"Ohhh, I just can't, I tell you. Mr. Strange just talks non-freaking-stop," Emily groaned, her voice full of desperation.

Peter, trying to offer comfort, replied, "I told you I didn't like him! I mean, sure, he seems nice enough, but… you know how he is."

Emily sighed. "And then I have Mrs. Cash. I feel like I'm doooomed."

"Okay, drama queen," Peter teased as they walked up to their group. "It's Wednesday—"

"Exactly! Two more days till the weekend," Emily cut him off hopefully.

"Well, on paper," Peter said, a hint of mischief in his voice.

"Huh?" Emily stopped, staring at him with her mouth open. "What do you mean 'on paper'?"

Peter grinned. "On Friday, we're doing a drums please!"—he made a drumroll noise and then shouted—"a κατάληψη!"

Emily's eyes lit up. "Wait, really?"

"Huh-uh!" Peter said, nodding and doing a little celebratory dance.

"That's awesome, but… why?" Emily asked.

Peter shrugged. "Does it matter?"

"Not really," she admitted. "Just curious."

"Well,this Friday is Black Friday."

"And?" Emily looked more confused than ever.

"You know the game store downtown?"

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Be more specific."

"You know, the one with the German guy."

"Ohhh, that one."

"There's this big plant across the street from the store. Now, that store normally opens at 10 a.m., but on Black Friday, they'll open at 6 p.m. It's part of their whole genius plan to get more people in there—since that's when people are already out shopping. So, they're like, 'Hey, maybe I'll check this place out real quick,' and boom! Fifty euros gone on random stuff."

Emily's eyebrows knitted together. "What exactly are you saying?" Inside her head, she thought, Has he finally lost it?

Peter grinned, excited. "I'm saying I'll hide in that plant from 6 a.m. till 5:58 p.m. By the time the doors open, I'll be first in line, with muscles of steel from staying in a plant all day—like that guy in that documentary about activism. I'll have much stronger thanks to the vitamins,the soil that comes from the plant and it's seeds and yeah you get the idea. Then, I'll dash in and snag the Namco-Bandai Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Collector's Edition, which is normally 300 euros but on Black Friday is just 120!"

Emily blinked at him, trying to process. "You're doing all that… for a video game?"

Peter's tone shifted to one of utter seriousness. "Not just a game. A once-in-a-lifetime journey. This game reflects the human struggle, the courage to keep pushing forward no matter what—battle by battle, we keep getting up." He finished with a proud smile. "You should educate yourself."

"You're a lost cause… And don't you already have Elden Ring?"

"This is different! It has collector's items—and a deluxe box. Duh."

Emily groaned. "Right. And your hiding plan?"

Peter waved his hand. "Worked out every detail. I've got snacks, water, and the perfect hiding spot." He smiled confidently.

Emily shook her head, amused. "Why not just order it?"

"Where's the fun in that? Besides, you know they always have one or two copies of everything. It's all about that money." Peter grinned.

They finally reached their group, only to find Mario and Ann arguing. The rest of the group was trying not to laugh—or just ignoring them altogether.

"Guten morgen, meine friends!" Peter greeted them cheerfully. "What's going on here?"

"Good morning, dude," Angelo replied, slinging an arm around Peter's shoulder. "You're just in time—I think they're about to throw punches."

"Nice," Peter chuckled, amused. "But over what?"

"Who gets the Elden Ring Collector's Edition first on Friday," Angelo said, barely holding in a laugh.

Peter froze, staring. "Wh-what?" He blinked. "That's mine!"

Peter pushed his way between Ann and Mario.

"Oh, look! Someone with sense," Mario said sarcastically. "Come on, Peter, tell this guy why I deserve the collector's edition more than she does."

"Oh, I'm the idiot?" Ann shouted, grabbing Mario by the collar. "Real gamers know the difference between casual players like you and people who actually care about this game."

Mario was about to respond, but Peter stepped in, grinning. "Ladies, ladies, let's be civil here. Listen, I hate to break it to both of you, but I'm the one getting the Collector's Edition. However, no one has to leave empty-handed—I'll buy each of you something from the sale, as a gift from me to you."

Ann and Mario stared, both shocked and angry.

"What?!" they yelled together.

"You're joking, right?" Ann stepped closer to Peter, eyes flashing. "Because I'm getting that edition. And I will fight for it."

Peter's face lit up with excitement. "Oh-ho! You're approaching me?"

Ann clenched her fists. "I can't knock some sense into you if I don't get closer, can I?"

"Come as close as you like," Peter replied with a mock-menacing grin, striking a dramatic pose.

"Ok wait." Said John. "Let's cool down,clearly the guys are hapoy to see us fight over this but there is one person who would help us. Do us the honours,george."

George looked up at John, while having his hands on his eyes to protect them from the sun slowly rising up.

"What am I supposed to do?" Said george with a confused look on his face. "Anything I'd would be rejected by all of ya."

"No that's not true mate . You're really wise,no joke. That's why we ask you. Give us something to work with." John said sincerely while waiting for George to say something.

"Well I would suggest you three share the money and then share the game ,you know make dates who will have it what week. Say every week someone else plays with it and you know all that." Said george . " What do you say?"

Ann, Mario, and Peter exchanged a look, then turned back to George.

"That's a terrible idea!" they said in unison.

The rest of the group burst out laughing, some doubled over, while George just looked disappointed.

After a while peter came up with a brilliant idea,he come up with a terrificly brilliantly idea.

"Ooo oo oo I have a better idea!" Peter smirks.

Peter smirked, his eyes lighting up.