"Done with what we've lost"

"Awesome!" Kate smiled from behind her sister, Ily. "Alberta, you look beautiful."

"And I barely did anything." Ily smiled with pride at her own non-work. "But we have to talk about these glasses." There was a small black object in Ily's hand which she waved about as she spoke. "They're fine for everyday, but they cover half your face."

"But I can't see without my glasses!" Alberta tried to keep the panic from her voice. She could tell it wasn't working.

"I'll lead you," Kate said a laugh.

Ily slipped the black blur into her purse. "I'll give them back after the dance."




***********

~*The Dance*~

(^Link is above. If you have tabbed Browsing, you'll want to right click and open the link in a new tab so you can continue hearing the music. n_n)

**********************

If anyone has trouble viewing the slide show, let me know and I will link the pictures.

I don't know if anyone noticed, but for this season's entries, I used the song lyrics from "Existentialism on Prom Night" as all the titles. Of course I switched most everything up because I thought it was more important the lines made some sense with the entry.

This song has been playing in my head whenever I think about Gabe and Alberta dancing. I thought it was appropriate. This is sort of their prom. They are a little school right now.

*Also, once again, those first few pictures of the slideshow, I didn't set that up. I really couldn't have. I simply had Gabe standing out front and had the two girls walk up, and that was the face he made. Alberta was the one he looked at. Doesn't he look shocked? I'm sure he always finds her beautiful, but it has to be surprising to see her without glasses and with her hair pulled back like that.

Read more!

"The World Revolves around us"

The word "surreal" ran through Alberta's head as she sat between Gabe and Kate in nothing but Gabe's shirt and her own underwear. She should have felt embarrassed. Instead she felt the most comfortable she had ever felt in her life.

"What're you thinking about?" Gabe asked gently without turning his head from the far away horizon.




Alberta hesitated. She felt she could tell them anything right now even as exposed as she was in Gabe's shirt. "Well, I guess I have something to tell you two. I mean, you'll find out anyway when you take me home." Alberta could feel Kate's eyes dart to her face. Gabe kept looking out over the ocean. She wasn't sure just how brave she felt anymore now that she had their attention. "I live in the slums."

Kate responded quickly. "So? Is that the secret you've been hiding?"

"What?"

"You're a horrible liar, you know." Kate said. "I could tell since forever that you were keeping something to yourself. I hope you weren't worried we'd, like, snub you or something stupid like that."


Alberta felt ashamed at herself. "Well, you see my grandmother was always saying that I shouldn't let anyone know. That we're just like any other Service sim."

Gabe leaned back as he said in a low voice. "That's bullshit."

Kate rolled her eyes. "You are such a silly girl, 'Berta. What are we going to do with you?"

"Throw her back in the ocean." Gabe laughed even as he slipped his hand under hers in the sand and gently gave her hand a squeeze.


"Hey," Kate said softly, "the spring dance is coming up soon. We should all go. Did you already have a date for the dance, Gabe? Or are you going to be cool and skip it completely?"

The warmth from Gabe's hand almost stung as he gently ran his thumb across the flat top of her hand. "No," He said softly, "I wasn't bringing anyone."

"Alright, so it's settled then. We'll meet there."


Gabe didn't say anything; he only nodded in agreement. Alberta worried that he only agreed to go along because Kate was almost threatening him. "We better head back. It's getting dark." Gabe stood as he brushed the sand from the back of his legs. He winked at Alberta as Kate stood up on her other side. "We'll turn around while you put your pants on."

The way he said it, it sounded like he had forgotten she still had his shirt. "Oh, but your shirt..."

He threw his pants on over his board shorts. "I don't need it. Give it to me at school tomorrow."

Kate and Gabe turned their backs to Alberta as she pulled on her pants. "You just wanna make Glenda jealous," Kate snickered as she threw on her own clothes. Gabe shrugged as he pulled his shirt down. "Perhaps," he said with the hint of a smile sounding in his voice.

******************

All I have to say is thank goodness for CatofEvilGenius at MTS2 who made this entry possible.

Gabe usually wears one of her oxford shirts, so I had him "give" it to Alberta by using the teen ladies' oxford shirt also by CatofEvilGenius. The same creator also has an alpha editable skirt, which I fixed up to leave Alberta bare legged for this entry.

