The Spifftastic Legacy Chapter 3

Slide 1: 

The Spifftastic Legacy Rowena!

Slide 2: 

“You look very nice in that dress, Clare.” Clare blushed. “And you also look very nice. I like the lack of shirt.” Adam grinned.

Slide 3: 

As Clare washed her empty plate, Adam said over his shoulder, “Rowena’s asleep, the kids are in school, and there’s a very empty bed right over there that needs filling.” “I’ll be right there,” Clare replied amusedly.

Slide 4: 

“You think we can handle another kid?” she murmured. “I’m sure we’ll manage.”

Slide 5: 

……………..

Slide 6: 

“Hey, little dude. What do you want to do for your birthday? Have a party? Invite all your friends?”

Slide 7: 

Quartz deliberated. “I think I’ll just have a few of my friends over. Nothing too big.” “Okay! Go ahead and invite them over. And happy birthday, kiddo.”

Slide 8: 

Chandler couldn’t come. Jake couldn’t come. Alex couldn’t come. Marsha laughed and said she didn’t want to come. The only person who came was Tess. Quartz put on a brave face, but inside he ached. How lame was it to have only your aunt at your birthday party?

Slide 9: 

At least he had his family to cheer him on…

Slide 10: 

“Aaw, crap. Still no muscle!” “No, I think you look great, Quartz!” “Thanks, Mum.” Quartz managed a smile.

Slide 11: 

Joe! *hisses* Well, I guess you need the back story on this guy if you haven’t read the Balwyn Legacy. Well, the original Aerie, who was a bit of a hopeless romantic, was married to this guy, who then proceeded to cheat on her with another man. What a jerk! I hate him now. And he actually has the nerve to walk right up and start swinging on our swing set, what the heck!! I never greeted him or anything! *mutters angrily*

Slide 12: 

“Hello, Joe! Say, have you ever heard of a little saying called GTFO?” “Um… no?” “Oh, good! I’ll tell you what it stands for! I do like to increase other people’s knowledge.” *whispers expletives* “But… I just want to see Aer—” “GTFO!!!!!”

Slide 13: 

“BlAuGh– this is– bLaUgH– the part I– BlAuGh– hate!”

Slide 14: 

“Wheeee! You’re such a big girs!” “Higha! Highaaa!” “Wait,” Quartz listened and heard the honking of the school bus, “Oops. No can do. I’ll be late for school.”

Slide 15: 

“Bye, Rowena! Bye, Mum! I’m off to high school.” “Have a great first day… and don’t get too stressed, okay?” “I’ll try. Have fun… erm… cleaning the toilet?” “Thanks.” Clare grumbled.

Slide 16: 

“BlAuGh– But I just– bLaUgH– cleaned this!” Ha, ha! The joys of pregnancy.

Slide 17: 

Aww… what a family man. Ooh, this reminds me of another picture… *rummages through large amount of snapshots and thumbnails*

Slide 18: 

So sweet. *gooey smile*

Slide 19: 

That night, Rowena became aware that she didn’t feel quite right. She felt sort of… buzzy. “Guys! Guysss!! Come quick! Ro feel fizzy!”

Slide 20: 

“Cool! I grew up!” “Oh, Ro! Sorry we didn’t have a party or anything for you.” “That’s ok! I don’t need a party ‘cus growing up was fun all by itself.”

Slide 21: 

“I’ve been waiting all through your toddlerhood to do this!” “Wheeeeee! This is fun!” (Yep. I finally reinstalled Apartment Life. I missed all the new interactions such as this. Also I installed it *all by myself* without crashing the game/computer/entire electricity source for the area!)

Slide 22: 

“Joe? You again? What do you want this time?” “I’d like to speak to Aerie, please.” “What the– no, you can’t speak to Aerie. How do you know her, anyway? Have you even met her?” “You know exactly how I know her. Now would you please let me talk to her? We’ve got some stuff to… erm… catch up on.” “Are you kidding me? Please stop harrassing my daughter! And don’t you dare call this household again!”

