The Nerdy Twin ✔️

Chapter Eighteen

HENRY'S POV

Nothing felt better than walking out of the school doors knowing I didn't have to go back home immediately after because I was officially ungrounded. To celebrate I was going to the arcade and splurging on my favorite games. A whole freaking month of being grounded had me going stir crazy. The only highlight of that time had been when Willow visited me and we played video games for hours. She hadn't come by again because my mom had realized she had lied about the assignment just to see me. It didn't matter though because the memory of that day stayed with me for the next two weeks.

Willow was absolutely amazing, she had defied my mom and lied just to check up on me. Discovering that she was as good at virtual online games as she was in vintage arcade games didn't come as that big of a surprise but it had been a huge turn on watching her play. I had been so distracted the whole time I was with her, I wasn't on my A game thus she beat me a lot. I didn't mind though because I got to spend the afternoon with her.

The fact that it was on Friday too meant that I could stay at the arcade for as long as I wanted since I didn't have any classes the following day. I got into my car, turned off my phone so my mom wouldn't bug me before backing out of the parking lot and driving to the arcade.

When I arrived, I parked outside before walking in. I felt like I had walked into an alternate universe because I'd never seen so many people at the arcade before. It was bustling with customers which was good for Jack but I felt bad because I was used to having the whole place to myself. I had helped with all the rearranging but the fluorescent lights that bad been added weren't there when I last visited. They added an ambience to the place making it look better. There was also music playing in the background that had never been there before. It was all so strange but the good kind.

"The prodigal son returns."Jack exclaimed happily once he spotted me.

"Hi Jack."I waved with a chuckle happy to see him too.

Jack left the counter just to come and hug me. It felt good to be missed.

"So what do you think of the place?"Jack asked pointing around.

"I love it, looks like business is picking up."I replied hiding my disappointment of having too many people for his sake.

"It's doing more than that, I've already managed to pay part of my loan and at this rate I'll be done paying the rest of it soon. Willow is a miracle worker."Jack gushed.

Hearing her name stirred something in me and I realized that as much as I was at the arcade for the games, I was also hoping to see Willow. We ran into each other at school but never really got the time to talk and catch up. I'd missed her.

"That's good Jack, I'm happy for you."I expressed honestly.

I was about to ask Willow's whereabouts when someone crushed into me. I looked down to find Willow hugging me. It took me by surprise but I recovered quick and hugged her back. Jack looked at us, made kissy faces before getting back to work giving Willow and I some time to ourselves. Willow and I had never actually had physical contact before so I had to admit that it felt good holding her in my arms. Her purple hair smelled like peaches which I'd never really liked before but on her smelled really great. That was my crush on her talking so please excuse me for that. We pulled away before the hug got awkward.

"Hi Henry, welcome back. I got you a balloon to celebrate your freedom."Willow said excitedly holding out the balloon in her hand for me.

It was a bright red balloon with the words, Welcome Back Home printed on it. No one had ever done something so thoughtful for me before and even though balloons were considered childish, Willow's gesture pulled at my heartstrings.