Unloved: A Sims Story by orenjiAi

Unloved 12

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Elia stood alone in front of a mirror in one of the school restrooms. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She balled her fists, focused, and with a forceful puff she exhaled. She stared at her reflection and curtsied.

“Salutations! My name is Elia. I am 17. Today is my first day of school. I am pleased to make your acquain—acquaintances”
She stuttered. That did not go the way she planned at all. Cursing silently, she undid the bow tie of her uniform again. Even after fiddling and redoing it for the third time, she could never get it to fit just right. She wore it loose on the ride to UBrite Prep. But making her way to the classroom, she found it looked very slovenly. So she decided to wear it properly. Only then it made her choke. Only then it made her neck look short. Only now it made talking uncomfortable.

Now that she thought of it, everything about her was uncomfortable. Was it the uniform with the old-fashioned lace back? Or was it the beret she was precariously balancing on her head? Or maybe she was just anxious to be out of the chateau and finally meeting other people again.

The door suddenly opened.

“Oh.”

A girl with straight blonde hair walked into the restroom. She was wearing a pink sweater over her uniform. Elia thought she was extremely pretty with her doll-like tiny face. She looked surprised to see Elia but shook it off instantly. She walked to the mirror and produced lipgloss from her bag. She proceeded to apply some but she kept her big blue eyes on Elia.
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Elia shifted and continued tying her bow.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” the other girl said. “It’s actually been so long since I’ve last seen the full uniform.”

Elia smiled nervously but did not reply.

“Do you need help? Here,” she pulled Elia closer and untied her poor fourth attempt. Within seconds, the other girl produced a perfectly symmetrical bow tie. This time it fit just right.
“Come to think of it, I was supposed to meet a transfer student here today.” the girl thought out loud. “I’m positive I’ve never seen you here before. You wouldn’t happen to be that transfer student, would you?”
“S-salutations!” Elia half whimpered and half-shouted. How embarrassing. She was caught off guard and awkwardly tried to regain her composure.
The other girl smiled. Then she mimicked Elia and curtsied too. “Right, Salutations!”

"I'm surprised you're here early. I make it a point to get here half an hour earlier than required and you still made before me!" the girl said as she and Elia headed towards the principal's office. "I'm Samuelle Hiddleston. You can call me Miss Hiddleston for short! Just kidding! Sammy is fine."
“I’m Elia.”
"Morning, Sammy!" said a boy with thick glasses who sprinted past them.
“Good morning, Charles!” She greeted back. She then turned to Elia, “Hmmm, where to start?"
"Well I’m sure you know this already, UBrite Prep is the college-preparatory level for the esteemed University of Britechester.
"This prestigious Viney League institution prides itself for producing some of the nation’s finest, most distinguished, and most upstanding Sims. Historically, it catered only to royal and noble families—A fine morning to you too, Jessica!—Of course, that prejudice is now gone and anyone with a GPA of 4.0 can submit an application for the undergraduate and graduate programs.
"However, admission into the elementary and secondary levels is highly selective. I think it’s natural for them to not just admit anybody—Good morning, Lester!—especially since the lower levels guarantee one’s entry into the college after all.
“So there is still a strong preference for the rich and powerful, usually from families of significant financial or political background. Or you have to be exceptionally talented in one field, like sports, or another—Hi, Ashton!

They were running into a lot more students now. Elia marveled at all the people greeting Sammy as they walked around. Even more surprising was that she greeted them back and by their names too. They looked very excited upon hearing her single them out with her toothy smiles. Elia saw the students always walked away feeling content and giddy.

"Anyway, my point is students who hail from such backgrounds usually reject being restricted by trivial matters such as a dress code. They, well honestly, myself included, feel it takes away from much more important values such as creativity and individuality.—Morning Miyuki!—As such, as of last semester, the school has opted a policy on the non-compulsory wearing of the uniform.”

Elia looked at the other students walking around in the quad. It was true. She was too busy observing Sammy that she missed noting anyone else was not wearing the uniform. Elia guessed Sammy was wearing the uniform under her pink sweater. But now, Elia realized the silhouette was too different for it to have been the same pinafore dress. She felt a little embarrassed. Compared to everyone, it was as if she was wearing a costume. Sammy caught on to Elia’s thoughts though. She did not let her voice out her self-doubts. "You can still wear the uniform though! I love the way it looks on you!" Elia felt a little relieved hearing the other's affirmation.

