2.0 Silence

     It came as a massive surprise when Marco left for college. Neither Iva of Gard was dissapointed in the desicion, but it would have been nice if he had atleast told them beforehand.
     Without anyone knowing, he'd taken a test and gotten the pretty good score of 1855 of 2400, which earned him a decent scholarship. Not that he really needed that either, his parents could just have payed for it. But they hadn't known anything.
     Marco hadn't really talked much to anyone after everything that had happened, and it didn't get better after he left. His parents would get a rare phonecall, but mostly a small text now and then.
     As far as it seemed, the boy enjoyed it there. Even if he told them he really missed his car, as there were no cars allowed in campus. It was never any mentioning of him missing anything, or anyone else.

     Even if he could afford renting a private property, Marco lived at a dormhouse. He told them he got well along with the other kids there.

     The dormmates were normal, hard- working kids that took college serious.

     He probably mets lots of interesting, new people.
 

     After all, he really could use some normal new friends.

      He studied so hard...

     And the lectures were truly fascinating!

     Iva was a bit worried about her son. He studied so hard that it was possible he would wear himself out.

       
     As he'd always liked staying in shape, he'd most likely signed up to some of the campus many ways of keeping their students active.

     And everyone knew how Marco was. He highly preffered eating healthy, and rarely drunk to much.    

     Everything that had happend would definitly had an impact on the boy, teaching him to be more careful.

    As it was a serious university, it's not like the students had access to objects they didn't know what could do. That would have been quite silly.

    They weren't quite sure if he had a girlfriend yet.

     He just had never seemed like the type....

     But maybe getting away from everything would make him think of relationships in a new way.

     After all, Marco had always been pretty good at handling women.

     And he was way to clever to just jump in the sack with the first willing girl!

     It's not like womens clothes just magically fall off whenever certain guys are around.

      But both his parents suspected that he had been quite smitten with one particular girl. Even if he didn't talk to them that often, it was certain things that was hard to keep secret.

     Well, Gard said. I'm not sure if he atually got a real girlfriend, or how serious it got. But it seemed like it.
     

     But what happened? Oriana looked at her parents, and then again that strange silence came back. For some reason she highly doubted her parents idea of what Marco had been doing in college was accurate.

     I don't know...... Iva threw her hands up, He just vanished some months ago. The school don't know anything. She gnawed her tongue a bit: Or so they claim..... She'd like to take those fucking professors and shove their heads down a toilet! That all to familiar anger threatened to boil over, and probably would have if her helpless little baby hadn't been missing.

       Oriana hadn't really talked with Marco since she told him she hated her. Well, they had talked, just really distantly. By the time she got what their parents had told her so long ago, he's already left for college. She'd never imagined him in higher education, and now he was gone? 

     What do you mean "vanished"? No way a sim could just dissapear into thin air. Unless he actually inherited some of their ancestral powers.... unlike her that was. She wished she was something special.
     Dad simply raised his shoulders, and said: He's just gone. No one knows where he is. We talked to the college, they don't know. The police have been very unhelpful. 
     There's no sign of something criminal, so they can't do anything, Iva said. For some reason adults are allowed to just dissapear! That school was a piece of crap shithole, even worse than Riverview. And so was the law! Fuck the law!!

     Well, Oriana said, did you try talking to other people? How about the ones he went to college with?
     He was just gone one day. He should have graduated by now, but the school won't even tell if he ever did! Even if he had gone missing before the final tests. They didn't even tell if he was in their system! The little they knew was because the people on the other ends tounge slipped!
     Iva was geniun worried something had happened to him. Without her husbands knowledge, she'd called the hospitals, the morgues and undertakers in the cities around the college area. But they didn't have any information about her sweet little boy either.

     It was like she didn't know her babyboy anymore. He'd changed so much after Joe was imprisoned. He'd gotten even more silent and secretive. And now they had no idea where he was. What if something had happened to him?

