"Thank you! Thank you all for coming to the Arcade's Second Annual Pre-Valentine's Day Party!" Andrew announced.
The crowd screamed and cheered.
Andrew smiled as he stood on the bar top, scanning the crowd before him. "I am so happy to see some many faces before me, some of you, I remember were just meeting for the first time last year." He nodded at a couple that were right at the base of his feet. "I loved it. And I hope this time next year we have a few more!"
The crowd laughed and cheered.
"We have food, music, games and prizes!"
The crowd cheered some more as Andrew wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"We have movie tickets. We have gift cards. And...drumroll everyone!"
The crowd all came together making the sound of a drumroll.
"The grand prize being a dinner for two, at none other than THE ARCADE!" He announced with such thrill.
Some of the crowd cheered as some rolled their eyes. One person in particular jet black haired best friend.
"With that I hope you all have fun! I will be here all night. Just a reminder wrist bands are needed to for alcoholic beverages, and also we have a right to refuse drinks to anyone we feel is getting to frisky." He smirked. "Unless your significant other is okay with it." He arched his eyebrows as the crowd cheered and laughed. He could see some girls elbowing their dates. He hopped off the bar and headed over to his friend. "Hey, hey look who do we have here! I thought you hate this time of year." He reached his hand out to high five Darien.
"I do," Darien responded as he high fived Andrew back. "But I also love to people watch and watching all these desperate guys make asses of themselves, will be so great."
Andrew shook his head.
"I swear if there was a version of a Valentine's Day scrooge...it would be you."
Darien just shrugged his shoulder. "Why do you continue to call this the Valentine's Day Party anyways, you did this last year too and you over a week early."
"As I explained to you buddy," He started as he walked around the bar. "I do this before Valentine's Day, hoping that people do find each other and are able to spend Valentine's Day with each other."
"You honestly think people will make such a connection in one night and spend "the day of love" with each other? Puh lease." Darien rolled his eyes.
"You are the worst. Coffee?" Andrew asked.
Darien just nodded.
"I don't know how you can drink coffee this late and still sleep."
"It is the life of the doctor, what can I say."
"You are going to die one day." Andrew said going to get his mug.
"Hey where did you go to school for medicine?" Darien asked sarcastically with a smirk.
Andrew just shook his head. Turned his back to Darien to pour him some coffee, then suddenly a light bulb went off in his head.
"Hellllooooo Drew!"
The loud and perky voice caused Darien to whip around. Before him he say none other than Amy, Lita, Mina, Rei and his arch nemesis. "As if my night could not get worse." He threw his head back and turned back around.
"Geez, hello to you pretty boy." Lita snapped. "As she approached the bar.
"Come on Leets, be nice." Mina followed close behind her. "After all it is the season of loooove."
"Don't waste your times ladies." Serena wedged herself between her two best friends. "Drew can we please get 5 love potions with an extra shot on the side."
"Serena, I have to study tomorrow, I cannot."
"Oh can it Aimes, remember the last time we got your drunk." Rei smirked as Amy turned red.
"Yeah! You even got the bonus questions!" Lita yelled slamming her fist down.
"Ladies. Ladies." Andrew slid Darien's mug to him. "Just let the V-Day scrooge alone. You all know how he is. 5 specials and 5 shots."
"That is a messy disaster waiting to happen." Darien took a sip of his coffee and made a weird face. "Drew did Serena the hyena throw you off so bad you burnt the coffee?"
"I did no such thing!" Serena yelled.
"Can you two just stop!" Andrew scolded. "And for the record, you ungrateful free coffee drinking ass, I switched brands."
Darien shot up with his head hung down. "Sorry." He took another big gulp and coughed under his breath.
"Yeah you ass!" Serena repeated sticking out her tongue.
"Serena!" Andrew yelled.
"Fine! we are walking away anyways." Serena threw her hands up. "Besides, all the fun seems to be on that side of the arcade anyways." She pointed to the side with all the games.
"Oooo yes Sere, look at that group of hotties." Mina said biting her lip. "Let's take our first shot and go."
"Sounds like a plan!" Lita agreed.
Darien rolled his eyes.
"Three, two, one." Serena counted and all five girls shot their drinks back and slammed their glasses on the counter top. In unison the sipped their other cocktail. Serena let out a cough. "Here Drew put it on my tab." She slid her card to him.
"And keep it opened!" Mina shouted abruptly.
Serena gave looked at her confused.
"What you promised tonight is on you, since you got your new promotion and all." Rei teased.
"And we are still so proud of you!" Amy calmed the group.
"You...meatball brains...got a promotion?" Darien laughed sarcastically. "Was there nobody up against you?!"
Serena snapped her head around to him. Hate and death daggers in her blue eyes.
"We are not going to do this." Lita cut the views between the two. "Drew keep the tab open and we will be back later." She nodded at Andrew turned to Serena. "Let's go."
