3 lies and 1 truth

walker the next

The next weekend, Walker and I decided to hit up the local arcade. It had been ages since we'd gone, and I was looking forward to a fun, carefree day. Mason was busy with some family stuff, so it was the perfect opportunity for some quality time with Walker.

We arrived at the arcade in the early afternoon. The place was bustling with energy—kids running around, the sounds of games and laughter filling the air. Walker and I made our way to the prize counter and got a bunch of tokens.

"So, what should we start with?" Walker asked, his eyes scanning the array of games."How about the basketball shootout?" I suggested, pointing to the machine in the corner."You're on!" Walker grinned.We headed over and started our first game. Walker was surprisingly good, sinking shot after shot. I wasn't too shabby either, and it quickly turned into a friendly competition. As we played, I noticed a few people glancing our way, some whispering to each other. I tried to ignore it, focusing on beating Walker.

After a couple of rounds, we moved on to the racing games. Sitting in the bright red seats, we revved our engines and took off, laughing as we tried to outmaneuver each other. I managed to win a few races, much to Walker's chagrin."You're secretly a pro at this, aren't you?" he teased, nudging me playfully."Maybe I've been practicing," I replied with a wink.

As the afternoon went on, we played almost every game in the arcade—air hockey, skee-ball, and even the claw machine. We were having a blast, completely immersed in the fun.We were in the middle of a heated air hockey match when I heard someone call my name. I turned to see a group of teenage girls approaching, phones in hand. My heart sank a little, sensing this might not be a friendly encounter."Nova, can we get a picture?" one of them asked, her tone less enthusiastic than I was used to."Sure," I said, forcing a smile.

We posed for a few photos, and then one of the girls, with a bit of an edge in her voice, said, "So, are you cheating on Mason now?"I blinked, taken aback. "What? No, Walker and I are just friends."Another girl scoffed. "That's not what it looks like online. You were just with Mason last week, and now you're here with Walker. Doesn't seem very loyal."

I felt a flush of frustration. "Look, Mason and I are best friends. Walker and I are friends too. There's nothing going on."They didn't seem convinced, and the looks they gave me were judgmental. It was disheartening, to say the least. Walker stepped in, his expression serious."Hey, Nova doesn't owe you guys any explanations. We're here to have fun, so please, let's just leave it at that."

The girls exchanged looks but eventually walked away, still whispering. I sighed, feeling a mix of anger and sadness."You okay?" Walker asked, his eyes full of concern."Yeah, just... I hate how people jump to conclusions," I said, shaking my head.Walker squeezed my shoulder. "Don't let them get to you. We know the truth, and that's what matters."

I nodded, trying to shake off the negativity. We resumed our games, but the encounter had dampened my spirits a bit. Walker did his best to cheer me up, cracking jokes and making funny faces. Slowly but surely, my mood lifted.We took a break and grabbed some snacks from the concession stand. As we sat down with our nachos and sodas, I couldn't help but check my phone. Sure enough, there were already posts and comments about our outing.

"Nova Cameron spotted with Walker Scobell! Is she cheating on Mason?""Wow, Nova moves fast. Mason one week, Walker the next."I sighed, putting my phone away. "It's all over social media already."Walker frowned. "People are just looking for drama. Don't let it bother you.""I know, but it's hard," I admitted. "I hate that Mason and you get dragged into this.""We'll get through it," Walker said confidently. "Just keep being you, and people will see the truth."

We finished our snacks and decided to try the dance game. It was one of those where you had to step on the arrows to match the beat. We picked a fast song and started dancing, our competitive sides kicking in. It was hilarious and exhausting, but exactly what I needed to forget about the negativity.

By the time we left the arcade, the sun was setting. Despite the hiccups, I felt better. Walker always knew how to lift my spirits, and today was no different."Thanks for today," I said as we walked to the car. "I needed this.""Anytime, Nova. You know I've got your back," Walker replied with a smile.As we drove home, I thought about how grateful I was to have friends like Walker and Mason. The media could speculate all they wanted, but I knew the truth. And that was enough.When I got home, my mum was waiting for me, a concerned look on her face. "I saw the posts. Are you alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it was annoying, but Walker helped me through it.""Good. Remember, you don't have to justify yourself to anyone," she said, pulling me into a hug."I know, Mum. Thanks."Later that night, I called Mason to fill him in on the day's events."Hey, how was the arcade?" he asked cheerfully."It was fun, but there was some drama," I admitted, recounting the encounter with the fans.Mason listened, then sighed. "People are always going to talk, Nova. Just remember who your real friends are."

"I know. Thanks, Mason.""Anytime. And hey, next time, we'll go somewhere super secret. No one will find us," he joked.I laughed, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Deal."

As I hung up the phone, I felt a renewed sense of determination. The path I had chosen wasn't easy, but I had amazing people by my side. I would face whatever challenges came my way, confident in the knowledge that I was never alone.