The Cast for Today:
The Teens: Carla and John Whittington (Sister and Brother), Zanna Fellowes, Chris Thatcher, Luke Menkins, and Elodie Wilde
The Wildes: Zachary and Lauren (Husband and wife), Lillith and Griffin Thatcher (Sister and brother)
The Thatchers: Lilith and Griffin (Sister and brother)
Author’s Note: I made a family page where you can see who is who and how they’re related. Hopefully, this helps keep the characters straight. You can find that page HERE.
When Elodie got to the country club’s teen hangout, it wasn’t anything like she expected. The lights were a little too dim, and the wallpaper didn’t exactly exude youthfulness. Stopping to wipe her sweaty palms on her skirt, she glanced around, her eyes falling on two boys she didn’t know playing foosball.
Luckily, they hadn’t noticed her arrival. This gave her a few minutes to smooth her nerves and rehearse in her head how she would say hi to everyone when she met them.
Would they like her? No matter where her family moved, Elodie never felt like she fit in with her peers. She often appeared awkward. And hadn’t she promised herself she wouldn’t try to make friends this time? It was too hard to have a friend or two, only to find out they were moving yet again.
Scooting past the boys, she saw the sign for the bathroom. Maybe if she took a few more minutes to gather herself, her anxiety would quiet down. Besides, she hadn’t seen Chris yet, and she was supposed to meet him there.
As soon as the bathroom door slid open, Elodie froze like a statue, a gasp caught in her throat.
Elodie couldn’t pull her eyes away from the couple making out, the boy’s hands on the girl’s bottom.
As her eyes moved upward, she realized the boy was Chris!
Was it too late to back out of the little bathroom? Why hadn’t she knocked first?
“Oh, excuse me!” she exclaimed, her voice cracking.
Chris instantly pulled away from the girl, his eyes like a deer’s in the headlights. The girl put a hand to her mouth, giggling.
Elodie looked from one to the other, her hands shaking.
“Ex-excuse me,” she stammered, backing out.
“Oooooh, you must be the new girl. I’m Zanna Fellowes.” Her voice was like silk, her skin perfection.
“I-I should have knocked.”
“Yes, you should have.” Zanna laughed, throwing her head back, her black glossy hair flinging over her shoulder.
Chris hadn’t changed position or expression. Zanna put her palm on his chest, a gesture of familiarity, ignoring how mortified he appeared.
“You didn’t tell me how cute she is, Chris.” The way Zanna said “cute” made Elodie want to disappear into the floor. “Well,” Zanna continued, “I’ll be in the main room listening to music with Carla.”
Elodie spun on her heel, turning her back to them. Taking quick breaths, fight or flight was taking over.
Zanna joined Carla Whittington in the main room.
The two danced as if nothing had happened.
Then she saw an exit sign over a door. As she pushed her way outside to a patio, she heard Chris calling her name but ignored him.
“Calm down, just stop it and calm down,” Elodie told herself as she bent forward, her hands on her knees. “This is ridiculous.”
She wasn’t sure if she was more upset that Chris had led her to believe he was interested in her, or whether it was worse that she’d walked in on them, doing that. Maybe it was the fact that Zanna had talked about her like she was worth nothing.
Finally, she stood straight again, letting the fresh air fill her lungs.
“You were meant to be a loner.”
“Who are you talking to?” one of the foosball boys asked.
She hadn’t heard him come outside.
“Do you always sneak up on people?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, and Elodie thought he meant it.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m having kind of a rough day.”
“Let me guess,” the boy said. “You’re the new girl Chris has been talking about non-stop and you just ran into Zanna.”
For the first time in a while, Elodie smiled. “Close enough.”
He nodded, knowingly. “Chris is the only one who likes Zanna. Actually, maybe even he doesn’t like her. Their parents run in the same circles, and Zanna and Chris have known each other since kindergarten. I guess they were destined to get together.”
Elodie grimaced and nodded along with him, her heart falling.
“So, do you have a name?”
He smiled and held his hand out. “Luke Menkins.”
