Vol. I - When we were Kids - Track 03
I just want to feel safe in my own skin
I just want to be happy again
I just want to feel deep in my own world
but I'm so lonely I don't even want to be with myself anymore
Honestly, Ok - Dido
"This is the third time Cassandra calls, hun. You should talk to her" Coral spoke softy to Mary Sue, who sat on the couch with her father.
"I don't need her pity calls" Mary Sue uttered heavily in return.
"Mary Sue, don't say that! She's your friend!" Coral lectured her daughter mildly.
"Friends call from time to time, specially if they suddenly decide to move out" She commented sarcastically, adding with bitter "or at least answer an email"
"Friends support you when you need them, Sue" The elder woman replied patiently "and she is calling you now, isn't she?"
"Yeah ... now" Mary Sue replied rolling her eyes
"You are behaving like a child, Mary Sue!" Herb interrupted annoyed, but then lowered his tone and continued calmly "You two have a friendship that's bigger and stronger than age, and time. You should..."
"Can we please not talk about Cassandra now, dad??" She interrupted abruptly.
"Sure." Herb sighed, but continued on a slightly sarcastic tone "We can go back to discuss about how come you want to sell the house, now then..."
"But, dad, I can't even go in my own room anymore, because I can't stand it.! It's too full of memories."
"Of course it is, sweety" Coral added patiently "This is the house we bought for you, right before you came to us. You grew up here. This house is full memories for all of us."
"Yeah, like getting married to the man who was cheating on me with the maid " Mary Sue muttered sourly
"But the girls were born here too" Her mother insisted " They learned to walk, had their birthday parties; first day in school, high school; their first dates" She sighed sadly, almost teary "All their lives and memories are here too."
"But mom, I found them there! Right there!" Mary Sue answered sobbing and gesturing toward her room, "In our room! Our own bed!"
" Mary" The elder man interrupted again, speaking comfortingly, but directly to his daughter "We understand this is a terrible situation, but you must ..."
"...get over it ??" She finished the sentence, standing up frustrated. Her parents didn't reply, leaving her time to organize her thoughts.
Deep down Mary Sue knew they were right. She had to snap out of self pity and continue with her life, but without Daniel it felt like there was nothing else to fight for. The twins were almost grown up already, about to leave for college, and she had even lost her job in the process.
But of course there was also that. She had to be realistic and face the facts of their current situation.
She had lost their job, crying for an unfaithful man; their saving were quickly running short, and her children were still in high school. She had to put herself back together for them, regardless of how hard it could be for her. She needed to provide for her daughters, and make sure they would actually get to college; and hopefully see them succeed in life, form their own families and have their own children.
"I just don't want you to rush and do something you'll regret later, Mary" Herb said at her back. She nodded lightly in return, but kept quiet.
Everything had happened so fast, at times it felt like it was nothing but a nightmare, from which she would wake up any minute. But it wasn't, and she had to accept it.
She was now divorced, unemployed, on the edge of bankruptcy, and, aside from her closest family, she was also friendless, as her only social circle had always been Daniel's mates and relatives, while her only friend was now living far away.
Mary Sue looked through the the widow, from where the Goth household could be seen, silently regretting her previous comment.
She never truly resented Cassandra for leaving Pleasantview, specially not when she was the one wishing to just run away from town as well. True, they had barely spoken since Don broke up with her, and Cassandra didn't call once after moving out to Strangetown, but her father was right. They had been friends for too long, and against all odds. It hard to think of anything that could really break them apart, regardless.
The Oldies weren't perhaps a rich or powerful family, but they they were extremely overprotective with their daughter, who was after all, their only child. They effort to give her the best life they could afford, always in private school, and always controlling the people she interacted with, to make sure she would be safe and in good company, but she wasn't allowed to do much else beside school activities and homework, during her teenage years.
In fact, the only extra activity Mary Sue was allowed to do, was babysitting Cassandra Goth one or two nights a month; which was only permitted, because the Goth were the most respected and powerful family around, and she was old enough to do so, considering that Cassandra was already an elementary student; plus their house was only two blocks away, which Coral remarked as a positive factor.
It had started by accident, one evening when Bella Goth personally asked her the favor, after her regular babysitter called in sick on the last minute. Her parents hesitated, but finally agreed considering the circumstances, and although Mary Sue was slightly intimidated at the idea of spending time alone on the old looking household, with an odd little girl she barely knew, she was honestly pleased to have something else to do, beside her ordinary daily schedule.
