Chapter 2: Finding and Getting People to Like You

It's a weeknight but Emmie is just dying for some party life. If she's going to throw one she needs people to invite, though, and her phone contact list is woefully bare. Time to go out!

To the Red Rendezvous, where two paparazzi have spawned despite me deleting celeb levels from everyone in town. They look lost.

Goodwin was always a sweetheart in school, and has filled out a little since then. They dance together goofily a while, and it's surprisingly un-awkward. His kind, simple manner makes him easy to talk to and he seems to enjoy her company with every passing moment.

After a while he smiles and produces a bouquet of flowers. "Let's spend some more time together tonight," he proposes.

"Oh, baller!" Emmie enthuses. "I'm actually thinking of having a party tonight, at my place. I mean, it's not much of a house, just a room with a bed in it. But that's enough for a fun night if you know how to improvise, if you know what I mean!"

"Uh.. wait, Emmie, I think that shirtless guy is getting the wrong idea about your party..."

"What? Oh, no, he can come too. The more the merrier. In fact, could you bring some friends? Guys, girls, anyone's welcome," she chatters obliviously. Goodwin starts to look increasingly creeped out.

"I was just trying to ask you on a date, but if you have some weird orgy planned, then.. never mind," Goodwin says in disgust.

"Wait, what?!" Emmie calls after him, but he's already left.

Catching the eye of another young man who witnessed the miscommunication, Emmie tries to save face. "Would you like to come to my party, handsome? It's definitely not an orgy, I promise."

Hmm. Perhaps best not to follow that up with a wink and a kiss. I'm not sure this interaction is ever successful. The man in the sunglasses scuttles off, looking terrified.

Do I have bad breath or something? she thinks with some irritation.

Keep it together, don't be weird, make eye contact. Emmie coaches herself in the mirror, remembering a chapter she once read entitled "Finding and Getting People to Like You."

Smile. Make small talk. Ask questions. Read body language. Reveal a little more than what they ask, but don't overshare. Express liking, but selectively. It's hard to remember all the rules that go into a social interactions; shouldn't conversation just flow naturally?

It seems so easy for everyone else, but somehow she never seems to be on the same wavelength as other people...

Maybe she should just go home.

On her way back through the bar towards the door, Emmie hears someone call her name.

It's Justin Kayes, another ex classmate. "Emmie Lee, right? I thought that was you." Emmie is distracted by how much older and more handsome Justin looks since his dweeby high school days.

"I'm working at the science lab now," he offers, proudly.

"I know. You post about it all the time on your simsta."

Justin frowns. "It was only a few posts. I didn't know you even had a simsta..."

Awkward silence.

Justin smiles. It's only slightly uncomfortable. "Well, we're looking for some young people to serve as test subjects. Would you like to participate?"

"It's not intrusive," he continues, "just some meds we're testing for side effects. The most you might feel is some body discomfort or mood alteration."

His pleading expression is a little too eager, but it's comforting to see him behave just as awkwardly as Emmie does.

"Will I get paid?"

"Yes!"

Well that decides that. She really needs the money. "In that case, I look forward to seeing you in your handsome white lab coat, Dr. Science," she says coyly.

Oof, finger guns? That's not a super attractive look...

But Justin seems receptive. Into it, even! She gives him her number and he promises to send the details.

Silent fist pump when his back is turned. She pulled off an almost passable human interaction? AND a job opportunity? That's a win for sure.

Celebratory quick drinks make her forget all about her party plans that night.

And after this scene I immediately went into edit town to put a LN bar on this lot. My sims deserve real drinks, quick drinks are simply not gonna cut it.

---

This chapter was going to be a lot longer but my game kept crashing as Emmie was leaving the science facility. I tried to take pics of her at her first day of work but everytime the game reloaded the weather would be different. Ugh.

So... I got fed up and shelved the game for the week. ><