(1) Learn How To Love

More Fry Bits, And Absolutely No Cheating At Skee Ball

💫

"Well hey," you checked the time on your phone; 12:28, "the day is still young! Let's get started on shortening this list."

Steven met your eyes with a mischievous smile; "yeah, let's!"

"Okay, cool can't wait," you said quickly. "But first," you stood, "more fry bits."

"I told you!" Steven stood with you, "they taste like childhood."

After not one, not two, but two... and a half bags of fry bits, you and Steven ultimately decided to go to the movies. Since there was still time before the showing, you killed time in the arcade.

"I'll be keeping my eye on you two-" Mr. Smiley warned when you entered.

"Cheery as always, Mr. Smiley," you joked.

Not only did he not crack a smile (ironically), but he continued as if you hadn't said anything at all;

"ESPECIALLY in skee ball!" Mr. Smiley hollered, not afraid to yell in the otherwise empty arcade. You made a face, a combination of confusion and fear, to which Mr. Smiley responded with; "Steven knows what he did." And with that, he crossed his arms and sat down at the front desk, his eyes still glued to the two of you. Steven started to slowly and awkwardly shuffle away- you followed, equally as awkward.

"For someone with the last name 'Smiley,' he can be very threatening," you muttered once out of earshot. Steven tried to stifle a laugh.

"I only cheated at skee ball once!" He said defensively. "The gems did all the other stuff! I'm an innocent man, I tell you."

You giggled and looked around. What to play, what to play? Your eyes landed on the side wall.

"Well, since there will be absolutely no cheating at skee ball, let's see how we measure up," you cocked your head toward the row of skee ball lanes along the wall.

Steven smiled and started towards them; "alright, but be warned: I won't hold back."

"I think I can handle that," you smirked, knowing full well that you were weirdly good at skee ball. You'd crush him into dust.

On the count of three, you each inserted your quarters and pressed start. Ball after ball, shot after shot, you didn't miss a single hole. They weren't all great point levels, but still. Points are points.

Steven had a different strategy. A sort of "slow and steady wins the race" vibe. He took his time with each roll, aiming for the center prize at the top. But not only did this take forever, he also missed quite a few times, leaving you victorious.

"Wow... so that was you... not holding back?" You asked cockily, slowly pulling the long line of prize tickets from the dispenser. Steven did the same, though his was much shorter.

"Well- maybe I lied!" Steven tugged the last of his tickets with a *snap.* "Yeah, I let you win!"

"I bet," you wore the string of tickets as a scarf.

"Okay, well... what's a game I can win?" Steven asked, looking around. "We could revisit Lonely Blade! Since I know you're no good at that," he smirked in your direction.

"Hey!" You punched his shoulder playfully.

"Or!" Steven continued, laughing it off, "there's Punch Buddy? Oh, wait-" he faltered before turning to you and flexing his muscles. I think we both know how that would end."

"Okay," you scoffed and pushed his arms back down to his sides, "I'm hearing a lot of bragging and not seeing a lot of doing, so how about you just pick a game- ANY game- so I can beat you again?"

With a lil' *humph,* Steven stood with his hip out and an attitude in place.

"Fine," he squinted, pretending to be mad, "but not because you told me to."

You smirked while he looked around once more.

"Teens of Rage," Steven decided, "ever played?"

"No," you shrugged and led the way towards the game, "bet I'll still win, though."

Steven smiled while he followed you. He knew every single combo, secret move, and cheat code in the whole arcade. That's what a childhood of neglect and an abundance of time will get you. Still though, he would let you win every game, every time.

Unfortunately, he didn't get that chance this time. When he arrived at your side, you were whacking the side of the machine with your palm.

"What the-" you fiddled with the buttons and checked that the game was plugged in, but the screen stayed black.

"Not the first time I've seen Teens of Rage out of commission," Steven sighed with a smile- which soon faded when Mr. Smiley came marching over.

"STEVEN," he yelled, earning a small jump from the boy beside you.

"I-I didn't do anything! It was like that when we found it!" You stifled a laugh. You had never seen Steven scared before.

"Oh, I'm sure it was! Like Meat Beat Mania? Or Punch Buddy? ZOLTRON?!" With every game listed, Mr. Smiley's face grew redder.

"Hey- I made up for Zoltron," Steven pointed a finger at his chest. "I couldn't get the silver paint out of my hair for months."

"And what about the others?" Mr. Smiley- well, he really, really, wasn't smiling... Harold Smiley was fuming now.

"I thought I worked them off!"

"You swept once," Harold spoke through his teeth.

"I-" Steven was cut off.

"Sooner or later, you've got to deal with the consequences of-"

"Excuse me, if I may interject?" You spoke up.

Harold and Steven, who were now mere inches away from each other, both turned to face you.

"How much are the damages?" You crossed your arms. Girl boss moment.

Harold sighed; "eight, nine hundred? Give or take..."

"Okay, sold! We done here?"

"Wait, what?!" Steven practically leapt to your side. "(Y/N), what are you doing?? You were gonna use that money to get out of here!"

"I... don't want to leave," you replied softly, "not yet."

"Come in tomorrow to dot the i's and cross the t's, or Steven's got another lifetime ban," Harold- Mr. Smiley smiled. And without another word, he turned and left you and Steven with some tense silence.

"Come on," you said finally, "or we'll miss the movie."