Lovefool, Pt. 1

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Optional Soundtrack: Lovefool by The Cardigans
Content Warning: contains strong language
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 Ella kept replaying that disastrous encounter in her head like a broken record. Why didn't things go as perfectly as they did in movies? Why didn't her paternal family engulf her with hugs like they do in after-school specials on SBC? She continued to stare at the wall ahead of her until her half-sister, Bonnie, broke her thoughts.

"Hey Transplant, what's up? You're burning holes through the wall with your laser-vision."

"I just...I wish the dinner went a little more smoothly."

"Oh hell, you're still dwelling on that? That was four days ago, hon. Sit on it any longer and it'll hatch." she joked. Ella glared at her and gave a defeated sigh.

"How am I supposed to forget it, Bonnie? You saw the way your mother glared at me when I got to the door. I don't think I've ever seen anyone look so offended before."

"My mom is a bit of a snob Elle, much like the rest of our family. Much like us. You and I know very well that when a snob's pride is wounded, we don't easily recover. I mean, come on! You're my dad's extra-marital lovechild! No one's going to forget that anytime soon."

"I understand that, but...can't I get someone to like me?" she whined.

"Well...I like you, Grandma likes you, and Dad likes you...I think. Elle, seriously, don't stress. Things will fall into place eventually."

Ella gave a small smile and quickly changed the subject. "Hey, by the way, thanks for moving in with me. I shouldn't need to be babysat for much longer, I just need a native to show me the ropes around this suburban nightmare."

"It's no problem really, this is a kickass pad you've got here! A little bland, but the retro decor gives it a little life. Ancient and outdated life, but life nonetheless." Ella laughed and playfully punched Bonnie on the arm.

"Hey, what are you two skirts gabbing about?" Jordan asked, standing in the doorway.

 "Well, I was just telling Transplant here to stop stressing out over the ill-fated family dinner we had four days ago. She keeps worrying about it for no reason."

"Really? Come on, Elle! The first time I met Bonnie's parents they hated me, too. It's not something that should bother you, it's just a given."

"But you weren't there Jordan, and you aren't blood-related to them. Tiffany called me a bastard! How can that not bother me?"

"Well...technically you are a bastard."

"Jordan!" Bonnie exclaimed, scowling at him. He gave a quick apology and looked down at his knees.

"Anyway, don't let my mother's name-calling bother you. Like I said, she's wounded. Deep in here." she whispered the sentence again while pointing at her heart, and Ella scoffed.

 "Look, if it's bothering you that much, maybe you can just suck up to them for the next couple of months. You know, buy them fancy presents, hire some maids for them, teach your new teenage siblings how to drive..."

"Clyde and Lorena just got their permits, actually, so that could work. Ooh, she could also babysit Jesse!"

"That's a genius idea, as always Bonnie." Jordan winked. Bonnie blushed and fluttered her eyelashes at him while saying "thank you".

"Um, guys? Hey, yeah, listen; I'm happy you guys are in agreement on what I should do to win over my new family's love and affection, but hello? I am not babysitting. Do I look at all maternal to you? Those are all stupid ideas."

"Well Einstein, can you think of anything better?" Jordan high-fived Bonnie over her "clever" quip, and as usual, Ella gave a deep sigh of frustration.

"Actually no, I can't think of anything better, which is why I am going to start letting it go, starting tonight." Bonnie and Jordan both looked at each other, knowing very well that Ella was hardly the type to "let things go".

"No seriously, guys! I'm done with it. Finito. If they don't like me, they can kiss it."

"Mmhmm. Well, it's been a long day for me. I think I'm going to go ahead and get to bed." Bonnie gave a stretch and a yawn, and slowly got off the loveseat while groaning. "G'night, guys."

"Goodnight, Bonnie."

"Goodnight Blondie!" Jordan chuckled.

"For the last time, Jordie! I'm not blonde!"

"Well, maybe your hair isn't." Bonnie pretended to pout and threw a pillow at him while exiting the room. Jordan got off of the loveseat and joined Ella. "You sure you're okay?" Ella gave yet another melodramatic sigh.

"Yeah I'm fine, Jordan. I just..."

"I know. If you need anything, I'm here-"

"Don't, please." she pleaded, cutting him off. "I-I can't. This is such a giant mess. I haven't even been here for a week and I've already fucked up more than I'd care to admit."

"I understand, but I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what. Okay?"

