Yay! Chapter 16! I know it has been a really long time since an update (a little over a week), but still I apologize. Like I said, I went on vacation and chapter 16 just wasn't quite ready yet. But now it is! So please enjoy, rate, comment, or whatever tickles your fancy (or mine).

DREAMER

Sweets Dreamer sat in the zebra print chair regally. He swished his tail from side to side with his furry head held high. This is my chair, he thought to himself. I am King Sweets, and this is my castle. He purred with joy as he thought about how much he loved being a cat.


The door opened suddenly and Sweets twitched his ears and looked at the intruder menacingly. Cassandra Dreamer walked in the bedroom and smiled brightly when she saw her cat. “Sweets! There you are, you silly boy!” She plucked the cat from the floor, as he was already trying to escape her clutches, and lifted him high into the air. “I’ve been looking all over the house for you!”


Cassandra had recently adopted Sweets from the animal rescue shelter as a sort of mid life crisis impulse. She knew elderhood was just around the corner, which meant there would be no more babies. She was sad for never having more children with Darren, and Sweets unintentionally stole Cassandra's vulnerable heart. Cassandra puckered her lips while making kissy faces at the irritated feline. “I just love you so much Sweets my sweetums!”


Unfortunately for Cassandra, Sweets did not enjoy the babying. He was an independent, sassy cat who liked to sleep in human beds and spend his day sitting proudly on the counter tops. He avoided Cassandra as much as possible in attempt to preserve his dignity.


Despite Cassandra’s final attempt at having another "baby", her last birthday came. She blew out her candles while her family and friends gathered to help her celebrate the big day. The small crowd cheered for their beloved their mother, friend, wife, and sister.


Everyone in the crowded kitchen clapped and yelled as Cassandra burst into her new form. Her eyes went wide as she finished the transition. This isn’t so bad, she thought to herself. After all, now I can look forward to grandbabies.


The next morning, Eden and Destiny huddled in their living room to say their goodbyes. “So I guess this is it,” Eden said flatly while frowning slightly. “You’re going off to college with Alex and leaving me behind.”
Destiny smiled reassuringly. “Hey, don’t think like that. You’ll be at Sim State too in just one little year!”


Eden forced a smile. “Yeah I know, I’m just teasing. It’s just…well I’m really going to miss you.”
Destiny noticed tears welling up in her headstrong niece's eyes. She brought her hand to her mouth and raised her eyebrows. “Aw Eden, stop! You’re going to make me cry!”


Before her lip began quivering too much, Eden pulled her aunt into a big hug. “I mean it. You’re my best friend, Des.” Eden sniffled and embraced her tighter.
Destiny wrapped her arms around Eden and squeezed. “You’re my best friend too. I love you.”
“I love you too.”


The girls managed to pull themselves apart and Eden left to find some tissues. Destiny was just about to walk out the front door when the stairs behind her began to creak. Cassandra stared at Destiny and made her way slowly down the steps. “I hope my baby sister isn’t thinking about leaving without saying goodbye to me first!”


The sisters had been speaking less and less with each passing day. Destiny put her hands on her hips while eyeing her newly aged sister. “Bye, Cass.”, she said bluntly.
Cassandra frowned, disappointed. “Oh c’mon, Destiny. I know we’ve had our differences, but you’re leaving for college. This is a big deal! Can I at least have a hug?” Cassandra put her arms out expectantly and Destiny put her hands up in protest.


“Cassandra, stop. We don’t need to get all mushy gushy over this. It’s not like I’m your kid or anything. You won’t even know I’m gone.”
Cassandra frowned. She was surprised and a little hurt. She knew Destiny finding her place in the family had always been a struggle, but she never expected the situation to come down to this. She smoothed her blouse and looked down sadly. “Well, alright then. Be safe. Don’t forget to call. I love you.”
Destiny flashed her sister a unimpressed look and walked out the door without another word.

