(I just realized that there's an anime club at my school... WHY DID I ONLY JUST FIND OUT?!)

Maddilyn's POV

"Arcade!"

"Casino!"

We looked at each other.

"Florence, your not old enough to gamble." "So, that never stopped me. Besides, we're at a carnival, obviously its not using real money." He's right.

"So, you wanna come with me?" "No." "Why? You like to gamble and make bets as much as I do." "Yeah but I'd rather waste my money playing games than making bets with or against you." "You have a bunch of games at home. Or is it that your scared of losing a bet against me." "Keep dreaming, Justyn Larcombe." "Justyn? Who's that?  Lyn, you really need to work on your insults." "Justyn Larcombe was a retired army man who gambled 750,000 pounds and ruined his life."

"I would never do that. I'm more responsible than that. Anyways, whose to say you won't do that, either?" I went silent. He's right.

Even very smart and well-off people have lost everything because they gambled one too many times.

"Fine, you win. Go gamble already. But I won't give you any money if you lose." Florence looks at me with absolute shock. "Florence, I know when I've lost. After years of playing games, both of us should know how to pick our battles and when we've lost our battles."

He looks at me and smiles. A sad smile. "We also know when to rely on our team mates." He pauses and I look at him. I coul feel my face heat up and my eyes water. I knew what he was referring to. He seems to notice my watery eyes to because he followed up with: "Don't get too sappy on me Lyn or I'll have to babysit you all day. Have fun." He turns around and waves behind him as he walk towards the casino. He knows way too much about me and he loves me way to much. "Damn it,  Florence." I say under my breath. Secretly, though, I really love him too.

I stood there for a second then turned around. Enough of this mushy stuff, time to play games until I'm broke. Off to the arcade I go.

I step through the door and there are lights everywhere. Multiple colors assault my eyes as a storm of screams and videogame music infiltrate my ears. I look around in amazment. So many games, from classic Pac-man and Street Fighter, to the newest VR gear.

Two things come to mind:
One) how the hell can a traveling carnival afford  the new gear, the machines, and all the space used to set up all of this.
Two) this is so fucking cool.

I go to the register and pay for one hour of play time. $15 buck for 60 minutes of play time on any game. Not bad. I walk up to the Street Fighter arcade machine... 

Let the games begin 😼.