nineties•brance

chapter 3

Mention of domestic abuse and self harm

AUGUST 17

It was currently 3:45 pm and Bruce was sitting behind the counter, spinning in his chair.

He was balancing a pen on his forehead and drawing on himself when a crowed of people came in.

He stopped slouching and sat up straight, it was a crowd of around 20 people. It's been empty all day, so this was kind of overwhelming.

As the people collected their drinks and snacks, there was a huge line.

Everyone payed and waited near the pinball machine, no one touched it though.
Then he saw Vance walking in.
Bruce had started working here a week ago, so he didn't know the regulars or anything, but everyone looked at him with excitement.

People cleared a path for him and he put a coin into the slot, making the light come on.

The numbers flashed quickly as he was beating the buttons, the sound is tapping filling the grab n go.

Bruce finished ringing up a nice old lady, telling her to have a nice day, and once she left he got up and walked over to the machine.

He got his way to the front, getting a better look at Vance playing.
Vance looked extremely concentrated, he was pursing his lips, licking his lips and squinting his eyes. Bruce found the faces he made were charming.

Vance ended beating his Highscore and everyone cheered for him, Bruce winced and covered his ears, he's not good with loud noises.

Vance wiped his forehead and looked up, i guess pinball makes you sweat?
He looked over at Bruce and his ears got red, probably from concentrating really hard.

He took a sip of water from a water bottle that was ontop the pinball machine, he turned back to the crowed and dramaticly bowed.

Bruce left the scene and walked over to the slushi machine, getting himself a free slushi.

"Ew you mix watermelon and blue raspberry?" Vance made a disgusted face while he walked over, leaning against the counter.
"I like purple." Bruce shrugged and looked at Vance.

"You gonna put a lid on that?"
"No, i use a spoon for slushi's." Vance thought Bruce was joking until Bruce grabbed a spoon out his pocket and took a spoon full.

"Bon appetit." Bruce smiled as he ate and Vance looked at him with slight concern.
"Jesus Christ. Did your parents rob you of knowing what's wierd?" Bruce rolled his eyes and explained how the spoon thing was his idea, Vance liked when Bruce explained. He looked passionate in what he talks about, knowing, confident in his words. Vance smiled and his ears got hot again, damn he still must be tired from pinball.

"So you like pinball?" Bruce asked Wich made Vance chuckle.
"Yeah, uh, I've liked it ever since my sister introduced it to me when I was six." He smiled and looked down at his shoes, why did Bruce make him feel this way? He felt anxious, nervous to talk to him. He's never felt this way.

"How old is she?" Bruce smiled an took another bite.
"25 but behavior like a ten year old." He fake yawned and Bruce laughed again, his dimples showing.
"You could introduce me sometime." Bruce smiled and Vance got a small urge of jealousy?
"So you're asking if you can come over?" He smiled sarcastically and Bruce rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, because I'm soooo in love with your sister who's six years older then me." He rolled his eyes and walked back behind the counter, as a new costumer came in.

Vance really wanted Bruce to come over, he didn't know why he was feeling this way. He felt anxious around him, like he had butterflies in his stomach, he got hot or sweaty around him, he