Chapter 1.24

Chapter 1.24- Tons of Grit

            Another night where Helen decided to check on Barfer, another appearance of the Unicorn.

            Helen stroked the velvety fur on the unicorn’s nose, enjoying the way it nuzzled her gently. When he appeared she often felt calm and relaxed for hours, sleeping deeply and peacefully afterward.

            “Little one, let go.”

            And now, it’s another night where Helen is left alone in the night wondering why she’s in the backyard in the first place.

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            Convincing the staff at school to let her out of regular courses and into the more difficult and demanding AP courses took several months of constant study and several tons of grit. But, at last, the teachers and administrators conceded that Phedra indeed had the drive and knowledge to be moved up into these courses early on in her career at the high school. Cyrus is taking several AP courses as well. Though, to his never-ending relief, they are not in the same rooms or classes at the same time.

            However, Phedra can’t resist the opportunity to talk to Cyrus about everything. Her heavy cramming schedule left her with no social life within the high school. And now that she’s the youngest in her classes she’s finding making new friends particularly hard.

            The topic at hand tonight is an upcoming science fair. It’s still a ways away but the teachers are already forcing their students to prepare. Many different schools from all over Sim Nation had been invited to participate and each school was hoping to win the grand prize of ten extra scholarships for their students and grant money for the AP programs.

            The science fair was to be held in the gymnasium with a showcasing of each school’s class projects in the morning. That afternoon was to be a large dissection contest, where each student would showcase their knowledge of biology receiving individual grades. At the end of the day, the school whose class project and individual knowledge cumulative total was highest would win the monetary prizes. All of the teachers were anxious for their students to do well.

            “Now,” Cyrus said. “Now why would I tell you what our class project is going to be?”

            Confused, Phedra takes a second before responding.

            “Because I asked?” she said, frowning. “We’re all on the same team here going into this. And I’m just curious. It’s not like we won’t know what your class is doing tomorrow. Mr.Teal was going to ask your teacher just to make sure we don’t do the same class project as each other.”

            When Cyrus still doesn’t offer her anything to work with, Phedra plows on. In reality she was only asking to be polite. Her class had adopted her idea and she was incredibly proud and anxious to tell someone.

            “We’re going to do an exploration of a delicate ecosystem,” Phedra is beaming with pride. “Show how small changes can shift the balances within them and how the effects can trickle into the wider world with long lasting and far reaching repercussions.”

            Cyrus continues to look blank as Phedra pushes her idea harder. Desperate to get her to shut up Cyrus tries to shift her focus to the second half of the science fair.

            “The dissection,” Cyrus interrupts wearily. “Do you know how much that gym is going to smell with that many of us dissecting at the same time?”

            “Oh, Cyrus! All those poor frogs! And I’m not up to speed on physical biology and anatomy yet! I’ll have no idea what I’m doing and we’re supposed to label it all and separate it and find it-” Phedra wails.

            Surprised doesn’t even begin to describe what Cyrus feels after seeing his sister so visibly shaken. She never, never, has a problem that she can’t conquer through sheer determination. It’s almost upsetting to him to see her distress.

            The bewilderment on Cyrus’ face made Phedra pull up short. She can’t admit a weakness in her education to him! It could ruin every attempt to be the better sibling!

            “I mean,” Phedra backs up to change her tack. ”Those poor frogs!”

            Still confused, Cyrus nods slowly at her, his mouth slightly agape.

            “How would you feel if you were living happily,” Phedra tries to bury her previous statements. “Living free, the way you’re supposed to be. And then, someone snatches you, stuffs you in a jar and then puts that jar in a refrigerator! It’s horrible! It’s inhumane!”

            Cyrus decides she must really mean what she’s preaching about now. She doesn’t get this passionate about nothing… wait a second… she’s this passionate about everything. Just go with it.
 

            “It’s terrible,” Cyrus agrees, hoping this will get her to end her diatribe sooner. “Terrible what they do to the frogs. And with this many kids coming in just to dissect them, there’ll be hundreds of them whose lives will end in this horrible manner. I just wish there was something we could do for them.”

