Grand Opening

Pleasantview Elementary School - Round 1 - September 2009

Craig Ray is the current principal/teacher until a fulltime teacher is hired.

PVES is located in the Pleasantview suburbs and is dedicated to quality education of Pleasantview's youth. The school has a music/art room, library, and classroom where students can gain the skills they need to be successful upon graduation.

School begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students arrive on campus and head to their assigned classes for the morning. Students have lunch at noon and then head off to their afternoon classes and depart for home at 3:00 p.m.

Kayden Erikson looks on as Arlena McGaw composes music on the synthesizer. The art/music room also had an activity table for building logic and painting pictures, easels, and a violin. This is room is very popular among the students. Jalice Love, Katelyn Curtin, and Isaiah Gavigan head into the library to begin their study session. Library time is scheduled in so that the students can enjoy reading for leisure or can study select skills.Isaiah and Jalice opt to play a spirited game of chess instead of reading or working on the computers. Students usually arent too good at chess upon first entering PVES, but with practice, become very skilled at it.

Katelyn decides to study while in the library. While this is a scheduled period, students get to decide how they will spend their time while here. That is, as long as they are doing something educational!Ashlee Wade and Gallagher Newson are in the classroom doing gradework. While this is the students' least favorite activity, it is very important that they finish their gradework as it affects the grade they will receive! Craig Ray (not pictured) tries to make gradework as fun as he can.

But PVES is not all work and no play! Students receive a recess time where they can use the playground equipment, or make their own fun as Gallagher and Ashlee are doing here as they toss the football.

PVES - Where Learning is Key!

*It need works, but I think it's off to a pretty good start! Eventually the townie kids will be replaced by playables....they won't be killed off or anything, they'll "move away." By the way, I built it! Can you believe it? I freaking SUCK at building stuff, but I am very proud of this!!!

They Grow Up So Fast!

Rotation 1: September 2009

Craig is 48, Kasha is 42, Tyler is 15, Ryder is 2, Christa and DeAndre McMillan are 21

Narrated By: Craig Ray

I can't believe I'm almost 50 years old! I'm turning into "that old guy." Where have the years gone? Christa's off at school and a mother and Tyler will be headed off to college soon......geez! Pleasantview has come under a new government, and while most residents seem to be pissed about this, it doesn't really bother me. Do I WANT to pay taxes? Of course not! But I would like to know that if the city needed something, it would be there. It doesn't hurt that Mayor Harris has named me Director of Education and put me in charge of Pleasantview Elementary School (PVES). I think that this is all going to work out pretty well for everyone if we can simply come to terms with it.

Every since Anna died, Kasha has been painting like crazy! She wants to be sure that her mother's shop continues to turn a profit. Picture This! has been around for years and I'm trying to convince her that it isn't going anywhere. She's doing a wonderful job managing it.

Christa came for a visit and brought a guy with her. She's been in school for 2 years, and we haven't so much as heard her MENTION any guys, so I figure this DeAndre McMillan must be special to her......hmph, we'll see about that. I refuse to have another Tyson situation on my hands! I was working when they came over so Kasha started the questioning for me!

She asked him about his intentions with Christa and he said they were just friends, but he wanted to be so much more. Kasha thinks it's sweet, but I'm reserving my final opinion for later! Kasha explained to him that Christa has been hurt and he said that he's willing to wait until she feels she's ready........now that's a line if I ever heard one!

Christa misses Ryder so much that it makes all of us sad. By the time she graduates, he'll be starting preschool. But she'll have a good education and will be able to take care of him. I gotta admit, when she first told us she was pregnant, I was ready to kill her. She was throwing her whole life away. But Ryder is the sunshine of all of our lives and I'm so glad he's here!

She introduced DeAndre to Ryder, who promptly closed his eyes. Ryder is a very shy child and takes a while to warm up to people. DeAndre seems to be a pretty patient guy, and he claims that he loves children.

He actually got Ryder to open up to him and they sat on the floor playing peek a boo for over an hour. Maybe DeAndre is a nice guy, but I don't want my baby girl getting hurt again.....or I might have to go to jail!

DeAndre has even won Tyler over which is sometimes hard to do. Tyler has his playful moments, but he is also a very grouchy young man at times! Seems like the whole family likes this guy.........

