Gods and Monsters

Ch. 7 Fun

It was Friday and Sage was rushing everyone to get dressed. He was nervous. During the week, Brandon would sit with him at lunch. They didn't talk much because Sage did his homework and ate. But they did talk on the phone every day. Sometimes for hours, sometimes for only ten minutes. Sage was pretty sure Brandon was straight but that didn't mean he couldn't look. And he looked a lot, down right stared. Brandon never seemed to mind, he just smiled like always.

Sage never had a crush before. But he thinks that's what this is. A crush.

"You said we'd go to the park." Marlo pouted, not knowing what he was in for. Truthfully, neither did Sage.

"But the arcade is so much more fun, you'll see." Elias supplied. Sage gave him a thankful smile. Once everyone was trudging down the stairs, Sage stopped in the bathroom and looked over himself in the mirror. He'd never really thought much about his looks. He looked like how his mom use to, before. But he had enough boyish features to not look like a girl. His hair was a little wild and curls stuck up all over his head, hanging over his brows. His clothes were plain, just a black shirt and jeans. He only had his red high top converse.

He shook his head. It shouldn't matter what he looks like, he's just going to meet with a friend. He rushed downstairs and ushered everyone out the house, locking the door behind him. The twins held hands and Marlo held his. They made it just in time to get on the bus.

The arcade was relatively new in town. Elias led the way to the place with a big neon sign over the door.

Sage instantly spotted Brandon and couldn't help the smile that lifted his lips. He seemed impatient and met them before they got to the door.

"Hey."

"Hi." Sage said shyly, noticing his siblings staring up at the tall stranger. "Ugh, guys, this his Brandon."

"Hi!" Marlo shouted excitedly.

"This is Marlo." Sage introduced. "That's Aurora and Mia."

"Hello." Aurora giggled, bouncing on her toes.

"I see dead people." Mia deadpanned.

Brandon's eyes widened and everyone laughed, well everyone but Mia who kept her stony expression and Brandon who looked worried.

"Ignore her, she does that." Sage cut his eye at his little sister, the message clear. Behave. "You've already met Elias." Brandon nodded along and repeated everyone's names. He didn't mix the twins up which was surprising because Mia switched places with Aurora.

"Cool, lets get inside." Brandon smiled and everyone rushed inside. Sage went to buy tokens for everyone but Brandon stopped him. "This was my idea, I'll pay."

"Oh, no, you don't have to do that." Sage bit his lip nervously, surely that would cost too much. There was five of them. He can't allow him to do that, can he?

"I'll buy tokens, you buy food. Deal?" Brandon looked at him with those intense eyes while Sage hesitated before reluctantly nodding. Brandon smiled and handed the lady his card.

Once everyone had their cards with equal amounts of tokens on them, it was clear they were overwhelmed. Elias and Brandon were the only ones who seemed comfortable and Elias ran off to some game he said was the best.

"Never been here before?" Brandon asked, looking around the dark room lit by neon signs and the games. Sage was nervous he'd loose a kid.

"N–no." He whispered, not really sure why. Marlo was holding his hand tightly and the twins were hovering close to him.

"Let's start with something easy." Brandon's teeth had a bluish tent in the black lights and his eyes glowed. He led them to something he called air hockey. Sage knew what hokey was but he didn't see how that could be played in the air. He felt stupid for that thought when they got to a table thing that Marlo couldn't see over. "You're on this side." He pointed to the side Sage should stand at. The kids watched curiously as Brandon scanned his token card and it seemed to turn on. He dropped some flat disc on the top and gave easy directions.

"Oh!" Sage shouted when Brandon hit the disc thing and it went into the hole. The next time he hit it, Sage hit it back. This continued until Sage got a goal and they all cheered. "Loser!" Sage giggled.

"Games not over yet." Brandon teased. Sage raised a brow, as if telling him to bring it. They playfully traded insults until Sage won.

"You won!" Aurora cheered as Mia snatched the tickets the machine spit out.

"I wanna do that." Marlo pointed to some motorcycle game that some kid was playing.

"Okay, wait your turn."

Once Marlo got on, he didn't want to get off. Brandon finally talked him into checking out the other games. Sage got addicted to PAC man. Everyone enjoyed Skee-ball and Mia snatched everyone's tickets. Sage had to scold her when he caught her taking another kids. She'd huffed and given them back. Elias eventually joined them, pointing out which games they had to try. Everyone at least played every game once.

"Careful, its hot." Sage said, placing the pizza in the middle of the table with the other. Everyone agreed on Supreme without mushrooms because, ew.

"We should do this again." Brandon said, placing a slice of pizza on the plate for Marlo. Sage smiled and nodded.

"Sure, I'm having fun."

"Like I said." Brandon smirked, licking over his lips. Sage turned away after staring for a minute. He grabbed his own slice of pizza. The cheese was melty and stringy and just everything a pizza should be.

"We should come every Friday." Marlo spoke with a mouth full of food making Sage wrinkle his nose.

"Or, we can go to other places." Aurora suggested. "Sage never takes us anywhere." She rolled her eyes and Elias tugged her hair.

"I thought you wanted to go to the park every Friday."

"We can do that." Brandon nodded, making the kids sit up. They liked him, Marlo made that clear when he said so after Brandon had taken him back to the motorcycle game.

Sage shrugged, eating his pizza. They played a few more games before everyone started lagging. Sage ended up carrying a sleeping Marlo after they exchanged all the tickets for candy. They were too tired to even eat it.

Elias walked the girls to the bathroom while they waited out front.

"Thanks, for agreeing to come." Brandon spoke lowly, not wanting to wake Marlo, unaware that Marlo couldn't be woken if a bomb exploded outside.

"Thanks for the offer." Sage smirked. Brandon stared into his eyes for a while, until Sage noticed his eyes lowered. To his lips. My lips, he's looking at my lips. Don't panic. Do not panic. He was pretty close to panicking. Until he noticed Elias with the twins. Sage shifted away from Brandon some where they'd unconsciously drifted closer. "We should get going. Thanks again, for the fun." Sage gave a shy smile.

"Anytime." Brandon promised. At least it sounded like a promise. Felt like one too.

_______________________________

🖤