Gigantic

Round 24: Winter 2020

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Lia Novak and Olivia Nihill are both 23.
(Jace is 63, Magdalena is 56, Evan is 31, Steve is 25 and Gordon is 24).

Narrated by Lia Novak

Right up until I graduated, I really had no idea what I wanted to do for a living. The only thing I really want to do is raise a family. But I needed a job until then, so I started working at the library in Exeter.


I really enjoy it. I'm quiet and the library is quiet and it tends to attract quiet people, so I'm well-suited to this line of work.

One thing I've realised since I started working at the library is that it is in sore need of refurbishment. It was a good size for the neighbourhood when it opened 30 years ago but we've outgrown it. I hate having to tell people we don't have the books they need but we simply don't have enough space.

Gordon and I have been officially back together for almost a year now and I think it's going really well.

At the very beginning, we were on shaky ground. I never really fell out of love with Gordon but at the same time, I was really unsure about getting back together with him.

I don't lose my temper easily but I had a lot of pent-up feelings about Gordon and Jamie and I guess I just needed to get it all out.

But we kept meeting up, at coffee shops and then at home, and eventually we got to a point, where I felt like I could trust him again.

It was a few months before I let him even try kissing me but now, I think we're finally in a good place again. I truly think he's changed. You can do a lot of growing up in your early 20s and I think that's what's happened with Gordon.

Gordon dated a couple of girls while we were broken up and some of them still try to flirt with him when we're out.

It used to really bother me but I've yet to see even the slightest hint that he's still interested in any other girl, so I feel a lot better about it now. I guess I could choose to be cynical about it - of course he's not going to accept another woman's advances right in front of me - but I'm not really the cynical type. I'm happy now, so I want to give the relationship a good shot.

Dad is jumping the gun a bit now that Gordon and I are back on. He was a little dubious about us getting back together, knowing the whole story behind it, but last time my parents visited, the first question Dad asked me was when Gordon and I were getting married! I wasn't sure what to say to that!

He says he just really wants grandchildren and he figures right now, I'm his surest bet at getting one. I really don't want to rush into marriage and babies though, as much as I really want both, so he'll have to sit tight a little longer. I mean, that's going to be up to Gordon anyway. There's no way I could ever ask him, like Ione did with Evan. I still can't even believe she did it!

Olivia and Steve have been together for around 4 years now. He lives in the building right next to ours, so it's almost like he lives here sometimes.

Watching them together was tough for me when Gordon and I were apart. It was hard for me to watch any couple back then but Steve and Olivia are particularly gushy and it's like they forget there's anyone else in the room sometimes.

I kind of had no choice but to get used to it but it still makes me a little uncomfortable.

When they start with the flirting, I usually take that as my queue to leave. I try not be prudish but I can't help it. But I don't want her to feel weird about being affectionate with her boyfriend in her own home, so I've never said anything. You know, they're all in love and everything.

Even with the constant PDAs, Olivia shocked me the other night when she said she'd been thinking about getting married! All the talks we've had with me talking about how much I want to get married and she never said a thing. It's something she's only just started thinking about recently. I always figured they'd get married eventually but I had no idea the thought had crossed her mind yet.

Anyway, I started getting really excited then and she told me to calm down a bit. They're not even engaged yet and she hasn't even talked to Steve about it. I can't help it though - I love weddings and I'm just a total sap for the whole idea of marriage and committing yourself to one person for the rest of your life. There's nothing more romantic than that.

Ione is getting married really soon and I'll be the maid of honour. I still don't know Ione's fiancé Evan very well, so Gordon and I have been going out with him and Ione a lot lately.

I've met Evan dozens of times but we're both so shy, that we end up not saying much to each other at all. Ione didn't want us to be complete strangers once they're married though, so we've been getting acquainted a little better.

He's a nice guy and I can tell he's totally smitten with Ione and that's good enough for me.

After dinner the other night, Ione came back to the unit with me to find Olivia plugging away at the wedding gown. Just as we walked in, Olivia said it was ready for what would hopefully be the final fitting.

So Ione tried it on and she looks so gorgeous in it! She hadn't had her hair and make-up done or anything and we still might go shopping for some accessories but she's going to be such a beautiful bride!

Random pics:

Just a little Lia spam!

Notes:

• Title is from the Pixies song Gigantic.
• So Lia is still a total prude! She's like Mrs Crumplebottom, only cute. I'll have to choose my pics of her and Gordon carefully, because I don't think she'd be the type to engage in any major PDAs!
• And yes, while I was playing Steve's lot (I don't play all my non-playables but Steve and Matilda are my favourites and I always play them!), Olivia rolled up the want to marry Steve! They haven't discussed marriage but Steve has had "Get Married to Olivia" in his wants panel for 3 years now, so he's definitely keen! So watch this space. I don't know when they'll get engaged, because I love playing Lia and Olivia together but it's definitely on the horizon for them, now that they've both rolled the want.
• As for Lia's wants, she has the want to get married and to have a baby. Gordon just has the want to have a baby. Well, Gordon better put a ring on it then, because Lia's not going to have his baby without it!
• And a little sneak preview of Ione's gown at the end there! I'm so excited to do this wedding. :) Olivia has finished making all of the clothing for the bridal party now. She's been a busy little bee! She made Ione's dress, along with a dress for the mother of the bride, three bridesmaid dresses for herself, Lia and Asha and Elspeth's flower girl dress.