Read more!

"When I know it and"

"I wanna take one last swim before we go back," Kate said. She looked at Alberta, "Hey, you didn't swim at all today."

Alberta shrugged. "I don't have a suit."

Gabe and Kate looked at each other quickly. A mischievous smile crossed Gabe's face. "Hey, there's a way around that, y'know."



Alberta felt both of their eyes fall on her. "Oh dear."



Gabe's smile widened. "I'm just sayin'. Heck, I'll even go first--"

Kate threw her hands up. "We don't wanna see none of that!"

Gabe shrugged, but he turned his smile on Alberta.

Alberta had to act quickly and rashly before the fleeting feeling of daring completely left her. "All right," Alberta said softly. "But you have to both turn around!"

Kate and Gabe looked at each other again. Gabe put his hands in the air helplessly as he started to say, "But that takes away the whole point--" Kate jabbed him with her elbow and pushed him so he was turned around.


As Alberta took off her shirt, she saw Gabe reach over and pull one of the strings in the knot of Kate's swim top. Kate smacked him and Alberta had to try not to laugh out loud nervously.

Alberta pulled off her pants and the salty sea air hit her legs making goose bumps rise. When she looked back up, she saw Gabe had already taken off his swim suit. The sight of the back of him made her entire head feel as if it were on fire despite the cool sea air that slapped her cheeks.


Kate had a hand over her eyes and Gabe was teasing her. "You know you wanna look." "Just stay away, pervert!" "Are you going to run to the water with your hands over your eyes?" "Screw you, buddy! Alberta," Kate almost whined. "Are you ready yet?"


Alberta covered herself with her hands even though there was no one around but Kate who had her hands over her eyes, and Gabe who was still turned away. "Hey, you still have your suit on!"

Gabe almost turned his head at the sound of her voice coming from behind him, but Kate shoved him with one hand while the other stayed over her eyes. "Pervert, keep your eyes to yoursel!"

Gabe shoved her back. "All right then. Alberta and me on three." "What about me?" "You still have your suit on, chicken." "Because I don't want you to peek."

Alberta laughed and yelled, "Three then!" She ran for the water. Somehow Kate was ahead of her, throwing off her top as she dived.


Kate glared at Gabe as he swam near Alberta. "Don't you try no funny business, buddy! I'm watching you."

The two of them splashed water at each other, but stopped when they noticed Alberta deep in thought.


"Hey, what's the matter?" Kate asked.

"I didn't think this all the way through..." Alberta turned towards the shore where their clothes lay. "How will we dry off?"

Gabe snickered while muttering something about having to wait to dry, then quickly swam away from the violent and vengeful Kate.

"Just so long as neither of you take my clothes!" Alberta shouted after them. "That would SO not be funny!"

***********************

Those first few pictures, I just had to say that I didn't set those up. I simply had Kate and Alberta talking, and Gabe had that cute smile on his face while watching Alberta.

I love her "Oh dear" expression; especially since Gabe's in the background with that smile.

Also, Gabe butt! He is not an outgoing sim, so he would never think to do this on his own. Oddly unhairly, isn't he? But I now have the male body hair overlay object. Unfortunately, it was a bit too late for these shots, but slowly he's becoming a grown man.

Read more!

"There are moments when"

Ily

(Note: Ily rhymes with smiley. My niece named her. I+L+Y= I love you)



Kate has been driving me batty. She's been doing nothing but talking about Alberta this and Alberta that for weeks in a way that makes it absolutely clear how she must feel-- though she denies it completely despite it being so obvious. So I finally meet the girl, and I just don't see what the big hub bub is about. I mean, she's cute, sure. But she seemed rather quiet when I saw her. I don't know. Maybe you have to get to know her or something.


Gabe and Rich showed up in their casually late way. Listen, Gabe acts cool and laid back, but you want to know his secret? He's actually really shy. I knew him when he was a little kid, and he used to wait for Rich to go up and talk to new people before he would. He's not fooling me with his new act.



Other girls seem to fall for it though. Like Maura Taung. As Gabe and Rich and I stand around conversing, Maura stands behind us staring. If she doesn't back off, I may have to do something about it that won't be very lady-like which might even be considered very Kate-like.

