Chapter Three: Erik's Very Bad, Horrible Day

Erik felt so badly about how things went on Love Day and how Leila got so very hurt that night, that he decided he'd ask her to go to the Romance Festival. "Sure, I'd love to go, Erik. I'll meet you there!" She said. Erik finished burning his latest track and released it so he wouldn't lose his Brand Company Contract. Sometimes they were overbearing and unforgiving of a personality's heavy schedule. That done, he headed downtown to San Myshuno and the festival. He was rather glad to see Leila was there. He had thought her saying she'd meet him there was a ploy. A polite way of blowing him off. He asked her to come take a drink of the special tea, only she didn't follow him over. While he was there, he did take some of the Sak-something or other tea and then decided to ask the Romance Guru a question, specifically about this current relationship he was in. Erik just didn't expect to hear what Bradford Bernard had to say:   "At least your flaws are perfectly matched."

Suddenly, Erik saw his mother and decided he'd get her advice.

 Only she wasn't as positive as he had hoped. "Relationships take time to grow, Erik, don't be hasty."


"But you don't understand, Mom, I really love this girl."

"I'm sure you think you do, but love isn't measured by how flirty you feel when you see her. Just how much do you know about her? How long have you known her?"

"We just met. But it was like love at first sight. I mean, you could all but see the sparks flying."

"Um-hm, and just what color are her eyes? Erik, you've done this your whole life. You've always been a very competitive Sim. Both your brothers and your sister are married, and so you want to be, too. I understand. Truly, I do. But, you need more than just sparks to keep a relationship going."

"I know all of this, Mother."

"Ah, yes, but you have Sims, fans flocking about you all of the time. I've heard through the family grapevine, that Love Day was a bit of a bust for you. How she reacts to your fans' adoration matters. A lot."
"I see my sister has a big mouth."

Finally,Erik got Leila to come over with him to see the Guru, although she didn't stay, nor did she try some of that Sakura? tea. He went ahead and asked the Sim again about this relationship. Again, it wasn't what he wanted to hear. 

He began to wonder if he was being stubborn. Then it occurred to him there may well be a way to test it. Just to see if there was any truth at all in what his mother and the Guru said, Erik caught up with Leila. 

"Hey, there you are. Are you here with me, or just here?" he said.

"Of course I'm here with you," Leila said, as Erik put his arms around her.

Erik was now in a quandary, between the Guru and his mother's words of caution and with Leila acting a tad standoffish, he seriously wondered if he should ask Leila to just be friends and see what happens? Should he look around a bit more and see who else might be out there? Before he made up his mind he realized it was time for his gig.

Off he went to the Rock and Roll Music Hall in Windenburg. For once, the fan that followed him onto the stage didn't pick up the microphone and start to howl into it, as others were wont to do. Things were looking up a bit. He set up his drone, George, to begin to live stream, as usual, and then began the set.









Suddenly, the sound cut out and Erik saw fingers of blue electricity shoot out from the side of the amplifier. This wasn't good. 

This day was exhausting. Doing the only thing possible and not wishing to disappoint his fans, he took out a screwdriver and commenced fixing this dilapidated equipment. What else could he do? The show must go on, after all.