Chapter Thirty-Three…

Chapter 33: Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

♫ I’m yours ♪

😛

The theatre used later is the Galaxy Theater, by Melissagibb. Here’s the link: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=2205663. Thanks to all for their awesome cc.

Lila signed the annulment papers.

Quickly, she scrawled her signature across the line before changing her mind.

Then she peered into the living area, where Darius still cuddled Kayla. A picture-perfect family on the exterior, torn apart on the interior.

She picked up her cellular to call Nick.

With suitcases dumped near the curb, Lila mumbled a last good-bye to Kayla. Actually, it wasn’t a ‘last’ good-bye, since Darius promised to let Lila see her anytime. It was an arrangement they’d quickly worked out before Nick arrived.

Tears stung Lila’s eyes.

Darius quietly watched.

The floodgates opened, and tears streamed down her face. To make matters worse, Kayla also began to cry and fuss.

Kayla threw herself back, struggling in Lila’s arms.

“It’ll be okay. I’ll come back to see you—” Lila began.

“Mommy don’t go! Mommy don’t go!” she cried over and over.

Horrified, Lila looked at Darius. “Just take her,” she wailed, sobbing.

He ran up to them and maneuvered Kayla into his arms. “Shhh; it’s okay baby,” he cooed.

Lila glanced at Nick, seeing he looked almost as horrified as she. Helpless might be a better word. There was nothing worse than feeling helpless.

Darius stood with Kayla and watched as Nick helped Lila with her suitcases. The little girl had finally settled down somewhat.

Kayla emitted one last howl of protest, and Lila covered her ears to shut out the toddler’s expressed pain.

Ugh. This sucks worse than anything I’ve ever been through, Lila thought. I’d rather my head get banged up in another car wreck.

Once everything was set and they were ready to go, Lila paused before getting in the vehicle.

“Bye Lila,” Darius called out.

She weakly waved, but didn’t turn around.

When they settled into the convertible, a panic attack seized Lila. Thankfully, the feeling passed after a second. She knew it had something to do with the car wreck, among other traumatic things…

She shot a quick, backward glance at Darius and Kayla. They disappeared behind a thicket of trees as the car advanced further.

That was when Darius allowed his own tears to fall.

An hour later, at Mansion a la Nick Moore, Lila took to the sofa in the media room. Her suitcases remained in the foyer, unpacked.

Nick worriedly stared at her.

“Lila, are you okay?” he asked.

She grunted an incoherent response, wiping her eyes.

“Daddy, what’s wrong with Lila?” Travis questioned.

The next morning, Darius Montgomery strolled toward the sports stadium.

He had an interesting agenda that day.

He pushed open the double doors. Nick lingered in the lobby area, looking surprised to see Darius there.

“What?” Nick said.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you, for a long time,” Darius replied.

Then reared back, his hands clenched into fists. One fist flew toward Nick’s face…

knocking him to the floor.

“Shit,” Nick cursed, pulling himself back to his feet. A reddish welt flourished on his cheek bone.

Darius continued his threatening stance, prepared for s’more pummeling.

Nick glared at him, but didn’t start throwing his own punches.

The two stared at one another for… like forever.

Finally, Nick spoke.

“Fair enough,” he said.

Darius left the stadium, a slight smile on his face.

That night, Lila couldn’t sleep.

Earlier that day, Nick admitted how Darius had attacked him in the stadium. At one time, Lila would’ve been proud and thrilled with the news. After all, she’d never had two guys fighting over her; never. But now, it was different. Now, she just felt damn guilty. Anymore, that’s all she felt. She could drop an egg on the floor and feel guilty. Travis could come home from school and get a bad grade, and Lila would feel guilty. Apparently Lila couldn’t feel any other emotion but guilt.

She didn’t remember feeling like such a horrible person, at least not before becoming involved with Nick.

A few days later, Lila felt emotionally well enough to go to the movies with Nick.

It was a horror flick, and the theatre was empty except for them. The movie hadn’t received very many decent reviews.

As they watched, the movie gradually became more boring. Lila’s mind wandered to thoughts of her ex-nemesis, Lexy.

Nick had paid for an elaborate funeral the other day, but didn’t show up. He felt too ashamed, and Lila certainly didn’t show up.

Nick curled his arm around Lila, and she scooted closer to him.

Maybe now she could muster up the nerve to discuss Lexy, and what had happened.

“Do you—do you miss Lexy?” she asked. Her heart clenched into a tight ball of anticipation.

“Yeah, sure. We were together for… a month or two,” he said.

“So why don’t you ever talk about her? You never act like you’re grieving or whatever. I mean, she was pregnant too,” it hurt her to say that, but it was true. Lila needed to know how Nick was dealing with his feelings, whether burying them or whatever else he was doing with them. She didn’t want those feelings to explode at a later time, so it was best to put everything out on the table.

“To tell you the truth, I try not to think about any of that. Especially the wreck itself. I still have nightmares about it,” he said.

“I know what you mean. I have nightmares too, along with the occasional panic attack,” she said. “But you have to deal with it sooner or later.”

“I know. I did deal with it; that’s why I paid for the funeral.”

That’s what you call ‘dealing with it’? Lila wanted to ask, but didn’t.

“My mom once told me that the only way to get through grief and other baggage is to experience all the emotions, no matter how bad they get,” she said. “And never to bury them.”

“Wise old words, from a wise old bat,” Nick joked.

In spite of herself, Lila laughed; then playfully smacked him on the arm.

“I just don’t want anything else to come between us later on,” she said.

“What? Like Darius?” he replied. “Punching me in the face?” he added.

“Yeah, like that.” She chuckled. “I’m sorry about that.”

“That’s okay. I deserved it,” he said.

The movie went off, and music began to play. Ironically, the tune sounded somewhat romantic…

They turned to each other and kissed.

It was Lila’s favorite thing to do, taking a night swim. And if there’s one thing she and Nick have in common, it’s the childish trait.

Hours after leaving the theatre, they took a swim. For laughs, Nick wore an inflatable duckie around his mid-section.

The seed Lila planted last year had morphed into a robust (you guessed it) lettuce plant; it’s size rivaling the one planted on the island.

Considering it was February the first, apparently spring had arrived a little early in Riverview.

Would anything else?

                                                        ****

Chapter 34 coming soon… thanks for reading, as always! ♥