Gen. 2 Chap. 15: I'll wait for you forever.

That night, we slept in separate beds. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept alone. My bed felt cold and uncomfortable without Sean, and I didn’t sleep well.

Sean wanted space, and I knew I had to let him have it. We kept ourselves busy in our own ways. I favoured painting, whislt Sean preferred fixing things and working overtime on the computer.

Fairly soon it was time for my adult birthday. 

I doubt Sean even noticed. 

One day at work I was feeling quite emotional about the whole thing. Sean and I had always been something, if not romantic then at least friends. This nothing, I couldn’t stand it. When I made a mistake on an eyelash tinting, I ended up in tears along with my client. It was then, while I was out the back of the spa trying to compose myself that I made my decision. If Sean didn’t start talking to me again, I was going to have to move out. Because I couldn’t keep this up much longer.

You can imagine my surprise when I got out of work and Sean was freaking standing there, with that little annoying smile on his face.

‘I thought I’d come pick you up,’ he said hesitantly.

I just stared at him. ‘Thanks,’ I said, a little stiffly.

Sean bit his lip, an oddly uncharacteristic gesture. ‘I want to - can we start over?’

I closed my eyes briefly, and nodded. I didn’t trust myself to speak.

You could feel the tension in the car. I desperately wanted to sneak my hand over and hold his, but I didn’t want him to react badly. Instead, I just let the wanting build up inside me. When we got home, I was highly aware of his every movement. I walked slowly over to the  fireplace and lit it, then sat down on the couch, feeling like an actor in a movie. Sean came over to me. He had a strange expression on his face.

‘My feet are sore,’ I said lamely.

Sean looked amused. ‘Then don’t wear heels to work, silly.’

It all happened very quickly. In one fluid motion Sean had sat down on the couch and was kissing me. 

The fire was instant, and I immediately wanted more. But Sean pulled away and put his head in his hands.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘Just give me a sec.’

I got up off the couch to give him some space. When I heard him behind me, I turned around.

‘Too fast?’

Sean looked vulnerable and confused. ‘I dunno. Maybe.’ He stroked my hair. ‘I want this, I just - I don’t know.’

I didn’t know what to say, so I gave him a soft peck on the lips, which set us off again. 

We were intertwined, kissing furiously, making our way down to the bedroom as we did so. 

I was ready, I was so ready - until Sean said, quietly ‘Stop. I can’t do this.’

I knew what his problem was. He just couldn’t trust me, and rightly so too. 

When we were having lunch at the diner the next day, I saw VJ. 

Conflicted emotions ran through me. I definitely liked VJ, but I liked Sean too. I didn’t want to break things off with VJ, but I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted beyond that.

‘Let’s go somewhere,’ I said to Sean. I wanted to kiss him, but I didn’t want to do it in front of VJ.

Sean frowned. He hadn’t seen VJ. ‘Where? Home?’

‘No, um, the library!’ It was the first place that popped into my head.

Sean eyed me curiously. ‘Okay. The library it is.’

Let me just say, the library has a great selection of secluded corners to make out in. And I think Sean was more relaxed as well, seeing as we couldn’t exactly do the deed in the library. 

We stayed there until Sean had to go to work. As I kissed him goodbye my phone started ringing.

‘Hello?’ I grinned as I watched Sean lope down the stairs. I gave him a little wave.

‘Hello, is that Viola Sharpe?’ The voice on the other end of the line was familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

‘This is Viola.’

‘Good, uh, this is Miraj, VJ’s brother. I’m calling to - I’m sorry to tell you that VJ passed away this afternoon. It was very sudden.’

I froze. ‘But I just - I just saw him today.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Miraj’s voice was clipped, broken. ‘You’ve got my number now if you need. I’ve got to go, Viola.’

I don’t know how long I stood there, in a daze. I made it home, somehow, my actions feeling numb and mechanical. As I locked the front door behind me, I let the tears fall.

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Author’s Notes:

Chapter title is Short Stack song lyrics again. From 'Counting the Stars'.

Sorry this isn’t a very long chapter! It just seemed to end naturally there. That is also the spot my game broke, weirdly.

I laughed so hard when I was writing the bit about Viola fudging an eyelash tint. I don’t know if any of you have experienced it, but if the therapist messes it up, it hurts like hell cos you have hair dye in your eyes! Not good. Let me know if you want more Viola-at-work stories. I think I’ve only done a couple before, but they’re pretty easy to make up, so I can do more.

Viola really did wish to go to the library when she was on a date with Sean and saw VJ. It was hilarious.

Sorry if the writing’s off in this chapter. A guy who doesn’t want sex is very hard to write, so bear with me (and Sean!).

Gen. 2 Chap. 14: Love and Lust

This chapter will be written in part narrative style, part conversation style.

Normal text will be in black.

Viola will be in green.

I will be in blue.

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Sean was out cold when I woke up the next morning, so I slid quietly out of bed and padded down the hall to our new hobby room.

We’d set it up yesterday. Sean had lugged his exercise equipment in, and I’d set up a couple of easels and put some drop sheets down. We’d decorated the room with my paintings and rock collection, as well as a couple of dad’s old guitars. It was a bright, cheerful space, and I loved it.

I propped my current canvas up on one of the easels and started to paint.

After a while, I heard Sean in the shower, so I snuck back to our room to get dressed. I was in the kitchen when I heard him turn off the water.

‘Happy birthday,’ I said as he wandered into the kitchen, still looking a little sleepy, his hair damp. A smile crept onto my face.

Sean grimaced. ‘Do I look old?’

‘Hmmm,’ I said, still grinning. ‘You kind of look like that guy from Silverchair. But with a pretty boy haircut.’

Sean raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re saying I look like a burnt out rock star? That’s encouraging.’