BROKE

Angela Pleasant, a recent graduate of Sim State University, stood in front of the large shiny mirror with wide eyes. Her heart pounded in the dressing room of the wedding hall as she played with her hair and smoothed her eye makeup. I’m getting married. Dustin and I are getting married. This is it. She repeated the thoughts in her head over and over. I think I might actually throw up.


Angela was deep in thought and primping when the door clicked open, causing her to jump. “Oh Brandi! You scared me!”, she said while looking at her mother in law through the mirror.
Brandi chuckled. “Sorry sweetie. Please though, call me Mom. I think we’re close enough to being there.”


Brandi took a seat in one of the plush dressing room chairs and Angela turned around the face her. “Thanks.” Angela’s lip quivered as she tried forcing a smile.
Brandi clicked her tongue and frowned back at the red head. “What’s wrong, honey? This is your wedding day! You should be happy!”


Angela burst into tears and began flailing her arms around wildly. “I am happy! I’m so happy that I don’t know what to do with myself! I’m going crazy in here thinking about this wedding!” She bit her lip. “I’m terrified.”
Brandi laughed. “Oh sweetie, that’s normal. I must have thrown up at least five times the morning I married Dustin’s daddy.” Brandi scratched her chin. “Although that may have been because I was pregnant for Dustin…”


Brandi stood up to face her still wailing daughter in law. “Oh darling stop crying; you’re going to mess up your makeup!”
Angela sniffled out her last tears, composing herself. “There there”, Brandi reassured. “You look so beautiful, what a lovely bride. And I know you’ll be a wonderful wife to my son as well. You’ve always been so good to and for him. I thank my lucky stars for you every day. I don’t know where he’d be without you.”


Angela quickly engulfed Brandi in warm hug. “Thank you…Mom.”
“You’re welcome, honey. Now get out there and go make an honest man out of my son!”


All eyes were on Angela when she exited the dressing room and walked up to the altar. Everyone agreed she made a gorgeous bride, and remarked on what a better job she did picking out her wedding dress than she had her bridesmaids’ dresses. Angela and Dustin lovingly said their vows while sliding the cool, gold rings on each others’ fingers. Everyone clapped and cried after Dustin kissed Mrs. Angela Broke, ready to begin the festivities.


After the actual wedding, Angela was able to loosen up and enjoy the special day. She smustled up a storm with her friends and family and even let Dustin shove cake in her face. All the guests had a great time and partied well into the night.


When the more tired guests started heading home, the pace of the party slowed down while some of the couples opted for a slow dance. People began to wonder when Dustin and Angela disappeared to after being seen whispering in each others’ ears and giggling.


Angela and Dustin scurried home hand in hand, leaving just a few straggling wedding guests behind. The newlyweds kissed each other passionately, spending their first night together. There was no honeymoon to take off to, but the Brokes were happy just the same.



Mary-Sue Pleasant stood in her new apartment with her oldest and dearest friend, Cassandra Dreamer. She stretched, cracking her aching back while Cassandra brushed dust off her hands. The ladies had spent all afternoon and evening hauling boxes and arranging furniture. Cassandra arched her eyebrows, eyeing Mary-Sue. “Well, the last box is unpacked. You sure you’re going to be okay?”
Mary-Sue threw her hands in the air excitedly. “Are you kidding?! I’ve been wanting to do this for years! Felix is gone to college, the girls are happily married, and now Daniel is free to have whatever women he pleases at the house. He can’t hurt me anymore.”


Cassandra frowned slightly and shrugged. “I suppose. You have raised your kids. You can live for you now.”
Mary-Sue picked up on her friend’s glum tones. “You don’t think I should be doing this, do you?”
Cassandra sighed. “I just want you to be happy, Mar. It’s just that… in my mind, isolating myself from family is not the key to happiness and self fulfillment.”


Mary-Sue grew irritated. Surely her best friend should understand and support her decision. “Well that’s easy for you to say. You have a perfect marriage, your daughter doesn’t hate you. Life in the home you built has been nothing but happiness. Mine has been one heartbreak after another.”


