Free at Last!
The cab pulled
to a stop in front of the house on Crumplebottom Drive. The
passenger door swung open and out stepped Listeria Bacter. She
had climbed into that cab back at the Bacter Estate a girl; she
emerged a woman. Listeria let out a sigh. All she could
think was she was finally free from her father and his whore.
Listeria had been kept sheltered from her father's extracurricular
activies for quite some time. She had after all only been a child
when his affair with Marylena Hamilton had begun and when her mother
had died. But she was no longer a child and when her father had
the audacity to have his mistress move into her home their relationship
started to fall apart. When Marylena gave her a half-sister
their
relationship shattered. Listeria hated Marylena, resented her
daughter Nadia, and despised her father. But all of that was
finally in the past. Listeria was now in college and on her
own. Listeria was now a woman.
Listeria decided not to join her cousins in the dorms but to move
into
the house her sister had started at when she began at Sim State, the
House on Crumplebottom Drive. When she arrived there were three
other girls already living there: her cousin Cell's fiancee, Michelle
Kearney; a friend of her sister's that she vaguely remembered from her
childhood, Calla LeTourneau; and one of the local girls, Marsha
Bruenig. The three of them welcomed Listeria with open
arms. Michelle helped Listeria carry her things up the stairs and
helped her get settled into her room. Michelle was very nice to
Listeria and Listeria was glad that she would be joining the
family. She was a little disappointed that Michelle would be
graduating very soon and she wouldn't get much of a chance to get to
know her before she moved on to marry her cousin.
In fact, Listeria would hardly get a chance to know Michelle at all because it Listeria was soon swept up in all the madness of her freshman year of college. The end of her first term swooped in on her and it was time for Michelle to graduate. Michelle didn't want a big party so they didn't have one. Listeria, Calla and Marsha just ordered a pizza and watched a movie with Michelle for one last girls night. Listeria was sad to see Michelle move out but glad that she would soon be family.
In fact, Listeria would hardly get a chance to know Michelle at all because it Listeria was soon swept up in all the madness of her freshman year of college. The end of her first term swooped in on her and it was time for Michelle to graduate. Michelle didn't want a big party so they didn't have one. Listeria, Calla and Marsha just ordered a pizza and watched a movie with Michelle for one last girls night. Listeria was sad to see Michelle move out but glad that she would soon be family.
Michelle's old bed didn't stay empty for long. By the time the
next term started Calla's younger sister, Candace, moved in. (Simmer's Note: Candace is also the daughter of Brandi LeTourneau and River Goss)
Calla was very excited to have her sister living with them even though,
Listeria noticed, she was vastly different from Calla. Calla was
a little on the eccentric side. She wore black make-up to
compliment her black hair and her black dress. She wasn't Goth
just dark. Candace, while sharing Calla's dark hair, was much
more friendly and brighter. Listeria couldn't help but like her
immediately.
Listeria's first semester at college was pretty uneventful. She
was just getting used to things. She declared her major in
literature mainly because she really didn't know what she wanted to
after graduation except have children so she would then have
grandchildren. In high school Listeria had dated Alvin Futa a few
times. They liked each other a great deal and Listeria was
looking forward to some time at college together since he graduated
with her. But, not long after she was at school she got a phone
call from Alvin.
At first she was excited to hear his voice on the other line, "Oh
Alvin! I'm so glad you called! Are you living in the dorms
or in a house on campus?"
"Hey Lis. That is kinda what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm not at Sim State."
Listeria was surprised and a little hurt. She had thought he would be joining her, "Where did you end up going then?"
"Well, that's just the thing. I didn't go anywhere. I didn't get the scholarships I'd hoped for and my folks couldn't afford to send me."
She was stunned. Alvin wasn't at school with her? That wasn't part of the plan. "But what about financial aid? Loans? Anything?"
"I didn't qualify. My family's not rich like your's is. We just couldn't afford it."
"Well, what are you doing then?"
"Working. I saved up enough to get my own place. Its not like the mansion you grew up in but it's nice."
