Chapter 12: Birthday Bash

As an early birthday present to herself, CeeCee splurges and renovates her house.

As you can see, she now has a whole new room – it's her studio. Her instruments are all there as well as her treadmill, so now she won't have to bother anyone in the living room with the whirling thumpathumpa of her workout.

She also finally caved and bought a TV; she knows full well that her boyfriend is a lazy one and sometimes just likes to come over and crash on the sofa. Finally, she also updated all her home essentials, from a comfier bed to a more reliable tub and fridge!

On the day of her birthday, CeeCee decides to throw herself a big birthday party. She never had one as a child, and she feels like she deserves it! Besides, she has something else special in mind as well...

She whips herself up a yummy birthday cake...

...and calls over all her friends. She even invites Cedric's wife, Anna so she can get to know her.

Before cutting the cake, CeeCee finally executes her plan. While everyone is gathered around the table, CeeCee gets down on one knee.

“Sri Parott. Although we may not have known each other a long time, I feel as though our musical souls sought each other out long before we met. Will you marry me?”

Sri accepts and they share a loving kiss.

Then it's time for CeeCee to blow out her candles.

Finally, the moment everyone (else) has been waiting for. Dig in!

The party was a real success and everyone had a blast. CeeCee was glad to have her friends and family united on this special day. CeeCee accompanies everyone to the door on their way out, but stops Sri before he leaves.

“I don't see why you should go home now that we're to be married … why not move in?”

Two big events in one day, CeeCee is on a roll! Sri agrees that it makes sense – besides, they're hardly the traditional type, as their botched date-before-intimacy prelude revealed. 

As a last step to this momentous day, CeeCee gets a makeover! She feels that her rebellious artist days are behind her and she's ready to embrace her mature artistic soul. She's as accomplished as she ever hoped she would be and she no longer feels like she has anything to prove to anyone. Who knows, maybe now she'll even be able to make peace with her mother.

Chapter 11: Family Day

On her next day off, CeeCee visits her family. It's been a while since she's seen them and a lot has happened. First off, Reid and Candice have aged up. Apparently they had a big party but no one thought to invite CeeCee. Candice cooks up a delicious meal and they all sit down for some nice lunch.

“Cristina told me she moved out, finally,” CeeCee says. She doesn't add that Cristina is the only one who tells her anything.

“Yeah, with her boyfriend,” Cedric smirks.

“Cristina said they're just roommates.” Cassandra rolls her eyes at her immature younger brother. Apparently this isn't the first time she's heard this. “Besides, she told me that Daendre is in love with someone else.”

“Oh?” CeeCee looks up from her plate. “He's never said anything to me. Do you know who she is?”

Cassandra shakes her head. “No, apparently he won't say. Not even to Cristina.”

“Well, she better not hurt him. Any girl would be lucky to have him, he's a great guy.”

“What about you, do you have a great guy in your life?” Candice asks CeeCee. CeeCee internally seethes inside. It sounds like an innocent query but CeeCee knows her mother better than that – it's a loaded question.

“Actually, I have met someone, if you must know. His name is Sri and he loves music just like me.”

Candice smiles tightly. “How nice. Reid, did you pick up the new fertilizer like I asked?”

CeeCee catches Cassandra's eye and they share a smile.

“How about a game of chess after lunch, CeeCee? We still have the table we couldn't pry you away from when you were young.” Reid chuckles at the memory.

CeeCee groans. “I haven't played in years!”

The table is cleared and CeeCee and Reid get ready to play. Cassandra steps in before Reid can sit down. “Actually, CeeCee, I have a confession I need to make first. I've also met someone.”

“That's great, Cassandra! I'm so happy for you.”

“Actually, we're already living together ... and married ... and we have a son.”

CeeCee can only stare at her sister, her smile frozen on her face.

“What? And you didn't tell me all of this!”

Cassandra sighs. “I know you've been so busy and you're barely around. Besides, we didn't have a ceremony. It just sort of happened overnight.”

“You met someone, married and had a child overnight, as if by magic then?” CeeCee scoffs. “Whatever.”

“I'm sorry, CeeCee. But I would love it if you stopped by and got to know my family.”

CeeCee's suddenly not in the mood to play chess anymore and goes to fume on the bench. Cedric joins her.

“I can't believe her”! CeeCee rages to Cedric. “No one in this family tells me anything!”

“If it's any consolation, Cassandra didn't really tell any of us until it happened.”