"Did Kate talk to you?" I ask Gabe.

"About what?"

"I don't know. She said she needed to talk to you though." I look around and spot Kate in the water. Is she expecting me to do everything for her? "There she is. You should go talk to her." I can see him hesitating, and I'm ready to shove him in the water, clothes and all. But he takes off his clothes and strips down to his swimming trunks like a good boy.

Then there's me and Rich.

"So, we've gotta be outta here by sunset, right?" Rich asks. "Did you maybe want to do something later?"



I stand in front of him making as big a deal as possible about my having to think about it. "Hmmmmmmm... I dunno, Rich."

Remember to leave them wanting more.


It's almost 6pm. The official curfew is 7pm. After that, we can't be outside. It's sort of a weird rule. It's called a curfew, but we don't have to go home. We just can't be outside. So I start to clean up, and Rich helps me. He catches me up on the hill by the garbage can.



"So did you think about it?"

I just smile as I try not to let on that I have been thinking about it. Down by the ocean side, I can see Gabe and Kate and Alberta playing nice. "Sure. But I get to drive."

Rich grins, then pulls his keys out of his pocket and heads down to the beach to leave them with Gabe.

I also head down to the beach to start getting people to leave and to warn Kate not to stay too late.

Read more!

"Glad for what we've got"

Alberta seemed hesitant when Kate put the guitar in her hands and the strap over her shoulders. "What're we doing?"

Kate smiled at her. "I'm gonna teach you how to play." Alberta had been back a week, but things were different between the two of them. Alberta was hesitant as if she feared saying too much or much of anything at all. Kate had dragged her to the music room with the hopes of sorting things out under the comfort of the some-what sound proofed walls.



The guitar whined under Alberta's inexperienced fingers as Kate manipulated her hands to explain the idea of chords.

Gabe, as usual, was tied up finishing his work. (Kate was starting to think that Ms. Kerr actually gave him extra work to keep him in his seat longer.) It was the perfect time to be alone with Alberta and hopefully set whatever was broken between them straight.

Kate stood close enough to Alberta to smell the soft scent of roses which lingered in her brown curls. It was faint, but it reminded Kate of the sweet smell of the rose water Kate's mother had once used in a recipe of baklava. The entire kitchen had smelled of honey and other sweet things with the odd scent of roses mixed into the stove warmed air.

Alberta looked up from the guitar strings, an embarrassed smile on her face. "I don't think I'm going to be as good at this as you are."


Alberta's face was so close, Kate could see the pink beneath the soft skin of her cheeks. It was closer than they had been in weeks. Almost subconsciously, Alberta had been pulling away and staying away for the entire week she had been back. But now she was near with her warm scent and soft cheeks and even a sweet smile. Kate reached over and gently caressed Alberta's soft pink cheek. The heat that suddenly rose from Alberta's cheeks burned the backs of Kate's fingertips and she drew her hand away.


Kate felt herself blushing at her own folly. "Sorry! I just... I mean..."

With one of her small hands on her cheek, Alberta looked at Kate in such surprise, Kate wanted to kick herself. "But, but Gabe..."

Kate turned away as Alberta put the guitar down. Now she felt really foolish. The first thought on Alberta's mind after a gentle touch from Kate was Gabe.

Alberta's voice was soft and meek. "You two are going out, aren't you?"

"WHAT?" Kate turned on Alberta. "Where'd you get that idea? Did Glenda tell you that?"

Alberta's cheeks would have glowed in the dark. After another hesitation, she nodded silently.


Kate could not control the roll of laughter. The idea was absurd! Kate's heart had broken that first day back when Alberta had refused to sit or even stand near her. And it had broken each day since Alberta had returned as a sad shell of her former self with a huge invisible wedge stuck between the two girls. But now, after finally finding the missing piece, all she could do was laugh.



"Oh, Berta." Kate took Alberta's hands even as Alberta blushed bashfully. "He's been hanging around 'cause he's worried about you-- not to hang out with me. I'm probably the last person he'd hang out with if he had a choice."

"He was?"