            Relieved that he isn’t asking about her being woefully ignorant about anatomy, Phedra grabs onto his interest in the plight of the frogs.

            “I know!” She agrees. “If only there was something we could do. But short of staging a protest amongst all the schools… or just getting our hands on the frogs and making them disappear before the dissection takes place, what could we do?”

            During this rare moment of unity amongst the teens, Buck walked in. At first he’s more than thrilled to see that they had an actual conversation about something instead of having it dissolve into a power struggle like normal. But the longer he listens the more concerned he grows. They’re not just having a conversation, they’re being nice and courteous to each other. Does this mean Sim Planet is about to explode? He sure hopes not.

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            “Just try it again,” Layla encourages Galen. “Go over it until you feel comfortable.”

            The twins sit in front of the old dollhouse, each with two dolls clutched tightly in their fists. Galen had imparted the conversation between Phedra and Cyrus to Layla several days ago now. Both were concerned that Phedra was trying to get Cyrus in trouble. They just weren’t sure how.

            “Ok,” Galen said. “Cyrus? I’d like to talk to you.”

            Holding the dolls up higher, he mimes the smaller one walking up to the taller one.

            (In a deeper voice) “Yes Galen? You’d like to speak to me?” Galen waggles the green one as though it is talking.

            “I would indeed, brother. I heard you and Phedra talking about the frogs and it occurred to me that perhaps she is trying to get you to do something that might get you into trouble.” This time the red doll is made to act as though it is talking.

            (Deep Voice) “Trouble?”

            “Yes, Cyrus. Trouble. You should be careful.”

            (Deep Voice) “Well of course I will! Thank you for making me aware of it! I wonder how I didn’t notice that she wants to get me into trouble before! Thank you, brother!” and Galen then makes the dolls “walk” away from the other humming happily.

            “That was awesome!” Layla breathed. “I can never get mine to sound like Cyrus like yours do.”

            “I liked that take better too,” Galen said quietly. “Maybe I ought to go ahead and do it.”

            “You’re all dressed for it,” Layla answered, frowning at Galen in puzzlement. “Dressing nice makes people give you more respeck.”

            Both twins puzzle over that for a moment, looking at each other. Finally Galen shrugs, which is returned by Layla.

            “Mom told you that, huh?”

            “Yup.”

            “I don’t get it either,” Galen shakes his head, trying to figure his mom out has been something the twins have tried to accomplish for years. “Might as well go and find him. Phedra just left for her extra study sessions at school.”

            “Good luck,” Layla calls to Galen’s back.

            

            Taking a deep breath, Galen approaches Cyrus with his head high and shoulders back.

            “Cyrus? I’d like to talk to you about Phedra.” He says sternly.

            Surprised, Cyrus turns to face his little brother. The twins are close enough that it’s been difficult to really get to know them as separate units.

            “Ok. What’s up?”

            Galen blinks hard. That wasn’t what ‘Cyrus’ said when he practiced it.

            “Uh…” Galen goes blank momentarily.

            His firm resolve disappearing, Galen drops his gaze trying to remember just what he and Layla had talked about.

            “Uh…”

            Cyrus waits patiently, finally smiling a little at his confused brother. “Phedra is trying to get me into trouble?”

            “Yes! Yes she is! I’m so glad that you see that she’s trying to get you into trouble too!” Galen is so excited that Cyrus caught on.

            “And I’m afraid that mom will be really mad if you do let Phedra get you into trouble!”

            Cyrus does his best to keep his face straight, but it’s proving difficult.

            “So,” Galen continues. “So please don’t let Phedra get you into trouble with Mom.”

            Cyrus sighs deeply in an effort to keep from laughing. It’s very obvious that Galen is taking this very, very, seriously and he really doesn’t want to hurt his feelings.

            “Galen, thank you for the warning and for looking out for me. I will try my hardest not to let Phedra make mom mad at me. Ok?”  

            This, however, is as much as Cyrus can offer his brother. Quickly, before his laughter bubbles out, he runs off to their shared room leaving Galen in the kitchen.

            Layla had been lurking behind her door during the conversation. The moment she heard the boys’ door close behind Cyrus she came out to talk to Galen.