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Sammy dropped off Elia at the principal's office. She told her to come by the University Commons at lunchtime. She winked and gave her air kisses before she left.

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The principal greeted her personally without Elia having to knock at the door. In truth, he was eagerly waiting for her arrival. When he found out that another Thebe had been admitted into the school, he went out of his way to arrange a special welcome for the heiress. He excused her from attending homeroom and the morning classes. Instead, he planned an itinerary for a comprehensive campus tour only for her. He showed off every picturesque historical spot and the modern amenities that made UBrite stand above all its competitors. He also introduced her to his colleagues as they went. Elia soon realized, after the fourth introduction, that she did not need to present herself. It was as if they had already been expecting her. Everywhere Elia went, the university staff greeted her with a warm smile. It was always followed by a shower of compliments. Sometimes she was even given flowers or handouts.

Elia had grown less conscious of herself and was now actually enjoying the tour. She found out she can finally move more fluidly as her body remembered the postures and gestures of her rigorous etiquette training. She can now breathe, talk, and act more naturally—partly owing to her loosened bow tie. She briefly wondered what she was even nervous about earlier that morning. She knew she was anxious but over what exactly?

The answer to this question came to her as the principal bade her goodbye at the end of their short walk. Elia was left alone in the hallway after the doors had shut. It was at that moment when she felt familiar nervousness started creeping up to her. She realized she was indeed still anxious. But it was not about interacting with the well-mannered adults of high society. She spent all summer long in charm school training for that.

Elia realized it was the kids—teenagers her age—that she was wary of.

She learned a life hack earlier that year. And it was that adults were very self-indulgent. They rarely pay attention to anything else but themselves, especially not to what kids like her had to say. They only ever react when someone oversteps the adults’ established rules and boundaries. But otherwise, they would prefer to and rather not care.

On the other hand, Elia knew that kids cared about and reacted to pretty much everything. It reminded her of the kids back at the orphanage. Despite the limited options, they did care about how they look. They cared about being their best when foster parents came. They cared about getting to the toy room first so they can call dibs at who plays Bleep the Robot. They cared that Elia looked “like a freak" with her iridescent pupils. They cared that they would be thought of as weirdos if they were seen even talking with her. And they cared that no one wanted to adopt her and made fun of her for it. Everything mattered when you were a kid.

Admittedly, it was something she never truly got over with. Even after all that happened, she still cared about being rejected. She was hoping she would never get to experience it ever again in this new life she had. It was the reason she was trying so hard to fit in this world she knew she did not belong to. And while the adults tolerated her, kids will be kids, right? They were bound to act that way. Even the high-class ones? She only hoped that this time, they wouldn't be so cruel.

"Elia! Right here!" Sammy called out.
Elia had reached the Commons. She found Sammy waiting for her at the arch beneath the twin stairs.
"There're some people I want you to meet." Sammy giggled.
She led Elia, not into the cafeteria, but out to the back garden to a secluded picnic area. It had a stunning view of the Britechester riviera. On one of the picnic tables sat a group of two girls and a boy in his late teens.
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"Here she isss!" Sammy said excitedly.
"Salutations," Elia said eloquently this time.
"Awwwwww! You're right! she's totally adorable." said a girl in a gray knitted sweater.
"And she has the school beret on! Oh, dear Watcher! I forgot we even had those!" a girl with tight curls chimed in.
"Right?" Sammy agreed.

"So, I've been meaning to get to know you earlier! But we had such limited time to talk." Sammy said through a pout. She gestured to the other two girls.
"These are my closest friends. Mannie and Amy. I just know that they'll love you! We just have a few questions to ask.
"And that's Sebastian,” she said dryly. “he's not really a friend but he’s here for some reason..."
"I'm the reason. He's my boyfriend," Mannie interrupted and blushed. Sebastian blew her a kiss.
Sammy and Amy both rolled their eyes at the couple. The girls invited Elia to sit. And she took the seat from across Sammy.

The girls asked Sebastian to buy food for the table. Elia remembered that she had her own lunch pass and prepared to come with. But they insisted that Sebastian could do it on his own. They really only wanted him to leave. When he grumpily walked away to the cafeteria the questions started pouring out.
"Which classes are you taking?”
"A transferee in the senior year for UBrite prep is unheard of. Your family must be pretty influential to pull it off!"
"What do your parents do for a living?"
"I'm really jealous of your eyes! I want eye color change surgery!"
“Are you gonna eat that bánh mì?”

