Sam went downstairs to sit with Bella but he came back because she said she was going shopping with the girls. David soon came back and he looked quite happy.
"Here comes lover boy." Michael taunted him but David just smiled,"How do you feel?"
"I feel.....happy and confident. I asked her out and she said yes."
"I kinda want to know why you wanted to leave home kiddo." Sam said and the smile on David's face fell,"I won't judge, promise."
"I was sick of you and your military rules around the house. And Michael was very annoying so I thought I'd get a breather." David said.
"Let's go to the arcade. I need somewhere to vent." Sam said smiling.
"You want to play games?" Ray asked and Sam nodded,"The one's you said rot our brains?"
Sam smiled again and then picked up the plate with the pineapple. He took one slice and forced the rest of us to take a slice as well.
"Go take a shower." Sam said scrunching up his nose as if he could smell me.
"You won't leave me right?" I asked and Sam nodded.
I went to the bathroom and I heard them leave the room. I took longer than I had hoped so I went running downstairs. Bella was sitting with the girls around her while they tried to style her hair.
"Where are you guys going?" Bella asked.
"Didn't you go shopping?" sam asked back smiling.
"They said my hair do made me look old so until they agree on that we ain't going nowhere. Now answer my question."
"We are going to the library." Sam said.
"I thought we were going to the arcade." I said and all the boys turned to glare at me,"You didn't tell me it was supposed to be a secret."
"You're not going anywhere." Bella said firmly as she crossed her arms,"You can wait for us and we'll go shopping."
"Mum, boys don't want to buy handbags and nail polish." Michael whined.
"I didn't say you'd be buying handbags and nail polish."
"Then are we buying video games?" Ray asked.
"No."
"Then let them play." Sam said almost pleading,"Dee hasn't experienced what it's like to play a video game. He's just been playing truth or dare since he got here."
Bella looked at me and I smiled sadly. She looked at the others as well and then sighed.
"If you're still in here when I count to five..." she started but she didn't get to finish her statement because we all started running to the door.
"Thanks honey!" Sam shouted as he closed the door.
The drive was very noisy as the boys were all shouting and chatting in excitement. I was in the passenger seat with Sam beside me and he had a constant smile on his lips. We had to stop because of a search road block. Drugs and arms they said.
"May I see your IDs." said a police woman.
Her uniform looked so tight on her and because she didn't button up her top two buttons, her bossom was practically waiting to spill out. It didn't help that she was on my side. Everyone removed their IDs while I watched her checked them.
"And you?" she asked me and I blinked a few times before offering her a nervous smile.
"Me? Let me....." I said as I started to check my pockets for my ID.
It can't be. I left them back home.
"I don't have all day." she said.
"No kidding. You'll probably suffocate with how tight your uniform is." David mumbled and we all laughed except Sam and the lady.
"I think I left it back home." I said finally.
"Let me check your cellphone then." she said straightening up,"Officer! We have a problem here!"
"Cellphone?" I asked touching myself,"I left that too."
"Dee!" everyone yelled in frustration.
"Then please drive off the road and park there." the woman said with a slight smile.
Sam drive to the side stiffly and as he parked he was muttering under his breath that he should have asked. We all got out of the car and the lady came to us with a short chubby man with glasses.
"What's your ID number?" the man asked pushing the glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"I can't remember." I answered and the man pushed his glasses down to look up at me without the help of his lens.
"Do you remember your phone number then?" he asked.
"No."
Sam slapped his forehead and then he moved closer to the man to start giving an explanation for my forgetfulness.
"I recently adopted him and he is still trying to get used to his gadgets and back in the orphanage all his IDs were managed by the nuns so he didn't know anything about that either. I can give you the details."
The chubby man looked at me apprehensively then he walked away with Sam who went giving the needed details.
"Class topper who doesn't know his own number." Ray said shaking his head,"If only all the girls crushing on you knew about this."
"I'm just not interested in the digital world." I defended myself.
"Then you'll feel bored at the arcade." David pointed out.
Sam came back and we continued our journey.
"Tomorrow morning you should know your number kiddo. If you had been alone they wouldn't believe anything you said." Sam said in a serious tone.
"Yes dad." I answered sinking into my seat.
"All of you, fasten your seatbelts. You got me scolded."
The rest of the ride was quiet and when we finally got to the arcade I was feeling sleepy. It was dark and noisy inside with brightly lit screens everywhere. Most of the people inside were males, young and old.
"What do you want to try first?" Ray asked and that is when I realized that the others had already scattered including Sam who was now..... dancing.
"What do you recommend?" I asked back because I didn't know any of the games.
"Let's play Mortal Kombat." Ray said excitedly and he pulled me with him to a crowded place where a boy and girl were ferociously punching buttons on a machine.
The girl looks awfully familiar. I watched the screen and controls closely until the girl won. The crowd cheered for her and when I heard her name I turned to leave. If Bernice saw me here then I wouldn't be leaving soon.
"It's that girl you brought earlier." Ray said,"She's good and she's even earning money from bets. Let's take up the challenge."
"I don't know how to play remember?"
"Then I'll play. I'm pretty famous here. I used to come often after school."
"I'm telling if you lose." I said and he smiled at me confidently.
Ray went to the cleared space and stood next to Bernice. She recognized him immediately then turned to look for me. It wasn't hard to find me because of my height. She smiled at me and then they chose their avatars while people were betting on who would win. The game started and it was pretty much over with how Ray mercilessly attacked without giving her time to process what was happening. He won the first round and Bernice glared at him while he turned to wink at me, inevitably bringing the crowd's attention to me.
Ray dominated the second round as well and I feel the motivation is coming from not wanting Bella to find out about his frequent visits to the arcade. Bernice and her fans looked frustrated because of losing. Ray was being called Flash Ray.
"Who wants to challenge me?!" he shouted and Bernice raised her hand again,"You seem keen on losing."
"I won't lose a second time." Bernice hissed.
The bets were placed again and Ray won again making Bernice angry. Bernice came to stand next to me with a frown on her face.
"You aren't bad." I said to comfort her,"He's just better."
Bernice elbowed me and I chuckled.
"Why don't you play Dee? Just a test run." Ray said making some of the people look at me,"Don't Tell me you are afraid of losing."
I walked towards him and I took a moment to just look at the controls. I chose my avatar, same as Ray then we started playing. I lost the first round miserably; flawless victory.
"Don't worry it's just the first round." Ray teased me and I pouted my lips.
"I'm telling mum your little secret." I said and he laughed.
I copied his moves from the first round and he lost. I felt happy but I was certain I would lose the the third round. The third round we were neck to neck. I punched the controls viciously until I won. Ray patted my back and congratulated me.
"Look who we have here." someone said behind me.
I saw Ray frown and so I turned around to see Bridger. He was wearing a white T-shirt with a leather jacket and black jeans and leather boots.