Chapter Three: Matt's advice

I slept all morning, then had a lazy breakfast, or lunch, or whatever with Matt. It was good to get to know him a bit, hopefully we’ll become mates. 

When we finished eating, I realised that Kaelie should be home from work by now. She wasn’t around the house, so I headed off to the library. I figured if she didn’t have her nose in a book, she’d be working on her novel.

I was right, she was at the library. She’d changed out of her scrubs and was sitting on one of the couches in a sweater and shorts, reading. I almost hated to disturb her, but I hoped she’d be pleased to see me.

‘Hey, Kaelie.’

She looked up from her book and smiled when she saw me.  ‘Hey yourself.’ She stood up, marking her place in the book. ‘What’s up?’

‘I wanted to apologise for last night. I’m really sorry.’

She smiled that gorgeous smile. ‘You don’t need to apologise. I thought about it at work today, and I get it. You want to take it slow.’

I laughed nervously. ‘Yes. That’s it, I do want to take it slow. So, I was wondering, did you want to see a movie tonight?’

‘That sounds really great Hadley. Do you think this outfit will do?’

I rolled my eyes at her. ‘You always look great, now come on, or we’ll miss the start!

After the movie, we were kissing outside the theatre when I noticed Kaelie stifling a yawn.

‘What, am I that bad? I asked jokingly. She looked sheepish.

‘I had a really hard day at work. I was tired earlier, but I really wanted to go out so I didn’t say anything.’

I shook my head. ‘We could have just watched a movie at home!’

‘This was better, I had fun. But, I think we should go home now before I pass out on your shoulder.’

‘Fair enough.’

When we got home, Kaelie snuggled up in my bed and smiled up at me.

‘Thanks for a great night.’

‘No, thank you.’

She giggled. ‘Are you coming to bed?’

‘I’m not sleepy yet. I’ll come in later.’

‘Okay.’

As I walked out of the room, the spell was broken. I sighed and rubbed my temples as I headed up to the study, where I found Matt.

‘Hey man,’ he said as I climbed the last few stairs.

I smiled ruefully at him. ‘Hey. What’d you get up to today? It was your day off too, yeah?’

He shrugged. ‘Just gym, as usual. I need to get fitter for my job. What’d you do?’

‘Went on a date.’

‘Nice! Who with?’

I shrugged. Matt got the point. ‘Okay okay, you’re not sharing.’

‘It’s not that, it’s just - what do you do if you’re kind of - dating two girls at once?’

Matt’s eyes grew wide. ‘You haven’t even been here a week and you’ve got two girls?’

I nodded. ‘It just kind of - happened. They initiated it, not me.’

‘Well, even though I’m kind of jealous, I say go for it.’

‘Really?’

‘We’re young. Just see where it goes with each of them. You haven’t discussed being exclusive, have you?’

I shook my head. Matt continued.

‘A word of warning though. Even if I don’t care, some people might. This is a small town, people like to gossip, you get the picture?’

I nodded. ‘Thanks for the heads up.’

Matt went to bed then, but I couldn’t sleep. I sat there playing computer games until the sun came up.

The next day at work the boss spotted me practicing my new song and I got a promotion!

I was so pleased I told Karen as soon as I got home.

I still wanted to go on a date with Kaelie. A great one this time, not one cut short by her falling asleep or me freaking out. So I cornered her on Saturday morning and asked if she wanted to come to Maywood Glen with me. Matt had said that was a nice, quiet place for a date.

She looked delighted. ‘Really Hadley? That sounds suspiciously romantic of you.’

‘I told you I could be romantic, when I want to be. Come on, let’s go!’

When we got there, Kaelie ran up a rocky outcrop and beckoned me over. ‘Look! you can see the whole town from up here.’

I joined her. The view really was amazing. ‘It’s even better with you here.’

The rest of the date was - well, let’s just say we didn’t get much talking done.

Eventually, it was time for me to leave for work. It was safe to say we were both disappointed.

‘Do you really have to go?’

‘If it were up to me, I’d spend the whole day with you. But i’ve got to go to work, I just got promoted. I can’t get fired now.’

She nodded, then surprised me by leaping into my arms.

‘This was the best date ever Hadley. I never knew you had it in you.’

When I got home from work, Karen came up to me, looking excited.

‘You know how you got a promotion yesterday?’

I smiled. ‘Yeah.’

