Gen. 2 Chap. 8: A tradgedy with no conclusion

Viola


Emerson was a great addition to our household. He got himself a job at the hospital, so he could make sure he was contributing to the bills. In his spare time he liked to upgrade our plumbing - I don’t know why he found that enjoyable, but he did. 

He also liked to work out and keep fit, and I was glad someone was actually using our pool.

I got home from work one day, not long after Emerson had moved in, to find Velvet had invited dad over. I chatted to him while I was waiting for my friend Dylan to arrive. I realised as we talked that a lot of the anger I’d felt towards him previously had faded. I knew Emma Hatch had died recently, and I think this made me feel a little sympathy towards him. I know this sounds strange, since Emma was one of the reasons he’d ended it with mom. The truth is, I’m not a vindictive person. I wasn’t the type of person to say ‘I told you so’ and rub it in his face.

So, instead, we ended up chatting about the one thing we really had in common - music. He said his career was still going well, and asked me how I was doing with my busking.

‘You’re not thinking about getting a job at the theatre?’ he asked. ‘You know that’s how I got my foot in the door with Tainted Soul.’

I shook my head. ‘I’m happy with my job at the spa. I know it doesn’t pay much, but I love it. We have enough money, we still have our inheritance from you and the real estate you gave us.’

Dad looked pleased to hear this. ‘You still own the diner?’

I nodded. ‘Yep. And we still have the shares in the bookstore and the supermarket too.’

Dad smiled. ‘Good to hear. Sounds like you’ve been making some very smart decisions, Viola.’

I beamed, just as I heard Dylan’s car pull up.

‘I’ll catch up some more with you later dad, my friend Dylan’s here now.’

He grinned. ‘A boyfriend?’

I laughed. ‘No, dad. But I’ll let you know if and when, yeah?’

I’d met Dylan when I was busking one night - he’d stayed and listened to me long after the crowd had died down, and we’d become fast friends. We went inside to catch up, not that there was a lot of that to do, since I’d just seen him at the wedding. 

‘You look nice all scrubbed up,’ I said teasingly. ‘Hot date tonight?’

He laughed. ‘I wish! I took my mom out for a late lunch, didn’t have time to change.’

‘Awww, that’s nice. I was just catching up with my dad.’

‘Yeah, I saw. It’s different to see the man in person, rather than up on the big stage!’

Emerson came downstairs and joined us - he’d been upgrading another bathroom fixture, I think - and we all had a good chat. 

Velvet and dad were still chatting in the kitchen, and Sean had joined them.

‘Where’s Tony?’ I asked Emerson.

‘He’s gone to bed, he’s exhausted,’ Emerson grinned. ‘He was up all last night working on his book.’

The landline phone started ringing then, which I thought was odd, since we all mostly used our mobiles. And that’s when I heard a scream from the kitchen. 

I raced in, and a horrible sight met my eyes.

I was a mess as the Grim Reaper came to take my dad away from me. 

I couldn’t bear to watch as I saw his translucent form beg with the Grim Reaper. 

It wasn’t his time to go. The Grim had no mercy though, and all of a sudden - my dad was gone.

I walked into the living room - I couldn’t stay in the kitchen - and just stood there, numb. 

My dad was gone. He’d never write another song, perform another concert. I’d never be able to tell him when I got a boyfriend, got married, have children even - all those things I imagined myself doing someday. And the saddest thing was, I don’t think he ever really found what he was looking for.

I blinked back tears and glanced toward the kitchen. Emerson and Dylan were still there, talking in low voices.

‘You tell her.’

‘No, you should. She knows you better.’

I took a deep breath and concentrated on making my voice steady. ‘Wh-what are you talking about?’

They both looked at me, startled. Dylan came over to me, Emerson following.

Dylan spoke, all in a rush. ‘Viola - there was a message on the phone, from when it rang before.’

I just stared at him, wondering why he was telling me about a phone message when my dad had just died.

Dylan continued. He had a strange expression on his face. ‘Viola, I’m sorry, but it was about your mom. She - she passed away tonight as well. I’m sorry.’

I didn’t know what to say. There was nothing to say. I pushed past them and walked slowly upstairs to my room. I cried myself to sleep.

***

‘Viola.’

‘Mmmmm.’