Listeria was starting to sense some resentment in Alvin's tone, "Listen Alvin. My family hasn't always had money. My Grandpa Anthracis went to college with no money at all. He started out on an empty plot of land with hardly anything on it! He built my house with his bare hands. We've worked hard to get to where we are!"
Alvin's tone turned very sarcastic, "That's right because the rest of us don't work hard."
Listeria could not believe the direction this conversation had taken. Alvin continued his onslaught, "What? Do you think that you guys are the only ones who've had a hard time? Just because your grandfather had it rough you think you know what it's like? Get off it Listeria, you've had everything handed to you on a silver platter. You don't know what pain is!"
Listeria could hold it back no longer. How could he say such a thing to her? She roared back, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT PAIN IS???? How can you say that to me? Tell me Alvin, was it painful for you when your mother died? Oh that's right you don't know because SHE'S STILL ALIVE! Don't talk to me about pain until your father's affair drives your mother to her death. I was ten years old when she died. How can you tell me that's not pain?" Before Alvin could respond Listeria snapped her phone shut. Her dream of a good, long life with Alvin was over.
"Hey Lis. That is kinda what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm not at Sim State."
Listeria was surprised and a little hurt. She had thought he would be joining her, "Where did you end up going then?"
"Well, that's just the thing. I didn't go anywhere. I didn't get the scholarships I'd hoped for and my folks couldn't afford to send me."
She was stunned. Alvin wasn't at school with her? That wasn't part of the plan. "But what about financial aid? Loans? Anything?"
"I didn't qualify. My family's not rich like your's is. We just couldn't afford it."
"Well, what are you doing then?"
"Working. I saved up enough to get my own place. Its not like the mansion you grew up in but it's nice."
Listeria was starting to sense some resentment in Alvin's tone, "Listen Alvin. My family hasn't always had money. My Grandpa Anthracis went to college with no money at all. He started out on an empty plot of land with hardly anything on it! He built my house with his bare hands. We've worked hard to get to where we are!"
Alvin's tone turned very sarcastic, "That's right because the rest of us don't work hard."
Listeria could not believe the direction this conversation had taken. Alvin continued his onslaught, "What? Do you think that you guys are the only ones who've had a hard time? Just because your grandfather had it rough you think you know what it's like? Get off it Listeria, you've had everything handed to you on a silver platter. You don't know what pain is!"
Listeria could hold it back no longer. How could he say such a thing to her? She roared back, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT PAIN IS???? How can you say that to me? Tell me Alvin, was it painful for you when your mother died? Oh that's right you don't know because SHE'S STILL ALIVE! Don't talk to me about pain until your father's affair drives your mother to her death. I was ten years old when she died. How can you tell me that's not pain?" Before Alvin could respond Listeria snapped her phone shut. Her dream of a good, long life with Alvin was over.
Listeria tried not to let her conversation with Alvin get her down. Alvin
was a part of her past and her past was what she had come to college to
escape so she resolved to let him go just like the rest of it.
She had heard about an old gypsy who was known to find the perfect
match for desperate singles. She had found her cousin Cillia her future husband
so Listeria figured she'd give the old woman a call. She really
didn't know what to expect when the old woman arrived. It was
good that Listeria had been watching for her arrival because she
lingered out by the old pine tree and never came up to the house.
Listeria went out to greet her and asked her how much she charged to
find her a perfect date. The old woman responded in a soft,
cracking voice, "The price is up to you my dear. It is not how
much I charge but how much it is worth to you." Listeria thought
her future husband was immensely important so she handed the old gypsy
an obscene amount of money. The gypsy said nothing more but gazed
intently into her crystal ball. She waved her hands a bit and
Listeria's date literally fell from the sky.
His name was Dorian Krauker. He was dressed in a strange llama
blazer and Listeria soon learned that he worked on the Legacy Valley
Police force. She noticed his hairline appeared to be receding
and when she asked him about it he laughed at her boldness and then
told her he really wasn't loosing his hair but cut it like that to gain
respect from the people he worked with. This seemed a bit
outrageous to Listeria but upon closer inspection it turned out Dorian
was telling the truth. Despite his strange hairstyle Listeria
found him to be quite attractive and after spending some time getting
to know him she had forgotten about Alvin and found herself flirting with Dorian.