‘Well, I got promoted too! I’m now a Vegetable Slicer!’

‘That’s great Karen! Hey, did you do something different to your hair?’

She nodded. ‘I got extensions to celebrate. I’m not used to all the hair around my face though, so the hairdresser showed me how to put it up like this.’

‘Well, it looks great.’

My friends from work I’d invited over, Zelda Mae and Anges Crumplebottom, were here by then, so we broke off our conversation. Zelda and Anges were fun to hang out with. I learned that Anges was rich and we had compatible star signs. 

Zelda and I hit it off so well that we arranged to meet up at the park the next day.

We chatted for a little while, about work mostly, until she said something that surprised me.

‘You know, you’ve got a bit of a naughty reputation, Hadley.’

I blinked. ‘Already?’

She laughed. ‘So you admit it?’

I groaned. ‘No - I mean yes - God, this really is a small town.’

She smiled. ‘It certainly is. Anyway, I’ve got to get going, so I guess I’ll see you at work?’

‘Yeah - see you tomorrow.’ I stared after her as she walked to her car. I didn’t have a clue what to do about this whole thing.

I spent my afternoon and evening networking - I really wanted to have another rich friend. I met Malcolm Landgrabb and Holly Alto, who were really nice.

When I got home, I kissed Karen. I told you I didn’t know what I was doing.

________________________________________________________________________

Author’s Notes:

So, that seemed like a good place to end it! Poor Hadley’s so confused. 

‘I’m not confused. I’m just only thinking about myself.’

‘Uh, Hadley, I was trying to defend you.’

‘Matt said it was okay.’

‘You do know Matt is evil, right?’

‘He is not. Now, go away, annoying voice in my head. Pretty soon I’ll be talking to myself like Matt does.’

‘So you admit he’s strange.’

‘Shut up. I only like to have rich friends, and you’re not one of them.’

‘Hypocrite.’

‘Oh, before you go, can I borrow some money? Like, 10 simolens?

‘I’ve only got Australian dollars. And I’m not giving it to you.’

‘Go play your guitar and write some emo song.’

‘I will, thanks.’

Until next time,

xx Courtney.

‘Why do you sign off with kisses?’

‘I thought you were writing a song.’

xx Hadley

Chapter Two: The Sister Thing

I stepped out of the steamy bathroom after work that night to find Kaelie waiting for me outside the door.

‘Meet me on the balcony,’ she said with a smirk, then sauntered off down the hall and into her room. I followed her, a little uncertain, through her bedroom and out onto her balcony.

‘You’re not very... romantic, are you?’ she mused as I slid the glass door shut behind me.

I considered this. ‘I can be romantic. It’s just not always the first thing on my mind.’

‘I like that about you. It’s very - endearing.’

I made a face. ‘Did you just cut my masculinity in half?’

‘Nope. I declare your masculinity fully intact. I just meant it’s refreshing to meet a guy who hasn’t got sex on the brain 24/7.’

I stepped closer to her. ‘That idea’s not leaving my brain anytime soon now you’ve put it there.’

Kaelie grinned cheekily, then leaned forward and kissed me, a quick kiss where her lips only lingered on mine for about a second. I closed my eyes. When I opened them, she was gone.

I saw Kaelie leaving for work when I emerged from my room the next morning to scourer the fridge for leftovers. I gave her a little wave just before she went downstairs. She smiled back and left. Again.

Eating my breakfast, I finally caught a glimpse of my third housemate, Matt. He made no move to stop and chat though, so I let him be for now. Maybe he was shy.

I decided I should probably learn how to cook for myself, so I tried my hand at an autumn salad while Karen pottered around the kitchen, fixing her breakfast. It turned out surprisingly well. I’d just put it away in the fridge when I heard Karen’s voice behind me.

‘I think we left things... unfinished yesterday, don’t you?’

I turned around slowly. She was standing there in a short zebra print skirt that made it extremely hard for me to tear my eyes away from her legs. I gulped.

‘We did?’

She nodded, stepping closer to me. ‘Yeah dirty blonde. We did.’

My breaths were coming short and fast. My blood was hot. I murmured something insanely sensual to Karen that I couldn’t even remember later. And then she was kissing me, but pulling away fast, far too quickly. She saw my confusion and replied ‘we’re late for work.’

In that instant, I was brought back to reality, and I hated it. The inside of my head was an ugly place right now.