‘Don’t freak out, but I thought I should let you know I’m here. To help you through this, with your life.’

‘Do you know, with everything that happened last night, I am very unsurprised to hear a voice in my head.’

‘Oh good. You’re taking this a lot better than your dad did.’

‘Who are you? Did you help him too?’

‘Yes. I am sort of like, a wish granting fairy, if you will. I will help you get whatever you wish for.’

‘Well, this seems like a bright spot in the darkness. Are you going to be in my head all the time?’

‘Depends if you want me here. Your dad didn’t like me in his head much, so mostly I just helped him fulfil his wishes without him knowing.’

‘I like you here. For now, anyway. Do you have a name, wish fairy?’

‘It’s Courtney.’

‘Well, Courtney, all I want to do today is paint.’

‘It’s done, Viola.

***

‘I see you just finished crying in the bathroom.’

‘I didn’t want anyone to see me. Why is Dylan here?’

‘You invited him to stay the night, remember?’

‘Oh yeah.’

***

‘What are you doing, Viola?’

‘Buying out the bookstore.’

‘I think your dad would approve. Are you going to re-name it?’

‘Yep. Viola’s Bookstore.’

‘Very cute. Are you going to bed now?’

‘No, me and Tony are going to the graveyard.’

***

‘Sean is here.’

‘Yes, he took his boss out to dinner. I guess the graveyard is the place to schmooze crime bosses.’

‘Well, I laid flowers on my parents graves. It’s creepy here, there are lots of ghosts.

‘I think you should go home, you look upset.’

‘No, I want to stay here for a bit. I think I’ll just sit and read my book.

‘Oh my God there is a ghost standing right next to us.’

‘Yes, there is a ghost over near Sean too. I think he is a bit freaked out because his boss went home and he is sitting over there all by himself.

‘Sean and Tony are going home.’

‘I don’t want to stay here by myself!’ 

‘Well, hurry up then!

‘Sean is sleeping in my bed.’

‘Yes, I don’t quite know why he did that. You could sleep in his bed, if you like.’

‘No, I’ll just sleep here.’

‘Goodnight Viola.’

***

RIP, Hadley.

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Author's Notes:


I could not believe it - Hadley and Kate died at the same time. I was just sitting there with the game paused staring openmouthed at the screen. 

I used that screenshot of Emerson and Dylan in the kitchen talking for story purposes, but do you know what they were actually talking about? Emerson was asking his star sign. And this is not the only time he does it.

I have switched writing style because it is very hard to let you know what the other housemates are doing when I’m writing in narrative style from Viola’s point of view. To continue the narrative style I’d have to use Emerson’s point of view, and I really did not want to do that. I’m hoping it will be easy to follow for you, and hopefully it will be funnier. I may go back to the more formal narrative style, I may not. I will have to see where the story goes and what writing style suits the story the best.

Want to know what could have happened to Viola if she didn’t take so kindly to me being in her head? Read this if you haven’t already. It’s hilarious.

Until next time,

xx Courtney

Gen. 2. Chap. 7: The Quantum Malfactor

Tony 


I loved living in my new house. There was a certain freedom about being out from under my parent’s roof.

I thought it was about time I got a job, and there was an opening at the local Science Facility as a test subject. It wasn’t the best job in the world, and the pay was horrible, but it occupied my time. I was also told there was a good chance I could get promoted to another job within the facility, if I worked hard and showed initiative. Sometimes I still copped a bit of flack from the dickheads at work, but they were few and far between. It was nothing like the hell school had been.

I spent my free time mainly working on my science fiction novel, The Quantum Malfactor.

My housemates all had jobs and were quite busy as well. Velvet had gotten a job at the local theatre, in hopes of getting a foot in the door to achieve her life time wish of becoming a hit movie composer. In her free time she liked to paint and play guitar. 

I noticed she also made quite a point of keeping in contact with her parents - she was always visiting them or talking to them online or over the phone. 

Velvet and Sean were also getting to know each other and become friends. They were night owls, and were always up in the middle of the night having a giggle in the hallway or something.

Viola still had her part time job as a ringer-up-er at the day spa that she’d had through high school. She had shorter hours than the rest of us, and used her free time to socialise. I noticed she had quite a lot of male acquaintances and friends, but she never seemed to go on any dates or become romantic with anybody. 