Kate's own heart hit her in the chest as if it were shouting for her to shut her trap. Don't tell her, it yelled. But Kate loved her too much. "And he still is, you silly girl. Listen, school's almost over and the dunce is still working on his school work. There's going to be a get together at the beach over the weekend. Can you come? We'll sort things out with him then."

Alberta still looked hesitant. "I don't know. Maybe." Suddenly, Alberta looked at Kate with her large eyes and lifted eyebrows as if a thought just occurred to her. "But Kate..."

Kate waved her hand. "We'd better go get our stuff. It's almost time to go home."

Read more!

"Sprawled across the bed"

Alberta

It's been two weeks since I was last at school. It feels weird to be back, but I promised my grandmother. I hope she's finally proud of me.






I swipe at my eyes while trying to will away the puffiness.

In the classroom, I'm alone. No one else has arrived yet. So I take my old seat in the back corner.

The past two weeks-- I don't know how to describe it or explain it all. And I'd rather not right now. I will say that it's reminded me an awful lot of when I was little, and I would stand staring at my shadow as the sun began to sink and the sky started darkening. My shadow would slowly grow tall and thin right before it started to fade with the approaching darkness. And during that hour of day, despite the orange light from the setting sun which so facinated me, I would feel so alone. The lonliness would simply settle over my shoulders like a shawl as if to protect me from the cold.

The two weeks passed in that same way. Each day seemed to sprawl out longer and longer, and I had this feeling that night time was coming. As bad as I felt, it would only get worse. I didn't want to be alone.

"Berta!" Kate suddenly runs through the door, wrapping her arms around me so tightly that the only thing I can do is squeeze her back or start to cry.



"You know I hate when you call me that," I say while trying not to sniffle.

"Where have you been? We were so worried!" She whispers in my ear. "Don't do that again without calling me or something." When she finally lets go and takes her seat, I have to turn my head away so she won't see my eyes starting to fill with tears. "I missed you so much!"



I can hear the other students chatting in the hall as they wait for Ms. Kerr to start class. One person doesn't wait though, and at the sight of him, my stomach jumps. Gabe stands near my desk for a second smiling down at me. "It's good to see you back. We thought you might have transferred schools."

His voice is so soft when he talks to me. It was that way when I ran into him after Glenda told me that he and Kate...

"I was taking care of my grandmother. She got sick." My own voice sounds like a robot's in comparison to Kate's worry filled voice and Gabe's sweet sounding one.



Gabe takes his seat next to Kate as she says, "Oh geeze! That's probably my fault. I shouldn't've come to school, but I couldn't stay away any more." Gabe says something under his breath that I don't catch, but he smiles even as Kate hits his arm.

My stomach twists again like it wants to turn inside out. I don't want to see them together being playful or anything else together. So I look away to study the blank wall like there's something there worth looking at.

Ms. Kerr enters and the other students follow. There's the ruffling of note books being opened and pens being prepped as the lecture begins.

Read more!

"Sunk inside our blankets"

Perlie:



I love my granddaughter, but sometimes I don't think she listens to me. I didn't want to be here. If I stayed at home, I'd be fine. I don't care what the doctor said. Sometimes a sim just needs something to keep her busy is all.

But my granddaughter was rather insistent I see the doctor once my cold turned to pneumonia. There are times when she is even more stubborn than I am. It still surprises me.

*****************

"Why am I even here, Alberta? What can this woman do for me?"

"Mrs. Palahniuk," The doctor, Natalie, says to me in a gentle voice reserved for the very young or the very old, "Please. I understand your concerns. But we can at least give you a place to spend your days in comfort."

I can see Alberta putting her head down when the doctor says that. "And just who will take care of my granddaughter?"

Natalie glances over at Alberta with pity clear on her face. "Mrs. Palahniuk, do you really believe it would be better for you to stay home with her when the time comes?"

I roll my eyes. "You are a doctor aren't you? So why don't you just come out and say it?"



Natalie sits up and speaks frankly for the first time since we got there. "You are dying, and I think it would be best for you and for Alberta if you spent your last days here."

****************

Alberta visits me as I get weaker. I know she worries.

But there isn't much to say and there's never enough time to say what does need to be said. "I love you" doesn't do enough to say how much she means to me. My daughter's daughter in almost every way. I hope I have done enough, made her stronger and smarter so that she won't be taken advantage of.


