46. PROMPOSAL

After returning from Komorebi, Maja got a ton of good news. Firstly, she was finally officially crowned Internet Superstar. Maja had dreamed of this for a long time, but she didn’t expect her New Year’s resolution about promotion to come true just after two days.

The last Project SimStyle and charity stream got her 5th fame star, and her followers reached over 30 million. Maja also completed the SImternet Conqueror aspiration. Her phone was constantly buzzing. Companies wanted to cooperate and were sending her free gear just to get a shout-out.

And then, her Winterfest stream was nominated for an award! This year couldn’t have started better!

At work, everyone greeted her with applause.

Monika: Such a star in my marketing agency! And to think you started as a clickbait headline creator! But I always saw the potential in you! So glad I was right!

Alicja: I’m surprised you still show up here with your fame and reputation.

Maja: Hey, I’ve got to do something in between Project SimStyle episodes, plus the show will end eventually.

Alicja: You could start your own business.

Maja was intrigued by Alicja's suggestion. It did make sense. She could start her own company and do what she truly loves. No more sending out silly videos that get edited to make her look like catching a 20kg salmon or cooking dinner for a royal family. She needed to think this through.

At home, Bastian was fine-tuning the details of his promposal sign. He had one more day off before going back to school. He had big plans and wanted to be well-prepared. Everything had to be perfect.

This time, nothing was going to stop him. He’d approach Laura, gracefully pull out the sign, and she’d throw herself into his arms, saying she’d been waiting for him. She’d definitely notice his manly mustache – the ultimate sign he was no longer a kid.

But easier to say than to do. Laura was always surrounded by a group of friends at school. Wherever Bastian tried to approach her, they were there too: giggling, gossiping, and judging.

Bas: Dude, how am I supposed to catch her alone? Do they have to hang out in packs?

Arno: Chill, just talk to her.

Bastian was great with fractions and coding, but he didn’t know much about girls, especially not how to handle a whole group of them without getting immediately surrounded and embarrassed. He had to figure out how to get rid of them from this equation. And he might have just come up with a plan.

Meanwhile, Jace had been asked to do a photoshoot of Willow Vatore for Sims of Tomorrow magazine. Naturally, it was about the latest outfits from Project SimStyle. The shoot went spectacularly.

Bastian visited Career Day again, but the same reps were there as last time. He learned a little more about being an engineer, but it wasn’t enough.

Bas: Excuse me, how else can I figure out which career would suit me best?

Teacher: You could take an aptitude test.

Bastian [to himself]: Business? Meh. Tech Guru? Better. Gamer Streamer...? Now that’s interesting!

Oh yeah, that job was perfect! It fits Bastian's skills and interests so well! Not that he lacked any. Besides his lab internship, he had also become captain of the computer team. He wasn’t sure whether he preferred coding, science, or something else entirely.

Maja: Got any plans for Love Day?

Bas: Mom...

Maja: Hey, just asking. See you after school. Big test today, important day.

Bastian did have plans for Love Day. In fact, they were big plans. It was all going to start today when he’d walk Laura to school and finally ask her to the prom when none of her friends were around.

Jamar: Laura, Bastian’s here.

Laura: Already?? I thought I had a few more minutes!

Laura felt a bit panicked around Bastian lately, though she didn’t want to admit it. She’d been avoiding him at school, but also felt sad because he hadn’t talked to her all week – except for today’s text.

Laura: Why so early? I barely had time to get ready.

Bas: But you look great! I wanted us to have plenty of time and not to rush.

Laura: We haven’t walked to school together in ages.

Bas: True, we need to bring back the old tradition, especially since we live so close.

Laura: Bas, this isn’t the way to school...

Bas: I know. I’ve got a plan. How about a little crazy one? The kind where we skip school today?

Laura: SKIPPING? But there are tests today! Have you ever skipped school before?!

Bas: Not without parents permission... But if I’m going to act so irresponsibly and recklessly, it’s only with you.

Laura: I don’t even recognize you! Fine, let’s do it!

Bas: I heard there's an amazing café upstairs with delicious croissants.

Laura: Ugh... the principal’s calling.

Bas: Just don't pick up.

Turns out, outside of school with no pesky friends around, they had a lot to talk about. Laura opened up to Bastian about her fears of not fulfilling her dreams, and he was really good at cheering her up.

At the Recreation Center, there was a climbing wall, so Bastian showed Laura what he’d learned in Komorebi. She really enjoyed the sport, and beyond that, she felt herself falling for this unpredictable guy – even more than she had before.

Bas: Have you tried this?

Laura: What, are you serious? That's for adults!

Bas: Actually, we're not far from being adults ourselves! Let’s try it!

Woman: What are you kids doing here??!

Bas: Oops...

Laura: Let’s run!

Bas: You run fast!

Laura: You too, haha!

Bas: You know, Laura, when I'm with you, I feel like I could do anything. Do the craziest things. Like today, with skipping school. And, well, I’d like to know if you might have some special feelings for me too and would like to go to the prom tomorrow as my girlfriend?