Rose 2-3: Counting backwards

Donovan

     Even though I miss Willow, Tiffany as well, it is nice to be home. I feel entertained listening to Mom and Dad try to get information out of Giselle about her school life.

      As usual, everyone but Dad dresses in regular clothes. I don't know how he stands it. I'm cold enough in short sleeves.

     "Milo? What's wrong with your neck?" Mom interrupts herself as she and I talk about my art classes. She tells me she's a little jealous that she didn't ever get the chance to go to college, and I get the feeling that she's living vicariously through what I tell her.

     I can't stand it one morning; I miss Willow. So, I pull my phone out and give her a call even if it's long distance.

     "Hello?" she answers, sounding very sleepy.

     "Willow?"

     "Yeah." she answers, her voice almost having a smacking sound to it.

     "It's Donovan."

     "Donovan .... it's five in the morning here." she says, sounding like she's whining in a way like she doesn't mean to scold me, but she still isn't happy I called at this hour.

      I'm immediately contrite. "Oh no. Oh no, I forgot to count backwards. I got used to calling home and doing the math in that direction. I'm so sorry."

       "It's okay, really, just don't expect me to be my chipper self." she replies, and it kind of sounds like she has her face pressed into her pillow. Imagining her laying in her bed doesn't help me.

     "If it's so terribly early, why did you answer your phone?" I ask, curious and finding the situation a little bit humorous.

     "I have no idea. I think I kind of answered it in my sleep. I didn't even check the caller ID."

     I frown a little. I'd hoped she'd say that she answered just because it was me, but I guess I'll get over it.

      Skye grumbles from the top bunk. "Donny, it's Saturday before noon, would you take that international booty call somewhere else?"

       International booty call doesn't even make any sense, but then, this is Skye we're talking about here.

       Milo sleeps through it all, fully clothed, on his bottom bunk. He's still has his glasses on, and I see a book peep out from under his pillow.

       Willow and I keep talking, and I stay in my room. I successfully get on Skye's last nerve, and he leaves the room, grumbling about being up 'early'.

      "So, did you get your next housing assignment?" I ask, hoping we'll be living in the same dorm... or at least close.

      "I'm not rooming in a dorm this time. My dad's friend's son has a place, and me and two other people are going to live there." she answers.

       Dad's friend's son?! As in, she's going to be living with some guy?! "Who are the other two people?" I ask, trying to not sound suspicious. After all, we're not going steady, so I have no right to get jealous.

       "I honestly have no idea. I'm just happy I'll get my own room." she answers, and I don't feel any better.

       So, it could be three guys for all we know. Surely a father wouldn't do that to his daughter.

      "Well I, unfortunately, don't have any friends with houses there, so I'm still in the dorms. Plus, since they know they have me, I don't get my own room this term."

       "Oh no. That sucks."

       "I suppose I'll survive somehow." I say laughingly.

     I eventually end my phone conversation with her.
     One more week and I can get back over there. I miss Tiffany a little too. I don't miss her snapping at me all the time, but we did have fun while I sketched her.
     I decide to be a good son and do some laundry.

     In fact, I wind up being a very good son, doing all sorts of chores just to keep myself occupied. Painting doesn't work because I just end up thinking about both of them.
      I have no idea how these clothes are going to dry out here in the snow, but since we got rid of our dryer, this is how we do it.
      I hear the doorbell ring.

     I walk inside to see who it is, wondering if it could be Yvette. I see it's Skye's little girlfriend. I chuckle quietly as I walk past them. They look so cute.
     Skye shoots me a death glare, making me widen my smile.

    As I make my way up the stairs, I hear him ask her to prom.
    "I assumed we were going anyway, but I still wanted to officially ask you." he explains.
    She tells him yes, and then she starts laying down all these ground rules. She almost reminds me of Tiffany ... or Yvette. Yvette didn't want to go to prom. She doesn't like crowds. I never thought to ask anyone, so I went alone. I had fun anyway.
     I wonder for a few minutes why I haven't seen Yvette since I got back. I've called her a few times, but she never returned any of my calls. I just don't understand her sometimes.

     I keep trying. After all, she said she wanted to talk to me when I got back. She never calls me back.
     I decide to work out my frustrations by doing a few chin-ups. Someone who must be one of Giselle's little friends comes out and talks to me after I've done about ten or so. Then, Giselle herself comes out on the veranda. I stop and talk to both of them for a while before I get the hint from my baby sister to leave. I decide to go find something to do indoors, wishing I was back at university.

Giselle

    I finally find where Clifton has gotten himself to. He's out talking to Don. Cliff wants to find out everything he can about Sim City University because he says he wants to go there himself after we graduate. I don't know if I do or not, but I know that if he goes and I don't, I'll miss him.
    Over the past few months, we've been out a few times. I can never tell if things are just friendly with him or if he's wanting more than friendship. I wouldn't mind more than just friendship, but I also don't want to lose his friendship.
    Still, I almost wish he would push things past friendship so that Nate can get a clue and leave me alone. I'm not interested, douche bag! Get over it!

