The Arcade

"Yay! We're here!" Suzie yelled as I pulled up in the arcade parking lot.

In a flash Suzie took off her seat belt and was out the door. I chuckled and went after her, twirling the car keys around my fingers.

"Come on Tori," Suzie said impatiently.

I walked even slower, trying to tease her. She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the entrance. I made sure to drag my feet and laughed as Sue struggled against me. Finally we walked into the arcade.

The arcade was dark and the only lights came from the different games and the dimmed lightbulbs. There was a section of the arcade where they had booths if you wanted to snack on some pizza or nachos, but the rest was just an arcade. There are so many games its insane. And every here and there you'd see a machine to change your cash into coins. Twenty bucks already got you about a hundred coins.

"That'll be twenty dollars," The front desk lady said.

I payed the fee and she handed me and Suzie a wristband. We quickly put it on and started to walk around seeing which games we were going to play.

"Oh I am so playing that one," Suzie said.

I followed her gaze and laughed, "Terminator?"

"Yes Terminator, its so freaking cool!" She said.

I laughed, "Remind me why I let you see that movie?"

"Because I had seen predator and you wanted me to see one of Arnold's other movies," She said matter of factly.

"Oh yeah now I remember," I chuckled, "Don't tell dad."

Suzie laughed, "I won't."

We kept walking around for a while until I saw a very familiar head. Mark. And at his side was Conlan. They were sitting down on one of the random benches you find every so often.

I bent down by Suzie and whispered in her ear. She nodded in agreement.

"Go," I whispered and pushed her forward.

She ran towards Mark and jumped on his back, "Help me help me! I can't find my daddy!"

"Suzie! What the heck?" Mark said laughing.

I walked over and laughed along with him, "Nice job Sue."

We high fived each other and she got off of Mark.

"What was that for?" Mark asked.

"For fun, duh. Honestly Mark don't you know the meaning?" Suzie asked.

I laughed, "Conlan where's my hug?"

Conlan chuckled and gave me a hug, "Hey Tori."

"Hi Conlan, ready to have fun?" I asked.

"Are you kidding?! Heck yeah," Conlan replied.

I laughed and handed him a twenty, "Here but give half to Suzie."

Conlan smiled as he took the bill, "I will."

I looked over at Suzie and handed her my phone, "Call if you need anything."

"Ok Tori," She looked over at Conlan, "Race ya to Rambo?"

"Go," Conlan said sprinting off.

Suzie ran after him yelling about him getting a head start.

Me and Mark laughed as we watched them run off.

"So which game first?" Mark asked.

I thought for a minute. Out of all the games here which should we go to first?

I smiled, "Wack a Mole?"

"Race ya there," he said.

"Go," I replied already ahead of him.

"Hey that is not fair," he called after me.

I laughed and took a couple turns before I reached the Wack a Mole. There was no one there, of course not. Mark came by a couple seconds later.

"That was unfair," Mark said.

I laughed. Mark was in a regular t-shirt and jeans. He had a small pouch with coins in it.

When we were younger we thought it would be a good idea to make little pouches to carry our coins in. Because whenever we put them in our pockets we'd just lose them.

"Darn it I forgot my coin thingy," I said pointing at the small pouch.

Mark laughed, "Well I'm not giving you any coins."

I stuck my tongue out at him and he stuck his at me.

"Don't stick your tongue at me," I said lightly hitting his arm.

"Man, I can't hit a girl." Mark said with a pout.

"That's right now give me a coin," I said putting out my hand.

Mark chuckled and handed me the bag, "Keep them."

"Thank you Mark," I said sweetly, "Your the best friend in the whole world."

"Yeah NOW you nice," Mark shook his head.

I chuckled and pulled out a coin. Me and Mark grabbed the small mallets. We put the coins in and the first mole came out. Mark quickly got it.

"Oye!" I yelled.

He gave me a devious smile and shrugged, "Better luck next time."

"Oh it's on," I said geting ready for the next mole. It popped up and me and Mark went after it. I reached it first and wacked it.

"Ha ha!" I said to Mark.

He smirked, "Lucky shot."

I rolled my eyes and we went back to the game. We played around racing to wack the stupid moles. At the end of the game Mark hit the last mole.

"Heyyyyy, no fair!" I said.

Mark laughed, "I win."

I grabbed the small cushion mallet that we use to wack the moles, and hit the top of Mark's head, "I win."

I smiled at him and he stared at me with a 'you did not just do that' face.

"You want to play like that? Fine." Mark grabbed the other mallet and hit my head.

