Worst Shit Love Story Ever

Chapter 8: Farewell to Ormond

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-Joey pov

"Winner! New high score, please enter name" He smiled,
"Fuck yeah!" he yelled excitedly, raising his fist in the air in triumph. Julie leaned over him sucking on a lollipop. She pulled it out of her mouth, uninterested.
"Oh you beat Frank" She monotoned out. He laughed.
"I guess he's not as good as he says he is", he crossed his arms smirking. His ego really shining.
"Well he doesn't spend every waking hour here, you fucking nerd" Julie rolled her eyes, leaning back against the chair. He frowned. No Frank did not. In fact, he spent almost every waking hour dicking around who knows where. Joey surely did not know. Frank has been so distant with everyone. Then again he was always distant. Never really there even when he was surrounded by the three of them. But at least then, he was present. Frank was. Different. He was just always different. He did not need people like people needed him. And Joey knew that, felt it deep in his gut at how twisted the irony was.
He looked back at the game and put his name in. He remembers when Frank got the high score a year ago. Before Frank came, Joey was the high score holder of every game. The man just walked in and beat every single game because he could and then just left, never came back. How did he do it? How could he do it? Feel no attachment to things that held that much accomplishment. Who knows, the man was always like that. Frank comes, he changes everything and leaves. And yet, he still always looks so unsatisfied. Like he was searching for that one thing that actually gave him purpose. That no amount of high-scores or weekend hangouts at the cabin would satisfy.
Joey stared at the game in thought before he was interrupted.
"Hey Julie! Joey!" He perked up with the familiar tone. Susie waved and smiled. Julie smiled back and moved off away from him.
"Hey Suz" Susie smiled back. Susie looked around at the few middle schoolers and teenage boys that filled the room.
"So why did you pick this place to hang out?" She asked.
"Joey's been here every day after school or whenever he has free time. He just wants to beat everyone. And show up Frank" Julie huffed. Joey gasped at her accusation.
"Now why would I do that?" He defended. He heard footsteps come up behind him.
"Do what?" Susie and Julie perked up at the person behind him. He turned and smiled at Frank, excited.
"I beat your high scores" He swept his arm out, indicating the whole room of beeping, bright lights and screaming kids. Frank raised an eyebrow and looked around, not caring. The man shrugged, posture bored. Joey blinked at him, surprised by the mild attitude. Julie looked down at Joey who still sat in the game chair.
"Did you really expect a different reaction?" He opened his mouth to retaliate with his own smart remark, before he stopped, biting down on his lip. It was not really an expectation as it was a hope. That feeling of accomplishment, it had festered in Joey's gut for a long time. That need to prove he could do good. That he could do great things. Achieve great things. All for the sake of being...noticed. His parents never cared. He had begun not to care himself. That was, until Frank came along. For the first time in a very long time, Joey felt like he was worth something. Like he was finally being seen, that he could do great things just as long as Frank was there to see it.
But, he guessed it was stupid to hold on to such childish things. He looked down. Why did he waste so much time on this? Hours, days, weeks.. what had been the point? To prove something? His final accomplishment before he left this shitty town behind? Joey did not know for sure. He supposed things really had changed. He got up the courage to risk a look at Frank, who had already been observing him. Already been seeing him.
Frank rolled his eyes and gave an exasperated sigh before pushing Joey off the chair. Joey stumbled from the sudden and aggressive treatment but caught himself. Turning, he watched as Frank sat down in the seat and put a coin in.
"Wha-You're not serious?" Julie said, shocked. Joey's eyes widened as he watched Frank try to beat his high score. Well...who was he kidding. There was no trying with Frank. He smiled and moved up over Frank's shoulder. He watched Frank go through the levels perfectly. It was like the man had done this a million times. How is he so good? He could hear Frank's voice in his head already; "it's cause I'm that fucking good". Joey watched in full shock as Frank went above his high score and kept going.
Frank seemed so focused. He wore the same face he did that day.
"How-" Susie said shocked. Joey watched in amazement. Finally when Frank died, he turned and looked at him.
"There, you feel better?" Joey laughed in shock. Ego fully crushed, but he could not find it in himself to care. Julie scrunched up her nose and turned walking away.
"I can't handle you fucking nerds" Frank chuckled and got up walking after her. Joey turned to stare at the game. Frank never put his name in. Joey smiled, just like last time. Joey sat down and put Frank's name down and stood up walking after the group. Maybe not everything had to change.