Elodie shook his hand, a small smile on her lips. “I’m Elodie Wilde.”
Thatcher Lake Racket Club was founded generations ago by the first Thatcher to settle in Mayfield Springs. The country club offered a small beach, an inground swimming pool, and there were several racket ball courts along with fine dining.
Lauren Wilde knew this because, since moving to Mayfield Springs, she’d been brushing up on the town’s history. Her deepest wish in all the world was to fit in with people like the Thatchers and Fellowes families. She’d been nagging her husband since they first arrived to find a way in the budget to become country club members.
Unfortunately, it was not to be. The Wildes were in no position to put Elodie in the best private schools so she could hob-knob with people like Chris Thatcher or Zanna Fellowes. And if they couldn’t do that, they certainly could not afford the yearly fee for the country club. It was just too much.
Much to Lauren’s relief, his boss had invited her husband Zachary and her to dinner at the country club. Despite not having the extra cash, Lauren immediately went out and bought the most daring dress she could find. Tonight, she and Zach would arrive in style.
And who knew? Maybe his boss’s wife would take a liking to Lauren and invite her to the country club more often.
When Zach and Lauren arrived, she held her shoulders back and her head up high, watching how the filthy rich people around her acted. She was good at imitating, so that is what she would do. She saw a woman throw her head back and laugh, diamonds sparkling on her wrist.
Lauren threw her head back and laughed, even though Zach hadn’t said anything.
“What is wrong with you?” he growled in her direction. “Don’t ruin this for me.”
She glared at him, her eyes penetrating and hard. “I ruin this for you? Don’t you ruin this for me!”
“Whatever. Just try to act normal.”
But how could she act normally? Normal was bland when she wanted to be noticed and appreciated.
She took his arm after he gave his name. His boss hadn’t come yet, so they wandered into a large room displaying large pieces of art.
“My, who have we here?” a woman’s voice asked. Her hair was like fire, her mouth poised into a smirk. She tried to hold back a gasp when Lauren turned toward her, but Lauren heard the gasp just the same and flinched.
“Zach and Lauren Wilde,” Zach said as he shook the woman’s hand.
The woman’s smirk became more pronounced as Zach pumped her arm.
Lauren lightly hit Zach’s arm and hissed into his ear, “Stop that!”
He immediately backed up as a man joined them.
“Wilde….Wilde… why do I know that name?” the woman asked.
The men shook hands.
“Lilith and Griffin Thatcher,” the man said, nodding at Zach, who knew him.
“Oh, yes, of course,” Lilith said. “You’re renting the little cottage house from us.”
“Uh, y-yes,” Lauren answered.
“I see you’re wearing Éminence.”
Lauren grinned from ear to ear. Finally, someone could appreciate her good taste in designer clothing.
“I didn’t think anyone wore Éminence anymore. I much prefer designers with more finesse. For instance, I’m wearing Vogue par Pompon. He creates a modest type of elegance, don’t you think?”
Lauren gulped back tears as she nodded. Suddenly, she felt naked, and for all the wrong reasons. “Y-yes, you are so right. I don’t know what possessed me to wear this crazy dress.”
The men were staring at an enormous statue called The Last Plumbob.
“I don’t get it,” Zach said. “Looks like a three-year-old made it.”
Griffin laughed a little, stealing glances at Lauren in her va-va-voom dress.
“Alas, art is not my forte,” Griffin said.
“How are you finding the house?”
“Oh, we like it just fine,” Zach said. “I think our daughter Elodie is at the teen club this evening with your son.”
Griffin raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? He told me he was picking up his girlfriend. She’s a lovely girl who we’ve known all her life. Zanna is the type of girl Chris needs. Do you understand?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Zach had gotten the message loud and clear. Griffin Thatcher did not want his son dating the likes of Elodie. He was sure whoever this Zanna was that Chris was dating, her parents were just as wealthy as the Thatchers.
“Good.”
“So, do you plan on staying in Mayfield Springs?” Lilith asked.
Lauren nodded emphatically. “Oh, yes, we really like it here.”
