Samuel agreed happily, and the two decided to take tea in the yard. They spent a good hour resting on the grass, simply talking and enjoying the warmth. Cecily couldn’t remember the last time she felt so carefree. When she asked Samuel to walk with her in the woods, he jumped up and offered her his arm. They wandered among the willows and the birch trees in this manner until Cecily suddenly paused.
“What is it?” Samuel asked, turning towards her.
Cecily smiled. “I…I’m just glad you’re here.”
“I’m glad, too,” Samuel said, resting his hands on Cecily’s shoulders. For a long moment, everything stood still, and then Samuel leaned forward and kissed her.
Cecily felt so light that a slight breeze might whisk her away. She had, of course, dreamed her first kiss would be from James, but this wasn’t so terrible. In fact, it was rather nice. Almost…wonderful.
“I love you, Cecily,” Samuel said then, which Cecily did not expect. She was so caught up in the moment, however, that she responded in kind.
“I love you, James.”
Cecily didn’t even realize she had said it until Samuel winced and pulled away. “What did you call me?”
“I…I didn’t mean it,” Cecily stammered. “I meant Samuel. It was an accident.”
Samuel looked at her doubtfully. “Are you in love with my brother?” he asked.
Cecily stared at him, speechless. How could she lie to him? Would it be lying if she said she loved Samuel, too? Did she love them both?
“Just answer me honestly,” Samuel said, his voice hard.
“Yes,” Cecily said. “I love James.”
Samuel said nothing for several seconds, then turned abruptly and began walking towards the house. Overwhelmed, Cecily put her face in her hands. She had never felt more foolish in her whole life. She had hurt Samuel, who was her friend. And now he knew that she was in love with James. Would he tell his mother or grandmother? What would they think of Cecily then? Would James find out? It was all too much. Cecily drifted back towards the house in a daze.
When she reached the house, Carol was in the kitchen preparing the evening meal. She noted Cecily’s confused expression and asked if she was all right, but Cecily made her way straight to her bedroom and shut the door.
Once in her room, Cecily threw herself onto her bed and cried — quietly, so as not to wake little Arthur, who was napping just a few feet away. Later, she wrote in her diary, “I believe I am doomed. A few moments today were divine. The rest were all horrible.”
In the days that followed, Cecily became even more entrenched in the anguish of young love. Her prior thoughts of James were now overshadowed with thoughts of Samuel and how she had hurt him. She had to do something about it, or she might never get any sleep.
Finally Carol confronted Cecily and asked her what was wrong. Feeling she could trust Carol, Cecily told her about James and Samuel, and asked for her advice.
“Perhaps you should talk to Samuel,” Carol said. “Tell him you still consider him a dear friend. Tell him you miss him.”
Cecily didn’t want to talk to Samuel at his house — there were too many people there, and she worried what they thought of her if Samuel had told them of her love for James — so she wrote him a letter. It read, “Dear Samuel, I want to speak with you. Please meet me after supper on Monday night. You know the place. Yours, Cecily.”
Carol agreed to deliver the letter the next morning, which was already Monday. At supper that evening, Cecily was nervous. She could manage barely a smile when her father announced that Arianna was pregnant again. While Carol congratulated them and Arthur banged his plate on the table, Cecily stared out the window at the darkening sky and wished for the meal to be over.
As soon as Carol started clearing the table, Cecily excused herself and went outside. The sun had just set below Brayton Hill, casting the woods into dusk. Cecily made her way down the pine-needle path to the spot where Samuel had kissed her. The leaves whooshed above her as she paced to and fro, waiting for Samuel to arrive.
An hour passed with no sign of Samuel. The woods were very dark now, but Cecily could still see the lights burning in the house. She knew that beyond her house and down the street lay Haddaway Hall — she would only need to walk a little ways before she would reach it, not even a quarter of a mile. Cecily decided she might as well go and see if Samuel’s light was on.
Before she could take two steps, Cecily felt a presence behind her. It made no noise, and yet — it was there. A familiar dread began to creep over Cecily causing her to forget all about Samuel as she made her way quickly towards her own house.
Cecily raced into the kitchen, closing the back door firmly behind her. She paused a moment to catch her breath, then turned around to look at the door. At that moment, her mother’s ghost seeped through the solid wood, scaring Cecily so badly that she couldn’t even scream.
“Heavily,” her mother’s ghost moaned.
Cecily merely backed away from the phantom, her hand covering her soundless mouth.
“Heavily,” the apparition continued. “Heavily hangs the broad sunflower…over its grave in the earth so chilly.”
Cecily recognized the lines — they were from a poem by Tennyson.
“What does it mean?” she asked, still backing away. “What do you want?”
Instead of answering directly, the ghost floated closer and closer to Cecily, until suddenly she darted past her towards the kitchen door, nearly causing Cecily to faint.
Cecily waited in the kitchen a few moments before making her way into the parlor, where Arianna was sitting down to play piano. Harry had Arthur balanced on his knee.
“Good evening, Cecily,” Harry called out. “Did you have a pleasant walk?”
“Yes, Father,” Cecily said, still shivering. “Good night.”
“Good night,” they all called in return, as Arianna began playing “I’m Looking For A Sweetheart.”
That night Cecily dreamed that her mother was in the parlor, painting, which had been her favorite occupation. Her father was sitting on the couch reading his medical books, and she herself was at the piano. Behind her stood James, singing “I’m Looking For A Sweetheart”, just as Samuel had sung it to her a few days before, and when she stopped playing, he leaned over and kissed her.
Ooooh. So creepy and so sad! She should be happy with Samuel, James comes across as arrogant anyway. Ah well, life sometimes isn’t so black and white. Might not even be for Sims either! Wonderful update!
