Bitter Sweet: Ch 1 - Rising Heart

 

The evening was perfect.

The lightest of breezes cooled the summer evening, the lighting from the lounge shone off Bianca’s’ soft skin, making her look like the goddess she was.

She knew what Devon was going to do, but dare not ruin his moment. His hands shook as they held hers tenderly, she couldn’t help but smile at him; she adored him so much her heart hurt with the feeling it would burst at any moment.



 

He almost fell too heavily on his knee as he suddenly produced a stunning diamond ring from his pocket.

“Bianca, you can have any man in the whole world, but I would be honoured if you would choose me over all of them.”

Without performing, her emotions took over, a small squeal escaped her throat and she gasped like a teenager.

“Devon, it’s... I mean... Yes, yes of course.”

Bianca barely had time to put on the ring before Devon swept her off her feet holding her strongly in his arms.

“Let’s do this right now, let’s elope, I don’t think I could wait another moment.” His chocolate brown eyes glistened in the evenings light as he gazed at her making Bianca feel that she was about to burst into tears of pure joy.

Bianca nodded, and for once she didn’t care that other Sims stared at them as he carried her out of the lounge and down to the waterfront parkland.

 

Gently Devon put her down as they came to a perfect spot under a cherry blossom tree that overlooked the lake.

As they exchanged vows, crickets slowly began to chip and the moon came out making the water sparkle as if it were covered by diamonds. The breeze blew the sweet scent of the cherry blossoms past them adding an even stronger romantic accent to the one of the most beautiful evenings of their lives.

Eighteen years later, Bianca and Devon now had three beautiful children.

Francis and Samuel were identical twins, seventeen almost eighteen and had taken on their dads looks.

Kelly was sixteen and was the spitting image of her mother, though she was still stuck in her childhood style and trying to break out of it was causing her some discomfort at school with being teased and bullied by other students over the past few months.

Every afternoon as soon as they came home from school, they would sit down at the table and Bianca would join them to chat about how their days had been.

 

Kelly had a history assignment due and was slightly stuck on some information and remembering dates.

“Well, I think Samuel studied that last year, could she borrow your old papers from it Sam?” Kelly sighed putting her pen down and her hands in her lap showing her frustration. “Mum, I’m not going to ‘borrow’ Sam’s old paper; my teacher will recognise it and I can do this myself, thanks for asking though.”

“Alright then, how about tomorrow you go the library and you can study there for a while? Then afterwards we can go shopping and get you a new wardrobe together, maybe even visit the spa on our way home?”

 

Kelly threw back her head giving a harsh scoffed sigh. “No mum, I don’t and I don’t.” Bianca could only stare at her daughter’s sudden reaction to something that she had expressed about wanting to do. “I just want to get this done. By. My. Self.”

Both her brothers avoided looking at her but Bianca looked at her daughter, she smiled to hide her worry for how Kelly was acting. She never acted so hostile towards anyone.

“Alright then, however you feel. Finish off your homework for tonight and then we’re having Spaghetti Bolognaise for dinner.”

Kelly didn’t speak to anyone for the rest of the evening, respecting how she was feeling, her brothers, mother and father left her alone knowing she would talk to them when she was ready.

 

The next morning, Kelly looked herself over in her mirror for a long while trying to see what everyone was making such a fuss over in her class.

Remembering the girls’ cruel and stinging remarks brought tears to her eyes, and the boys odd compliments and doe eyed stares made her stomach feel like she was going to be sick.

‘This can’t be normal ‘hormonal’ behaviour, what’s going on?’ She furrowed her brow at her reflection for a while again before huffing and decided to head downstairs as her stomach gurgled. She had only picked at her dinner last night as she didn’t feel like eating after snapping at her mother.

Just as she came down the stairs, Kelly came face to face with her mother, who was her usual smiling and bubbly self.

“Mum I...”

“It’s fine darling, everyone has bad days now and then. It’s normal.”

Kelly thought about it for a moment, and then shook her head. “No, mum; I don’t think what’s happening to me is normal at all.”

Kelly saw something she’d never seen before, her mother frown and chew on her bottom lip slightly.

“Alright, come into the kitchen and you can tell me while I make breakfast.” Her mother whipped around and almost speed walked into the kitchen ahead of her.

 

Kelly began to explain as her mother made pancakes for breakfast.