            “I think that went really well,” Layla said.

            “Harrumph,” Galen snorted. “He didn’t do anything the way he should have.”

            “But he listened,” Layla soothed. “And you told him, and he said he wouldn’t let Phedra get him in trouble.”

            “He didn’t do it right, and I messed up my lines at the start.”

            “Yeah,” Layla looked around for Barfer. “Hey, wanna go play outside with Barfer?”

            There was quiet for a moment as Galen considered.

            “Yeah, ok.”

            And the twins ran off to play, forgetting Cyrus and Phedra in a lively game of chase with the dog.

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That's it for the Unicorn. I made it go away. He appeared in the backyard every night for a solid two sim weeks. Every time, Helen would get out of bed, get dressed and go to feed it treats. Then she would sparkle for hours after it blessed her… AGAIN. She didn’t appear much in this chapter because she was too sparkly. And if you look very closely, he actually made a couple of appearances this chapter. 
Also, this chapter took a LONG time to write because I weighed the words of three of the characters very very very carefully. In the second chapter I mentioned that my characters are going to lie a LOT. This still holds true. And I define twisting the truth. deceit, and ommission to be forms of lies as well.

            I have no idea why Galen was in his formal clothes. No… Idea…
            I'll be posting every other day for a little bit. I've got a lot of parallel development to do and the next scene I need to shoot is going to take quite a bit of work. This should allow me a little wiggle room. If I get far enough ahead, I'll go back to once a day. But for now, every.other.day.

Summer Greetings from the Sixkillers!

I love the Festivals and the greeting card booth! Now if I could only get that photo in it's original size out of my game instead of taking a pic of a pic....

Chapter 1.23

Chapter 1.23- So Many Mistakes

                As Buck was being accosted by the kids, Helen was in the backyard being accosted in an entirely different way. She was trying to make sure Barfer had food enough for the night when she found herself face to face with the Unicorn. He was the same as had appeared the night before and had blessed her. Surely, he wouldn’t be back again so soon. And yet here he was in her yard.

                The shinning animal nuzzled her gently, and as he did Helen could have sworn she heard a voice...

                “Be careful of what you take. For what you take you shall lose.”

                She had barely registered what she thought she heard when the unicorn began to shimmer, fading before her eyes. Unbeknownst to her, all memories she had of her day melted away into a summer haze along with the majestic animal.

                Standing still a moment longer puzzling over what might or might not have happened, Helen forgot completely about filling the dog bowl as well and went to bed. 

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                When she rose the next morning, the incident and the unicorn’s advice had slipped from her mind entirely. Instead, Helen went about business as usual. Fed the kids. Made sure they were all dressed. Then went about making sure the house was in perfect order.

                After cleaning the kitchen to within an inch of its shelf life, she went into the girls room. Phedra only occasionally remembered to make her bed. Layla was yet to remember to do it. Then her phone rang.

                “Lily Pad,” she answered the phone. It was not a cordial greeting. It was merely an acknowledgement. Trenton’s now ex-wife should have no business calling her. At best, they were cold acquaintances.

                “What do you want, Lily Pad?” Helen’s tone was unusually curt. Her dislike of the situation and woman on the other end put her on edge.

                “Really? You’re sure it’s Cyrus.” Helen’s shock crashed through her in waves. How could she be hearing this? How could it have happened under her nose?

                “No. No…. I totally agree, amazingly enough. I agree with you… Yeah, that is a complete shock, isn’t it?” Helen chuckled, low and nervous, rolling her eyes.

                “It can’t continue. It’s not acceptable to me, either. Just a quick question, how did you find out?”

                “Ok. Okay now, I have no doubt of what Sadie says she saw. But let’s be frank with each other. Sadie is William’s daughter, and I know for a fact that she inherited some of my brother’s madness. A lot of it in fact. I have friends at the fire department and they have friends on the police force, and I know half the doctors in town. It’s well known around town that Sadie-”

                “Oh… Is that so? Mrs. Jeffs would indeed be a reliable person to ask for verification. Cyrus has a class with her and speaks of her, obviously as does Olivia.”