I gasped and wacked him again. He pointed the mallet at me and we started to fight. He'd wack me and I'd wack him. We kept going on, sadly we couldn't move around much because the mallet was tied to the game. But either way we still hit each other.

We didn't notice the guy that was walking over. He had the arcade uniform and walked up getting in between me and Mark. He looked our age and I think I've seen him before at some school football games.

"Please don't hit each other, we have little kids and don't send the wrong example. I'd hate to kick you out," the guy said.

"Sorry," Mark said putting the mallet back. I followed putting my mallet down and me and Mark walked away. We said another sorry as we walked and turned into another aisle of games.

Me and Mark stopped behind a game and broke into laughter.

"That guy looked so pissed," Mark said laughing.

"He stared at us like we had something mental." I added laughing.

I mean how many times do you get told not to wack each other with mallets? That was something that has never happened to me, like ever. But you know me and Mark always do things like this. We were the first two to break the trampoline, the first two to paint with our faces instead of finger painting, and the first two to climb the school gutter to the roof of the school.

Yeah long story.

But anyways we always do the stupidest things, and in the end we just laugh. And laugh. And laugh. That's how we were. If there was a two musketeers type thing, we would so be that.

We laughed a bit more behind the random game, and once our laughing was under control we walked somewhere else.

"Ooooooh Pac-Man. Lets go!" I said grabbing Mark's hand with both of mine and dragged him to the game.

"Tori this game is so old," he said shaking his head as I put in a coin.

I raised my eyebrows at him hanging my head, "We just played Wack a Mole and you're saying this game is old."

Mark didn't reply and watched as I moved the joystick swiftly. I got a good six levels until I finally died.

"Darn it," I said looking at Mark.

He chuckled, "My turn."

I moved out of the way as Mark cracked his knuckles and moved his neck.

I laughed, "It's a game. Not a championship Mark."

He smiled and put the coin in and started to play. I watched from the game to him. Mark moved the joystick around and I watched as his biceps would flex at times and the stay limp at others. His tongue was stuck out in concentration and that made me smile. His hair, looking darker in the light was slightly flipped to one side.

But his tongue was seriously starting to bug me now. I mean only the tip was sticking out but still it bothered me.

"Why do you do that?" I asked.

"Eat the cherries? Because it helps," Mark smirked.

"No stick your tongue out stupid," I replied.

Mark shrugged, "Accustomed to it. Kinda like when your bored or impatient you tap your pencil on your desk."

He really does know more about me than myself, I thought.

"Yeah but it bothers me," I whined.

Mark chuckled, "Well boo hoo."

"Not funny," I muttered.

He kept playing, his tongue still slightly stuck out. Ok now it was seriously bothering me. I reached over and with my index finger poked his tongue back in his mouth.

"What the hell Tori?" Mark asked as he laughed, "Why'd you do that?"

"I told you it was bothering me," I said matter of factly. I rubbed my finger across his shirt, "And now you got Mark saliva all on my finnger."

"Well don't rub it on me," Mark said using one of his hands to block my finger, "You're the one that poked my tongue back."

"You're the one that stuck it out in the first place," I shot back.

Mark shook his head, "No comment. Aww man, you made me die Tori."

I smiled, "Good, now we can go to a different game."

Mark chuckled and we headed to a different machine. We played on so many games it was nuts. I think we nearly played all of them by the time our coin bag was low.

"We have enough coins for one more game," Mark said.

Ok which game. Which game? I looked around my eye's falling on different games. Then they fell on one with blinking colorful lights and it had some arrows.

I faced Mark, "We never did that dancing game!"

He chuckled and we walked over, "I'm so gonna kick your ass."

I smirked, "You wish."

We reached the machine and Mark put in the coins. I got on one side while Mark got on the other side. A random, cheesy, crappy song came on and me and Mark laughed.

"Ok then," Mark muttered.

I chuckled and the game started giving orders. I had my feet set in the middle, as did Mark and whenever it gave us a command we would follow.

It sort of went like this: up. Up, left, right. Down down, up, center.

Me and Mark followed the arrows and after a while it got faster. Now me and Mark were jumping all over the place. Up left right center. It just started working so fast. Mark's meter went down and I made sure mine stayed in the medium section.

We were panting now, and finally Mark's meter went so low the game ended on his side. I laughed at him but quickly went back to the game to see how far I would get. Mark got off and walked to the small bench behind the game so he could watch me.

"Go Tori!" He yelled.

I shook my head but kept playing. A minute later my legs were screaming and my side started to hurt.

