Okay, I thought. Channel 2 - infomercials.

Channel 3 - baseball game. Bo-ring.

Channel 4 - cartoons... Crap, not this show again.

Channel 5 - talk show.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...

I frowned at the TV and placed the remote back on the coffee table.

Simon came around and sat next to me on the couch. "What's wrong, babe?" he asked.

"I hate Sunday mornings," I answered him bluntly.

He groaned. "Same here. That's why I'm usually helping Theodore at this time."

Just then, I had to ask him something important. "Why are we at your place again?"

"Ally, I told you a thousand times. We're here because you need someplace to stay with your friends. That complex wasn't going to do you any good."

I had to pick his side. The place looked like it was gonna collapse any day now.

"Yeah, you're right." I suddenly hatched an idea. "Mind if we play a video game or something? I'm bored..."

"Sure. Which one do you want?"

"How's about 'Mario Kart: Double Dash'?"

"I'm game."

Somehow, that just made me laugh. "You know that was a perfect place to put that pun, right?"

He laughed. "I didn't mean to."

"That's okay. It was just coincidental, that's all."

In about thirty seconds, our game loaded up. As the game began, we practically had to face off for the characters we wanted.

Thankfully, I was able to get Yoshi before Simon did.

He laid some money down on the table. "What do you say we make this game a bit more interesting? The loser of the eleven rounds we play has to get the winner's choice of coffee."

I grinned. "You're on, babe!"

Out of the first five circuits, Simon was winning 3 to 2.

"I never realized how good you are at this game."

He smiled. "Thank you."

"But your ass is getting kicked the next five rounds!"

"Yeah right, princess!"

I was right. By the end of the tenth round, we were tied. The last one was DK Mountain, and that was my favorite track.

"Good luck, babe," I told Simon. "You're going to need it."

"Thanks, but I think it's you that's going to need luck."

The first lap flew by fast, and Simon was in the lead. My fingers began to cramp because they were moving and hitting the buttons so fast.

At the end of the second lap, Simon was still ahead, but I was catching up. The two of us were finally neck in neck halfway through the last lap.

Five...

...four...

...three...

...two...

...one.

The round ended, and that's when I saw my initials in the first place section.

I jumped up from my seat. "I guess I win... I want a large iced coffee, regular. Extra cream and extra sugar, please."

He pouted, but in a playful kind of way. "Sure, Ally."

Five minutes later, Simon returned with my drink.

"Thanks, babe."

He wrapped his arm around my back. "You're welcome... and just for the record, you're never going to beat Alvin at this game."

I pouted. "Yeah right!... yeah, probably not."

Simon laughed. "You're crazy, Ally."

"But that's why you love me so much."

He kissed me on the cheek. "True."

I suddenly had an interesting thought. "Do you ever think I could lose to Dave at this game?"

Simon started laughing hysterically. "No way! He doesn't even know where the start button is!"

I joined in, laughing with him. "Come on, Si. Dave's smarter than that."

"Not when it comes to video games."

I saw Dave walk in the room. "Well, let's just see about that."

Ten minutes later, I held my hand out in front of Simon, my controller in my other hand. "Hand it over, babe."

Simon handed me ten bucks. "Beginner's luck."

I smiled, laughing again. "Yeah. Okay, Simon. Whatever you say..."