                “What are you going to do? … Mmm-hmm… Yeah… Ok. Well I need to talk to my husband first, before we deal with it. And I bet that if you tell Olivia before we tell Cyrus that she’ll find a way to- yes I am implying that she would sneak around you. You are her mother. As I was- Oh, get over yourself. As I was saying-” Helen raised her voice to talk over Lily Pad. “As I was saying we need to do this at the same time so that they cannot collaborate with the other… Well, as I said, I need to talk with my husband first and tomorrow is Phedra’s birthday, so that’s not a good day. Can we give it like 4 days? … Yeah… After school… Do you want to let the principal know? Ok… Yes. Thank you for letting me know… Uh-huh. Buh-bye.”

                Helen stood still for a moment, trying to soak in what she had heard. Lily Pad was a difficult woman to trust, but as she had been talking memories had surfaced where she thought she had seen Olivia with Cyrus… somewhere… doing something… maybe. It was hazy, but it was there. And if the teacher had confirmed it… Well. She’d just have to break Cyrus’ heart.

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                Phedra’s birthday fell on a cold and rainy Monday. Trying to leave plenty of time for homework Helen always tried to have a cake ready to go the moment the kids got home from school. Today was no exception, even if Galen did drip all over the carpet.

                Phedra is actually the first one to notice that something is wrong this time. The cake looks a little funny after she blew out her candles.

                Buck doesn’t notice it until the flames are actively creeping up the table legs. The rest of the family still hasn’t registered anything out of the ordinary.

                Phedra is gettin’ out of the way of the fire. She paid attention when the fire department visited class. She knows the number you dial, and does so.

                Buck, however, has run outside. For a moment he stops, trying to stop the blood pounding in his ears, trying to control his breathing.

                It didn’t work.

                Rain drenches Buck as he lies senseless on the ground. A particularly large drop thoroughly soaks his hair.

                By the time Buck has been able to rouse himself the firefighters have already arrived on scene.

                “Hey,” The firefighter says as she leisurely strolls past. “Hey, don’t I know you? Is this the house that likes to play with matches?”

                Buck doesn’t bother to answer, glaring at the woman instead.

                When the firefighter opened the door, all Buck heard was Helen.

                “Where on Sim Planet did he go? Don’t even think about it Phedra. Not until your Dad gets in  here.”

                Buck tries to get back inside where someone has already doused the fire, and set out a fresh table and cake.

                Phedra is totally ready for this. 
                The firewoman stops, staring hard at the lit candles on the cake.

                “Doesn’t play with matches my ass,” she smirks to herself before turning to leave.

                Making a wish was easy. Phedra was ready to go out and explore the world. Nothing would stop her. Nothing could hold her back. Nothing…

                Sparkles!

                And a teenage Helen clone stands in front of them all.

                Seeing just how much her daughter resembles her leaves Helen stunned. It brings back so many mistakes she made at that age. So much that she wishes she could take back. It also makes her wonder if she needs to stop Cyrus sooner than was agreed upon. She was sure that she would have upcoming problems with Phedra to deal with soon enough also.

                “You know,” Cyrus offers tentatively. “You know that if it wasn’t for the hair and eye color, I’d swear you were a clone of mom.”

                Phedra doesn’t respond immediately, making Layla think a fight might possibly break out between her older brother and sister... again.

                “Nothing wrong with being a clone,” Phedra finally says. “Though who had this coloring in your family mom? I know it’s not Dad’s.”

                Helen chokes, and doesn’t answer right away. Buck has already left for his shift and she knows that she’s got to scramble for an answer. Maybe one day her oldest two will be ready for the surely startling revelation that they are not Buck's biological children. But not today. No, not yet.

                “Look, Phedra,” Helen chokes. “I know we talked about you getting a part time job once you were a teenager, but I would really rather you focus on school work for now. Ok? If you cope with your school work and would rather have a job, instead of an after school activity, then we’ll talk about it again.”

