Chapter 2

Dirk Dreamer had awoken to the DJ on Sim Alternative FM listing off the closings in the area. He knew a storm had rolled through Pleasantview during the night, but Pleasantview High wasn't known to close their schools at any time. That's why he jumped out of bed and yelled "WHOOPEEE!" when he heard "Pleasantview Area High" announced on the radio. Then he had promptly turned off his alarm and gone back to sleep.

His father, Darren, came in exactly two hours later, at 8:30, to notify Dirk about the school cancellation. Dirk was still half asleep when his father woke him, so he mumbled something—reflecting on it, he realized whatever he had said was in bad taste—then turned towards the wall.

Now, it was nearly 11:30, as Dirk checked the digital clock lying on his nightstand. He pulled up the covers of his bed to his chin, trying to keep the mists of sleep still hovering over him. But it was to no avail, and as the sun shone through the faded blue curtains over Dirk's windows, he knew he had to get out of bed.

He sat up quickly, and was overcome with the sudden lightheadedness that takes over a person who moves from one position to another too drastically. Dirk held his head for awhile, waiting for the black spots to fade, then pushed the covers off him and rose.

As he passed opened the door connecting his room to the bathroom, Dirk heard his father rustling about in the hallway. The memories of Dirk snapping at his father poured back to him, and he instantly regretted his tone or his choice of words, whatever they were. Dirk was the only thing Darren had left. Dirk's mother, Doreen, had died when Dirk was just ten, six years ago. Dirk still missed her sometimes, but he knew Darren couldn't get over one of the "great loves of his life", as he liked to call his wife. Dirk was the closest thing he had to her. He resolved to apologize to his father for being snappy earlier, as he stepped into the shower.

One warm, fifteen-minute shower and a change of clothes later, Dirk emerged from his room to see his father reading the newspaper on the sofa. A box of cereal stood on the kitchen counter, presumably for Dirk to eat. There was also an empty bowl and spoon sitting next to the cereal.

"Milk's in the fridge," Darren said, without looking up from the paper. Dirk could see the headline from where he was standing: Tensions between Candidates Rise as Elections Move Closer. Dirk headed over to where the cereal was situated.

"Those mayoral elections going any better?" he inquired as he poured himself a bowl of Sim's Crispy Crunchies.

"Nope," Darren replied, folding up the newspaper. "You know you friend Lilith's mother is running, Mary-Sue?"

"Yeah," Dirk murmured vaguely as he retrieved the milk carton from the fridge. A small photograph of Bella Goth was on the side of the white milk carton with the words "Missing" above her head in large font, plus an aged image from the Sim Forensic Department under the description. He then remembered: he was supposed to have a tutoring session with Lilith Pleasant today after school! He would text her later and see if she could still make it.

"Dad," Dirk began as he settled down at the dinner table for his brunch. "I want to apologize for whatever—"

"No need," Darren interrupted, moving over to the kitchen and placing the newspaper on the island.

"Didn't I say something rude this morning?" Dirk questioned, surprised at this indifferent tone taken by his father.

"Nope," Darren answered, opening the fridge and peering in it. "You were definitely out when I came in. You mumbled something about llamas and rolled over."

Dirk breathed an internal sigh of relief, and shoved an extra large spoonful of Sim's Crispy Crunchies into his mouth. Some milk dribbled down his chin, and he discreetly wiped it on his sleeve.

"Since you don't have school today," Darren started, picking up a banana from the fruit bowl and beginning to unpeel it. "I need you to try on that tuxedo you have, for," he paused. "Cassandra's wedding next week. You know we've been invited."

Even though Darren tried so hard to hide it, Dirk knew from a gut feeling that his father secretly had a crush on Cassandra Goth. They both worked together in the labs at Sim State University, in the department of microbiology. She had also asked Darren to paint her wedding picture with Don Lothario. And Dirk could tell by the way his father's hands slightly tightened their grip on the banana he was holding, the fact that Cassandra was getting married to one of the most womanizing men in town struck a chord within Darren.

Dirk didn't point this out though. Darren did not like being reminded or teased about his feelings for Cassandra. In his mind, it was still too soon to be dating after his wife died, and the fact that she was buried in their backyard made the idea even more impossible to bear. Instead, Dirk made a small assenting hum as he shoveled in the last of his Sim's Crispy Crunchies.

"I want to make sure that tux fits," Darren said through a mouthful of banana. "If it doesn't, we're going to have to take it in, or even buy you a new one. Who knows how much money, or time, that can take."