I walked off holding my stomach and panting, "Ok I'm done."

Mark laughed and I walked over sitting next to him.

"Nice job Tori," Mark said.

I smiled, "Thanks. I kicked your ass."

Mark shook his head, "I wouldn't be talking. So far I've beaten you in bowling and foosball. So....yeah."

"Your such a jerk," I managed to say as I lightly punched his arm.

He laughed at me and rubbed his arm.

"That did not hurt," I told him.

"So? Does it make you feel bad knowing that it might have hurt?" He asked.

"Yeah I guess," I replied.

"Then rub it I shall," Mark said rubbing his arm and groaning every once in a while.

How did I ever end up as his best friend? I thought. Oh yeah.....that. But hey he was still awesome.

"So where too?" I asked.

"We can go have pizza?" Mark replied checking his phone, "It's around dinner time anyways."

"Really? What time?" I asked looking around the arcade.

"6:48," Mark said, "It'll be an early dinner."

"God we've been here for like four hours!" I whispered yelled.

"Time flies when your having fun," Mark quoted.

I nodded. Time really does fly when your having fun. It's true though. Whenever I hang out with Cali and Mark, time just goes by. But if I'm stuck in a car with my three stepbrothers, gee I can't believe I'm not dead.

Me and Mark got up and started heading to the diner. I guess you can call it a diner, or concession stand but they come and serve you, so I don't know. We found a booth and sat down. They handed us some menus, which I consider stupid since there isn't much to eat. Just milkshakes, pizza, hotdogs, pretzels. The average.

"What would you like to drink?" The guys asked.

Wait. This guy? He was the same guy that told me and Mark to stop whacking each other.

"Hey I know you...." I said.

Mark looked up at the guy and grinned, "Oh yeah...."

The guy rolled his eyes, "I told you two to stop hitting each other. The girl was killing you man, but you wouldn't want to mess up a face as pretty as hers now would you?"

What the F? Did he just call me pretty? I don't even know his freaking name. Wow flirt alert much.

I mouthed a 'Ok' then went back to the order, "I'll have a lemonade."

"All right sweetheart and you?" He asked Mark.

"Coke," Mark said he then looked at me, "Wanna order now?"

"Sure," I said turning my attention back at the kid, "We'll have a large cheese pizza."

"Large?" Mark asked.

"Yeah to share with Suzie and Conlan." I replied.

Mark nodded and as the weird kid grabbed our menus. He gave me a wink as he walked off.

"Pervert," I muttered.

"You mean Mr. Don't-hit-the-girl-with-the-pretty-face?" Mark said in a high pitched tone.

"Well gee thanks," I said leaning back in the booth.

Well the way he said that made me feel ugly. Because I mean, he just....ah just forget it. I can't even think straight, or find the wording for it.

"No Tori, I didn't mean it like that," Mark said nervously, "I just meant he was all like....well he kinda of just....you know...."

I chuckled, "He was a classic case of flirt alert."

"Exactly. I didn't mean to say you were ugly. And you aren't! I was just trying to like make fun of him or something," Mark said really fast.

I laughed, "I know Mark. Do me a favor and call Suzie. Tell her and Conlan to meet us here."

I watched as Mark pulled out his phone and called Suzie. Kid, or at least that's what I'm calling him for now, came back with our drinks telling us our pizza was almost ready. After a minute or two we could already see Suzie and Conlan walking over. They were both laughing about something but of course I didn't know what it was.

Mark looked at me with a raised eyebrow, I shrugged and Suzie and Conlan walked over.

"Hiya," Suzie said.

"Hey did you guys have fun?" I asked.

Conlan laughed, "You don't even know the half of it."

Now I raised my eyebrow at Mark, but he just gave me a shrug. He then gave me a grin and I rolled my eyes.

"Where should we sit?" Conlan asked.

"Can we have that booth over there," Suzie pointed to a booth in front of me. It was far enough so we won't hear them but close enough to see what they do.

"Yeah sure," Mark said.

The two of them walked over to the booth and once they were out of hearing range, I laughed.

"Dude we're going to be brother and sister in laws," I said.

The way Suzie light's up when she's with Conlan. Or how Conlan turns from a incredibly shy kid to a funny, crazy, spunky kid when he's with Suzie. I mean yeah three year difference but if you ask your parents age half of the time one of them is a year ot two older.

Me and Mark had a theory one day. We were saying it's fine if your parents are a couple years apart. But when you reach nine or ten years, you're at the breaking point. Now if you're past ten, like say fifteen. Then you are way off track. I mean if you're twenty, I don't get how you can marry someone thats thirty-five. I personally think its gross.

