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Benji's Day

Benji woke up with a huge smile. Today was the day. He had a huge party planned for his birthday, and luckily, the new house was going to be big enough to hold all the people. He got dressed and took a selfie to commemorate the day.

Marnie came downstairs to yell at Braydon for making a mess....

... but Braydon apparently didn't care. The music was his vibe, and he was just dancing. Brett, on the other hand, didn't like Benji's loud alternative music, and had ran off to the twins' room, throwing a massive temper tantrum about the loud music.

Ignoring the screaming toddler in the next room, Marnie sat down to make Benji's birthday cake. Cooking was a little bit of her zen calm, and since she had no idea about the teen-focused party that was about to happen, she let herself vibe on planning a nice sit down dinner and family party for Benji.

Bennie was acting out of character. His eldest son was growing up and getting ready to move out, and his pride was about to make him burst his buttons. (If he'd been wearing something with buttons, that is....) (Had he told Marnie about that? Nope. He forgot.) When his son offered to show him pictures of his girlfriend, he happily obliged, and even agreed that she was a knock-out beauty.

Marnie finished the cake, and stood back to admire it. It was perfect. Feeling rather proud of herself, she gazed at it for a while, not noticing when Benji came around the corner and saw her staring at the cake.

Benji guiltily realized that he ought to tell his mother about his plans.

Sitting her down, he thanked her for making the cake... then told her about the party.

"Everyone's coming over, mom, so I hope you're planning to cook extra for dinner..." he began.

"Well, I thought we were just having a nice family party. But I guess not.." Marnie started, then waved her hand. "I suppose Benji could make some hamburgers on the grill for the party? As long as you'll help clean up..."

"Help clean up?? When would I have the time for that? Shaylee and I are moving to San Myshuno as soon as the party ends."

"What?" Marnie replied, stunned. She had no idea what her son had been planning, and had been so wrapped up with the twins, and Myles, and Jaz's issues, that she hadn't even thought to ask.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. Shaylee is my girlfriend. We're getting a big apartment in the city with some of our friends. You remember Jay, right? He and his girlfriend will be there, too. Everything will be fine. There's so many opportunities in the big city..." Benji didn't bother to mention it was larceny options that he was planning on working on, not actual job opportunities, but he didn't think dear old Mom needed to know that.

"Oh! Jay is such a good kid. I'm glad you'll have a good friend there. And congratulations on the girlfriend. I wish you'd told me sooner, but I hope you'll remember to stop back from time to time." Marnie's frown disappeared at the mention of Jay being there (she had always liked his best friend - sometimes Benji had wondered if she liked Jay more than him - but he had never said anything.)

Upstairs, Jaz was helping out with some chores, hoping to get back on Marnie's good side. Marnie hadn't said a single word to her since the Therapist appointment disaster, and Jaz wasn't sure what that might mean.

Downstairs, Bennie was playing with one of the twins, and the two were having a great time. Braydon was planning on talking to Benji on the couch, and Marnie was ready to catch Brett should he fall off of Bennie's back.

Bennie must have really been in a good mood, because this picture certainly looked like a model for a perfect family. Even Marnie looks peacefully serene for a change. However, that was about to change.

Guests started to arrive, and Benji changed into his Gig outfit, and was hamming it up for the company.

The horror film on TV was grossing out the girls, but the boys all seemed to approve of the title (including Myles, who had never been allowed to watch this before.. and was taking advantage of his parents' good moods by sitting, quietly watching the forbidden movie.

Benji greeted Shaylee with a kiss, never saying anything about the Future cube's prediction, because that was just a toy, wasn't it? She was so happy to see him, and Benji's worries and insecurities vanished with her closeness.

With a grin, and a thought while he pretended to make a wish like a little kid, Benji prepared to blow out his candles.

(Apologies on the mouse over outline, I couldn't skip using this picture, because it's so awesome, but that outline drives me NUTS.) Benji hurried up and took care of the candles all in one breath, drawing applause from the crowd of teens and family.

(... He rolled Hot Headed. Appropriate.)

After putting away the first piece of the cake (into his tummy, of course), Bennie's burgers were done, and the party continued loudly. They played games, and told jokes.. and generally made a disaster of the house. By the time the party wound down and everyone was ready to go, the place was a disaster. Not nearly as bad as it had been, of course, but Marnie felt completely overwhelmed just looking at the mess. And - to add insult to injury.. her eldest son was walking out of the house with his suitcase in one hand, and his girlfriend on the other.. having completely forgotten to say goodbye to his family.

(This is Benji's earnings from his sale of the armor, and various game tournaments won. The other kids all had some money to their names, as well, and all eight Kleptos moved to the city. I did have to do some fixing after forgetting to make young adults allowed in the club, and aging-up Benji kicked him out of the club. All fixed now, and he's leader again.)

At the doorstep of their new apartment, after everyone else had gone inside, Jay proposed to his girlfriend, Rita.. and she accepted!

They didn't plan on telling anyone else, but they quickly eloped....

... and celebrated in their new bedroom.

Next door, there were a few other celebrations, but these had nothing to do with a wedding, and more to do with finally being free of a family that Benji had wanted to escape for a very long time.

The night finally was silent in the city, and all eight teens were sound asleep by the time I finished their apartment and left them for the night.

... Back at the Malones', the table was mute evidence that Marnie's next day was going to be spent rage cleaning and wondering how her eldest son was doing in the big city.

(Below: Apartment renovation pictures for the Kleptos.. I made it into a four bedroom three bath apartment, and managed to furnish and reno it almost within their budget. I left them with a little money for food, and made sure everything in the tiny apartment would work for everyone. They're all assigned to beds, with Londyn and Emily in one room, and the brothers in the other, plus the two double beds for the couples...)

Overhead pics of the two floor apartment:

More info for those interested: here are the age-up cards for all teens that aged up with Benji in the world. First: the Kleptos:

Then, the two in the world that are connected to the story and were in Benji's "class", so also aged up:

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