That was probably a good thing though, considering some of the company she chose to keep. 

Malcolm Landgrabb? Seriously? You’d think rich people would be able to afford a personal trainer and a stylist. Lol I’m horrible.

Sean amused me to no end. 

It was fairly well known that the underworld in Sunset Valley was run by a group of old timers (including Velvet and Viola’s mom?!, which I did not know until Sean told me) who were apparently pretty good at what they did. Sean had decided to join them, diligently going off to ‘work’ every day. He’d already got himself chucked in jail once.

‘They’re all about to kick the bucket.’ Sean told me, quite seriously. ‘When they’re gone, I’ll have control of the whole valley.’

Um, yeah Sean. You just keep telling yourself that.

I’d finished writing my book and was halfway through writing a second by the time Emerson finished out the year at school. Now we could plan our wedding!

We decided on a simple ceremony surrounded by family and friends. I suggested we hold it at my place, since it was large and perfect for entertaining. Emerson agreed, the guest list was done, and the wedding was upon us before we knew it. We didn’t tell our invitees what was going on though - the wedding would be a surprise!

I spent the beginning of the party mingling with the guests. I had a good chat with Jenny Wu, the new it girl in town. 

She’d moved down from Bridgeport with her brother to claim their inheritance of the old Villa Alto. She was one of my co workers who was nice to me, and I was just asking her how she was liking Sunset Valley when I heard yelling from the kitchen.

‘You are a disgrace! Look at you! I dread to think how you raised that nephew of yours.’

I hurried into the kitchen. Emerson’s mom, Veronica, was yelling at my aunt Emily. And she wasn’t finished, evidently. 

‘Brought him up teaching him how to mix a nice rum and coke, did you?’ Veronica screeched. ‘Showed him how to sleep with someone then break their heart, hmm?’

I knew that Emily was not like that, and I was furious. She had done a great job of raising my brother Shaun when he had fallen out with our parents, shortly after we moved here. Emily was angry too, and rightfully so. ‘Well,’ she retorted. ‘What about your daughter shacking up with the live in babysitter?’ Emily laughed cruelly. ‘Seems like you left her at home with the nanny a few too many times, huh?’

Unlike Veronica’s allegations, this was actually true. Tania, Emerson’s sister, had come to the party, and I hoped to God she was in the bathroom or something, so she couldn’t hear what Emily was saying. Larissa, the ex babysitter and Tania’s girlfriend, hadn’t been able to come because of work, which was probably just as well.

Veronica and Emily were full on fighting now, screaming and pulling each other’s hair. 

Everyone was crowding around, transfixed. No one knew what to do. 

I gasped as Veronica slapped Emily across the face, and she cried out in pain. 

‘Don’t mess with my family,’ spat Veronica, and she stalked off.

Emerson found me about five minutes later. I was in the living room, staring aimlessly out the window, thinking. 

‘I can’t do this,’ he said bleakly. ‘It’s not right, everyone’s fighting, and-’

‘It’s okay.’ I interjected. ‘D’you - d’you want to do it after everyone’s gone?’

‘What, get married?’

I gave him a small smile. ‘That’s what we want - isn’t it?’

‘Yeah,’ Emerson replied, glancing around. ‘Yeah. I just - we are doing the right thing, aren’t we? Getting married?’

I took his hands. ‘I don’t want anyone else. Do you?’

He shook his head. ‘No.’

I smiled. ‘What do you say we enjoy what’s left of our party, and then, when all the drama’s gone out that door, we get married?’

Emerson hugged me tight. ‘You, are wonderful Tony.’

The rest of the party went pretty smoothly, it actually went pretty late, no-one wanted to leave! 

We got married in the living room at three in the morning with Viola, Velvet, and Sean as our witnesses. 

And the best part was still to come.

Oh yeah. Forgot to say I got a tattoo. Emerson liked it.

_____________________________________________________________

Author’s Notes:

So when I moved the boys in Sean's LTW was different to the one he had when I copied the town... it is now Emperor of Evil.

Next chapter is Viola’s point of view again. All five housemates are now in my studio: http://www.thesims3.com/mypage/CourtneyHelen

A HUGE thank you to grapescassie1 who built the new house for me! Go and add her as a friend or just say hi. She is awesome. I'm terrible at building sims houses, and she got it done really quickly for me.

