Natalya - Chapter 4

The air was getting colder and colder, winter would be there soon. Natalya was tired, but she kept

working hard at the mausoleum as she really wanted to get a promotion. Honestly, 90 something simoleons a day were not enough. And now that the bathroom was done, she really wanted to start renovating another room.

Daydream was also working hard on her novels. She was progressing in her writer career and was now earning about 150 simoleons per week, plus some extra for finished chapters. She was on her third book now.

She had a lot of time to write, she locked herself in her room right after breakfast, when Natalya left for school. She took a break when Natalya came back but then had more hours to write while her friend was at the mausoleum. She loved writing, and she was really committed to Natalya's cause ... plus, she had lots of fun planning and renovating. And seeing life coming back to the old decadent house, little by little, and knowing they were doing it all alone, made her feel proud and fulfilled. Like nursing a wounded animal back to life.

Sometimes, she even wrote in the middle of the night if, for some reason, she couldn't sleep.

Although, sometimes she found her desk occupied...by Natalya's ghost-grandmother! 

Daydream: why, hello .... you must be Nat's gran .... at last we meet ....

Grandmother: what? oh, and you must be Nat's flatmate ... just a sec, I nearly won the car race ...

Daydream: and I thought you were a strict old fashioned ghost....

Grandmother: well, I must say a few things of modern age turned out to be rather interesting ...

...Like the smartphone, for example .... it's so handy to keep track of my old friends! I found a few of them on the deadly simbook and we managed to meet again after like centuries!

Grandmother had taken to visit her grand daughter quite often .... she was happy that she had started renovating the house and she really liked how the bathroom had turned out. She was happy Natalya and her friend had somehow respected the whole feeling of the house by not buying modern furniture, which she really hated and wouldn't fit the house style.

Natalya thought it was her gran doing her ghostly job when one night was woken up by strange noises coming from the main door. But ghosts were not really supposed to scratch doors, were they?

Natalya got out of her sleeping bag and went to check .... it wasn't her gran, as she had thought. Instead, a cat was standing in front of the door, meowing. 

It had been raining the whole evening and the cat was totally soaked. And probably he was cold and hungry too! Poor cat to get lost in a full moon night like that ... Natalya couldn't leave him out there, could she? So she took the kitty and brought him inside.

Daydream: hey! What was all that mess about? Is your gran planning to take over the door or what?

Natalya: it wasn't gran, it was this little kitty! Look! Isn't he cute? He doesn't have any collar, I think he's lost... and he's cold, wet and hungry poor thing! Do you think we can keep him?

Of course they kept the little creature! After some food and cuddles, he turned out a very friendly tabby cat ... and it turned out that he was actually she!

Natalya decided to call her Natasha.

Natasha the cat brought a lot of fun in the house. She loved studying the world from up the kitchen counters, which became her favourite sleeping place as well!

She got attached to Natalya, in particular, who had saved her on that cold wet night.

Natalya loved her new kitty! And playing with Natasha was so much fun!

Life carried on, although tired, Natalya felt more and more relaxed, mentally relaxed, as the burden of the house was slowly fading from her heart. Sometimes she even stopped being the composed self she had been taught to be, and let her teen anger out! Something she had never done before...

Money was still tight, as the few they managed to earn often went out in bills ... even if half empty, that house was requiring money just to exist! They tried to keep the litghts off but still, bills kept coming, and living in the dark was rather depressing, in winter in particular.

After the issue with Lucy, Natalya had been wary to befriend any other classmate of hers... but that werewolf guy, Waylon, seemed to be rather interested in her. One night he even called her and asked her if he could come over after work.

When Natalya went home after her shift at the mausoleum, she found Waylon waiting for her. 

Natalya had never fallen for a guy, she had not let herself do that, since she had more important responsibilities that required all of her time. But even if she thought of that, she didn't think she liked Waylon that way. But still, she was glad he showed some intrest in her ... so she thought that maybe he would be happy to go to the prom with her.

But he wasn't! It turned out that he already had a girlfriend to go with so ....

The following evening Daydream was just about to go check the mail when she noticed a guy lurking in the bushes...

As soon as he realised he had been spotted he tried to ran away but Daydream was faster and caught him.

Once inside, the guy decided to wear his Spooky Day costume... how weird - thought Daydream -

Daydream: so ... who are you and what were you doing lurking in our bushes ...

Zack: I was waiting for Natalya ....

Daydream: she won't be home till 10, she's working tonight ...

Zack: I know, that's why I was waiting for her ....

Daydream: and how about ringing the bell instead of hiding in the bushes? It's kinda cold outside ....

Zack: sure it is, I was freezing!

Once again Natalya found someone waiting for her when she came home. This time it was a guy in a cowplant costume ... weird ... it was her classmate Zack, Lucy's brother actually.

