Uncomplicated 3.1: Here we go again

     Helen didn't leave with Joseph, I notice as I come out of the bathroom. I'm ready to go home, so I take Serenity with me, catching a cab. Bonnie looks grateful I silently offered to take care of her. That uber-celeb Dyno Marks is flirting it up with her big time. She acts like she likes it. Personally, I don't know what she sees in him.

     My parents are married and happy. They deserve it more than most.
     It's just as well that I broke up with, or more like ended things with, Joseph. Tomorrow, I age to adult.

     We decide to have a pool party. The Maker took this picture because she keeps forgetting people bring food to these parties, and she'd had me make a cheese pizza earlier. We'll be swimming in leftovers.

     Here we go again. My generation is about to officially begin.

     I'm the awesome partying gardener! Woo!

      Oh, hey, look! That blonde boy from the wedding last night came over.
      And WHAT is my sister wearing?

      Aging up takes me by surprise. I acquire the eco friendly trait. First thing to go: my bathtub. I trade it for a more efficient shower.

     I like this guy. One drink in him, and he's dancing on the counter. Haven't a clue who he is.

     We bought the grocery store.

     "And then, I found out he was cheating! And not even on me! No, I was the other woman, and I couldn't believe it!" I find myself telling this guy Frank. He'd walked up and said hello before asking me a simple 'how are you?' Somehow, that morphed into this conversation.

     At his concerned, bewildered look, I suddenly realize how ridiculous I sound. "Sorry. I guess you got more than you bargained for there."
     He chuckles, probably thinking I'm a mental case. "That's all right. I understand that sometimes you just have to let off steam."
     I laugh quietly while continuing to look at the pavement beneath my feet. "Yeah. I guess so."
     "At the risk of sounding forward, however, I can, perhaps, see his predicament," he says.
     My head snaps up. "Huh?"

     He smiles a small smile and looks absolutely confident about himself when he says, "You're beautiful, Anastasia, especially in a kind of exotic way. Beautiful enough to tempt a man to go against previous commitments he's made."
     I take a small step back. "If you have a previous commitment, you should keep it."
     His smile turns understanding. "Yes. I realize that. I just thought that I'd play devil's advocate for a moment." He pauses. "I really should get going. I hope I was able to help shed some light on the situation."
     "You think I should forgive him?" I ask in an incredulous way.
     He laughs outright. "That's entirely up to you." He takes one of my hands. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Anastasia."
     He kisses my fingers! My mouth drops, and he smiles at me before letting go of my hand and walking away, humming to himself.

     I later find out this Frank Astare guy had recently gotten his gal Judy Rogers unexpectedly preggers, and they got engaged.

(maker: /dies laughing about the names this neighborhood cooked up)

     The next night, I go to watch Bonnie play piano at a club downtown. Bored, I walk outside. To my right is the house we moved to when we first got here, the one with no yard. That one wouldn't have worked for me since I need a garden.
     Someone is moving into the house! I decide to waltz over and introduce myself.

     "Hi! Welcome to Roaring Heights," I say with a smile.
     The guy winces, rubs the back of his head in a nervous way. "Uh, yeah. Hi. What's up? I mean, uh..."
      I laugh. "I know exactly what you mean!" Judging from his hair and attire, he's about as confused about the time warp of this place as I was when I first got here.
      He looks relieved. "You do?"
      I nod my head. "I'm not from around here either. I'm from Lucky Palms."
      He sighs with even more relief. "I'm...well, I'm from nowhere in particular, really. We traveled a lot growing up. I spent plenty of time in Sunset Valley, Sunlit Tides, and Isla Paradiso, though."
      "Sounds like fun," I say with a bright smile.
     He tries to smile back, but it's wobbly. "I guess, but it did get tiring to only be around my parents and brothers. My brothers are inside. Wanna meet them?"
     "Sure!" I say happily. "I was over there watching my sister play the piano for the club, but I got bored. I have a minute or two."
      We walk through the gate, and he turns to ask, "Oh yeah? You play an instrument as well?"
      "Ha! No. Sorry."
      He has an adorable grin now that it's not wobbly. "Neither do I."

     He looks around when he gets inside. "It, uh, looks like they've already gone to bed for the night."
     "It's fine. It's late anyway, and I bet you're all tired from traveling."
     "No, it's cool. Maybe you could come back by tomorrow?"
     "Okay," I say, feeling a calming relief that he used the word 'cool.'
     He smiles that adorable smile again. "Great. What's your name?"
     I hold out my hand. "Anastasia Brewer."
     He shakes my hand. "Luke Braswell."

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