After work, I met up with Kaelie for a date. Yes, Kaelie, yes, a date. I didn’t want to think, I just wanted to do. We went to the bistro for dinner, then headed home because Kaelie was tired. 

I invited her into my room and we cuddled on the bed. She was kissing me, firm, tender kisses that made me want to - 

My train of thought was interrupted. A strand of her hair was tickling my face, because I was flat on my back on the bed and she was leaning over me, grinning.

‘Wanna make out?’

I stared up at her. Suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. 

‘No.’

She sat up, and I did too. I glanced over at her. She was staring at her hands, hurt and confusion evident on her face. I felt absolutely terrible. What the hell was I doing? What the hell had I done?

In a small voice, Kaelie said, ‘Hadley - I’m really tired, I’m going to bed.’

As she left the room, I closed my eyes and consciously changed the timbre of my thoughts. I turned pain into chords, confusion into lyrics. In this headspace, I could manage everything. I just didn’t know what I’d do when I got out. 

Hours later, I was still belting out the chorus of my new song:

Cause I’m not that guy

Who takes a girl for a ride

And gets her into his bed

At the end of the night

Yeah I’m not that guy

I hope I’m not that guy.

I stopped playing as I heard my bedroom door open and turned around. It was Karen. I hadn’t realised anyone was awake. It must be about 4am. Karen winked at me, then slid into my bed, pulled the covers around her, and fell asleep. I envied her for her ability to fall asleep so easily. I watched her sleep for a while - creepy, I know, but I was still in my songwriting headspace. Eventually, I fell into bed in a moment of utter exhaustion where my body would no longer hold me up. Karen was warm, and her slow, even breaths helped to calm my panicked ones.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Author's Notes:

Sorry about the shortness of this chapter! You'll see in the next chapter why I had to end it there. Gosh, those girls are minxes aren't they? They don't seem to mind that they're both getting it on with the same guy. Acutally, I don't think they know. Huh. Interesting.

Until next time,

xx Courtney

Chapter One: A Whirlwind Beginning

I checked the address one last time and pulled up hesitantly in the drive of a gorgeous, towering three story house. Climbing out of my beaten up little black car, I gazed upwards in awe. I sure hoped I could afford the rent for this place.

As I hauled my bags out of the old jalopy’s tiny boot, I could see three people standing out the front of the house. I guessed they were to be my new housemates. They didn’t see me, however, and I watched as one of the girls waved to the others and ran across the street. The others backed their cars out of the garage and sped off.

I’d been mailed a key, but I didn’t really feel comfortable hanging around a big empty house. I left my bags just inside the door and got back in my car. As I drove into the centre of town, I spotted a huge theatre. I pulled over quickly. I had to see if they had any jobs going. My lifetime wish was to be a rock star, and I figured the best way to start was to be on the inside of all the goings on. 

Twenty minutes later, after a grueling on-the-spot interview, I walked out of there with a job. The job description was vague, but I gathered this much. I had to pretend to be a fan of all the crappy bands that had no fans. For $21 an hour, I figured it could be worse!

Standing out the front of the theatre, I pulled out my guitar and started to play. A few people walked by, interested. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been playing for when a pretty blonde girl came up to me and smiled. I lowered my guitar and smiled back.

‘So,’ she said as I stopped playing. ‘I hear you’re our hot new housemate.’

It took me a couple of seconds to recognise her as the girl who’d ran across the street just as I’d arrived. It took me another couple of seconds to realise she was flirting with me. I was a little caught off guard. I’d gone to a huge high school, and I’d learned pretty quickly I was nothing special. I wasn’t used to girls just coming up and flirting with me. Maybe it was different in a small town like Sunset Valley.

‘Oh, hi. I’m Hadley.’

‘Kaelie.’ She smiled again.

I wasn’t sure what to say next, and after a bit of an awkward silence I said lamely ‘So this is, uh, my guitar.’

She nodded politely, but I could tell I was boring her. She looked over to the park I’d seen across the street and said ‘Have you seen the park yet? It’s really nice.’

‘Um, no, I haven’t.’

‘Do you want to go and play a game of chess or something?’

I’d never played chess before, but I wasn’t about to refuse. ‘Sounds good to me.’

We ran across the street together, and then we were in the park. Kaelie had been right, it was beautiful. Luckily, a chess table was free.

‘I have to admit, I’ve never played before,’ I said as we sat down.

