simstationdance | Long Road Ahead: Vandermorgan, Round 1

NOTE: The first three posts for Long Road Ahead will read less like an actual story and more like gameplay because I didn't intend for it to turn into a story, but I truly can't help myself.

[ archived from the #lra: vandermorgan tag and heavily edited for readability ]

The morning after Buzz’s promotion to recruit, their next door neighbors, the Vandermorgans, invite the entire family over for some sort of meeting...

A.P.: Greetings, General Grunt, good to see you. And you too, Missy, Buzz…
Chip: Good to see you too, Mr. Vandermorgan. So, uh… what did you want to talk about?
A.P.: You don’t expect me to host a meeting on my front porch, do you, General? Come on inside! You and your family are always welcome.

As the Grunts made their way inside, Jacqueline Vandermorgan stepped out from the living room to greet them. Her face lit up upon laying eyes on Missy, her dear old friend.

Jacqueline: Missy, darling! It’s so good to see you again!! It feels like it’s been forever and no time at all.
Missy: It’s good to see you too, Jackie, but… you know we live right next to each other–
Jacqueline: Yes, I know, I’ve just been so busy with… well, everything, really. So much work to do, so many hobbies, so little time. You know how it is, don’t you?
A.P.: Yes, we’ve both been so busy, let’s not waste too much time.

Jacqueline: So, ‘Buzz,’ was it? We’ve been hearing a lot about you from Lyla… You seem like a very hardworking, dependable young man.
A.P.: Indeed! You’ve got a good spirit. That’s what I like to see in the youth of today.
Jacqueline: We think Lyla is very lucky to have somebody like you.

Buzz: Uh… well, thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Vandermorgan… I try my best.
A.P.: You two will be going to college soon, right? Any plans for your future?
Buzz: I plan on following in my father’s footsteps, to join the army and become a general.
A.P.: That’s great to hear! But, aside from that, we also wanted to ask if, perhaps, you had plans for a future with our daughter…

Buzz: Wait… huh?
A.P.: We just think you two make a great couple. One that would last.
Chip: So… are you suggesting that they… get married?
Missy & Buzz: What?
Jacqueline: A bit bold to put it so bluntly, but… yes, perhaps we are. You two seem like a good match, and you’ll both be adults soon. It’s good to think ahead, don’t you think?
Buzz: Well, sure, I guess… but…
Missy: It’s a little odd to talk about this without Lyla in the room, isn’t it?
Jacqueline: Oh, don’t worry - I was about to call her down.

Jacqueline wasted no time, calling her daughter to come downstairs immediately. Shortly after, Lyla walked in, looking just as confused as two thirds of the Grunt family…

Lyla: What’s going on?
Jacqueline: Well, we invited over that boy you like, and his family, to talk about your future together…
Lyla: …Our future? As in, me and Buzz?
Jacqueline: Yes! Don’t you want to get married someday?
Lyla: …MARRIED?!
Jacqueline: I know you must be very excited, but please don’t yell. We have guests. Come and sit down - we can talk about it together.
Lyla: …Alright.

Lyla: Buzz, Mr. and Mrs. Grunt, listen. I’m sorry if you got the wrong impression about me from my parents, but - I think we’re both a bit too young to be deciding on something like that so soon.
Jacqueline: Lyla! Think about your future!
Lyla: Mom, we went steady literally two days ago.

A.P. could sense that things were about to get ugly, so before anything else could be said, he spoke up firmly.

A.P.: Alright, well, I think Lyla will just… need more time to think about it, perhaps.
Lyla: Oh? You really think so, dad?
A.P.: Lyla. Please.

A.P.: Anyway… uh, it was a pleasure to have you, General Grunt, but I think you and your family should… leave.
Chip: Um… okay. Just to be sure, everything’s okay around here, right? We didn’t mean to cause an upset–
A.P.: Listen, it’s fine. We’ll talk more about it some other time.

Once the Grunts were gone, A.P. turned to his daughter and smiled gently.