“Next thing you'll be telling me you've had triplets!”

“Well, actually...”

CeeCee's head snaps to Cedric. “Don't tell me...”

Cedric laughs. “No, no. But I am engaged. Anna May, Daedre's sister, actually. That's how Cristina and Daedre became friends. Do you think Daedre's actually in love with Cristina but won't say because he thinks she'll never want to get married or have children?”

“Daedre and Cristina?” CeeCee almost laughs at the thought but then thinks about it. They are very good friends and they used to go out all the time before CeeCee joined the group, and now they're living together... she never got that impression, but still, CeeCee knows she is lost in her music most of the time. “I don't know...”

There's a silence. “Are you okay?”

CeeCee smiles and looks away. “Yes, of course ... I'm fine. I'm fine.”

**

CeeCee heads to the library later that day. She's a need to research some workout tips for a while now, but she doesn't have a computer at home – it would distract her from her music too much - and so has been putting it off.

I think guys have a tendency to swarm CeeCee ... I wonder if it's Sims 4 programming because girls rarely intrude on the conversation like guys do, haha.

Anyway, CeeCee's a taken girl now, but it doesn't mean she can't keep her options open. It does seem like she's caught the only music lover in Willow Creek, though. CeeCee already knows Addison but she meets Alonso Barday who just seems like too much to handle (active, hot-headed and a goofball does not strike CeeCee as the perfect combination in a boyfriend) and Simon deChato who is a cutie but turns out to be married – to Cassandra Goth nonetheless, yikes! CeeCee's not going near that without a 10-foot pole.

In the end, CeeCee decides to stop at Cassandra's new house. It's on the way and not far from where she lives – right across the road actually.

Hello James Red! He seems nice enough, but he better be to make up for the fact that he's a Slob and a Glutton. CeeCee hopes Cassandra didn't just pick him because he's active like she is.

CeeCee finally gets to meet her nephew! It turns out that he's an Arrogant little thing, but he's just as surprised to find out he has an aunt that CeeCee is to find out she is one.

After meeting her family, CeeCee and Casandra have a chat in the kitchen.

“I'm sorry I didn't tell you.”

“It's okay, I know I've been absent since I've left home.” CeeCee sighs. “I'm just so happy for you. You have a nice little family.”

Cassandra smiles. “Thank you. I am happy. Friends?”

CeeCee laughs. “Of course. Always.”

(autonomous hugs are the best. I actually missed it when they hugged the first time so I had to make them hug again, but it should still count! haha)

Seeing Cassandra and her family makes CeeCee realize how much she wants someone in her life. Maybe not a child just yet, but she does want someone with whom she can share her interests and who will push her in her professional ambitions because he believes in what she's doing. She smiles, thrilled to have found Sri. She knows now she was right to accept him.

Chapter 10: Musical Chemistry

Now that CeeCee's had a taste of the nightlife she's been missing out on, she can't get enough! CeeCee, Cristina and Daendre become closeknit Geeky friends who love to party!

Tonight's another night out. CeeCee seems to be living on cafeine now. She'll gulp down a cup or two after work when Daendre and Cristina come over and then they head out.

Tonight they head to the lounge. “This place is a real senior hotspot,” CeeCee yells to Cristina. “I think we need drinks to survive this.”

Across the bar, the only other guy under the age of 60 smiles at her. He introduces himself as Eric Lewis, a Materialistic Glutton. He's so Self-Assured that he tells CeeCee all this within the first 30 seconds of knowing her, yelling it across the bar while she waits for her drink. CeeCee smiles at him painfully and dashes off as fast she can – thank goodness she has the excuse of giving Cassandra her drink to leave the bar.

The only other option is Conor Castaneda. He's a Loner who Hates Children. When he ages up, CeeCee thinks he'd be more suited for Cristina.

CeeCee heads home that night with a low morale. She's having fun with her friends, yes ... but does her music lover cuttie not exist after all?!

**

The last place CeeCee has yet to visit is the Blue Velvet Nightclub. The trio decides to check it out the next evening. They get there early before the place is too full. Cristina gets stolen away by two guys vying for her attention so CeeCee and Daendre find a spot for themselves.

“I don't think Mr. Right exists for me,” CeeCee says with a sigh.

Daendre smiles. “I'm sure you'll find the right person eventually. Maybe you already know him but you don't even know it yet.”

