The Checkered Life of Erik Cantrell

Chapter Ten: Of Nightmares & Other Bits


Erik tossed himself awake and sat up on his elbow looking around the darkened room. "Are you all right?" Kayleigh said from the other side of the double bed, her comforting hand on his shoulder blade.
"Yeah, yeah. Just had the weirdest dream, though."
"Tell me," She urged.
"Okay. Yeah, maybe that would help," Erik dragged his hand through his long, unruly blond locks. "I will caution you, the whole thing is irrational, at best."
"Is that a tease, or are you about to launch into another one of your Outrageous stories?" Kayleigh yawned and stretched.
"We decided to move before the end of the Second Term," he said settling back into his pillow again.
"Move? Move where? And why?"
"Hey, I told you it was irrational. We started out in the renovated Dark Wing building. They sent you home because you were pregnant, so all of us went with you. Then we ended up back in our parents' homes. Since we couldn't get back on campus."
"What, how strange?"
"I know, right?"

"I even thought we had to start the entire process all over again. Then I realized we still had our scholarships so we just needed to re-enroll, which wouldn't have been all that bad but in the process of moving, all of us lost our presentation boards. If only we had waited until our presentations had been made … irrational. All of that hard work gone." He sighed, worried that he was actually missing his own board.
"Well, that's not our first bit of irrational behavior and it's not limited to just us," Kayleigh said, with a smile.
"I love how perky you are in the mornings, but I'm not done with my tale," Erik said.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm beginning to believe you've truly launched into another one of your Outrageous stories, after all."
"If it is, they've invaded my dreams." He frowned.
"You're really serious about this, aren't you."
"As I was saying, none of us had our presentation boards. That's when we decided to move back to Britechester-U. This time we all enrolled in Wyvern Hall. We almost had the entire dorm to ourselves. I had by this time six Accolades under my belt — five for Best Song and one for Best New Artist of the Year. And our presentation boards were all back in our possession, finished and ready to go. We all managed to get our presentations given and on time."

"And … I sense there's more."
"No, we finished the Second Term with GPAs of A's. Each one of us. Basically, we're back to where we left off when those nightmares about the Starlight Accolades Show ceasing, began to take place. Then my mom showed up at the Awards Show. She won for being a really nice Sim. I had no idea that was even a category. But, the next week, the Show failed to take place, again. And that's when we ended up here again. Boards all turned in, Second Term finally over. And we all began the Third and Final Term."
"Oh, well, that's good. You do have another show tonight," Kayleigh smiled. "That could be the source of your apparent anxiety. And I have class soon." She leaned over to kiss him and slipped out of their private dorm room. "We'll talk more about this later, okay? I love you. Try not to worry."

Friday went by quickly. Erik managed to get all of his homework done. He even finished editing to perfection his Term paper. With the click of a button, off it went to his Professor. Done and done, he clucked to himself. Then he set up a presentation board and began collecting the data. Ouch, forbidden words! he muttered, pushing the pin into his left hand. Looking around, he was glad his Paparazzi companions were nowhere to be seen, for once. His two brothers managed to win Friday night's soccer game. But come Saturday, no such luck. Despite how the two wracked their hearts, souls and minds for this game, the other team slaughter 'em. Both came back to the dorm looking dirty, and downhearted. They both were decidedly odiferous, too. He was very glad they headed to the showers. Erik felt for them as he slipped out to do a photoshoot, a concert and yet another bit part in a major movie. By the time he got back the lights were all out and he could hear gentle snoring, here and there. Come the morning, the Cantrell's and the Golden's were all up and ready for Church Services. Father James gave a rather stirring Homily and Erik realized he was precisely where he was meant to be. Why should he lay up riches on earth when he couldn't take it with hi?. Just to have the objects decay. His riches were in heaven. Erik was certain to thank Father James for the timely reminder. It's okay if I don't win again tonight. I'm just going to relax and root for my friends.

"Erik, before you go," Kayleigh said, wrapping her arms about him. "Um, you smell so very good. Sure you can't spare a few minutes? Might help you relax," she breathed. Erik smiled broadly at her.
"If this is your way of wishing me luck, I like it," he said returning the hug.
"Just remember what Father James said today. You'll be fine."
"Thank you. Besides I already have seven to dust," he laughed and smiled and vanished down the elevator.

"And the winner for Best Song, is … Erik Cantrell!" Erik stood up and made his way to the microphone. Taking up the heavy trophy he said,
"I am afraid this is becoming a bit of a habit with me," he smiled. "Sincerely, I am quite honored. And this just doesn't get old. Thank you."
The audience applauded, believing his speech was over. Yet, Erik remained where he was standing. "Aw, I know you get tired of hearing from me but are you certain I got the entire thirty seconds? I haven't even thanked my mother, yet."