Slide 23: 

“Hey Quartz! Have a good first day?” “Sure, it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Hey, wait a second. Are you… pregnant?” “Yep.”

Slide 24: 

“So… I’m going to have another brother or sister!” “Yep.” “But that’s great!” Quartz bent down to rub Clare’s swollen belly. “Isn’t it just?”

Slide 25: 

A bit later in the week, Quartz got himself out of the house and into the new skating rink in town. He noticed a girl named Anna; he’d seen her around at school but he didn’t have much to do with her. He felt, though, since she also seemed to be alone, that it couldn’t hurt to try and talk to her.

Slide 26: 

“Hey, Anna. So, what brings you here?” “Oh… I’m just tired of sitting around at home. I thought I’d go out and check this place out!” “That’s actually the exact reason I’m here!” “Funny coincidence! So, you want to go skate with me?”

Slide 27: 

Perhaps not the best idea… Quartz wasn’t the strongest skater. Anna giggled every time he fell– but it didn’t sound unkind.

Slide 28: 

“Here, I’ll help you,” Anna said finally, lifting him up after he fell for the umpteenth time. “Sorry, but you really need more practice at this!” she grinned. “Ugh… yeah… I couldn’t agree more,” Quartz mumbled. As Anna steered him, he became aware that she was staring into his eyes. It made him uneasy. “I’ll… go practise,” he stuttered, breaking away.

Slide 29: 

Quartz, lost in thought, managed not to fall over at all in the next few minutes. He was pretty sure Anna liked him. As in, liked him. He wasn’t used to that. And was this how being liked was supposed to feel? Kind of like being scrutinised, or looked at under a really bright light?

Slide 30: 

“You were doing great just then, Quartz!” Anna called out.” “Thanks… but I think I’ll take a break now. Um… my feet hurt.” Quartz replied lamely. Anna smiled at him again.

Slide 31: 

He was pretty sure of it now. Anna liked him. It felt really strange. And did he like her back? He looked at her for a while. She was pretty, it couldn’t be denied. But he couldn’t imagine himself talking to her for long. And kissing her? He almost shuddered. So if he didn’t like her… how was he going to tell her that? He decided to wait until it was brought up.

Slide 32: 

“Hey, Ro. Would you like me to push you? I can make you go really high!” “No, it’s ok. I know how to swing by myself now!” “Oh, come on. This’ll be—”

Slide 33: 

“—FUN!” Rowena’s small body and young sense of balance couldn’t handle the extra push. She squeaked, soared through the air and then she was falling.

Slide 34: 

She crumpled to the ground. “Awesome, Ro! That was so cool! You jumped off the swing!” Aerie called, impressed. “Help me,” Rowena’s voice sounded like it was in pain.

Slide 35: 

“Ro?” Aerie came to a stop to see that Rowena was still curled up. “Are you okay?” “Get me help! I’m dying!” Rowena gasped. “Girls? What’s going on?”

Slide 36: 

“I– I killed Rowena!” Aerie gasped and began to sob.

Slide 37: 

“Is she going to be okay?” “… and they all lived happily ever after. The end.” Clare shut the book. “Yeah, she’s fine. She woke up for a bit when I was getting her into her pyjamas and started complaining about a headache and a toothache, so she might have concussion.” “Pity there are no doctors in Dyspaire. We’ll just have to hope she gets better with sleep.”

Slide 38: 

“Aerie? Are you alright?” “I pushed Ro off the swing. It’s my fault she has concunsi– consush– a headache!” Aerie remorsefully. “Oh, Aerie. It’s okay. Really.” Clare kneeled down and took both Aerie’s hands. “We all know you didn’t push her off the swing on purpose. Sure, maybe you shouldn’t have pushed her so hard, but what’s done is done. Okay?” Aerie almost smiled. “Well… I don’t really want to grow up now. In front of everyone.”“You can just grow up right here, if you like.”

