Welcome to a Night's Tale, generation two, part one!

Last time, we saw generation two escape from the aliens and a speech on heirship from Jack Night.

Also, this chapter might be awful. I really struggled with writing it, and trying to think of a plot, and then I lost a ton of pictures, so if it's jumpy, I'm sorry. I promise that the next chapter will be better. :)

Anyway. Moving on -->

Jack and Meadow stood at the end of their new patio, observing the builders working on the house. It looked a lot different from the house Meadow and Jack had raised their children in, but elements of it were the same.

Meadow looked up at the building and frowned.

“Is that a stage on the back of our house?” Meadow questioned, holding her smile in place.

“Yeah,” Jack nodded, “Spiral was designing the house and Shelby-”

“Shelby designed our house?”

“-had recently visited Veronaville. She thought a stage seemed like a unique addition to any house, while Spiral thought it would be great to make family speeches on.”

“Family speeches?” Meadow blinked, confused, before glaring at the stage again.

“You know the talk we delivered on heirship? Spiral was very keen to make that a tradition, hence why he feels we need a stage.”

Meadow turned to Jack and sighed, “Is Spiral still keen on Shelby?”

“Why don't you like them dating, Meadow?”

“She's his first girlfriend,” Meadow shrugged, “I have nothing against Spiral, I just think he can find someone he...fits better with.”

“I know what you mean. There's weak chemistry between Spiral and Shelby. He needs someone he's madly in love with.”

“Exactly.”

“But Meadow, we have to leave him to it, you know that, right?”

“I do, I do.”

“What's wrong with Mr and Mrs Night? Do they not like the house?”

“I'm not sure...” The female builder glanced over to them, worriedly, “I hope the house is all right, we've rebuilt the balcony three times!”

“I'll send someone to check everything is okay.”

“How about we go check out the view from the balcony?” Jack asked, as a builder wandered over.

“Everything okay with the house?”

“It's brilliant!” Jack replied, cheerfully. Meadow nodded in agreement, still unsure over the stage.

“Spiral's going to love this!” Jack decided. Meadow couldn't help but grin.

“In that case, this whole project is worthwhile.”

“Stella!” Merc called, pulling his younger sister into a hug, “How have you been?”

“Not so bad.” Stella replied, truthfully, a hesitation in her voice that suggested something had happened to her, and she wanted to talk about it.

“Sounds like you have some news.” Mercury smiled, encouragingly. Stella nodded and began to recall some earlier events.

Charles Okuma was a perfectly ordinary man when he had wandered into the same shop as Stella Night the day they first met.

He was no different to any other guy, any other townie, but somehow, things were never quite the same after he had met Stella.

First of all, she had started an inappropriate conversation with him, with no introductions or warnings.

Charles gradually became intrigued by the young lady, and they began to spend some more time together.

It quickly became apparent that Stella liked him, in ways more than friendship. It surprised him when she brought the subject up of a date, because Charles was pretty sure he was supposed to ask.

He agreed anyway, because he didn't want to turn her down. Not for all the money in the world.

Stella, however, wasn't so keen and didn't call him back.

While Stella was telling Merc all about Charles Okuma, Spiral, meanwhile, was admiring the view from his dorm room.

Bim Lawson looked over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow at the alien who was clearly interested in her.

“Hey, I'm Spiral Night. You've probably heard of me, right?” Spiral grinned, “My family just founded a Greek House on campus.”

“Oh, look who thinks he can impress a girl with that 'I'm an heir' line!” Bim laughed, “I know who you are, Spiral. I know your girlfriend, Shelby.”

Spiral blinked, remembering Shelby mention something about being able to get into university, “Oh...well that makes things awkward.”

“Relax, I'm not about to tell her.” Bim replied. Spiral smiled a little.

“Why? You don't know me well enough to cover my tracks for me,” Spiral paused for a moment, “besides, she is definitely faithful to me. This would break her heart.”

Bim frowned a little at these words, “Yeah...look, we can be friends right? Just friends.”

“I'm going to hold you to that...sorry, I don't know your name...”

“Bim Lawson.”

“Then it's a pleasure to meet you, Bim Lawson.”

“Same to you.” Bim nodded, and gently rested a hand on her door, ready to leave the loud common room behind. Spiral waved lazily, and took off in the direction of his own dorm room.

“If only he knew.” Bim murmured, watching him leave, her thoughts on Shelby. Without another word, she disappeared into her own dorm.

Weeks began to pass, eventually leading to Stella and Spiral joining the family Greek House. It was a fun place, despite its lacking décor, of dancing and parties.

“Check it out, Merc, I'm doing the robot!”

Spiral only had one thing on his mind though, and it often stopped him from joining the party.

“The person you have dialled cannot reach the phone right now, please leave a message after the tone.”

“Hey, Shelb, it's me. Look, we've both been at uni a while now, and I haven't see you...I miss you...”

“Perhaps we could meet up and go for dinner next week? Call me. I love you.”

“The number you have dialled cannot reach the phone right now, please leave a message after the tone.”

