Come What May: a short(?) Sims story

I'll apologize in advance for the lack of screenshots to accompany this chapter. It happened in the "theater of the mind," inspired by the in-game events in Chapter 6.

I really ought to make the Bjergsens the active household from time to time so I can get some shots of them talking to each other.

Chapter 7

Sofia had been sound asleep when the text arrived. She awakened in a joyous mood...but that changed as soon as she checked her phone. When she saw the photo, her heart sank. Then she read the message with it, and it sank deeper.

Just thought you might wanna know what your boyfriend was up to tonight…

Her blue eyes filled with tears. But why am I crying? she asked herself. He’s not my boyfriend. But do I want him to be? This hurts. But why am I letting it hurt me?

One soft sob, and then another, and another...

Sofia didn’t have school today, since the next day was Winterfest. It was mid-morning by the time she pulled a fluffy white robe around her and emerged from her bedroom. She hoped she had waited long enough for her dad to go to work and for her sister to find something to do. She didn’t want to talk to anyone besides her mom right now.

Clara took one look at her daughter and knew something was wrong. She got up from the table, moved to the sofa in front of the fire, and patted the seat beside her. “Come talk to me,” she invited.

Sofia sank down onto the couch beside her mother. She took her phone out of the pocket of her robe and handed it to Clara.

Clara looked at the photo and paused to compose her thoughts. She smiled softly and wrapped her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Oh, sweetie,” she murmured.

Sofia began to cry, and Clara held her tighter. “I...I..this is so hard,” she whispered.

“I know it is.” Mother and daughter snuggled together for a few moments, as Sofia sobbed softly.

Clara recognized the woman in the picture with Cameron. She’d taken a few classes from Kathleen, too. She used the quiet time to think about what she might say to her distraught daughter.

Sofia was the first to break the silence. “She’s the yoga teacher at the spa, isn’t she?”

Clara nodded. “That’s right.”

Sofia looked up into Clara’s eyes. “She even has hair like mine!” She tried to laugh, and Clara admired her attempt to rally her mood.

“I feel so stupid, Mom. I didn’t know she and Cameron were dating,” she whispered.

Clara thought for a moment. “Do you know they are?” she asked. When Sofia didn’t respond right away, she continued.

“I’ve seen you joke around with Aron Swanson. Does that mean you’re dating?”

“Of COURSE not!!” Sofia shook her head decisively. Then she jabbed her finger at the picture on her phone. “But look at them. They’re out at the festival together.”

“Do you go places with people...guys, even...without it being a date?”

“All the time. Actually, it is never a date.”

“So why do you automatically assume Cameron is on a date here? Do you see anything that looks really romantic here? They’re not holding hands, or cuddling.”

Sofia had to admit her mother had a point here. “I can’t assume that,” she said softly. Clara felt her relax a bit beneath her arm.

“And, honey...Cameron does spend quite a bit of time here. Why do you think that is?” She smiled and touched the tip of Sofia’s nose with her fingertip.

“We have good food.”

“Nope.”

“He and Dad have a bromance.”

Clara laughed. “Yeah, they do. But that’s not it.”

“Then it has to be Elsa. He’s gotta connect with his Number One Fangirl.” Now Sofia was smiling, the first real smile she’d allowed herself since she looked at her phone.

“I clearly have a lot of things to teach you about how guys think. Do we need to have a talk?”

“NO! Sofia shook her head vigorously. “No, we do not!” Mother and daughter giggled.

There was still one thing Clara wondered about. She tilted her head and looked Sofia in the eye. “Will you tell me who sent you that text?”

Sofia nearly didn’t answer. Then, she thought about saying “It’s none of your business.” Two years ago, she probably would have. But not now.

“Morgan Fyres,” she said.

Clara nodded. That’s not a huge surprise, she thought.

Morgan and Sofia were part of rival clubs. Sofia was part of the Paragons, and Morgan was connected to the Renegades. While Clara naturally believed the Renegades were more to blame for the mean-spirited nature of their rivalry, she knew Sofia and the Paragons were far from innocent. Antagonizing the members of the other club was part of both groups’ “code.” The Renegades would consider Morgan’s text a pure power move. The situation was starting to make more sense now.

“Honey, do you think there could be a reason why Morgan would want to create some drama for you?”

Sofia’s eyes opened wide. “Ummm...yeah, I do. Do you think she wants me to think I’m being two-timed...not that I am, but...ummm…” Her cheeks turned bright pink.

Clara smiled and let her daughter’s reaction slide. “I think as long as she’s hanging around with...certain people...she might very well want you to think that.”

“Morgan isn’t nearly as mean as Wolfgang Munch,” Sofia mused. “I think she just wants to fit in with him. And I totally don’t get why they feel like they have to impress that little punk, Max Villareal, except that his family is so rich.” She paused, and smiled. “Honestly, Morgan’s kind of a poser Renegade.”

“So there might not be nearly as much going on as you thought.” Clara gave Sofia another squeeze. “There’s only one person who knows the truth here. And I think he’ll be honest with you.”

“How do I talk to him about it?”

“Don’t accuse him of anything. Beyond that, trust your feelings.”

Not two minutes later, Bjorn came home from work. Sofia was looking infinitely happier than she had been an hour ago, but she was still far from her usual self. Her eyes were red and her face was puffy. She had obviously been crying.

Bjorn came over for a hug. “Is everything OK?” he whispered to his daughter.

“Pretty much.” Sofia squeezed him again, managed a smile, and told her parents she’d be in her room.

Bjorn sat down beside Clara and listened to her explain the reasons for Sofia’s sadness. At first, his protective nature took over. Big time.

“If he breaks her heart, I’ll break his…”

“Stop it, Bjorn. Remember what you said about Cameron the first time we talked about him?”

Bjorn nodded. He’d always thought Cameron was a good man. He’d called Cameron “genuine and real,” and sensed that, with Cameron, what you saw was what you got.

“I don’t think he’s the kind of man who would sneak around. I think he’d be really bad at it,” Bjorn reasoned. “And, I hate to say it, but even if it was a date, Cameron can date whom he pleases.”

Clara looked her husband directly in the eye. “Except our daughter.”

Bjorn took a long, deep breath. “Touché. Except our daughter.” He looked at his hands, which were doing nothing interesting enough to hold his attention as long as they did.

“It feels weird using the word ‘man’ to describe someone who could possibly be dating Sofia,” he admitted.

“It feels weird to use the word ‘woman’ to describe Sofia, but that’s pretty much what she’s become.”

Bjorn smiled and nodded. “Another good point.”

“I’m on a roll.” Clara winked playfully.

“You sure are.” Bjorn got up from the couch and stretched. There were a few more things he wanted to know about Cameron, and the events of the past day had made his questions feel more urgent.

“I’m going to talk with Cameron,” he said. Clara opened her mouth as if to protest.

“No, no, not an interrogation. A conversation. I want to know him better, in case…”

“In case.”