"Tori Linean? My sister-in-law?" Mark said as if he was thinking about it, "Eh it could work."

"It could work?" I repeated, "Meany."

"What why am I a meany?"

"Because you could have said something nicer," I said, "You could of just been like-"

"Your large cheese pizza," Kid said as he put the pizza down on our table.

I fake glared at Mark as he told Kid to make sure whatever Suzie and Conlan order to put on our tab. Kid nodded and walked off.

"Meany," I reapeated as I got a slice of pizza.

"How am I a....never mind. Forget I said anything," Mark muttered.

Wait is he feeling bad? Did I make him feel bad? I was just kidding around but now I seriously think he was taking me seriously.

"Mark I was just joking," I said softly.

"Yeah I know," he muttered.

Aw man what just happened? Are his feelings seriously hurt? I was just kidding around.

"Pizza!" Suzie yelled as she and Conlan came over.

"Krusty Karb pizza, is the pizza for you and me." Conlan sang. He didn't know the rest of the words so he just hummed it.

Mark and me laughed. Conlan is like a little brother to me. And usually he is really shy and never says anything. He just isn't the social kind of kid. Yes he has friends but he's always the kid to sit in the back of the class, he's the kid that no one really knows. But he's also somewhat athletic and he's smart. His flaw though, is being shy. And sometimes that's bad but when I see him like this. All spunky and crazy and funny, I can't help but laugh. It's these moments where Conlan is just hilarious. The only times he's not shy is when he's around his really good friends, or his family.

Conlan and Suzie grabbed a paper plate and each got a slice of pizza. They walked off back to their booth and ate their pizzas. I saw Conlan say some things, and Suzie laugh. It made me smile.

Mark looked over his shoulder and at his brother and my sister. He grinned and looked back at me.

"Yup we're totally gonna be in laws," He said.

I laughed and fist bumped him, "Told you so."

If Suzie and Conlan married or something, then me and Mark would be in laws. That'd be awesome. He'd be my brother. In law. But still. Me and Mark always picked on Suzie and Conlan. Yet again if your little sister is hanging with the little brother of your best friend. You'd pick on them. And whenever we try to get them to admit it, they scream 'NO I DON'T!' in our faces. But it's clear that they do.

"So dad's coming in two weeks," Mark said, snapping me put of my thoughts.

I smiled, "That's awesome."

"You have to be there when he gets back. And bring Suzie over." He said.

I nodded, "I think dad will want to come too. But who's coming anyways?"

"My grandparents are coming too. Then you, your dad, and Suzie. And that's about it."

"Ok," I said munching on my pizza, "I can't wait to see your dad again."

Mark nodded and played around with his pizza.

"Nervous?" I asked.

"A little," Mark said, "He's going to be changed Tori. We already set up some planks for his wheel chair."

It's going to be different to see Mr. Bennett in a wheel chair. Heck it's going to be different seeing him in general. I mean I used to only see him like once a year, now every time I go to Mark's house, he's going to be there. In way that's going to awesome, but in another way I'm scared.

"What about Cali?" I asked.

Mark checked his phone, "I think she's still on that date with Jerry."

"No. Not that," I chuckled, "I meant is she coming?"

Mark shrugged, "Cali doesn't really know dad like you do."

"That's true."

Cali came in when were in middle school. She is a great addition to our group but she never really met Mr. Bennett. Yeah she's seen him once or twice but never really had fun with him. I love Cali, I really do, but she was a late addition and she'll always be behind me and Mark.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Like seven thirty," Mark said.

"Shit. We need to start heading home," I said looking over at Suzie.

Her and Conlan had ordered a plate with fruits and vegetables. Conlan being as smart as he is, put two carrots under his upper lip. He looked like a weird vampire with orange teeth. I laughed and Mark looked over. He started laughing as well. Suzie on the other hand, I don't even think she was breathing. She was laughing super hard. Her face was red and she was clutching her stomach.

"What are they doing?" Mark said still laughing.

I couldn't answer so I just shook my head.

Suzie grabbed two grapes, and a sliced orange. She put the orange in her mouth and the grapes on her eyes. She smiled showing the peel of the orange, and her purple, grape eyes. We all laughed harder. Conlan put his forehead at the edge of the table and laughed his ass off. Suzie dropped the grapes, took out the orange peel, and laughed.

Once Conlan got his breath back he grabbed two olive's and put them in his nostrils. He then crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out. We all laughed.

