Angela stood in the arcade, watching two grown men deteriorate into five year olds.
It was fascinating, on one hand.
They'd worked their way through the crowd as adults. They'd obtained ice creams with their IQ's fully intact.
Hodgins had wiped ice cream from her nose in a very man-like gesture, earning him extra cuteness points, and she was escorted gallantly by Zack over a puddle of coke on the floor, despite Zack stepping in said puddle himself.
But as soon as they'd stepped into the arcade, the guys had dissolved into a bickering, competing pair of idiots. And she had no one to blame but herself, for suggesting it.
So it was fascinating, for about five minutes.
Then it became annoying.
"Guys-can we-"
"Zack! That was such a sissy move!"
"Well, if you'd give me more room-"
"-Nuh-uh, sparky, all's fair in war and arcade games."
She tried again.
"Boys, now, play nice-"
"-Hodgins! You blew up my car!"
"That's. The whole. Point."
She gave up. She wasn't anyone's mother.
She reviewed her options, scanning the room. She spotted a cute guy at the money exchange counter, and, leaving the guys to their mutual insanity, sauntered over.
"Hi. Fancy a game of foosball?"
Hodgins was the second to notice Angela's defection.
He nudged Zack, who was intent on killing both himself and Hodgins' warriors in an amazing display of ineptitude.
"Where'd Angela go?"
'She's trying to mate with that guy over there. With the abnormally large muscles and symmetrical facial structure."
Hodgins' head whipped around.
Angela was practical lying on the foosball table, in full female on-the-prowl mode, laughing at something GI Joe said.
"Oh, for the love of-"
"That is an expression frequently used by Booth. Usually to do with us. " Zack offered.
"Yeah, well, this time it's pissed off bug guy."
He marched over to the table and tapped Angela on the shoulder.
She straightened lazily, knowing full well who it was, and congratulating herself on the fact it had only taken five and a half minutes to get him over here.
"Yes?"
He studied her.
During the past few months he'd come to know her more than she thought he did. There was the careful expression of indifference; classic carefree Angela. But he thought he saw a swirl of anger in her brown eyes, and underneath the anger, hurt.
So he resisted the urge to beat his chest and throw her over his shoulder. Barely.
"Zack and I have finished on the games. Would you like to pick what's next before we meet Booth and Dr Brennan?"
She smiled at him, and looked over to GI Joe.
Hodgins fists tightened at his sides, and GI Joe winked at him.
Wait. Winked?
"It was nice to meet you, Josh. Good luck with your boyfriend, okay? He'll come around."
Josh blew her a kiss as she grabbed a dumbfounded Hodgins and strolled away, Zack trailing behind.
"So, Hodgy, how do you feel about the Tunnel of Love?"
Behind them, Zack, understanding perfectly that Hodgins would kill him if he raised any objections, muttered very, very quietly, "Oh, man."
Author's note: I dedicate this chapter to every girl who's ever lost her boyfriend to arcade games. I mean, one could learn arcade games to enhance bonding and understanding of said games…but it's so much easier to make 'em work for one's affections. If you find any Zach's, as opposed to Zack- I tried to get them all, and also to learn how to spell it. I really, really did. Have a great day, and thanks for reading!