video games ✘ clifford.

0.1

I staggered out of bed this morning more tired than ever. The night before I'd opened up Origin to play sims, then I saw that Peggle was free for 24 hours. I didn't know what Peggle was, but I downloaded it, and played until about four a.m. So my blonde hair was disheveled almost beyond repair, but with five minutes of hardcore brushing and a ponytail, it flowed down my back in loose curls from the night before, my slight fringes hanging in the front. I swiped on some baby lips, then dressed in my black skinny jeans and a red flannel.

"Wow work." I sighed, looking in the mirror. I crinkled my nose. "Gross." I added, and walked away, grabbing my loose knapsack with a few essentials inside.

"Look who decided to get up." My older brother Chris snickered at me.

I rolled my eyes. "What time is it?" I asked, jogging to the kitchen, grabbing a granola bar.

" Eleven forty-five." he answered, flopping back on the couch.

I dropped my granola bar on the counter, muttered a goodbye to Chris, and walked out. The walk to the arcade still wasn't imprinted in my mind, so I found myself getting lost. Five minutes remained for me to get there and I groaned loudly.

Then I saw the boy with the wild green hair walking. He probably knew.

"Hey!" I yelled. "You! Furby!"

After I yelled Furby, he turned around. I jogged over. "Do you know how to get to the Arcade from here?" I asked.

He nodded. "You're the girl who's working there?" he asked me, and I nodded. "Cool. I'm Michael." he added, then we shook hands.

Michael led the way to the Arcade, and we ended up there at 12:02. We strolled through the doors, and a bell ringed.

Bill, the owner, looked up as we entered. "Get lost?" he asked me, laughing.

I bashfully nodded, looking down. "Sorry I'm late." I mumbled.

Then Bill laughed. "Late? We arent very strict on two minutes." he chuckled, and even Michael stifled a laugh into his hand, then walked off to play pac-man.

He tossed me some keys. "You're in charge."

I caught them. "Are you sure, like shouldnt you get to know me before you trust me with the entire Arcade?" I asked.

Bill whistled, and I took my place behind the counter, while he had the door halfway pushed open. "Okay, what's your favorite color?"

"Green." I answered.

"Okay, Cathy likes green, I'll be back at four." he said, and walked out. The bell dinged. I was really confused. The clock read 12:04, meaning I was four minutes into my first workday, and was in charge of the store. How do you even run an arcade?

So I sat behind the counter, and no one came in, and I understood, since I couldn't think of anyone who would be in an arcade at noon?

Oh wait.

My eyes flickered over to Michael, who was staring intently at a screen of an old fashioned Mario 64 game. I chuckled. My aunt had one of those in her basement. I could dominate him.

"Laughing Cathy?" Michael smirked. "At least I'm enjoying myself and not working."

"Well, I was just laughing at how I could dominate you in that game." I imitated his smirk, and leaned against the wall.

"No one's coming in, let's see you dominate me." he chuckled. I walked out from behind the counter, and over to the console. Michael was a good five inches taller than me, so he looked down. "Ready to die Cathy?"

"Nah, not today." I said, and inserted a quarter. "Since I pay, I get Luigi."

He looked over at me. "You prefer Luigi?"

"Hah, nope. I was messing with you I get Mario." I chuckled, then Michael groaned.

•••

I ended up beating him at all four rounds we played. People began filing in. "I should get back to the counter, loser." I stretched 'loser' sarcastically, then turned away and took my spot at the front. It was now only 12:37, and Bill said he'd be back at three? Maybe four? I forget now.

Then a girl with platinum blonde hair and orange looking skin slapped a five dollar bill on the counter. "I'd like some tokens." she droned on, twirling her hair snd smacking on her gum. She held her (what I'm guessing was) boyfriend's hand, who stood behind her.

"There's a machine in the corner, right by the restrooms." I answered, faking cheerfulness.

"Whatever." she groaned, and took her five dollar bill away, after smacking on her gum once more. God that was annoying.

I looked over at the Mario 64 machine, and there Michael was, tongue protruding from his mouth, concentrating on the game. A laugh escaped my lips and I shook my head subtly before turning my attention back to my phone.

Even in an arcade I still preferred playing Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. As much as I hated the Kardashians, I got sucked into their app in a snap of my fingers. That reminded me that I needed to repaint my nails. The navy blue paint was chipping, and didn't look very attractive at all.

I looked at the clock. 12:43. Today was going to be a long day.

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood informed me that I was now a C-list celebrity. "Looks like I'm a hotshot." I mumbled to myself, playing around, tapping small things to get money.

"Hello I need some assistance." I looked up. It was Fur- I mean Michael.

"Yes?"

"I'd like your number, it'd do a great help."

•••

oh god omg oh yay