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The Pleasantview Diaries (10)
Back to: The Pleasantview Diaries (9) Next: The Pleasantview Diaries (11)

Jeepers! This chapter is behind as well and for that I once again apologize. I'm on a role here, and not a good one. Anyways, hooray! Double digits! This one is a bit longer than usual, and I even cut some out. Please comment, thank, rate, and enjoy!

BROKE


“I’m so glad you could both make it!”, Brandi exclaimed while hugged her son’s girlfriend tightly. She hadn’t seen either of them in a while, and was elated that they came out for Carter’s birthday.


“Of course, Mrs. Long! Dustin and I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Brandi smiled appreciatively at the red head. The girl had done so much for her son over the years; she was truly thankful to have Angela in their lives.


The large crew packed in the kitchen around Carter and the cake, cheering and clapping for the toddler. Carter teetered back and forth on his chubby legs and soon shot up into child form with a flash of light. “Wow! Look at me!”, the child cried. Everyone smiled at the boy and congratulated him before digging into the sweet, white cake.


After a while of celebrating, things died down as Benjamin sent the children to bed and helped Brandi clean the kitchen. Dustin approached his mother who was watching television in the living room. “Hey mom, can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure sweetie. What’s up?” Brandi patted the couch cushion next to her, signaling Dustin to have a seat.


Dustin sat down, visibly nervous. He cleared his throat and looked into his mother’s eyes. “I'm going to ask Angela to marry me. I know we're young, and I really haven't had any other girlfriends. But I know she's the one, and she's made it more than clear she's ready.”
Brandi blinked, her own gray eyes growing wide and mouth dropping open slightly. “Oh Dustin…that’s wonderful! Oh honey! I’m so happy for you two!” Brandi’s excitement intensified as she realized that meant grandbabies were in her near future.


She began to babble loudly about wedding colors and grandchildren names. Dustin smiled uncomfortably, trying not to squash his mother's excitement. “Mom! Keep your voice down! I want this to be a surprise.”
Brandi covered her mouth and began to whisper. “Oh! Of course, sweetie! I’m just so happy for you two. Angela is really good for you. You’re lucky to have to her.”
“I know.” Dustin looked worried. “That’s why I don’t know how to ask her. I told her it would be so special, and now I’m really nervous and don’t have a plan.” Dustin chewed his lip, a pensive look on his face.


Brandi looked at her eldest son lovingly. “Oh Dustin, it doesn’t matter. Angela loves you, and I know she’ll say yes no matter how you ask her. Just make it meaningful, let her know how much you love her. She’ll see it.”
Dustin pondered his mother’s words for a moment then smiled, reassured. “Thanks mom. I’ll call you first thing after I ask her.” The pair grinned at each other and then embraced just as Angela and Benjamin walked into the room. The four said their goodbyes, and Brandi struggled to not make a comment regarding red headed grandbabies.

DREAMER



“I’m so happy they cancelled school so we can play in the snow!”, Destiny Goth said enthusiastically to her niece, Eden Dreamer.
“They didn’t cancel school just so we could play in the snow, silly. The roads are too icy and they don’t want the buses getting smashed.” Although younger than her kid Aunt, Eden was a bright girl. Sassy and smart, she often made the cheerful Destiny feel quite small. Despite their personality differences and unconventional relationship, the girls were closer than sisters.


The girls spent the better part of the afternoon working on a rather large snowman. Snowball by snowball, Destiny and Eden meticulously assembled the snowman. When hey finally finished, and Destiny stood back to admire their creation. “He looks great!”, she declared proudly while Eden smoothed his torso with her little mittened hand.


“Yeah yeah, he’s fantastic. Whoa! What’s that?!” Eden made her brown eyes go big as saucers, and looked off into the distance behind Destiny.
Destiny whipped her body around, ready to see whatever amazing thing was waiting behind her. “What?! Where?!”


