Uncomplicated 2.38: Chicken

    Bonnie starts hitting some joints downtown to hopefully make some tips.
    No... not that kind of joint. -.- Apparently, that word can also apply to a bar or a club.
    Later, she comes up and tells me how it went. "People like me on the piano. They came up and started jamming with me, so we decided to form a band."
    "Well, that's a nifty idea," I tell her and pause at my wording. Then, I shake my head. Whatever.
    "I know, right? So, we all were trying to figure out what to name it. We wanted it to be unique, the kind of name people would remember because no one else in their right mind would think to name a band that."
     "So, what did you name it?"
     She giggles. "Chicken Leg."
     I slowly blink at my airhead sister. "Well, that definitely fits the bill for being something that no one else in their right mind would think to name a band."
     She giggles again.

      Since we don't really know anyone yet, we only have a small celebration for Serenity's birthday.

     Those eyes...

     She has an exact copy of Bonnie's mother's eyes. Addie has, in her own way, continued to maintain a presence even after our move. Bonnie acts surprised. She'd thought for sure that she'd have a light brown like hers. She says Lavar had blue eyes; she thought her 'Donovan Steele' eyes would be dominant. Nobody expected Addie's green, especially the Maker.

      Almost every morning, I'm up early to tend my garden. I'm not making much at all. Plus, I'm not sure whether or not I'll stay living at home after I age up. I can get a new garden going again if I move out. At least I don't have to worry about winter stalling any food production since we don't have the Seasons expansion pack.

     While I'm at school, Bonnie hosts the first ever Chicken Leg rehearsal. She says they do terrible but that there might be promise. They have yet to get a gig.

     Tonight, I'm so nervous. It's my date with Joseph. From the way he's acted at school, he does consider it a date.

     He comes inside to meet my dad before we leave. This immediately puts him on Dad's 'good list.'
     Not much happens on the date, to my surprise. We go see a movie, and halfway through it, he holds my hand. Then, he brings me right back home. At the door, he does nothing but say he had a good time and then say goodnight. Did I do something wrong? Should I have gotten some breath mints? Did I forget deodorant? Did I have food on my face? Why didn't he kiss me?
    I go inside, incredibly bummed. Still a bit hungry, I try to eat but only push the food around on my plate. Then, my phone rings. It's Joseph!
    I hold my breath while he says, "I was wondering if you'd like to go have a picnic on the beach with me tomorrow."
    "Yes!" I say, probably a little too excitedly. Then, I clear my throat. "I mean, yeah, sure, that'd be great."
     He chuckles and says he'll pick me up tomorrow at eleven a.m.

     Another date! Yay! I run upstairs to take a bath.

     Mom and Dad's wedding is next weekend. I'm going to wear my prom dress again.

     The next morning, on my way to my garden, I pass by Serenity and Bonnie's room and hear my sister teaching her daughter to talk.
     "Rose!" Serenity exclaims.
     Interesting first word.

     Getting to my garden, I immediately notice my corn plant is ready to be harvested. Uh, this isn't what a corn stalk is supposed to look like.

     Robert comes and picks me up for our picnic. When I answer the door in my swimsuit, his eyes open wide. "Where's your suit?" I ask.
     He swallows. "I'll...change at the beach."
     "Okay," I answer, throw a towel over my shoulder, grab my sunglasses, and walk out to his car.
     Today, the beach is more crowded. I guess because it's Saturday. I notice I'm the only one in a two-piece, even if I'm only wearing a tankini. People do double-takes when I walk by, but after this crazy week, I've gotten used to it.
     We have our picnic, and I get up to use the restroom. On my way back, I notice Helen Jones on her knees in the sand, smiling and talking to Joseph. Her swimsuit is really ugly, all solid with a belt at her waist. She looks up and sees me coming, says something really quickly to Joseph, who shrugs, and she walks away. When I ask him what she wanted, he merely replies, "Nothing important."

     He changes before we leave and drives me home after the sun sets.
     "Thank you for coming out with me today. Are you sure you're not burned?" he asks, and he reaches up to feel my cheek.
     I smile. "I'm sure. I don't typically burn, more of my dad in me than my mom, I guess."
     He takes a step closer.

     "I was the luckiest fella at the beach today," he says, now holding my head in his hands.
     I like this, and I want to let him know he doesn't have to back away. So, I lightly wrap my arms around his waist. "Thanks."

     "You turn heads everywhere you go, Anastasia," he says quietly.
     He's going to kiss me! I think happily. I've never been kissed, and I really hope Joseph is about to.
     Still, I can't stop my ironic almost-pessimism. "Well, hopefully not in a bad way."
     He laughs quietly. "No, not in a bad way." His thumbs trace my cheekbones. Then, he sighs, acting aggravated about something. "I'm busy tomorrow, but I'd really like to take you out again. Perhaps the movies again? Friday?"
      Asking me out before the end of the date: good sign.
      I nod my head as much as I'm able. "Yeah."
      He smiles. "Good." Then, his eyes rest on my lips. Now? "I'd hate for one of the other fellas to try and weasel in on my gal." He winks, lets go of my face, and takes a step back.
     WHAT?! He didn't kiss me! I thought for sure he was going to! "You don't have anything to worry about, Robert," I say. Well, if he's too chicken...

     A surprised noise escapes him as I quickly lean forward and kiss him.
     I take a step back, and I see Mom standing at the trash can. She quickly puts her hand over her mouth and sneaks away around the back of the house. When I look back at Robert, I see his mouth is hanging open in surprise - still.
     His voice has a strange, slight growl to it when he says, "Oh, Anastasia!"

     He jerks me into him and starts wildly kissing me. I imagine myself having just released a wild animal from the zoo. He hungrily kisses me and crushes his arms around me like an anaconda. When he finally lets me breathe, he's panting while craning his head around to kiss my neck. One of his hands moves down, and he moans while he squeezes my behind. Then, he returns his lips to my mouth with the same ferocity he had earlier, and his fingers start slipping underneath my swimsuit.
     That's far enough, I think and pull back to him panting some more.
     "Was that...too much?" he asks, still trying to catch his breath.
     It kind of was, but I don't want him to feel bad. "No. I just...don't think we should, um, let that go any further."
     "Why not?" he asks and starts kissing my neck again, his arms never having had unwrapped themselves.
     "Well, um..."
     "Oh, futz, Anastasia, I'm sorry. Of course, you're right." He releases me and steps back. "Let's get you inside." He leads me to the door, and we find Dad standing there. Upon seeing him, Joseph's face pales, but Dad smiles.
     Dad looks at me. "Did you have a good time?"
     "Yeah," I tell him and walk into the house.
     Instead of saying something to Dad, Joseph merely tells me he'll see me at school on Monday.

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So, I cheated and aged Serenity up in CAS. Here's what she looks like:
SPOILER
Comments on the picture under the picture (description)
(Let me know if it's not visible; almost all my Photobucket albums are set to private.)

And yeah, so, it's like they're in the past but they still have cell phones. I'm going with it.

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