The Checkered Life of Erik Cantrell

Chapter Five: Misdirection, Disinformation or Just Plain Fake News AKA The WEEKEND part two


Kayleigh didn't wish to choose between her two sisters, so she asked Brianna to be her Maid of Honor. Brianna was delighted, as she was already planning her own wedding and intended to have the triplets be her Bridesmaids. Taking her role very seriously, she began the Weekend with a morning at the Spa down in NewCrest. The place was well spoken of, and the clientele were high end, themselves. Not that Brianna cared about that, but her brother was a Global Celebrity. She also wanted to make this coming event special for Kayleigh and her sisters.

"We'll start off with Van Haute Estate Meloire, if you please," she said to the Mixologist on duty.
With their glasses of juice in hand, the four Sims took seats in the foyer. The Bride-to-be with Astrid, on one side, and Brianna and Sandi on the other side.

"I would like to propose a toast to the four of us," Kayleigh said, sitting on the settee in the lounge portion of the Spa.
"To us," the four girls chorused.

After the juice, the girls pursued various activities. Brianna chose to have a facial and a hand massage, while Kayleigh and Astrid tried Yoga. Sandi seemed to have disappeared for the time. Maybe she's just slow in changing or having a massage?

Next, Brianna had a manicure. Normally, she kept her nails short, since she spent much of the summer analyzing artifacts for the local museum.
Her favorite brother was going to be married on Monday, a good excuse to pamper herself. Besides, what better way to show off her own engagement ring, than to have some beautiful nails?

Come Friday evening, the men lured Erik out to the bar in Willow Creek. Joseph, Sr., Drake, Spock, Aaron, and Joey were there. An impromptu Bachelor's party, of sorts. They meandered up to the bar and ordered some drinks and a platter of hummus and pita bread. Regular patrons also filed into the small bar. Erik took the time to sign a few autographs. "There you go," he smiled.

Then Captain Drake Golden gave a toast, although he had a rather strange look on his face, which made Erik wonder if his heart was truly in it. Or he's giving me a very subtle threat. Okay, Soldier-Boy, which is it?

Giving his fan and future father-in-law a confident gaze, "I promise I'll take good care of your daughter," Erik said. At the same time, he could feel the disappointment of the fan standing next to him. Nothing like inadvertently letting the 'cat-out-of-the-bag'. He shrugged. Hoist on my own Petard.

After many of the invited guests and the others left, Erik decided to play the piano. Shortly, thereafter, they all went home. With so much going on this weekend, rest was the order of the evening.

Saturday rolled around. Erik had spent a very restless sleep. Despite the air-conditioner being on, it was as hot as blazes all that sleepless night long. He still went out and performed two concerts, followed by two separate magazine photoshoots, SimTeenBeat, and SimLitHits, respectively. This was good. Then he got called to do another bit part, a Character Part, for another major film. He just hoped and prayed he wasn't being Type-Cast. But acting was fun. Despite the unrelenting heat and his full schedule, Erik expected to be exhausted. Instead, he found himself energized. Must the 'high' my brothers get working out. He grabbed a cooling shower and gussied up. After wrestling with his situation, he decided on a new plan of action. He picked up the burner-phone he'd gotten to contact Kayleigh, lest his phone, too, had been hacked. Then he set it aside. He felt horrible about trying to hide his relationship from his fans and the Paparazzi, even if he was only trying to please the love of his young life. Erik felt a pang of guilt as he held his real phone up to his ear, waiting for her to answer. "Kayleigh, there you are. I was beginning to think you'd gone out for the evening. Meet me at the Romance Festival?"

The couple arrived on the festival grounds, which was swarming with all kinds of Sims. Even one of Erik's most Obsessed fans. In fact, since Erik appeared to be available, he shorn his clothes and tried to kiss Erik. Erik deftly placed a hand on the smelly guy's shoulder and pushed him away. "I keep telling you guys, I'm not wired that way. Kayleigh, so good to see you. I've missed you so much." A flood of flashing lights, accompanied by the clacking sounds of digital pictures being snapped. Oh, good, my friends the Paparazzi are here.

Again the same fan, David, tried to foist himself upon his idol. Erik frowned at him, and shoved him away, a second time. "I told you I'm not wired that way, now beat it." After the Sim slumped off, Erik grabbed Kayleigh's hand. "C'mon, Kayleigh, let's get some of the Sakura Tea. I hear it has magical properties. Then we can sit down and talk." Erik held the teacup under the flow of the fountain, filling it to the brim. He sipped at it, trying to keep it from spilling, realized just how tasty it was and continued sipping at it. The tea had a most curious effect on him. He felt unusually empowered, enamored and willing to show it. He filled the second cup hoping Kayleigh would enjoy it, too.