So of course, I come home and corner him in the bathroom, demanding to know what his intentions are with my daughter. He remains calm, looks me in the eye, and says, "Sir, I plan to marry Christa one day. I think I love her." Well, what the hell could I say to that? I just told him that he could and would never love her more than me. And that if he messed up, I would be all over him!

Kasha told me I was too hard on the boy, but hey, we didn't get a chance to be hard on Tyson and we could have saved Christa a lot of heartache! Kasha decided after dinner that she wanted to play pool. She cheats! Bending over the table like that, it's distracting!

Yep, she's such a cheater! She always wins when she plays dirty like that! But we gotta go to bed eventually, and I plan to get her back!!!!

The Setup

DeAndre McMillan is a very persistent pain in my ass. The more I try to stay away from him. The more he is determined to stick around! I don't know what I'm suppose to do! Oh, he tries to keep the conversation on safe topics like school, but I know what he's trying to do!

He's been getting more and more flirtatious lately and heaven help me, I can't stop him........I don't want to like him......but he's just so darn likeable! So I've been doing my best to avoid him until........

I ran into him in the hallway like this......Sweet Jacob that man is fine! I mean I wondered how far the tats went but I had no idea........how am I suppose to not think about him when I now have this image forever burned into my brain? This is NOT fair!!!

I'm still hard at work on my novel. I've saved up quite a bit of money and I'm hoping that by the time I graduate I will be able to afford a small house in the new PV Heights Division. Arianna asked me about going out tomorrow night and I haven't been out in a while so I said yea. Then she told me that she also invited Dee......great......

So tonight is the night and Arianna is wearing her signature black. She did put on some bright red lipstick which is out of character for her but she explained that she's meeting a guy there. We're suppose to go out to The Hub downtown.

I dress in a tight fitting body suit. NO I'm not trying to impress Dee.....can't a girl just look nice for a change? Oh, who am I kidding? I want him lusting after me just like I'm lusting after him.......but I guess that's not fair because I have no plans of ever going out with him. Arianna said that she would meet me there because she had a stop to make. I thought it was a little strange, but she is my friend, right?

WRONG! I get there and the only person there is Dee.

"What the hell is going on Dee? Where is Arianna?" I asked.

"Hey, what's with the language? She told me that she would meet me here, that she had a stop to make."

"I'm going to kill her!" I exclaimed.

"Calm down! Is it really that bad that you spend time with me? Look, why don't we go upstairs to the restaurant and have something to eat while we wait for her?" he asked.

"Fine. But this is not a date!"

"If you say so."

We go upstairs and the host greets us with a knowing smile. We are not on a date! Ugh, I'm going to murder Arianna Ying! The host sits us at a secluded booth in the back. We don't need privacy, we need witnesses!

"You know, I don't have a crystal ball, but I think I've been set up," I said.

"Set up? You think Arianna is doing this on purpose? While that would be nice of her, I think she probably just got caught up and is running late. If it is true, at least somebody is willing to give me a chance," he said.

"Look, Dee, it's not that I'm not willing to give you a chance, it's just that......."

"That you have a lot going on right now. I know that Christa, but you make time for your other friends, why not me?"

"You're just different. Look, this isn't going to get us anywhere. Tell me about yourself," I said.

"There's not much to tell. My parents both died when I was a teen. I didn't want to go to a foster home and I didn't have many relatives so I got a job and worked to keep the rent up on the apartment we lived in. I worked my butt off in school and got a couple of scholarships to help me get into college. I don't have any kids, I'm a hard worker, and I know what I want," he said.

"Wow, I'm sorry to hear about your parents. That must have been tough," I said.

"Yea, it was but I've had alot of time to come to terms with it. What about you? Who is Christa Ray?"

"My story isn't as exciting. I grew up in downtown Pleasantview with my parents and my little brother Tyler. I have a pretty big family, some of which are famous. Jayla Hammond is my cousin and Ambrel is my cousin. AJ Taylor is also my uncle. And I have a son named Ryder who is a toddler and is just adorable," I said. Maybe that will get him off my case. No guy wants a woman with a kid.

"Where's the father?" he asked.

"Tyson lives off campus in a house he rents. See I had Ryder when I was still in high school and Tyson was a college freshman. My parents freaked out! But I wouldn't trade Ryder in for anything in the world. Guess that changes the way you think you felt about me, huh?" I asked.

He just stared down at the table.

