Neon lights glowed and danced around us as we entered the arcade and the machines whirred to life.

The best part about it is that it's open 24/7. As long as you know the best times to come that is. Too early and there's loads of kids, too late and you're met with annoying older people. We have somehow managed to come here at a good time. Probably due to Noah's creepy observation skills somehow.

Leaning down to my ear he asked, "Are they those guys from running?"

Glancing in the direction he nods at I realise that the five guys including Elias and Adrian are actually there.

"Yup." I respond and begin to walk over to the freshman. I then notice Noah isn't following me. "What's up."

"Nothing. Just admiring you."

"Oh? Then I suppose you should ask me on a date at some point." What can I say? I'm blunt. He also blushes again as his eyes widen which is cute.

Heading over to the guys I stand between Gabriel and Levi, "Hey guys."

"Ah! It's another Ryan!" Levi exclaims.

Elias comes over and hugs me, "Hey Raven." I smile when I see Adrian look slightly jealous, they're so cute.

"Hey." I say back. Noah walks over and casually puts his arm around me while making conversation with Gabriel. Elias grins and gives me a questioning glance. I give a small smile and slightly shake my head. After all, even though I want something to happen, unless he asks I won't know. I suppose I could ask him myself but I'm so amazing he should have to chase after me... Ok I'm kidding, I'm just not good at the romantic stuff, I'd mess it up.

Levi chimes in, "You guys wanna join our competition?"

"What is it?" Noah asks, eyes glistening in excitement.

"We always go to the chippy down the road after this so the person with the highest amount of tickets after an hour gets their meal bought by the one in last place."

"When does it start?" I question.  I can feel myself getting competitive. This will be interesting.

"Uh.... About now?" Levi answers. I feel bad for him. He doesn't know what monster he has just unleashed.

"See you all in an hour then." I walk off towards the skee balls. Have always enjoyed that game.

"You all heard the man!" I hear Elias shout.

Four machines of skee ball and not one being used. I put in the money and begin the game just to have Ryan come beside me. We look at each other and then grin like madmen. Maybe we are as similar as Levi said. We both have dyed hair and a similar build, I have slightly more muscle but of course I've been running a bit longer than him. Of course if we are anything alike he would also be secretly competitive. He's one to watch out for.

As we both get down to our last throw I notice that we have the same amount of points somehow.

"Damn, close one huh?" He gives me a small smile and nods. Not a big talker then.

"At the same time?" I suggest. His smile begins to grow as he nods.

"Three." I start.

'Two."

"One." Which to my surprise he says as well.

The balls glide and almost seem to leap into the air. His goes into the 50 hole whereas mine surprisingly goes into the 100 hole at the top left.

I smile and turn to him holding out my hand, "Good game."

He shakes my hand and to my surprise he laughs, "That's been the most fun I've had in awhile."

Gabriel comes over, I notice he had a slightly worried look on his face until he seen us have fun. "I have not seen Ryan in an intense game like that in ages. He might actually have some competition today."

I smile, I haven't spoken to Gabriel much yet, "What's your poison then?"

He laughs a little and brings me to those car racing machines. "Really? Would've seen Levi over here before you."

"Ah I've always been good at racing games unlike Levi. I'll be scared for all of humanity when Levi learns how to drive."

I stifle a laugh and we begin. Racing games aren't normally my cup of tea so I'm not surprised that Gabriel wins by a few seconds.

"You were close." He smiles almost tauntingly.

I feel my eyes narrow, "I'll get you next time." I nod at him as I walk past him to the rest of the arcade.

Half an hour later after some serious arcade machine gaming I have so many tickets I can barely hold them all. Noticing a certain leather jacket I make my way towards Noah. He smiles almost adoringly when he sees me and comes over.

"Your competitiveness took over then?"

"Yeah."

"How about I help you with those?" He pats my head gently then begins to pick up some of the tickets.

"Where's yours?"

"I cashed mine in already."

"It's a bit early."

When we set the tickets down at the machine where you cash them in he delicately grips my chin and turns my head. "For the last half an hour while you've hunted for tickets Levi has been over there losing continuously to Ryan."

"He doesn't have any tickets."

He rubs my shoulder before turning to the machine, "I don't think he cares."

Looking at them for a few seconds I see what he means, anyone would be lucky to have someone who stares at them like how the red head is staring at Ryan. I look at them with a small smile then turn to help Noah.

"As you appear to be all knowing tonight answer me this: Does he know?"

"Who?"

"Ryan."

He spares a small glance over to the pair and then back to me. "Who do you think knows?"

Confused I look back at the duo but now I get it. While Levi's back is turned trying to convince Gabriel to play I really look at Ryan for the first time. He was looking at Levi in the same way but he somehow looks almost defeated.

"How can Levi not know he likes Ryan?"

"I knew you were observant." He says with a proud tone.

"But isn't it obvious?"

