The Atwood DITFT: Generation 3, Chapter 5
Author's Note: Back again for your December installment of the Atwood legacy! Okay, so I have exactly 9 days until 2 things: the last day of this semester, and also MY BIRTHDAY YAY! Haha I'm pretty excited--I'm turning 19! Anyway, that means that starting in a week and a half I'll have all sorts of lovely free time (until January 21 or something) to play sims! THANK HEAVEN. I miss it a lot, lol. But yeah, there may be a lot of chapters out over winter break, I hope that's ok with you guys! :D Thanks for sticking with me even though I barely post at all... I love you guys! :3 Now, I'll shut up and let you read the chapter!
Disclaimer: This one is super long xD Sorry! Lol!
The Atwood DITFT: Generation 3, Chapter 5
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Last Time...
Dominic broke into the Atwood home aided by none other than Jaden. Turns out the two had joined forces after Jaden ran away from home. But at the last minute, Jaden decided to spare his sisters and his parents a horrible fate, defeated Dominic in a fistfight and got the man sent to jail... FINALLY. More happily, Rue became a teenager and quickly started dating her childhood friend, the wheelchair-bound sweetheart, James. They became basically inseparable, if they weren't already.
“I cannot believe you’re taking that loser to prom,” Norah said.
Rue jumped. She’d thought she was alone in her room. It was a Friday night, after all-Norah was usually out. “Get away from me,” Rue said.
“I’m just saying,” Norah replied. “Like, of all the guys at school. Wheelchair Boy?”
Rue spun around to face her sister. “I said, get away from me!” Rue snapped. “And don’t call him that. His name is James.”
Norah smirked. “God, so defensive. All I want is to give you good sisterly advice. You’re not gonna gain any friends by doing this, I’m just saying.”
“Shut the hell up. You and your pathetic popularity don’t mean anything to me. I wish you’d just get out of my life. I can’t wait to leave!”
“You know,” Norah said, “I came in here to see if you wanted some help with your hair or something, but now I’ve changed my mind. If I’m so meaningless, then fine. Get ready for prom yourself.” She stormed out.
What the hell…? Rue wondered. Had Norah just said she wanted to help Rue with her hair? That hadn’t happened since Norah had stopped being able to get Rue with the “let me tie your shoes for you” trick. Had Norah’s offer been another of her cruel jokes, or had it actually been… genuine?
Rue dismissed that with a shake of her head. Norah hates me, she reminded herself. She just couldn’t find anyone to get wasted with tonight, so she came to take it out on me. Good thing I fought her off.
Prom with James was every bit as fun as Rue had known it would be. Though she did feel a tiny pang of regret that they couldn’t dance together like everyone else, she still managed to have a great time.
After the dance, they lounged around together in Jaden’s apartment. (He was out for the weekend and had given them the keys, saying, “You kids be careful, or Mom is gonna kill me!”) They had already decided they wouldn’t go too far-they just weren’t completely ready yet. But having the place to themselves was a wonderful treat.
“So, Rue, graduation is coming up, huh?” James said thoughtfully. “What are you doing after?”
Rue cringed. She’d been hoping this wouldn’t come up. Somehow, despite their strong friendship, they had avoided this topic so far. “I’m… well. I, uh…”
“Come on, don’t be shy! You can tell me.”
“I know… Well, my dream has always been to travel the world. Remember how my parents took Norah and Jaden and me to Europe when I was six? It was the coolest thing I’ve ever done. I want to go everywhere, see everything I can. I want… to get the hell out of here.”
James nodded. “I can see why.”
“Not because of you!” she said quickly. “In case you thought that-it’s not you.”
“No, no, I didn’t think that’s what you meant,” he said calmly. “I was thinking more…”
“My workaholic, detached parents, my unpopularity at school, my crazed, evil-hearted sister? Yeah.” Rue sighed.
“Do you think that you and I… can make it?” James asked seriously. “I’m willing to try, but… I don’t want to hold you back.”
This was Rue’s dilemma. She loved James dearly-she couldn’t even imagine her life without him in it. Yet for as long as she could remember, she had dreamed of escaping Appaloosa Plains and the torments of her sister. When she was introduced to traveling, her desire to get away transformed itself into wanderlust: she desperately wanted to see the world.
