The S-Force

10: Jacqueline

"We meet again." I said flirtatiously to Spence.

"I didn't see you during lunch." Spence pouted.

"I saw you but then your scary friend was there."

"You should have come over and said hi."

"Maybe next time."

"Dae-woo is really nice once you get to know him."

"I'll keep that in mind. Well I should go. I- uh... have someone waiting for me."

"Oh alright." Spence's face fell. "See you later?"

"Definitely." I nodded then walked away just in time for Dae-woo to walk into the room and approach Spence. I spotted the two friendly girls I had sat with during lunch and went over to them.

"Hey." I said with a shy wave.

"Oh hey Jacqueline." The more extroverted girl replied.

"Hey Jacqueline. Did you need something?" The other girl asked.

"I just wanted to... you know... hang out with you guys."

"Of course you can join us." The more friendly one said.

"Thanks."

"Do you know anything about this?" Yvonne brought my attention to the ancient looking machine she and Toni were trying to maneuver. Luckily for me it was familiar.

"Yeah I do. A family I lived with for a while owned one of these." I replied.

"Really what is it?"

"They called it an arcade machine or something."

"An arcade machine." Toni scrutinised the contraption like it knew something she didn't.

"Yeah it has games in it." I supplied.

"Really?" Toni turned her gaze away from the arcade machine to me. "Can you work it?"

"I guess I can give it a try."

"Yayyy." Yvonne clapped gleefully.

I pushed a button hidden behind the machine and watched lights of different colours come on. An annoying tune began playing and a banner came up asking to choose between 'Easy', 'Intermediate' and 'Hard'.

"Let's go with easy." I decided and tapped on it.

An unfamiliar background appeared on the machine's screen. And a countdown from three began. A few vehicles that looked like poor imitations of automobiles crowded the screen then suddenly disappeared.

"What was that?" Toni stepped closer to me.

"I think it's a racing game." I squinted my eyes at the screen.

"Are you sure?" I caught a glimpse Yvonne mirroring me from my peripheral vision.

I grabbed the joystick placed my other hand close to the control buttons. "Well. Only one way to find out."

I gently pushed the joystick forward and saw myself moving. I decided to press a button that was labelled 'X' and I was propelled forward for a second. I kept on moving and before long I passed a few of the other strange automobiles.

"Look you're in fourth place." Yvonne announced.

"Wow you're really good at this." Toni complimented me.

"I bet you guys I can make it to first."

"What do you get if you win?" Toni put a hand on her hip.

"Let's start easy. Both of you have to surrender half of your lunch tomorrow."

"And if you don't make it to first place, you owe both of us half your lunch tomorrow." Yvonne challenged.

"You're on." I agreed.

"Alright then." Toni turned to face the screen.

I got to second by the final lap. And I picked up a boost and used it just before we got to the finish line, giving me the opportunity to get to first. I turned to an impressed Toni and Yvonne.

"So I'll see you guys at lunch?"

They both exchanged a look then turned their faces back to me instead of replying.

"I'll be seating with Kylie as usual." I informed them before walking away.