Allegra Gorey - Freshman Year

We've not left Desiderata Valley; our next stop is at No. 20 Peanut Street, part of Sim Sate, the valley's university.

Inside, we find Martin Ruben, Allegra Gorey (she's why we're here) and Jane Stacks. According to their household bio, they "wanted to escape the craziness of campus life and decided to find their own place. Can they still have the "college experience" or will they just get lonely?"

 

Allegra is a Knowledge Sim and aspiring Media Magnate. Her major in Art could come in handy there. She "is a bleeding heart romantic but you wouldn't know that from looking at her. She dislikes the entire sorority as a matter of principle and sticks to her own small circle of friends instead.", says Maxis. 

Martin is of course Joshua Ruben's brother, but unlike him, he "can hardly believe he's really related to a frat member. Rather than dwelling on it though, he keeps his nose to the grindstone, hangs out with his roommates and tries to avoid the sorority girls." Martin's aspiration is also Knowledge, and I can imagine him doing well as the valley's future Education Minister. He is majoring in Mathematics. 

Jane wants to raise 20 puppies or kittens - not unusual for a Family Sim like her. For now, she will focus on her major in Physics. Allegra and Martin are Freshmen, while Jane is a Junior and " has been spending a lot of time with the irresistible Castor lately, could something besides friendship be in the air?"

Their house is modest but functional, with a living room and open-plan kitchen/dining area as well as a toilet downstairs.

Upstairs, the girls share a bedroom, while Martin has his own room with the only desk and computer in the house. A bathroom and a relatively spacious landing complete this floor. Together, the three housemates have 1,365 Simoleons. The house could do with some improvements, but they will wait until their end-of-term grants come in. 

During the day, all three go to class at different times and manage to acquire their necessary skills, with the exception of Jane, who needs a logic point but can only do the crossword for now. In the evening, Ashley Pitts rings Martin and suggests they all meet downtown. The group taxi pulls up in front of Lulu Lounge. 

Ashley has brought along his fraternity brothers, which means Martin's brother is also there, as well as Castor Nova, who Allegra has a crush on when the game begins.

But it is Jane who becomes best friends with Castor almost as soon as they arrive.

Still, Allegra needn't worry - on his own initiative, Martin sweet-talks to Jane, and now these two have a crush :-)

The next morning, the girls get up at the same time. With three students and just one computer and one bathroom, some organising is necessary so that everyone can have a bath, breakfast, goes to class and manages to write their term papers. 

Martin is first to write his.

The purchase of a chess table really can't wait until the grant money comes in, as Jane needs it now before the end of term.

Bills want to be paid, too. But the joint account still shows 626 Simoleons afterwards.

Jane completes her term paper next. 

And finally, Allegra sends hers in, too. 

It is just gone 7 in the morning when the three return from their end-of-term exams. Who schedules them at such ungodly hours, I wonder? Anyway, all three have made it, and their reward is immediately obvious on their bank account which now shows over 4,200 Simoleons. Allegra was the only one to catch a few hours of sleep before her exam - you can tell Jane now regrets that she stayed up all night, and Martin is nowhere near as well rested as he looks.

The new term starts off with Martin and Jane fast asleep and Allegra having leftover spaghetti on her own while reflecting about last term and what lies ahead - plenty of skilling, that's for sure.

When Jane has finally caught up with some badly needed sleep, it is nose to the grindstone for her: She needs not one or two, but FOUR mechanical skill points! Fortunately, she seems to enjoy studying. 

She enjoys her meal with Martin even more, though.

Although they have not shown any more romantic wishes about each other, Martin and Jane seem to really enjoy doing things together. 

pMartin is again first to finish his Term Paper.

pAllegra follows suit, and last but not least, Jane has acquired all her skill points and writes hers, too.p

Now I can lean back and watch what the three house mates are up to. Allegra returns from class and decides to make spaghetti for everyone.

"I am sorry... my sauce bolognese might be just a tad darker than usual..." she apologises, but Martin is hungry enough to eat just about anything when he, too, returns from class. 

Later, the girls play chess until they go to bed. 

The next morning, it is discovered that the fridge is almost empty. What to do? Since they have not yet been to a community lot this term, I send the three to 452-498 University Way instead of having their groceries delivered. 

Jane takes care of their food shopping while the other two roam the lot. 

Jack Kim, who has been spotted before but not yet befriended, seems to find Allegra very attractive when he comes across her upstairs.

She joins him for a game of pool but nothing further happens between them. 

Downstairs, Martin is having a drink at the bar while Allegra meets - and instantly dislikes - Brittany Upsnott. 

Martin is pleased to see his brother, it seems.

Back home, Martin is off to class while the girls get a visit from the Campus Coach and work out for several hours (!). 

Finally, with only two hours to spare before their end-of-term exams, the three sit down together for spaghetti - this time, not burnt. 

They all fly through their exams and end the term successfully. 

I quite liked this set-up; not as busy as a dorm, but not as quiet as a single household, either. Everyone did rather well, and ended up being best friends. What will become of Martin's and Jane's budding romance remains to be seen, and whether Allegra will act on her crush on Castor Nova or become interested in Jack Kim (or someone else), I don't know any more than you at this point.