This time, on A Stranger ISBI…
Cole does drugs to deal with his mother's death. The kid has been overwhelmingly mopey, to the point where he can't really function. So, here we are, sending up a prayer to the Slice of Life gods to thank them for the wonder pills.
Do they help?
Eh.
Cole spends a day at the local spa, hoping for some real stress relief and relaxation. To my great surprise, it actually offers him a modicum of relief. How long will it last? Let's find out.
All the kids wind up at a Windenberg cafe (except Aleks, but what else is new?) for a small state of the union. However, somebody isn't really interested in participating.
Cole: Yeah, I'm sad enough as it is. I'm gonna pass on this little family outing. My friends are here anyways.
Serafina: I really hope you grow out of this.
Theo: How are you holding up?
Serafina: I've been better. I think Cole's repressing his emotions again though.
Theo: You say "again" as though he ever stopped…
Dan: Cole, are those your siblings? Why do they all look so sad?
Cole: Ugh. Just ignore them. Our mom died.
Dan: What? Are you okay?
Cole: Eh. Yeah. Can we not talk about it?
Madison: Cole! What're you doing here? I thought you had plans with your siblings?
Cole: I do. They're over there. I'm ignoring them.
Madison: Is that…healthy?
Cole: Don't care! Ready to fall in love with me at prom?
Madison blushed.
Madison: Hey! We're going as friends!
Cole: Oh, I know. But I still don't think you'll be able to resist me.
I figure it's probably time to let the kids get some frustration out, so I send them all to the gym. Penrith looks hungover, while Serafina and Theo just look like they haven't slept in weeks.
…Fun crowd…
Aleksander: Kid, how're you holding up?
Cole: Oh my god, stop asking me that! I'm fine.
Aleksander: It's okay if you're not.
Cole: Why can't you guys just leave me alone?
Cole storms off to hide out in the locker room. For a brief moment, he stares at himself in the mirror and realizes that perhaps he isn't fine.
But that moment of self-reflection comes to a screeching halt as we get the Romance Festival notification. As you know, the Festival is very important to this legacy, so Cole is determined to make the best of it.
Guru: Oh no. You're a Stranger, aren't you?
Cole: Yep! Tell me about my love situation, doc.
Okay, but am I being punked by The Sims team?
HOW DOES THE GURU ALWAYS KNOW?
Cole: Ugh. That's really not helpful.
Guru: I don't make the rules.
Cole: Okay, well what about my romantic destiny?
Cole: Hmm. How much should I read into this that I haven't found my destiny yet?
Guru: Kid, you're, like, seventeen. Don't worry about it.
Thankfully (for all of our nerves), Cole and Madison spend the night platonically dancing five feet away from each other. In the terms of Love Festivals, this was probably one of the least dramatic in our legacy so far.
However, Cole ends up right back in a slump once he gets home. Akira finds him in the garden, staring at Penny's grave.
Akira: Do you want some space?
For the first time, Cole finally felt like someone asked him the right question. He nodded, and Akira walked off silently.
Cole began to tell his mother about what had been going on these days, and how he had been feeling. As Akira walked away, he really wished Penny could be here to see Cole opening up to her. It's all she ever wanted from their relationship.
Breaking. My. Heart.
BREAKING. MY. HEART. EVEN. MORE.
Cole wakes up the next day finally feeling like the fog had lifted and ready to dance his tail off at prom. He was also surprised to admit to himself that he was really excited to be going with Madison.
Cole: Hey, dude. You're here early.
Aleksander: Yeah, it's boring when you live by yourself. Damn, when did you get so skinny?
Cole: I've always been skinny.
Aleksander: …Gee, thanks for the reminder.
Cole: Madison, you look great!
Madison: You too! I think we match pretty well.
Cole: I really am glad we decided to go together as friends.
However, it doesn't look like Madison was so excited to say those words.
Cole: You alright?
Madison: Yeah, I–I think I'm just going to get a glass of water or something. Feeling a bit warm in this dress.
Cole: Okay! Meet me back outside when you're done. I think Dad wanted some pictures.
Cole wondered to himself. "Hmm. She seemed kind of weird. Hope everything's okay." He then proceeded to shrug and scroll the internet.
I cannot with how much of a teenager Cole is.
Porter: Frasier, good to see you.
Serafina: Do you think Akira has any sherry?
Theo: *laughs* Does Akira look like someone who would drink sherry?
Penrith: …How much do you work out?
Cole: Every day. Keeps me sane.
Theo, under his breath: I'm not sure it's doing a very good job.
Porter: I mean, he does seem better than usual, though.
Serafina: *sigh* What's wrong Aleks?
Aleksander: Why didn't we get to have prom?
Because, obviously, the Sim gods had yet to download a mod for it, okay?
Sims 3 Generations was the shit, guys. I miss prom and life events.
Penrith: Hey, man!
Porter: How's it going? I haven't seen you in ages!
Penrith: THEODORE SANDWICH!
Theo: I hate my life.
Cole and Madison stand awkwardly next to each other as Akira squabbles with the digital camera. Something is obviously going on with Madison, but Cole remains clueless.
Cole: Did you, uh, get to cool off a bit?
Madison: Sure.
Cole wonders to himself, "What did I do?"
Akira: Okay, now, act like you're on a date.
Cole: Dad!
Akira: At least put your arm around her or something? I thought you were supposed to be all suave?
