Sin City: The trip of a lifetime

Chapter 12: The Time Of Our Lives

   The group finished moving Ash's clothes and some of their other things in. "That's good for now! Let's go to the arcadeeee" Brendon yelled happily and skipped out of the house. "Ok ok, settle down Brenny" Ash laughed. Naomi climbed into the back seat with Ash as Damien and Brendon took to the front of Damien's car.

   "What games do you think will be there? I'm hoping for some classics!" Brendon said as he put on his seat belt. "I don't know, I'm thinkin' of hitting the bar first." Damien said as he started the car. "I've never been to an arcade, but a bar sounds good to me" Naomi said while stretching. "I haven't been to an arcade in years. Maybe since Colorado?" Ash said while fixing her glasses. "What's in Colorado?" "My family. Yup, I'm a northerner believe it or not." Ash said to Naomi. "Never would have guessed with the way you speak" Naomi said.

   As they drove, Naomi got bored. "Hey Brendon, can I play with your hair?" Brendon's face lit up. "Oh my god, yes! I love when people do that!" Naomi began finger combing through Brendon's hair. Ash joined in and pretty soon Brendon's normally short and straight black hair became fluffy and messy. Brendon looked in the mirror. "Wait, it's kinda cute like this. Maybe I should fluff up my hair more often."

   Brendon smiled back at the girls before turning to his brother. "It's your turn Day!" "Absolutely no—" Naomi started to run her hands through Damien's hair. "F-fine. Just you two though, Brendon can't touch it." "Whyyyyyy?" "Because I don't wanna have five braids to undo in the parking lot." "Fineeee" Brendon sank down in his seat.

   Soon the group arrived at the arcade. It was a big black building with walls of glass so you could see all of the machines inside. A big sign read "Start it Up!". Brendon quickly got out of the arcade and ran to the door. Ash laughed and walked behind him, her black boots clicking as she did. Naomi and Damien got out and paused for a moment. "Awh yeah! Get ready to have your ass whooped again Day!" She said excitedly. "Yeah right pipsqueak" Damien said looking down at her, looming his five foot eleven body over her five foot three frame. He cupped her cheek and quickly kissed her before they walked hand in hand to the door.

   Brendon walked up to the counter with Ash. "Hiya! Welcome to Start it Up arcade!" spoke the girl behind the counter. Her badge said her name was Ada. She had curly black hair and freckles. Her eyes were a light amber and she was pretty small. "Hi! I'm Ashley and this is Brendon. We have two more friends coming in. We need 4 cards." "Okay! I can do that!" Ada start typing fast on the computer. Ash thought the girl was really cute. She had a very soft voice and was a little chubby. The others finally came in and Ada passed out the cards. Brendon ran away to his favorite game while Naomi and Damien found the bar. Ash stayed behind to talk to Ada.

   "So, this place just opened?" Ash asked leaning on the counter. Ash figured that if Maddie could be happy without her, that she didn't need Maddison either. "Yeah! This place is cool isn't it?! I was one of the first to apply!" "Really now? Because I might just be looking for a new job" Ash spoke slowly. "Oh? What do you do?" "I work in a crafts store... and I'm a stripper" Ash said. This is the first time she's ever acknowledged her second job publicly. "Oh wow! I saw your body and I was like 'Ahh! She must be so athletic!'" Ada chuckled. "Y-you're not weirded out by that?" "No no no! I have many jobs myself. I need a way to keep busy!"

   Brendon walked up to the counter. "Hi! Sorry, is Ash giving you any trouble? I can take her." Ada laughed. "No no, I quiet like your friend actually. She's very interesting." "Ohhh Ashtray back at it again! Nice!" Damien said walking out of the bar. "Where's Naomi?" Ash asked him. "Oh shit, I knew I forgot something. Nemo!" He walked back into the bar looking for her.

   "You all seem lovely" Ada said. "Oh yeah, these fuckers? Known Brendon over there and his little bro for years" Ash said. "And that girl, she works with me. We all live together. They're... my best friends." "That's sweet! My friends Josh and Taylor... don't really understand me super well." "How so?" "Well, sometimes I go nonverbal, Josh teases me a lot on it. I didn't know he was joking at first and it started a previous fight" Ada said while cleaning the counter.

   "Oh, asshole" Ash said. "Then Taylor, she's also autistic but... I don't know. She generalizes it so much. Down to symptoms instead is explaining autism. That's like showing a diagram of a pizza, but never ordering a pizza!" Ash laughed. "Could, I order you a pizza sometime?" Ash asked. "H-huh? What do you mean?" "I'm asking if it's alright to take you on a date. Maybe next week?" "O-oh! I've n-never been out with a girl before..." Ada's face when red.

   "Oh no, I'm sorry. Did I assume? I just thought—" "N-no! That's ok. It would be something new to try. I wouldn't mind! Just take it a bit slower because it's new for me." "Ah! No problem! I'm a lesbian so uh... sorry" Ash said looking down. "I guess I'm bi-curious then" Ada smiled. Ash gave Ada her number and then met up with Brendon at the basket ball game.

   Damien and Naomi came out of the bar a few minutes earlier and saw Ash ask Ada on a date. "There goes my girl, whoo!" Naomi cheer quietly. "Cmon Nemo, let's go play air hockey." Damien pulled the girl away towards the air hockey game. The pair decided on best three out of five. Naomi won two rounds as well as Damien. "Ok, this is the last round. Are you ready for me to beat you at a game I've never played again?" Naomi asked teasingly. Damien started the game. Naomi blocked his shot before sliding it back hard. Damien pushed back and scored. "W-what?" "YES! HAHA LETS GO!" Damien cheered at his win. Naomi pouted a little before Damien put his arm around her. She leaned into his side before turn in around to a claw machine.

   "Day! I want that plushie!" She jumped up and down. "It's such a cute turtle! Please?" Naomi asked him. "I can try but no promises alright? Bren is better at these than me." He started the claw machine. He moved the claw back and forth before launching it down over the pink turtle in the middle and missed. Naomi pouted again when Brendon suddenly appeared.

   "Step aside little bro, I got this" he said making a serious face. He pushed Damien to the side before lowering the claw again. Brendon grabbed the turtle and Naomi's eyes lit up. He brought it close to the opening before dropping it. "Aw man!" Brendon said, slightly defeated. "Uh hi there, Brendon?" He turned around to see Ash and Ada. "May I have a try?"