Surprisingly, Cassandra turned out to be unusually mature for her age, and they got along so well from start,
the Goth soon asked her to be Cassandra's regular sitter, to which the Oldie couldn't find any reason to refuse.
That way, and due to the Goth's active and eccentric social life,
Mary Sue came to spend many nights at their household,
slowly strengthening her relationship with Cassandra,
until, between games and chats, they had, almost inadvertently, became best friends.
Of course it was odd for a teenager to be friends with a kid, but each one of them was used to have little to no friends for their own particular reason, which was probably another fact that helped them related to each other,
besides the difference of ages seemed smaller and smaller, as time run and Cassandra started reaching her puberty as well.
Cassie had hear all about Mary-Sue and Daniel Pleasant since the time they started dating;
visited them at the hospital when the twins were born not long after their wedding,
and was even one of few witnesses the night they renewed their vows, after their marriage had seriously struggled around the time the twins were kids.
Cassandra had just reach adulthood by then, and was recently engaged with Don. Mary Sue recalled that time with pain, how they both warned each other about their respective couples, but at the end, none listen to the other, and now they were both facing the consequences.
"Maybe you should leave for a few days" Coral spoke suddenly, but as Herb stared back shaking his head negatively, she had quickly rephrased "I mean, do something different, sweety. A change can help you see things in another perspective"
Mary Sue didn't answer immediately, but her face lighten nodding slowly. Exactly what she was thinking, what she should have done from the beginning. A change.
"Would you take the girls with you today??" She asked quietly without taking her sight out of the window "I'd like to be alone for a while"
"Why? What are you planing to do, Sue??" Her mother asked back slightly worried
"Nothing stupid, I promise" Mary Sue assured with a light smile "but like you said yourself, I have to do something." She sighed, but finally turned around "I can't continue like this!"
"Ok, Coral, you heard the lady, let's take the girls home. It'll be fun" Herb said standing up decided, though Coral shook her head nervously.
"I have to do this myself, mom" Mary Sue steeped closer her mother trying to smile as best as she could. "You just have to trust me"
Herb was already calling his granddaughters up the staircase.
Angela knocked on her sister's door a couple of times, but there was no answer, though she was certain Lilith was inside.
Finally, tired of waiting, she took a deep breath and with a mix of guilt and shame, along with a bit of excitement, she used a trick her boyfriend, Dustin, had taught to make her way in.
"You never know when you will need to know things like this for emergencies, Gela" He used to excuse himself, though Angela knew exactly how, and why, her boyfriend had learned that kind of tricks in the first place.
After a minute struggling with the door, she opened Lilith's door quietly
and stepped in calling out in whispers, but no one one was on sight.
She look around carefully, pleased to confirm that nothing was missing,
and all her cloths and belongs were still there spread over the floor's room, like usually.
Then, she quickly moved toward big armoire, pushing it to the side
until it revealed a hidden space behind it, where her twin sister sat on a corner.
Angela steeped in cautiously, and stood there trying to gather the courage to speak, but her sister was faster.
"If you have nothing to say, please just lock back the door on you way out." Lilith said, barely moving her eyes from the floor."How did you get inside anyway??"
"ehhm,... I ... I.... " Angela stammered not sure what to say, while Lilith stared back annoyed.
"What do you want, Angela!?" Her twin finally asked madly.
"Please, Lilith"Angela took a deeply breath and spoke her mind out nervously "I don't want to fight anymore" Lilith didn't reply, letting her continue after a short pause "Dad left and mom's so depressed, she is not even working anymore."
"I know that! You don't have to remind me, our family is fucked up, ok!?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ...I just want to... I mean... I..." Angela tried to continued, but was unable to stop stammering
"I know, ok!? I know what you mean! We have only each other now, whatever we like or not. Dad's a piece of shit and mom can't barely put herself back together"
"I wouldn't ....put like that..." Angela replied blushing uncomfortable.
"Of course you wouldn't" Lilith snorted "but is fucking true, isn't it??"
"They are our parents, Lilith" Angela said lowly,
"Unfortunately" Her twin sighed.
Angela didn't reply, but sat on the floor by her sister, with a side of her agreeing in silence.
There was a long silence, but at least Lilith didn't ask to leave again, and actually didn't seem to mind her company, at the contrary for a short second, Lilith had subtly patted her back, as she scooted closer, almost welcoming her, or at least acknowledging her presence. They had been so distant since becoming teen, that was probably the closer they had been in years, but made Angela feel secure, like she usually felt with her sister around.