And though she hated to think of it this way, the thought always came to her mind: she just couldn’t travel with a man in a wheelchair in tow.
“I… I want to try,” is what she said. That much was indeed true. No matter what, she wanted to be with James. At least, she thought she did. But maybe not… “Can we talk about something else?”
“Come here,” James said gently. “Don’t feel bad. Remember what I said to you? If the time is right, and you need to leave me, I want you to do that. Don’t stay with me out of guilt, just because I’m in a wheelchair… if you don’t want me.”
“I do want you,” Rue said, surprised by the fierceness in her tone. “I love you, James. I’m just… scared of the future, I guess. Scared we might not work out.”
“Whatever happens is what’s supposed to happen,” James said confidently, leaning in to kiss Rue gently. “It’s a waste of time to worry too much about it. Let it happen whenever it happens. But right now, it’s prom night, and we’re wasting a night alone in an apartment talking about sad things. Come here and let’s act like we’re expected to.” He winked.
Rue snuggled up to him on the couch and smiled. “And what exactly are teenagers expected to do on prom night, hmm?”
“Let me think about that…” James teased.
* * *
“I’m worried, Mom,” Rue said. She had decided there was nowhere else to turn. She had no friends other than James; Norah wouldn’t be caught dead listening to Rue’s troubles. It was time to ask her mother.
“What’s that, dear?”
“I’m worried,” Rue said louder. “About graduation.”
Reagan turned off the TV and gave her daughter her full attention. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. It’s completely natural to feel this way.”
“Well, I know, but…”
“What’s bothering you most?” Reagan asked kindly. Though she had always considered Rue a troublemaker, she did care very much for her younger daughter.
“It’s… Well, it’s James. Mom, I love him so much, and I want this to work out after we graduate…”
“Hon, don’t you think you’re a little young to be saying that?” Reagan asked.
“W-what?” Rue was completely caught off guard.
“I’m just saying. Teenagers like yourself don’t really understand love. I’m not saying you don’t care for each other, but I don’t know if you’re ready to say you love each other.”
“Excuse me? Mom, I’ve been friends with him since we were five! I think I’m ready to say I love him.”
“As a friend, sure. But romantic love is completely different, and it’s a concept that takes being an adult to understand.”
“Maybe for some people, but James and I are different, Mom! I know we are right together! I love him, no matter what you think.”
“Don’t get so upset, dear,” Reagan said. “I’m trying to protect you! Teenage boys only want one thing… everybody knows that.”
“James isn’t like that at all!” Rue exploded. “Just because you picked the one guy at your school that turned out to be a rapist-”
“Rue Rachel Atwood! How dare you say that to me! You go to your room and think about what you’ve said. I’ll come in when I think you deserve to talk to me again,” Reagan fumed.
Rue, already feeling awful about what she had said, skulked off to her room.
Although she did regret what she had said, a greater issue tugged at Rue’s mind. She couldn’t believe her mother would doubt her love for James. Sure, Rue knew Reagan had had an awful dating experience in high school, but couldn’t she see James was different? For one thing, Rue wasn’t even sure James could have sex. But even if he could-they were together for something much deeper and more meaningful than any of that. Maybe 14-year-olds didn’t understand love, but surely Reagan could believe that an 18-year-old did…
“Don’t worry, James. I love you,” Rue whispered to herself. “Or at least, I think I do…”
Maybe Reagan was right. Lately Rue couldn’t help but focus on the parts of James that weren’t perfect. He couldn’t walk, and Rue was ready to face the world running. Maybe we aren’t as perfect together as I thought…
* * *
Graduation snuck up on Rue. On the one hand, she was more than ready to get out of the Plains and see everything there was to see. Yet that little nagging doubt in her mind told her that graduation was the end of her relationship with James. She didn’t know if she was ready to find out what life without him would be like.
