A Pleasant Story

Chapter Twenty-Five

Intrigue in College

The college van dropped Angela off in front of the dorm she'd chosen to be her residence. She felt a shimmering as her young adult form came upon her, and stood proud and tall in her new body.





As she had requested, her mother had not arrived to experience the transformation with her; she hadn't wanted her mother to find out that she would be attending La Fiesta Tech instead of Academie Le Tour! She looked up at the rather plain dormitory exterior. It was a stark concrete block in the midst of a desolate desert landscape, but she didn't really care about the surroundings. This would be her place to get back at Lilith.





Angela was about to enter the building when she was startled by a streaker jumping up the steps ahead of her. “Well,” she thought, “That’s what happens at this lame party school!”





After the streaker had entered, a motley assortment of students began exiting the dorm and coming towards her. The first one in line was a sloppy, lazy-looking fellow--about what she'd expected from a hick place like La Fiesta Tech.





The students surrounded her and all began talking at once. The scruffy one began, saying, “I’m Mickey!”

"Hi, I'm DJ!"

"I'm Blossom! Welcome!"

"I'm Aldric! Howdy there!"

A hippie-looking boy jumped in front of her and began doing a spastic cheer to the glories of Tech; Angela backed up in confusion. What had she fallen into?







Aldric walked up to her and began chattering, "Hey, what's your major? Where are you from? Do you want to go with us to the coffee shop? We can also go over to Sim State and climb their tower."

Angela said, "I'd really just like to get settled in my room."







A girl named Ellen came up and said to the rest of the group, "Back off guys! Give her a chance. Not everyone wants to be overwhelmed like that!"






Ellen said, "Follow me and I'll show you to your room. You're on the first floor because we were assigned in alphabetical order. Get yourself settled and then come out and I'll show you around." Ellen led her inside to a dorm room.







Angela had had enough. She turned to Ellen angrily and said, "Look, I don't want to be shown around, I don't want to make friends, and I don't want to become part of this pal gang you guys have going."

Ellen stepped back in confusion.






"In fact," Angela continued, "I don't think I want to live here at all. This is a nightmare! I just got away from a house full of nosy people!"

With that, she turned from Ellen and headed into the common room where she'd seen a computer and began a search to find her own place to live. She ignored the friendly looks of the other students.






She found a house for rent on the outskirts of the campus that she could afford and signed up for it. Despite her rudeness, the dorm residents all gathered around to wish her well at her new place.





Mickey said, "Sorry you didn't like it here, but maybe I'll come by your new place later and you can come with us to a keg party."

Angela didn't answer. If that slobby pig thought she'd EVER go anywhere with him, he had another thing coming!





She went outside to wait for the van to pick her up to take her away from this place. It would be MUCH better to live on her own. By herself. With no chatty, friendly people around. The streaker followed her out and ran away as she waited.







Her new house was, if that's possible, even more desolate than the dorm she'd left. It seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, and it almost was. Located far on the edge of campus, Angela felt she could live here and not be bothered by annoying neighbors.







The interior was shabby and broken-down, and needed lots of work, but Angela wasn't worried.







Unbeknownst to anyone but herself, Angela had a resource she could sell to get some money to fix up the house and furnish it to her liking. She pulled something from her inventory and placed it on the counter.







What no one had noticed when the family was looking at all the loot Kaylynn had brought from Daniel's place was that Angela had slipped one of the vases into her inventory while their attention was distracted. She sold it for 4000 simoleons—PLENTY to fix this place up to her standards.

The first thing she bought was a garden plot. Aside from her desire for revenge against Lilith, gardening was her favorite activity, and here at her own place she could pursue it all she wanted.







She then unpacked the things she'd brought from home and sat down at the computer to choose her major.

"Drama seems appropriate," she said as she made her selection.







She then phoned her mother to let her know she'd arrived safely. She was afraid her Mom might show up if she didn’t hear from her. "Oh yeah, Mom, everything's fine here at Academie Le Tour. But no, I don't think you should visit for a while. I am going to be really busy studying and doing homework and writing my term paper."

Angela listened impatiently as her mother gave her advice she would never follow and finally got her to stop talking and hang up.





That evening Angela made her first meal alone in her new place and sat down alone to eat. By herself. She found herself a little disappointed that Mickey hadn't shown up to take her to a party. That might have been fun.


“Never mind,” she thought. “Lilith should be arriving tomorrow and I can get started on getting even. I’ll look up that crazy band house tomorrow.”