Slide 39: 

“Wooah! That was fun! Ro was right…” Unfortunately, that reminded Aerie of what she had done again.

Slide 40: 

Hard to believe what a little makeup can do! And yes, that is glitter mascara!* (I just felt it was the sort of thing she’d wear.) Unfortunately, Aerie went around for the next day and a half like a little rain cloud. She couldn’t help it; she still felt completely responsible for hurting Rowena. *Bruno@ MTS2. I’ve always wanted to ruin a perfectly good slide with credits. =D

Slide 41: 

“…’I had a dream about a motorcycle," said Harry, remembering suddenly. "It was flying.’” Quartz read. Suddenly Rowena stirred. She rubbed her face, and got up. “Ro! You feeling okay?” Quartz asked concernedly.

Slide 42: 

“Uh, yeah. I think. Why do I feel so tired?”

Slide 43: 

“Tired?” Quartz said, “Well, I think you should just stay in bed. And I’ll get Mum. How does that sound?” Rowena nodded tiredly.

Slide 44: 

“Mum! Rowena’s woken up!” There was the sound of something dropping from the kitchen. “Oh, my god! Is she ok? I’ll be right over!”

Slide 45: 

“Oh, Rowena, we’ve all missed you so much,” Clare burst, enveloping her youngest daughter into a hug. “How are you feeling?” “I’m fine, Mum,” was Rowena’s muffled reply.

Slide 46: 

“Oh… but you’re all… scratched up!” Clare finally released Rowena from her grip.

Slide 47: 

“I am?” “Yes, but it just makes you look… unique. To go with your different-colored eyes!”

Slide 48: 

“Hey, did you know I’m from China?” “No. I have never been to China. What’s it like there?” “I don’t remember! I was just a baby. Then I was adopted and I came here! My sister’s from Russia. She’s Olina, but we call her Lina.”

Slide 49: 

“Is she your bigger sister or your littler sister?” Rowena asked. “She’s a lot bigger than me. We want to go away together and she will got to Russia to stay, and I will go to China to stay.” “Well you have to tell me what it’s like there!”

Slide 50: 

“Hey, why do you have all those scratches on your face? Are you the Scary Oogabooga Monster?” “No, silly! I fell off the swing. My mum says they look unique.” “Are they contay… er… contagious?” “I don’t know! I don’t think they are.”

Slide 51: 

“Take a chance!” “Oh no… now I’m the Scary Oogabooga Monster!”

Slide 52: 

The following day, Quartz was invited out into town by Anna. As he walked in, he saw her and another girl who looked just like her whispering together. Much to his dismay, he thought he caught the words, “That’s him!... I told you he was cute.” He sighed bitterly. He had a feeling this wasn’t going to be fun.

Slide 53: 

“Well, hi, Quartz! I’d like you to meet my twin sister, Molly.” Molly fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Hi, Quartz,” she said sweetly. Quartz restrained from rolling his eyes with difficulty. “Hi, Molly. Nice to meet you.” Conversation was awkward. Anna and Molly kept giggling and nudging each other at everything Quartz said. Finally he gave up. “I’m going to go get a soda. I’ll be right back.”

Slide 54: 

He decided he needed fresh air. As he made his way outside, he noticed a girl sitting alone at the diner. She was slender, with very pale skin and platinum hair. Okay, he thought, I don’t feel like a soda. I feel like a hot dog.

Slide 55: 

“So... Um…You look sort of familiar. Have I met you before?” Quartz stammered in a sort of pathetic attempt to break the ice.

Slide 56: 

“No, my family and I are relatively new here.” She was coolly indifferent. And, Quartz noticed, she had the most gorgeous face he had yet seen on any girl. She could be a model. No– she could be a goddess. He only just realized how soppy his thoughts were turning when the girl got up to leave.