Before any of them knew it, the Third Term was nearly done. Brianna, surprisingly, barely had time to write, edit and turn in that final Term Paper. Erik managed to rush down to the Taygeta Studios to release his thirteenth album, Tangled Roots. His album royalties had almost caught up to the wage of a single concert. The reception of this latest endeavor was well-received. Erik was in danger of thinking he could do no wrong, but quickly caught himself, for a second time. That kind of thinking will be your death knell, he chastised himself. Next thing they all knew, the last day of the term had arrived. Kayleigh was wandering around with a dreamy-eyed look on her face for a few days, now. He wondered just what she was up to. She positively glowed, he realized. Beautiful already, she almost looked ethereal. Oh, well she'll tell me in due time.

Testing over, hours later the report cards were posted. Again, they all got A's. Erik, Aaron, Joey, Brianna and Kayleigh bore A-pluses straight down the line, while Sandi and Astrid each had three A+'s and one A. Still resulted in a GPA of A-plus. They all had a great deal to be proud about. Erik quickly threw a party together. "Hey, Wyvern Hall at seven. Best Kegger you'll ever take part in," he told his guests. Astrid, with some skill in Mixology was quick to tap the keg. She got it primed and poured a few glasses of the juice.
"Keg Stand," Aaron said to Erik. Erik was quick to oblige. He knew his older brother was hurting. The Coach called that afternoon to scold him for not doing a better job and if Aaron wasn't careful, he'd find himself off of the team. Later on, after the school day was done, and Aaron and Joey were getting ready for soccer practice, Aaron got the notice he was off of the team. Still later, when he didn't show up for practice, the Coach called again and read Aaron the riot act. "Coach, excuse me, sir. Coach. Coach. I was told I was off the team. Yes, sir. I'm graduating tomorrow. I'm sorry I missed practice, but can you blame me?" For what it was worth Joey got the notice he was off the team, too.

"Okay," Erik said, "but don't you go getting mad at me if you get into some kind of trouble, later. Hey, save some for me, okay?" he said as he watched his brother gulp down the juice greedily. While there was the traditional contest for the Graduating Class, all they need do is empty a keg. Erik preferred more Sims had their chance to help the win.

While it was Erik's turn for a keg stand, other things were going on in the dorm he knew nothing about.
"Hey, Thorne Buddy, thanks for the lift."

Distracted, seeing to his guests, he had no clue that Aaron and Sandi were busy tying the proverbial knot. Erik missed the Event, entirely to his chagrin. He really loved his family. Missing out on things important to them made him sad.
As Aaron and Sandi were getting hitched on one side of the dorm, Joey and Astrid also tied the knot.
Seems love was in the air.

Later, inspired by the other, perhaps, Spock and Brianna also took the matrimonial plunge. Thorne Bailey was there to act as Witness. Again, Erik missed out. Busy being the Host with the Most, as he was.

Once Erik saw to it that the keg was empty, Kayleigh had a surprise for him, too. "I was going to wait to tell you after graduation tomorrow, because I didn't want to steal anybody's thunder. But since the others have already taken this night to be their own …"
"Wait, what have the others done?"
"Aaron and Sandi, Joey and Astrid, and Spock and Brianna have all tied the knot."
"I knew Brianna was engaged. Her marriage was arranged by High Counselor T'Pau and since Bree's a Vulcan Citizen her only option at refusal was to drop the tea in Spock's lap. I had no clue the others were even engaged. Why doesn't anybody tell me what's going on around here?"
Probably because you tend to carry everybody's burdens on your own shoulders. "Hush a minute. I just told you about them. Let me tell you about us. I have some news," she said. "We're having a baby!" Again, Kayleigh pushed her still flat tummy out for him to gaze upon.

"Wait, what? Did I hear you right? It's so noisy in here." Erik's expression was one of shock, tinged with fear. Kayleigh smiled and put his emotions down as simply his fear of what happened, previously. She smiled to defray his troubled emotions.
"It's true, I took one of those tests and it's positive."
"I'm going to be a father." Erik nodded slowly, letting the news sink in. Please, God, let this one be born. "Kayleigh, you've just made me the happiest Sim on the planet! Come here," he said, as he hugged his wife, tightly.

The next day they all got up early. Erik spent time the night before straightening up the dorm. You couldn't even tell a party had taken place. Guess no more Nasty Notes will show up. Excited, but tired, they were all ready for this day to be done. Anxious to get on with their lives.
To put emphasis on that notion, one of Erik's more Obsessed Fans had let himself into the Dorm. He was very persistent, too, trying his best to throw himself at Erik. "I keep trying to tell you I'm not wired that way, Bud. I like females, exclusively. Not only that but I'm married. Did you miss that tidbit in the news twenty plus days back? The Fan leaned in once more, undeterred. Erik reared back, one arm over the opposite shoulder, hoping it wouldn't come to blows.

The hour drew near and the group left Wyvern Hall to attend the Graduation Ceremony. Together was some Dormmates, they gathered near the side of the auditorium. There were at least sixteen Sims in green graduation robes, complete with those flat top scholarly caps, with tassel. Sandi gazed upward at the cloudy sky above. "Do you think it's going to rain?" She asked.

Finally, they were all beckoned into the auditorium for the ceremony. Once the ceremony was complete, this same group congregated outside where they started. In only a moment, they all threw their hats up into the air, simultaneously. "Congratulations, Class of 2279," Erik shouted.