A.P.: Lyla, I understand it must be overwhelming to think about something as daunting as marriage right now, but… we truly only want the very best for you. It’s always good to think ahead.
Lyla: Yeah sure whatever but- I’m still just a kid! I don’t want to have to think about that stuff right now!
A.P.: You are still a kid, but you’re soon to be an adult in college. Soon to be an adult with a job. Soon to be a-
Lyla: Dad. Stop.

All of this talk about college and jobs and marriage and the future threw Lyla into a bit of a personal crisis, so she decided to get her hair cut and change her style.

Ever since Missy had pointed out that Jacqueline could see her any time, since they live right next door to each other, she had felt terrible for never inviting her long-time best friend over for a visit. Today, that was going to change.

Jacqueline and Missy had known each other since high school, and they knew everything about each other…

Well, actually, there was one thing that Missy would never know.

Piano was one of the many things that Lyla’s parents had forced her to learn at a young age. Unlike a lot of the things her parents wanted her to do, playing the piano was something she actually enjoyed. And most importantly, she was very, very good at it.

Today, however, it was like she couldn’t play her way out of a cardboard box. She felt her mistakes piling up with every sour note…

Jacqueline walked into the room with a bowl of piping hot mac and cheese and a ‘disappointed but really trying not to show it’ look on her face as she glanced over to Lyla, her eyes twitching at the sound of yet another sour note from the piano.

Jacqueline: How about a break, dear? I made your favorite.

Jacqueline: So… about that whole… ‘marriage’ thing.
Lyla: Oh great, this again.
Jacqueline: Like your father said, we only want what’s best for you. Think about it this way, Lyla - he seems like a very hard-working, upstanding young man, with a great deal of loyalty and dedication to his family. Very mature for his age.
Lyla: …Alright, listen, I’m just going to come right out and say it. I don’t want to marry Buzz Grunt. Not in five years, not in ten years, not in twenty. Honestly, I don’t want to get married, period.
Jacqueline: …You say that now, but you’ll change your mind someday. I was the same way at your age.
Lyla: …And what changed your mind?
Jacqueline: Um… well… uh… Hey, you should finish your mac and cheese, sweetie. It’s going to get cold!

Lyla wakes up in the middle of the night with one thing in mind…

Sneaking out.

Careful not to wake her parents, Lyla makes it to the door and sprints over to Hoot Howell’s (definitely not stolen) car.

The next morning, Lyla has yet another ~~identity crisis~~ I mean, new look.

Jacqueline returns home from work with some… bad news.

Jacqueline, barely staving off a mental breakdown: HEY EVERYBODY! GET A LOAD OF THE WOMAN WHO JUST LOST HER JOB!

Jacqueline: …God damn it.

Jacqueline needed comfort after the honestly miserable day she’s had so far, and her husband wasn’t going to be home from work for another few hours. So, she decided to call Missy over to visit again.

Missy: You’ve been calling me over a lot lately, Jackie. What changed?
Jacqueline: Hm? Well… aside from my employment status in the last several hours, nothing changed. I just… wanted to spend more time with you.
Missy: Aww, that’s sweet of you. It really has been such a long time since we’ve just spent time together, huh?
Jacqueline: …Yeah.
Missy: …
Jacqueline: …

Jacqueline: Missy… have I ever told you how much I appreciate you? You’ve always been such a sweet, smart, determined gal, and sometimes I worry you aren’t told that enough.
Missy: Jackie, that’s sweet, but… also kind of sudden. Where did this come from?
Jacqueline: Um. Well, I just– I wanted you to know that. Because you’ve always been such a great friend.

Later that evening, Lyla’s fellow classmate and awkward tagalong Jenny Curious stopped by to have a word.

Lyla: Jenny? What brings you all the way out here?
Jenny: Well, I, uh… I was wondering if, maybe, you… uh…
Lyla: Come on, girl, spit it out.
Jenny: Would you want to uhhhh do… our homework… together? Just you and me?

