Always Arcades

Chapter Three

(I never played DDR so I apologize in advance.)
>Keith's POV<
I hesitantly stepped up onto the dimly lit floor,looking at the screen,not even glancing at the boy next to me. Shiro suggested this to me. Shiro wanted me to be more social and public. I was only doing this for him to be happy.
I almost jumped when the song selection screen came up onto the screen. I used my foot to move down the list,before I spotted a song.
"Okay." I muttered to myself under my breath,listening as the song started up. I glanced at the boy,supposedly named Lance,and I got even more shy than before. I then shifted and moved my gaze back to the screen.
And at the same time,we both started to move.
I tapped my foot on the correct arrow. It was easy,of course,because it was the same motion for the first few beats. Then it got more difficult,and I instantly regretted everything. But,I wanted to show Shiro I could attempt to be social or do social events.
I had to slightly jump from foot to foot,keeping up with the motions on the screen. I swallowed,nervous,as I started to shake a bit. However,I managed to keep along with the song,and I tried to stay focused.

Stamp on the ground,jump jump jump jump.

I hopped onto each arrow as the word 'jump' repeated four times. I grabbed the metal bar behind me so that I wouldn't lose balance.

Moving all around,tap da da da.
Stamp on the ground,jump jump jump jump.
Moving all around,
Jumping all around.

The music got more intense,and the dancing followed right along with the pattern. Being the klutz I was,I couldn't keep my footing,and slightly stumbled as I attempted to jump from arrow to arrow. Biting the inside of my cheek,I knew the song was almost over,but I was obviously going to be the loser in this match. Closing my eyes,I took a deep breath,and stood straight,focusing even harder. I moved my feet with the beat,not even opening my gaze once,since the same beat had now returned. I moved only my feet,and barely my body,but that was a mistake.

Jumping all around.

Stumbling,I tried to jump onto the last arrow,but I tripped over my own feet,and I collapsed to my knees just as the song had finished. Panting,I grabbed ahold of the metal bar,forcing myself to stand up,my legs shaking.

The boy next to me cheered,as he had gotten his victory. Looking at my pile of bags on the floor,I knelt down and picked up the blue lion plushie. Holding it in my hands,I hugged it close one more time,trying to calm my breathing. There were so many people around...so many people...
After calming my breath,I closed my eyes tightly. I then turned around,facing towards the boy with the name Lance. I opened my eyes and held out the plush lion,my hands slightly shaking as I kept myself standing. I could have run out of the room,but I refused.

Lance turned to face me,meeting my eyes. His smile faded and he gained a confused look,raising an eyebrow as he looked at the lion. He took it in light hands,turning it so that he could see its face. He opened his mouth to say something,but I cut him off.
"C-Congratulations," I whispered. "You w-won."
Before he could make anymore comments,I scooped up my bags,nodded at Shiro,and sprinted out of the door.

>Lance's POV<
I followed the silhouette of the boy through the crowd,keeping my eyesight on him. I was confused,so I didn't move a muscle. Everyone kind of stared at me,waiting for me to either move or speak. Nobody else wanted to dance,so the competition was over. And I was the winner.
I looked down at the plush in my hands,before turning towards Hunk and Pidge. The two had wide,shocked faces as they stared at me,and I gave them a confused look. I raised an eyebrow,stepping down off of the dancing floor as I asked them,trying not to sound confused.
"Hey,whats the matter?"
Pidge raised her phone up,snapping a picture.
"Hey! What was that-" my voice faded as she showed me the picture she took,and I went silent.
I turned and ran off towards the back of the arcade,rushing towards the bathrooms. I ran into the men's room and slammed the door shut,locking it before I moved to the mirrors.

"No,this can't be right." I muttered after a few minutes,lifting my hand towards my face as I spoke to myself. I blinked a few times,hoping it was my imagination playing tricks on me.
My eyes were black. Pure black.
But that boy didn't have red eyes,did he?
I couldn't really remember.
"Lance? You good buddy?" Hunk knocked on the bathroom door,and I snapped my head towards the sound. I unlocked the door,pulled him inside,then shut it once again.
"Hunk,they're black!" I exclaimed,gesturing towards my eyes with my hands. He just simply nodded his head,like all of this was normal.
"Hunk," I snapped my fingers,as if to try and see if he was thinking straight. I then asked,
"Did the boy have red eyes before he left?"
He paused for a moment at this question,and I knew he wasn't prepared to answer the question. Nervously,he messed with his hands.
"Anyone could have had the red eyes,Lance. If you weren't so engaged in that competition-"
"Guys,you alright?" Pidge's voice interrupted.
I looked at Hunk and shook my head quickly. Pidge would just start to think about anything,thinking about the boy I competed against. Finally,her voice rang out again,
"I think I know who you're looking for."