I summoned up the courage to speak. “What’s going on here?”
Her eyes flared up. “What, like you don’t know? You’ve only been stealing Joel away from me since you came here.”
SAY WHAT?
Suddenly I remembered where I had seen her: at school, waiting by Joel’s locker. Only once, though, and I hadn’t thought anything of it.
“That’s crazy,” I said. “I don’t even know you. And Joel’s just my friend.”
“Oh, REALLY?” she said, lunging forward like she might spit on me. “Then why is he at your house all the time? Huh? Why did he give you a Llama Mama poster? Why did he hold your hands at SKATE NATION!?!?”
“What the…?” I was getting miffed now. “Have you been spying on us or something? And what are you, his psycho ex-girlfriend?”
I put a special emphasis on the “ex”, just to be mean. I’m not usually like that, but this girl was really pushing my buttons.
“I’m his REAL best friend, and don’t you forget it,” she said. I would have laughed at her melodramatics, but I was too annoyed.
I was about to unleash a brilliant retort when I heard Joel’s calming voice behind me. “Hey guys, what’s going on?”
I couldn’t even look at him, I felt so embarrassed. I’m not even sure why. Probably because my claws had come out, and I didn’t want him to see me all catty and angry like that.
“Oh, I was just having a chat with your pal Fran. You’re such a punk, Joel. You never told her about me?”
I took a deep breath to reassemble myself and turned around.
Joel looked at me for a second, then back to her. “Geez, Rayna. Chill. I just never got the chance.”
“Never got the chance to mention your so-called best friend? What the hell, Joel?”
“Rayna, first of all, I don’t have a BEST friend. Both of you are important to me. And second, you’ve been super busy the past few days. I wasn’t going to just sit at home and play with my womrat.”
“What, so you jump at the chance to hang out with Little Miss Fluffyhead here? Joel, you have SO lost your edge. And you didn’t have much of one to begin with. How are you gonna be a rock star if –”
The phone at the cashier’s desk rang, interrupting Rayna’s rant. She heaved a sigh with her shoulders and stomped over to answer it.
Joel took a tiny step towards me. “I’m so sorry, Fran. I should have told you about her. We’ve been friends since we were kids, and she’s usually pretty cool, but she’s been working hard trying to get this band together, and…”
I forgot about Rayna for a second. “A band? Are you gonna be in it?”
“Well, yeah, if they want me…”
“Joel! That’s awesome!”
“Now don’t get too excited yet. I have to audition, and they might hate me.”
“How could they hate you?”
Joel chuckled. “Because I’m not very good.”
“Bah. I doubt that!” I grinned. “So you have a drum set now?”
I heard Rayna hang up the phone, but I didn’t dare look at her.
“It’s upstairs. Dwayne’s giving me a discount, but I haven’t bought it yet. I practice before and after work, though. Check out these blisters.”
Joel held out his hands for me to inspect.
I could feel Rayna sending me bad vibes, but I still wouldn’t look at her.
“Wow, do they hurt?”
“Nah, they’re kind of callousing up now.” His serene smile turned sly for a moment. “Wanna hear me play something quick?”
“Ooh, yes!”
Joel gave Rayna a friendly wave as we passed by, but I kept staring straight ahead, trying not to look smug. As Joel led me up the stairs, some of my excitement from earlier came back. I put Rayna and her Vulcan Death Noogie out of my mind and just thought about Joel and his lovely hug and his blistery fingers.
(continued on Page 3)
Oooh! A Fran update! I do just love this story, Jen! Great work, as usual! I can’t wait to see more of Rayna!
Frack! And awesome deathray glares from Rayna while Fran and Joel walk up the stairs! And and and and GLEEE! :D :D :D
I really like your photos. They seem a bit more animated than usual, usually I just go ‘oooooh, pretty! *.*’ and get all starry eyed, but this time it was half that and half feeling like I was watching stills from a tv series. I like it!
In other news, you can expect an update on my page soon. Like, a real one. With pictchas. :D
The perfect thing to break up my homework. A Fran update! Loved this edition. Rayna is so evil! I mean, in a freaky clingy girl kinda way. I love the record store, did you design it yourself Jen? I’m guessing you did because its pretty darn awesome.
Anyways, thanks for the great update! I can’t wait for the next time we hear from Fran! :D
Oh I love this story! It just has so much personality! Fran just leaps off the page.
I love reading about Fran’s teen life it’s too cute how she expresses herself and that girl Rayna and her death ray look – funny
YAY!! I love Fran. She is so funny & sarcastic, she reminds me of me, lol. Thanks for the update, Jen!