When Lilith arrived at college, at the house she was to share with five other students, she turned into her young adult self and looked down in dismay at her new look.

"Oh no," she said, "Blech."






Mary-Sue said, "It's not so bad! You look all mature and grown up!'

"But Mom, ick! This hair and these clothes! I need to change this right away!"

Mary-Sue reassured her, "It's really not that bad. I'm sure the Swirling Parakeets won't mind."

Lilith laughed. "Shifting Paradymes, Mom! They're a band! And I don't want them to see me like this!"






"Well sure, that's fine, honey. You should look the way you think you should look."

Mary-Sue leaned in to give her a hug then turned suddenly and laughed as a cheerleader went running by, shrieking about llamas.

"Well then!" she chuckled, "Welcome to college!"

Mary-Sue hugged Lilith again and said her goodbyes. "I'll leave you to get settled in. Call soon! And we'll see you for Mitch's birthday!"






When her Mom left, Lilith decided she didn't want to meet her new roommates looking so square, so instead of knocking on the door she turned and headed to the local shopping center. She didn’t notice her twin was hiding behind the compost bin.






As she entered the store she noticed a nice-looking group of students studying together. "I'd like to meet some new people," Lilith said to herself, "But I'll wait until I look right!" She went to the upstairs clothing area where she hoped she could shop in privacy.






She wanted to be careful with her money and stay on a budget, but there were so many new choices for her new life stage that she found it hard to hold back. She finally chose one new everyday outfit, a new nightie--in BLACK!--and a new swimsuit.





Someone was watching as she carried her choices to the cashier.







She noticed a jewelry display next to the register. Now that she was a young adult, she could wear some face jewelry!






Upstairs again, she fixed her appearance, tried on her outfits, and stuck some jewelry on her face. Awesome!







She decided to keep her hair the way she had as a teenager and left feeling like herself again!





Angela snuck out from behind the clothing rack and watched Lilith go down the stairs.


She then had a wickedly wonderful idea.





She got an identical outfit to Lilith, then adjusted her appearance. She took great care with the details, but decided she would not go so far as to pierce her face.

"Close enough!" she crowed, as she preened in the mirror. Even if she didn’t like Lilith’s taste!


She laughed evilly to herself as she left the store. Now to start tracking Lilith's movements so she could mess with her!





When Lilith got back to Shifting Paradymes, she took a deep breath and knocked on the door. She was about to start her new college life! As she waited, she heard a loud banging sound coming from the roof. What was that?






Her musing was interrupted when a striking girl with a rad hairstyle came out and said, "Hey, are you Lilith? We were expecting you today! I'm Zoe."





They exchanged greetings, then Zoe yelled toward the roof, "Gunnar, come down! Lilith's here!"


Zoe explained that one of their roommates was up on the roof practicing on his drums.





Gunnar was practicing with a friend.





Zoe said, "Come on in and I'll give you the tour and introduce you. Mitch and Stella are at class, but the rest of us are here."

She led Lilith into the first room near the door and gestured toward the boring little kitchen.


"I know it's dull, but Stella said she wants to redo it. Stella's going to share your room. Jasmine and I have the other one upstairs, and the boys are down here. Don't go in their room without a gas mask!"





Zoe said, "Have you ever met an alien? Stella's one. She's a little odd, but really nice. And generous. I think you'll like her. Most of the alien students live at Cygnus House, but Stella wanted to live with humans. She tries to copy our clothes and makeup sometimes, but doesn't always get it right."

Lilith said, "Really? That's so cool! Where exactly is she from?"

Zoe shrugged, "She told us, but none of us can pronounce the name of her planet. You can try and see if you do better."





Lilith then met Jasmine, whose tattoos made her want to see if she could get some too. Jasmine told her, "Zoe and Gunnar and I are the band, but if you like music you're welcome to sit in. It used to be just the three of us, but we had some space in the house so we decided to get some roommates to cut down on the costs."

Lilith told her, "I don't play, but I love listening!"





Their talk was interrupted by the arrival of Gunnar, who immediately leaned back and whistled at Lilith. "Well hey there, baby," he began, but was interrupted by Zoe.

"Back off, Gunnar, give her a break! She just got here!" To Lilith she said, "He's harmless--you just have to keep him slapped down."





Jasmine opened the door off the dining area and gestured for Lilith to take a look. “This is where Mitch and Gunnar live. We call it ‘The Sty.’”

Lilith looked in and said, “I can see why!”






Jasmine and Zoe continued Lilith's tour and showed her the first balcony with the staircase leading up to the roof.