    Once Donny finally leaves us alone, we pick up from where we left off in our conversation.
    "Did you hear that Angela said yes to Nate asking her to prom?" he mentions.
    My mouth drops open for a second before I breathe a sigh of relief and look heavenward in thanks. "Thank goodness. Now maybe he'll leave me alone."
    "He was bothering you?" he asks with this adorable protectiveness present in his voice. I hope I'm not imagining it.
     "Yes. I kept worrying he'd ask me to prom. He's not terrible; I just don't like him."
     "So, has anyone else asked you?" he asks me, and my heart skips a beat.
     "No...." I answer and leave the statement hanging.
     "I don't know if I even want to go." he says unexpectedly, and I feel my face fall.

     His eyes blink once before his eyebrows go up. I look away, embarrassed that I let my feelings show up on my face.
     "But..." he starts talking again after a pause that feels like it lasts an eternity, "I don't see anything wrong with us going together. If that's okay with you, that is."
     Not quite as romantic as I'd always pictured it in my head, but I'll take it. So, I swallow my disappointment and force a smile on my face as I say, "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
     "We don't have to." he says quickly, probably misreading my expression. "I just thought ... that ... since we weren't going with anyone else and it's only a few days away and maybe it's something we don't want to miss out on ... that we could, you know, go as friends."
     Oh, let's make it even less romantic, why don't we? Still, I nod in an understanding way and say, "Yeah, sure." I try to keep my face even.
      "What's wrong?" he asks. "Were you hoping somebody else would ask you? If you want, maybe I could go talk to whoever it is. I don't want to prevent you from going with someone you really want to go with."
      I am about ready to punch him in the face. Maybe that would knock some sense into him.
      "No, that's okay. I don't want anyone else to ask me." I say. Hint!!!
     "Oh! Okay then. Cool." he smiles.

     My spirits lift a tiny bit when I see that he's happy I said yes.

     Later, Skye starts teasing me about prom coming up and the fact that I don't have a date.
     "But I do have a date." I say in sadistic glee.

      "Who?" he asks darkly.
      "Clifton Mancini." I answer triumphantly, and I see Dad's head pop over in my direction.
      "Camillo's son?" Dad asks.
      "Yes. Do we know any other Clifton Mancinis?" I sass.
      "No, I was just asking, and you watch your tone." he scolds back while Skye continues to look at me with narrowed eyes.
      "He's too old for you." Skye says.
      "No, he's not. Shut up, Skye." I snap. Too old?! Skye, you are so annoying!

     "Looks like somebody needs to do the dishes." Skye states, annoying as ever.
     "It's your night." I say, knowing it's mine.
     "No it isn't. I did them last night. It's your night."
     "It's Milo's night." I say.
     Dad walks in with his plate of lasagna. "Milo is sick, and it is your night, Giselle."
     Crap.

     Then, Dad starts laying into Skye about what he should and shouldn't do at Prom.
     Sweet. Give it to him, Dad. You know what he was planning.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stopping it here because I can't figure out where else to break it.

News:
* Galen Bianchi (Beppe's little brother) married Rosaria Frey, Ron Frey's widow. Cougar.
* I bought jock influence for Skye and took the recommended 'irresistible' trait for him. Nice. :)
* Donovan FINALLY graduated. I didn't get a good pic of him. The whole process was five times more irritating than Link's. He didn't move until the ceremony was over. Funny, because he was the valedictorian like Link was. He was also voted most likely to take over the world. Do huh?
* Glen Romano (Chasity's brother) and Crystal Valenci broke off their engagement and guess what -- she's stalking him now.
* Rose got lvl 10 gardening
* Donovan got to lvl 8 nerd so I got to choose another trait for him as well. I decided against the recommended bookworm and chose irresistible for him as well. (Later I was like 'what was I thinking?!')
* I discovered that Yvette does indeed have the loner trait from the thought bubbles over her head.
* Beppe and Marta have another kid (I guess if Link and Fiona won't have kids, then SP has those two making sure the next generation is populated.), Bartolomeo. That's a fun name to say. Bartolomeo Bianchi. :D (yes, I named him.)
* Pedro aged up to elder right after the graduation:

I'm sad. I didn't take any pics of him in his pj's (he wears pants now), but he's actually not that bad. I'm still sad though because his face really aged.

Others of note at the graduation:

L to R: Yvette Ferrari is holding her toddler sister, Jacklyn. Her mom, Jalissa, stands next to them. Then there's Athena Monty, Antonio & Allen's sister. Next there's Dalma Taylor, Giacomo Modena and Florence Taylor's lovechild.

This is me glazing over prom. I forgot to get their pictures, which I like to post as well. I'll get them later. Hm, Skye prom king and Giselle queen. Interesting.

Clifton finally got a clue and figured out that Giselle liked him. In my head, he liked her too but didn't think she liked him, but he still liked hanging around her anyway. Then as they danced.... /happy sigh. Make up the rest in your head.

Poor Milo had a bad time. :( It didn't help he had a cold.

Now Donovan can stop counting down the days (backwards of course) until he goes back to school because it'll be in the next update!

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