Mina pulled Serena away as Lita blocked her from Darien. The five went to the spot they had planned to be immediately approached by a group of guys.
From where he sat Darien had a clear view of all of them as he sipped on his coffee.
"Here let me refill you." Andrew said as he took away his coffee cup.
"Why didn't you just bring the pot over like you normally do?" Darien asked confused.
"Umm," Andrew paused. "So much going on last thing I want is for something to fall into this pot of coffee while I take it over to you. It is a very special pot."
Darien looked at Andrew confused, but before he could say anything a beautiful sound caught his ear. He turned to where it was, only to see Serena sitting on a game stool, with some guy hovering over her. Her smile lit up the area she was in, everything about it was perfect. He jumped up. Shook his head. what he thinking? This was Serena. He looked at his coffee and took another.
"You okay bro?" Andrew asked as he was mixing another drink."
Darien awkwardly nodded. "I'm good." He gulped his coffee. "Just fill me up." His body suddenly became overwhelmed with a flush of heat. He shivered. "Drew this new coffee..."
"I am still deciding if I am going to keep it. Let me know tomorrow?" He interrupted.
Suddenly the roaring sound of laughter caused them to simultaneously turn their heads. Darien's face suddenly became hot. His warm fists balled.
"Dare, you good?" Andrew asked.
"I am great!" He took another gulp of his drink.
"Are you sure you're okay?" A voice came from behind him.
He turned around to see Mina coming up to the bar.
"You look a little red?" She added.
"It is all this red lighting. I am fine." Darien said assertively.
She looked him up and down. She observed his body language. "Drew I just remembered I didn't get a picture with you. Can you come here and take one with me?" Her eyes widened.
"Sure...?" Andrew answered confused.
"Why don't you want a picture with me?" Darien disputed.
"Because you hate social media and this is where this is going. On my social media page." Mina explained.
"Well in that case. I love free publicity." Andrew came around the counter with a huge smile, fixing his blond hair. He stood next to Mina who put her phone up for a selfie.
"Ugh you know what? This lighting sucks." Mina pulled her phone down. "Let's go...over... there!" She pulled him away until there were far enough from Darien. Then she put her phone up again. Snapped a photo. Pulled the phone down. "What the hell did you give him?" She lowly scolded.
"Wh-What ever do you mean?"
"I am not stupid Drew, I seen that face and body language from Amy. Darien is borderline plastered, forget drunk. What the hell are you doing?" She stomped her little foot. "How much did you give him?!
"I.. I..." He looked at her as her eyes practically bulged out her head. "Fine... fine I was hoping he would loosen up and have a good time."
"What? How? He doesn't even drink.
"I slipped it in his coffee." Andrew said almost ashamed.
"This is a joke! How did he fall for that!" She threw her hand up in the air.
"I used coffee liqueur. He knew it tasted funny. But I said it was a new brand of coffee." He shrugged. "In my defense I thought he could handle it better...he is a bigger dude."
"He is a cup away from puking! You know he does not drink!" She swatted his shoulder. "How could you be so stupid?"
"Stupid?" Andrew defended. "I am trying to help him!"
Mina stepped back, crossed her arms and sighed.
"And besides he has yet to leave the bar, how much trouble can he get in?" Andrew said pointing at the bar where Darien was sitting.
"Well I don't know genius." She pressed her lips together. "Tell me when you find him." She smirked as Andrew turned around to find that Darien was no longer there. He scanned the room until he saw him, approaching Serena, the girls and the guys.
"Darien!" He yelled sprinting over. With each step he took, it seemed like the crowd between them was getting bigger. The music stopped but the commotion was echoing. People were screaming. Profanities were being spewed all over the place. Glass was breaking. Mina held onto Andrew tightly as he wiggled through the crowd of people.
She knew the were the front when she felt Andrew lunge. She looked around to understand what was going on. She scanned the scene to see Darien being held back by two guys including Andrew, and the girls hold Serena back so she does not get hurt.
She ran over to her friends, dodging people. "What happened?!"
"We don't know it all happened so fast!" Rei explained. "One second Serena is talking to this guy and then I turn around to see Darien on top of him!"
"It was so quick!" Amy added.
"And all we really heard was the pop!" Lita explained.
Mina looked at Serena, Lita was in front of her, as Amy and Rei held her down. Her face showed nothing but worry and concern. Mina shook her head and pulled herself together. "Sere, what happened?!"
"I am really not sure." She explained. "One second he was getting way more touchy than I liked and the next he was pulled off me...and... and then all this!" She pointed out.
The girls all watched as people tried to keep Darien and the other guy away from each other. They could hear Andrew yelling at them to get out of the arcade. He had Darien pinned against the back of a machine. There was much yelling.