While Destiny’s eyes darted around, Eden cackled and tossed a big, dripping snowball up and down in her palm menacingly. Destiny began to turn back around, “I don’t see…” Before she could finish her sentence, Eden hurled her chilly weapon right in Destiny’s face. *Oomf* Destiny almost toppled over completely into the thick snow.


After her initial shock wore off, Destiny broke into hysterical laughter in which Eden soon joined. “You are so dead!” The girls chased each other around the yard and onto the deck, struggling to run through the tall snow. They threw chunks of snowballs of various sizes at each other until they were both blue lipped and shivering. Noticing their dampness, Darren called them inside for some sweet hot chocolate.


After drying off and stamping their snow boots clean on the deck, the girls were joined in the kitchen by Alexander. The teen had been lured away from his telescope by the sound of the hot chocolate maker. After grabbing a mug, Destiny steadied herself on the wobbly stool to join her family. “Enjoying your snow day, girls?”, Alexander asked after taking a sip of his piping hot drink.


Eden wrinkled her nose and began to speak vehemently. “Yeah! You should have come outside and played with us! You’re going to college soon and we’ll miss you!” The child was not looking forward to the day when her Uncle would leave their home; she knew they would probably never live together again.


“You’ll miss me, eh? Well I suppose I’ll return for a visit every now and then.” Although he didn't show it very well, Alexander was touched by his niece's comment.
Eden frowned. “I think you should just stay here. What’s so good about college anyway?”
“Yeah,” Destiny added quietly, “I don’t think you should move either.”


Alexander was surprised. “Wow. I didn’t realize you girls felt this way. I have to go to college though. I’ve been dreaming of university for years.” The young man couldn’t fathom not furthering his education. Disappointed, Destiny and Eden looked at the floor gloomily and sipped their drinks.
“That’s stupid,” Eden piped up once again. “Pretty soon you’ll be gone, Destiny will be a teenager, and I’ll be all alone.” She flopped into a pouting stance, her wild curls bouncing around her head.


True to Eden’s word, it was soon time for Destiny’s birthday. Goths and Dreamers alike gathered in the green, striped kitchen to cheer and shout. They all watched proudly as Destiny blew out her orange candles and transformed into a beautiful young woman.


After the festivities ended, Eden and Destiny snuck upstairs for a slumber party. They sat on the floor of Destiny’s pink bedroom, pajama clad and hopped up on a birthday cake sugar rush. “Well,” Eden began, “What’s it feel like?”
Destiny thought a moment, pursing her red lips. “It feels…weird.” She smiled and shrugged. “But good. I kind of like begin taller.”


Eden giggled, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “How long do you think it will be until you get your first kiss?”
Destiny’s cheeks flushed red. As a new family sim, she had definitely already wondered that herself. “Oh, Eden! I don’t know!”


Eden smiled devilishly, then suddenly grew shy. Looking down, she began picking at her fingernail. “Well don't tell anybody I said this… but I think you look beautiful. I hope I’m as pretty as you when I have my birthday. I also hope you still want to be my friend now that you’re older.”


Touched, Destiny grew a little teary eyed. She was used to the usual cynical Eden, not the tender heart she just displayed. “Oh Eden. Of course I still want to be your friend! Nothing is changed, really. And I know you’ll be gorgeous when you’re older; you already are!”
Eden beamed, failing to hide her pride and excitement. The girls joked and talked late into the night until they were caught and sent back to bed by Cassandra.


The next morning, Alexander called a taxi to take him to Sim State University. His family hugged him and waved him off; everyone was sad to see him go. The feeling, however, was bittersweet as they all knew he would excel in college and make each of them beyond proud.


Alex pulled on a sweater and wrapped a wooly scarf around his neck. He climbed into the honking, yellow taxi. “Where to, kid?”, the taxi driver questioned. Before answering and closing the door, Alexander paused to take one last look at the house. He knew college would be the best time of his life; four years of nothing but learning and discovery. Despite his excitement, he knew the day brought reason to be melancholy. He looked the house up and down, imprinting the picture into his memory. Today, Alexander left his first real home, but it was time for a new adventure.