She
asked him if he wanted to head downtown or onto campus but he told
her he was okay with just hanging around her place. He said he
wanted to get to know each other better. So they hung out on
Crumplebottom Drive and just talked. He told her about working
for LVPD and said he had met her cousin Cell who had recently become a desk sergeant there.
She talked to him about her family and about her dreams. He
listened to her like no one else had ever listened before. Before
they knew it morning had crept up on them. Dorian said he had
class at 9 am and should try and sleep a little bit. Listeria
walked him to the door to say good-bye. She was a little
surprised when he reached out and drew her into toward him. He
wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. Listeria
didn't know how to respond at first but once she felt the warmth of his
lips on her's she relaxed and enjoyed his kiss.
When he finally let go, Listeria nearly crumpled to the floor her knees
were so weak. Dorian smiled at her warmly and said he would call
her later that day. Listeria had never felt anything quite like
that before. It was far better than her first kiss with Alvin.
After Dorian left Listeria went upstairs, showered and changed her clothes. The others were still in bed so Listeria decided she would get breakfast started. She went into the kitchen and pulled open the fridge. After standing in the door for a few moments pondering the nearly empty refrigerator Listeria swung the door shut, made a mental note to get groceries later that day after class and pulled from the cupboard a box of toaster pastries . Listeria was thinking of her date with Dorian as she carefully arranged the toaster pastries in a pan and put them in the oven. She stood in front of the stove gazing out the window reliving their kiss. She was so involved in her daydream that she didn't smell the toaster pastries burning. In fact it wasn't until the oven had burst into flames that Listeria even realized something was wrong. The fire alarm started screeching and Listeria panicked. She was usually pretty calm under pressure but the combination of her date and her exhaustion she couldn't think what to do. Fortunately, the fire alarm immediately notified the fire department on campus and they arrived soon after the blaze started and put it out. Listeria was quite shaken up after the ordeal and decided she would be more careful next time.
A new semester had started and Listeria had a new set of classes. She had kept in touch with Dorian and they had gone out on a few dates. She was happy with Dorian and thought there might be a future for them. Listeria was so caught up in things with Dorian that she never saw Ryker coming.
Ryker Langerak was in one of her classes. He'd watch Listeria sitting in class chewing absentmindedly on the end of her pen while their professor launched into one of his many tangents. He'd watch her careful note taking. He had noticed the way her eyebrows furrowed when she was considering something the professor had said. While he had never spoken to her, Ryker was head-over-heels in love with Listeria. He'd always been to afraid to talk to her until one day after class Ryker dropped one of his books and Listeria picked up and called to him. It was the first time he had heard her voice and to him it sounded like the sweetest music. She smiled at him as she handed his book back and his mouth was far too dry to even say, "Thank you." All he could do was watch her walk away.
Listeria hadn't really noticed Ryker. She had seen him in class and remembered handing him his book but she'd never really thought too much of him. So when she saw him walking by her house one afternoon she didn't really recognize him. Listeria was sitting out on the lawn working on one of her assignments and Ryker saw her. He decided today would be the day. He walked up to her and told her how much he liked her and how he was more attracted to her than he had ever been to anyone.
Listeria was quite surprised to hear Ryker say that. She was even more surprised when he handed her his phone number, told him to call him and then kissed her! If that wasn't enough she was more surprised when she felt a tingle in her stomach.
Since she had met Dorian, Listeria hadn't even so much as glanced at another guy. Suddenly, she realized that maybe she had been too caught up in Dorian. Ryker had said nothing more after he'd kissed her just walked away leaving her confused and holding his phone number. She decided she'd give him a call. They agreed to a date. Listeria and Ryker met at Crypt O'Night Club Downtown for their date. She had a great time. They were dancing to their favorite Llama Mama song when the tempo slowed down. Listeria wiped her forhead on the sleeve of her shirt and went to freshen up in the bathroom but Ryker caught her wrist and pulled him to her.
