The Dancer that stole A Football Player's Heart (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 8

I wasn't expecting the arcade to be as run down and ratchet as it was. I was imaging the outside of the place to be lit up with different colored lights and have a fun vibe to it. But no. This looked like the perfect place to murder someone and get away with it.

Joe parked the car and slowly panned his face towards my very scared and shaking body. I looked around to make sure the place had other cars so I wouldn't be as scared. People do come here for fun. Right?

"So Emma. Stay away from me because I said so and I'm not here for typical arcade shit. So you can play with something in there while I am doing my stuff. Got it?"

I clearly didn't get anything he said. He takes me to an arcade for him to do some mysterious stuff behind my back? I came here for some good quality fun, not some private thing he's has planned.

"Whatever. If you end up in jail though, I'm not going to bail you out. Or even say I know you." I opened the door and hopped my way to the back door where I threw my crutches earlier. I saw a hand grab my crutches before I could. Joe quickly came to my side and helped me get comfortable with my crutches.

"I'll keep it in mind Emmalina." I froze at the sound of the word. That one word. No one ever said my full first name before. It was a first for me. I always went by Emma no matter what my birth certificate said. I was to be called Emma and not what papers said. I will not deal will the nonsense I had to go through in middle school.

"Emma. Not that other name. It's Emma." I said harshly and aggressively "crutched" my way to the entrance of the arcade. I was actually surprised to see the inside of it to be filled with fun games ,lights, and smiling faces.

I felt a hand on my lower back and immediately jumped at the contact. I felt hot breath right by my ear and slightly shivered.

"Here's twenty dollars. Do whatever you want and I'll find you later ok?" I noticed a hand right in front of my stomach with dollar bills tightly pressed between its middle and index finger.

"Thanks" I said I blushed. Now this is the part where I go a little crazy. I Emma, am blushing at a guy who "ruined" most of my childhood, made fun of me, ran over and broke my foot, and might lead me to being murdered at this weird but awesome arcade. Yes I was defiantly going crazy at this point. My thoughts were ruined by an obnoxious group of guys calling Joe over to them.

I softly heard Joe cuss under his breath and tried shooing me away but I clearly wasn't fast enough.

"Ah Joe, a girl. You've never brought a crippled girl before. And a beautiful one too" The guy who looked about twenty two said as he raked his eyes up and down my body.

"More like sexy. How you doing baby girl?" The other older guy said as he slowly walked towards my shaking body. Joe stood in front of me protectively shielding me from the creepy older men.

"Awwww! Come on Joseph! We just want her name!" The man was right in Joe's face trying to look at me.

"I didn't come here for you to look at her. I came here for business and that's it. Maybe later when we finish I'll introduce you guys to her but as of right now, she has no business with anything that's going on here." Joe glared at the guy who took two steps back but still tried to put an intimidating look to his face.

"Farewell, let's go to the back room. My lady, have fun." The group left to go to a so called back room.

"Be careful and if you need anything, scream my name." Joe gave me a small smile and followed the men to the secluded part of the arcade. I took my mind off the incident by going to the only place of this arcade that made me squeal in excitement.