PLEASANT



Daniel Pleasant was napping soundly in his living room when the sound of his doorbell awoke him. He sat up groggily, his old back cracking. Daniel shuffled over to the door and foudn an older woman with a baby standing on his porch. He studied the figures, his eyes still bleary from his nap. He suddenly realized who the visitors were. “Mary-Sue…”, he whispered in disbelief.


Daniel moved towards the door just as his wife turned, and flung it open herself. She walked in the house without a word and stared at Daniel coldly. Blinded by joy, Daniel was oblivious to Mary-Sue's anger, and smiled brightly at his wife and son. Felix was much bigger since he had seen him last, and the toddler stared curiously at his father. Daniel also noticed how much older his wife looked. Her skin had turned a grayish color and her hair shone silver. Daniel still thought she looked as beautiful as ever. He was the first to break the silence with a simple, “You’re back!”


“Yes Daniel, clearly. Thank you for that.”, Mary-Sue said sarcastically; she was not amused. “We need to talk.”
“Can I hold Felix first? I haven’t seen him since he was a little baby, Mary-Sue.”
“No. He’s tired. Is his crib still here? I need to lie him down.”
Daniel sighed. “Yes. It’s still in our room.” Mary-Sue walked away briskly to put Felix down for his nap, pushing past Daniel with a little shove.


After Felix was asleep, Mary-Sue and Daniel sat down in the living room. Daniel spoke first, trying to break the ice. "Did Angela tell you that Lilith married that Dirk Dreamer kid?"
"Yes, Daniel. I don't want to talk about that right now.
“Sorry. So, why are you back then? You’re obviously still mad at me.”
Mary-Sue sighed, not breaking her cold demeanor. “My father died. My mom is a wreck. I literally had to have her institutionalized. I had to sell their house. So I’m back. Not for you, but because I have nowhere else to go.”


Daniel frowned, his face growing grim. “I’m sorry about Herb. We never got along too well, but still. I didn’t know.”
Mary-Sue blinked away a few tears and looked away from her husband, embarrassed. “Yes well, now you do. My life has been like hell since I left, including the day you cheated on me.”


Daniel grew angry but held back his temper. “Mary-Sue, I did not cheat on you! How many times do I have to say it?! What do I have to do to make you believe me?!”
Exasperated, Mary-Sue closed her eyes and brought her hands to her temples. “I don’t care, Daniel! I don’t care what you did or didn’t do anymore. This marriage is a disaster! I don’t even consider it a marriage anymore. I want us to stay together for Felix and that’s it. We’ll keep it together until he’s grown and then we can divorce if we like.”


The word divorce made Daniel go silent. He choked up, but kept his face expressionless. “If that’s what you really want.”
“It is.” Mary-Sue’s words had an unnerving finality to them. The couple sat together in quiet for several moments, both trying not to scream at one another or cry. Suddenly, Mary-Sue opened her mouth. “You didn’t even come after us.” Her sentence hit Daniel like a ton of bricks. You didn’t even come after us. He didn’t know what to say. Mary-Sue stood up and swiftly walked away.

SIM STATE UNIVERSITY



Angela Pleasant sat in her dorm’s lounge with her cousin, Lucy Burb. Lucy was newly graduated from high school, and the most recent addition to the Pinenut Plaza Dorms. Although Lucy had lived with Lilith for most of her childhood, she always got along better with Angela. The girls had similar tastes, both girly and giggly.


Angela was happy to have a friend, so when Lucy moved into the dorms, she took her under her wing. They spent almost all their time together, so it was no surprise when Lucy was the first one to notice the rather large engagement ring on Angela’s finger. The cousins were reading textbooks quietly when Lucy suddenly let out a noise halfway between a squeal and a gasp. “Angela Pleasant! Is that what I think it is on your finger?!”


Angela smiled sheepishly and stuck out her hand for Lucy to see the diamond more clearly. “What, this old thing?” She giggled girlishly. “Well if you think it’s an engagement ring, then yes!” The cousins shrieked, hugged, and jumped around a little. After they calmed down, they returned to their books to avoid the odd looks they were getting from fellow dormies.


