It's a family get together at the Winter Festival. Amira is enjoying some fresh snow fall, Claude is too good for coats, Salvatore can be seen dashing around in the background, and Nikia is just wondering how she managed to be related to this lot.
After a slew of boyfriends and romantic interests, Laila has finally, possibly, found the one. At the very least she and Gilberto here are engaged.
Amira is eager to show off her snowboarding skills. Shredding.
Vera and Jess build an igloo. They've been best friends since childhood and high school has not been able to change that.
"Did you do your English paper yet?" Vera asks.
Jess sighs, "Can we not talk about school?"
"I'll edit it for you if you need."
"Uuughhh, ok thanks. Are you going to formal with Freddie?"
Vera chews at her lip and says, "I'm not sure. He graduated recently and he hasn't been returning my calls. I don't know what I should do."
"Maybe he's just trying to figure things out now that he's an adult?"
"I'm in love with him, Jess. What if he doesn't want to wait for me?"
"Give him a reason to want to wait," Jess says. "I mean, show him that you love him or something. Maybe you should talk to Sally."
Sally recently started her job as a fan at the theater. She aspires to be the next big thing in music. She also recently broke up with her high school boyfriend.
"Don't worry about boys right now. All they want is woohoo anyway. Totally not worth it, trust me."
"But I want to be with him. He's comfortable and loyal and he makes me happy," Vera says earnestly.
"Are you talking about a guy or a dog?"
Rickey picks his grandmother's brain.
"
Light Sonata makes me feel like I'm on an island vacation. Was that your inspiration?"
"You guys are my inspiration, Rickey. My family. I wrote
Light Sonata when Sally was born.
Upside Down Eclipse I wrote when you were born. I've written a composition for each of my children and grandchildren."
"Is it safe to say
Whispering Night is about Jolie?"
Varinia smiles and nods, "That one was difficult. She came unexpectedly and with no explanation. I'm still trying to work it out."
"Will you play for me, grandma?"
Alonzo and Claude also talk about music.
"I want to be a composer like you, grandpa!"
"It is a fulfilling profession," Claude admits. "But only if you really enjoy music."
"I love music! I love sports too and art and turtles and fish and, and. . .," Alonzo trails off. "Could I be a soccer star?"
Claude chuckles, "You can be anything you want. If you can decide what that is."
Rickey is thrilled when Varinia pulls out her portable keyboard and plays
Upside Down Eclipse.
Moira is not about to be outdone. She joins her twin on the snowboard ramp. She'll take a scrape or two in the name of fun and friendly competition.
Creeper!Gnome is a creeper.
Jolie becomes a child. She refused to potty train or learn to talk Simlish but now she knows how to do both of these things. She also has an aptitude for chess and painting. Like a little prodigy except, you know, alien.
Dahlia takes up inventing to pass the time since no one else seems to want to spend time with her. This gnome may be freaky looking but she enjoys his company while she molds scrap metal.
Michael knows Vera is going to beat him and that makes their games even more difficult.
Claude finally gets his portrait of Amira. She won't let him hang it in the house. He keeps it in his portfolio instead.
Dahlia is about to enjoy a snack when she realizes something. . .
Her grandfather, Jeffrey Castor has passed on from old age. She is distraught even though she barely knew the man.
Claude decides to make a meal to help his granddaughter feel better.
Jolie has an adventure in the tub.
Tracey Prudence invites Dahlia on a date. He's Freddie's younger half brother and is looking for a date to the formal. Dahlia accepts.
"I was going to go with Steven but he hasn't returned my calls," Dahlia admits.
"We'll have a great time," Tracey insists. "I promise to dance to all of your favorite songs. Plus, my cousin is dull. I'm much more interesting. Have you seen my hair?"
"That is some interesting hair," Dahlia agrees.
Bishop moves diagonal but then what? Michael ponders the rules and moves of chess.
Formal night arrives. Freddie has graduated from high school but he still shows up to escort Vera to one of her last dances.
"You came! I'm so happy to see you," she says sweetly. "I almost thought you were avoiding me."
Freddie shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
"I agreed to come with you and I felt like I shouldn't break my promise. Is your sister coming?"
Vera blushes and whispers, "I wish we could be alone."
Amira and Michael make up for lost time while their older daughters are at formal and Jolie is asleep.
This golden fox represents Amira's most important status, master thief. She is calling all the shots, bringing in more money than she ever imagined, and so skillful that no one in the area can match her. At the recent thievery competition Amira won the grand prize of §2000 single-handedly.
When she announces her promotion to Michael he drags her to bed to show her just how much he appreciates her hard work and dedication.