"Bye Gran'ma," she says softly into my ear. "I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."

Only Alberta would know how to say those word in such a way that I can almost believe her.

Read more!

"We were sleeping in"

Gabe




Ugh... My muscles ache. My nose is red and raw from being wiped. When it's not being wiped because it's running, it's stuffy so that I can't breathe.



I roll over on my side and realize that I'm tangled up in my own robe which I didn't bother taking off before I went to sleep.

Crap. I must be sick. The first thing I'm gonna do when I get better is disinfect the entire damn room. It feels like I've always been sick and I'll never get better. I'm trying to at least be a man and not whine about it. But damn it, I hate being sick. Thank you, Kate. I know she was the one who did this. I'll have to thank her when I see her next time at school.

Damn Kate anyways. She's probably at school right now standing back and watching Alberta avoid her completely. I told her she should be the one to talk to her since she knows Alberta best. Clearly something isn't right. Glenda said something to her; I know it. She better hope we never meet in some dark alley in the slums without Rich there to protect her worthless ass.

My anger turns into a burst of energy. I ball my fist up and hit my pillow for all the good it will do. I should have just talked to Alberta already. Why the hell not? Kate wouldn't let me though. God, I sound like a wuss even in my own head. But Kate can be ferocious when she wants. Plus I'm sure that I was already getting sick when she threatened to kick my ass.

But I can't really be mad at Kate. She's concerned. Obviously, there is something going on between Kate and Alberta that's more than just friendship. Why is Kate even letting me in? Is she that worried? Why am I getting into the middle of it?

Oh right. 'Cause Alberta is just too cute. Like the way she closes her eyes instead of just sighing when she‘s frustrated or resigned. Hell, she's even adorable when she peeks around corners trying to avoid me. Her smile is the brightest thing I see all day, and I'd like to see her smile again-- even if she only smiles for Kate.

I throw off my blanket and lie still as the air hits my chest. It's a little work rolling out of bed with my robe tangled around my legs and in the blanket, but I manage. The worst part is waiting for my computer to boot up.



Kate said that she would email me if she found out anything. I can't imagine that she's actually going to ask Alberta anything directly, but who knows? Maybe she finally put her violent tendencies to use against Glenda.

I log on to my email account and find one new and very short message.

"She didn’t come to class today. -Kate "


*****************************

"...Alberta is just too cute. Like the way she closes her eyes instead of just sighing..."

This is actually true. Very often when I go to take a picture of her, her eyes are closed and down cast as if she would sigh, but sighing might bring on more unwanted attention. Sometimes I imagine she's just given in to some request from Kate.

I haven't shown her at home at all, but she does this most often when talking with her grandmother. (From this entry.) Her grandmother is a little harsh, but Alberta knows she has good intentions.



Also, sorry for the lack of pictures! Didn't really notice just how few I have, so I offer you these:





Those're my boys. Sitting down with cups of coffee, bein' all fancy, and discussing woohooing service sims. (Looks like Gabe's proposing it and Rich is all, "Meh.")

Read more!

"Sing me anything"

Kate



I'm such an idiot. Right now, all I want to do is sleep, but instead here I sit at my desk resisting the urge to lay my head on it. Why? Because when I close my eyes, I remember the image of Alberta in Gabe's arms. I had a dream this morning that he had finally managed to charm her in that quiet way of his.





I know I can't make Alberta feel the same way I do, but I can at least keep her away from boys who probably will hurt her. She's too good for all that.

Gabe struts in with a glance at me. For once he doesn't scowl at me as he usually does when he sees me still sitting here. This time, he sits in the seat next to me. The seat Rich usually sits in.

Rich is behind him. He looks as confused as I probably do. "Hey man; you're in my seat." Gabe pats the seat next to him, the one that Gabe usually sits in. Richard shakes his head, shrugs his shoulders, and takes the seat.

My nose is still stuffy so there isn't enough oxygen getting to my brain to make it work properly. I seriously can't find a way to flat out ask him what the hell he thinks he's doing, and then I'm suddenly too tired to even try. Instead, he starts talking to me which, frankly, doesn't help the confusion.