“It’s just not fair to you,” she told her face in the mirror, pretending it was James. “You don’t want to hold me back, and I don’t want to hold you back either. When I’m gone, I don’t want you to be missing me and waiting around for me. You’ll miss lots of opportunities… with other girls.” A tear leaked out of her eye. I don’t want James with other girls… she thought. But I don’t want him to wait for me. It’s not fair to him. I have to think about his best interests now.
A few days after graduation, Rue approached the park in town where she had arranged to meet James, her mind made up, her jaw set. This is for his own good, she told herself. And I need to think about myself, too. This is what I want. …Right?
“James, I have something… I need to talk to you about.”
“You’re leaving me,” he said matter-of-factly.
“W-what?” How the hell did he know? “James, no, I-it’s not like-”
“It is like that, Rue. I know. Look, I’m not an idiot-”
“I never said you were, okay?” Rue was struggling not to cry.
James shook his head. “I know how it is; I understand. You don’t want to be with… someone like me. You have a bright future ahead of you. You want to see the world, and I’d only be in the way if you brought me along.”
“James, please understand, I don’t want us to be over!” Where did that come from? She had firmly decided last night that she was going to cut off all ties, yet… “I love you… I need you-”
“Please, don’t,” James said, his voice hard. “Don’t say that. It’s not true. Your mom is right: teenagers don’t know a thing about love.”
“How do you know what my mom says?”
“I’m not an idiot,” he repeated. “You’ve told me her story. How could she think otherwise? Well, she’s right, anyway. You sure as hell don’t know what love is.”
Rue could no longer stop the tears. “You’re right. You’re right… otherwise, why would I be doing this now?”
James’ eyes softened. “Rue. I told you I understood, right? I don’t want to be holding you back your whole life. What have you ever wanted but to travel the world? It’s a worthy goal. I’ve heard the best lessons come from seeing other cultures, other people.” He looked down at his lap. “I have to admit, I’d love to travel… But I know my limits. I know I can’t do what most people can. I’ve accepted that,” he said as he turned his gaze upward to meet Rue’s eye. “Now you have some accepting to do. Maybe we’re not meant to be. Maybe our story is doomed to have a sad ending.”
“We are… different from each other,” Rue said. “I can’t stop thinking about it, these days.” She’d never wanted to let him know she thought that… yet today did not seem to be a day of good self-control. “I worry that… that we won’t work.”
“I don’t hate you for having doubts,” he assured her. “Rue, you’ve been the best friend I could ask for ever since I can remember. Without you I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through school. But maybe that’s all we’re supposed to be-friends.”
Rue’s voice refused to work. Tears still spilled across her face.
“If you’re going to do this, I need you to do the whole thing,” James said. “Don’t tell me you still love me, that you’re just leaving for a few years, that maybe someday you’ll come back for me. Don’t do that to yourself. Don’t tie yourself down. It’ll only make you resent me. I want… what’s best for you.”
Rue was shocked. What’s best for me? This is about you! And why is it so easy for him to accept this?! “Do you love me or not?” she demanded.
For the first time, James allowed an expression of hurt to cross his face. “Of course I do!” he snapped. “Never doubt that!” He took a deep breath and regained his earlier composure. “I love you more than you know. That’s why… I’m willing to let you go. If it’s what you truly want.”
Rue couldn’t believe she was saying this, but she had thought long and hard, and this was the decision she’d made. “It is,” she whispered.
“Then,” said James calmly, “thank you for everything. I’m honored to have been your boyfriend.”
He turned his wheelchair away from her, and she watched as he slowly wheeled out of her life.
“First and last,” Rue whispered to herself. She knew she could never love anyone the way she loved James. Reagan may have told her a thousand times that teenage boys were only after one thing, but James… James was different. Even the way he handled her announcement showed that.
She had a thousand things running through her mind, things she wished she had said to James. But she knew it would only make it worse-her hurt and his-if she went after him. She had told him she wanted him gone, and he had accepted that. It was time to move on.
* * *
“Mom, what have I done?” Rue sobbed.
Reagan was astonished when her daughter flung herself into Reagan’s arms. “Sweetheart, what’s going on?”
“I just did it… I broke up with James… I know you wouldn’t understand, but he’s the only one I will ever love, and I’ve just destroyed it… All of it.”