                Phedra doesn’t argue. And though she finds it strange that her mom would avoid the question, she figures it’s just too painful to talk about in front of the kids. Cyrus and Phedra know that there are painful things in the pasts of their parents and have gleaned snippets over the years, though the full story is still murky and broken. Instead, she gets up to wash her plate.

                Phedra stands still near the sink. She would be joining Cyrus at the high school tomorrow, and was already actively plotting on how to best squish him (grades-wise) while she's there.

                Cyrus notes that she’s quieter than when she was a kid. Maybe Fay won’t be so bad after all.

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Total.Helen.Clone. She was before the extra genetic blending mod. It shows. Check out both of them in the Generational Goals tab to see it better.

Effindamngaaaah. Totally forgot they still don’t have a smoke detector. Cyrus put out the fire. It was out before the firefighter arrived.

Aaaaaand I'M CAUGHT UP!!! I have pics in the can and wonderful things to write about them, but I'm now going to try and downsize to "not once a day" updates. lol. Maybe every three days or so. We'll see.

Chapter 1.22

Chapter 1.22- Too Young To Be Trusted

"If you want to keep a secret, you must also keep it from yourself."

-George Orwell

                Buck had carefully explained the rules of the shootout to his sweet little girl, even explaining that ratty clothes would be wise in case she worked up a sweat. Inwardly, Buck was fairly certain that he’d be the one working up a sweat trying to make sure he didn’t make beating her look too easy.

                Layla watched Buck warily. The way he was acting was a little embarrassing to her. He was talking to her like she was two.  Sighing heavily, she waited until he was very, very antsy before she made her shot.

                If Buck would check the report cards instead of Helen, or even along with Helen, he would have known that his sweet little girl excelled in almost all of the mandatory participation sports. In fact, the gym teacher would sometimes pull her aside and give her more advanced tips that she didn’t give the elementary populace in general.

                Layla was thrilled when the Buck went to the opposite corner, instead of the one she shot for.

                Looking up at his cheering daughter, Buck decided he’d better call it quits right then. It looked like he might be in a little bit of trouble if he pushed this shootout too hard. So much for trying to make it look easy.

                Across the field, Cyrus was doing his very best to walk silently up to a girl looking across the pond. Once he reached her, he steadied himself for a moment, trying to gauge the best way to surprise her. Breathing in as quietly as he can, finally, he lets her know of his presence.

 “Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy
Be heap'd like mine and that thy skill be more
To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath
This neighbour air, and let rich music's tongue
Unfold the imagined happiness that both
Receive in either by this dear encounter.”

                As he speaks a smile soft as a spring rain creeps across her lips, though she doesn’t say anything for a few moments. She stands still and tries to control her own breathing, her suddenly rapid hearbeat betraying her.

                Her whole face is alight as she finally turns to Cyrus. A slow flush creeps across her cheeks. And though she doesn’t allow her lips to curve much, the smile in her eyes is eloquent.

“Conceit, more rich in matter than in words,
Brags of his substance, not of ornament:
They are but beggars that can count their worth;
But my true love is grown to such excess
I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.” Is her answer to him.

                For a few moments, the pair see nothing but the other. They don’t speak aloud, but seem to know the others thoughts. Cyrus' fingertips tingle and spark with longing to touch some part of the person he sees as an angel, and who stands so close. So very, very close.

                Finally, suddenly, with a sharp intake of breath the girl looks down at her nails appearing to forget that Cyrus is still standing rapt in front of her.

                “Um…” She sighs. “It’s… uh… interesting… seeing you… seeing you in … in public.” Her stammering is nothing compared to how her hands tremble.

                “Yes,” he answers softly. “Yes, but half the town is here. How natural is it to speak to a girl from school when I meet her during the summer festival in town? Actually, I think it might look rather odd if I didn’t speak to you.”

                She looks up sharply, the fire behind her eyes gaining intensity.

                “Cy, your mom is here,” She knows her argument very well. “Your mom and my mom HATE each other, and your mom will never approve of us. If we want to be together, we can’t do this where anyone else can see. And this isn’t my problem. You’re the one who brought it up so long ago.”

