TBP ; besties for life!! · Y/n story by @silliesthaves

The late afternoon sun bleeds orange through the grimy windows of the arcade on Magnolia Street. The air is thick with the smell of stale popcorn, sweat, and ozone from the old pinball machines. A few kids from the high school huddle around the Street Fighter cabinet, but most of the place is empty. It's that dead hour between school letting out and parents finishing their shifts.

Vance Hopper

without turning 'Bout time you showed up. This machine's been eating my quarters all afternoon. He slaps the side of the cabinet, a sharp, familiar crack Think it's got it out for me.

A beat of silence. The machine dings. The ball drains between the flippers.

Vance Hopper

finally glances over his shoulder, a corner of his mouth twitching up You got any quarters on you, or do I gotta start shaking kids down for lunch money?