"Yeah, sure. Um...thanks."

"No problem," Jordan smirked. "I know how hard it is for you Pinciottis to admit that you've fucked up."

"I'm a Cartez, thank you very much!" she yelled, amused, as Jordan walked away.

"Not anymore", he said with a wink.

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 "Dear Mom and Dad, 


It's me. Mark. I've moved to Bridgeport and I'm working as a performer under the stage name Bobby Sanchez. I'm rolling in cash, so don't bother to send money."

"Zzzzzz...."

"Also, don't look up my stage name because it's kind of obscure. How can I be wealthy and obscure at the same time, you ask? Hell man, what can I say? Thank Creator for hipsters."

 "Hey kid, get up. You and I need to have a little 'talk'."

"Yeah yeah...five more seconds, Johnny."

"Now."

"Anyway, I'm sure you think I'm stuck in a dingy apartment in some suburban town, but I'm perfectly fine out here. In Bridgeport. In my penthouse. On an unnamed street. You don't have to write back.


Sincerely,
Mark Filroy"

"Where's my fuckin' rent?"

"I-I'll get it back for you Johnny, I promise. Just give me five d-"

"Uh-uh. None of that 'iou' bullshit you give me every week. Pay up now, or else."

"But I don't have the money..." Mark whimpered

"Well then cupcake, I guess that's where the 'or else' comes in."

"And don't show your scrawny ass here again, kapeesh?"

"Yeah? Well I don't fuckin' need you or your shitty rental! You think you're so big and tough. All you're doin' is slowin' me down, man!" Mark yelled. Yes, he just got his ass handed to him, but he was obviously taking it like a champ. That is, until he heard angry footsteps coming towards the door.

"Oh shit", he muttered under his breath. 'Now would be the perfect time to start running."

"Hey, thanks for letting me crash here Mich...I really appreciate it. Nice place you got here."

"It's no problem, what else are friends for?" Michele smiled. Her face quickly grew sour as they discussed what his previous landlord had done earlier that morning. "Ugh, I honestly can't believe he would just throw you out for no real reason."

"You're telling me, I was absolutely shocked when he did. Landlords these days...where's the courtesy?"

"No, Mark, I mean I honestly can't believe it. I know you did something to make him throw you out like that. So, what did you do?"

"Nothing. I was the perfect tenant! Even if I forgot to pay the rent for six months."

"What?! You didn't pay the rent for six straight months? How in the world did you get away with that?"

"Look, I may or may not have convinced him that I had a fatal illness, alright? It's not a big deal."

"It's a huge deal, and I honestly don't know if I should let you move in with us. We can't afford to be delinquent in our payments, unlike some." Michele lectured.

"Geez Michele, the reason I wasn't paying the guy was because he was a douche. I have the cash, I swear."

"Fine, you can stay...but clean yourself up and take a shower before leaving the house, okay? I love you, but you look like a bum and smell like a skunk. There's no way I'm taking you to that casting director's party with you looking like...that."

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 "Well, I guess the nightlife here isn't so bad after all." Ella grinned. Tonight was the night of the casting director's party, and she invited only celebrities that were of her stature, as well as a few amateur actors. Not that Ella really cared about who attended, she'd happily go to the party of a 7-year old if it had expensive liquor and a good view.

"Not bad at all," Bonnie chirped happily. "Don't look now, but there's a hunky strawberry blonde right behind you, and he's heading your way."

"Hunky? Blonde? Sign me up!" she exclaimed. Bonnie quickly shushed her as the handsome stranger began to get closer.

"Hi there, I couldn't help but notice your lovely...sunglasses." he grinned.

"Well, I like the size of your...feet", she retorted. "My name's Ella Cartez."

"I don't think there's a single person on this beach who doesn't know who you are."

"Oh really? Well, I don't know who you are."

"Ahh, right. My name is Mark. Mark Filroy."

"Alright, Mark. What do you do for a living?"

"Right. I, uh...well...if I'm being honest with you, I'm just a Twinbrook trust fund baby. I moved away from my parents to discover life without their immense wealth, and I'm sharing an apartment with one of my best friends, Michele Turner. She's one of the amateur actors that the casting director invited to the party."

"Twinbrook? Hmm. Where's your accent?"

"I've suppressed it for so long, I don't really have one anymore." Ella gave a suspicious look, and finally decided that he was genuine.