I laughed. Sean was smiling at me, shaking his head. ‘What are you going to buy for your birthday?’ I asked. I knew Sean was saving for a new car, so I’d given him cash for his birthday, left over from the sale of the old house.

He looked smug. ‘I already bought it.’

‘What? When?’

‘Before work yesterday. Come have a look.’ He took my hand and dragged me outside. Parked around the side of the house was a shiny black... Prius?

‘A Prius?’ I said.

Sean rolled his eyes. ‘It was black and in my budget, okay?’

I shook my head at him. ‘C’mon. Let’s take it out.’

We ended up at the diner, just like old times.

Afterwards, we caught a movie. We weren't quite ready to go straight home when it finished though.

***

I’m sure I did do something constructive the next day. I was just a little distracted for a while, that’s all.

Oh! That’s right, I hung up a painting, and finished another one.

And I learned how to cook pancakes. Now I can make waffles and pancakes! 

I’m not sure if Sean liked them though.

***

Velvet had wanted a painting done, so I gave her one of the portraits of Sean. 

After we caught up, I headed to the theatre to play for tips. 

I met some new people, and I saw Tristan as well.

I hadn’t seen him in so long, it made me realise I was going to start losing friends if I didn’t keep hanging out with them. So I invited Dylan over the next day.

I got to show him the new house, and we had a good catch up. I was relived things no longer seemed awkward between us, after my disastrous flirting attempt a while ago.

***

After work I had dinner with my friend Kristy, who I’d met while busking.

There was a bit of commotion at the bistro, however, as Veronica Swift tried to start a fight with someone!

Luckily, Tony and Emerson were there having dinner too, and they seemed to talk some sense into her.

***

Sean had been very busy at work, and was still asleep when I woke up the next morning. So I decided to call VJ Alvi and ask him out for breakfast.

***

‘VIOLA! What the hell did you just do?!’

‘I just kissed VJ. Problem?’

‘Yes I have a problem! What about Sean?’

‘What about Sean and why did you not say you had a problem with this before I kissed him and made this into a date?’

‘Because I didn’t know you were flirting with him! You were being boring and I thought you were about to go into the diner so I was watching the other people outside the diner.’

‘Well it’s your own fault then. Now get out of my head, I’m on a date and I’m having breakfast with VJ.’

***

‘I see you painted VJ gathering the forces of evil.’

‘Oh damn you’re back. Yes I did and I think it looks much better than the picture of Sean, don’t you?’

‘Speaking of Sean, he is home from work.’

‘Great. What the hell is he wearing?’

‘Well, he has gotten in the good books of Michael Bachelor, the new crime boss since Matt Iverson died. But Michael is hazing him and making him wear stupid outfits and do dangerous jobs. He’s not having a very good time at work at the moment that’s why he has been distant these last few days. You would know this if you’d bothered to talk to him.’

‘Well I’m going to eat my dinner first.’

‘You can’t hide out there forever, Sean is in the hobby room waiting for you.’

‘I’m going, I’m going.’

‘I think he knows.’

‘I would not be surprised if he knows, you kissed VJ in front of a lot of people, including Sean’s boss.’

‘If he knows then why is he all sweet on me?’

‘I’m not sure.’

‘I don’t know what to do.’

***

‘Have you made up your mind, Viola?’

‘Yes, but can I go to the toilet before I tell you?’

‘I guess. I just realised you’ve distracted me so much I’ve forgotten to change your outfit.’

‘Huh? I thought I just decided to wear the exact same dress two days in a row.’

‘No, I usually change your outfit every day. I don’t normally bother with Sean though, because I’d just be changing the singlet to a slightly different colour and I didn’t see much point.’

‘I just thought he couldn’t match colours.’

‘Nope. Anyway, what have you decided?’

‘I’m going to sleep with Sean.’

‘Don’t you already do that?’

‘You’re remarkably dumb sometimes, Courtney. I mean have sex with him. It’s about time I had sex with someone and I want to do it with Sean. Then he won’t be suspicious about VJ.’

‘Something tells me you’re doing this for the wrong reasons, but whatever, go ahead.

***

‘Courtney!’

‘What?’

‘Me and Sean were in the car about to go to the movies and then suddenly he stops the car and gets out and starts yelling at me!’

‘Probably because you are messing with his head and he has finally cracked. Now shoosh, I want to hear what he’s saying.’

***

‘I can’t play along any more Viola! I can’t do it!’

I had never seen him so angry. I stepped back a little, shocked.

‘I know all about what you’ve been getting up to. Kissing someone else in front of a dozen people? You really think I wouldn’t find out?’

I bit my lip. ‘I’m sorry.’ I said quietly.

‘Sorry doesn’t cut it, Viola.’

I gathered my self resolve. ‘To be fair, Sean, we never discussed this thing being exclusive.’

Sean just shook his head. ‘Don’t you get it, Viola? I love you. But to you, it’s just a game.’

I felt like Sean had just slapped me in the face. I went to say something to him, but he stalked past me, around the corner. I followed him and saw him kick over the neighbours rubbish bin in fury. 

I walked over to him. He was standing on the sidewalk, breathing heavily. 

‘Sean?’ I said, and tried to take his hand.

‘Don’t,’ he said shortly. ‘Don’t touch me.’

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So, I think my game is working now! I say think because every time I think it’s working, it stops. But anyway, fingers crossed. I’m using the same save game, I didn’t have to download them again, but thanks anyway to Amhranai for uploading Sean for me. Also a big thanks to Julie, I had to re colour Viola’s hair as I lost the colour and her picture of Viola with base game hair was a lifesaver. 

I’m not adding in any CC or store content for the minute, so I apologise for the base game hair and clothes in the upcoming chapters. I just want to be sure my game’s working first before I try adding stuff to it.

Until next time,

xx Courtney.