Generation 2: The Little Sister

[simtopi]

» Part One



The Marlens had made enough money from Desmond being a celebrity chef that they were able to move from the cozy shack they loved into a bigger shack out in the hills. However this old house had enough room for the organic garden that Desmond always wanted. They kept the old bones of the place and retrofitted it with green power sources. It was important to the Marlens to be as low impact to the environment as they could be.




Desmond and Lin Lin celebrated their Golden Anniversary and invited the entire family over. They grew old well together and were proud of what their family has accomplished.


Soon after, the family was invited over for another party...



.. to welcome Uncle Nate into his golden years. He's never had a steady job, nor been in a committed relationship, but he helped build a wonderful home and raise a perfect family. He's had no regrets on how he lived his life and Desmond and LinLin were grateful to have him around.



The elder Marlens were able to clean out and renovate the cellar to make themselves a rec room. They were happy to put on a show for their kids and grandkids.

............

Not far down the property line, the Bairds were preparing to welcome a new member into the family. Both Talula and Garret were eagerly anticipating the first of the Baird grandchildren.



Just as they were losing another from the household...



Jodie, the youngest, was getting her scholarships reviewed up to get ready for college.



Talula will miss her but Jodie promised to visit often, along with Craig.

............

Back on campus, senior year came by relatively quickly.

Allegra Gorey continued to see Castor Nova. She thought she loved him ever since she first saw him, but never thought she could be with him. He was an Urele-Oresha-Cham frat boy and all the sorority girls had crushes on him. What would he even see in her? When they started to date, everything fell into place.

She was wrong about him though. He was intelligent and interested about a vast number of things, most of all astronomy. She could sit for hours while he talked about various constellations.

She knew she loved Castor, and he loved her. But she didn't know how to tell Peregrin.

Craig was the first to visit Jodie at her new dorm. Jodie insisted on going out right away. She was a wide-eyed and curious freshman and Craig was all too obliged to bring her to all his hangouts, including the Warehouse.

Before long, she was going on her own. College life was different than her old life growing up in the suburbs.

That night, Peregrin and Kestrel were playing. Peregrin was growing impatient waiting for the set to start while Kestrel was off flirting... as usual.

He didn't notice the girl who sat herself next to him until she said hi.

Jodie: Hey. You don't remember me do you.

Peregrin glanced over and thought she looked familiar but couldn't place it. He also noted that she looked like a teenager.

Jodie: I'm Craig's sister. We met when I was a kid and you were in highschool with my brother.Remember?

It took a second for Peregrin to recall that little girl who kept running around Craig's old house.

Peregrin: Are you even old enough to be in this bar???

The show went on as usual, with Jodie dancing up front.


She was soon crowded out by the usual gaggle of girls who were watching them perform.

Kestrel: Hey, your new friend is sorta hot.

Peregrin: Yeah don't get any ideas, she just got out of highschool.

Kestrel: Hey, if she's legal, she's fair game.
Peregrin: Seriously, that's Craig's sister.

Kestrel: Isn't she knocked up?
Peregrin: No, that's the other one.
Kestrel: Heh. I... don't think it matters anyway. It looks like she wants to talk to you.
Peregrin: What...? Don't get any ideas, I'm still with Allegra.

Kestrel: I KNOW, my room is right next to yours, remember? ... Oh hey, it's Craig's baby sister!
Peregrin: Oh, for crying out loud, get that look off your face.

Kestrel knew when it was time to bow out. Jodie wasn't his type anyway and he figured his brother could use a little fun.

Peregrin and Jodie got along well. The next set they did he asked her up to play. She wasn't as great as the Marlen boys but she did well.

At the afterparty at their place, Peregrin told her so. They talked well into the night. She was really fascinated with him.

She was cute, Peregrin thought. And she had the same kind of sarcastic humour as Craig. But he was still seeing Allegra, and she was just too young.

Jodie couldn't wait to tell Craig about being up on stage and meeting Peregrin and Kestrel that night. She was disappointed though to find out from him that Peregrin was already with someone which made Craig a bit suspicious.

Craig: You weren't interested in guys all through highschool and now you're heartfarting over my roommate? Do I have to remind you about Clive and Elf? That's Elf's brother!
Jodie: What do they have to do with anything?