Slide 57: 

“Wait!” he called, following her. “What’s your name?” I have to know! “I’m Lina. Nice to meet you.” she had a very faint accent that Quartz couldn’t pick, until he recalled that friend of Ro’s saying his sister was named Lina and was from Russia. So this was Lina. “I’m Quartz. Would you– would you like to go to the skating rink with me?” “I would like that.”

Slide 58: 

Neither of them were good at it, much. Quartz couldn’t help but finding this endearing in such a seemingly perfect girl– and, of course, it didn’t hurt that they had to skate hand in hand to keep from falling over.

Slide 59: 

Finally they agreed they’d had enough and stepped off the rink. Quartz looked at beautiful Lina and decided to go for it. “Lina… there’s something I’d like to try.” And he leant in for a kiss. Lina touched his shoulder quickly to stop him. “Wait, wait,” she sighed. Quartz’s heart plummeted.

Slide 60: 

“That isn’t how you do it,” Lina continued with a wry smile.

Slide 61: 

………..

Slide 62: 

“So… would you… like to go out with me, now?” Quartz asked shyly. “Of course.”

Slide 63: 

“Why hello, dear brother of mine. You know, you’re seeming very… quiet today. Or something. Is anything wrong?” Quartz was silent for a moment. “Yes,” he replied slowly. “There is something wrong.” Aerie frowned slightly at the tone of her brother’s voice. “Well… what?”

Slide 64: 

“I’m kind of… well… disappointed in you. For hurting Rowena like that. And—” Aerie rolled her eyes and was up in an instant.

Slide 65: 

“Oh, come on! You know that was a total accident, and that I’m sorry for it! Can’t you let it go?” “Yeah… well do you remember when we were both little and I offered to push you on the swings? You said no, but I pushed you anyway and you really went off at me. And Rowena told you she wanted to swing by herself, but you ignored her and look at the mess she’s in now. You’re a hypocrite.”

Slide 66: 

Aerie rolled her eyes again. “Oh, so that’s what this is all about, huh?” she said in a voice fairly dripping with sarcasm. “Do you ever hear Rowena complain, anyway?” “This is what makes me mad! It seems like sometimes you’re not sorry! Like you’re denying anything happened!”

Slide 67: 

“I am sorry!” Aerie’s voice edged towards fury, her hands on her hips. “And I’m not a hypocrite, either!” Quartz glared at her for a moment, then the anger ebbed from his face. “I just sometimes… don’t like the person you’ve become,” he said simply, before turning to leave.

Slide 68: 

Aerie collapsed into the nearest chair, suddenly weighed down with guilt. Maybe Quartz was right. Was she a hypocrite? A bad person? She didn’t feel like a bad person, but maybe she was. She had hurt her little sister with her own pigheadedness. That ought to count against her.

Slide 69: 

As the night fell she could not stop the tears from pouring down her face.

Slide 70: 

The next morning she awoke to find Rowena herself playing with the doll’s house. “I’m awake,” she mumbled sleepily, “You can stop being so quiet with your playing.” “Would you like to play with me?” Rowena asked with a hopeful smile. “Nah. I’m okay.” Rowena’s face fell and she got up.

Slide 71: 

“What’s wrong? You look like something’s wrong. Are you alright?” “Yes, yes! Everything’s fine. I’m ok. See, look,” Aerie assured, forcing a quick grin. Rowena cocked her head to the side. “Ok,” she said brightly.

Slide 72: 

Aerie sighed as she watched Rowena making her bed. She knew she should say something. Even if it was too late and she was already a hypocrite and everything.

Slide 73: 

“Rowena? I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I pushed you on the swing when I really shouldn’t have and it’s my fault your face is all scratched up, and I never really apologised,” she scooped Rowena up in a hug. “Oh!” Rowena was surprised. “It’s ok, really. It was ages ago, and I kind of like being the Scary Oogabooga Monster!” “Um… the what?”