Vera sets her formal photo on the wall above her bed. Freddie was a perfect gentlesim all night. She wishes they could get married right now and start their life together. She wants to prove to Freddie how serious she is about their relationship.
Vera was also voted Prom Queen and she wore the crown the entire night. She can't believe how lucky she is.
Dahlia hangs her photo on her wall as well. She had a great time with Tracey.
Sunday morning and Vera has a plan to keep her man. She has no intention of losing Freddie just because she's a few days younger.
Freddie's mom lets Vera into the house. Vera climbs the stairs and enters Freddie's bedroom while he's just getting up for the day.
"Vera, what are you doing here?" he asks, startled.
"I just wanted to see you. I had a great time last night. I know now that you're an adult, formal must seem silly."
Vera grins. Freddie shifts uncomfortably.
"Right, about that. . ."
"Let's take a picture together!" Vera interrupts. "I'd like to post it to my blog. Show everyone that we're still very much in love."
"I think we should break up," Freddie blurts out.
Vera is caught completely off guard. She had been planning their life together. She had been considering woohooing with Freddie to prove how much she loves him and wants to be with him. Yeah, she's still a teen but he's only a few days older. It really shouldn't matter!
"I came over here to tell you that I'm in love with you and I want to
be with you," Vera shrieks. "It's a few days, Freddie! Why? We could be happy together."
"I'm not a kid anymore, Vera. I have plans of my own. You have never been interested in what I want to do with my life, you just dragged me along. I'm not a toy. I'm done. We're done."
"I cannot believe you would do this to me," Vera sobs. "I wanted to marry you."
"I'm sorry."
Freddy tries to pat her shoulder. He hates seeing her so upset.
"Just. . . don't," Vera screams. "Don't pretend you care. Why would you take me to formal and then break up with me? You're cruel and heartless. I can't believe I thought about woohooing with you. How could I have been so blind?"
"Vera, I didn't want to hurt you."
"Whatever, Freddie. Talk to the hand!"
Vera storms out. She wipes at her tears as she walks aimlessly through the streets of Twinbrook.
She finds herself outside of Mick's Master Karaoke. There's only a few people in here. The proprietor is busy speaking to someone else and Vera takes the opportunity to sneak a drink and then a second one.
Her uncle Rico doesn't even notice that she's been sneaking drinks. The two of them take to singing show tunes on the karaoke machine.
Vera vaguely knows Lionel from school. He's new to the area and does not have many friends.
"I'm into alchemy," Lionel admits. "Not many people find that cool."
"I read a ton of books. It's pretty inoffensive as far as hobbies go."
Vera lets her three glasses of nectar get the better of her. She kisses Lionel so hard her lips hurt. He doesn't pull away but instead gives in to her kiss. They make out by the photo booth for several minutes, completely ignoring the fact that it's curfew.
"I thought you were going out with some older guy?" he asks.
Vera feels her eyes begin to water and a lump forms in her throat.
"Old news," she croaks out. "Single and ready to mingle."
"It's getting late. I should probably head home."
"Me too."
Not wanting to make things awkward, Vera leaves without another word.
It's well past one in the morning when Vera gets home. She has school in just a few hours and is exhausted.
"Where have you been?" Michael asks angrily. "I've been waiting up for you since your mother left for work. I've called you. I've texted you. No one had any idea where you were."
"Uncle Rico knew where I was," she answers defiantly. "I'm not some little kid that needs to be watched after. I'm almost an adult!"
"Keyword: ALMOST."
"It can't have been that big of a deal if mom just went off to work even though I was 'missing'."
Vera uses air quotes for emphasis.
"That's it. You are GROUNDED, young lady! Don't even THINK about leaving this house!"
Vera breaks down.
"Freddie broke up with me," she sobs. "Everyone is treating me like I'm some stupid little kid and I'm not. I'm not! I know what I want. I can't believe this is what my life has become. I love him, daddy!"
"I'm sorry for breaking curfew and yelling and being generally disrespectful but I'm really distraught. Can we chalk it up to emotional upheaval and let this one slide? Please?" she sniffles.
"Okay, I'm sorry to hear about you and Freddie. Go get some rest. You have school in the morning."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Funny story, I have been spelling Dahlia's name differently than what it is in my game. I always intended it to be Dahlia like the flower since she was born during the spring holiday but in game it is Daliah. I will be fixing it next time I play.
Jolie Van Hofwegen
Slob
Light Sleeper
Frugal
No close-up child picture of Jolie because I am awful and I don't care. I probably should have sent her back to her home world. Sim!God is bored of her.