"Christa, when I said I don't have any kids, I wasn't lying. But I could have had one. I got my girlfriend pregnant when I was in high school, but she decided she didn't want the child. She got rid of it. I've been on my own for a long time now, and that child would have been a part of my family. I would have gotten a chance to start over. So yes, your having a kid does change the way I feel about you. It just makes you that more attractive to me. You could have given Ryder up. But you stuck it out. Your family is important to you and I find that to be the best quality about you," he said.

I thought I would cry! I can't let this man into my life, it spells disaster. But he was so down about the child he never had that I reached across the table and stroked his hand. Just a friendly gesture of comfort, but when I looked into his eyes.......I'm in deep crap......

"Let's hit the dance floor," I suggested,

He raised an eyebrow but said, "Sure."

Dee on the dance floor is hilarious. He has almost no rhythm what so ever! I tried not to laugh at him, I really did, but it was just so very funny!

I finally took mercy on him and pulled him over so we could do a basic two step dance so he wouldn't look so silly. I find it kind of adorable that this overly sexy man can't dance! I could really like him if I let myself. But I can't.

We soon saw someone who's dancing was far worse than Dee's. We just stood there for about 30 minutes just laughing at people on the floor.
"Hey I don't think Arianna is coming," he yelled over the music.

"Nope, I'm going to kill her."

"Let's get out of here. I have something I want to show you," he said.

"Yea, I just bet you do," I said.

"Just come on," he said laughing.

So I followed him out of the club, wondering where it was that he was taking me. I really hope he doesn't think he's getting lucky because he is sorely mistaken! I don't have time to get all caught up in another guy. Ryder is counting on me to be a good mom to him. And I won't let him down.
He took me to this really beautiful park and grabbed my hand and we layed down and looked up at the stars.

"I know what you're trying to do DeAndre McMillan, and it's not going to work," I said,

"Damn, you really think I'm that bad a guy? Christa, I like you. And I can feel that you like me too. I'm not trying to weasel my way into your bed. I just want a chance to get to know you and spend time with you. Maybe one day even meet your son," he said.

I looked up at the stars.

"Dee, the last guy who made promises to me and said he just wanted to get to know me, got me pregnant and then left me while denying that the child was even his. He recently told me that I was just something to pass the time away for him. And I don't want to go through that again," I said,

"Christa, my name is DeAndre McMillan. Not Tyson whatever his name is. I can understand that you've been hurt. I'm not trying to rush you into anything. I just want to be able to hang out with you without you analyzing my every move and waiting for me to be the jerk your ex-boyfriend was."

"It's not that simple Dee," I said.

"I know. I'm just asking you to try."

"I'll think about it," I said.

Before we could talk about it any further, it began pouring down raining.

"Well, I guess that's that," I said laughing.

"Are you really going to think about it, Christa? Really and truly consider it?"

"Yes, Dee I'm going to think about it."

"Well, when you're thinking about it, you know, adding up the pros and cons, add this to the pros......."

Sweet Jacob, this man can kiss! I was totally not expecting him to do that. But oh does it feel good. His arms feel good wrapped around me and his lips.......I don't even want to get started on those. If he hadn't pulled away when he did, I would have done something I probably would have regreted later.

"Wow. I know you probably want to slap my face, but don't. I just wanted you to see how good we could be together," he said.

"Can we just go home now?" I asked.
"Yea. Let's go."

He walked a little ahead of me which I was grateful for. I needed time to get my boby temp back down to something below sizzle. Damn him! Why did he have to go and do that? Ruin a perfectly good evening with a perfect kiss.......I'm going to kill Arianna!
We get back and I lay into her.

"Where the hell were you?"

"I got a little caught up. I met a guy," she said.

"SO? You couldn't call me and tell me that you needed to reschedule? I just spent the whole evening with Dee," I said.

"So? He seems like a pretty fun guy, I"m sure he kept you entertained. You needed to go out."

"Yea he entertained me alright. He kissed me!" I yelled.

"Oh Christa that's great! So are you two an item now?"

"No, what's wrong with you? Arianna,the last thing I need right now is a guy," I said,

"Speak for yourself because I'm on the hunt for one. And I think I may have found him."

"Yea, well you don't have a kid," I said.

"Oh, for Sim's sake Christa, you don't have a scarlet letter painted on you. People have babies at a young age all the time. It's just never happened in YOUR family before you. It's not as big a deal as you make it."

"I can't help it. Tyson has me feeling like battered goods. I told Dee about Ryder and he didn't even care," I said.