Slide 74: 

“OH MY GOOOOODDD!” You mean God. Not Good. “THE PAIN! THE PAIN!!!” Hey, nice makeup by the way. You didn’t happen to do it specially for this slide, did you? Silly girl.

Slide 75: 

And welcome to kid #4, the last kid (if the parents behave themselves) for this generation, better known as Simba Coral. A redhead with dark eyes, like Quartz.

Slide 76: 

Ring ring! Aerie picked up the phone. “Hello… um Joe? Yes, it is Aerie speaking… You’ve been– waiting to see me? Excuse me, do I know you?... You must have the wrong number, Joe.”

Slide 77: 

Joe insisted that he hadn’t. “Look, I don’t know anybody named Joe,” Aerie continued impatiently, “And in case you were wondering, I am not interested in meeting one. Please don’t call me again.”

Slide 78: 

ARRRGGHHH!I would SO not want to go to that private school… but they got in, so I guess I’m sending my kids there in a way… (Yes, I am attached to the kids but is that really so bad? Really?)

Slide 79: 

*ominous music* ARGH! Not AGAIN! “Damnit, Voice! Can’t you manage to pay the damn bills when you’re supposed to? Everyone else does!” I disagree… but I see I am the one at fault here. *looks at floor guiltily*

Slide 80: 

“It’s ok. He’ll probably only take a sink or something, anyway.” “Yeah, you’re right,” Clare replied, trying to ignore the loud zapping noise emitting from inside.

Slide 81: 

“And furthermore, if it’s any help, he’s got a really dusty butt!” “Shhh!” Clare giggled. “You’re right. That’s pretty odd. So you’re Michelle, right?” “The very same.” “So Clare installed Apartment Life!” “I am guessing so.” “Well, one count for her, one count against I suppose.”

Slide 82: 

Coral’s birthday came along soon enough… and with it a new house. I’ll give you a tour next chapter. Coral’s life is REALLY going to rocket by. Just warning you. *shirty eyes*

Slide 83: 

Like Quartz, she makes a very cute toddler… and also like Quartz, she looks especially adorable in Adam’s arms. Then again I suppose even a potato would look adorable in Adam’s arms…

Slide 84: 

And look here, she’s a child already! How very… normal. *cough* But ignore all that because she’s cute. Mmkay?

Slide 85: 

It wasn’t just Coral doing the growing up… it seems like Ro’s childhood has lasted an awful long time. I am excited for her.

Slide 86: 

“This is all great… but will someone PLEASE help me get my hand out of the garbage disposal!”

Slide 87: 

Nope… back to Coral’s birthdaying again. “Oh my gosh, Quartz! Have you heard that Megan is going out with Josh? Megan! And Josh!” “Woah… I would never have guessed. That’s crazy.” Guys… hate to break up the gossip-fest but your sister is the other way!

Slide 88: 

It feels so different being grown up, Coral thought. I feel like I should figure out what to do with my life. Hmm… people generally have a low expectation of the youngest sibling. Well, I’m not just a cute little kid anymore. I’ll show them. I’m going to be something.

Slide 89: 

She grinned to herself. Something big.

Slide 90: 

And now, it’s heir poll time! You get to have your say for the first time in this legacy! First up is Quartz. He’s a little awkward but that’s exactly why I love him. And he’s so cute.

Slide 91: 

Next we have Aerie, the little flirt. She’s a fun girl to be around… that much can be assumed.

Slide 92: 

Third child is Rowena, the sweetest of the bunch. It’s impossible not to love this girl.

Slide 93: 

Last but definitely not least is Coral. We already know that she’s ambitious to say the least but not much more is known about her just yet.

Slide 94: 

“End the chapter already! It’s getting boring.” Okay, alright, Maya! Although I suppose she’s right… I won’t bore you anymore. Now I suppose this is as good a place as any to tell everyone that I’m going to be away for another 3 weeks pretty soon (yes, I know, another holiday…) so there won’t be any updates. Hope you enjoyed, and don’t forget to vote in the poll at boolprop.com!