"To an outsider? Yes. To him? No."

I smile wistfully in their direction, "Will he ever know?"

"I believe he will find out, but who knows when."

At that moment Elias calls us over while dragging Adrian over. We all stand and look at our receipts with the ticket numbers and find out that Ryan won. By. One. Point.

He smirks at me. I shove him gently, "I'll beat you next time."

The others laugh and we all head out to the chippy. We walk while listening to Elias tell Ryan and myself how Adrian and Levi somehow managed to fall in their ice hockey match while we were playing see ball.

                                                                                   ***

Walking in I realise that the place now has a seating area of numerous booths. It's been a few years since I've been here last though. Sitting in the corner nearest to the window Noah presses in beside me to let Ryan and Levi in as well. Elias sits across from me with Adrian beside him and Gabriel at the other end. Eating the food we ordered before we ate in a comfortable silence until we were finished.

"Who wants a giant sundae?" Levi asks excitedly. Now that I look the ice-cream shop which used to be separate is now joined to the chippy, that must be why the place looks bigger.

"I'll share." Noah says.

"So will I." Gabriel agrees.

Ryan and Adrian just nod.

Noticing that Elias has a slightly grossed out face I say to him, "Appears I'm not the only one who isn't the biggest fan of sundaes."

"They're too much, I'd rather have a coffee."

Suddenly I once again remember that night after the summer camp again, we came to the chippy. The owner is a friend of Issac's called Lillian. She made amazing coffee which she let us have.

I smile, "You know... It's funny you say that."

He smiles excitedly, "Why?"

I turn to the others, "Move losers we're getting our drinks."

"Wait they serve coffee here?" Elias questions as we leave the booth.

"If you know who to talk too."

Walking up to the counter with Elias in tow I ask the moody young adult at the till for Lillian. As she comes out she looks a bit annoyed, until she sees me that is.

"Raven! I haven't seen you since Issac's birthday a few months ago. How are you all doing?"

I smile at the kind woman, "Great thanks, we were wondering if you would mind getting us a coffee? Ice cream is too cold."

"Course love, don't let my hubby know you said that though."

"Wait, with Jakob? Apologies I didn't know you two were married."

She chuckles as she begins making our coffee, "Don't worry about it, we eloped."

"Oh? How come?" Coming from the woman who apparently made dad and Issac let her help with the wedding planning this is a bit of a shock.

"We just couldn't wait." She hands us our coffee, "Here ya's go, it's on the house."

"Thanks Lillian."

"Bye loves!" She exclaims as we leave.

"Bye." We both respond.

Enjoying our coffee and ice creams we joke into the night until I get a call from dad. I answer and immediately have to hold the phone away from my ear.

"Where are you?" He asks in a worried tone.

I respond calmly, "I thought I told you I was away to a party." I actually texted him so I know I did.

"I thought you were joking!"

"Nope."

"So you're at this party now?" He says sounding relieved.

"Nope."

"What! Where are you then?"

"At the chippy Lillian owns. She's married."

"Hold on, hold on, hold on........ She's what?" At this point the others can't hold in their laughter and are laughing like mad.

"Who is laughing?"

"People from running. And Noah."

Levi shouts, "We're his friends!"

"The last time I checked the only friend you had was Camila!"

"Yeah, Issac always tells me to socialise." At this point Adrians head is on the table as he laughs, Gabriel cries as he laughs and Levi somehow fell out of his seat.

"We didn't think it would work!" He sounds so shocked. Am I really that helpless in his eyes?

"Well done then."

"Thank you. Now that you're safe we will go back to the other topic: Lillian is married?"

"Eloped."

"Oh wow. Issac's gonna go mad. Ah well, get two boxes of Pringles on your way home, we need good food to watch the showdown with."

"Yes dad. Bye dad."

"Bye kid."

As soon as I end the call we all look at each other in silence for a moment. Then we suddenly begin to laugh again extremely loudly causing the moody till person from before to literally jump and fall out of their stool behind the till. That just made us laugh even harder. With that we calmed down and decided to head home, Noah gave our phone numbers to Levi apparently while Elias and I were getting coffee so they formed a group chat. Waving goodbye to the other five, Noah decides to walk me to my house as we find out that he only lives a few minutes away from me.

"That was a lot more fun than I thought it would be." He points out as we approach my house.

I smile, "Yea it was." We then arrive at my house, "Bye."

As I begin to walk away he stops me gently, "Hold on, I need to ask you something."

"Hm?"

"Remember how you said I should ask you on a date? Well I'm doing so now. So would you, Raven Winters, like to go out on a date with me?"

I laugh happily, "Wait how do you know my second name?"

"Not what you should be focusing on." He pokes my nose.

"Alright Noah Bowman, I will."

"How do you know that?"

I squeeze his hand and smile, "Not what you should be focusing on. Bye Noah."

"Bye Raven."