Aww! That was really sad. I have been reading your stories for a while, but I have been to busy to respond. Your graphics are great, you stories are great, and you.. are great haha. I was worried for a while because you hadn’t written anything but I understand moving, even though I am only 15..oh well. Anyway happy moving in to your new home. Don’t get too exhausted!
Awwww! She should forget James and go with Samuel. It’s clear they get along well enough and James barely notices her.
Wow, awesome update, although very heartfelt. Which is good! ;-) Poor Samuel and Cecily. I feel so bad for them both. I hope everything turns out alright!
I’m glad to hear what’s up with Jen these days. I have to admit, I too was getting worried. I’m glad everything’s fine. And congrats on moving! I’m sure you’ll miss you’re current house, thoguh. I’ve had my experience of moving and I’m gald it’s over. Good locj on everything, Jen!
aww teenage angst I lvoe it :D Samuel’s really cute… I can’t believe Cecily is still going after James when her true love is right in front of her! ah well… can’t wait for the next updates! it’s so intriguing this family ^^
Wow that was awsome! I am amazed how you could write such a wonderful story in so little time! It was great but awfully upseting. It gave me a creep down my spine when reading about the ghost. Execelent Work!
P.S Glad your back!
Thanks for updating even in the midst of the turmoil surrounding you. Hope you enjoy your new house. Love the way you incorporated the ghost. oooooooooo.
My heart bleeds for poor Cecily, her heart torn as it. I hope she soon sees where her true love lies.
Aww, poor Cecily. Her mother’s ghost serously freaks me out!
I hope Arianna has an easy pregnancy with Baby No. Three!
E-Liz :)
Hey Jen! Splendid job darling, just splendid! Whew, moving back to our time..
Anyway, I wonder what the new baby will look like. Also, I had an idea. What if Carol and James were to meet…say, unexpectedly? Wouldn’t it be awesome if he fell in love with her and married her…to the utter shock of his family!? Hehe, just an idea.
I love this update as usual and though I love knowing about Cecily and her teenage love I can’t wait to see how Arthur is turning out. I’m not trying to nag! I just can’t wait to see how the heir’s life is turning out.
Hey everyone, thanks for the comments and feedback! I know the Brayton saga has been very Cecily-centric lately, but rest assured that the next post will feature more of the rest of the family. And Arthur will get his moment in the spotlight…someday. ;-)
Vivi, your suggestion made me chuckle because I almost did that!
I don’t like Cecily. Her infatuation with someone she hardly knows seems really childish. x.o But seeing as how her father was “having a boychild” obsessed, I suppose that would cause me to attempt to break away too… x.x
Wow. o_O more likea story than a sims2 thing, eh?
What have you created, Jen?! xD
Wait, hey, I LIKE Cecily! :D A lot. I hope that when she marries and moves out you’ll continue on with her story. I’ve become a bit obsessed with her since you started focusing so much on her.
Thank you so much for the time you put into this, hon. I am so utterly pregnant that coming in to look at your blog always makes me cry in that wonderful, heartwarmth way. You are a real inspiration to Sims2 Storytellers. Thank you so much for everything you do.
Good luck with the move!
Oh! By the way, Jen, can you please go ahead and change my link on your site? I’m sorry it took me so long to let you know about that and I only just noticed that I’ve been posting my comments with the old address. Whoops! Sorry about that!
Oh, I wonder what will happen to cecily… and what that poem means… please Jen, keep writing!!
How did the move go??
Jen what a great story so far.
Sorry I’m getting here a bit after the fact but I’m posting now.
Being a military wife I know all too well the joys of moving to a new home. Enjoy!
Questions:
* What interaction was that photo from when both Cecily and Samuel have looks like they just tasted sour lemons?
* Okay …What does that sentence in the poem mean?
Goodness poor Cecily I hope she finds her happy place and you continue with her story. Poor girl just needs one heck of a hug LOL :)
BTW I just posted an update so when you get a free minute from unpacking please stop on by.
Toodles…V :)
Mieko – Thanks for your comment; I welcome criticism! As long as you don’t mind if I defend Cecily a little. ;-) You’re right, her behavior is childish, but she’s only about 15 years old and haunted by the ghost of her mother, which would probably make anyone a little off-kilter. Also, I remember being around that age and crushing heavily on guys I barely knew, just because they were cute. It happens! But I totally see your point.
Becki – Thanks, I’m so glad you’re enjoying these stories. I think yours are awesome, too!! I’ve updated your link, BTW!
Yannick – I’m moving Thursday – Sunday, should be interesting! I’ll let you know how it went!
PRMami – Hi Vilma! Thanks for stopping by. To answer your questions: about the “sour lemons” photo, I honestly can’t remember what interaction caused that. I think Cecily might have tried to “Caress” or something equally high-level in the romance arena, and their relationship wasn’t quite high enough yet for that, so he declined it.
As for the poem, I don’t want to give anything away, but if you want to read the whole poem (it’s short, only two verses), you can maybe draw your own conclusions. ;-)
Hi Jen. wow you are moving this weekend. Oh i hope you will have plenty of help. I love the update. I kinda saw some of that happening but like i said in my last comments i think your are going to drift us to Samuel. I think you are going to bring more twists to this story. I’m really enjoying this family and your approach to this Legacy challenge.
But more than anything i’m truely enjoying your writting skills and your story telling.
Thanks for all your hard work. :-)
Happy simming. So looking forward to your next update.
Yes…I can relate to the girl.
I keep forgetting she’s still just a teenager. xD The outfit makes her look grownup. o.o
Hey!
Love the outfits and the toddler bed. They are soooo cute. You are a great writer. I love the sims2 too! Im not as great though!:)