“Rue, please,” Reagan said, “he is not the only-”
“Mom, stop! Don’t, okay?” Rue sobbed. “I wouldn’t expect you to get it. But James isn’t like Dominic. Maybe you underestimate teenage boys! James is wonderful…”
“And you broke up with him why?” Reagan asked, baffled.
“To ‘follow my dreams,’” Rue moaned. “Like you’ve always told me, I want to go out and find my passion. I want to travel and see the whole entire world!”
“Honey, I’m not that bad of a mother… I know what your passion is in life!” Reagan gave her daughter a small smile. “You’re a brave girl for acting on your dreams. It’s so important to do what you want to do with your life. But why does that stop you from being with James?”
“B-because… Because…” Rue began to cry with more force. “Because he’s in a wheelchair! Mom, I’ve turned into just the kind of person I absolutely h-hate! Judging him on his legs instead of his personality… B-but if I want to go to Egypt and explore under the pyramids, if I want to learn kung fu in China, if I want to raft down the Amazon… I just c-can’t… I can’t have a boy in a wheelchair with me.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Reagan said. Her heart ached for her daughter. She couldn’t quite accept that James and Rue’s love was as profound as hers and Finn’s, but whatever it was, it was enough to stir up Rue more than Reagan had seen in quite some time. She patted her daughter’s back soothingly. “It will be okay, baby. Listen, maybe in a few years, when you’ve gotten a lot of travel under your belt, maybe you can-”
“He told me not to hope for that,” Rue said despairingly. “He’s probably right… It probably can’t ever work. We’re… too different. We want completely different things from life. And… the wheelchair.” Rue hated herself more and more as she spoke. “It’s just…”
“It’s hard, honey. But don’t beat yourself up about it, all right? You’re not breaking up with him because he’s in a wheelchair. In fact, it’s very admirable of you to have stuck by him the way you have for so long.”
“Admirable? Mom, I didn’t do it because I think he’s a charity case!” Rue’s hands were balled into fists. When would anyone realize that?
“No, baby, that’s not what I meant. I’m just saying most kids would be too prejudiced or self-centered to befriend a kid like that in the first place. I’ve always been very proud of you for being his friend.”
Rue looked down at her hands, surprised and a little embarrassed at the words of praise. “Thanks, Mom. It means a lot.”
“I do hope you know that I’m very proud of you. No matter what decisions you make.” Reagan smiled as her youngest looked up at her with new light in her eyes.
“Really?”
“Of course! Rue, you’re an exceptional person. I see why that boy liked you so much.”
“Thank you.” Rue smiled slightly.
“There’s my smiley girl!” Reagan said, relieved. “Listen, sweetheart, it’s gonna get better. I know it’s hard now, and that’s perfectly fine. But you’ll find other boys. Besides, right now you’ve graduated high school! It’s time to look to the future, not get stuck in the past. You’ve saved up quite a sum from your part-time job, isn’t that right? Why don’t we go start planning a trip for you? And tell you what, I haven’t gotten you a graduation present yet! Why don’t I match what you already have so that we can send you on the best trip of your life!”
“Really? Thank you, Mom! Thank you thank you thank you!” Rue squealed. “You’re the best! I love you!”
“I love you too, sweetheart,” Reagan said with a smile as she followed her daughter out of the room.
* * *
CHINA
Day 1
Mom gave me this journal a few days ago. I guess it’s because she walked in on me crying the other night. I couldn’t help it… I miss James so much. Anyway, she handed it to me and said, “Your Aunt Alice gave me a journal to write in when I needed it the most. I think this might help you, too. Just write what you’re feeling. It helps enormously.”
Yeah, right. What my mom doesn’t get is that dwelling on my bad feelings only makes them worse. Does she think I got through childhood with Norah by feeling sorry for myself? The best way I’ve ever found to stop being upset is to distract myself, NOT to think about it endlessly.
So I have a new purpose for this little notebook. It’s going to be my travel journal! I plan to travel extensively over the next few years, and I’d love to have a record of it when I’m an old lady. Oh, and of course this will be a photo journal! I have gotten into photography extensively since about junior year… I can’t wait to take tons of pictures here, and maybe even get a better camera!