Perhaps, even though Lauren had chosen the wrong designer dress, Lilith would ask her to come to their house for a visit. Lauren crossed her fingers behind her back.
“Well, we must head upstairs. Griffin is giving a speech, which I’m certain will be a dreary affair.”
Lauren watched with teary eyes as her chance at moving up in the world took Griffin’s arm and headed to the private elevator.
“Can you believe that awful dress Lauren Wilde was wearing?” Lilith asked as she and her brother gazed over the relics from Egypt.
As patrons of the arts in Mayfield Springs, it was up to them to present the artifacts to their fair city. Tonight would be as dull as it got. Speech after speech until her brother finally gave his talk. Then they would dine on artisan cheese and charcuterie plates, which would annoy her even more.
“I didn’t think her dress was awful.”
“You wouldn’t,” she said with a sharp eye. “Men like a more modestly dressed woman.”
“Do we, though?”
“You’re impossible. Your tongue was practically hanging out when you saw her. Men are just dogs, it would seem.”
He rolled his eyes as he patted his dinner jacket, searching for the notes for his speech.
“Are you nervous? You shouldn’t be after all the speeches you’ve given.”
“Dad was so much better at this sort of thing. I wish he was still with us.”
Their father had died two years before. He’d been an iron-willed giant as far as Griffin was concerned. Now Lilith was trying to fit the role.
“I hope that scantily clad thing doesn’t find her way up here.”
“I kind of hope she does. Then no one would listen to my speech at all. The women would all be angry and the men would… well, they would just be dogs, is that about right?”
They wandered around the room, taking in the beautiful artistry their museum was fortunate enough to acquire.
“I heard what you were talking about downstairs with Zach Wilde.”
“So you know he seems to have a crush on the Wilde girl?”
Lilith nodded. “We must come up with a way that makes it impossible for Chris to date that girl from that horrible family.”
“You’re such a snob,” Griffin said, the corner of his mouth raising up into a smirk.
“So, what? It’s for the best. Chris and Zanna have our approval. Zanna understands what it is to be at the top. Let’s keep Elodie at the bottom, shall we?”
Special thanks to Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) for editing this story and making the poses used in this chapter: Convo/Emotion Poses – Set 2, First, Second, Third Base – Teens, and Emotions – Adult.
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting!
Other Credits:
Sims: Sonya Rose (Elodie Wilde) by Bee
World: Mayfield Springs
Lots: Evansdale County Renovations 2 (The Kellers), Evansdale County Renovation 3 (The Menkins), Gracious Green (The Fellowes), Red Oak Lane (The Wildes), Villa Elisa (The Thatchers), Ranch House from Alpine County (The Whittingtons), Hospital for Storytelling
Sorry I’m so late. Again, I just couldn’t figure out a comment, even though I did read it. Of course, know I’m reading as always! And I’m very much enjoying the third person narration from you. It’s so interesting to see how it differs to the voice you take on when narrating as your characters in the diaries.
She should have knocked? And maybe you should have locked the door? Or maybe I don’t know, not making out in a public bathroom making people uncomfortable? I couldn’t figure out if it’s this type of bathroom where there’s just one room with both the faucet and the toilet or they’re in the space you only wash your hands and the cabins are separate, but still. If they are, I’d say it’s pretty uncommon to knock on the bathroom door when you’re coming in from the corridor. It’s either locked or it’s a public space people would be waiting in. I don’t know why I wrote the whole paragraph on how bathrooms work, LOL. But her response rubbed me the wrong way. She is there standing awkwardly, walking in on them making out in the public space and Zanna has the audacity to scold her for this, like what?
And of course, I’m sorry for the Chris betrayal. Poor Elodie. I guess Luke is a new potential romantic interest. Will we be seeing Elodie in a love triangle?
