4 Weeks Later.
Alright... one programmer thought as he typed away on a computer, So Mario will be based on Wesley, Luigi based on Robert, Wario based on John, WaLuigi based on Robert, and the princess based on Sarah... Simple enough. This is the least we owe those kids after all we put them through- a game based on their experience. Might as well let something good come out of it...
4 Weeks Earlier
"Beer?" John offered his friends as he entered their house. Both of them took him up on his offer. "Will couldn't come tonight. He wasn't feeling too good earlier. Something he ate messed him up."
"Oh, man," Robert thought about last time Will got sick, and the memory was far from pleasant, "Well, I was just on my way out. The girls are waiting for a ride over here, so I'm going to pick them up."
John gave Robert a look, "Oooh, I see. Picking up chicks, huh?"
"No, not like that."
"Oh, really? I could have sworn that Sarah had her daddy's car to take her places."
"Well, she did, but she decided that she didn't want his help anymore. She told him off and said that she 'didn't need him because she was a strong, independent woman,' " all three burst out in laughter, "but, really. I wasn't about to let them drive with the roads iced over like this."
"Alright. Just don't get distracted," he snickered.
"Yeah, yeah," Robert waved him off and walked out the door.
As soon as he had left, Wesley and John started talking, something they felt they couldn't do with Robert there. Robert had always been on the sensitive side, and rarely started a conversation. It was obvious that he longed to have a relationship like his brother and John had, but he could never bring himself to it as a result of his social anxiety. John and Wesley felt sorry for him, as did Rosalina, Daisy, and Sarah, because he was such a sweet guy, and he deserved to have a good friend. Will was as close to a friend as he would get, although not because they were truly "friends," but rather because they had equal levels of social awkwardness.
Wesley, on the other hand, was one of the most outgoing men around. He always had something to add to the conversation, and had remarkable social skills. He was the object of all the girls' affection, as he also possessed a certain boyish charm. However, none of them made any moves toward him, and he never advanced on them.
"So, when are you and Sarah going to get together?" John asked quiet bluntly, however Wesley wasn't put off by this question at all.
"Eh, I don't know. I'm not sure if she's into—"
"Come on! All three of them are into you!"
"None of them say anything. I don't want to put any pressure on them."
"Bull! Mr. High and Mighty is just scared he'll get rejected."
"Yeah, right," Wesley tried to hide it, but John had known his friend's secret weakness. Wesley had always been terrified of rejection. His fear stemmed from his childhood, when his parents abandoned him and left him an orphan. He always hated them for that.
"You've got to give it a chance, Wes, or you'll never find out."
"I guess I'll just never know."
As Robert drove down the street, he felt his car occasionally slip out of his control, and each time it did so, he had a mini heart attack. A few miles into his drive, he saw a light piercing the night sky. As he approached it, he saw that it was shining from a large circus tent sitting in the plaza. He passed it by, but his mind swarmed with ideas of what might be inside of it.
When he finally arrived at Sarah's house, the three girls all hopped in his car, chattering excitedly.
"God, Sarah, why not?"
"Well, why would he even like me?"
"He obviously likes you, the question is," Daisy made eyes at Sarah, "Does he like you, like you?"
"Just stop. Nothing is going to happen between us."
"You say that now," Rosalina joked.
"What are you talking about?" Robert asked.
"No, I mean it," Sarah ignored him, "There is not and never will be anything between us."
"Alright, fine."
"So, what's the topic of conversation tonight, ladies?" Robert asked again.
"Well, maybe," and he was ignored again, "I mean, I guess he is nice. And strong… And handsome…."
"More like hot!"
"That's cool, I didn't want to know anyways…," Robert sighed.
When Robert drove by the tent again, he decided to get out and take a closer look.
"Hey, where are you going?" Daisy asked.
"I'm just checking this place out," he responded. He walked inside to find that it was only an arcade. As he turned around to leave, an unfamiliar Japanese man handed him a flyer with the words "Super Mario Bros." stamped across the top in enormous print.
"What is this?" Robert asked.
"This flyer is for a contest we are hosting here tomorrow. The winner gets $1,000 and special thanks in our new game, Super Mario Bros.! And entry is free. Just bring a team and your game face, and be prepared for a hardcore showdown," the man explained.
Robert thanked him, and went back to the car, not looking up from the flyer the entire time.
"What's that for?" Daisy asked once he got back in the car.
"A contest. Nintendo's hosting it, and the winner gets a thousand dollars. Since none of us are exactly rich, I thought this might be fun to enter."
Daisy looked at the flyer for a moment, and then showed it to Rosalina and Sarah. The three chattered like birds about it for the rest of the car ride, ignoring any small bit Robert would try to add to the conversation.
"They're here. I think I hear Robert's car."
"Oh, alright. So, you better make your move on Sarah tonight, Wes!"
"Alright. Fine."
"Oh, don't act like you don't want to."
"I'm not, I just—" Wesley didn't get to finish his sentence, as Robert walked in with the girls.
"We're here," Robert announced.
"Hey," Wesley took a deep breath as he prepared to talk to Sarah.
"Hi, Wes," Sarah smiled at him, "Can I talk to you?"
Wesley jumped up, and then realizing how that must look, coolly answered, "Sure." They walked together to Wesley's bedroom, where they sat and discussed what they had longed to discuss for quite some time.
"What do you think they're doing?" Robert asked the group.
"What do you think?" John chuckled.
"If she got lucky, maybe they'll… you know, have—" Rosalina began.
"Stop!" Robert winced, "I don't want to think my brother's doing that."
Everyone laughed, excluding Robert. The thought of his brother engaging in... the forbidden activity repulsed him. His response was not out of envy or loathing, simply out of disgust.
Rosalina promptly stood up and announced that she needed to use the restroom. Daisy followed her, agreeing that she too needed to use the bathroom, although the men knew that whenever someone had a conversation in Wesley's bedroom, the girls would visit the adjoining bathroom to listen in.
"Sarah?" Wesley addressed her, "I think… I love you."
An expression of severe shock suddenly crossed her faced. Her features flushed, and she averted her eyes before she could contemplate what had just occurred. Suddenly, she came to a realization, and she took his hand in her own, "I love you too."
They exchanged a few awkward glances, and forced a laugh each time their eyes met, but there was nothing funny about what had just happened. Two people had just fallen in love.
Wesley leaned in to kiss her, but stopped short after hearing a series of giggles through the wall to the bathroom.
"Damn it, I'm sorry. They always do this," Sarah apologized and then yelled at the girls, "Daisy! Rosalina! Get out!"
The giggles quickly died down, but it was obvious that they had not left. Sarah got up and banged on the door to the response of "Out in a minute!"
Wesley was left sitting on the bed, contemplating the possibilities of what could have occurred, had their lips met.