Smoke and Chairs

"It's a chair."


Alberta couldn't think of anything clever to say. It was indeed a painting of a chair. "Maybe it has some extra meaning? Something about carrying something until you become an inatimate object."

Gabe examined the painting for a moment before coming to the same conclusion as Kate. "Pretty sure its just a chair, Alberta."

"Now you know its serious. He agrees with me."

The three stood around the painting staring at it quietly as if they were waiting for it to speak and explain itself. Alberta was sure that she was the only one giving the artist the benefit of the doubt. It could have meaning. It was completely possible that even the fact that a painting of a chair got into the museum is itself a statement of something.


"Chairs," a strange woman said while walking over to them, "are a statement of our own classification and subjegation. Chairs do all the work for us, holding us up at dinner and in front of the TV while we get older and our asses get larger. But no one gives thanks to the chair for just doing its job. No one ever really looks at a chair."

Alberta wrapped an arm across her stomach, gripping her other arm tightly. Both Gabe and Kate were oddly silent watching the girl in surprise.

"Uhm, wow." Kate finally managed to say. "How do you get that from..."

"I painted it," The girl smiled at Kate as the Gabe and Alberta suddenly had to glance away. No one had noticed her standing on the floor before. Was it possible she'd heard them talking? How embarrassing!


The girl looked at the painting allowing Kate to glance away. "Yep. Put a lot of work into it too. Hours and hours."

Kate sucked in a breath which Alberta could swear would have (probably should have) been a curse. "You heard us?"

The girl winked at her. "We're the only ones on this floor you know."

"Crap. Sorry. Music's more my thing." Kate waved at Gabe. "He's got no excuse though."


The girl laughed. "It's alright. I'm partially jerking your chain anyway. I mean, c'mon-- it's a friggen chair in a museum. I had to make something up." She turned to them. "I'm Regina. Wanna go outside for a smoke?"

Alberta could see Gabe was ready to politely refuse. Kate was faster though. "Sure."




"Oh god, that's so good. The woman who runs the place wants me to be here to present my paintings. Told me to look nice. I think I look nice. She didn't think boots and a sun dress were appropriately 'nice.' Bitch."

Alberta really couldn't see the problem. "I think you look nice."

"Oh you're sweet. A bit innocent though, aren't you? Hopefully someone's watching out for you. Oh geeze," Regina held out her carton of cigarettes. "Did either of you want one? I'm going to guess that Innocence here doesn't smoke."

"Sure." Kate bravely reached out and took a cigarette from the carton. Alberta hadn't known that Kate smoked. Yet there was Kate, taking a cigarette like she had always known Regina and lighting it without stopping to think about it.

There were so many things she felt she didn't know and hadn't experienced yet; it almost made her feel a little out of place until Kate took her first drag and started coughing as if she would die.


"Kate, are you okay?" Alberta could see Gabe out of the corner of her eye crossing his arms over his chest and laughing.

Kate held up her first finger in response to Alberta's question as she fought the coughs, her eyes a tiny bit teary. She then shoved her lit cigarette at Gabe, "Here tough guy. You take it then."

"Your lips have been on that. I'm not taking it."

Regina held out her carton to Gabe. With a tiny roll of his eyes, he grabbed one cigarette, deftly lit it with Regina's lighter, and took a puff on it.


"Crap. Stop showing what a burn out you are."

"Do you want me to teach you?"

"No." Under her breath, Kate mummbled, "Jerk."

"Are they always like this?" Regina asked.

"Generally. This is them being nice, if you can believe it."

Regina laughed. "I can bet what you put up with."


Alberta didn't want to pepper Regina with a ton of questions, but there was so much she was curious about. Kate appeared interested too. Once she'd decided to just ignore Gabe and his teasing, she turned back to talk with Regina. Kate didn't worry about peppering Regina with questions; she asked the questions in the same way she'd acted as if she could smoke.

"Look, I will tell you this much. I'm eighteen and I have my own house. If you wanna know more, you'll just have to come over some time." Regina winked at Kate. "I better be heading back. See you all later."

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Amberle says Hello

Samantha walked around the classroom, her heels clicking on the linoleum. She scanned the back of heads and peeked over shoulders checking their work.


Sam passed by Gabe. He wasn't very far along. Clearly something was on his mind. Samantha had watched him closely these past few years that he had been her student. These years before a sim became an adult were an amazing period where a child grew into an adult. Each year after summer, she was surprised at the change they had each taken.

When Gabe had been a freshman, he had been so quiet and introverted. By the end of that year he discovered girls. The next year, after summer, he had turned his quiet introvert nature into a mysterious cool that even Glenda Stratton had noticed. She was sure that he'd spent that year quietly not getting caught causing trouble with Rich who was an entire year older than him.


This year, without Rich and with Alberta, his girlfriend (Sam would dare even say his first real love), there seemed to be something off about him. His mysterious cool was gone, but he was no longer a quiet introvert. There was something almost angry about him. When he fell into his own thoughts during the lessons, his eyebrows often knitted together folding the skin between them. It was a remarkable change after only one summer.