CeeCee smiles. “You're so sweet. I hope I know it soon though.”

There's a piano at the lounge and CeeCee plunks away at it for a little while. Daendre gives her a tip and a few other people follow his example. What a good friend!

CeeCee is sitting alone thinking maybe she'll just call it an early night when a cute guy wanders over. “Hi, my name is Sri. I just wanted to say I loved your playing. I'm a huge music lover and --”

Hold on, wait – what? You love music? Please, do sit!

They spend the night discussing their favorite bands, new albums they're crazy about and the wonders of all the different instruments. CeeCee also discovers that Sri is Lazy, but his taste in music and the fact that he's a Cheerful person makes up for that.

Sri goes home for the night unfortunately, but he takes CeeCee's number and promises to call

**

And call he does! It's nice to see that the men in the Sims 4 are so reliable x)

“Would you like to go on a date with me?” Well, at least he's straightforward.

CeeCee agrees readily, even though she has work in a few hours. Well, one can get a lot done in four hours.

They go to the bar, but maybe CeeCee misunderstood the word “date” ... he won't even sit beside her!

The date is uneventful and not that successful – actually, the date bare disappeared randomly about 10sim-minutes in. But Sri still accepts CeeCee's invitation to come in for a cup of coffee.

While waiting for the java to brew, CeeCee confesses her attraction to Sri. He ... does not seem so pleased.

Thankfully CeeCee has been practicing her charisma and pulls off a smooth recover. “I mean ... the thing is ... that's not ... you're ... well...You're just such a great person.”

Smooth recovery was smooth! And it turns out Sri was just surprised by CeeCee's advances, not turned off. Yes, that was his surprised face. He leans in closer and things get more intimate.

Much more intimate

CeeCee had to run off to work after that, but not before Sri asks her to be his girlfriend. CeeCee hesitates. It's on the tip of her tongue to say no, but she swallows back the word and smiles. “Yes, of course. I'd love to be your girlfriend!”

Has CeeCee really found love? Or is she just rushing into something she thinks she wants? Stay tuned to find out :)

Chapter 09: Operation Broken Heart

Life goes on despite broken hearts. Thankfully CeeCee loves her job and throws herself into her music once more, but this time to forget about her sorrows.

Then, one day, her agent calls her in to her office. “You're talented and people love you” he says, praising her album sales, “but you're not getting any younger and the crowd loves a romance story.”

The message is clear: find a man, get married, have children. ASAP.

“What do I do?” CeeCee asks Cristina that evening. Cristina has been coming over almost every day (sometimes 3 times a day, wow that's dedication) to help CeeCee through her tough times. The two sisters have really grown closer.

“I do want to find love, but I want it to be love not a business arrangement.” Nothing interests Cristina less than marriage (marriage usually means children and, well, we all know how Cristina feels about those) but her sister's sorrow pains her.

“A friend and I were going to go out tonight, why don't you join us?” Cristina knows her sister has never enjoyed the night life, she's been too wrapped up in her music ever since she moved out on her own, and she never had a proper teenagehood (yes, that's a word now).

Cristina agrees, but reluctantly. “I can't get home too late, I have work tomorrow.”

Cristina calls her friend so he can meet CeeCee before they go out.

“Daendre, my sister CeeCee. CeeCee, Daendre.”

They head out to the bar. It's still early but the place is already bustling with people. “Wow, what a cool place. I've played for tips here before, but I've never been here at night.”

Unfortunately, there are about 100 girls for 2 guys in the place, so CeeCee doesn't have much luck on that front.

She meets Addison Miles. They've talked before when he tipped her at the museum, but never got to know each other very well. CeeCee finds out that he's a Perfectionist, Clumsy and Arrogant. Not what she's looking for in a guy, sorry Addison!

Well, that's about it on that front. No other guy catches CeeCee's eye and no one else shows up. She gets to knows Daendre pretty well though. Here they are moving to the music

They have a lot in common – Daendre's a Geek like her. Unfortunately he's also a Romantic and a Bro; he's no musical or creative spirit and CeeCee can't imagine spending th rest of her life with someone who doesn't share those interests. Daendre is regretfully but definitively friend-zoned.

After the dance, CeeCee brings out her guitar and plays jams for a little while. She gets a few tips too.

CeeCee heads home after that. The night wasn't a success in terms that she didn't meet anyone romantically, but she's made a new friend and that counts for something. She tops her night off with a yummy slice of cake and heads off to bed. Whatever may come, at least she knows she can face it with a lighter heart now.