Yesterday she had gone back to class just after lunch, same as every other day, but this time every girl in her class who had a boyfriend surrounded her desk. All at once they all began to shout at her and accused her of ‘stealing’ their boyfriend. Having no idea what was going on, she posed to the girls that their accusations were ridiculous, especially if they all thought she could date up to fifteen boys at the same time, let alone cause them to simultaneously break up with the girls. Thankfully this had made the girls step back to think; the teacher coming in also saved her skin from that first peculiar moment.

The girls had apologized to her after class; so thinking that was the end of the weirdness Kelly moved onto her free period classroom.

On her way over, almost every boy she walked by seemed to pass her their phone number or stopped her to ask her for her number. A few even asked for her address.

The most major shock was when she arrived to her free period classroom; stopping dead at the door, every desk in the usually almost empty room was occupied by other guys from her class, except one. This desk was in the centre of the room and covered in wild and bought flowers, cards, cute stuffed toys and sweets. Half of the boys in the classroom weren’t even in her free period.

Like something from the start of a horror movie, all their eyes were watching her like whimsical does, full of longing and adoration.

Before she could think, her feet turned her around and she ran to the girls’ bathroom staying there until the bell rang at the end the day for her to go home.

So afraid of what was going on, Kelly ended up calling her brothers to come escort her home. Even they were worried it was some sort of sick prank her class was playing on her, Francis had even threatened one of the guys with a sound beating if they didn’t leave his sister alone; which was amazing because Francis was usually the thinker, not the fighter like Samuel.

Kelly took a deep breath as she finally finished explaining to her mum.

“Mhm.” Was all her Mum murmured as she finishing transferring the last of the pancakes from the pan to a serving plate; she paused for a moment holding the pan seeming to be deep in thought.

“Mum, what do you thinks’ going on?” Kelly insisted getting flustered.

“Oh, well... I’ve got to admit, if it’s a prank, it’s a little odd for Halloween and they’re all being very immature to pick on just one person so drastically.” She let out a sigh shaking her head. “But...” Kelly watched as her mother put down the pan and turned to her. “There is something I was hoping you wouldn’t have to worry about for another year or two, but, our family always were fast bloomers.” She smiled lovingly at her, but her eyes showed concern.

“What?” Kelly frowned at her mother and shook her head. “Mum no! This isn’t that, trust me, it’s something a whole lot...”

“I know dear.” Her mother interrupted her and kissed her cheek ever so softly, lingering for a moment before moving away. “I’m going to take you out today; we’ll have a day just for us.”

Kelly went to protest about a paper that was due, but her mother had already walked off with the plate of pancakes to the dining table, which meant they were going where she liked it or not.

 

Going upstairs and getting dressed, Kelly quickly came back down grabbing herself a plate of pancakes before her brothers ate them all.

Her mother soon joined her; her dad also came down but was still in his pyjamas since it was his day off from the gallery.

“Well, don’t you two look ready to annoy the local townsfolk today?” He smiled winking at her mother.

“You’re daughter is going to come back transformed today. I think it’s about time she showed her maturity a bit more.”

“Not too much I hope, I don’t want to lose my baby girl to boys and makeup just yet.”

“Daaad.” Kelly rolled her eyes giggling a little.

Everyone got stuck into breakfast not really saying much more, Kelly could feel her nervousness building up about what her mother had planned for her.

 

After breakfast, Bianca firstly took Kelly to the local Day Spa; Sims travelled hundreds of kilometres from different towns to spend time at Newcrest’s Spa. It had the best yoga instructors and masseuses outside of Bridgeport.

Bianca was eager to get inside to the spa day, but Kelly hung back for a moment at the entrance stairs.

“Mum, I’m not sure about this...”

Pausing Bianca looked back at her daughter and smiled reassuringly at her. “Sweetheart, you’ll be fine, this is a new beginning for you and I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I’ll be right by your side the whole time, alright?” Turning back Bianca felt a small tug of nervousness herself, her daughter was growing up, and she still had no idea about her abilities or her families’ secret yet. And Bianca was trying to figure out how to tell her.

 

Coming into the dressing room, Kelly found her mother had already changed into a plush soft spa robe.

“Do I have to wear one of those too?” She felt a little uncertain about walking around in nothing but her underwear and a robe in a public place.

Her mother laughed softly. “Of course dear, everyone has one here, you’ll look out of place if you don’t have one on, the only places you don’t have a robe or towel, are for the baths and yoga classes. Come on, I’ll help you get ready.”

After a few minutes, Kelly came out of her changing room to where her mother was waiting.

