Blind To Your Love

This Is My Chance

Max🐾

I got ready and had my mom drive me to the mall.

"So, are you going to ask her tonight?"

"Mom, I said yes. I'm going to try at least. I don't know if I'll see her after today during Winter Break. This might be my only shot."

"Well, it wouldn't be if you had dared to ask her before."

"Mom!"

"Okay, okay, ha ha ha ha," she laughed.

I waved goodbye to my mom and walked towards the food court. It seemed like I was the last one to get there.

I saw Terry talking to Clover and when Kiki spotted me she called everyone together.

I noticed Terry looking at me, so I looked at him. He squinted his eyes, like he knew what I wanted to do. I rolled my eyes instinctively.

"So, for our first activity- we're going to the arcade!" Kiki announced.

Arcade? Did this mall even have an arcade? What about Clover?

"Arcade?... Why the Arcade?...I'm so excited!" People from our group started to whisper.

"I picked the arcade because the one in Saturn Mall is all about your senses. The games are based on hearing and reaction, so, yeah!" Kiki explained.

I guess that means Clover won't have a problem with it. I was worried there for a moment.

She started leading the way. I tried to get to Clover so I could lead her there, but Terry beat me to it.

When we got there, we all agreed to spend an hour and a half in there.

Kiki and Clover went over to a table with a screen in the middle and two buttons on either side. Kiki help Clover find the button on one side then she went on the other.

She put in a token for her and one for Clover.

"You ready?" Kiki asked.

"I don't even know what to do."

Just then the screen began to play: "Welcome to Reaction! To win all you have to do is click your button before the other person does when you hear buzz. Got it? Buzz. Okay let's get playing!"

I was nervous for Clover and I was afraid she wouldnt be able to win anything tonight. We waited to see what would happen, then all of a sudden: BUZZ

Clover clicked her button lightly and quickly, beating Kiki.

"What? That's not fair, I clicked it first," she said playfully.

"You wish," Clover answered.

BUZZ

Again Clover won and she ended up beating Kiki 5 to 0.

Next me and Sebastian decided to play air hockey. I was doing really good, but then I was distracted by Terry whispering into Clover's ear and then hearing her laugh.

When I lost, he looked over and seemed to be pleased with himself.
Clover decided to face Terry, Julia, and me in a speaker based trivia match.

"Who was fighting each other during the French and Indian war?" it asked.

"Indians versus the French," I said not remembering what it was.

"The French were fighting the Indians and British, right?" Julia said.

"It was the one where the British people and the French fought the Indians. Wait no, that makes no sense," Terry said confused.

"The French and Indians versus the British!" Clover said. Ding.

That meant that it was right. Finally after being there for about an hour and 15 minutes, while the rest were  playing on one side I decide to pull Terry aside and get the facts straight.

"Yes?" he asked.

"What do you want with Clover?"

"Huh?"

"I mean like, do you like her?"

"Of course I do, what idiot wouldn't? I really like her."

"I like her too."

"Well, I guess we got ourselves a problem."

"Yeah we do, cause I am not just giving up."

"Well, neither am I," Terry said.

I looked over to my left. The air hockey table. "How about a contest?"

"To win Clover? No way, that insults every amendment for women's rights."

"No, not like that. I mean winner gets to ask her out first."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, if you win, you get to tell her you like her before I do, but if I win I get to tell her first."

"Sounds fair enough. And in this plan at least we aren't treating her like a trophy. Fine, game on."

"Air hockey?"

"Done," Terry answered walking over to one side and then grabbing the puck.

I went over and got ready on my side. The timer started and we began playing. I didn't think that Terry would be that good, but he was proving me wrong. It had been two minutes and none of us had scored a point.  

"Just give up already," I said.

"No way, I am going to win, and when I do, I'll have the advantage."

I sharpened my glance and waited for the puck to get to me. I hit it really hard but I still didn't get past Terry, instead he sent it flying off the table. I went to go get it and we started again. I knew we only had a few seconds left, so I started to panic. Any wrong move here, could cost me the match. I saw the timer reach 10 seconds, and none of us had made any points. When it reached 5 seconds I hit the puck to the edge of the table and cornered it in. I saw it launch for the slot, with Terry's hand too far to stop it. 

Ding! The machine rang just as the puck went in.

I groaned in disappointment as the point didn't count on the machine's log.

"Damn it," I said laughing for no reason.

"You should've seen your face, you thought you actually had me."

"Ugh, what are we doing?  We're acting like toddlers arguing over a ball."

"You know what? You're right. Just, forget the game, this is ridiculous."

"Yeah, gg," I said high-fiving him as a sign of piece.

By that time, the other half of the group had been talking the whole time. I saw Clover.

Should I do it now? Maybe I should wait. But Terry is distracted, if I get to her first...

I started walking over and I reached my hand towards her shoulder, but another hand beat me to it and caught Clover's attention.  It was Terry. It just had to be Terry.

I still grabbed her shoulder to let her know I was here too.

"Oh, hi Terry...Max?"

"Both actually," I answered.

Terry cut in,"Clover I need to talk to you."

"Oh, sure, hold on Max."

Oh no you don't Terry.

"No, I need to talk to you first."

"Well, who needs to go first?" Clover asked us.

"Me!" Terry and I said.

"Well, how about a game. Say rock, paper, or scissors when I count to three."

"Okay," I said.

"Fine with me," Terry continued.

I guess it really does come down to a game. What if I lost? I can't lose.

What is he thinking? I'm picking rock. Everyone always picks scissors first.

"Okay ready?" Clover asked.

"1...2...3!"