Sam was sure that he knew. Water had told her that he'd just found out, and that he knew exactly who was Gabe's mother. Gabe had to know.

It was five minutes until class was over. All of the students were becoming distracted. "All right, turn in your workbooks everyone. I think you all deserve to start the weekend early. Just remember! I want to see you all at the opening of the Museum this weekend. It's an assignment!"

Kate groaned loudly and Aaron laughed at her over-reaction.

As the children piled out of the room, Sam softly called out to Gabe. "Gabe, can I speak with you a moment?"


He glanced at Alberta and even Kate as both girls stood looking at the two curiously. "Oooo," Kate softly murmured.

Alberta poked Kate softly, "We'll be outside."

Gabe stood as tall as she did now. She would never get over the change a sim took in the four years they came to visit her. "Yeah?"

She hadn't fully thought out what she could possibly say to him. She wanted him to know that someone was there for him, but she wasn't sure that he would open up to her. "I saw Amberle over the weekend. I'm supposed to tell you that she says hello."


"Oh, well, uh, tell her I say hi back." Gabe looked at Sam in slight confusion. She was sure that he would let Alberta and Kate know that their teacher was crazy.

"Well, that wasn't all. She said that she hasn't seen you in a while. She'd like you to come visit her one of these days, you know."

"Um, sure. Okay. Bye, Ms. Kerr."

"Bye, Gabe." She was sure he'd think her weird now for sure. As for Amberle, she hadn't exactly said any of that, but she would have if Sam had told her that Gabe seemed a little off and her own thoughts on why. Though Amberle hadn't really heard from Gabe since he was a very young boy, she still at least cared.

Sam would have to be sure to tell Amberle to expect a visit from Gabe. Not that Sam was sure he would even take up the offer, but she did hope.

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Fireworks

Gabe and Kate had been playing a harsh game of Red Hands when Alberta got them a table. The set up for the Summer festival was much simpler this year. Just some good simple meals cooked by an actual chef, and fireworks along the beach. Alberta sighed quietly as Kate and Gabe continued to poke each other with verbal barbs casually tossed out like normal conversation topics.


Alberta didn't dare tell Gabe or Kate that she felt out of place. Although she had to admit that sitting at the table with the two of them bickering felt right. If she closed her eyes, she could almost believe she was one of them and deserving to come to their celebration.


Gabe casually glanced around. "Wow, they sure kept it low key this year." He glanced back at the make shift stove behind them and froze.

Even Kate looked concerned when he turned back around and tried to bury his face into his menu. "Uh, what's wrong?"

Gabe looked at Alberta while biting on his lip. "All right," he said much too quickly. "But only because I can't keep secrets from you two. Don't look, but the guy who's cooking-- he's my actual dad."

Alberta glanced over Gabe's shoulder at the man quickly cooking the food at his station. She couldn't see much of him at all besides his black hair and his pinstripe suit.


Kate turned around in her seat to look. "Water Mellon? Isn't he the guy on TV? Seriously?"

Both Gabe and Alberta hissed her name. She turned back to the two of them with a shrug, "What's the big deal? Does he know? You should say hi. Or send me and Alberta in, and we'll say hi."


"I don't really feel like meeting him right now."

"You'll never feel like meeting him." Kate waved a hand in the air as she turned to Alberta. "He's actually very shy despite being a natural jerk."

"Kate..."


It was time for Alberta to step in again. From time to time the bickering between Kate and Gabe became serious enough that Alberta would step between them. It required a loud voice, a heavy hand, and some quick thinking to have a suggestion ready to distract the two of them when they became serious like this. "HEY, the sun's about to set. We should head down to the beach. The fireworks are going to start soon."


It seemed to be enough to call a silent truce between the two. The three stood and walked down to the beach without glancing back at Water Mellon.

**********

Our Independence day just passed, and I didn't get to go see any fireworks. Usually, one of the local cities puts on a firework display, and since I live in a bay, you just go to the beach and you can see the show they're putting on across the way. But the one city that does the fireworks show couldn't afford it this year (a sign of the times).

So I had to do a summer festival. I really had Water buy the lot and place the fireworks before I realized that I was going to take Alberta and Gabe down to the beach. Woo for attention to details, but some good simple cooking sounded like fun.

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Be a little bad

Ily and Kate's older brother came to visit. He dropped by early in the morning after a call saying he was bringing a friend.

Everyone had hoped he was bringing his girlfriend, Ashley Stratton.


No such luck. In a cruel prank on his little sisters, he brought home the creepy mascot guy.

"Awww..." He said, his voice muffled by the huge llama mask. "You have some zits; you must really be stressed about goin' to college. Here, a hug will help. We're just one big family there."

"No, really, that's okay." Ily stepped back, but he continued after her until she shoved him away. Was he really the mascott of her college? Really? So now in addition to all the other challenges college students face, she will have to worry about this bozo too?


Ethan and his friend stick around for a while, louging around the house until after dinner when they head off to their hotel. And once Ily and Kate's parents go to sleep, Ily turns to Kate with a mischevious glint in her eye.


