prequel stories #10: wedding pictures

I actually don't know why I had this post saved up in my drafts for so long. But I'm kind of under the weather this weekend, so I think I'll post this up to pacify you all so I can slack off on the next update for a couple/few more days ;)

Be warned, these are very old pictures. And this was long before I learned to download much proper CC, so some of these outfits are truly terrible, lol!

build week #2: it's almost a medical center!

Just a little, tiny, sneak peak ;)

I'm super-excited about my medical center! In fact, even though I downloaded a big hornking hospital for my city, I might not even use it much in the end. Most of the scenes I tend to use for this story are more outpatient kind of situations - like a therapy session, or pregnancy checkup. Those wouldn't likely happen at a hospital at all, but would probably happen in a smaller suburban medical plaza like this! :)

the brick, four vignettes

November 2083 - James Porter is 26, April Hutchins is 20 // Mariah Buchanan is 25 // Berjes Monif is 38, Jodie Larson is 28 // Beau Jackson is 20.

*soundtrack: "Brick" by Ben Folds Five *

11:13 a.m.
This is only the second time James has been back on campus since he left it, and it's bringing back memories both good and bad. These apartments weren't here when he was, and neither was the sculpture park and coffee bar on the corner. They've still got the student pub though. And that building at the end of the street, that old stuffy Academy Hall, was where he spent his senior year with Mariah.

This is only the second time he's been back on campus, and the first time was for her, the girl with the warm dark skin and bright blue eyes, the first girl he ever loved. He loved her and she spun him for one hell of a loop. He doesn't do drama. He doesn't do games, and Mariah is the reason why.

Maybe if he'd have met April a few years earlier, he might be up for it, but not now. Not after Mariah. She broke him good and clean. It's a shame she never seemed to do the same for herself.

silly red sheet, part 1

September 2083 - Aurora Miguel and Adrian Jackson are 51. (Beau and Tyler Jackson are 20, Carly Cook is 28.)

* soundtrack: "Superman," by Five for Fighting. *

After a lovely weekend with Adrian, Aurora was quickly dropped hard back into her real life. She's afraid of this man, the same man who called her employees customer service lazy and entitled just a couple years ago. So when she sees him in her boutique again, she feels herself inclined to run and hide. But this time he says, "No, don't worry! Everything looks great!"

one day, when revenge is sweet and so simple

September 2083 - Hailey Monif is 38, Hazel is 14. (Berjes Monif and Bradley Guthrie are 38)

* note: Just a little quickie update for you about my Monif girls. I was just in there to give Hailey a little makeover, and all this came out, lol!

I've been snowed-in with the kid this week, and a hubby working from home, which is not very conducive to my writing. Or maybe we can blame it on Leila, she stole what little brain I had left over these past couple days and refuses to let me work on Jodie's story, or anything else at all. Though this mini-update does indirectly have to do with Jodie's story a little anyway... which I hope is coming up very soon, if Leila allows it ;) *

One day, after school, Berjes stops by to see his daughter. He swears he doesn't miss Hailey, but he misses Hazel. He misses every morning when they'd watch cartoons together, their cereal bowls full of sugar and milk. He misses helping her with her science and math homework in the evenings.

"I'm here to see Hazel," he tells his ex-wife as Hazel's school bus pulls up, as if she didn't already know that good and clear.

first, part 2

June 2083 - Ashlee Deppiesse is 43, Natalia is 13. (Charlie Roseland and Hazel Monif are 13, Fiona McCullough is 15.) Last update, February 2082.

It's probably much too soon for her mother to feel lonely. It's only been three weeks since they left. Instead, she just keeps herself busy here at the restaurant, which means Natty is kept occupied as well. It isn't that she minds spending time with her mother, if she were actually spending time with her, except that her mother is working, talking, selling, and Natty is left watching old cable reruns.