Even though their relation had rapidly deteriorated as they grew, Lilith always came forward for her sister when needed, as Angela did for her. Deep down, they gave each other the stability their parents never gave them, as they were constantly either working outside or arguing when at home.
"He cheated on her, Angela" Lilith spoke finally filled with rancor. "He cheated on mom with the fucking maid. Right here. On their own room!" Angela attempted to speak, but her sister didn't let her "And now she crying her life away, OUR life, when that creep doesn't even deserve her tears"
"He's our father, Lilith" Angela muttered sadly in return.
"Don't you know how much our mom did for him?? To keep him happy, Angela?? She even wore a fucking french maid outfit to satisfy his pervert fantasies, but he still had to fuck the actual maid at the end"
"I don't think I want to heard that, Lilith" Angela shivered
"Well, you should, sis, because he's not the perfect man you always picture him to be"
"I know that" She sighed deeply "and I know is not the first time either, but mom knew how he was, she always did. He is not bad, he is just ... weak"
"That is not excuse, Angela" Lilith refuted "How can you forgive him still, after everything he had done??
"Because, he is still our father, Lilith, and I love him. I don't want him out of my life for ever"
"Neither do I, but I don't wanna see him hurting mom or anyone else anymore"
There was another long silence, and finally Angela dared to ask what she had feared from the beginning "Are you planing to leave??"
"I thought about it" Lilith answered calmly "but where would I go? Aunt Jenifer's across the street?? Grandma's??" She snorted lightly, but continued with a deep sigh "I can't go to college with my grades, or get a job either, and no matter how much I love Dirk, I can't count on him" She sighed again, but her tone lighted slightly, as it did every time she mentioned her boyfriend "He would never leave his dad like that!"
Angela was relived to hear her sister words, but tried contain the desire of hug her hard like they hadn't since kids, and cry on her shoulder for everything they had lost in such a short period of time, but she knew her twin better than that. She knew where her limits were, and Angela had learned the hard way not to cross or push them.
"Dirk is a good guy" Angela mentioned casually trying to lighten up the mood, though she knew that kind of comment could easily put Lilith over the edge, as many neighbors tend to blame Lilith for being a bad influence the perfect Dreamer boy, so quickly added the rest of the sentence " It's good to see they are getting along with Dustin"
"Too well perhaps" Lilith grunted "Now I don't only have to stand you while at home, but also when I go out with my boyfriend"
"I could say the same," Angela said with a light giggle "but I think Dirk will be a good friend for him"
"Maybe, but..." Lilith hesitated shortly rephrasing "don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think Brandi Broke is good for Darren's dad"
Angela waited for Lilith to finish, but nothing else was said, neither Angela mentioned it again. There was something about Dirk's mother that always bothered her, though she couldn't tell exactly what, and never dared to think much of it, but it was there ... and her sister felt it too.
"So, what is that you wanted??" Lilith asked suddenly, obviously changing the topic
"Yeah, well, grandpa' Herb wants to take us home with them." She shrugged "Mom's taking a shower at the moment"
"About time! She had been wearing her PJs for days" Lilith commented, but added a bit worried "Not sure if I wanna leave her alone, though, you think that's smart??"
" I think she just needs some time alone, but I'm sure she'll be fine" Angela was moved to realize how much her sister really worried about their mother underneath her cold exterior "besides I don't think we have much of an option."
"Right ... let's go then" Lilith grunted standing up and started walking out of the room.
Angela followed her sister feeling considerably better. Even if she wouldn't dare to admit it out loud, as long as Lilith would stay with them, their house could still feel like home... or at least, it could for her.
Mary Sue watched her family walking out of the house, though none of them seemed too pleased.
The twins were specially worried about leaving her along, but after some comforting words, and perhaps a couple of encouraging remarks, her daughters soon joined their grandparents resigned.
She couldn't deny that is was good to see them agree in something, even if it was just agreeing about disagreeing with her, but it was something, and recalling the passed few days with a clearer mind, she could now see how better they appear to be getting along, which was probably the silver lining after the the horrid time they had been living.
After making sure her family was at safe distance,
Mary Sue quickly phone called probably the only other person she could call a friend, though was more like a close acquittance, with a friend in common... Darren Dreamer.
They had meet through Cassandra, of course, though never got along too well and mostly maintained a cordial relation for respect to their mutual friend. Mary Sue used to think he was nothing but a hopeless slacker, who didn't even knew how to take advantage of his own talents; while Darren openly considered her a workaholic snob, who was doomed to destroy her family with her misplaced priorities.
