Hidden In Front Of You

Chapter 3

The drawing featured is my original character, Bobby Towers, making his debut in this chapter. Next chapter will feature another OC, Kaitlyn Wiles. In the meantime, enjoy this next installment of Hidden In Front Of You!

~oOo~

Next Monday after hastily signing up for the Apocalypse of the Damned tournament, Michael and I headed to GameMania! after school. The tournament hosts had emailed every contestant, saying that if there was more than one team in a district, there would be a preliminary round to take place in that district's local arcade. The winners of that mini competition would go to Hilton Head Island, where the main contest was being held. I knew Michael and I were good, but I couldn't help wondering as Michael drove us to the arcade: who else around here played and loved AotD enough to enter a competition?

"Hey, Michael, Jeremy!" Bobby moved out from behind the register as Michael and I walked into GameMania!. The arcade was fairly empty, save for a few kids near the Pac-Man machine. "Good to see you guys! How's high school treatin' ya?"

Bobby was a college student at the local university. He worked part-time at GameMania! and often did his homework while manning the register.

"The semester only just started, but so far so good," I said as I took a glance at the counter. "Got an exam coming up?" Textbooks and random papers were scattered haphazardly all over the glass surface.

Bobby sighed and brushed some of his curly hair away from his face. "Unfortunately. We're not even a week back, but Professor Greckle wants us to take a pretest on the new material. Which everyone knows is teacher code for 'how much do the little shits remember?'" We laughed at Bobby's impression of his professor. "Anyway, what can I do for you guys?"

Michael leaned against the counter and grinned. "We're here for the AotD preliminary round.".

Bobby's eyebrows raised. "Oh, so you're the second team?" He stared off into space for a second, then hmphed. "Dunno why I'm surprised 'bout that."

"The others are already here?" My stomach flipped.

"Yup. C'mon, they're in the staff room." Bobby took a set of keys off a hook behind the register and led us to the back of the arcade. "Gotta say, you guys might have some actual competition."

My mouth felt dry. Michael glanced at me concernedly. "You okay, Jer?"

I nodded. "Just pre-game jitters." Pull it together, Heere. Preferably before you start stuttering.

With a dull jangle of keys, Bobby unlocked the staff room door and led us inside.

Black walls and stiff, dark blue carpet mirrored the arcade outside. A small wooden table sat in the corner, coffee rings dotting its surface. Mediocre foldable chairs were set up in front of a small television. In one of the chairs sat Ponytail Girl—Kaitlyn, I reminded myself. She was furiously button-mashing, her avatar throwing everything it had at the onslaught of zombies. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough and she died. "Noooooo. No. I won't accept defeat. Not when I was that close!" She slumped, arm flopping over her face, controller still in hand.

The other person giggled, the fluorescent lighting glinting off her dark hair. "When you try your best but you don't suceeeeed..."

My heart stopped. So much for pulling it together.

Kaitlyn shoved Christine, the pair laughing. "Shut up."

"Hey, ladies," Bobby said, twirling the key ring around his finger. "Your competition's here."

"Finally!" Kaitlyn launched herself off the chair, whirling around as she did so. Christine turned in her chair, her face morphing from curiosity, to astonishment, to excitement.