Which is better than washing dishes. Because she has that option too, her mother would say, if she wants to complain of being bored.

the truth about happily ever after, part 2

November 2082 (part 2 of 2) - Berjes and Hailey Monif are 37, Hazel is 13. (Mariah Buchanan is 24, Dakota Deppiesse is 12, Jodie Larson is 27.) Last update, December 2081. (part one here.)

Her mother leaves early in the morning for work, and Berjes knows this, which is why he comes to visit Hazel before school. She runs down the stairs to greet him, like she used to when she was little, and like she's been doing ever since he and Hailey started arguing. She was always her mother's little baby, but in recent months it's painfully obvious that she misses her daddy.

She says, "Have you still not figured that thing out yet?"

"Nope, not yet," he says.

the truth about happily ever after, part 1

November 2082 (part 1 of 2) - Berjes and Hailey Monif are 37, Hazel is 13. (Fiona McCullough is 15, Robbie is 12, Liza Hathe is 13, Angelo Shaw is 12, Isaiah Gavigan is 14.) Last update, December 2081.

She wants to fall in love again, the way she thought she and her husband did once, so long ago she can hardly even remember what kind of girl she was. She wants to fall in love like she writes about in her stories. She knows it's out there, and maybe it's not always perfect, but there are couples out there who are pained to be apart. There are couples who live and breathe to make each other happy.

She isn't too old yet. She isn't even forty. She still has her figure, only slight wrinkles at her eyes, she covers her few gray hairs quite well. She still has some spirit left in her, deep down, maybe tucked safely between her toes. She still has a small bit of hope.

2081, extras

Before we start the new year, here are some random extras, outtakes, and misfits from the year 2081.

in real life

December 2081 - Berjes and Hailey Monif are 36, Hazel is 12. (Jodie Larson is 26. Mariah Riley is 23. Hayden Phoenix is 32.) Last update, October 2079.

Maybe nobody's really happy, so maybe it doesn't matter that Berjes has screwed everything up really, really bad.

Hailey is throwing around the D-word. She says Aurora's brother is a lawyer, and could have the papers ready as soon as she wants. She's bad-mouthing him to their daughter, and she gloats at it when Hazel echoes her tone in perfection, saying, "Eeew, Dad, you are not from this planet, I swear it! Put some clothes on! Nobody wants to see your hairy back!"

Berjes would like to state that his back hair is perfectly groomed, thank you! And he says, "I see you've been talking to your mother."

2081, we don't need no education!

Hazel says, "Look, Mom, I grew boobs!"

Let's see who all grew up for this school year...

something in the water

February 2081 - Blake Miller is 35, Clarice is 34, Elliot is 3. Last update, October 2078.

Blake couldn't resist telling Clarice all about how Joel ran himself to the ground trying to make sure he and Aurora weren't having an affair. It was funny, you have to admit (though Blake suddenly gets an overwhelming suspicion as to why Joel doesn't really like him...)

Oh, but it's all in good humor! If he and Joel aren't friends, it hasn't been through any lack of effort on Blake's part. He guesses Joel is just a strange character - not really shy, but still a bit of a loner; not deadly serious, but a career military man. Maybe the only thing they even have in common is Aurora. So Blake jokes.

the science fair

October 2079 - Berjes and Hailey Monif are 34, Hazel is 10.

October starts out rough for the Monif family. Among the many things Hailey is not very good at, cooking is not her specialty either. Berjes and Hazel are just about worthless as they stand by and freak out rather than phone for help. Berjes frets for his dear wife, as she puts out the fire - what a man! LOL!

ice skates and pajama parties

February 2078, Berjes and Hailey Monif are 32, Hazel is 7.

Hazel Monif is in the second grade this year, and her friend Natalia Deppiesse is also in her class.

mediocrity, because they can't all be great

October, 2074, Berjes and Hailey are 30, Hazel is 5.

The Monif family live in an adorable little house in the Hazel Park subdivision of Lakeside Heights. Not named after their daughter Hazel, of course, but they do find it amusing.