Port Anesely Chapter 1: Beginnings
Here's the first installment of my soap opera-ish sims story set in a small, island town.
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“Sienna!” I heard his voice before I really should have. If I was normal I may not have even heard his voice at all. But, I’m not normal. It’s not like I’m some mutant or anything like that, I’m just different. I would be normal if I hadn’t decided to walk home last August. But, I did. After that day, and the subsequent ones spent in the hospital on the mainland, I’d had obnoxiously perceptive hearing. I knew why it happened. I knew how it happened. I just wished it hadn’t.
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Today was the first day of my junior year of high school. How fun, right? I would be driving to school; I’d have a boyfriend; it would be the hardest year academically, but the parties and concerts would even it all out. Maybe if I lived somewhere normal that’d be the case. But, I didn’t. I lived on Anesely Island, in the tiny town of Port Anesely that took up the whole, goddamn island. No one needed a car in Port Anesely; it was that small. Stephie, my best friend, snagged up the only decent guy under 25 on the whole island as soon as he moved here freshman year and, as far as the whole parties and concerts thing, that was never going to happen. There were no bands in town and no bands, not even the completely unknown ones, made Port Anesely a tour destination. And the parties? The only place to party in town was the junkyard and that place gave me the heebies. Who knew what lurked in all those weeds? I sure didn’t. And that creepy old abandoned house? No thanks. Besides, I didn’t want to hang out with those kids anyway.
Reluctantly, I stood up and tiptoed out of my room. It was 6:30 in the morning. Stupidly, Port Anesely High’s first bell rang at 7 am while Port Anesely Elementary didn’t even start until 8:55, so my younger twin siblings, Zoe and Ryan, wouldn’t even be waking up until I was wasting away in first period English. Granted, I did get out at 2:08 while they were stuck at school until 3:45, but, still. Teenagers needed more sleep and that was entirely impossible with how much homework the teachers loaded us down with every night.
“Hey Dad.” I said as I walked into my family’s bakery, Main Street Bakery.
“Hey honey.” He smiled. I walked past him and bent over to get my apron out from underneath the counter but he stopped me.
“What is it Dad?” I asked.
He put a hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t you take the morning off? You were almost late to school every morning last year and I want you to start off this year right.”
“Dad, its fine. Besides, Stephie got a car for her birthday so she’s driving us to school now.” I pointed out.
“Still. I don’t want you to be stressed and frazzled on your first day of school.”
I sighed. I didn’t get frazzled, at least not very often. It was a trait I found invaluable once I started working at the bakery every day before and after school. I was sure my parents were breaking some kind of child labor law, but I couldn’t care less. It wasn’t that hard, I got free pastries, and it was the shortest commute possible, considering I lived upstairs. And I didn’t have a creepy boss, like Stephie had at the H&M Outlet. At least I didn’t have to worry about my boss pulling something whenever he called me into the staff room.
I shrugged my shoulders and looked at my dad. “Alright. I guess I’ll just go wait outside for her. She can’t be too much longer anyway.”
He smiled at me, thankful he didn’t have to argue with me any longer. My parents knew I didn’t have many friends and I think that bugged them a little. My mom, Laura, grew up in Port Anesely and she was the golden child of Port Anesely High. My father, James, was a similar story back in Pleasantview, where he grew up. Unfortunately for both of them, none of us kids inherited their golden child genes.
After 10 minutes of waiting, I saw Stephie’s car pulling around the corner.
“Ready for the start of another wonderful year as a ray?” She asked, leaning out her window as she pulled up to the curb
“Ugh, don’t remind me. I just want the next two years to go by as painlessly as possible.” I climbed into the passenger seat. “But that’s unlikely.”
“Always so positive, Si. That’s why I like you.”
We pulled up outside Keith’s house and Stephie honked her horn.
“What’s Keith’s schedule? I never got to ask him.” I asked her.
“I don’t remember. He’s taking ceramics though so he’ll be in your class.” There was only one period of ceramics, 5th. I sighed in relief.
“Good. I was worried no one would be there to laugh at my pathetic clay attempt at the Moulin Rouge.”
Stephie smiled at something behind my head. I turned to see Keith Jacobs strolling down his front walk.
When Keith moved to Port Anesely in 9th grade, every girl went bat shit crazy over him. Including me. But, who wouldn’t have? He was attractive, funny, and smart. Not that anyone but Stephie and I, and maybe that Goth girl Marnie, even cared about the last two.
I got out of the car to pull up the seat so I could get in the back and he could sit in the front with Stephie.
“Don’t worry, Sienna. I’ll get in the back.” Keith patted my shoulder and moved past me to get into the back seat.
I could’ve sworn he bumped my hand on purpose but, of course, I was imagining things. Sure, I’d been in love with Keith freshman year but then Stephie had started dating him and eventually he just turned into my best guy friend. There was absolutely no sexual tension there. Right?
We pulled up to the school with a whopping 10 minutes to spare until the first bell. Stephie pulled over to the curb and grabbed her purse from the dash board.
“Hey! Where’s my parking pass?” She rummaged through her purse, her panic level rising. “I paid 35 freaking simoleons for that!” She threw her purse down in frustration. “Where am I supposed to park now? They’ll tow Bessie to the junk yard if I park anywhere other than the parking lot. God. Having a car in PA sucks.” She sighed. She looked in the rearview mirror at Keith then turned to me. “You guys better just get out. I don’t wanna make you guys late. I’ll just park somewhere they can’t find me.”
“Okay. I’ll save you a seat in English?” I asked her as I climbed out of the car and moved the seat to let Keith out.
“Sure thing.” Stephie smiled as Keith jumped out and closed the door. “Don’t let Ari Mari and her clones eat you!” She mimicked a monster
I laughed. Stephie sped away and I looked over at Keith. “What classes are you taking?”
“I’m taking regular English, so I’ve got Ms. Barnes third, not first. You smarties taking AP. When do you have Clearwater?”
“I’ve got math fourth. Taking Pre-calc.”
“Again with the geniusness. Makin’ me look stupid Sinclair. Well, I’ve got McClain for ancient civilizations fourth and that’s just above where you are.”
“McClain?!” I asked, surprised. Scoot McClain was the kooky old crossing guard and cafeteria worker for the both the elementary and the high school. “Since when has he been a teacher?”
“Since now?” Keith smiled. “He’s in the empty classroom right above Clearwater so we could pick Stephie up from Art and then walk to lunch. What do you have fifth?"
“Ceramics.” I didn’t think it was necessary to tell him Stephie and I had been talking about him.
“Me too!” He said, looking excited. “I think we’re going to get to know each other better this year, Sinclair.”
“Sure hope so.” I said, hardly containing my stupid, dorky smile.