"Christa, I really think you should give him a chance. You don't have to date him or sleep with him right now. Just give him a chance to show you who he is. What could it hurt?" she asked.

"My heart that's what. I'm going to think about it," I said.

"Good. Now I have to get back to my guest."

"Your guest? He's here now? Who is this guy Arianna?" I asked.

"See ya later," she said walking off.

I walk by the window later and see her outside flirting with some guy. At least she seems to have found somebody.........I need to decide what to do about DeAndre McMillan.........

Older Wedding

I have no reason for going back to this other than wanting Kasha and Craig to have their moment too! This is the video I made for their wedding. I've been playing this family for a while and whenever I throw a big wedding, I try to give them a video. Theirs was the first video I made with my updated graphics card and I loved it! Enjoy! Watch in HD for best quality!

Here Comes Trouble!

Trouble. That's exactly what DeAndre "Dee" McMillan is. Trouble with a capital "T." I knew it the minute he walked through the door. Seems he got into a fight with a guy in his old dorm, so they moved him into ours. Just what I need right now......Damn, he's cute huh? Well more than cute with that chiseled jaw and those sexy tattoos.......I wonder how many he has hidden underneath that shirt? Ugh, bad line of thought!

I walk right on past DeAndre McMillan without even looking him in the eyes......I don't need this right now. Plus, I'm not the best judge of character. Hey, look how Tyson turned out. No, I think it's best that I stay away from Dee. I mean, geez, he got kicked out of the dorm for fighting....probably has a temper......

It's not fair that he looks that good. Not fair at all! And Arianna has already been on my butt about getting out and meeting people......what guy wants a college freshman who has a toddler? And with as sexy as Dee is, I'm sure he's combing females out of his hair! Maybe Arianna won't think we're a good match.......yea, and maybe the world will stop spinning too!

I come back from class and enter the cafeteria, only to run right into Dee! Yea, real funny fate! He stops me with a simple,

"Hey, I'm Dee. I saw you earlier when I was moving in."

"Oh, yea I saw you too. Was kinda in a rush to get to class. I'm Christa."

"Hmmmm......Christa. Cute name. Cuter girl," he said.

"Wow, so that's the best you can do? I gotta tell you, I'm a bit disappointed. I really expected more from someone as suave as yourself," I said. What's wrong with me? How uncalled for was that? But he just laughs it off.

"Sorry to disappoint Christa, but pick up lines really aren't my thing. I'm a direct kind of guy. You know, I say what's on my mind. And right now, I think you're kinda cute and feisty."

"Kinda cute? I've been downgraded already huh?" For the life of me, I couldn't tell you what my problem is.......I think he makes me nervous.

"Never that! How about this: you are the prettiest girl I've seen since I got here," he said.

"Why kind sir, you flatter me," I said sarcastically striking a dramatic pose.

"Ok, ok. I know when to quit," he said laughing.

"Well, if you'll excuse me....." I said walking off.

"Hey, look. Maybe we got off to a bad start. I didn't know compliments would get you all fired up. Most girls like them."

"Well, as I'm sure you'll find, I'm not most girls. Who knows how many girls you've walked up to flashing those sexy eyes and saying things you don't mean."

"You think my eyes are sexy, huh?"

Did I say that? Damn!

"Of all the things I said, THAT'S what you heard?" I asked laughing.

"I heard it all, but that was my favorite part," he said.

"Look, Dee, I'm sure you're a nice guy, but I'm not interested, ok?"

"Interested? Somebody has a big ego! Just because I compliment you, that automatically means I'm trying to get into your pants? Look, I just thought you seemed like a nice girl. I thought we could be friends."
"I'm sorry. You must think I'm some kind of nut. I'm really not that conceited. I've just got a lot going on right now," I said feeling like a heel.

"Hey, who doesn't? I just want a chance to get to know you."

"I guess that's ok......so what did you do to get kicked out of your dorm?"

"Oh, that......it's really pretty stupid. So I come back from class and see this chick crying outside. I sit down beside her and ask her what's wrong, and just throws her arms around my neck and starts crying on my shoulder. So I hold her, I'm no bad guy, when all of a sudden this guy runs up yelling at me to get my hands off his girl. I'm like yo, I don't want your chick, she was hugging on me. So this dude Dirk, shoves me. I can't have that, so I shove him back. Next thing I know, we're outside going at it. The RA comes and breaks it up and they decide to move me. ME! Can you believe that? I didn't even want that Lilith chick, I was just trying to be nice!" he said.

