Under The Mistletoe

24| Arcade

Chapter 24: Arcade (Blake's POV)

We entered the arcade with our hands locked together which was kind of surprising because she's the one who initiated it. We headed inside and then started to decide what to start with. I let her pick and she chose to start with Street Fighter II. 

The thing is, this arcade has all the classics and somehow they still work perfectly fine. The owner himself fixes them when they have a little breakdown. 

"And who shall your fighter be?" I asked, looking at her. 

"Charlie," she sang. 

"Charlie? Why?" I chose my fighter while waiting for her answer. 

"Cause he's kind of cute," she shrugged while the game loaded. "At least he is in this version," she chuckled. 

"Fight!" the game was announced. Both of us zoned in on it, slamming down on the buttons and trying to win. 

She won the first fight and sighed, leaning back while the second round loaded. "I'm gonna win," she taunted. 

"No, you're not," I rolled my eyes. We played the second round and I won. In the third round, we were both so invested, that when the owner, Mr. Hacker came over to greet us, we were both startled. He patted my back and I glanced at him, getting distracted and causing Hope to win. 

"Yes! Oh, how I love you Mr. Hacker!" she cheered, turning around. I shook my head, sighing in defeat and turning to Mr. Hacker as well. 

"It's so good to see you kids back here. How long has it been, huh? Two years?" 

"Two years, Mr. Hacker," I nodded. 

"Well, this little one just disappeared, didn't she?" he asked, pinching her cheek. 

"Yes, sir. I sure did," she chuckled, rubbing her cheek that was now turning red. 

"And then he stopped coming around too," he scoffed at me. "But fair enough, what was he going to do if not lose to you, eh Hope?" She laughed, nodding in agreement. "It's really nice to see you kids back here, keep playing," he patted my shoulder and Hope's cheek before going back to the counter. This man still runs this place and he's in his mid-sixties. I think. 

"What next?" she asked, turning to me with a teasing smile on her lips. 

"Space Invaders." 

"Oh no, Blake," she groaned. "I'm going to lose!" 

"That's the whole point," I smirked, pulling her to the game. 

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We sighed in exhaustion with smiles on our faces and stepped off the stage thing for Dance Dance Revolution. The one from 2006. And that was our last game on this arcade date. We were both a little sweaty from dancing so aggressively and enthusiastically but it was great fun. 

"I'm gonna need another shower when we get back," she laughed, taking out her phone from her back pocket and looking at the time. "Seven o'clock. Wanna grab some dinner?" she asked. 

"Where?" I asked, heading to the exit with her, stealing candy from the jar Mr. Hacker keeps on the counter for little kids. He smiled at us, waving us goodbye. 

"McDonald's drive-thru. I'll pay," she shrugged. 

"Sure," I nodded in agreement. 

We filed into my car and I started driving, stopping in line at the nearest McDonald's drive-thru. We placed our orders, she paid, we collected the food and then I parked in the parking lot of the Walmart that was nearby. "Did you have fun?" I asked while handing her burger and fries.