Hooked on love

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

“Laser Quest? Why?” I wanted to forget about this part of my life, especially after everyone made fun of me, a girl for being so good. What’s he playing? And how didn’t I know where we were, I always came here.
“I thought it would be fun, and I also wanted to see how good you are.”
“But, I haven’t been here since I was 16! I’m probably crap now.” I didn’t expect to feel a pang of sadness at that thought.
“If you was good enough to get a record, I’m pretty sure you’re still semi-good.” He’s getting on my nerves with his endless taunts, it’s like he wants to bring the bad out in me.
“Semi-good? That’s it, it’s a good job the waiter gave me a cup to take away my sangria.” I take a huge swig and shake off the strong aroma, “let’s go!” I start walking toward the doors without him. He know how to get under my skin and that scares me more than my need to always win. Jackson jogs past me, “Way ahead of you, I’m not having you running off on me again.” I roll my eyes, “if it will make you feel any better about me paying for your drinks, then you can pay for our laser quest entry.”
“Really? You’re actually going to let me pay?” His taunting isn’t the only thing, his sarcasm too.
“Alright, at least I’m not one of those girls that makes you pay for everything.” He stops jogging and matches my walking pace.
“I’m glad you’re not either, you’d be no fun that way,” and jogs ahead again.

Jackson pays for us to have 2 games – 20 minutes each while I look at the gamer tags you can call yourself. What do you know, my old gamer tag is still here – Gumi-Bear. As I check the previous gamers who has used Gumi-Bear, it seems I’ve been conquered. What?! Who is ‘Wrath’? God that boils my 16 year olds blood. I want to know who beat me.
“We get to go in 5, the spend 5 minutes going over health and safety rules, blah, blah.”
“Yeah, I remember.”  Why am I being such a sore loser? Get over it Ava! I go to take another swig of my drink when Jackson yanks it off me.
“Hey!”
“Ah, ah, ah! I don’t want you to be the only one playing under the influence,” and chugs the last of it. Great.
“Man that’s foul, but I’ll do the job, you ready?” Serves you right for taking somebody’s drink.
“Yes.”

We get to the counter and the woman stares Jackson up and down like a piece of meat. Oh no you don’t.
“Have you two chosen a gamer tag yet?” Her judgemental eyes and voice are the last thing I need right now.
“I have, I want Gumi-Bear please.” It feels weird asking for such a lame name again, I wonder what name Jackson will pick.”
“I haven’t chose yet, I still have time,” and shows her his killer smile. Ugh, per-lease. He’s with me…well, not exactly.
“Would you like to try and beat the recorded score for your tag?” I snort. Try? Pfft.
“Could you tell me the previous gamers name who won it?” She checks the system.
“Umm, Ava W, Miss.”
“I am Ava. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She looks dumbfounded and fumbles with her words, maybe I was a bit harsh but I couldn’t stand her eye boggling Jackson anymore. The alcohol in my system is helping me to finally stand up for myself, it’s about time. Crap, Jackson! I turn round and he’s jogging towards me with a grin on his face, “I think I need to apply some water to her wound, her face was hilarious.”
“Carry on and I’ll use my new found quality on you.” He holds his hands up in surrender, I like it.

We’ve been through the health and safety talk and been equipped with our gear, I’m so ready to let off some steam.
“Are you sure you can beat your previous record in those?” He points to my dress and shoes, I grin.
“I intend too.” I take my heels off and grab my converse and shorts from my bag and shove them on my feet, just as I bend to pull the shorts up, I look up and see not only Jackson staring at me in owe but 11 other kids are too. It seems my dress isn’t made for stretching in the slightest. I blush and quickly yank up my shorts in the most unattractive way possible, soon enough everyone looks away.
“Well that…was a show.” He’s fighting back a laugh behind his hand.
“It wasn’t intentional, I knew the dress was tight, but not that tight. Poor kids.”
“Poor kids? You just made their day and me their number 1 target for being with you.”
“And mine.” I smile to the side and his eyes darken, my belly tightens.

“Right guys! I’m Chris, I’ll be dividing you into two teams of 6 – red and blue. When I call your gamer name, go to your allocated side, okay?”
“Yes!” We all chime.
  “Red team - Terminator, Undertaker, Gladiator, Reaper, Gumi-Bear, Predator. Please come to this side of the room.” Great, looks like I’m stuck with all the kids, at least I get to go against Jackson.  “Blue team – Jedi, Pew, Cyborg, Rambo, Raphael, Wrath.” Please come to this side.” My head shoots up, Wrath? Is it the same guy? I didn’t see who was the last to go.
“Before we send you in, we send in one team before the other so you’re not all out at the start. Once we signal the start, your gamer tags will appear on your chest and on your guns. Blue team goes first, you ready?”
“Yes!” All blue team lift their guns in the air, wrath is one of them.
As the doors open and the horn signal the start of the game, all of our tags light up in red and blue. I look up and see WRATH in big letters on Jackson’s chest, are you kidding me?! He’s the one who beat my score? Is this why I’m here? His eyes are full of excitement, my own excitement is building up in me like the old days, he is making me feel things I haven’t felt in years.
“Blue team, go!” The team disperse into the darkness, Jackson runs up to me and whispers into my ear.
“Try and beat me.” Then runs through the doors. All I can think about is, he’s the one.