     Well, what about that maybe- girlfriend? She must know something! Oriana was qite proud of that one, it was a really, really, really good idea!
     We don't know who it was sweety, and neither does anyone else it seems. Iva sighed.
     One would think everyone knew everything about an outgoing guy like Marco, but once again he surprised them. He was active, and everyone knew who he was, how he looked, and that he liked sports and cars. But.... that was pretty much it.

     I'm sure he's fine, Oriana said. Maybe he's on vacation or... 
     We've tried the airports, railwayls, you name it. Nothing.... Iva interrupted her.
     He's fine, she said again. He had to be.

     Couldn't daddy do something? Oriana thought he got a tad creepier every day. Sometimes he'd look at her and give her the "all- knowing- look". She wasn't sure how much he actually knew about things though. Maybe he just had really good gut- feeling?

     You don't think he might be ...... Oriana didn't want to finish the sentence, but it was a possibility.
     Mum didn't agree though: No. She had that no- nonsense voice again. My little baby isn't dead. 
If he was dead, I would have known, she insisted. I'm his mother, and a mum always knows. Or so she hoped. She hadn't had a clue with her sisters, but when her dad died she woke up knowing.
     He's not dead, her dad said. If dad said he wasn't, he probably wasn't. Or so she hoped, irritating or not, Oriana didn't want him dead. 

     Think about it, Iva said. If your brother had been dead, someone would have found him right? And we'd been informed! Her little baby wasn't dead!
     Who informes about that anyway? Oriana didn't know anyone that had died, she thought it was the morgue.
     Mainly the police or the morgue, dad answered, but we haven't been contacted so....

     ...so as long as we haven't heard anything from them, we have to assume he's well. 
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Marco got invited to a party, and there were four women. Three of them started streaking at the same time. It could not be left out. I've barely played with college life, and it was fun trying it. He was also the only guy there, the lucky bastard.

I'm not sure if it became clear in the pictures, but it's not just weed they are using. But it was the only poses I could find.

I tried getting the last photo with a neat angle and such, but it turns out their house is equally ugly from every single angle. So the cop is supposed to stand infont of their house for the record.   

Poses by Mocha

Thanks for reading. 

1.31 Snakebite

     The water had been so still, the mist came and went again as it always did. But Rylan wasn't there, he was nowhere to be seen. He'd been there, and then he wasn't. Had he gotten up without them noticing, and just left? That was really out of character.  

     Joe started freaking out, babbling loudly about the black wind again. He felt it was to blame for Rylans dissapereance. And this time he drew a crowd, looking down their noses and pulling faces at him.
     Couldn't they just have asked him what was wrong? Why did they just stand there staring?

     Marco? Seeing his son this way was torture. I know it's tough, but Rylan will be fine.

     He'd seen that ugly hat of his floating in the water. The strangest thing for Marco was how well he remembered every little detail. How cold the water had felt after after the sun warming him up. How systematic he had searched for Rye in the water, his hands slipping on his friends wet chest. The coarse sand scratching his knees.
     You reacted really fast, and the ambulanse got there quickly, Gard said. They had sent a vehicle and a boat, just to be sure.
     You did a great job sweety. Iva chipped in, stroking her little boys hair. He will be fine, thanks to you.
    

     He already knew that. It wasn't Rye that was the problem, even if his mum refused Marco to meet him. She was a bitch anyway...
     Not that she could be blamed for it, because her son wouldn't have been exhausted if it weren't for him, and he wouldn't have gone swimming either.

     He can't help it.
     Iva kept stroking his hair, letting her nails scratch the scalp gently. That had always calmed him down, when he was a little boy: I know sweety. 

     Joe had freaked out big time, he'd heard him keep screaming about the black wind. It just got louder and louder, but the crowd had been to busy doing nothing other than stare at a dying kid with horrified excitement. Silently hoping that he wouldn't get him to breathe again, so they could share their sad stories.
     Marco vividly remembered quickly removing Ryes wet hair away from his mouth. How some strands of if had crawled into the corners of his mouth.

