Chapter 13- From Mars to Venus

Chapter 13- From Mars to Venus

                Another day, another bus ride without Velma. Daphne sits near Fred hoping she can make his first day of school wonderful. It would be horrible if he turned out like his older sister and never went to school.

William watches the two, wondering if Daphne is scoffing at his attempts to get Velma to attend again. Velma had run through most of the boys in school and saw no other reason to attend, no matter what William had said otherwise. His current attempt was to get her to attend the last week of school so she could collect her diploma at least, though the principal was threatening to not even do that.

                It had been a while since William’s breakup with Heather and he had decided the time was ripe to try again in the romance department. He’d long had a crush on Alisa Pink who would be aging up with Velma and Daphne in a few days. He nervously picked up the phone and dialed the cell phone number her sister Lacie had given him the day after she found out that the world would no longer ship Hea-lliam. She’d long thought that Alisa and Williams friendship should be more. Just look how lucrative such a relationship could be to their family!

                “Alisa?” William’s voice cracked with nerves as, right on cue, Lily Pad showed up to keep tabs on him. William had not let her in on any of his romantic plans as he was trying to get his dearest friend to give him some space to be himself.

                To his delight, the conversation between the two flowed thick and natural. She wasn’t shy like a lot of the other girls. Nor was she stuck up and snobby as was Daphne.

                “Seriously, did you see what happened to Mr. Teal’s hair when the wind gusted? I had no idea it was a rug!” William and Alisa shared Chemistry, both the class at school and over the phone.

                William was laughing at something witty one of Alisa’s girlfriends had said when he felt an indescribably warm sensation on his left shoulder. It could mean only one thing, Lily Pad was hovering close. FAR too close.

                He quickly took a turn and walked deliberately away from Lily Pad. He ended up very near the easel.

                “I actually started a new painting the other day. I’m beginning to think my Dad and Kiley are pretty serious and I want to give them something special if they make a big announcement. You’re in the art club after school aren’t you? I’d love to see some of your work sometime.” William was beginning to try too hard in the hope that Lily Pad would hear it and give up. No such luck though as he heard her shoes hitting the wooden floor as she marched after him.

                Lily Pad again ended up far too close, even maneuvering herself to get closer over his shoulder. William forced a laugh at something Alisa said that wasn’t remotely meant to be funny, yes, or something like that. The silence on the other end warned William that trying to distract Lily Pad was distracting him from his real goal.

                “I heard y’all moved a little bit ago, over to Friendship Circle? Does Eugene still live over there? I can’t keep up with where his family lives anymore…” William’s attempt to be engaging and ask about Alisa was becoming desperate sounding. He decided to listen for a few minutes and use his brain to try to out think Lily Pad.

                He turned abruptly and moved near the banister. Lily Pad was still trying to sneak up to where he was allowing him to feel a moment of triumph before he heard: “Are you even listening?”

                His face drooped as he realized that he had forgotten to actually listen to what Alisa had been saying to him. He scrambled for a moment before managing to turn it to account, saying he had tripped over one of the kids’ toys upstairs and that he was trying to right himself without letting her know so he wouldn’t embarrass himself to such a sweet girl.

                His lie had held. Alisa bought it with a giggle and instantly forgave him for not hearing her question.

                “Would you like to come over sometime? Maybe hang out? I don’t think you’ve ever been here and I can show you some of the art in and around our house. What we put in the art museum is only a fraction of our collection. I’m sure an art lover such as yourself would love it.” William asked a little louder than necessary, trying to give a hint to Lily Pad.

                Alisa’s answer was just a blur in his ears as his anger rose against Lily Pad and her eavesdropping.

                Ending the call, William reflected on just what a disaster it was. Alisa was sweet and just a touch dim, so maybe it was only a nightmare in his own head. But he was going to have to do something about Lily Pad. She had ruined one relationship of his by playing to his fears; he didn’t want her to do it again. He really liked Alisa. And while she seemed to like him back, most of the girls at school didn’t like him. He was just a touch too odd for them to be able to get over in an attempt to grab his wealth. There were other rich boys in school, they were the favored ones.

                William had heard that there was a chemical way to force Lily Pad to show her human self. His great-grandfather had used it and had even married his special friend. But William’s numerous attempts to recreate the chemical combination had only ended up in his going to school with no eyebrows for almost a month. Maybe Jackson had left the formula in the chest of heirlooms that were not out on display. It was worth looking for if he could get rid of Lily Pad.

“Alisa said she’d just love to stop by and hang out sometime,” William said in an overly affected voice as he walked over to the chest.

                Lily Pad didn’t react aloud. Instead, she cracked her knuckles while staring at the easel.

