Chapter 24
T he party was tomorrow. Cue the panic.
It was New Year’s Eve Eve . I’d spent hours each day this week checking over and finalizing details for Hazel’s big birthday/holiday bash. Basically, she was inviting the whole town and several others beyond Shipsvold.
And at night, I spent hours talking to Danny. The more we talked, the more comfortable I felt with him and the idea of meeting him.
Granted, I was still terrified to meet him. Just … a little less terrified.
Despite being extremely busy, I found Jeff popping into my mind at odd moments. I hadn’t seen him in days, and it felt odd. Bittersweet, sort of. But more bitter than sweet.
I missed him. Jeff. The sometimes surly, sometimes sweet and generous guy I’d worked with and therefore talked to nearly every day for the last eight months.
A dull pain pierced my chest, and I wondered every single day if this whole New Year’s meetup thing had been a mistake.
But then I logged on, and talking to Danny made me remember how much I liked him. I really liked him, in truth.
Even when we were arguing … which we did often lately.
CastGamer55: It was your idea to add a romantic element to the game. Now you want to cut it?
SawyerRox4: No, I don’t want to cut it. I just think we should leave it open-ende d
CastGamer55: Open, how?
SawyerRox4: The outcome. The game could end with either an HEA or not…
CastGamer55: What’s an HEA?
SawyerRox4: Happily Ever After. It’s a romance thing. Why are you even advocating for this if you don’t know basic romance terminology?
CastGamer55: Well, excuse me. I’ll be sure to do my homework next time.
CastGamer55: You don’t think the game should conclude on a happy note?
SawyerRox4: Not necessarily. Real life isn’t like that.
CastGamer55: This is fantasy though. Or sci-fi.
SawyerRox4: I can tell you’re not into genre fiction
CastGamer55: You’re right about that. But I do think it’s pointless to include a romantic relationship as even an option in the game if there won’t be a happy ending.
SawyerRox4: Why does it matter?
CastGamer55: Because we want players to feel happy after they finish the game. Right? Seems like good business sense.
SawyerRox4: Oh, um, are you an accountant? Just realized I never asked…
CastGamer55: No.
SawyerRox4: … ok then
SawyerRox4: Do we want them to feel happy? That implies satisfied, but don’t we want them to be excited and maybe a little unfulfilled so that they want to play again and again?
CastGamer55: Can’t they be all of the above?
SawyerRox4: That would depend on the individual temperament and personality
CastGamer55: Let me guess: psych major?
SawyerRox4: lol, yeah
SawyerRox4: So, players could choose their path. Like in the game of Life. You could choose the kind of relationship you want to have with other players
CastGamer55: OK, tell me more.
SawyerRox4: Maybe some players want to pursue romance, but others want to make friends, and then others who don’t want to pursue any relationships other than as project teammates or even as enemies, which could be interesting …
CastGamer55: I admit that would be good because it better reflects the actual show. Some people connect as friends, others as lovers, etc. And some actually wish to do others harm.
SawyerRox4: Right! So you see, players on the romance path don’t need an HEA necessarily.
CastGamer55: Wait, that doesn’t follow logically from what you said. It isn’t even relevant. It’s a poor attempt at syllogism.
SawyerRox4: Let me guess – logic major?
CastGamer55: Haha. That doesn’t exist.
SawyerRox4: Too bad, right? Must be philosophy then
CastGamer55: You’re feisty today.
SawyerRox4: Well, you’re a bit argumentive today!
CastGamer55: I still like you though.
SawyerRox4: You mean, like …
CastGamer55: We should give the players an HEA, Mindy.
SawyerRox4: When a reader finishes a romance novel, they actually find the happy ending s o satisfying that they want to start a new one. So they can have the HEA and still leave them wanting more.
CastGamer55: Isn’t that what I said?
SawyerRox4: What? No. You’re confusing me. They will be wanting more regardless of whether they have the HEA. You see?
CastGamer55: I'm calling it a night, Mindy. Goodnight.
SawyerRox4: That was abrupt
CastGamer55: Sorry, just tired and maybe a bit irritable. Long week. I’ll see you tomorrow !
Tomorrow.
I took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly, several times.
Was I really going through with this?