Mary-Sue’s words stung Cassandra. How selfish, she thought. This woman has so many blessings and all she can see is the negative. How dare she say my life is perfect. She knows all the trials I’ve been through, and am still dealing with. Cassandra’s heart pounded in anger, but she held her tongue. “Whatever makes you happy, Mary-Sue. I’m just trying to support you, as a friend.”


Now feeling awkward and hurt, the friends decided to part ways for the evening. Despite their argument, Cassandra hugged Mary-Sue knowing she was going through a tough time and probably didn’t mean what she had said. “Take care of yourself.”
Mary-Sue hugged her friend back. “I will. Thanks for helping me unpack.”
Cassandra forced herself to smile at Mary-Sue before leaving the apartment complex. She patted her friend’s hand, noticing the golden wedding ring still on her finger.

SIM STATE UNIVERSITY

Beau Broke sat patiently in the Sim State University campus lounge. He watched and listened as his potential new roommates, Letti and Ricardo Caliente explain their housing situation. “We want to live together,” Letti began, “Which is why we’d like to join you in the Bright household.”
“Indeed,” Ricardo nodded. “There was only room for one more student in the Pinenut Plaza dorms.”


Beau smiled warmly and shrugged. “Well, it’s alright with me, but I’ll have to check with my roommates. The more the merrier, and the cheaper the rent.” Everyone chuckled. “Really though, I think you guys will enjoy it. Living in private housing is great. When I first came here, I didn’t want to split up from my family in Pinenut Plaza. But boy am I glad things ended up the way they did now!” Beau blushed while thinking of his girlfriend, Allegra.


Letti beamed. “Thank you so much, Beau! I can’t wait to get settled. I’m sure living in the Bright house will be much calmer than a dorm. More privacy and quiet time for studies.”
Beau smiled back at the girl. “Oh sure. Everyone in the house is really cool. They’ll let you get whatever you need done.”


Ricardo turned to Beau. “Who exactly are the other students in the house?”
Beau started counting on his hand. “Well, there’s me, my girlfriend Allegra, Jane Stacks, and Martin Ruben.” A light bulb went off in his head as he realized that made three girls and three guys. “Say, are you two both single?”


Ricardo instantly understood Beau’s intentions. “A double date!”
Letti blushed. “Absolutely not.”
Ricardo ignored his sister. “A blind double date!”
“Ricardo…”, Letti said warningly.
Beau laughed. “C’mon Letti, what better way to get to know your roommates?”


Outnumbered and severly peer pressured, Letti soon found herself on a double date with her brother and new roommates. The group met up for some ice skating, some hoping to fall in love and others hoping it would all just end. Letti gulped, bracing herself as they all walked awkwardly to the rink.


Letti and Ricardo were not the only new freshman at Sim State University. In the Pinenut Plaza Dorms, Henry Broke was more than happy to be a college man, finally reunited with his long time girlfriend, Tabitha Burb. The couple didn’t take long to get back to their old ways of couch make out sessions, and even managed to squeeze a double bed into Henry's tiny dorm room.


Felix Pleasant and Destiny Goth, another set of new freshman in Pinenut Plaza, soon caught each others’ eye as well. Both striving architects majoring in mathematics, they spent most of their study time together and eventually their free time as well. Destiny was drawn to Felix’s sunny personality, and Felix was intrigued by Destiny’s reserved demeanor and murky past.


Lucy Burb grew quite aware of all the romance in the air around her. Her cousin’s garish wedding, her freshman cousin’s sickeningly sweet romance, and her baby sister’s obvious woohoo life was enough to make a girl sick. With graduation looming, Lucy began to grow rather impatient with Alex’s lack of proposal. She’d managed to make him her boyfriend, but that took years. I’ve got to step up my game, Lucy said to herself determinedly while gripping her pool stick with vigor. I will get a diamond on my finger.