Oh, where to start?
I guess I’ll start with the beggining :D. I’ve been a secret fan of your blog for 10 months and I absolutely love your stories.
Heh, Rayna and Joel remind me of myself and my best friend lol. But I like to think I’m not that evil. :P
Fran is absolutely…different and funny, not the cliche teenage girl.
Can’t wait for the next update!
Hi. great update Jen!. aww fancy leaving wezzy on the floorunless she got that weird seasons bug while the babies cry at radom but when that happens with mine I put them on a rug not on a cold hard floor!.
It looks Fran might have a rival to Joel’s affections I hope Fran wins!.
Keep Simming!.
See ya.
wow! That was like totally awsome jen! cant wait for more now!!!!! are you gonna write stories to go with the new annabel island. I hope so. i really like you idea of fran.Its just a normal lifestyle that alot of sims would lead but you make it so much more! i love your stories!
And i think im going mad. I came home from school so i thought id check your site and emagen my exitment when theres a update! lol xx
YAY! Fran’s back! Great update Jen, Rico is a bit of a nasty git isn’t he?
Fran is so funny, but Rayna was gorgeous! I love the store you made it yourself Jen, didn’t you? Great update!
I was so happy to see an update for Fran. I love her,,,and her family’s cool too. And I love that record store. I wanted to know how you got the writing on the awning?
Great update Jen! I’d love to see Fran and Joel get together one of these days!
Hallelujah! I missed old Franny. Jeez, that Rayna is a real…well, I could call her a couple of names that were not the most apropriate but i try to keep my comments at PG…unless of course, I’m commenting Mao. ;) Great job!
Hey Jen,
Great update! Rayna is HOT!
I missed Fran, glad to see she’s still puttering around in your brain.
Totally your best Sims writing EVER. You’ve fleshed out Fran’s character so well. Love it.
Wow.
I mean – just wow.
Writing blogs should totally be your day job- we’d get to read more stories! But wait, then we’d have to pay. Never mind.
But that was amazing. I love Rayna. She just looks so cool. But whats her problem? I mean a guy can have more than one friend, right? I think she’s a *cough* jealous lover *cough*.
I have the weirdest glitch with this sim. Her mood and aspiration don’t decay any more. It will decay if, say she worked out she will get stinky, and her aspiration will go down if she accomplishes a fear, but no natural decay. She lives with 3 other sims, and all their needs decay naturally. Weird.
wow! Are you serious? 2 girls fighting over Joel’s attention, interesting. Well, see how this plays into the whole story…err I mean blog. But I just love Fran updates. Keep ’em coming. =)
I love Fran’s point of view. You nail her teenaged dialogue. “Vulcan death noogie” and “deathray glare”. *giggle*
Rayna does sound like a jealous girlfriend.
Reagan: GO FRAN!!!
Rose: BOO RAYNA!!!
Reagan: GREAT update!!!
Rose: More Please!!
Together: YAY JEN!!!!
Big grins for Fran.
Just letting you know that I’ve uploaded a teaser ‘splash screen’ for my upcoming updates on my site. :D
The pictures are amazing, as usual. Rayna’s gorgeous! Sorry I can’t write more, I’m super busy. Just wanted to let you know I’m still reading!
Hey. I just started reading the site, I know, pretty lame way to start, and I just wanted to say I loved this entry! It was so great! I love your style of writing! Are you an author of any novels? You really are a great writer.
The hair rules. That’s all there is to it. And if Rayna LIKE Joel, she should just stop beating around the bush and ask him out. Otherwise, the dude is fair game. Would Franchesca REALLY still like Joel if he had piercings and some tattoos?
This was a really good episode. I just love how your images are always so clear and crisp!
FUN!!
Hey guys, thanks so much for all of the comments. I really appreciate them. And sorry for the delay in answering questions! Here goes…
Teckno102 & Josh – Yep, I created the record store, with help from some awesome CC (record stacks from N99 Forum Paks and posters from MTS2). Glad you liked it!
Jo – Welcome to the site! Thanks for your comment. :-) I’m so glad you can relate to my characters.
yaz – I am hoping to write stories or at least gameplay commentary on Annabel Island at some point…it might be awhile yet since I’m still building stuff for it!
Rome – Hi there! I used Photoshop to put the writing on the awning.
Sammi – Welcome to the site, and thanks so much for your comment. It made my day! And no, I haven’t published any novels. I lack the self-discipline to work on the same story for that long. ;) That’s why these short blog stories are so nice to do. I’m so glad you’re enjoying them!