"I need to talk to you about Alberta." Gabe glances towards the door. "Listen, something happened yesterday, but I don't know what."

I massage my temples trying to understand. "What? Then how do you know something happened?"


"She was about to cry yesterday. I caught her coming in from outside. Outside I found Glenda."

I look away as my brain fumbles over the details trying to put things together. So Gabe is sitting next to me to tell me this? It had to be serious if he was talking to me. And he thinks Glenda had something to do with it? I'm not surprised at that. Let me tell ya: "Glenda" is an ironic name for such an evil witch.

My brain finally snaps together into one coherent ball of seething anger. "Ooo, where is she? I'll clock her if she said something mean to 'Berta!"

Gabe's eyebrows come together angrily though his voice stays soft. "I already almost did that. Didn't help. She's a weasel."

The others start coming in from outside; their foot steps scuffle on the wood flooring in the lobby. Everyone enters in a large group, including Ms. Kerr who stands at the podium shuffling through her notes.

Gabe and I glare at Glenda when she walks past. I can see that she's pretending she doesn't see us, but I manage to catch a glimpse of a smirk on her face. I'm so ready to wipe that smirk off her face I hardly notice when Alberta enters.



She comes in last and takes a quick glance at me and then at Gabe before she heads to my old seat in the front of the room. My mouth drops, and I'm ready call to her to sit with me. But she doesn't turn around. She doesn't even look at me again for the rest of the class.

**************************

Is it any clearer just what Kate's problem is? *cough* XD

Read more!

"Or loud and out of key"

Glenda sat on the cool dry grass thinking to herself and smiling. Oh that poor, sweet, cute, innocent Alberta. As far as Glenda saw it, she was only teaching the girl a little lesson in the hardships of life. You couldn't trust everyone after all.



There was a slight movement from the front of the building which caught Glenda's attention.

Gabriel glanced around sharply with his hands balled into tight fists. Glenda sat still in amazement to see Gabriel looking so angry. Normally laid back Gabe, who had never been in a fight so far as Glenda knew, looked like he was ready for a fight now.



It was clear to Glenda that she probably did not want him to spot her waiting on the grass in the mood he appeared to be in. Glenda stood up slowly and slunk around to the back of the building.

Had Alberta told Gabriel anything? She couldn't have; Alberta had barely just run in before Gabriel appeared out front looking ready to beat someone. Most likely Gabriel had seen Alberta looking distraught and raced out here to the stupid girl's rescue.

Glenda intended to sneak to the other side of the building, the side she felt Gabe was least likely to walk down, so that she could peek around and see if he were still out front. She hoped that he'd come check behind the building starting from the side she had found Alberta sitting on so that she could sneak back inside.

Unfortunately, as she rounded the corner, she bumped right into Gabe who glared at her.


"What are you doing?"

Gabe stood before her with his hands in still balled up in fists. His shirt and jacket pressed against his skin as if it were suddenly a size too small. Glenda refused to let this new side of Gabriel frighten her.

"What about you?" Glenda crossed her arms tightly. "What're you doing skulking around back here?"

Gabe took a step closer to her like he was going to throttle her. Glenda stepped back to put some distance between them. "I'm not in the mood. Did you do something to Alberta?"

Glenda simply refused to allow herself to be afraid of any punk teenager. Especially Gabriel who didn't even know if his parents were Service NPCs. "I did not. Why would you assume I did something?"



Gabe was now looking like he would grab her by the lapel of her jacket and drag her inside to face Alberta. If it came to Alberta's word against Glenda's, it was no contest who would be believed.

A voice floated over Gabe's shoulder to Glenda's ears. Richard, Gabe's brother, strode out to stand next to Gabe. "Hey, man. C'mon before Ms. Kerr sees you out here. You know she lets a lot of stuff slide, but she won't let it go if you hit a girl. Even if it's Glenda."

Gabe glared at Glenda, but his fists unclenched. He walked along behind his brother and back into the building.

Glenda sat down in the damp grass behind the building. She had been saved by Richard-- a thought that poisoned her little game. It would have been better to have been hit by Gabe so she could have shown her bruise to Alberta. Then the girl would really know what kind of sim Gabriel Mellon was.

Read more!