     Marco hadn't have time to deal with Joe, he was to busy preventing Rye dying on him.
     And all those grown- ups just stood there staring. Why didn't they do something? But someone had eventually gotten their finger out, and phoned an ambulanse. He could still remember Joes panicked whimpering, and hyperventilating breath in the background, as he kept an eye on Ryes chest.

     By the time everyone vanished, Joe was just.... gone. He was nowhere to be found. 
     He had been so stupid. Marco had phoned the only one he could think of. Joe was clearly having a fit, so a professional would be a good idea, he had thought. The obvious choice had been phoning Bianca, Sunnivas mum, because she was a cop! A cop would know what to do, and how to find him.
     Bianca was a skilled policeofficer, and had found the young boy withouth any bigger problems. But she was an elder now, and far more fragile than she once had been.

     He didn't mean anything by it! 
     We know Marco. Dad squeezed his shoulder.
     Public nuisance, resisting arrest, assaulting a policeofficer. Joe had sent the elder lady to the hospital!
     He didn't do it on purpose! He hadn't, Joe just thought she was dangerous and tried getting away.
     We know sweety, Iva said again, before continuing: He will get help now sweety, around the clock.     
     The court hadn't been completely heartless, but he was still trialed. Joe beeing crazy had made sure he would serve his sentece in psychward, and not in prison. But it still meant that he was an inmate, and now had a criminal record. A pretty serious one to. Assault wasn't a small thing, especially against a uniformed officer.

      The rest of his teenyears would be locked inside, and the start of his adulthood he'd be locked in. And they wouldn't even let him and Joe meet! It wasn't fair! How could they lock him up, when Bianca herself talked about him in an understanding way?
     Marco hadn't broken down when Rye went under, or when he went to the hospital. He hadn't cracked when Joe got arrested. He was able to keep up with schoolwork, even as the trial agains his bestmate started. But as soon as he'd learned of the sentence, it went downhill for a while.

     He'd started having trouble in school and ended up getting detention. He hated detention. There was a good reason for it too. It wasn't by chance he'd suddenly started getting good grades, he didn't want to end up locked in a room with that sick bitch again. No wonder Joe had gotten crazy!

     It's your birthday soon sweety, Iva kept stroking his hair. Don't you want to have a little get together? She was sure that would help a bit with all that was going on. But he just crawled closer to her, hugging her tight. her poor little boy was hurting, and there was so little she could do.
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     His birthday had crawled up on him. Marco wasn't sad about it, but he wasn't excited either. For now he didn't really feel a lot. He didn't feel like driving fast, running, playing football, using the jetski.... nothing really.
     Atleast he took a lot of naps, mainly since he had trouble sleeping at night.

     Rye!! Marco threw some pebbles on his friends window, whilst whisper- yelling. He had seen Ryes mother leaving the house, but wasn't sure if anyone else was at home. So he didn't take the chance of getting chased away again.

     He tried again: Rye!! Open the fucking window!! He was in there, he saw the light flickering when shadows krept around them.
     Marco climbed up there, and knocked on the window: I can see you, you dumbarse!! That made Rye open up.

     What are you doing here? Dads home, and mum can show up again! Rylan looked nervously around himself whilst Marco crawled in the window.
     I won't be long! The boy had a healthy respect for his mother. They hadn't met eachother since that day at the beach. Ryes mum had insisted on homeschooling him, so they hadn't even met at school. That bitch wouldn't even let them meet at the hospital!

     What the hell happened? You look like a total nerd!! Marco started with the most obvious thing, but atleast he'd gotten rid of that ugly hat. Now he really needed a haircut, some conditioner and hairwax.... to mention a few. 

     Mum made me do it. Said it was about time I grew up, and stopped acting like a dumbarse. Ryes mum wasn't stupid, though a bit foul mouthed.
     She hasn't seen the tattoo yet then, Marco concluded. Obvious since Rye was still standing on both his feet. But making him loose his non excistent sense of style, and rid the boys face of all the metal... that was viscious.

     They sat down in silence. Marco hadn't really thought about what to say. He just wanted to see atleast one of his bestmates before he grew up.