Well, here goes. Right now I’m in China. I just arrived this morning. Jet lag is terrible, but I’ve been tired before, and I’m not going to let that get in my way. Mom and Dad paid for half the expenses of this trip… you know, we have our differences, and I know they’ll never see how horrible Norah is, but honestly, I love my parents. I may not always like them, but I love them, deep down.
Anyway, China. I’ve decided I’ll be here for four years. Most people my age are going off to college… not me! I’m going to get an education through experience. I’ve found an adorable little town-Shang Simla-where they have a great martial arts academy and plenty of tombs to explore! I’m sure the years will absolutely fly by in this place. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to document all the important stuff!
Day 2
Turns out the first thing I did was chop off all my hair! I thought it was time for a change, I guess. I also got new clothes-I wanted to blend in a little better with the locals, although of course everyone still knows I’m a Westerner. That’s okay, though.
Here’s the place I’m staying. It’s a big hostel, basically, where they have a kitchen and living area as well as tons of bedrooms. Isn’t the building cool?! Too bad the only time I plan to spend in there is sleeping!
This is Mildred. She was around when I first arrived, and she’s a very experienced traveler. She’s, well, very obviously a tourist, but she was really knowledgeable about where to go and what to do!
Mildred showed me this: the adventure board! Basically locals put ads up on it if they need help with something or have classes to offer. I checked it right away this morning, and there was an ad from a man who needed help finding a particular relic! Long story short, I ended up…
Here! The Hall of the Lost Army. Cool building, right?
The inside was neat and everything, but I wasn’t really sure how I was gonna find this relic. At first, anyway-then I saw a strange panel on the floor! When I stepped on it…
This staircase opened up! How awesome is that?
At the bottom was a locked door. Good thing the local who sent me on this quest had given me a key!
The tomb was neat. I found lots of coins and other exciting items-even a few relics that weren’t the one the local wanted me to retrieve. I figured I could keep those for myself!
There was some hard work involved. I had to drag really heavy objects, and dismantle some scary traps, and even clear away huge piles of rubble from walls that seemed to have caved in. Good thing I brought my pickaxe!
And I was never scared, either. This is what I’ve been dying to do my whole life-I’m absolutely thrilled!
Well, okay, there was one time I was scared. I had to stick my hand in the wall to find a hidden switch to open a door… that was terrifying! I’m just lucky I didn’t get bitten by some terrifying bug!
I also had to dive into this big pool. Got my favorite socks all wet!
It was worth it though when I found the relic he’d asked for! Mission accomplished!
I felt pretty good about myself as I took my bike back to the man’s house to deliver his requested object. He was so thankful! I really like riding my bike everywhere-it’s the popular thing here in Shang Simla. What a great town!
Even though it was pretty late by this time, I went over to the market to grab some dinner-I was starving! Isn’t this place cute?
I was pretty proud of how well I handled my first time eating with chopsticks! The man offered me a fork, but no way was I gonna take the easy way out! This is China, and I don’t plan on missing even one part of the experience.
Overall, I am having an absolute blast. This is everything I hoped it would be. I promise to write more later, but for now I have to go!
Yet despite how cheerfully Rue wrote in her journal, and despite the enormous fun she was having so far, the one thing on her mind as she climbed into her little bed at the hostel each night was the boy she had left behind.
* * *
Well, there you have chapter 5! Fun facts: The photos for this chapter were taken between September 21 and October 9 of this year... I like to work ahead, lol! Also, parts of this have been written for a much longer time than that! For example, I wrote the breakup scene in March when I was freaking out about graduating. (Facebook status from March 27: "Just had a super-awesome burst of inspiration for generation 3's plot, and then made myself cry writing part of it. Maybe it's time for bed? :P") Funny how that's not even relevant to me anymore, haha. Anyway, I bet you all care a lot about that information xD
Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it! Make sure to tell me your thoughts... I hope you can remember everything you wanted to say, I know it was really long lol! Wish me luck with finals, and I'll probably post again in the next 2-3 weeks! Happy simming :D