She was wondering what he was doing there when she told her. He wanted to ask her to go to the prom with him!

Natalya: oh ... well ... er ... thanks ... but I don't think we should go together ... see I don't really know you and you're Lucy's brother ...

Zack: but I really like you!

Natalya: well ... how can I be sure ... after what your sister did to me?

Zack: but I'm not my sister ... you can trust me ...

Natalya: honestly, you're wearing a cowplant costume Zack! And anyway, I don't think I'm in the mood to go to prom, I'm sorry ...

So Zack left, rather crestfallen and disappointed ...

Natalya felt sorry for him but how was she supposed to trust him? It was better for her that she didn't even go to the prom ... or that she went alone ...

Daydream: so, Nat ... seems like you're having a fanclub! That's my girl...you're a genius! How did you do that? You should tell me the trick ... I need to find myself a man at some point you know!

Natalya: stop teasing me D. ... you know it's probably just because they think I'm weird or hide some dark secret ... and the werewolf guy? He came here although he had a girlfriend! I don't know what they're playing at ... but I can't trust any of them ...

Daydream: and what if in that crowd that you don't trust there's someone that maybe really likes you?

Natalya: well, I guess I don't have time for boys anyway .... Now, let's talk about some fun facts: how's your novel going on?

Daydream: great! In fact, I'm just about to finish it! Wanna read the latest chapter?

Daydream opened the file to show Natalya her hard work ...

Daydream: just a sec, I need to edit the last part and it's done! You'll be the first one to read it!

Natalya: cool ... hey, look! It's snowing! The first snow has come at last!

Daydream: maybe you can light a little fire....it's freezing cold up here!

Natalya: yes ... now it's better ....

Natalya: now it's definitely better! I feel so warm now ... wait ... I feel too warm now!

Bonehilda: you're on fire madam! Bonehilda to the rescue!

Natalya: heeeeeeeelp!

Daydream: eww so much smoke ... I can't breathe ...

Natalya: well, that wasn't a good start of the wintry season ... was it?

The snow kept falling the whole night and in the morning everything was covered in a fluffy white cold blanket!

Bonehilda thought the house looked beautiful in the snow, and it was time to decorate it for the holidays ...

Another winter had come ... Bonehilda felt so old! But she was happy to ascertain that no new wrinkles had appeared on her boney face ....

Bonehilda: and brushing your teeth every morning helps to keep you young!

Thanks to Bonehilda, the mansion had tiny coloured festive lights that twinkled in the dark now!

Natalya: oh, my little sweetheart, did you see how beautiful our house is with all this snow and the festive lights? I can't believe I'm making it throught all this! And it's all thanks to Daydream and you my little furball ... you make my days whole ... and although renovations are on hold now, I'm sure we'll have a wonderful Snowflake Day all together!

Natasha was having a lovely time in the mansion. She had developed an eternal friendship with Natalya and had the time of her life running around in big empty rooms and teaching herself to hunt. But she was still unsettled by Ghost Grandma, when she decided to pay a visit ....

Daydream: hey Nat! Congrats for making he honor roll for three days in a row!

Natalya: oh, thanks ...

Daydream: you don't look happy kid, what's bothering you?

Natalya: Prom night is coming up... and I don't think I should go since I refused the only guy who asked me ... but it's kinda sad, all teenagers should attend the prom ... but it's so depressing to go alone ... I don't know what do do D.! What do you think?

Daydream: well ... I don't know, it's your choice ... but I think you should not lose important events of your teen age life just because you don't have a guy or you're scared they'll be mean to you ...

Natalya: yes but ...

Daydream: don't think of it now, you'll decide at the right time! Why don't we just go out and build a snowman now? Come on, change to your outwear as I just did and let's go out play in the snow!

The girls had lots of fun building the snowman ... and someone else also had fun!

Natasha had just learnt her hunting skills and had captured her first turtle!

As a good kitty she gave it to Natalya as a present . Natalya didn't know what to do ... they should sell it for money but then again, it was just an ordinary turtle and wasn't worth much ... plus, it was so cute!

So they decided to keep it! And invested the last income coming from Daydream's new book in a turtle terrain...for Charlie the Turtle! 

It would put on hold the renovations of the dining room but well, it was worth it!

Daydream: cool, we have a turtle!

Natasha: mm I think I've seen this one already .... Do we know each other, mate?

Charlie: *ignores*

Natasha loved hunting, and often brought home the creatures she captured ... as gift .

Although .... not all of them were appreciated ....

Daydream: ewwwww spider!!!! 

... and were sold on the spot! Although spiders and insects in general weren't worth much ... but well, 11 simoleons is still better than nothing!

And hunting made Natasha happy ....