     So, what are you going to do with your life? Rye finally broke the silence, keeping his voice down incase someone heard.
     Marco was so sick of beeing asked that. How could he possibly be the only one that didn't know?

     Don't know. How about you mate? Marco did as he always did, started talking about something else.
     I'm not sure. It was so good hearing that! I've thought about music, but my parents says it's a shot in the dark. 
     Marco nodded, his parents made a good point. But what happened to supporting the kids in their wishes? It was a good marked for music in Jericho.
     Why not try then? Worst thing that happens is that you'll get a no. It was a pretty good thing to think about whenever doubt struck: what really is the worst thing that can happen?

     Rye seemed to take his advice into consideration, even if it wasn't necessarily a good idea. But if he hadn't been seriously thinking about it, it wouldn't matter what Marco said anyway. And if you thought about it, the guy nearly died. How could he not do what he wanted?

     You've met Joe? Marco asked Joe. His parents had always liked Rye better than him, and now they refused them meeting.
     They had told him he was a bad influence on their crazy son. Not that they had called him crazy, but it didn't matter. He wasn't an adult yet, and since he was crazy the parents had power of attorney or something like that. Didn't matter what they called it, as long as they decided everything.
     But he was a bad influence on his friend, they probably wouldn't have done half of the crazy stuff if it hadn't been for him. 

     Yeah, Rye nodded at the same time. He's a lot better than he used to be actually. But with those huge nurses they've got there I'm not surprised.
     The crazy- house usually had male nurses, and big ones at that. Joe's got a private nurse I think; a massive guy covered in tattoos that follows him around! I was worried the guy was going to eat him as a snack!!

     Totally no pretty little nurses there! Poor Joe!! Rye tried lightening the mood a bit, until he said: He might be a prison officer when I think about it. I'm not sure how those things work.
     Prison has their own psych- ward. Marco said. How blond was Rye anyway?
     Not that blond appearantly: I know, but he's at a real one, since he's young.
     It really sucked they weren't allowed to meet, but maybe he could sneak in there? The thought of massive- childsnackerman made him give up on the thought. 

     They sat quietly next to eachother, no videogames, no music and no chatting about cars or jetskies. Maybe they had run out of things to do for a change. But what do one say to someone that nearly dies because of you, or to the one that saves a life?
     Guys don't talk about it, they do stuff instead and keeps things to themselves!

     It wasn't just any usual day either, as it was Marcos last as a teenager. But Ryes bitch of a mum wasn't going to stay away forever, and he had some growing up to do.
     Happy birthday mate, Rye said. Sorry I can't go with you. It sounded like he meant it, and Marco had no intention on celebrating anyway. There was nothing to be happy about, he'd just be older.

     He really just felt like beeing alone, and found a secluded place in a park.

     Was he an adult yet?
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  No need to feel for anyone, Marco had a nice birthday. He looks pretty much the same, just taller. And a lot broader; shaved gorilla indeed! 

Gard was thrilled to grow old.

Iva didn't take it to well. I made it up to her, by giving her a cane so she can yell at people in a whole new way! Which she does on a regular basis.

Last chapter of generation one, and no one died! I'm getting good at keeping sims alive now.
I grew up in a coastal town, so I'm aware of how unrealistic it is having someone surviving a drowning, completely unscathed. I knew several people that has died that way, so I just couldn't do it to poor cap- boy.

Poses by brainstrip, simsimi, mochi and Sunny (as usual). 

Thanks for Reading

AN2: My boyfriend through 13 years broke up with me, during our first real vacation together with our child. So I find myself homeless, penniless, out of work and had to move back in with my parents. Inspiration hasn't been the biggest thing to put it mildly. I was suppose to have more poses, pictures and stuff but, again, inspiration lost.
After talking with my doctor brother-in-law, he mentioned something that was honestly shocking, and made me wonder if I'm downright insane. Anyway, the writing will probably be affected by it, but hopefully it won't be to noticable.