Until next time,

xx Courtney

Gen. 2 Chap. 6: Tony's Story

I was lying on my bed reading a book when my phone buzzed. 

It was a text from Viola, a girl I knew from school.

Velvet and I having a birthday party in our pj’s! Moving out today, whoo!

I laughed at the pictures. Knowing Viola, she’d probably sent this to everyone in her contacts list. I wandered aimlessly outside onto my private verandah, thinking. 

I hadn’t really known what to do with myself since I’d graduated school. Maybe I should consider moving out, like Viola and Velvet, but it just seemed like I was stuck.

Maybe I should back up a bit. I’d always had quite a hard time at school, not with the academic side of things, but the social side. I don’t know why, but this one guy, Matty Hardwood, and his group of buddies always found a reason to pick on me. They’d beat me up just for the hell of it, and insult me whenever I happened to pass them on the way to class. My only friends at school were my brother and sister, Shaun and Elise. My relationship with Elise had deteriorated a little though, since she’d started dating Matty’s brother, Alec. She assured me he was nothing like Matty, but I wasn’t so sure. He’d definitely joined in on the teasing sometimes.

A few other people had been nice to me over the years, though: Viola Sharpe, Sean Flynn, and Emerson Swift.

Viola and Sean were pretty easy to figure out. They were best friends, about the middle of the social ladder, and didn’t mind hanging out with a loser like me every now and then. It was Emerson’s kindness to me that I couldn’t understand. He and his identical twin brother  Tristan were popular and well liked, they never rubbed anyone up the wrong way and socialised easily. For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out why Emerson would risk his reputation to hang out with me.

One day, Matty had me up against the wall in the courtyard.

‘What are you gonna do, you little faggot?’ he sneered. ‘No brother around to save you this time.’

It was true. Shaun had taken to working out in the school gym at lunchtimes lately. Unfortunately, his fitness kick was about to cost me another bashing. Matty kicked me in the shin with his sneaker clad foot and laughed as I yelled in pain.

‘Oi! Hardwood!’ came a voice to my right. I looked up and saw it was Emerson. What the hell was he doing?

‘Swifty.’ he replied. ‘What’s, er, up?’

Emerson narrowed his eyes. ‘This has gone on for too long, Hardwood, and you know it.’

Matty laughed uneasily. ‘I’m just having a bit of fun, mate, you know how it is.’

‘Firstly,’ said Emerson, striding towards us. ‘I have never been your ‘mate’. Secondly, I think you getting a kick out of putting Tony through hell is more than pathetic, to be honest.’

Matty’s stance changed. He turned towards Emerson, an ugly look on his face. ‘And what are you doing suddenly sticking up for him, huh? You a fag as well, then?’

Emerson didn’t miss a beat. ‘So what if I am, huh? It’s two thousand fucking eleven, Hardwood. Nobody gives a shit!’

Matty looked uncertian. He’d completely lost control of the situation, and other students were starting to crowd around now. It was one thing having a go at a nobody like me, but landing a punch on Emerson, one of the most popular boys in school, would not be a smart idea. There was nothing for him to do but walk away, clenching his fists as he went.

Emerson cornered me after the last class of the day. ‘Can we talk?’

‘Sure,’ I said, slinging my bag onto my shoulder.

‘I’m sorry I ran off earlier,’ he said as we walked, heading towards the back entrance of the school. ‘I had a test, and-’

‘It’s okay,’ I interjected. ‘The bell rang, it’s fine.’

We sat down on the bench at the back of the school. It was deserted, everyone was out the front catching buses and unlocking cars.

‘I’m really annoyed at myself,’ said Emerson, twisting his hands in his lap. ‘If it was that easy to stop him, I should have done it ages ago.’

‘It’s okay,’ I said again. ‘He could have easily beat you up as well.’

Emerson shook his head in frustration. ‘I’d just  - had enough, you know?’

‘Yeah.’ I said listlessly. Boy, did I know. And even now, I didn’t believe he’d stop. If none of my friends were around, he’d try again, for sure. By this point, all the bullying had worn me so low that even this small victory didn’t give me much hope.

