After the quiet week with Erik Swain at his Single Sim household, it's back to being really busy: Canyon Commons Dorms at Strangetown's La Fiesta Tech is home to 9 Sims, seven of which are playable and will need good managing at least until they have all their required skills and completed their term papers.
The reason we're here is Stella Terrano, easily recognisable for her light green skintone.
She is a her Senior, as are most of the others (William Williamson, Klara Vonderstein and the Davis brothers, Aldric and Almeric), while the Grunt brothers Tank and Buck are in their Junior and Sophomore Year respectively.
About Stella, Maxis have written that she "... has definitely come a long way from home. Will a diverse campus like this one offer enough opportunity for even her to fit in?" Well, so far she has had no problems fitting in. Last time I played at this dorm, she even fell in love with Aldric Davis autonomously.
As we all know, exams make hungry, and the first thing Stella does upon her return to the dorm is have breakfast with the Grunt brothers.
She already has the skills she needs this semester and is - again! - the first student here to complete her term paper. Her Major is Physics, which suits her Knowledge Aspiration, but not so much her lifetime want of becoming Media Magnate.
Left to her own devices, she walks over to where her boyfriend and Buck Grunt play chess. But who does she throw pink hearts for? Not her boyfriend, who is as oblivious to this happening as Buck.
Outdoors, I catch Klara and Almeric cuddling unter the stars; another couple who found each other without me doing anything.
Before going to bed, Stella spends some time at the arcade game and does a triumphant little dance when she wins.
When they return from class, Aldric and Stella don't go inside immediately but enjoy the sunshine for a while.
They then have a meal together at the cafeteria.
Later, I observe Stella observing Buck and his 3-bolt-girlfriend, NPC student Kay "Spikey" Kosmokos.
It is so nice to see the Grunt brothers together! They didn't have the easiest of childhoods and weren't close when they were younger, but their family life has improved beyond expectations, and now that they are young adults and life at the same dorm, they often seek each other's company and nearly always eat together.
Almeric is in his girlfriend's room, looking up the footie results while Klara sleeps.
Aldric's paunch doesn't come from thin air! He can't even wait for the dorm cook to serve the earliest round of breakfast but has to eat straight from the fridge.
Since he has already eaten by the time Stella gets up and has breakfast, he patiently waits for her to finish (he could at least sit down, though, couldn't he).
After class, Stella joins the Llama mascot in the cafeteria, and they talk about how they are making friends for life here at college.
One of the things Stella loves best is playing chess. William is nearly as much of a chess lover as she, and they have a good game together.
A big wish of hers comes true when she is handed her special plaque for Games enthusiasm.
The first term of this year is already over, and everybody has done really well academically, although they weren't always taking great care of their personal needs such as hunger or hygiene. The autumn semester begins, and for everyone but the Grunt brothers, it is their very last term!
The term is off to a firey start when the dorm cook burns the food. Fortunately, the sprinklers work well, but SOMEONE has to clean up afterwards, and it is not the cook! (Actually, Tank took it upon himself, which was very nice of him.)
This time, Stella isn't the first to hand in her term paper; she needs to brush up on her mechanical skill before it makes sense to start writing.
To accomodate the need for creativity skill all around, and grant a wish of Tank's, a drum kit is set up in the hallway. Almeric gets to use it before anyone else.
It seems that Stella still has the hots for Buck, who by the way was first to hand in his paper this term.
This must have exhausted him so much that he can't even drag himself off to bed, but falls asleep in the common room.
Stella has nothing better to do than to switch on the TV - which of course wakes Buck.
The next morning, Stella visits Klara in her room for a chat.
William was hiding in the men's shower room but to no use - the campus coach finds him, and makes him work out until he needs another shower.
Stella keeps following Buck around, and even though he likes her as a friend, his heart is set on Kay - 3 bolts are 3 bolts.
Come on, Stella, give them some privacy and don't look so downcast - you have a boyfriend anyway, and as has been said often enough, three bolts are three bolts...!
The Grunt brothers engage in a mock boxing fight, all smiles and laughs.
Aldric jumps into his girlfriend's arms, and Stella just about manages to catch him - not only is he a bit on the heavy side, he is also very smelly!
The drum kit is a huge magnet, and there is nearly always someone practising at it.
A mascot fight breaks out in the common room, and guess what - this time the cow wins, not the llama!
It's the very last, truly FINAL exam for Stella and the other Seniors here, and the end of Buck's Sophomore and Tank's Junior Year. All seven end up with best grades, their names on the Dean's List and the full grant.
For her graduation party, Stella invites Blossom Moonbeam, Danielle Smith, Sarah Love and Jessie Pilferson (not pictured). The dorm is already quite full and I fear the game will crash, but it doesn't.
Instead, everybody has a good time, especially once Stella starts the smustle, so loved by all.
One last look back at the dorm and her friends, and it is good-bye to uni for good!
We will of course see Stella again, but it'll be a while until it is her turn on my alphabetical list again. Hopefully, she'll quit pursuing Buck Grant! Maybe she's one of those Sims who find love late in life; one of her turn-ons is grey hair, and of course she did not find that among her fellow students.