Natasha: purrrrrrrr

Anyway, thanks to her, the family got Poe the pigeon .....



and Logan the hamster.... they were just too cute to be sold!

And even Ghost Gran seemed to approve of the new additions to the household!

But the new pets needed a lot of care ... and money! Although small pets didn't require too much food, the turtle terrain and the hamster cage were really expensive ... and Poe had not his place to stay yet! As the bird tree was far beyond the family funds ... and it seems the house is spending money for its mere existence! Bills keeps coming .... which means the renovations are going slowly .... with all this stuff going on, Daydream and Natalya had only managed to buy a table and two chairs for the dining room.

After the bathroom was done, Natalya wished to renovate her gran's bedroom, but she agreed with Daydream that buying a table and chairs was a priority ... not to mention a bed to sleep in, instead of sleeping bags! So they chose to start renovating the dining room. But money was really tight. As soo as some 1000 simoleon came in, hey were out in bills or pets stuff.

Life was so hard!

But on the other hand, that night Natalya was promoted! She was now earning 50 something per hour instead of 30 something! That was an improvement, wasn't it? She felt so happy she tried to catch snowflakes with her tongue!

And then prom day came ... and Natalya had not made up her mind yet. 

Luckily it was also a Snow Day, so she didn't need to go to school. 
Her teacher, Pip Goodfellow, had even come around to inform everyone that the school was closed on that Snow Day!

Daydream decided to invite him in for something to eat ... after all, they needed to consume the huge amount of food they had acquired at the Spooky Day party!

Pip: so, miss Ivy, looks like you live in a rather peculiar house ... but I believe you're renovating?

Daydream: yeah yeah ... it's a bit of a mess right now as we managed to paint the walls but didn't have enough ... er ... time to put the new floor yet ...

Pip: I see ... well, why don't you eat your cake? It tastes good ...

Daydream: really? Oh that's great, I'm happy you like it ... our friends brought it on Spooky Day with tons of other stuff and we haven't been able to finish it yet .... so thank you so much for your help!

Pip: er ... Spooky Day? Urgh I'm not sure I feel good .... I think I need to go now .... 

Teacher gone, Daydream suggested she and Natalya should celebrate the Snow Day with a visit to the winter festival!

The day was just wonderful! Although cold, the sun was shining and the sky was blue! 
The girls stopped to have hot drinks as first thing ... hot chocolate and eggnog! Just to get in the mood ....

Natalya went straight into the hot tub to relax ... she really needed some! And drinking hot chocolate while relaxing in the hot tube in the middle of the snow was a totally different experience ....

Daydream was just about to join her when she was stopped by some guy ... he was someone who had sent her a friend request and a message on the simbook . He seemed to like her a lot and wished to go on a date with her ... that is, till Daydream found out he was married . Oh well .

Daydream: so, Nat, do you think we're doomed to be courted by people who are already engaged?

Natalya: I hope not ....

Daydream: but it looks like it! All those guys who sent me a friend request ... either they're old or weird ... and the few decent ones ... I bet they all have spouses or girlfriend! Like that werewolf there ....

Natalya: well , I guess you should just keep on trying ... there must be someone who's interested in you and doesn't have a wife at home ... right?

At the same time, in some other part of the city, someone else was dealing with males .... maybe Natasha would be luckier?

And evening came. And the girls kept having fun at the festival. After a rather bad fall with the skates, Daydream decided to try snowboarding ... 

while Natalya was too scared and preferred to watch .

She had had so much fun that day that she had almost forgotten that it was prom night! Eventually she decided to go ... alone!

And it was a night full of events! She would have never thought but ... she became prom queen! And in the end she accepted to dance with Zack ... realising he was not that bad ... and now she had crush on him! It was so new to her ... she wondered how that could have happened ... and where all this would lead....

At the same time, in another part of town, Natasha had won a cat fight with her new friend the white cat.

Probably in the cat world that meant that now the white cat was her possession because ... she brought him home with her!

Daydream: mmm .... I think I'm seeing double ....

Daydream: so tell me kitty, who are you and what are you doing here? You're a friend of Natasha maybe? I see ... so ... I guess we should keep you ....

Natasha: meowwww

Daydream: right right .... I'll call you Peter then ... welcome to the household , Peter the white cat, friend of Natasha! I bet Natalya will be pleased ... although one more pet means even less money for the renovations ...

When Natalya came back from the prom, Daydream was already asleep. But she found a white cat sleeping on the couch ...

Natalya: well well , it seems we have yet another family member! And probably this room won't get any renovation for the next century ... 

But in the end, at least the floor was done in the dining room! Which also got two more chairs. There was no decoration at all except a flower vase, but at least they had a less shabby room to dine in!

And Peter ... he adjusted to the house just fine ....


To be continued ....