                “My mom is occupied almost totally with exploring all of this and taking pictures,” Cyrus tries to soothe her. Inside, he’s cursing himself for ever forcing that stupid secrecy rule on the two of them. “Your mom is at work. Sadie isn’t here. Buck knows nothing about our moms not liking each other. In fact, you’re the one who told me that in the first place. I don’t even know that my mom knows that she doesn’t like your mom. I doubt she would even remember who you are, Olivia.”

                Trying to look reproachfully at him fails. She can’t let him down, but there is danger all around them. It’s more than just his mom… it’s…

                “What about your sisters?” She asks him. “I know that you’ve said that one is a loud mouth who has to be boss and the other is too young to be trusted to keep a secret. They’re here, too.  What if they see?”

                Cyrus is momentarily stymied. She’s got him there. Phedra would spill the beans just because it’s something she would know that their parents would not. Layla would most likely tell 'just because.' Galen is the only one who might be able to keep it a secret if he saw them. And that’s only because he’d forget about it in half an hour’s time.

                “Look,” Cyrus has been silent, pondering what to do for almost a full minute. “Look, maybe we can just keep it casual and hang out. There’s a lot to do that my sisters wouldn’t have to be in on.”

                His pleading tone and puppy eyes soon work on Olivia. She can’t disappoint him, it would be too awful.

                “Please, Liv,” Cyrus keeps up his plea. “I can’t bear to be here together and not at least hang out. Maybe we can’t hold hands, but at least I can know that you’re near…”

                He can sense that she’s weakening.

                “Please, Liv.”

                She isn’t meeting his eye, and even her shoulders have relaxed. Though Cyrus knows that until she says it aloud she’s just fiery enough to refuse and play coy.

                “Aw, come on. You know you want to.”

                A tiny smile appears on her face, and Cyrus knows he’s won.

                “There’s a photo booth over there,” he suggests. “Let’s get a souvenir.”

                Cyrus is thrilled with the outcome, pouring over the photos as Olivia tries to keep a discreet distance between them. Friends taking a photo is one thing, lovers hanging around behind the curtain of the photo booth is another.

                “I want to get my face painted,” Cyrus tells her back.

                “I don’t,” Olivia is notoriously vain. “I’ll watch, though.” She adds with a smile when she sees the hurt look on his face.

                Olivia has a great time flirting with the face-painter, getting him totally distracted and making Cyrus move his head half way through. She refused to let Cyrus wash the awful paint job off though, telling him with a bubbly giggle that she wanted more time to keep the memory.

                The young couple hadn’t taken two steps out of the face painters tent before Cyrus was nearly dragged down by Phedra.

                Phedra and Layla wanted to have a water-balloon fight, but wanted to be on the same team and Galen had outright refused to join them in any way.

                When Cyrus tried to get out of it by claiming he was spending time with a friend, Phedra insisted she join as well. In the end… just to shut her up… they had agreed.

                Cyrus was only half in the game. He was constantly on the lookout for Helen and worried about the impression his sisters were making on his girlfriend.

                His head was constantly swiveling as he tried to see everything going on around him all at once.

                Phedra had watched Layla in PE and knew just what her sister was bringing to the table as her teammate. However, it wasn’t an excuse for her not to try and show up Cyrus. In order to do that, she needed to have her head one hundred percent in the game.

                It took Phedra a moment or two to take in that Cyrus was a little distracted. She took it for granted, though, that he wasn't simply mesmerized by the lights, sounds, and smells of the carnival-like atmosphere around them.

                Phedra’s cheers and being drenched with cold water finally got Cyrus to get in the game. Around him his view sharpened, and he suddenly forgot about his mom. Since Phedra had aimed for him, he would aim for her.

                Helen had spotted three of her kids at the water balloon battle site and decided to leave a wobbly Galen on the skating rink on his own. He was getting steadier by the minute and didn’t need her anyhow. Buck had left for work shortly before.

                From a distance, Helen didn’t recognize the sim on Cyrus’ team, so she continued to get closer to figure out who it is.

                As the girl partially turned in order to put more power into a balloon thrown in Layla's general direction, Helen recognizes her and keeps walking with her face averted.

                None of the kids spot her as she walks on. 