"I've never seen Conlan like this," Mark laughed, "When did he become so funny?"

I shook my head, "When Suzie is around. But I've never seen Suzie do that either."

We watched Suzie and Conlan laugh and then they looked our way. Suzie smiled and waved and Conlan looked down and blushed. See what I mean, he is totally shy. But I still love him.

Mark chuckled, "There he goes again."

"Leave Conlan alone, he's awesome." I said.

"He's shy," Mark replied.

"Not around me and Suzie. Remember when I was at your house he had the guts to come into your room," I said.

"Oh yeah," Mark laughed, "Oooooh Mark and Tori."

Mark mimicked. He started making kissing noises and I laughed.

"Yup," I said.

"Then he came downstairs in his hockey gear," Mark said.

We both laughed at the memory. Yeah Conlan is shy, but with me only sometimes. At times he's shy, and at other's he's funny or brave and stupid.

I grabbed Mark's phone and checked the time, "Damn it. I need to go Mark."

He nodded, "Wanna take the pizza?"

I looked at it. There were like three or four slices left, "Nah you can have it."

I got up and walked over to Suzie and Conlan while Mark went to the counter and payed.

"Suzie we have to go," I said to my sister.

"Awww but why?" She asked.

"Cause it's getting late and dad wants us home," I said.

"Why don't you just get your own car Tori?" Conlan asked.

"Yeah Tori," Suzie added.

"Cause I can't afford one. Now come on Sue," I said.

I wish I could afford one, I thought.

"Yeah Conlan we have to head back too," Mark said from behind me.

"Fine," Conlan sighed.

The both of them got out of the booth and walked in front of me and Mark. We walked out the door and it was starting to get dark outside. The sun was setting and you could already see the moon in the orange-purple sky.

"See you at school Mark," I said as me and Suzie walked in one direction.

"Bye Tori, bye Suzie." Mark called after us, heading in a different direction.

"Bye Conlan," Suzie yelled.

"See ya Suzie," Conlan yelled back.

I chuckled and we got in dad's car. Suzie took the back and layed her head on the window. She looked exhausted. Heck I was exhausted. I drived home with the radio on and soon enough I saw Suzie's eyes drooping.

Once we got home I parked the car in the driveway and walked to Suzie's door and opened it. Suzie looked up at me through her lashes. I chuckled and un-buckled her seat beat.

"Come on Sue," I whispered.

She got out of the car and I helped her up the garage steps and into the house. Everyone was around the dinner table having dinner.

"Hey guys," I said.

Suzie gave a lazy wave and headed upstairs, "I'm going to bed."

"It's like eight fifteen," Cole said.

"Yeah well, she ran around a lot." I said sitting at the counter.

"You look tired," dad said.

I was tired. I ran around that arcade like nuts today. Even as teens the arcade never gets old. Especially when you go with friends.

I nodded and stiffened a yawn, "Yeah."

"So what did Suzie do?" Lilly asked.

I shrugged, "Her and Conlan ran to play Rambo. After that....no idea."

"You mean you just let her run around the whole arcade?" Lilly asked.

"She had my phone," I replied.

Everyone looked at my dad, he just shrugged, "I always did that when I would take Tori and Mark. I'd tell them I'd be at the booth and then just let them run around."

"But what if some guy wanted to kidnap her or something?" Shawn asked.

"There are so many kids and witnesses there I doubt that's possible," I said.

Blake chuckled, "I'd like to see you appear on the news. Girl kidnapped at arcade. If they interview me, I'd be like, 'I told you so.'"

"I can see you doing that," I muttered getting off the high chair and walking to the stairs, "Night everyone."

I heard a couple goodnight's from them and headed upstairs and into my room. I quickly got changed into my tank top and shorts, then looked around for my phone. I couldn't find it and then I remembered I left it in Suzie's backpack. I sighed and went to get it. As I walked down the hall I already heard footsteps coming up the stiars. I quickly slipped into Suzie's room.

Sue was asleep with BoBo under her arm. She looked so innocent when she's asleep. I smiled just looking at her and then looked around the room. Finally I found her backpack and looked inside finding my phone.

I slipped out of Suzie's room and back in mine without anyone noticing. I plugged my phone into it's charger and set it at my nightstand. Then I crawled under the covers and drifted off into sleep.

*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

Ok so my age. Well I was born on July in 1999 so if you're willing to do the math you'll find out :)

Anyways sorry for the long wait, but I think it was significantly long. I hope you guys liked it. Please vote and don't forget to comment on what you think. Love y'all.

Vote

Comment

Share

Thanks