‘Me neither,’ she said brightly. ‘But I know how to play from watching my sister. She’s a genius, so she’s really into everything logical.’

‘Your sister - does she live with you?’

Kaelie nodded. ‘Her name’s Karen. We have another housemate called Matt too.’

‘I hope we’ll get on alright.’

She shrgged. ‘You seem fine, I’m sure they’ll like you. Anyway, lets get you set up.’

Kaelie proceeded to lay out the pieces, then she explained the rules. She forgot a few, so we made some up. It was quite fun, really. We were halfway through our second game when Kaelie suddenly got up and screamed, putting her hands over her ears. Then, she straightened up and gazed out into the distance, going slightly cross eyed. I smiled. It was quite funny, really. Then she sat back down as if nothing had happened.

‘Sorry about that,’ she said, grinning ruefully at me as she took her turn. ‘I just freak out sometimes. I feel really calm and tranquil afterwards though.’

I laughed. ‘I’m a bit of a neat freak myself. I can clean for hours!’

She laughed too. ‘Like Karen. The house will never be messy again with you two around!’

We played chess until it got dark. Kaelie said she wanted to go check the sink so I got out my guitar again. I’d only been playing for a few minutes when a dark haired girl came up to me and complimented my playing! I was so surprised, she really made my day.

I was just about to introduce myself when another girl ran over and pushed the dark haired girl aside.

‘Morgana! I said I saw him first!’

The second girl had very light blonde hair and glasses. She winked at me and said ‘Finally, a decent looking guy in Sunset Valley.’

I couldn’t believe it. All through high school I’d had all of one girlfriend and now I had girls all over me. It was a bit much to take in. I felt a bit light headed, actually. I smiled at the girls and said ‘I’ll be right back.’

As I turned away from them I caught a whiff of sausages on the grill and my stomach growled. That was it! I hadn’t eaten all day. No wonder I felt strange. I headed over in the direction of the delicious smell to see if they had any to spare. I wouldn’t have dared to do this in my old city, but there seemed to be a different vibe to this little town. 

After I’d eaten I chatted to Morgana until I was so tired I could barely stand up. I drove back to my new home and crashed into the first unoccupied bed I saw.

I was making my bed the next morning when I heard my bedroom door click open. I turned to see a girl who looked similar to Kaelie, but with shorter hair and blue eyes. This must be Karen.

‘You look cute in your pyjamas,’ she said by way of greeting.

I blushed, but didn’t miss a beat. ‘You deprived me of saying the same thing.’

She laughed, a high tinkling laugh that I found insanely attractive. ‘I wanted to make sure you got a proper welcome to our home.’

My breath caught. ‘I think you’ve succeeded in that department.’

‘Good. I thought you should know, Kaelie and I picked you because of your photo.’

‘Oh really?’

‘Totally. Turquoise ‘fuck me’ eyes and dirty blonde hair? You were streets ahead of the rest.’

I raised my eyebrows. No one had ever said I had ‘fuck me’ eyes before. Most kids at school thought my eyes were weird, unnatural. But I was beginning to realise high school was a lot different to the real world. 

‘I think you’ll find I’m nice to talk to as well as look at.’

She grinned. Her smile was the same as Kaelie’s. ‘I already figured that out.’

We ate lunch at the bistro together, before we both had to head off to work - me across the road to the theatre, and Karen back into the bistro. It was only my second day in town, but I knew I’d made the right the right choice. Moving to Sunset Valley was both the scariest and best thing I’d ever done.

_________________________________________________________________________

Author's Notes:

So, you've probably gathered that this is a sim led legacy, or a wishacy, as invented by buckleygirl80 (linkage: http://buckeygirl80.blogspot.com/). The founder is Hadley Sharpe, just moved into a share house in Sunset Valley with Kaelie Jones, Karen Jones, and Matt Iverson (All CAS sims).

Next chapter I promise you will see Karen's face, she just kept having totally weird expressions when I tried to screenshot her and Hadley. Oh and you'll see Matt too!

By the way, that thing with Jamie Jolina at the park was totally legit! She just ran over and pushed Morgana out of the way. Funniest thing ever!

Also I have no idea how to fix the screwy font. I tried for ages. It says it's the same font and size for the whole thing but then random bits look different in the preview. Le sigh. If it's not already obvious, I'm a total noob to blogging.

Until next time, 

xx Courtney