‘Look, um, I’m just gonna say this, and you might never speak to me again, but I have to give it a shot.’ Emerson was speaking again, very fast, looking down and twisting his hands.

I frowned. ‘Well, shoot.’

Emerson took a deep breath and continued. ‘I don’t know if you’re actually gay, or Matty just says that to piss you off, but I’ve, um, had a crush on you for, uh, a while now.’

I was utterley shocked. This was the last thing I’d expected. ‘What?’

‘Okay, I get it, I’m going,’ said Emerson, shooting up from the bench.

‘No, wait!’ I said, standing up too. ‘I just don’t understand why you like me.’ I was starting to think this whole thing was an elaborate joke, because it seemed too good to be true.

Emerson just stared at me. ‘Because you’re gorgeous.’

I make a face. ‘Just stop, Swifty. Seriously. I know this is a joke.’

Emerson looked more than irritated now. ‘Fuck, Tony, you just don’t get it do you? I am not that person, I would never do that!’ He sad down on the bench and put his head in his hands. I just stared at him. My head was a mess. 

‘So what now?’ said Emerson listlessly.

‘What do you mean?’

Emerson lifted his head. He looked exasperated. ‘Do you like me?’

‘I don’t know! You just dumped this on me, I’m having a hard time getting my head around it.’

‘So are you gay?’

‘I don’t know! I think so, but no one’s ever asked me out before, have they?’

‘Come here.’ said Emerson. I sat back down on the bench, jiggling my foot nervously. And then he kissed me. I don’t think it was a proper first kiss, more like a first make out. It definitely lasted a long time. My lips just seemed to know what to do, and it came as easily as breathing.

‘Yeah?’ asked Emerson breathlessly as we finally broke apart, his hands cupping my face.

‘Yeah.’ I replied. Then I kissed him again.

Our relationship quickly became very serious. We were both a bit ‘all or nothing’ - we seemed to skip the casual/awkward dating stage. As I got to know Emerson, I realised he was more like me that I thought. He was actually very insecure about himself, and was constantly working out or staring at himself in the mirror. I realised how hard it must have been for him to admit he liked me.

One Sunday afternoon, I took Emerson down to one of Sunset Valley’s secluded beaches for a picnic. Loving him had given me the confidence to do things I never would have considered before - like propose to him. I did just that, as the sun set over the water behind us. He was surprised, but very, very happy. We both knew this relationship was the real deal. As cheesy as it sounds, I’d discovered that soulmates do exist - and Emerson Swift was mine.

The catch was - and there’s always a catch, isn’t there? The catch was that Emerson was a year younger than me. So now I had to wait for him to finish his senior year at school before we could start our lives together. And that was why I felt adrift.

My phone buzzed again, cutting through my thoughts. Another text from Viola.

OMG, the new house is huge! WTF was my dad thinking!? Do u want to move in??

I stared at the text message. Was she serious? I called her.

‘Tony!’ she said. ‘Oh my God, we just arrived at the new house, and it’s like, ten times the size of our old one!’

I laughed. ‘You do realise that rock stars are generally rich?’

‘Yes! I know that, but we don’t need all this space. There’s four bedrooms for a start. So we had this great idea of getting housemates.’

I stared out at the expansive view as I considered this. Our family home was large and comfortable, and probably had one of the best views in town. I’d lived here since my family had moved to Sunset Valley when I was a teenager. It would be hard to leave behind - but already I could see myself doing it. And maybe, it was just the thing I needed at the moment.

‘When can I move in?’

________________________________________________________________

Authors Notes:

So, erm, this is my absolute favourite genre to write, gay romance. I couldn't resist doing a little background story. Everything is based on facts, e.g. Matty and Emerson are enemies, Tony has the loser trait, Viola and Sean are Tony's only acquaintances apart from family and Emerson, etc. I used my copied town to take the pics of Tony at his parent's house.

Next chapter is still Tony but that's because we have a WEDDING! He tells you what Viola and Velvet are up to, don't worry.

Sorry if you liked Tony's old hair, but I thought this one looked even better.

IMPORTANT! Any feedback, positive or negative, on the writing quality in this would be greatly appreciated, as this chapter is the same genre/theme as my novel. This is first draft quality, as are all my blog posts.

Until next time,

xx Courtney