"Wow! I know Dirk. He went to my high school. My cousin Fallon had a thing for him before he decided to stay with Lilith. That's pretty awful that they kicked you out though."

"It's no big deal. It gave me an opportunity to meet you," he said.

"I thought you weren't trying to get into my pants, Dee," I said laughing as I walked off.

"Oh, that? I lied," he said.

I just rolled my eyes and went upstairs to study.

Guess who follows me upstairs? He said he needed to study too......but I know what he's trying to do and it's not going to work! Who cares if he has gorgeous eyes.....or if he has strong muscular arms......or that he smells like sinful chocolate......I mean who cares? Ugh........I gotta get outta here.......a run would be nice.

The new tats are excellent right? My parents are gonna freak, but my mom has a nose ring so she can't say much. I may get a few more before it's all done. I get back from my run only to get another call from Tyson. He's been calling to meet to talk about Ryder......for what? He CLAIMS that he isn't his (even though he looks just like him) so what could we possibly have to talk about? I agree this time, only to get him off my ass about it.

We decide to meet at the park and I instantly start yelling at him.

"What the hell do you want Tyson?"

"My son."

"Your son? That's laughable. YOU don't have a son. I do. YOU aren't taking care of him. My parents are. YOU have been denying him since his birth. Ryder doesn't need you Tyson."

"You can't keep him from me you know."

"Oh, no? Watch me. What's with this change of heart anyway?"

"I saw him."

"You saw him? Are you out of your mind Tyson? What are you doing, stalking my parents? Because I know they didn't let you see him."

"Look, Christa. I saw him and I know he's mine and I have rights," he said.

"What you have is the right to walk away now before I get the police involved. Tyson there's no need for this to go to court. You never wanted kids. You told me that when I got pregnant. That doesn't have to change now. Ryder is my responsiblity and I can take care of him. He doesn't need anyone in his life who doesn't want to be there."

"I'm not going to have you meeting some guy and having MY son call HIM daddy."

"Is that what this is about? Me dating other guys? You gotta be kidding me? Tyson, after what you did to me, guys are the last thing on my mind. I just want to finish school, get a job, and start my life with my son. I don't need anything else."

"Trust me Christa, I don't want you. I never really did. You were just my roll in the sack when my girlfriend was out of town. What I want is my son," he said.

"You want him? Then I suggest you contact my lawyer," I said walking off.

Just a roll in the sack? That hurt. That hurt a lot, but he'll never know that it did. There is no way that my son is going to be subjected to Tyson. That's like giving him poison! I planned to go see Ryder today anyway. Better let my parents know that we're going to need a lawyer. Yea, that's going to go over well.

I walk back to the dorms to get some stuff and to call a cab to take me home and I see Dee walking off to class. Damn, that man is fine. But I'm not going to be anybody's roll in the sack ever again. It's a shame.......what a waste......oh, well.

I arrive at my parents' house and my mom greets me with a hug. Our relationship has gotten so much better. My grandmother's death really hit my mom hard. She wants our relationship to be stronger.

"He's been yelling for momma all day," she says.

"Awwww, where's my little man," I ask.

"Upstairs in your room."

I go up and scoop him up into a big hug. Oh, I miss him so much. He's getting so big. He'll be walking soon and I will probably miss his first steps. But I keep reminding myself that this is all for the best.

I sit him down and teach him the nursery rhyme my mom taught me. He's a pretty fast learner. That will come in handy once he starts going to school. I hope Tyson doesn't start up trouble. He doesn't even want Ryder. There has to be something behind his sudden change of heart.

After he learned the rhyme, I took him outside to play on his bouncer that my parents bought him. Oh, he's so spoiled! They just buy him all types of things. I hope he doesn't get TOO accustomed to it! I'm going to be broke when we first start out. The last thing I need is to have a spoiled child who wants everything! No, the last thing I need is to get involved with DeAndre McMillan. Why do I have a feeling that that's easier said than done?

*Christa REALLY likes Dee......I like him too! He's a lazy sim so he does that hunched over pose alot, but on him it's so cute.....how warped am I, lusting over pixels......oh well. It was a bit long but I won't be updating on her for a bit. Gotta play everyone else. My favorite switches from week to week so sometimes I have to shake myself and say, Hey the others want a turn too!