She was overwhelmed with all the attention she was getting. Elia had gotten used to being adored by the townsfolk at Capeside. She had learned that smiling and waving was more than enough for them. But as Edward had put it, those plebs don't really care for her. They were only after what she could offer them. These teenage girls, on the other hand, were expressing genuine interest in getting to know her.

A long chime of the bell signaled the end of lunchtime, interrupting their little girl's talk. All at once, Sammy, Mannie, and Amy whipped out their phones and started texting frantically. They looked up, exchanged glances, and nodded in sync.
“Alright, Elia. This is really interesting but the bell's rung. So we have to cut our little chitchat.” Mannie said.
“Oh, that’s alright. I—“
“But how would you like to join us and hang out at the mall later?” Amy said.
"No need for you to thank us." Sammy smiled.
“Hang out?” Elia said confused.
“You know, eat out? Grab a smoothie?"
“Go shopping?"
“Or bowling or skating?”

Elia was getting excited. She has never been to a mall before. Elia had been to Capeside but the small town only had shops. It did not even have any of the activities they mentioned. The nearest ones could be in Sable Square, but Robert didn't even go out that far. He most likely won't take her. Elia suddenly remembered Robert.

“I’d love to! But I can't. Robert’s picking me up by the school gates later...”
“Oooh, who’s that? Your boyfriend?”
“No, he’s—”
“Oh! A sugar daddy?”
“Mannie!”
“What?”
“Robert’s my butler.” Elia clarified.

Everyone went silent. Sammy raised an eyebrow.
“Riiiiiiiight. I’m sure the butler won’t mind,” she dismissed Elia's reason. “Just tell the butler that you're hanging out with friends and to pick you up at the mall at seven."

Elia wanted to smile when she heard the word 'friend'. She had always dreamed of having more than just Adriel. It felt good to be acknowledged as one by the other girls. She could suddenly understand how those students from this morning felt when Sammy greeted them. But she also understood that it sounded awfully like she was turning down their invitation. And for a butler nonetheless. But these girls probably did not understand how important this butler was to her.

"I'm really sorry." Elia apologized.
"That's alright. See you here same time tomorrow then? We'll pick up where we left off today.” Sammy's sweet words sounded more like an order than a suggestion but Elia didn't mind. She was just relieved she can at least still have lunch with them tomorrow. She was pretty sure that she blew up her chances at making friends.

Elia was childishly playing in a leaf pile when the Thebe car rolled up. She can't wait to tell Robert of her awesome first day. She wanted to tell him about the cool places she's seen around campus. How much his schedule had been a godsend in getting to her classes on time. And how she was able to make some friends!

But he was not in the car. It was just Will, the chauffeur.

Robert was at the kitchen heating up the food for Elia when she came home.

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"You won't guess what happened today." Elia teased.
"Oh?" Robert said without looking at Elia.
Elia excitedly told him what had happened to her throughout the day over dinner.
"...And then we went on one of those horse-drawn carriage rides around historic Gibbs Hill."
"That sounds nice," Robert replied.
"And I made some friends during lunch."
"That sounds nice too."
Elia sulked. She can't believe she honestly thought this was a good conversation-starter. She figured he would at least have asked her where else she went. Or who her new friends were. She even brought the topic of Princess Cordelia to the table because she remembered Robert liked the royal family's history. But it turned out it was not a good idea. Maybe what she should have remembered was that Robert was an adult too. And the adults do not care.

Elia pushed her plate away. She was done eating. And she was done trying to get Robert to talk to her. She stood up and started to head upstairs.
"I'll be in my room. Thanks for the meal."
"Elia, my lady..." Robert called after her.
"Yeah?" Elia asked expectantly.
"Please don't forget to leave out your lunchbox so I can wash it."

Ugh! She stormed out of the kitchen.

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Elia lazily flipped through her Contemporary Literature textbook. She was extremely bored. She looked at the old-fashioned bedside clock. It now read seven o'clock. Sammy, Amy, and Mannie must have been preparing to get home by now. They must have had so much fun eating cheesecakes, drinking smoothies, and shopping, or skating, or bowling together. She could have gone and joined them too. She could have experienced all those fun things. And they could have gotten to know each other more too. They would have asked her how her day went after they parted at lunch. Or what she did and where she went before she met them.

But they couldn't. Because she didn't go. She chose to go home early to Robert. And here she was, miles away from the mall. All alone with a butler who was only interested in cleaning a stupid lunchbox.

Yep, totally worth it, she told herself. She sunk her head into the pillows and sighed.

Elia really wished she went.