It was almost embarrassing now to realize how wrong, and right, had both been. Mary Sue's obsession with work had undoubtedly been a huge factor on her relationship with Daniel, and the distance with her own daughters; while Darren had eventually became an emerging artist, with an small, but proper, business.
But she never denied he was truth worthy and a good friend, and probably the only other neighbor she could count on, which he had proved by showing at her door, just a few minutes after her call.
"So, what can I do for you, Mary Sue" Darren asked cheerfully after he had been greeted and thanked for coming.
"Well, I thought we could help each other out a bit here. You see, I ... have a few things I thought you could.... " Mary Sue struggled shortly, trying to find a good way to put her words properly "... put to better use."
"What kind of things, exactly?" Darren asked puzzled, following Mary Sue as she walked toward the living area
"Well, erm ... " Mary Sue stammered in front of her door trying to gather the courage to face the matter, but only gestured Darren to enter the room, which he did hesitant and visibly confused "Everything in here" She muttered low, once he had stepped inside.
There was long silence. Darren stood in the middle of the room for a while, looking around until he ended staring at her awkwardly.
Mary Sue broke the silence desperate. "Paint it, sell it, use it for wood to the fire. I don't care, just take it our of here, please"
And that said, she rushed back out, containing her tears as best as she could.
Of course she could have done any of that herself, but the painful memories were still crudely imprinted in every inch of the room, and she felt unable to even think about getting rid of it herself.
"Look ... " Darren followed shortly "Why don't I try to sell at the store, and pay you back you when I do." Mary shook her head, but he insisted "That way we both win something, and I wouldn't feel so bad about taking all your furniture. Those are really expensive pieces"
"Of course they are", thought Mary sue. It was room set Daniel and her had bought together right after getting married. "The best for you, my dear" Daniel had joked. "The best." Mary sure barely contained a snort, but finally manage to answer calmly
"No, please just take. I don't want anything from it, and you will be doing me an immense favor just by moving it out of here, Darren, " Mary Sue sighed. At that point she couldn't care much for manner or decorum anymore, and was barely maintaining some composure "I can't even bear to look at it anymore."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you room is as empty as clean canvas in no time" Darren smiled lightly, as he nodded understanding "And don't hesitate to call me if you need anything else." He said before leaving, and hugged her fraternally, sealing the new friendship, that had just started in the most unexpected way.
The words had sounded cruel when pronounced, but it was even worse when she was actually standing in a desolated room, with only a few boxes filled with soured memories.
For a moment, despair took over making her regret every step taken after discovering her husband's betrayal. She could have forgiven like the first time, or better yet, ignore it, like all the times she suspected something was wrong, or noticed unusual behavior on Daniel. Working late, unknown phone calls, unfamiliar smells on his cloths... underwear.
She dreaded to think how many times he had actually lied to her over the course of years, while she trusted him foolishly over and over again.
Regret vanished quickly with that thought, and somehow also did anger and frustration; leaving only an unusually comforting emptiness behind.
It was liberating.
Like Darren had said, a clean canvas.
All her life had been always the same picture. Daniel her only man, Politics her only job. She never thought to need, or want, anything else, she didn't even conceive her life being different; but now, not only everything had brutally change in the blink of an eyes, but also, for the fist in her adult life, she was actually embracing the change, and the chance to rebuild and try new possibilities, new options.
And that was how her family founded Mary Sue the following day,
with her room rebuilt,
and her spirit transformed.
To be continue.
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YAY! :)
I had this part done for a few days, but the internet here has been running worse than usual this season, and its getting really hard to get anything posted (or comment/reply for that matter too), but anyways ....
First of all, need to say that this part in particular is heavily inspired by meetme2theriver 's "Pleasantly Strange", because I honestly never pay much attention to the Pleasant/Oldies/Burb families in PV, but after reading a few of her latest updates I started feeling a bit guilty about that and I'm trying to include them a bit more now. :)
The friendship between Mary Sue and Casandra is kind of tricky, imo, so I thought the babysitting idea could make senses, though many details were told only vaguely to avoid getting unnecessarily complicated with time frames.
I wanted to include a bit more of Brokes/Dreamers in general too, but the whole chapter was getting too long, so I'll make another part for them more detailedly, and explain all the random comments about those families then.
And I also used a few of the original picts for inspiration on the flashback here too, but this time were edited a bit farther, because I didn't want any unknown sim on them. (if you notice, most of the Pleasant family picts have random sims in the scene lol)
Thanks for reading! <3