Pick'N'Mix Mods for The Sims 2

2 - Departure

The kitchen was in chaos, empty packets, open tubs, half-used cans, spilt bottles and used cutlery covered every work-surface. A pile of bags and boxes were stacked neatly by the backdoor. Deano raised his arms to the ceiling in a silent 'Why me?'

"What?", snapped Sophia-Grace, still in her dressing gown, "I was in a hurry and it's not as if they won't know we've left."

The kitchen door swung open, and a large marshmallow entered, suppressing muffled giggles. Deano lifted the duvets off the girls and added them to the pile by the door.

"Is that it?", he enquired, "Can we go now?"

Sophia-Grace looked at the pile, "Will it all fit in the car?"

"Come on", Deano said, grabbing two boxes and pushing the outside door open with his back.

"Where's the car?", hissed Sophia-Grace, as she entered the side alley.

Deano, unable to point, nodded up the alley, "Over there."

"I can't see it. Is it behind the school bus?"

"No", Deano said through gritted teeth, "It is the school bus."

Sophia-Grace stopped dead in her tracks. "What kind of idiot steals a school bus?"

"One that couldn't find a car and is desperate.", Deano replied. "Anyway", he added sarcastically, "I can't see your car."

Ona and Lottie pushed past Sophia-Grace, carrying bags and ran to the bus laughing, "Come on Sophia-Grace", called Lottie, "It'll be like a school outing."

"We're doomed", mutter Sophia-Grace. Closing her fingers round a small silver locket at her neck, tears streaming down her face, she added "I've failed you Mummy, I'm so sorry."

"Come on slow-coach", called Lottie, pushing past with another load.

"That's all Deano", said Ona, passing Sophia-Grace on the other side, twisting her.

Wordlessly, Deano picked up the bag that had fallen from Sophia-Grace's hand (which was still clasping the locket) and, taking her elbow, propelled her towards the bus.

Deano had no plan, no destination in mind - he didn't know where they were running to, just that they were running (albeit not very fast!) His original plan had involved two people and a car, driving through the night, to get as far away from the care home and the municipal authorities as possible. Then he would have worked something out. Now he had a problem - and it was big and yellow and had "School Bus" written on it.

Deano drove two blocks, turned into a compound, and parked up. Lottie and Ona were peering out the windows into the dark.

"Where are we?"

"Are we there?"

"No. We're just going to sleep here for a bit." Remembering Sophia-Grace's comment about a new game, he added "Can you make a nest under the seats?"

Leaving the giggling girls, he returned to the front of the bus where Sophia-Grace was sat, blindly staring forwards, still clasping the locket. He sat opposite and gazed at her, he didn't want to admit it but she was both gorgeous and definitely his type. But he knew he wasn't in her league - he wasn't even sure they were playing the same game.

She suddenly stirred, blinked, and looked at him. "Where are we?"

"Resting."

She blinked again, looked around and suddenly got her bearings, "Oh god, we've gone half a mile."

She keeled over, curled her long legs onto the bench seat, and muttered "Doomed, we're doomed", still clutching the locket.

Deano flicked her dressing gown over her thigh and went to fetch a blanket. He'd be dreaming of lilac for many nights.

1 - Lilac 3 - Escape