Chapter 8
We decided after a while we'd go to the Arcade Alley and play a few games. In a small part of my mind, Hoagie's crazy theory was repeating itself over and over again. I didn't believe it though, because I knew he was just pulling my leg. We made our way to a throwing game, and decided we'd have a go.
"You wanna go first?" Virginia asked me.
I waved a hand in the way. "No, I insist you go first."
She shrugged her shoulders, and pelted the ball right into the top of the bottle stack. They all wobbled, and only the top one fell off. "I guess I'm a little off today." She said. "You wanna try for it?"
She offered a ball, and I took it casually. I put the ball at my face, and aimed it square in the center of the stack. I threw the ball hard, and the bottles scattered everywhere. I stood with a hand on hip, and Virginia whooped for me.
"Go on, pick something." I said as the man showed us what we'd won.
"You sure?" She asked me.
"Of course. It was your game after all."
"But you won." She replied with a smirk. I sighed, and picked out a black and red dog, and handed it to her as we walked over.
"Here. You keep it." I said. "It matches your clothes. And it'll match your room."
"Aww Bartie, you're so sweet." She replied, and gave me a quick hug. I felt a small blush creep upon my face, but I managed to hide it well.
I checked my watch to see it was around two in the afternoon.
"Well, we've still got at least five hours before the firework display." I said calmly. "What do you wanna do until then?"
Virginia went to answer, but stopped suddenly at something. She pointed a little bit away, and I noticed one of our greatest enemy's over by the little café set up.
Mr. Boss was sitting facing us, with his token cigar sticking out of his mouth as he spoke to a woman I assumed was Fanny's mom. Her strawberry blondish frizzy hair bobbed as she laughed at something he had mentioned to her. And then, he started laughing.
"Is it me, or is he actually having fun?" Virginia asked.
"I dunno. That, or he's gone mental." I replied with a shrug. "But why would he be here in the first place? He isn't exactly a family man."
"Maybe we should just ask Fanny then." Virginia said, noticing the daddy's little girl jogging towards them. She saw us, and hid behind me as she reached me.
"What are you doing?" I asked her as she clung onto my arms.
"I'm juggling while standing on a pony." She replied flatly. "I'm hiding."
"From?"
"Me dad, who else?"
"What is he doing here anyway?" Virginia asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno. He told me it was so I didn't get into trouble, but I know he's lying. He never comes to things like this."
She looked over my shoulder, but not in the direction of her parents. I saw Hoagie looking around casually, and even more casual as he saw Mr. Boss sneer at him. He noticed me, and began to come over to us.
"Ah, so your dad isn't the only one who you're hiding from, is he?" Virginia smirked. "Hey man, she's over here."
I pried myself from her grasp, just as Hoagie reached us. He grabbed his girlfriend, and flicked her up on his shoulder in a fireman's pose.
"Well, gotta dash." He said with a wink, before leaving rather quickly. Once they were gone, we both started laughing hard. Until we got evil stares from Mr. Boss. Then we decided it was time to find somewhere else to hang out.