"Ohmicreator, it's so nice to finally meet a fellow trust fund baby! People underestimate us so much, you know? We're capable of doing normal sim things too! I could totally get a job and work hard at it if I wanted to, it's really not that difficult...it's just that being a normal sim is no fun", she said with a wink.

After some lengthy flirting, Mark finally felt confident in asking her out on a date tomorrow night, to which of course, she said yes.

 "You know, the sky is beautiful tonight. Not as beautiful as you, of course, but close." Ella scoffed and looked at him with a sarcastic grin. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

"I beg to differ, sweetheart. It got me a date with a really hot girl, so who knows where else it might get me." he smirked.

"Ha, not even! I'm not that easy, even when drunk."

"Of course you aren't, lovely. Now, do you want to look at those stars or what?"

 "I honestly can't believe that I'm stargazing with you right now, this is so cheesy! I haven't done this since junior high."

"Well, maybe you should do it more often. It might ground you a little."

"Are you trying to say that I'm stuck up?" she questioned, pretending to be offended.

"Well...maybe a little," he joked. "I mean, can you even see anything with those shades on?"

"Of course I can!"

"Right."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means 'I don't believe you'." he smiled.

He sneakily moved closer to her body, and she reciprocated. "Good sign," Mark thought to himself. "Maybe this one won't be so hard to crack after all."

 "So you can see the stars in those glasses."

"Yes! Why do you keep asking?"

"Okay then, what's that constellation?" he inquired while pointing at the night sky.

"I don't know, I paid some nerd to let me cheat off of him in astronomy class." Mark stared at her in utter disbelief after her "confession".

"Whaaat?" she whined playfully.

"I think you're lying again."

"I think you need to get off my ****."

"Creator, mouth of a sailor!" he joked. Ella playfully punched Mark on the arm, a sign of affection she seemed to be doing a lot of lately.

"Well, regardless of whether or not you can see it, the stars are all shining brightly tonight." Mark said, gazing wistfully. "It's a shame that they never seem to stay."

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 "Finally decided to come home, eh? Don't you think you're a little late?"

"Chill, pops. It's only 5AM. Now shhh, I'm almost past the evil goblin boss."

"Fine. Listen, can we talk?"

"Helloooo, did you not just hear me? Defeating. evil. goblin. boss. I'm busy." she muttered through clenched teeth.

"We need to talk about what happened."

"And that is my cue to leave," she sighed. Ella turned off the gaming system and headed towards her bedroom.

"What, so we can't just talk anymore?" he called out in frustration. She turned around and frowned at him.

"I don't want to talk about it, obviously."

"Why not? We need to discuss it eventually. Besides, you chicks are supposed to be into discussing feelings and shit."

"You wanna know why I don't want to discuss it? Alright then. I don't want to discuss it because I have Mark. We're actually scheduled for a date tonight."

"Mark? Who the hell is Mark?"

"He's a guy I met at that party we went to. He's really sweet. Slightly sketchy, but sweet."

"What about that Eric Chronic dude?"

"Eric Cromic, and we were on our last legs anyway. Eric is flighty, slutty, and insecure. Mark seems a lot more stable, and Creator knows I could use some stability right now."

"I just don't understand how you can throw away a three-year relationship in less than a week for a guy you spent five hours with!"

"Really? I thought you of all people would know. And why do you care, anyways? It's not like you know the guy."

"First of all, you can't keep throwing that in my face if you're not willing to discuss it," Jordan scowled. "Secondly, to be honest with you, you're my girlfriend's sister. You're also kind of a friend. So, excuse me if I'm a little concerned about the way you live your life, I guess that means I'm in the wrong."

"Ha! There's so much bull in your little 'explanation that I don't know where to start." Ella muttered, seething with anger. The only thing keeping them from yelling at each other was Bonnie sleeping upstairs.

"Then don't."

"Don't what?" she inquired, still furious. Jordan said nothing, but replied by turning his head.

"So what, then. That's it? You're not going to talk to me anymore?"

More silence.

"Ugh, you're such a child! This is just like you, Jordan. You start something, and you don't finish it when you don't like the way it's going. Even in my short stay here in this Creator-forsaken place, I've already noticed that about you. And see, Jordan, that is why you will die a lonely, miserable man. No one has the patience for your kid games."

"Have fun staring at the carpet, Mr. Howitt. Come talk to me when you're ready to have a real conversation."

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Chapter commentary here.

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