“Hey, Shelby. It's Spiral. You never called me back about dinner last week...how are things?”

“I know we're all busy with work and stuff, but it's no excuse. I really miss you...Shelby? Alright...you're not there...call me soon, okay? I love you...”

“Shelby, your phone is going AGAIN, who is calling you?!” Nawwaf demanded.

Shelby smiled slightly, “It's some guy I used to date in high school. No big deal.”

“A clingy ex, right? They're the worst.”

“It doesn't matter. Forget about my phone.”

“Shelby, it's me...you probably guessed that...look, I really want to talk to you...or just hear from you...are you even getting my messages? Come on over to the house at some point, I can't wait to see you. I love you. Bye.”

Spiral threw the phone down on the seat next to him, and looked up, irritated, confused and upset.

“Why does she never answer her phone? Why does she never call me back?” Spiral demanded, receiving no answer.

A few days passed, and Bim dropped by to see Spiral's siblings, just before Cara was due to join the Greek House.

Bim had just finished explaining how Shelby was cheating on Spiral, and why she wasn't answering her phone, “So what do you think?”

“I think my brother is an idiot and needs a real girlfriend.” Stella replied, fiercely.

“I've known Shelby since I was little...this isn't really like her...” Mercury commented, “Do we tell Spiral?”

“Yes, we do,” Stella said, firmly, “It's just a question of how.”

“We have to do it gently,” Mercury decided, “This whole thing isn't fair on him at all.”

“I know, I know,” Stella sighed, “Bim, would you like to do it?”

“What? Why me?”

“You two are really close!” Stella cried, grinning, “Besides, I'm going out with Charles tonight. I don't have the time.”

Mercury coughed, “I, too, have a date tonight.”

He promptly blushed, and the conversation turned its attention onto him.

“Who's the lucky girl, then?” Stella grinned. Mercury's blush deepened.

“Heather Huffington. We met at a club last week.”

“Ah...” Stella's grin widened.

“Says you. You're dating that guy...Someone Phoenix?”

“Jimmy Phoenix. He's really nice!” Stella responded, defensively.

“So nice that you won't help our little brother realise his girlfriend's cheating on him?” Merc asked, smiling.

“Hey, you're too busy with your girlfriend!”

Bim cleared her throat, “I'll tell him. I just don't know when.”

After that conversation, the three of them cleared out as Cara moved in. She ended up living in the dorms until the almost-end of her sophomore year. Oops, my mistake?

“What's up with you, Spiral? You're taking your time eating that sandwich...”

“Have you ever had a partner who won't answer your phone calls?”

“Spiral, I've never had a partner...is this about Shelby?”

“How did you guess?” Spiral laughed, “Ah well, it's my problem to deal with. How come you haven't been dating the days away like Mercury and Stella?”

Cara shrugged, “People here see me as the cutesy baby sister of the bold legacy kids. The girl in pink.”

“So try the matchmaker? She's usually pretty reliable.”

“She has to be for the prices she charges...”

Despite the doubts that surrounded the matchmaker, Cara considered it, and decided to give blind-dates a shot.

So Cara made an appointment with the local matchmaker.“My brother recommended you,” Cara smiled, “I want to find true love.”

“How much cash have you got handy?”

“Enough.”

“Then I might be able to show some interest in your case! Prepare to meet the love of your life!”

“Um, matchmaker...do people usually get this close on a first date?”

“They do if alcohol is involved!”

“But...”

“No refunds.”

“Your hair smells nice, what shampoo do you use?”

Despite their strange introduction, Cara and Kennedy actually got on pretty well. He was definitely on the list for being invited back to the Greek House.

After that, it seemed love was in the air for the Greek House.

Well, except for Spiral...

Mercury and Heather turned out to be a surprisingly strong couple, despite the fact Heather rolled wants for Spiral, and some of the Sim State guys.

I guess she's willing to give up affairs for Merc? So romantic.

“Aren't you glad you didn't get tied down to Shelby, Merc?” Stella grinned as she walked past.

Unsurprisingly, she didn't get a response from Mercury.

Of course, no Greek House is complete without parties, and so the Night kids started throwing some...but only invited their partners, and Bim Lawson.

Selective guest lists, I guess.

“Hey Bim,” Spiral nodded, with a smile, “seeing as everyone's dancing...would you like to dance?”

“Well, we are the only ones without partners...”

“Who said you needed a partner to dance?” Spiral teased, “I just felt like asking you to dance.”

“How nice of you.”

“Is that a yes or a no?”

“You and me are going to prove we can dance better than any of the couples here.” Bim decided, grinning.

Spiral nodded, as the song changed, and the tempo slowed. He swallowed, before reluctantly stepping forward to slow dance with Bim.

Over the house, the slow dance gradually became more and more of a couple situation, complete with twirling and kisses.

Spiral felt uneasy about the whole thing, his mind still firmly set on Shelby.

“Have I ever told you how much I like you, Spiral?” Bim asked, softly, “I didn't want to admit it...you're so keen on Shelby, that I-”

“You like me?” Spiral questioned, surprised. He suddenly realised he quite liked Bim too. But there was still Shelby to think about. She didn't need to be cheated on.

