School was over before we knew it and I had already made it to the arcade and checked in by the time Malcom was supposed to meet me there. Where is he? 

"Dude, that's disgusting. . ." Jean's gagging brought me out of my thoughts as I cleaned the booths. Cheese was stuck to the faux leather and all up under the table from a group of kids smearing their pizza all around their table. The parents just abandoned their mess, leaving me to be the one to clean it up. 

"You're not making this experience any better, Jean. Either help me or shut it." I playfully glared at him, spraying the melted cheese with chemicals in hopes of getting it to unstick. 

"Fine, I'll leave you to it, then." He cackled, the asshole. 

Sighing, I cleaned up the cheesy area as best I could before returning to the counter—but not before a quick trip to the bathroom and a thorough wash of my hands. 

Aside from the cheese incident, the day had been going relatively slow for the most part. It was Monday after all. Most parents were still working and some kids were still in school at this time of day.

I was giving a group of high school kids their drinks when I noticed a particular dirty blonde walking into the arcade. My eyes widened.

"You gonna give me that or what?" A teenage girl interrupted my gawking, chewing her gum loud enough for the restaurant next door to hear.

"Oh, yeah. . .sorry. Here you go." I wrapped up their order and before I knew it, Dominic Fuller was standing in front of me.

"Hey, Luca. How's it going?" Dominic smirked, pushing his straight hair off his forehead. 

"Um. . .hi. What can I. . .uh. . .help you with today?" I mumbled, smiling like a love-sick fool. 

"I don't know. When are you free?"

I blanched.

"Um, free?" My eyes were glued to the royal purple counter top separating Dom and I—I just knew my face was bright red.

"Yeah, to hang out?" Dominic smirked as if he found my bashfulness amusing. Probably because he does. 

"Oh. . .um. . .tomorrow after school?" What is happening? 

"Awesome, I'll text ya later then." Dom winked, he actually winked at me!

"O. . .kay?" And with that he made his way out of the arcade.

What the fuck just happened?!

It was only fifteen minutes after that random occurrence that Malcom strode into the arcade. Lucky for me—and unfortunately for him—I was on break. 

"Malcom! You are never gonna believe what just happened!" I squealed, running straight into Malcom and completely disregarding the judge-y looks I received from multiple parents.

"Let me guess, Billie Eilish released a new song? Scientists confirmed water isn't wet? You found out fish don't get thirsty?"

". . .what? Whatever, no all of those are wrong." I looked up at Malcom's amused expression with a scowl—which probably looked more like pouting—on my face. 

"Then whatever could it be?" Malcom hummed, rubbing his chin with his thumb and forefinger. 

"Stop, I'll just tell you!" I laughed, playfully punching Malcom on the chest and leading us over to one of the empty booths. 

It didn't take long for me to give Mal the rundown of whatever had occurred before he showed up. My face was flushed and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. 

The smile immediately faded from my face, though, at seeing Malcom's expression. He looked hesitant, but desperate to tell me something. 

"What is it?" I tilted my head at his body language, my somewhat shaggy hair falling off to the side of my head. 

"I don't know, Lu. Don't you just think that maybe this Dom guy is acting a bit off? I mean, he was never interested in you before, but now all of the sudden he is? It's kind of weird."

Weird? Does Malcom really think someone liking me is weird? 

"Oh. . .maybe you're right." I muttered, looking down at the chipped wooden table. I should tell my boss about that, one of the kids could get hurt. 

"Luca, that's not what I meant. Don't you find it odd how Dominic randomly started approaching you out of the blue? I mean, I thought he was with some girl just last week?" Malcom's eyes softened as he looked at me and I couldn't help but be a little upset about it. I don't need his pity, or his opinion for that matter. Dominic asked me out and I'm not gonna waste that opportunity just because Malcom thinks he's weird. 

"I don't know, Mal. But, I'm going and there's nothing you can say to change my mind." I huffed. 

Before Malcom could respond, Jean's voice broke through the air, "Luca, you're break's over. Get back to work!" 

Malcom smiled sadly at me as I got up from the table and waved a little goodbye. I put my uniform hat back on and took my place next to Jean behind the counter. 

"You know, Dude, your friend over there is totally just trying to protect you." Was the first thing Jean said at my return. 

"You eavesdropped? Jean!" I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. 

"Maybe a little, but your friend's gotta point. Men suck." I cocked a brow. 

"And how exactly would you know that?"

"Dude, you're not the only homo around here."

I giggled.