Dirk nodded as he stood up from the table to clear his dish. "I have a tutoring session with Lilith Pleasant today," he said.

Darren nodded slowly. "Okay…." he said. "I don't know if she'll be able to make it in this weather."

Dirk looked out the window and noticed the snow was still falling just as heavily as it had been that morning. "She can walk," he said. "The Pleasants don't live that far."

Unfortunately for Dustin Broke, school being canceled meant more work for him. His boss called once he had gotten the message about Pleasantview Area High's closing.

"Since you ain't got school, ya got more time to work," he had said gruffly, then hung up.

Dustin knew his mother wouldn't be pleased about it. He could hear her in her bedroom, playing with his two-year old brother, Beau. He looked at the clock placed on the kitchen wall. He had to be at work in thirty minutes. He cleared his throat.

"Mom?" he called. He could hear Brandi bustling about, and a small cry from Beau, obviously distressed at being detached from his playmate. Sure enough, Brandi swung open her bedroom door, her blue eyes staring at Dustin in a questioning manner.

"What, Dustin?" she sighed. Dustin instantly regretted telling his boss he could work today. Brandi was obviously tired; Beau may have kept her up all night. He had the flu, as well as an ear infection, and Brandi had to keep him well rested.

"Um, I just wanted to let you know I have to work today," Dustin mumbled, looking down at the floor.

Brandi groaned. "Really? Arnold's making you come in?"

Dustin inwardly shuddered. He hated when his mother called his greasy boss by his first name. Arnold. Ugh. The name was almost as disgusting as the man himself.

"I'm sorry, Ma!" Dustin pleaded. "I already told him I could go!" And someone needs to earn some sort of money in this house, he was about to say, but he didn't dare. Ever since his father died a less than two months ago, Brandi had been trying to take care of little Beau while simultaneously looking for a steady job.

Brandi massaged her forehead, leaning on the doorframe. "Alright, but I don't want this to be an excuse for hanging out with Angela."

Dustin hung his head. He had once told his mother he was going to work, when really he had been hanging out with Angela Pleasant, his girlfriend. He had taken her to the seedier side of town, to an inclusive club that neither his mother nor Angela's approved of.

Beau gave another cry from Brandi's bedroom. She gave a long sigh, then turned her back on Dustin, leaving him standing in the living room of the small house alone.

Nina awoke feeling absolutely disgusting. She arched her back, stretching the stiff tendons that seemed to always freeze themselves during the night, then suddenly clutched her stomach, feeling suddenly nauseous. She listened for signs of life from her fraternal twin, Dina's, bedroom. None. With that in mind, she rushed for the bathroom.

She got their just in time, a spew of vomit rushing from her mouth. She swore softly, wiping her mouth. Although she felt slightly better after vomiting, Nina was starting to worry. She hadn't eaten anything that would've caused her to throw up so suddenly. She ticked off foods she'd consumed, just in case.

Salad for dinner; no, salad had never made her sick before, and none of the vegetables had looked rotten. There was chicken on it, but it was leftover from yesterday, and Dina always made sure food was cooked through thoroughly.

Dessert? A bowl of ice cream, with caramel syrup. No….

Nina paused in her ponderings to listen for any noise downstairs. Still none. Dina must be at work, she thought, and felt relieved her sister hadn't heard her throw up. Dina would've come rushing to her side, with a huge bag of medicine in her hand. While Nina enjoyed being cared for, her sister could often go overboard.

Nina chuckled wryly, as another wave of nausea hit her. Euhhh, she thought. The night had been finished off by a cup of chamomile tea and a good book. Tea definitely did not make me sick, Nina scoffed.

She flushed the toilet, the remnants of her earlier meals spinning down the drain. She pulled off her pants and took a seat on the bowl. As she glanced down to her underwear, she noticed something. Wasn't I supposed to start my—she paused. She counted on her fingers. Then she realized.

I'm pregnant.

The nausea, it explained everything! Nina clutched at her forehead. Goddammit, she cursed to herself. She couldn't afford to be pregnant now…she was only in her early twenties.

Nina quickly rushed over to the bathroom closet and frantically looked through it. There, in the corner, a crumpled box labeled Are You? in curly handwriting sat, looking slightly forlorn. She grabbed it furiously, banging up the box even more than it already was.

God, I hope these things don't expire, Nina thought as she held the pregnancy test stick between her legs while she sat on the toilet.