn’t want to hurt Anthony at all and had no idea how to go about breaking up with him.

            “I suggest you make a point to see him soon,” returned Buck. “I’ll be quite upset if you don’t.”

            Nodding, Layla closes her eyes, sighing wistfully. If only it would get easier. If only she could find a way out and have Anthony be okay with it. If only she wouldn’t be left hurting just as badly as he would be.

            Stealing glances at his dad and Layla has Galen thoroughly confused. Does Buck really like Anthony that much? And why does Layla need to see him soon? That’s her boyfriend. Of course she’ll see him soon.

            Pushing the matter out of his mind, Galen goes about the rest of his day certain there is nothing more to it.

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            Short filler chapter. I might post another chapter that's a little more to the point tomorrow. There are a couple new bloopers of Helen up. I'll get her Elder pic up soon, Buck's too. 
ETA: There's another new blooper up, and both Helen and Buck's Elder Portraits are up under the Generational Goals tab up top. Obviously, the blooper pics are under the bloopers tab.

            Onward!