September 2088. Jordan Graham is 28, Ingrid Thompson is 25, Maria Boone is 26, Colette Marin is 31.
previously: Jordan had plans to shake up his life // then Maria kissed him in the kitchen at work // he's not letting Colette tell him what to do anymore // and Ingrid conned convinced Jordan to drive her out to California
Ian and Ingrid have done everything together, every moment of their lives since they were born. Until September 14th, 2088, when Ingrid asked if he wanted to tag along on their epic adventure out to the Pacific coast, and Ian said. “Nah, I’m good.”
And Ingrid said, “Oh! Really? Right on, brother! Go your own way!”
boxes and squares #1: go your own way
a prequel to Boxes and Squares
New story coming soon!
Ingrid’s POV from, “2085: a rebel yell”
Boxes and Squares will be completed in about 7 (huge) chapters. (Estimated around 28k words—another novella, folks! I can’t stop with these characters, I truly can’t!)
Because the chapters are so big, I feel it would be the least frustrating to post to Tumblr first as I shoot the scenes, then compile the chapters to the blog shortly afterward. I hope not to have too much of a delay between the Tumblr postings and the completed chapters here, but you know, life happens. 🙃
The story spans from September 2088 to March 2089 in the timeline, and will have two short intermissions to visit other families. We will center around Jordan and Maria again, but with shared focus on Ingrid, Colette, and the kids. Supporting roles for Tyler and Maya, Lou (Maria’s sister), Jack Phoenix, and maybe… Charlie? Not sure yet how much trouble Ingrid might cause. You can never really know with that girl, lol!
To start, I kind of feel like taking a little walk down memory lane with Ingrid.
The thing is, writing Ingrid for the upcoming stories, a lot of her mindset and growth keeps reflecting back to the summer of 2085 and the definitive three weeks (it really was only three weeks, lol!) when she was absolutely stupid crazy in love with Charlie Roseland. And I think to understand 25-year-old Ingrid, we need to know 22-year-old Ingrid from that summer.
Those stories were posted on an obscure little side blog, The Lakeside Files, TS3 era, in 2014! Wow, a whole freaking decade ago! I don’t expect anyone to go digging for the relevant posts and scenes, so I’ve done a little flashback series on my Tumblr where you can find them all easily. Truly, it’s been very interesting to focus on Ingrid’s POV only from that story, and how it must have felt to be in her head that summer. Charlie’s story is already told, but you are always welcome to read (or re-read) Charlie & Natty’s story in its entirety on The Lakeside Files.
Of course, you don’t have to read these flashbacks either, but they will provide perspective on Ingrid’s actions and motivations in her 25 year-old life in Boxes and Squares.
Ingrid’s POV from, “2085: a rebel yell”
Charlie-fucking-Roseland
enjoying the quiet
science
a forgotten memory
hiding in the supply closet
last day of the summer fair
always choose dare
the ferris wheel
warm beer
thank you kiss
endings and rebounds
end of round summary: 2086-2088
How about the 2-year round that took 6.5 real life years to write!?
Too many sims with too many beefy stories.
Also, so much going on in my family and life, including that I had a whole new baby that has since grown into a whole giant preschooler.
Also, Covid happened.
The whole world literally changed during the writing of round 2086, lol!
my sweetheart #10: call it what you want
September 2088. Jordan Graham is 28, Ingrid Thompson is 24, Maria Boone is 26, Johanna is 4.
warnings: NSFW
“Hey! What’s the story, morning glory?”
Ingrid’s voice was entirely too energetic for eight in the morning, bubbling with the energy of a late-night party that never ended. Jordan had a sore neck and a sore back, and there was no comfortable way to sleep in the cab of this truck. Technically homeless now, he needed to find another option. It would have been much more comfortable to roll out his sleeping bag and sleep under the stars, but he had just too much pride to do that. In the suburbs, at least. He just needed to get out of here.
my sweetheart #9: uprooted
September 2088. Jordan Graham is 28, Felix and Milo are 9, Colette Marin is 31, Ingrid Thompson is 24, Maria Boone is 26.
“Find the only broken camper on Brindleton Main Street, parked next to a duplex. You really can’t miss it.”
Jordan found Ingrid’s camper, and hopefully it would mean a quick buck. Having spent half his savings on the climbing class, he needed more money. And fast. Ingrid said that she would pay him for the work, and he hoped she meant in actual money. He had nowhere else to go, and this was as good a place to park as any.
my sweetheart #8: honeymoon
September 2088. Justin and Stephanie Nova are 28.
The day after their wedding, Justin and Stephanie headed off for their honeymoon in Sulani. The brochure promised a private, secluded beach hut and the thrill of living off the island.
Stephanie especially looked forward to some time unplugged with her new hubby. But when they arrived, they found that the Wi-Fi connection was full strength, outlets powered up to charge their devices, and there was running water and a gas stove.
The day after their wedding, Justin and Stephanie headed off for their honeymoon in Sulani. The brochure promised a private, secluded beach hut and the thrill of living off the island.
Stephanie especially looked forward to some time unplugged with her new hubby. But when they arrived, they found that the Wi-Fi connection was full strength, outlets powered up to charge their devices, and there was running water and a gas stove.
What’s the first thing they should do here? Skinny dipping in the waterfall? Sandcastles? Snorkeling?
my sweetheart #7: don’t be sorry
August 2088. Jordan Graham is 28, Maria Boone is 26.
previously: Jordan and Colette are not on the same page // Jordan has many admirers, but his mind is elsewhere // Maria kills her own fantasy
warnings: NSFW
The last wedding guests retreated to their cars and hotel rooms, commencing the cleanup shift. Jordan had his hands in warm dishwater when a shapely red figure appeared in the doorway. The dress was unfair. He suspected she chose it on purpose, to highlight the curve of her hips, the fullness of her breasts. To say, Look what you passed on, you stupid boy.
The dress was payback because he said that he would take her on a date and also that he needed to escape this whole life and be alone. Both were true. Both can be true at the same time, he wanted to explain.
“Hey,” Jordan said to her. “I didn’t know you were still here. I thought you would have gone home with everyone.”
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