Another shrug.
“The longer we stay on the road, the more likely we are to get into an accident,” Bailey mentioned.
“Turn right.”Seemed Zane wasn’t ready to die just yet.
Bailey snickered, doing as Zane said while feeling victorious at having made him give up the directions.He continued the directions until they pulled into the parking lot of a large arcade.They stepped out to head for the doors.Bailey entered first.Zane followed while twiddling with his lip ring.He kept his head down and gaze on the floor.He even stayed close to Bailey, behind him like he was trying to separate himself from the crowd.
Games and chatter filled the space, accompanied by joyous laughter and the groans of a recently lost game.Bailey retrieved tokens for them at a nearby station.Parents sat in the restaurant area enjoying a pizza as they let their kids have fun.The arcade was filled with life, booming literally.It definitely wasn’t a spot Bailey could envision Zane being in, yet there he was behind him, seeming to wait on Bailey to decide what to do next.
Zane hated social gatherings.He disliked crowds more than anything, made him anxious and claustrophobic.The idea of being squished like a bunch of sardines made his skin crawl.Everything was too loud.The lights were too bright.There were far too many people; Zane’s head felt like it was going to explode without his headphones.However, before he could mention any of that, Bailey spoke up, “Let’s play something I’ll win at.”
He ran towards the basketball game.For whatever reason, Zane so easily focused on Bailey that the surrounding noise seemed to die down.It became almost nonexistent and though, deep, very deep down, Zane understood why that happened.He merely didn’t want to face it just yet.
“This isn’t a competition,” Zane said, though followed Bailey’s steps.
Bailey was too busy envisioning his win to care what Zane had to say.He slipped the token in and the game began.Zane took the machine at his side.Bailey threw the ball haphazardly, trying to score as fast as he could, while Zane started beside him.Much to Bailey’s displeasure, Zane was good and actively taking part.
“Oh, ok, start being active when it comes to beating me, I see how it is.”Bailey scowled at Zane’s score, that only continued to go up.Unlike Bailey, he took his time, but he had the advantage!He was taller and had longer arms!At least Bailey kept using that as an excuse.
“If I get something good out of it, I’ll participate,” Zane said with his signature grin.
“You’re awful.”
“Thanks.”
Zane won, even if he kept stating it wasn’t a competition.Next, they went for some first-person shooters.Zane was not as active here.
“Take this seriously or we’re going to die!”Bailey exclaimed and a second later, they did exactly that.“We died!”
“You jinxed us.”
“No, I didn’t!You stopped shooting!”Bailey pointed at Zane, who had the plastic gun already back in its holster.His expression, however, said that, yeah, he stopped shooting on purpose to piss Bailey off.“We wasted two tokens on this game and hardly got any tickets!”
“I get a prize out of this either way.”
Confused, Bailey looked at Zane with furrowed brows.Before he could ask why though, Zane elaborated by saying with a sly grin, “Seeing you get riled up is prize enough.”
“I’m going to kill you.”
But Zane’s death never came because there were more games to play.The two lost count after hours of playing.Zane’s expression shifted from sour to happy, like Bailey had hoped.It was far better to see that smile on his face, the one that said he was enjoying himself.It was better to see those bright blue eyes sparkling with amusement and actual happiness.Bailey would take such an expression over anything else in the world.
Warmth bubbled in his chest, one that he knew stemmed from the fact that he was proud.He was proud that he could get Zane to enjoy himself.He felt happy that he could make Zane feel better.That sense returned, the one that made Bailey feel special, that he honestly really liked but wasn’t sure he totally deserved.However, each time he looked to Zane and saw him smile, or heard him laugh, it encouraged hope that his feelings were warranted.
After hours of games, smiles and laughter, the two received their prizes.Zane got a lava lamp while Bailey purchased an assortment of small toys.They returned to Bailey’s car after it had gotten dark.What happened earlier dissipated, leaving Zane at ease.He relaxed in the car, donning a small smile.Those bright blue eyes remained warm on the drive.
“Isn’t it nice to get out every now and again?”Bailey asked.
“I got a lava lamp, so I guess it’s not so bad.”
Bailey rolled his eyes.So he really was telling the truth.If he got something out of it, he would participate.That seemed very Zane like, as if he would do anything that didn’t give him something in return.
“You’ve been here before though, haven’t you?”Bailey inquired.
Zane nodded.“With Chris, years ago.”
“So I’m not the only one who forcibly removes you from your apartment?”
“No.”