Chapter 08: First Date

Although her head is filled with Carter now, CeeCee hasn't forgotten about her professional ambitions. She starts every morning with a good workout and some piano.

And it all pays off – CeeCee has reached the top of the Entertainer Career and she's not even a full-fledged adult yet! Look at the cool Rock Legend Signed she got as a reward x)

CeeCee heads to some community lots the very next day to play her new guitar for the first time. Unfortunately she doesn't get much success at the bar....

or at the gym...

She gets more success at the museum. But by then it's almost noon. I guess we just headed out a bit too early!

Chatting with her tippers

After hanging out with her fans, CeeCee spots Carter and decides to head over to say hello. She's barely had time to ask him if he'd like to come over when he asks her out on a date! Of course she says yes right away. She rushes home to change.

Carter takes CeeCee to the park first. CeeCee feels uncomfortably overdressed, but Carter insists she looks lovely. They take a seat. At first the small talk is rather awkward and nervewracking, they haven't seen each other since their kiss, but soon little hearts start floating over their head so I think things are going pretty well.

CeeCee is right about to turn the flirting up a notch when Carter stands up. Is he going to take CeeCee somewhere more romantic? A nice fancy restaurant? A romantic and secluded refuge?

No, he's just aging up. CeeCee is now on a date with an old man.

How awkward. Carter keeps on chatting like normal but CeeCee is devastated. She doesn't beat around the bush though. She breaks things off. “I don't want my husband to die before I'm even a proper adult.” She's only halfway through her Young Adult stage, for crying out loud!

“We can still be friends.”

Too soon, I think, CeeCee...

Well, I take it the date is over. I didn't even get a medal. Boo :(

I was going to head CeeCee home after this (she was rather sad I think she could have used a good cry) but she was already talking to other sims. I think this is her telling Hughes of “that one time I went on a date with a guy who turned out to be three times my age...”

Poor Carter :(

In other news, Hughes has got to be the tallest child in the game – that's right, he's as tall as CeeCee but he only had one trait to discover! Good thing I looked at that. The romance options were available too. How creepy o_o

Well this is the end of this chapter. Poor CeeCee's first date ended in heartbreak. How will she go on from this? Will she let her brokenheart get the best of her and throw in the towel and lose herself in her music? Or will she give love another shot and seek out Mr. Right V.2?

Chapter 07: First Love?

It's her day off and CeeCee decides to visit her family. I'm really sad that S4 has no Story Progression because the house is exactly as when CeeCee & I left. I mean, Candice has literally spent the last 14 days or so in her pjs... maybe she's just depressed that her youngest has flown the coop.

Anyway, if she really is depressed about it, it doesn't show. She jumps right in on CeeCee's case – and boy, she's still as angry as the day CeeCee left! “Do you not have a man by now? I had three children by the time I was your age! And what kind of outfit is that? Your stomach is spilling right out of it. It's vulgar and unlady like! Why girls these days have too much liberties. They should be kept at home and taught useful skills instead of blahblahblah”

And on she goes. But CeeCee probably got her attitude from her and doesn't take it lying down. She takes it sitting down and then flings it right back.

Before heading home, CeeCee hits the gym. But it's not because of what her mother said, of course. She'd been planning on going all along.

**

Some early morning practice in her lingerie before breakfast. Hey, whatever'll get those inspiration sparks flying, right?

CeeCee invites Cristina over for lunch. It's been so long CeeCee feels like she has to get to know her sister all over again. She learns that Cristina has aged up now and she's a Geek like her!

CeeCee spends the rest of the day practicing the piano and writing many little jingles that no company wants to buy. It's a tough market out there.

The next day she invites Carter over and invites him in, ah, er ... wearing her lingerie... seriously CeeCee? Talk about a strong come on

CeeCee doesn't dress to invite Carter over but she dresses to blow him a kiss ... well, at least she's different. Men like that, right?

You need to level up in your sexy posing-ness, CeeCee. You just look like you have to pee.

Sim romancing is just so strange. First the pee seducing pose and now the lunge attack that we're supposed to call a kiss ... well, Carter doesn't seem to mind too much so at least that's that.

Carter leaves short after their first kiss. Hopefully we'll find out how serious things are between them soon :)

(in the meantime, CeeCee was feeling inspired and decided to bake a cake for the first time. Hope it turns out yummy

)