Lyla: Homework? You’re really asking me to do homework, with you? That’s pretty lame. I’ve heard pickup lines way better than that.
Jenny: Oh… uh, I’m sorry. I can leave- I mean, if you want me t-
Lyla: What? I never said I wanted you to leave, Jen.
Jenny: Wait, what–
Lyla: Look, if you’re gonna ask me on some sort of date, you might as well take me somewhere.
Jenny: I– I wasn- I mean- I guess- Okay sure, let’s go!

Jenny had never gone anywhere outside of Strangetown before, whereas Lyla’s little escapades with Hoot have often led her to even stranger places. The city of Copperhead was large and a little scary, especially at night. But as long as they have each other, they probably won’t get mugged. Probably.

As soon as she caught sight of a nearby photobooth, Lyla made a beeline for it, practically dragging Jenny along by the wrist.

Lyla: Let’s get a photo together!
Jenny: I don’t know if I want to- I mean, I don’t think I’d look good in a picture…
Lyla: Aw, come on, Jen. You’ll look fine. Now get in here!

Lyla: That wasn’t so bad, was it?
Jenny: I’m never going into another photobooth again.
Lyla: Jenny! You look fine! Come look at the photos with me!

Jenny was trying to hide her face in almost every single picture, save for the last one, wherein Lyla resorted to trying to tickle her.

The girls headed to the dance floor, where they saw plenty of drunk people making fools of themselves. Thankfully, the music was just loud enough to drown out their laughter.

Lyla: Come on, Jenny, let’s show these guys what real dancing looks like.
Jenny: Wait, dance? With you?
Lyla: Yeah? Who else would you dance with? Not a lot of better options around here.
Jenny: Um… okay!

TEARINGGG IT UPPPPP

Meanwhile, back at the Vandermorgan household…

The next night, Lyla invites Buzz over to spend some time together. It was the perfect opportunity, as both of her parents were out for the evening and thus she wouldn’t have to hear any nonsense about ‘the future.’

Or, she hoped so, at least.

Buzz: So… uh, I wanted to talk about that conversation we had with your parents a few days ago…
Lyla, hiding the pain: Yeah? What about it?
Buzz: Like, say, a few years from now, if… we’re still together… would you want to…? Uh, you know, hypothetically speaking.
Lyla: Um… well… honestly? I really can’t say for sure.

Lyla: Besides, we’re too young be thinking about that kind of thing.
Buzz: You’re right. It’s just… It’s been on my mind, is all.
Lyla: Yeah? Well… it shouldn’t be.
Buzz: …Lyla, I didn’t mean–
Lyla: Shh, my favorite part’s coming up!

It appears that Once Again, God is indecisive and unsatisfied with Lyla’s previous look, so she gets to have another one.

In recent years, Lyla’s performance at school was slipping below an A+ grade. An A- was acceptable… but not perfect. And that was the real issue.

But as of today, now that Lyla’s been back on top of her homework, her report card finally had a straight line of A+’s for the first time in a long time.

Lyla: Mom! Look! All A’s!
Jacqueline: That’s wonderful, darling! Keep it up! We don’t want to see you slipping again.
Lyla, under her breath: …Okay. A simple ‘congratulations’ would’ve been nice, but that also works.

Once school was out for the day and Buzz was free, Lyla invited him out on a date. A nice, fun, pressure-free date…

oh and her outfit changed AGAIN–

Towards the end of their date, Lyla took the opportunity to take a picture at the nearest photobooth, this time with Buzz.

Lyla: Aw, look at us! We look so cute together!
Buzz: Yeah… we do.
Lyla: Kinda wish we were a little more in frame but… I’ll take it.

Buzz was surprisingly quiet as he watched Lyla marvel at their photos together, getting a bit lost in his own thoughts. He wasn’t sure how to explain this emotion he was feeling, he didn’t have the words. But he knew one thing for certain…

He really likes this girl.

Regardless of what the future has in store, he silently hoped moments like this could last forever.