2:20 Happy Families

It was Madisons first day at school. She was glad her big sister wasn't too cool or popular to let her sit next to her on the bus, she wasn't sure she would have wanted to sit alone. She was nervous, she hoped she'd be good at school. She didn't know what she wanted to do when she was older yet, but wanted as many options as possible.

Taylor, on the other hand, was in a world of her own. She had mixed feelings about having a baby sister at the same school, and half wished the elementary and high schools were in separate buildings, but there really wasn't enough people in the town for that. Class sizes were small, and classes tended to be held in groups of different ages. Taylor was the only one her age, so if it wasn't done this way, she'd be getting one-to-one tutoring, but she enjoyed that she could be with Summer at school, as she had a job at the spa after school most days.

Having both the girls at school, meant Lisa was alone. She had the housework done in record time, as there was nobody tugging at her arm, or asking her for food. It was quiet. She decided she didn't like it and would have to get a job.

As she tended her garden, which now consisted of only one onion plant, as all the others had died in the rising temperatures, she thought about what she'd do for a job. She'd planned on working at the science facility as soon as she left school, but they weren't employing anyone until the radiation subsided, that could take decades. She went inside to read the paper, to see what was available.

_____

"I think he's in love with you!" Taylor whispered to Summer, as her uncle Cortez walked past them. Summer had come home from school with her, and after sheltering in the cool of the house all afternoon, they'd gone out to the porch as night fell. The temperatures were more like they used to be at night, hotter, but nowhere near the sweltering heat of the day.

Summer smiled and waved to the boy. He looked like he's blush if he could and gingerly waved back before hurrying off home.
"He is just so creepy!" Summer laughed. "He's always followed me around, since we started school, and everywhere I look he's there, staring at me!"
"Ask him to prom!"
"NO!" Summer blurted out almost before Taylor had finished her suggestion. "I don't think i like him back, I couldn't do that to him." Taylor pouted at her. "No, Taylor. I said no, drop it!"

"Summer and Cortez, sitting in a tree..." Taylor chanted the playground rhyme at her friend. Summer cut her off with a light slap on the shoulder.
"For gods sake, drop it, would you?" Taylor grinned at her and decided she'd tormented her enough.

"Anyway, there's a party tonight. Someone at my dad's work invited the whole family, but mum doesn't want to go, and Madi is 'too young', so dad isn't going either. We could though? Try out our prom dresses? Like a dress rehersal?" Summer looked like she was thinking hard.
"Ok, I'm not going home though. You wear your dress, I'll just wear this." Taylor shrugged and the girls went inside to get ready.

Taylor pulled a face immediately. Her parents were in a tight embrace, talking about a job at the school and something about a late honeymoon. Madison was ignoring it, on the phone to a friend, talking about when they'd come over.
"Summer, don't look, there's something disgusting going on..." Taylor said loudly and mocked gagging at her parents. Jackson laughed and shook his head.
"When you have teenage children, I hope I'm around to laugh at you when you want to hug your husband." Taylor stuck her tongue out at him, and hurried off the her bedroom. Summer lingered for a second, taking in the scene. The scene of a happy couple, married for 15 years, 'eternally faithful' this was called locally. Her mind wandered to her own parents. Her own dysfunctional little family. Why couldn't she have this?
"SUMMER!!" She heard Taylor call from the bedroom "ARE YOU DEAD?!" She inwardly laughed at her friends' sense of humour, and went to join her in the bedroom.

_____

The girls arrived at the party, and Taylor headed over to a window, to 'check out the scene' before they went in.
"Oh my God, Sum, there's a fairy in there!" She turned to her, excited. Summer forced a smile, but it was obvious her mind was somewhere else. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Look, I'm not really in the mood for this anymore, you go on in, have fun, I'm just gunna go home..." Taylor looked a little hurt, but saw her friend wanted to be alone, so nodded an agreement and waited with her while she called a cab.

As soon as Summers cab was out of sight, Taylor headed up the steps and into the house. It was huge! And there were so many people, a lot of them were celebrities, and she decided not to embarrass herself by trying to impress them, and decided on giving herself a tour.

In a bedroom, she found a man. She got the same feeling off him as she did Trisha, and assumed he must be a witch. He didn't look evil like her, so she struck up some small talk. They heard someone start playing guitar in the main room, so headed out to watch the performance.

Taylor was shocked. This was some party! Full of celebrities, and sims like her! Besides Sam, the witch she'd just met, there was that fairy she'd seen earlier on guitar, and was startled by a werewolf stalking past her. She was suddenly relieved that Summer had left. It looked like she'd have been the only human here, and that probably would have made her uneasy. She looked at the clock, 11.30. It was after curfew, she hoped her parents would be in bed, and that there wasn't any police on patrol tonight.

As she left, she felt as though someone was watching her from the bushes. She shrugged it off and jumped into the cab as a patrol car rounded the corner. They didn't see her, or didn't realise how young she was, and drove by.



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