                However, Lily Pad couldn’t help staring as William opened the chest in the corner. Lily Pad knew that there were family heirlooms in the chest, though she was unsure as to what they were exactly. She was especially confused as to why William would be rummaging through it as though he were looking for a specific something. 

                William was amazed when he found a whole notebook filled with Jackson’s findings from his chemistry experiments. William pocketed it as quickly and discreetly as he could, planning on thoroughly perusing it at the library later on. Lily Pad wouldn’t be able to follow him there and he figured if he didn’t understand something, where better to do research?

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

                The last week of school for Velma and Daphne was about to start. Craig had fixed a breakfast of waffles for the family and was rather taken aback when Daphne had sat next to him to eat her share. He barely spent any time with his own kids and Kiley’s kids made him extremely nervous.

                Hence, when Daphne’s first sentence came out of her mouth he was vastly unprepared.

                “Seriously, you should turn this place into a theatre, or a movie set! The dining room and library in particular are super creepy! Plus they could redecorate it so the rest of the house isn’t beige.” Daphne had been on this particular kick since moving in. She had a very real aversion to beige.

                Craig closed his eyes and counted to ten. He hoped that when he opened them she would be gone. Did she not get that he had grown up here? That he loved it here? That it was his home?

                When he opened them and she was still there, he decided more drastic measures would be necessary.

                Kiley and Daphne both looked at him as he switched seats. Craig merely stared back at Daphne as though he had never seen a teenage girl before.

                “It was just an idea, yo,” Daphne defended herself. Craig was giving her crazy eyes and it was frankly disconcerting.

                Craig was not okay with this “just idea,” yo. He continued to act as though she had recently landed here from Mars.

                Kiley continued to clean up as Daphne finally looked away from Craig, focusing her gaze on the paintings on the wall.

                Daphne leapt from her seat the moment she heard the bus horn sound and ran to the door. Kiley tried to give Craig a reproachful look, though he seemed to have moved on from Mars to Venus and returned her gaze with amorous ardor.

                Kiley took a deep breath and decided to ignore him and continue to do dishes. Men could be so stupid sometimes. Besides, she had something she wanted to get done today and she didn’t want to waste her breath trying to get Craig to understand anyone other than himself.

                As Craig looked on, Kiley called the family’s secretary and asked for help planning a triple birthday party. Velma and Daphne’s birthday was on the same day as Marcie’s this year, and it was only a week away.

Craig was a little startled. He hadn’t realized the secretary and her assistants could help you throw a party. He’d have to have them set one up for him where he could invite his boss over.

                “I also want my teeth whitened,” Kiley went on.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

                Velma had left for school in the car instead of on the bus and Daphne was shooting withering looks at William the entire bus ride. William, however, had faith that Velma would show up. She was just driving to show off as she finally showed up. He knew she was nervous. What Daphne seemed to have overlooked was that Marcie was also not on the bus. William had put her in the car with Velma as a safeguard. At the very least, she’d have to drop off Marcie.

                The three got off the bus. William smiled to himself. Velma was walking from the student parking lot up to the crowds around the doors. No one ever went in before the second bell rang. It was fashionable to slide into your seat just as the tardy bell rang signaling the start of the day.

Velma threw a look over her shoulder as she heard some little kid go in the building early. She was still debating on bolting.

                Nervously, she looked around. Most of the kids, even her old friends, were ignoring her. She’d been out too long. She was out of the loop.

                She frowned. The desire to jump back in the car and drive away was getting stronger by the minute. It wouldn’t take a second. No one would notice. Her tan might suffer. 

                Daphne turned to William with a triumphant look. She could read her sisters body language. She knew what was about to happen.

                Some arrogant jock in the crowd raised a finger as the first bell rang.

                “That’s one folks!” He shouted in glee over the tumult.

                William turned to Velma. He caught her eye and gave the tiniest of nods. She could do this. He’d help.

                “Second bell folks! Let’s get through those doors!” The same kid shouted a moment later.

                Velma returned Williams smile. She could do it. It was only for a week.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

It was only for a day. I made her go to school the day of her birthday. Forced her. She kicked and screamed the entire way, kept trying to go back home, and cancel the action, rolled wishes to go to the pool and the park. And poor Marcie accidentally got left at home when Craig decided to scold her for not heading to the still waiting bus at 9:01. Bastard scold system. They really didn’t think that one through all the way. When I moved her in, Velma was failing and seemed to like it. So I went with it. This is the first sim kid I’ve ever allowed to fail in school. Never had a C even before, my OCD simply won’t allow it.
Also, The pic of Craig staring down Daphne? That is one of my favorite pictures of a sim's expression... ever. It's like WTH? and Holy $#!( all at once. Love it. Love even more that he gave it to the ice queen Daphne herself. She totally deserves to know that she's not the know all end all.