Madison: Yeah, me too…
Akira: Okay, well, at least act like you're friends?
Cole: Whatever. Standard prom pose?
Madison: Sure.
Cole: Sorry about this.
Madison: It's not your fault.
Cole: You look really nice, by the way. Blue is a good color for you.
Madison: It's not so bad on you either.
Madison: Sorry, I know I'm being kind of weird.
Cole: It's okay. This whole thing is kind of awkward.
Madison: What do you mean?
Cole: Well, we're supposed to be here as friends, and my dad's making us do couple poses.
Madison: *sigh*
Serafina walks around the side of the house to see the kids posing for Akira's pictures. However, she notices that they're both blushing quite a lot. They didn't really look like they were just going to prom as friends.
Akira: They're totally into each other. Isn't it hilarious?
Serafina: Akira, you're making them uncomfortable!
Akira: I know! Penny would be laughing so hard.
Serafina: …While that's true, I'm not sure we should be encouraging this.
Cole: Are we done yet?
Akira: Almost!
Serafina: Oh my god, 'Kira.
Cole: Hey, you can talk to me, you know. I want you to have a good time tonight.
Madison: I will. It'll be fine.
Cole: It doesn't seem fine. Look, let's just do some totally ridiculous dancing once we get there, okay? I have a flask!
Serafina: …I'm going to be pretend I didn't hear that.
Akira: Okay, now stand like you're going to give her a kiss––
Serafina: STOP. Just go to prom already!
Madison let out a sigh of relief while Cole watches her in concern.
Cole: You okay?
Madison: Please, just stop asking me that.
Madison: Let's just go, already.
Cole: …Okay.
When they get to prom, Madison disappears pretty quickly.
"Did I do something? She seemed kind of upset."
He heads over to the snack table to grab some ceviche. No use moping over her. He's doing that enough. Might as well try to make the most of the night.
So. Yikes. Madison ran off with Dan, COLE'S FRIEND, and now here we are, with some unironically-timed prom woohoo with someone else's date.
You can see the regret on her face.
And also my words, as I actively facepalm for letting WW take over my plot.
C'est la vie. We do love a good drama here in A Stranger ISBI.
Cole, meanwhile, is blissfully unaware of what's going on with his friend and his date, and is perhaps a few drinks in already.
Cole: This is some fineeee ceviche.
Eventually, Madison shows back up. She approaches him hesitantly.
Madison: Umm, hey.
Cole: You have to try this ceviche.
Madison: Cole, I'm really sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me tonight.
Cole: Don't worry. You do your thing. I'm here when you need me. In the meantime, I'm going to go dance.
Madison watched Cole dance from the photo backdrop. It was probably time to talk to Cole. But what would she say? Especially now?
In the end, she asked him to meet her outside so they could talk.
Madison cleared her throat nervously. "So, I'm sure you're wondering what's going on."
Cole: You could say that. Honestly you've been kind of mean to me all night.
Madison: I know, I'm sorry. I was trying to distance myself from you.
Cole: …Why? You're the one who invited me to come with you?
Madison: To be honest, it kind of hurt that you kept saying we were here as friends.
Cole: Madison…did you want this to be a real date?
Madison: I–I think so.
Cole laughs and throws his arm over her shoulder. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist my charms!"
Madison: SHUT UP.
Cole: Come enjoy the rest of prom with me, okay? As my date?
Madison: As a date? Are you sure? I thought you wanted space?
The pair hopped up, Cole tremendously relieved that the night was turning out this way.
Cole: If you want to know the truth, I only wanted space so I could try to get over you.
Cole drew her closer. "Obviously, I don't think that's going to work anymore."
Madison: Okay, okay! We should get back out there before my sister notices. She's a chaperone tonight, you know?
Cole: Fine, fine.
Cole: You coming?
Madison: Head on without me. I need to take care of something. I'll be there in a minute.
Nikita, Madison's older sister, sees Cole wander in both alone and red in the face. "Hmm. Suspicious."
Nikita: Cole! Yo! Come dance with me and help me embarrass my sister!
Nikita: Where's Madi?
Cole: I think she had to make a phone call.
Nikita: Sure, if that's the story you want to stick with.
Cole: What's that mean?
Nikita: I'm not stupid. Sure maybe Dad and Serafina believe your little tale that you're just friends. Something more is going on here, isn't it?
Cole: …Are you mad?
Nikita: She's been so much more outgoing and happy since she met you. No. And I think Serafina will understand, too.
Cole: Don't tell her, okay?
Nikita: I won't. But I do think you should.
Cole: I know. You don't think it's weird?
Nikita: Nah. Plus, you're just kids. It's not like you're probably going to get married or anything.
Cole: Oh, there she is! I'm going to––
Nikita: Uh huh. Go on.
Cole grabs Madison and kisses her forehead.
Madison: Wait, Nikita––
Cole: She knows. She's fine with it.
Madison: What? Really?
Cole: Yes. Which means I can do this now…
Cole: So, do you want to be my girlfriend?
Madison: Of course, Cole!
Cole returns home very late that night starving and happy.
Akira: How'd it go?
Cole: I had a lot of fun.
Akira: Anything happen?
Cole: NO!
"Hmm. Suspicious."
And we'll leave you there. That's enough unnecessary drama for one chapter. See you next time for some aftermath!