                The two girls win the game handily. In fact, Layla comes out of it completely dry.

                As Cyrus and Olivia turn to go and get some food, Cyrus decides to have some fun with Phedra.

                Looking back over his shoulder, he calls: “You may have won this round, but remember, I was a gentleman. Now stands before you a pirate seeking his revenge. Best watch your step little sister, lest I run you through in your sleep.”

                “Oh, snap out of it,” Phedra sneers as Olivia suppresses giggles. “What are you going to do to me in my sleep? Snore, most likely.”

                With that she turns and flounces off to find the skeeball tables with her sister.

                Turning toward Olivia, Cyrus takes a moment to just look at her. He longs to grab her hands, just touch her silky skin. but knows he can’t. The longing makes his hands ache, his heart beat all the harder.

                “Sorry about that,” Cyrus apologizes. “I had to say something lame and smarmy so that she’d be sure to go the other way thinking she’s got the upper hand.”  

                “No,” Olivia reassures. “No, I get it. She’s pretty easy to figure out, isn’t she?”

                “Yeah,” Cyrus laughs a bit. “Yeah, she is pretty shallow. But she’s just a kid. She ages up in a few days and we might have some trouble with her. Maybe. Depends on if she stays that shallow.”

                Olivia chuckles.

                Noticing that she’s having a difficult time, too, Cyrus suddenly pulls out a bouquet he had been hoping to save until dark.

                “Go to the Prom with me,” Cyrus doesn’t ask. He demands. “We can meet at the school, pretend to go in, and ditch it. Whadda you say?”

                “Oh, Cy,” Olivia breathes. “Of course I’ll pretend to attend prom for you.”

                “Good,” Cyrus winks at her. “We’ll go somewhere just the two of us. It’ll be wonderful.”

                Olivia blushes once again, a reflex she has mastered and uses well.

                “Wonderful.”

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                Buck arrives home just before the majority of the kids do. He and the caretaker were in the middle of transplanting trees and he was dead tired from the digging and lifting. But his children try and try to tell him that he’s not tired, that he wants to hear all the stories they have from the festival.

                “-I was best at skeeball, Galen couldn’t even get one ball in the hole-”

                “-Should have seen me skating, I know you would have been proud, Daddy-”

                “-Rainbow shaved ice, and another flavor called snowstorm, or blizzard or-”

                In the midst of the clamor made by all three trying to tell their tales to Daddy at the same time, (Helen had had her ears yammered off on the ride home with the three of them,) Cyrus walks in. It’s still ahead of his curfew, but Buck can tell there is something different about the boy, something in how he walks, the lights in his eyes...

                “-I could have beaten her with a higher score, but… I thought I’d be nice this time-”

                “-There was music coming from nowhere all over the festival grounds and lots of people danced-”

                “-The music did not come from nowhere. There were speakers at the top of all those poles-“

                Buck attempted to turn to Cyrus. Cyrus was sure he was going to burst, he wanted to tell someone about Olivia so bad. He had wanted to tell someone for a long time, but knew he couldn’t. Now, spending time with her in such an exposed place, he was floating, going to fly away...

                “Will you pack-a-wolves quit yer yappin’…” Buck tried to shush his brood and see what had Cyrus looking so excited.

                Cyrus’ brain had finally caught up with him and he realized he was in dangerous waters standing where Buck could see him. Buck knew him better than anyone and would easily see his triumph. He'd always been able to read his face like an open book. Before Buck could get the little kids calmed down properly he turned and headed for his bed.

                “’Night, Dad,” Cyrus called over his shoulder as he went.

                “-I’m sure it did seem like the music was floating from nowhere, but it really was speakers up high on the poles… Cyrus, you okay Buddy?” Buck waved an impatient hand at Phedra who was dying to gloat.

                “Just a little tired. See you all in the morning.”

                The moment Phedra noticed that Buck was no longer in control of Cyrus she began.

                “I told you!”

                Buck’s attention caught, again, he finally managed to quiet the youngsters and shoo them off to bed.

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The pictures on the walls have all moved as I did a save game clean-up to get a little bit smaller save game size. That is all. ;)