I didn’t bother doing a second class because I had a business matter I wanted to explore. The management team at the rec center would always have my gratitude for allowing me to host my classes, but as I said previously, it wasn’t a sustainable solution. It rained too much in the autumn, and soon winter would be upon us. I needed an indoor solution, so I went downtown to Anchorpoint Wharf to see if I could find an unconventional space to rent, since I couldn’t afford an entire building yet. If there was a backroom, basement, or attic I could use, or even an unfinished space, I could make it work.
I began my reconnaissance at the library. If it didn’t say “library” on the sign, I wouldn’t have known it was one when I walked in. The atrium was more like a mini art gallery, displaying works from local artists, I assumed. The rest of the downstairs was more like a community center with a breakroom outfitted with amenities for infants and a kids’ play area. Upstairs looked more library-like, but unfortunately, it didn’t have any obvious spaces I could rent.
I got hungry, so I found a street cart and had lunch. San Sequoia was definitely no sleepy town with its bold colors surging life into everything. Most of the colors didn’t even match, but it worked so well, especially with the bridge towering over the city, tying it all together with its rusty hue. I loved how you could see it literally everywhere you went. San Sequoia had definitely become my favorite place I’d lived.
After lunch, I walked around the area, continuing my search for spaces. I stumbled upon an old movie theater and decided to take a break and see what they had going on. The movie was so boring, I couldn’t even tell you what it was about. I was just so mad I wasted good money on that. Luckily, Yasmine called just as it was ending, so I ran out of the theater to answer.
She said she wanted to clarify our conversation from the other day. She liked me a lot and hoped her proposition didn’t change how I felt about her. Then she asked me out! It was kind of thrilling to be on the other end of a date. I definitely needed some fun after that movie attempted to suck the life out of me, so I agreed to meet her at the pier in Copperdale.
I went home to shower and put an outfit together. It was only the pier, so I didn’t make too much of an effort. Good thing too because it was so cold there. I had on my coat the whole time; I hated wasting good outfits.
I found Yasmine by the photo booth, and her outfit was definitely something to note. I never put much thought into my outerwear before, but the way she put her coat, hat, and jeans together had me second guessing my style choices.
“You look nice,” I said.
“Thanks. Wanna take a pic with me?”
Me and Yasmine squeezed together in a tiny booth… I braced myself for whatever she planned to do to me in there because, if there was one thing I knew about her, it was she was bold and always went after what she wanted, and she definitely wanted me. She took full advantage of the lack of space and hugged up on me for our picture. We stepped out and waited for the picture to print, and just as I suspected, we looked like a very happy couple.
“Awww! We are so cute,” she shouted. “I’m keeping this one.”
I guess she should have a keepsake of our time together because that was the closest she was going to a relationship with me. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed spending time with her and was totally down for some casual, unattached adult fun. But that’s all it could be.
“I hope you’re not scared of heights,” she said.
Yasmine and Luca trapped in a slow-moving hanging basket… The story wrote itself, and I fully expected her to suck my face off, but she behaved.
“Look,” she yelled. “There’s my house.”
I looked at whatever dark blob of trees she pointed at, but saw nothing resembling a residence. Copperdale looked like a black forest from up high at night. I bet the view was spectacular in the daytime, though.
We got off the ride, and she checked in with me.
“Are you having fun?”
“Yeah, thanks. I didn’t ride anything when we were here last, so I’m glad I got the chance.”
“Come on!”
She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward our next destination. Her excitement about the rides was just like a child’s; it was adorable.
“This is one of my favorite ones.”
It had a scary, Spooky Day theme, and I wondered what we were about to get ourselves into, not that I was scared or anything. On the other side of the door was the line. When we finally made it to the ride, it was kind of like a mine cart we sat in. It took us around this haunted house while animatronics and actors in costume jumped out at us, attempting their best scare tactics. It was cute; I guess.
The next ride was similar except it was love themed, and we rode around in a boat. Every time I looked in her direction, she was looking at me with a twinkle in her eye. It seemed they made the ride for moments like that, and with the number of teenagers who frequented it, I probably was one of many who’d experienced their first kiss in there. But I didn’t want to make any assumptions, despite knowing what she wanted from me. I scooted closer, letting her know I was into whatever she had in mind. Instead, she playfully smacked me on the shoulder and laughed. I didn’t like that one bit.
She was still laughing when we got off the ride, but I was not.
“Come on, I was just kidding, Luca!”
I was a very confident sim, except when it came to romance. A joke like that could sever all shreds of confidence I thought I had. There was no way she could have known that, but still.
She stepped to me within whisper distance, and my entire body felt like it was engulfed in flames. Here it comes!
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time,” she said, yanking me into a deep, hungry kiss.
At first, I couldn’t believe it was finally happening despite anticipating it all night. Once the shock of her lips colliding with mine wore off, I kissed her back just as hungrily. Every thought and dream that haunted me over the last few weeks fueled my hunger, and I could not get enough of her. I hoped this wasn’t another cruel joke because my pants were getting too tight and I needed to go all the way.
“Come back to my place,” she whispered.
I hoped she didn’t live far. This was definitely not how I imagined my day ending, but I was totally down for the detour.