Taking a seat on the bench where Kayleigh had planted herself, refusing the tea altogether, he began to wonder if she really had called things off that fateful day? She just looked at him, saying nothing. Awkward, much. "I've really missed you. Babe. Give us another chance?" He said loudly enough so others standing nearby could hear. He even tried to offer the second cup of tea, again. No use.
"Missed me?" Kayleigh lowered her voice to a whisper, "Erik, this was all your idea," she seethed, "I'm just going along for the ride on this one." Her expression wasn't what Erik hoped for. Instead of lighting up at the sight of him, as she used to, he felt nothing short of cold prickles emanating from her person. Leaning over to cuddle, he said, "I see, you're going to play hard-to-get. Okay, that's fair." Trying to woo her, he said, "Your eyes are as bright as the twinkling stars in the black sky above, …"

Kayleigh gave him a look, her brow furrowed with the glower she cast at him. Are you acting? Sighing, she said, "Is that all you've got?"
"C'mon, Babe, work with me," he said trying to hide his dismay. "There's a wedding arch over there," he said, swallowing the rest of his tea and then downing the second unwanted cup in one gulp. "Wow, this stuff sure packs a punch. C'mon, let's do it. Right here, right now?"
"Do what? I'm not woohooing in public."
Erik glared at her with that. "Not asking you to. I'm asking you to marry me, right here, right now. Blame it on the Sakura Tea. I feel impetuous. C'mon, let's do it." While he talked, he held her by the hand and gently brought her over to the wedding arch until they were standing in front of it. Kayleigh was balking at the notion. She crossed her arms over her chest, as if to lock herself away from him completely.
"I've decided you're crazy. What about our families? They have jumped through hoops to keep our," here she lowered her voice to a whisper, "wedding a secret? You want to get married tonight? Right now?"
"Sure, why not?" he said, taking her hands in his.
"I'll tell you why not. Our families will be hurt after all they have done to make things private, how can we ever explain this to them?"

Erik paused for a moment. He knew she was right on one level, but he could no longer wait. "We will simply renew our vows in front of them. They won't be the wiser. I've thought this all out."
"Hm, you mean like you did the first part of this charade? I don't know," she said, but unlocked her arms from her chest.
"Tell me, what do you know?" he said, gazing into her eyes.
"That I love you and I've never once stopped loving you."

"Ah, music to my ears. That's what I needed to hear." Again Erik reached for her hands, she didn't pull away to his intense relief. "Kayleigh Anne Golden, I take you to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold until death us do part."
"And I take you, too, Erik James Cantrell, to be my seriously demented Sim of a husband. To have and to hold until death us do part."
"With this ring," he raised his voice for the small gathering crowd, "I thee wed!"
Kayleigh pulled the ring she had for Erik out of her pocket and proceeded to slip it onto his ring finger. "With this ring, I thee wed," she said.

"I now pronounce you Sim and wife, came the electronic voice from the top of the pink floral decorated arch, along with a downpouring of confetti. "Did we just do what I think we did? Is this for real?" Kayleigh said.
"Yes, it's real," said an onlooker. My parents got married here, too. Congratulations."

Sun shone brightly through the window, tickling Erik's eyelids. Must have dozed off. Checking the time on his watch he sprang out of bed, showered, shaved and otherwise made ready for Services. Then he began to chuckle. We did it, we're married. Wiping the grin off of his face, lest he give things away again, he finished grooming himself. Stepping out of the bathroom, he nearly bumped right into Aaron. "Hey, sleepyhead, watch where you're going," Aaron grumbled.

"I see you're your usual sunny-disposition. How can you grumble on such a glorious morning as this?"
After Services, the family made themselves busy. Tomorrow was Erik's wedding day, some of them clucked as they saw to the completion of the little details. The place looked marvelous. The pretense was a Labor Day celebration. Once inside, however, clothing would be changed into formal attire and a small, intimate, formal wedding would take place. Erik just grinned at the thought. Most just believed he was in such a mood, in anticipation. Come the early evening, he donned his new suit and headed down to the PBP Studios for the Starlight Accolades. "Hey, if you get a chance tune in. Who knows? Maybe I'll own this night like I will own tomorrow," he called merrily as he stepped out of the front door. With a press of a button, he beamed over to the PBP Studios lot. Greeting a few fans who hung out hoping for a glimpse of their favorite star, Erik smoothed the front of his suit jacket and went inside. He took a seat. He longed for the time when Kayleigh could be seated right next to him. Tonight wasn't it

Lost in his thoughts, again, he barely heard the announcement about the aural beauty … Goes to Erik Cantrell!
Taking the stage, he gave quiet thanks to his Maker. "I can't believe this. Thank you — again! This is such an unbelievable honor." He held up the trophy. Heavier than he remembered, he braced the bottom with his other hand. "I want to thank Taygeta Studios for the terrific job of mixing they do and for trusting my instincts. My fans, my family, and all of you who have helped me along the way. I love you, All!" He gestured toward the audience with the sparkling Accolade. Trusting his right hand to hold it, he placed his left hand over his mouth and threw symbolic kisses at the audience. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

When Erik got home he looked at his stash of trophies. I need another shelf.