Blandview High Musical

67. Pinball Wizard

— March 5th

Shayne grunted softly as he shifted to get comfortable in the chair. "How is he doing?" The doctor asked the nurse. "It's like he's finally made the decision to fight whatever this is. He's stronger, less coughing." She said. The doctor sighed. "Good, hopefully things will continue to work this way." The doctor said.

Shayne had found that during the chemo, he was getting more and more bored by the second. He had asked the nurse if she could bring him some magazines from the waiting room or a book to read or something to keep his mind occupied. She had provided him with several different magazines. Shayne really just wanted to look at some of the photographs. "He seems fairly happy." The nurse said. The doctor nodded his head.

"Goddamnit!" Tommy shouted, smashing his hand against the machine. "Y'know...you'll never win if you keep beating up the machine." Jade said, appearing beside him. "Shut up. I know what I'm doing." He said, dumping several quarters in the machine. She was drinking a strawberry milkshake. He pulled out the knob, shoving it back in and launching the pinball around the machine. It rang and rang and then an awful buzzer sounded. "SON OF A BITCH!" He shouted. Again, his hand smashed against the machine. "Move." Jade said, shoving him out of the way. "No, I'm doing it." He argued. She shoved the milkshake at him to keep him preoccupied.

She placed a few quarters into the machine, waiting for the ball to drop down again. "So now that we're alone..." She said as the machine rumbled. "You think you might wanna clue me in on what's going on between you and Gill?" She questioned. The metal ball rumbled around the inside, dropping down near the launch area. She pulled the knob out, letting it go. "We're just friends." Tommy said. "You fuck your friends?" She asked. Tommy could feel his cheeks burning. "No, I—uh...we're not...not like that." He said, nervously. The machine dinged loudly, and the lights flashed. Jade looked over at him. "You think I'm stupid?" She asked. "What? No!" She smashed the knob back inward. "Then tell the truth." "I am!" He protested. "Is that your final answer?" She asked. The dinging of the machine started to get louder and louder. He swallowed thickly. "Yes." He said. DING-DING-DING-DING-DING-DING!!!! The machine's lights flashed brightly and quickly. It started to print the tickets. "See? Easy peasy." She said, reaching down and ripping the tickets from their printing point.

She folded them up. "Half those are mine." Tommy said. "No. They are not." She said, reaching for the milkshake. He lifted it up, over his head. "Give it." She demanded. "No. Give me some tickets." She stepped forward, reaching up to take it from him. She lost her footing a little and his arm encircled around her as she stumbled. He held her there for a second. Their eyes met, beset by the hard glow of all the machines surrounding them. "Take your hand from around my waist, Brisco." She said. He gave that cocky little smile. "Sorry, princess. I know how sensitive you are about that..." He teased. She scoffed, shoving all the tickets at him. "Take your stupid tickets." She grumbled walking away.

Jade's indifferent attitude towards Tommy was a strange one. There were things about him that made her blood tingle. Like when he looked at her a certain way, but mostly when he put his hands on her. It felt like emotional distress was the only time she could get physically close to him. Just a simple touch sent her reeling. She didn't like it when he'd try to comfort her, especially putting his hand on her belly. It wasn't a bad feeling and that was the problem. Instead of attempting to explain her annoyance with him, she just let it ride. He's a stupid boy. He wouldn't understand. It was probably just a hormonal thing. They'd been all over the place, she'd been stressing out with Shayne. She needed a break and Javi was no help. He was always breathing down her neck about what not to drink, what not to eat, when to sleep...god, he couldn't just leave her be.

"You wanna know another game I'm good at?" Tommy asked. "What?" She questioned. "Air hockey." He said. She rolled her eyes. "One might say...I'm the master." "Masturbator is more like it." She grumbled. "Wanna find out?" He asked. Her breath got caught in her throat and she almost choked on the response. "The air hockey thing! Not the masturbating thing! God, you're disgusting." Tommy would play along with her little game. The fear of cooties, but all the while just wanting to get balls deep— "Fine." She said. "Really?" He said. "Yes." He smiled. "Prepare to get the worst beating." He said as she moved around the other side of the table. "Well, I hope you don't cry when I win." She said. He looked up from pushing the quarters into the slot. "I think it'll be you crying, princess." He said. "Don't call me that." She said.