“Bim, I can't do this.”

“I figured you'd say that.”

“I like you, Bim, I truly do, but,” Spiral backed away, slowly, “I haven't seen Shelby...it's been ages, years even. I mean, I invited her but...”

“Calm down, Spiral.”

“I've got to go.” With that, Spiral took off running.

He ran right out of the door to the undecorated Greek House he had formed with his siblings – all of the decorating money had been spent on matchmaker dates – and into the street.

He didn't know where to start looking for Shelby, but he'd start in the most obvious place. Her dorm.

But Spiral didn't look where he was going, didn't look both ways when he stepped into the road...

...

“Spiral? Oh plumbbob! Spiral!”

“Please don't be dead,” Bim whispered, “I can't live without you.”

Bim rushed over to Spiral's side, neglecting to get the attention of his siblings, or anyone.

The driver got out of his car, shakily, “I swear I didn't see him. He just came from nowhere! I could only hit the breaks...I was only going slowly. He can't be dead!”

“Calm down!” Bim cried, though she was anything but calm.

At precisely the wrong moment, Shelby came wandering down the street.

“Hey, have you seen Spiral? He invited me to some house party- Spiral? He's been hit with a car?!”

“Relax, we've called an ambulance.” The driver said, terrified.

Bim kneeled down, ignoring the fact they were all in the road, and spoke softly to Spiral, “Spiral, honey, come on! Wake up! Don't die, you have a legacy to manage...”

Bim couldn't hold back the tears, “Oh, Spiral.”

When Spiral opened his eyes, he wasn't anywhere he recognised.

“If there's something wrong with being shirtless in meadow, I don't ever want to be right.”

“Spiral.” Came a stern voice, “What are you doing?”

Shelby laid down and rested her head opposite Spiral's, “You know you're shirtless, right?”

“I've chosen not to question it,” Spiral told her, peacefully, “besides, you're not exactly wearing a shirt, either.”

“That's not why I'm here.”

“Then we should just both enjoy the sunshine.”

“No, Spiral-”

“Get up off the floor. Both of you.” Added another voice.

Bim appeared at the edge of the meadow as Spiral and Shelby rose.“Calm down, Bim.” Spiral replied, playfully.

“No! You can't lay in a field with Shelby!” Bim snapped.

“Why not?” Spiral smiled, “It's romantic.”

Bim snorted, “Shelby and romantic? They don't mix.”

Shelby disappeared once Spiral had found his feet. Bim looked at Spiral, sadly.

“You don't know why you're here, do you?” She asked him, quietly.

“Pretty girls in hula outfits? I must be dreaming.”

Bim shook her head, “I suppose it doesn't matter.”

“Do you want to watch the clouds with me?” Spiral questioned, oblivious.

“No. No romantic advances until you realise why we're here.”

“Okay, okay, chill out.”

With that, Bim left the meadow. Spiral shrugged, and laid down again.

“I don't think I'll ever understand women,” Spiral chuckled to himself, until he realised he was sinking into the ground, “wait! What's going on?”

Spiral spent his last few moments in the meadow panicking, before everything went black.

On the tarmac of the road, Spiral rolled over and coughed. He ached all over, and had an enormous headache, but he seemed okay.

“What happened to me? Did I pass out in the road?”

Carefully, he climbed to his feet.

“Whatever I did last night, I don't think I'll be doing again in a while,” Spiral decided, “even if Bim wears coconuts.”

A cheerful cry interrupted Spiral's thoughts, “Spiral!”

“See? Told you he would be fine.” Shelby grinned, “Time to take my place a legacy spouse.”

Bim didn't like the way Shelby was grinning as she planned to marry Spiral, and instead of reacting, pushed past her towards Spiral.

“Spiral! You're alright!” Bim grinned, pulling him close. This time, Spiral didn't shy away.

“Bim! You're not wearing a hula skirt!”

“...what?”

“Long story. Maybe I can tell you some time,” Spiral winced as Bim squeezed him, “careful, Bim, I'm bruised.”

Spiral kissed Bim passionately as Shelby waited idly.

“I guess this means I'm not going to be a legacy spouse.” Shelby sighed.

Spiral broke away from Bim.

“Yeah, you're right about that. Because you haven't bothered to get in touch at all since we arrived at university.” Spiral shrugged, and added, with a smile, “Is fame and a legacy all you ever saw in me, Shelby?”

Muttering and swearing, Shelby turned her back on Spiral and wandered away. Spiral turned his attention back onto Bim.

Carefully, Spiral sunk to one knee, wincing a little at the pain.

“Bim...can I ask you something?”

Her heartbeat sped up, “You just did, but go on.”

“Bim Lawson, I think I love you, and...well...”

“...will you marry me?”

Bim did not hesitate, and answered immediately. With the word 'yes', of course.

And this is where I leave you!

I told you it wasn't a great chapter. But meh.Join us next time for graduations, meet-the-parents, weddings and babies!

Thanks for reading!