Chapter 5

~*~

The house felt like a stranger to Gloria. Personal effects were taken down, packed up to travel with them. Blankets had been folded up and tucked into their baskets. The food that remained in the house was mostly long lasting like cereals, poptarts, and canned soup. The garden was dug up and covered. Everything had a feeling of sterility, as if instead of leaving their home they were just now moving into it. 

“I’m bringing Taco with me,” Gloria said while they made dinner together. “She’ll miss me. She’ll miss you for sure, but you can’t have pets in college.”

“That’s ok, she’s always liked you more. She’s your cat,” he smirked, chopping his vegetables. “Are you sure you’ll be ok? This isn’t easy for me either.”

“I’m sure. Everything’s been planned, and I’ve packed my laptop in secret so that I can watch movies,” she giggled. Seneca’s eyebrows raised. “I hope my roommate doesn’t mind.” 

“Which movies do you have packed?” Seneca asked. 

“Whatever I could fit, a good variety. I’m not thinking I’ll be able to stream movies very well, so I had to. You at least are going to a nice college with excellent internet speed. I’m envious.”

“I’m sure your fellow ship would rather you use your time to learn a new skill, or read a book.”

“That’s why I’m only going to do it very late at night.” Gloria winked, smiling. “I’ll have to see how it shakes out, but I’d rather have the option than to leave it at home. 

“You didn’t pack the Lord Of the Rings trilogy, did you?” Seneca asked as Gloria moved to put her ingredients in the pot.

“... Maybe.”

~*~

The drive to Seneca’s new school was spent blaring their favorite songs, Gloria driving her car, and Seneca in the passenger side. The trunk was full of Seneca’s things, and Gloria would be going back home to spend a few days before she was due to leave for the fellowship. 

“So you’re living in a shared house, not a dorm?” Gloria asked. She knew the answer, but it was something to talk about.

“Yeah.” Seneca blinked from staring into the distance. “I guess being the president’s son gets me some perks. She wouldn’t want me living in cheap housing anyhow. It isn’t a good image of her, having her son living off of ramen and pancakes.” he smirked.

“Hey, don’t eat too many pancakes, I like you the shape that you are now! I know everyone gains weight when they go to college with all of the stress eating and rewarding good grades and not having meltdowns, but try and remember what you’re eating.” Gloria teased.

“Easy for you to say, Miss going-to-a-farm-to-eat-organic. Everything you eat is going to be low calorie, and you’re going to be active every day. I can only hope to have such a good diet and lifestyle.” Seneca responded, nudging her arm.

Arriving at the house, it was… imposing to Gloria. It was clean, an old town house with an extra basement entrance, with bicycles parked in front. A few people were milling around outside, going in and out. These are the people that Seneca is going to spend his time with. They’re his new family.

They sat in silence for a moment, just staring at the tall building. “Well, we should go in.” Gloria said, unbuckling herself and popping the trunk.

“What you said…” Seneca blinked, also opening his door.

They each grabbed a bag and walked up the stairs. People wove past them, giving a few looks while passing. 

“I think I’m on the third floor. Time to flex these muscles and put them to use, eh?” Seneca shrugged, rolling his eyes as he grabbed the handle firmer and heading to the stairs. 

“Wait, maybe we should scout ahead first? We should know where we’re going first,”

“Good point,” Seneca set his bag back down and led the way upstairs. The second floor had two bedrooms on it, already smelling faintly of floral air freshener.

“I’m looking forward to being able to get you settled in. I know these rooms can be small and hard to personalize, but when you look at all of the work we’ve put into it you’ll remember me and smile,” Gloria teased. 

“I mean, the picture of you on my wall will do that for me just fine.” Seneca assured, nudging her.

Turning the corner, as Seneca and Gloria walked to the far end of the hall, they heard a voice coming from inside the room. 

“Yes, yes, I’ll be there. The death of my ex-husband doesn’t bother me, we’ve fought for years. Barnabus, you know I hated that man. It’s good he’s dead.”

Seneca shared a look with Gloria, then opened the door 

“Oh- here he is now!- No, not my husband, my son! Really Barnabus, where’s your head?” She hung up the phone and turned to look at Seneca and Gloria, dressed to the nines as always. “My boy, how are you? Did you have a safe drive?”

“I drove,” Gloria answered, edging into the room. “You… you decorated the room without us?” 

“Of course! I didn’t want anyone to think that you weren’t well looked after.” Seneca’s mother said.

“Mom, you didn’t- you shouldn't have done this. Gloria and I were going to decorate today before she

left.”

“Oh, I know. But you must agree, your room looks very nice. The bedding is brand new, and may I say it wasn’t cheap,” she winked. 

“I already have bedding. Bedding I love. I don’t need new-”

“I haven’t met your housemates, but I’m sure they’re all proper folk, if a bit alternative…” she checked to make sure the door had closed behind them as she said it. “An enlightening experience, if ever there was one.”

“Mom, why are you here?” Seneca asked bluntly.

Rosa looked taken aback. “I’m here because my son is going to college. My only baby, for now, that is. Not long before little mister here makes his appearance. Why wouldn’t I be here?”

“You’ve come to visit us once- once- at our house where we’ve lived for two years. Now you want to visit your son?” Gloria asked, hands on her hips.

“This is a new leaf. Your home is so… bohemian, I wouldn’t know where to look. Seneca is the president’s son, the papers would say he’s a ragamuffin if he had a shabby room.”

Gloria huffed and rolled her eyes, making for the door. Seneca grabbed her by the waist and stopped her. “Mom, you’ve overstepped. Would you step outside for a moment?”

“This is really such an over reaction,” she said as she walked out the door. 

Gloria stared at Seneca as the door closed, fuming. “Is she serious?”

“My mother rarely jokes, unfortunately.” Seneca said.

“This was going to be our thing! We were going to decorate your room, and we were going to eat dinner, and then I was going to kiss you goodbye and-” she choked as tears started forming in her eyes. “And then I was going to go home.”

“We still have all day. That hasn’t changed. And now, maybe we can spend it doing other things,” he consoled.

“Like what?”

“Walking around, losing my mother, seeing all of the accommodations. We could meet my housemates together as boyfriend and girlfriend. Make sure no one gets the wrong idea.” he said, giving her a weak smile. 

She wiped at her eyes with her sleeve. “I guess so. That sounds nice.”

“I love you, Gloria.” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “Never forget that.”

“How could I?” she asked as she slid her hand into his. “You never let me forget, and I never want to.”

Our heroes part ways, and Rosa is pregnant?! I wasn't expecting that. I was moving all of the sims into the household and it told me that it couldn't fit that many sims in, saying someone was pregnant. I was very concerned, inspecting everyone wondering if MCC had decided to gift anyone a baby, but no one was pregnant in the household, until I inspected Rosa. She's having a baby! Rather unexpectedly...

Here's the bloopers for the chapter!

^ I just thought this picture was pleasing.

^ Taco returns!

^ I was doing a bit of exploring of HoB, and the sun made the lighting so pretty.

^ Gloria beat Midshore at a duel, which suprised me.

^ They're sweet.

^Patrice grew into a toddler! She's so cute, dark hair and eyes. 

^ Dance party in the living room!

^Fun with a twin. I can't tell them apart. It's either Lana or Skye.

^ You guys are going to see lots of clouds though that roof...

Anwyn gave birth to a bouncing little boy, Otto! I haven't named either Patrice or Otto, letting them be born while I'm not playing the household so they're rather random. Otherwise I tend to recycle the same names over and over again, lol.