"Let's sneak out! These are my last days to be a kid."


"Are you serious? What if we get caught?"

"Hey, every teen deserves to be a little bad. Once you hit college, it's all about responsibilities. You're practically an adult!"

For a moment, Ily worries that Kate won't agree which would leave Ily all alone. Sneaking out on her own seems a boring proposition. She has no where she could go alone. And what if some creepy dude, like the Llama mascot, steals her or something?


Then Kate smiles, and the plan is made.


They start out their night at the little cafe in the slummy area of town. There's aren't too many sims visiting the cafe; most likely they're all at the bar down the street.

Still, there is a stage. "You should go up and sing." Ily shoves Kate towards the mic.

"No way. Right now? With no music?"

Ily sighs in faux exasperation. "Fine. If I get up and do something, will you go and sing?"

Kate laughs. "You're going to do what? Make up poetry on the spot?"

Ily does not back down from a challenge. And it's all for the good of her little sister who needs to take more chances in life. Ily doesn't like the way Kate silently sighs over her lost love. She's only 15, going on 16. She should go out and have some fun.

The poem is horrible. Running through Ily's head when she starts are the words, "There was a little butterfly..." and so she runs with it. Kate sits in a seat cringing and trying not to laugh.

But Kate does stand up before the mic and sings a song of her own creation. Her voice carries throughout the room drawing the attention of the few people who are sitting down with their expressos. A few even clap as Kate takes a bow.


Ily's will always be her sister's biggest fan. Even when there's a cute guy over at the cafe stand serving the coffees.

Eventually, Ily suggests they head over to the park. Ily never played on a play ground before. When she was little, they didn't have things like this. Not until they came to this new land.


But even then, Ily doesn't play so much as sit and think while Kate swings on the swingset.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ily watches the silent green house across the street. She feels slightly stalkerish sitting this close to his house, watching for movement from the windows.

It's already past 2:00am and the restaurant would be closed by now. He'd have already come home, kissed his daughters good night, and laid down in bed next to his girlfriend.

Ily knows she is still young, but there are other things she does know.

Like the way Water Mellon talks mostly of his daughters and never of his girlfriend. The way she watches him flirting with the ladies who visit the restaurant. And the way other ladies look at him when he's pretending not to notice.

It's just a crush, she reminds herself. She's worked for him for the past year as a hostess at the restaurant. But then who could really blame her?

Ily glances over at Kate. "Ready to go?" Kate relaxes on one of the swings, probably day dreaming to herself.

"Yeah, let's go."

There are things that Ily knows but without knowing. Like she can't be sure that Gabe Mellon really is Water Mellon's son. It could be a strange coincidence that he looks just like him. And does it really matter? It's not any of Ily's business if Water Mellon started his relations early and had a kid before he even made it to college. It's none of her business whether Gabe or Water know.

This is one situation that Ily would best stay away from.

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

This was written on the fly and wraps up a few story ideas I had with Ily that I never could turn into an actual story.

After dinner at Gabe and Rich's house, Ily was following Gabe around. She even followed him into the bathroom at some point, and I was wondering what she was doing. She wasn't flirting with him, just following him to talk while Rich and Alberta were blissfully unaware in the game room.

I sort of forgot until just now while writing this that Ily works for Water, so I mentally made a note (a bad idea all around) that she's noticed that Gabe looks suspiciously a lot like Water. And Ily has a big ol' imaginary crush on Water. (Who wouldn't? He probably talks about "his girls" all the time while flirting the night away.)

There are other sims, one specifically that I can think of, who would also probably notice that Gabe looks familiar, even if they can't place why.

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Intermission

"He wants you to meet his parents? That's good, isn't it?"

"I guess. But, Kate, what do I do?"

There was clearly some snark in Kate's voice when she told Alberta, "Say 'Hello?'"

"No, I mean, I'm sure they know where I live and who I am and stuff. What if they don't approve?"



"Then I'll beat them up if Gabe doesn't." Kate grumbled into the phone. Alberta began to worry that she was being a bother.

"Kate..."

"I'm SO not kidding. Besides, I don't think Gabe would take you to his house if he didn't think you'd be accepted. He knows better. And..." Kate hesitated before she said the words slowly, "Alberta he really cares for you. I doubt he'd do anything that would lead to your being hurt. Most likely, his mother is the one who wants to meet you."

Alberta gulped as quietly as she could. Meeting the mayor was bad enough; Alberta hadn't thought about meeting Gabe's mother!

But Kate was right. Alberta knew she would have to learn to trust Gabe. He did like her, for reasons she couldn't see. And he would not let someone, even his family, hurt her.

"Thanks, Kate." Alberta's tone clearly carried along her silent apology for being a bother.

"Hey, I'm just glad you're actually using the phone. I was starting to think you didn't know how after a while."

"Well, my grades were good, so my grandmother loosed up the rules." Alberta could only hope that she was lying successfully for once.

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"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.

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"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.

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"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.

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"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.

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