“Well, spill! How did he ask you?”
“Oh it was so sweet, we went to dinner and then danced. After that he took me to this quaint little park with a pond and flowers and trees. He got down on one knee and just poured his heart out!”
"Oh my!"


“Yeah! I almost teared up! He pulled out the ring and by that point I was kind of expecting it. But anyway, I took it out and slid it on. Perfect fit! Then I flung myself into his arms to hug him; I was so happy!”


Lucy stared dreamily at her cousin. “Wow Angela,” she breathed. “That’s so wonderful. It sounds like something out of a movie!”
“Doesn’t it? He’s so romantic. I suppose I made him that way but, whatever! I can’t wait to start planning the wedding! And you’ll be my maid of honor, of course!”
Lucy beamed. “Oh Angela, of course! Yes! Definitely! And, congratulations! I’m so happy for the both of you.” After her emotional talk with Angela, Lucy began to think about her own love life. Lucy had some boyfriends in high school, but nothing serious. Now that she was a college student, the family sim thought it was high time she find a real man.


Lucy had her heart set on one particular man, Alexander Goth. Alex was also new to Sim State, and Lucy had her eye on him ever since freshman orientation. He was smart, good looking, not a big ladies man, and slightly mysterious. Lucy liked the way he spent his time hoarded in his dorm running tests and calculations. Lucy’s lifetime want was to graduate three children from college, and Alexander was the perfect specimen of a man to raise three education loving children. So when she finally spotted the young man outside his dorm, she swooped in to make her move.


Lucy plopped down in the seat across from where Alexander was intently scrawling in his notebook and introduced herself. “Hi, Alex! Whatcha working on?” She waved and smiled, perhaps a bit too overzealously. Alexander kept writing, unaware of the brunette desperately trying to get his attention. Lucy waited patiently, and then grew bored. “Well, my name is Lucy. We’re both freshman this year.” Finally, Alexander looked up to see who this Lucy was, without removing his hand from his forehead.


After examining her for a moment, Alexander returned to his work. “Yes, well, it’s nice to meet you, Lucy. Unfortunately, I’m very busy right now and I cannot properly converse.”
“Oh…sorry for bothering you.” Lucy was disappointed and fairly embarrassed; she frowned. “I just wanted to say hi, and maybe ask you out.”


This caught Alexander’s attention. “Ask me out? For a romantic date?”
Lucy smiled warmly. “Well…yeah! I’ve seen you around campus, and I just want to get to know you better.” Alexander did not know what to say. He had tried his hand at dating in high school and discovered that he really did not enjoy romantic relationships, nor did he enjoy the company of high school girls. Now he was in college, he thought perhaps the female population would be more mature by now.


That was not, however, something Alexander wanted to waste his time to find out. “I’m sorry Lucy,” Alexander chose his words carefully, “But I’m truly not looking for a relationship now, or perhaps ever. I just arrived here at Sim State, and I only have four years to utilize collegiate resources for my experiments. There’s so much to learn and so little time. You’re a beautiful girl, and although I appreciate your interest, I really just do not have any time or desire for dating.”


“You’re a beautiful girl” was all Lucy needed to hear, and was all she did hear. “Hey, you know what? That’s okay! I totally understand. I’d still like to get to know you though. Since you’re so busy, maybe I could help? I’m majoring in philosophy, not biology, but I took honors science classes in high school. I could totally be of service to you in your experiments!”
Alexander was intrigued. “You mean similar to an assistant?”
“Sure! Just call me assistant Lucy”
Alex shrugged. “Well, I suppose that couldn’t hurt. You’re hired.”
Lucy smiled brightly, happy to get some time alone with her prince charming. Alex smiled back, excited to have a lending hand. Nobody had ever shown so much interest in his work. Perhaps Lucy could really contribute. Perhaps this was the start of something very, very good.

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