Kelly giggled getting out her phone. “Ok, I have to get a photo of this; we both look like polar bears.”

 

The whole had already been arranged and booked by Bianca so that Kelly had nothing to worry about and would be able to enjoy her first spa day experience.
 

After they were done at the spa, Bianca took Kelly to the shopping centre to get her a new wardrobe and hair cut.

Again Kelly wasn’t too sure if she was ready to wear the fashions that were on the store mannequins, no matter how excited they were posed.

Upstairs Kelly tried on one of the active wear sets, her mother arrived soon after, and she had changed into more comfortable clothes herself.

“I don’t have to wear this exact outfit do I?”

“No sweetie, you can take pieces and mix and match them to whatever makes you feel comfortable.”

“Oh, then I’ve got a great idea for they style I’d like to have myself, for everything.” Kelly now sounded excited about the shopping trip, she and Bianca buzzed about the store picking up bits and pieces for her until they reached the given budget, then it was a last trip to the hairdressers before they dragged themselves home with arms full of bags.

 

After getting home, Bianca gave Kelly hour to get sorted into some new clothes. Knocking gently on her daughters’ door, she was surprised to hear her reply much more inviting than usual.

“Come in.”

Opening the door, Bianca was almost speechless at her daughters transformation into what seemed almost a totally new person.

“Well... how do I look?” A nervous smile touched Kelly’s’ lips, Bianca felt her heart swelling with pride and admiration for you youngest child who was turning into a beautiful young woman.

 

Without saying a word she threw her arms around Kelly in a tight hug.

“Oh, wow... thankyou mum. I really mean it. Today was great.” Kelly sounded surprised but happy as she hugged her mother back.

“You’re so welcome sweetheart, you look amazing.” Bianca let go and pulled out her own phone to take a photo. “Smile, my turn.” She snapped the shot, Kelly wanted to see herself in the picture and Bianca was pleased to see her daughter so happy for the first time in a few months.

 

Sitting on her daughters’ bed, Bianca patted the spot beside her.

“Alright, I’ve got some things to tell you.”

Kelly sat and looked worried for a moment, Bianca smiled shaking her head.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, I promise this is good news; you know that collage in Willow Creek that you applied to go to; Arrowheart Academy?”

Kelly nodded.

“Well,” Bianca could barely contain her smile. “You got accepted to go.”

Kelly was almost speechless with excitement. “Really? I did? Oh my Watcher, I got in?”

“Alright, calm down, you’ve got the rest of this year to prepare and keep your grades up, then next year you’ll start there. I got the phone call last night, but wanted to surprise you.”

Kelly wasn’t sure if she should jump up and down or squeal in her excitement, all of her extra hard effort in her studies had finally paid off, ever since she had gotten the invite to join the exclusive collage the next town over.

 “Now,” Bianca smiled knowingly at her daughter. “I know how stressful it can be going to a new place away from home, so your father and brothers have set up a special spot just for us so that I can teach you some meditation tips. Change into your exercise clothes and meet me up upstairs, ok?”

“Ok, and, thanks again mum, today was just awesome.” Bianca got up off the bed touching her daughters’ cheek affectionately before going to get ready.

 

Upstairs was a patio off the side of the attic; the attic had been transformed into half an art studio for Kelly’s Dad to do his painting projects and a gym for the rest of the household.

Coming out the side door of the attic to the patio, usually was a sparse empty space with a redecorated private spa area to the back; now the empty space has been transformed into a small meditation area.

Bianca sat on her meditation stool and nodded to the one opposite for Kelly to sit at.

“Now, just sit like me, then take a slow deep breath, close your eyes as you exhale and focus on a pink flame burning bright and steadily in the darkness. Nothing else, even if the flame changed shape; focus on it releasing all of your negative energies to it.”

 Kelly smirked slightly. “You sound like one of the weird guru tape recordings.”

There was a small laugh from Bianca before she calmed herself. “Just do what I ask, ok?”

“Ok, ok... meditation officer.”

Kelly took a deep breath, exhaled and closed her eyes focusing on the image of a strong pink flame burning in the darkness of her mind.

 

Just as the image of the flame begin to flicker and move as it was began to change shape, Francis’s voice interrupted Kelly’s concentration, the image of the flame faded to nothing.

“Whoa, can I learn to do that?”

Half annoyed at him, but wanting to know what he was talking about, Kelly peaked across at her mother through half closed eyes, she opened them completely staring in surprise when she saw her mother was actually hovering a few feet above her meditation stool.