"Just because the music slowed down doesn't mean we need to stop dancing," he whispered in her ear.
Listeria could feel the warmth of his body against her. He reached up and pushed a strand of her hair away from her face. Her skin tingled where his fingertips had brushed it. He leaned forward andmurmured in her ear, "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
There was something about the way his lips ever so slightly brushed her ear that sent Listeria over the edge. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
After she pulled away from his embrace Listeria looked up and saw Dorian's back leaving the club. Her heart started racing. Had he seen her kiss Ryker?
After Dorian left Listeria went upstairs, showered and changed her clothes. The others were still in bed so Listeria decided she would get breakfast started. She went into the kitchen and pulled open the fridge. After standing in the door for a few moments pondering the nearly empty refrigerator Listeria swung the door shut, made a mental note to get groceries later that day after class and pulled from the cupboard a box of toaster pastries . Listeria was thinking of her date with Dorian as she carefully arranged the toaster pastries in a pan and put them in the oven. She stood in front of the stove gazing out the window reliving their kiss. She was so involved in her daydream that she didn't smell the toaster pastries burning. In fact it wasn't until the oven had burst into flames that Listeria even realized something was wrong. The fire alarm started screeching and Listeria panicked. She was usually pretty calm under pressure but the combination of her date and her exhaustion she couldn't think what to do. Fortunately, the fire alarm immediately notified the fire department on campus and they arrived soon after the blaze started and put it out. Listeria was quite shaken up after the ordeal and decided she would be more careful next time.
A new semester had started and Listeria had a new set of classes. She had kept in touch with Dorian and they had gone out on a few dates. She was happy with Dorian and thought there might be a future for them. Listeria was so caught up in things with Dorian that she never saw Ryker coming.
Ryker Langerak was in one of her classes. He'd watch Listeria sitting in class chewing absentmindedly on the end of her pen while their professor launched into one of his many tangents. He'd watch her careful note taking. He had noticed the way her eyebrows furrowed when she was considering something the professor had said. While he had never spoken to her, Ryker was head-over-heels in love with Listeria. He'd always been to afraid to talk to her until one day after class Ryker dropped one of his books and Listeria picked up and called to him. It was the first time he had heard her voice and to him it sounded like the sweetest music. She smiled at him as she handed his book back and his mouth was far too dry to even say, "Thank you." All he could do was watch her walk away.
Listeria hadn't really noticed Ryker. She had seen him in class and remembered handing him his book but she'd never really thought too much of him. So when she saw him walking by her house one afternoon she didn't really recognize him. Listeria was sitting out on the lawn working on one of her assignments and Ryker saw her. He decided today would be the day. He walked up to her and told her how much he liked her and how he was more attracted to her than he had ever been to anyone.
Listeria was quite surprised to hear Ryker say that. She was even more surprised when he handed her his phone number, told him to call him and then kissed her! If that wasn't enough she was more surprised when she felt a tingle in her stomach.
Since she had met Dorian, Listeria hadn't even so much as glanced at another guy. Suddenly, she realized that maybe she had been too caught up in Dorian. Ryker had said nothing more after he'd kissed her just walked away leaving her confused and holding his phone number. She decided she'd give him a call. They agreed to a date. Listeria and Ryker met at Crypt O'Night Club Downtown for their date. She had a great time. They were dancing to their favorite Llama Mama song when the tempo slowed down. Listeria wiped her forhead on the sleeve of her shirt and went to freshen up in the bathroom but Ryker caught her wrist and pulled him to her.
"Just because the music slowed down doesn't mean we need to stop dancing," he whispered in her ear.
Listeria could feel the warmth of his body against her. He reached up and pushed a strand of her hair away from her face. Her skin tingled where his fingertips had brushed it. He leaned forward andmurmured in her ear, "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
There was something about the way his lips ever so slightly brushed her ear that sent Listeria over the edge. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
After she pulled away from his embrace Listeria looked up and saw Dorian's back leaving the club. Her heart started racing. Had he seen her kiss Ryker?
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