Fact of the matter was there was one Baird that didn't approve of Craig's living conditions. He was visiting one day when he saw Peregrin talking to Jodie and immediately something triggered in him. On the other end, Peregrin also didn't forget that Clive cheated on his sister and made a shrewd comment within Clive's earshot.


Clive took it as a challenge.

*cold stare-off*

Though it was Kestrel that jumped between them before things got too ugly. He was surprised by Peregrin. Their parents always taught them to deal with things peacefully.

Later...
Peregrin: So is your brother Clive always a dick?
Jodie: Constantly.

............

Senior year for the boys went on. Jaiden and Craig's relationship was still strong and the two still enjoyed gaming together.

Craig: get ready to be pwned.
Jaiden: yeah right noooooob..

Craig: ha! pwnage bitch!

Jaiden: OMG that move was CHEAP!

Something brought Allegra over that day. Peregrin was at class but she said she'd wait for him to get back.

The game in the living room drowned out her sobs in the kitchen. She wanted to tell Peregrin, but every minute she waited chipped away at her confidence. She left quietly and no one noticed.

Jaiden and Jodie immediately became the best of friends.

It was a refreshing change to have the company of a girl. Jodie came by a lot over the semester, at first to see Peregrin. But now she had other reasons.

Still, Peregrin found himself bumping into her a lot on campus.

He wasn't sure if he minded that. He didn't think he did.

Nights at the Baird-Marlen household went by as usual. Cops came by to bust up any number of parties. However tonight things got out of hand and the Constable had to make an arrest.

Craig wasn't particularly sympathetic.
Craig: dude, don't drop the soap while you're there!

However, the "arrest" wasn't an arrest at all. One of Kestrel's girlfriends pulled some strings and got him invited into the Secret Society. No one was supposed to know about it. As soon as Kestrel got there, the first thing he did was flirt with her.

And when he got back the next day...

Kestrel: Does anyone care where I was all night?

Allegra didn't see Peregrin for days after she visited his house. Castor asked her if she broke it off with him yet and though she didn't she lied and said she did.

............

Later that night, Peregrin had to talk to someone about it. He was furious at Allegra but didn't confront her. He didn't know what to think. Craig reminded him that they barely saw eachother over the past few months. It was probably because they were both busy with classes and assignments, but it was a poor excuse. Peregrin probably knew all along that it wasn't going to last.


Jodie overheard the conversation.


Craig left Peregrin alone to think about things.


Jodie innocently came by with a bag of marshmallows, figuring Peregrin could use some cheering up "for whatever reason." He didn't mind her company.








When Jodie left that night, she felt good about the whole thing. Maybe in time Peregrin will see her for someone other than his best friend's kid sister. At least she really hoped.

............

A few more days went by and Allegra figured that Peregrin knew something was up. They hadn't spoken in days and he was obviously avoiding her. She decided to end it once and for all.

She found him on the campus cafeteria.
Allegra: Mind if I sit?

Minutes passed as Peregrin slowly ate his food silently.
Allegra: So you're just not going to say anything to me?

Finally he took her aside.

Peregrin: What's there to say? I saw you and Castor at the diner together.
Allegra: I honestly meant to tell you ...

Peregrin snapped back at her asking her when she thought a good time would be. He was angry but if he stayed he'd say something he knew he wouldn't be able to take back. So he walked away.

But he felt guilty doing even that. He and Allegra were close all through college. He owed it to her to hear her out.

He walked back over, which made her smile. She didn't want Peregrin to hate her. They had a long conversation about the whole thing. How Castor was her friend before she even met Peregrin and how everything "just happened". Though Peregrin was hurt, he hated it even more that anything he did hurt her, even if it's keeping her tied up to him. Sadly, he had to come to an understanding.

Allegra hoped that they could stay friends, as cliched as that sounded. She meant it though. Peregrin wasn't sure but hugged her to reassure her all the same.

Jodie walked into the cafeteria and didn't expect to see Peregrin and Allegra together. Without letting either of them know she had seen them, she quickly ran back out.

To be continued~

*bleh, I didn't think this would be longer than 2 posts. Oh well! I'm *trying* to be more narrative, rather than just commenting on screenshots. I'm not sure how that's working for me. Ah well, thanks for reading. :)

» read part three