"This is amazing," Lilith said. "I am so glad you all were looking for another roommate!"





Zoe excused herself to go to class while Jasmine took over. “This is Zoe’s and mine. A lot neater than the boys! So have you decided what you want to major in? I’m in history.”

Lilith told her she hadn’t decided yet, but wanted something active.







Jasmine led her to the bedroom at the front of the house and said, "Here's your room. Stella really likes the space theme, as you can see. I'm sure she'd tone it down if you don't like it, though."

"Oh no," Lilith said, "I like it."








"I'll let you get unpacked," Jasmine said. "Come downstairs when you feel like something to eat. I’m making spaghetti for everybody."

Lilith looked around happily at the little room that was to be her new home. It seemed Stella had divided the room exactly in half and kept the space theme on her side, aside from the carpet.





"I wonder when Stella will get here?" she said to herself as she measured the space with her hands.

"She is arrival time," said a voice from behind her.






Lilith jumped and said, "Oh! You startled me! Sorry."

Stella said, "Fault is here. Exit will I and reappear." She turned as though to leave.

Lilith cried out, "Oh no, it's okay, please stay. I'm Lilith."





"Appreciative for encountering you," Stella said amiably. Lilith noticed that she phrased things a bit oddly--not unusual for an alien, she supposed--but was perfectly understandable.

"Arrangement of your possessions forthcoming?" Stella asked.

"Yeah," Lilith said. "Did you have any ideas?'

"Ancillary dwelling section in possession of you," Stella said, and Lilith took that to mean that the far side of the room was hers to do with as she liked.

She lined up her bed and tried to fit her large wardrobe next to it, but no matter how she turned it, she couldn’t get into the bed with the wardrobe in the space.







“Offer of alternative spacing arrangement would be welcome or intrusive?” Stella asked from her vantage point on her bed.

“Oh, yeah, it would be welcome!” Lilith said, “Did you have an idea?”


Stella pointed toward the hallway and said, “Large clothing storage device would fit in common expanse of space outside.”

With that accomplished, Lilith got the rest of her things arranged and thanked Stella for her help.

The room was small, and full with all the furniture, but seemed pleasant and cozy.

"So," she asked Stella, "What planet are you from?"

Stella began to make odd chirping and whistling sounds, almost like a bird song.

"Oh!" Lilith said, "Uh, that sounds nice. I don't think I could say it, though."

"Humans encounter barriers to repetition," Stella agreed.

“DINNER!” they heard Jasmine yell from the kitchen.





"We depart this space now. Commencement of nutritional ingestion must pursue," Stella said, and left the room.

Lilith followed her downstairs and sat at the dining table with the other girls. “Jasmine,” she said, “this spaghetti is great! Will the boys be back from class soon?”







In response, Jasmine gestured toward the door, where a young man was waving shyly at the group.





Lilith had finished, so she stood to greet him.

"Hi," she said, standing. "You must be Mitch. That's my brother's name, too, so it will be easy to remember."

Mitch said softly, "Well, that's great, I guess. It's a good name. I like it anyway. And you're Lilith. What's your major? Did you meet Stella?"

Lilith thought he seemed a bit nervous, but nice. Was it possible SHE was making him nervous? That might be cool.





As they spoke, Stella approached them and said, “Celestial orb has departed luminescence. Time commences for rhythmic sounds and motion.”

Lilith looked curiously at Mitch, who perked up and said, "Dance time! Let's go!" He turned and ran up the stairs, hollering, “Come on everyone!”




Gunnar returned from class as Zoe was explaining to Lilith, “We have band practice on the roof every night. Stella started the dancing tradition. She likes to dress up for it. Mitch and anybody who wants to join will come up and dance too.”

Lilith followed them to the roof where the Shifting Paradymes were playing their instruments and making, if not exactly music, sounds.

Mitch and Stella were waving sparklers, so Lilith grabbed one from the box on the edge of the roof and waved with them.

Stella, who had changed into a ballerina costume, explained, “Gesture with flame sticks is appreciation for rhythm noise.”





When the sparklers went out the other three danced and laughed. Lilith hadn’t had so much fun in ages! She especially enjoyed Stella’s demonstration of her special alien moves.




When the band was tired out, the six of them sat down on the rooftop to hang out for a while.


Stella said to Lilith, "It is pleasing you accompany us in our revels. Many salutations for your presence."

Lilith smiled at her as she replied, "Well thanks, Stella. I like you too."







They were enjoying themselves so much that no one noticed a sim watching them from the sidewalk below.