Finally interrupting it all. "Attention arcade guest. Due to some Unarcade conduct and all the commotion, we are ending this event short. If everyone could please slowly exit this venue. I was advised by staff to let you know everyone who has entered the contests will be contacted via phone." the DJ announced.
The crowd groaned.
"We really apologize. This is the season of love and some have chose to act in an unloving manner. We will try this again next year." He announced.
The crowd started to thin out
"Serena!" Andrew called. "You guys stay there!"
"Get off me!" Darien could be heard yelling. He was struggling to get out of Andrew's grip and run away.
Serena could see the scratches on his face. It was so red. She could not distinguish if it was due to the fight or anger. He could have easily plowed through Andrew, but the other guys were making it that much harder for him. It was too much for her to absorb at one time. She just closed her eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled. "This is not how this night was supposed to go." She whispered.
She kept her eyes closed until she felt someone shaking her shoulder.
"Sere," Someone whispered. "Come on it's time to go."
Serena peaked one eye open to see that most the people were gone. She turned to see the DJ was packing up all his stuff. She exhaled and then opened both eyes. She could hear shuffling from the corner of the room.
"Man I am fine!" She could hear.
She turned to see Darien shoving away the a water that Andrew was handing him. "I did nothing wrong." He slurred. "He was being a jerk. All gropy."
"I am certain that is not a word." Andrew tried not to chuckle.
"Don't you dare laugh at me!" Darien slurred some more as he stood up to challenge Andrew.
Serena got up and took probably the biggest step she had ever take to quickly wedge herself between the two. "Okay we are not going to do this."
"SERENA!" He yelled swaying back and forth. He stuck his finger up. "That guy is bad guy."
"I am sure he was Darien." She put her hand on his.
"No." He raised his voice. "No. He is a bad guy. He touched your legs, and he tried to kiss you."
Serena just nodded as she could hear her friends trying not to laugh.
"You cannot go home with!" He pulled his hand away from her.
"I didn't know you care who I went home with."
"Of course I care." He continued to slur. "He is a bad guy! And you cannot leave with him!"
"I am not going home with them."
"Speaking of home, how exactly is pretty boy getting home?" Lita pointed out.
"I am not going home until I know Serena is home safe!" Darien yelled.
"How is nobody recording this?" Rei chuckled. She turned to get reassurance from everyone else, only to see Amy shaking her head. "What?" She asked. "He is suddenly so worried about her. He probably has no idea what he is even saying."
Serena just nodded.
"Drew. She cannot go home with that bad man. We need to make sure we get her home safe. Where...where are my keys." He started to fumble around, patting all his pockets.
"Darien, you cannot drive." Amy explained.
"What do you mean?" He paused and looked up and Amy, on hand on his chest picket and the other in his pant picket. "I need to make sure she gets home safe." He looked down at his hand pant pocket. "Just need to find where my keys are."
Serena grabbed both of Darien's hand, he looked at down at her as she looked up at him. "Hey, I appreciated you offering, but I am going to go home with the girls." She put his hands down to his sides. "And you shouldn't be driving either."
"I am fine," He disputed. "And I need to take you home. Or else that bad guy will follow. You know how lucky I was here to see it all happen?" He tilted his head. "What if i decided to stay home and study? Hmmmm?"
"I am not sure what would happen, but I am glad you were there to protect me. Now, the girls and I will be okay. You need to go home with Andrew. You are in no shape to drive."
"No. No. I will not go home with Andrew. I need to make sure you get home safe." He kept arguing.
Serena looked at her friends. "We are not getting anywhere."
"That is my best friend for you. Stubborn as hell." Andrew sighed.
"Oh shut up Andrew, this is as much your fault!" Mina spat out.
"What?" Serena looked at him confused. "What happened?"
"I think I got food poisoning or maybe that new coffee that Drew gave me was a bad batch."
Serena could not believe what she just heard. She balled up her little fist. Shook her head. "Drew, is going to take us home Darien okay?"
"I am doing what?" Andrew tried to argue.
Serena turned to him and pulled him by the shirt pulling them both to face another way. "He is not going to let me leave unless I am in the same car with him, and he is no shape to drive."
"Sooooo?"
"So dummy. You are going to take us both in your car. We will drop him off at his house and then you will take me home. Okay?" Serena asked with a tone that ensured he really had no other option.
"Why am I bein-"
"Because you basically roofied him!" Mina yelled.
"Fine!" He surrendered. "I will get my things."
"Drew we can't let her leave! That guy is out there!" Darien yelled as Andrew walked to the back.
"Darien he is taking us both home. So I am going to be alright."
"Sere are you sure you'll be okay?" Rei asked.
"Yeah you guys go. We will make sure he gets home and then I will get dropped off." She explained in a low voice so he could not hear.
"Are you sure?" Mina asked again grabbing her hand in hers.
"Yes, now go. I will call you all in the morning."