Writing the Great American Romance Novel, Thursday Per 2

[glacial_queen]

Students would find a note pinned to the door when they showed up for class today:

Sorry everyone. A nasty summer fever has broken out in Glacia and every Healer is needed to fight against it, no exceptions. We'll meet back next week. As homework, figure out your main characters--who they are, what they're like, all that.

Working With Jerks. Still, Thursday, July 28, 2016 [1st period]

[imafuturist]

Today's classroom was much fussier and church-like than usual. Befitting this (fake) occasion, Steve was in his dress uniform. "Sometimes work extends even past picnics and happy hours," he said. "Sometimes you get invited to weddings."

Tony was in a suit that looked like it was more expensive than anyone really should need. In his defense... he'd found it in the back of his closet. Which wasn't really a defense at all. "Sometimes it's a pity invite, sometimes it's just one more grab for gifts in the hope that you don't really show."

Steve made a small face at both of those options. "Sometimes they might actually like you?"

Not generally, Steve, no.

"Sure," Tony agreed, giving him a sympathetic look. "But you'll know for sure if that's the case."

And won't want to scream when you open your invitation.

"So we have a couple of things to discuss," Steve said. "Do you go at all? Do you send a gift? And if you do go, how long do you stay at the reception?"

"Ahead of time, it's a cash bar. So, let that color your choices too," Tony added. Because why make it the sort of party you'd want to go to? "And it's on a Sunday night."