I thought Lauren’s dress was an… interesting choice. But at first, I assumed maybe it’s really the kind of things people wear. But oh my, she really made a big faux pas right there. To be honest, Lilith’s dress is pretty revealing as well, not in comparison to what Lauren’s wearing, but still, she has bare arms and her whole back is bare. What’s that modest about it? I don’t think it’s that impressive as she’s making it out to be, too. It looks kind of as if someone has sewn a boho belt to an elegant gown. And what’s with the black chunk of material? Of course, it could be my lack of understanding of high-class fashion, LOL.
Oh, the romance with a guy of higher-class. It’s always enjoyable to find youth disobeying some stuck-up parents. And I sure don’t like the Zanna girl and according to what Chris’s saying, I’m not alone in this. It will be interesting to see where the story goes between these two.
I know. It’s totally ridiculous that they were making out in a public restroom. And then they blamed Elodie for walking in on them. lol That bathroom happens to be one toilet and a sink. I’m glad her response rubbed you the wrong way, as it was supposed to. Was that rude of me? LOL Zanna is so rotten, but she’s fun for me, too.
The whole Chris thing really blew up in Elodie’s face, unfortunately. Luke might be a lovew interest at some point, but Elodie has some stuff to work on. You’ll understand when you read Chapter 4.
Lilith’s dress is totally not modest, at least not as modest as she makes out. And that block of black material seems out of place to me, too. I was hoping someone would notice how hypocritical Lilith is.
I hope you enjoy where the story goes from here.:D
I love how the story is coming along. Lilith is a bitch and she seems like the jealous type.
You are really a very good writer!
Thank you so much, Miss Latoya. You are so very kind. And I totally agree about Lilith. lol
Oh, this family is an utter mess. I’d hate to date or get married into that.
That’s so true. I would hate that, too, for sure.
Ouch, the snobs!
Reminded me a bit of Crazy Rich Asians.
Thank you, Jina. I’ve never seen that movie, but it’s on “the list.’ LOL 😀
With all that snobbery and judgement, who wants to mingle at the top? Lilith and Griffin are awful. I sure hope they get knocked down a peg or two by the end of this saga, lols.
Thanks for sharing another fun episode with us, Kymber! Have a wonderful week. Hugs 💕🙂
Thank you, Harmony! Wouldn’t it be nice to see them get knocked down a peg or six? LOL I’m so glad you enjoyed this episode. I hope you have a wonderful week, too. Hugs xoxo
Oof Griffin and Lilith are awful!! The way they talk down to people like they’re the only ones worth anything and everyone else is just there as window dressing. As much as they think they can manuever Chris into an alliance with Zanna they really can’t or they shouldn’t but they don’t seem the type to care about his happiness. Although Chris seems to be the type to just do as he’s told from the way he acted at the youth club. I hope Elodie doesn’t give him a second glance. Luke seems nice though.
You’re so right about Griffin and Lilith. They definitely show how narcissistic they are. I wonder how Chris is going to turn out. Like you said, they may not be able to maneuver him like they think. They certainly seem more worried about their family image than what might actually make him happy. I see conflict in the future! lol Luke is so sweet in game. 🙂 At least he was nice to Elodie.
Oh, poor Elodie! Already struggling with social awkwardness and then Chris’s family comes in planning to make her life 10x more difficult because they think her parents are nothing. What horrible snobs.
Thank you, Lila. Let’s hope there is something redeeming about Griffin and Lilith, although, I can’t see what that is at the moment. LOL Hopefully, Elodie will overcome these obstacles.
Lilith and Griffin are such pretentious snobs. It’s too bad Lauren is feels such a need to impress them. And it seems that maybe Elodie has found a worthy friend. A fun read, Kymber. I love all the drama. 🙂 Happy Writing!
Thank you so much, Diana. You’re so right about Lilith and Griffin. They’re just awful. lol You just might be right, too, about Elodie. 🙂 I’m glad you had fun reading this. I can’t wait to delve in further. Happy writing to you, too! xo
So sad. Social awkwardness is one of the most painful feelings. I kinda want the Wildes to just say screw it, and get on with enjoying their lives and the people who really are worth knowing.
Thank you, Cathy. I agree with you on that. I think they would definitely be happier if they did that.