 

Bianca smiled her eyes still closed; she steadily lowered her feet to the ground and stretched opening her eyes.

“You could, but since you don’t like to sit still for long stretches on time Francis, it could be a bit of a challenge for you. That took me at least five years to master and I was living in Shang Sim-La at the time, just before I met your father.”

Francis sipped at the fizzy health drink and made a face. “Yeah, I think I’ll stick to my R.E.F.U.G.E tournament I got on this afternoon. If I win I get a hundred simolians. New headphones, here I come.”

Kelly pouted slightly as her mind wandered what her flame had been going to morph into.

 

“So, baby sis...” Francis snapped her attention back to him as he tapped her arm handing her one of the fizzy health drinks. “I hear you got into that fancy collage in Willow Creek. Nice going, how’s your brain feeling?” Francis was always teasing her about how smart she was, but in the kindest possible way because he was considered a genius himself and had never gotten below an A+, even in kindergarten.

“Not sure, it left before I even started. I’m hoping to convince it to come back soon.” Though it was probably lame, she giggled at her own joke, but Francis joined in making her feel better.

“Well, whenever it comes back, let me know. We’ll have a conversation or something.” With a bit more slight laughter, Francis wandered off downstairs no doubt to start his gaming tournament.

 

Later that evening, Kelly sat at the dining table running her fingers over her extra credit work book.

Samuel plonked himself down from finishing his workout with a fizzy health drink, and Bianca also came and sat down with a bowl of ‘stew’.

“You already got into the collage sis, why do you look so stressed out?”

Kelly stayed staring at her book trying to find an answer to her brothers question, but couldn’t.

She shook her head; her fingers tensed up feeling the edges of the paper dig in roughly to her fingertips.

“You’re over thinking again, relax. You should go swim a few laps in the pool for a while, cool off.”

“No,” Kelly muttered getting up picking up her book. “I think I’m just going to go to bed, today’s been really long. Goodnight.”

“Night sweetie; sleep well.” Bianca chimed.

“Ok, night. Don’t dream, it uses up brain cells.” Samuel called, Bianca whispered for him to leave his sister alone and the sound of him huffing made Kelly smile as she made her way to bed.

 

In the morning, Kelly came downstairs to everyone already sitting at the breakfast table excitedly talking.

They were all still in pyjamas and she felt a little odd that she had taken extra time to get dressed but grabbed a bowl of yogurt and joined her family.

“So, we’re going?” Francis was talking fast and excited.

“Where’re we going?” Kelly asked feeling slightly out of the loop.

Her father Devon smiled looking at her then the two boys.

“Yes, we’re taking our family camping trip early this year!”

“For real?” Francis seemed to be checking if his father was playing a joke on him.

“That’s a whole month early.” Kelly was also surprised at her father’s announcement. Every year at the end of the year, they family had gone camping as a relaxing way to end the year and begin the new one.

Fireworks over the lake on New Year’s Eve with marshmallows and freshly caught fish cooking over a campfire, Kelly always looked forward to it.

“Yes, but your mother and I were discussing how hard you three have worked this year, and since everyone has stayed above C’s, we decided that we’d all go early, before the place gets crowded. We’re going next weekend for the school holidays before your last term back at school, so you’ll all be ready to blitz your last exams.”

Samuel rolled his eyes and groaned, Kelly laughed slightly and nodded. “Great, I’m just heading to the library for a bit.”

“Oh hey, wait up.” Francis got up quickly himself. “There’s a game meeting today there, may as well come with.”

“Ok.” Kelly shrugged getting out of her chair.

“Have fun you two, Samuel and I are going down to the river to refresh out fishing skills.”

“Oh yeah, I’m so catching the biggest fish this year.” Samuel grabbed the dirty bowls off the table heading to the dishwasher.

“Alright, everyone be home by dark, and I’ll make up some campers stew with grilled fruit for dinner, sound good?”

“Sounds great Hun.” Devon got up and kissed his wife before going upstairs to get ready to go fishing.

 

While everyone was out, Bianca decided to go swimming; she found it always relaxed her. She was worrying about Kelly; she still hadn’t figured out a way to tell her the real reason she was attending the Arrowheart Academy.

Lazily floating in the water, Bianca wondered how to tell her daughter why all the boys in her class had suddenly started fancying her and why she had always been such a passionate and caring person.

She felt that a brisk dive in at the deep end of the pool where the water was crisper might help clear her head...