I like you, for you.

Chapter 5: Troublemaking Vance

We eventually arrived at the lonely arcade. It was usually packed with children, but today appears to have been a slow day. Vance and I entered the room as the temperature was raised. The lights were colorful and bright, and the carpet was dark blue. I looked over at the prize counter, which had only a few rewards.

"What a waste of a prize counter." I say it quietly, thinking Vance won't hear. "I know, right?" He unexpectedly agrees with me. The lady our age side eyes us as she reads the newspaper with the headline 'Missing kids weekly!'

We get to the back of the arcade and find one of Vance's favorite pinball machines. "Did you miss me, my sweet angel?" He jokes as he pats the side of it. Vance pauses for a moment before returning his attention to me, saying, "How about I win you a prize?"

    
    My eyes brighten and I smile just a little. "A prize?" I ask.

"I bet a while ago that if I could beat my previous high score, they'd give me some tickets here to claim a prize." He grins, as if he is pleased with himself. "I'll get something nice for you." Vance then turns around and inserts the coins from his pants pocket into the pinball machine.

I kept an eye on him as the game's lights came on. the minor musical noise erupting from it I can see why he is so obsessed with it. It was amusing to look at in some ways. So it must be enjoyable to play.

With concentration, his face turns cold. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh. "Keep an eye on this, Bruce," he says as he positions the tiny ball. I watch as it bounces back and forth across the machine...

"FUCK." I hear a small bang as he smacks the side of it frustratedly. The small ball landed on the incorrect side. "Please give me another chance, okay?" He pleads sightly as he leans over it.

As the game begins, the lights come back on. His hands begin to tremble against the buttons. He positions the small ball once more, and we both watch it fall.

"SHIT." He shouts once more, but this time he kicks the bottom of it. I'm not sure how it's still operational. Even after years of him pounding on it. "You will get it next time," I said lightly to Vance as he huffed like a child. Simply relax." I watch as his shoulders relax and he gradually calms down. Before I know it, I hear another coin goes in.

I stood on my tiptoes behind me, watching as the small ball fell again.

"FUCK YEAH!" As the ball finally falls in, he yells. Vance turns around and hugs me. A genuine hug. I could feel his smile widening against my shoulder as he pressed his face against it. The sensation of his hands on my waist made my face flush. "Well done, pinball Vance." I tease him. Im sure Vance just rolled his eyes.

"That's a fucking ridiculous nickname. I truly do hate it when people call me that." He says, as he lets go. "I know." I return his smile.

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   Vance smacks the counter, startling the girl sitting there who is trying to read, "Hey, I want my tickets." She stands up and looks at both of us, then back at Vance "I'm afraid I can't help you. You win them, duh." She says sarcastically.

  "Well, Dave, the guy working the counter the other day, said I'd get tickets if I beat my high score on the pinball machine." I could tell he was irritated by the way he was speaking. "But I'm not Dave, am I?" She snapped.

   "All right," he says. I look back at him, stunned; I've never seen him let someone talk to him like that before. The lady smirks as she turns around to return to her newspaper.