"And this is Lazy Susan, she always tells the BEST stories!" Pacifica proclaimed.
Lazy Susan let out a raspy chuckle as she taped one of the Mystery Shack's flyers to the window of the diner.
"Nice to meet ya' Gideon," Susan smiled at the freckled boy. "Watch your step though, strange things happen around here in town."
"I'm well aware." He smirked as he glanced at Pacifica, she smiled back nervously.
"C'mon Gideon, you still have to meet Manly Dan and Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Darland!" She said grabbing his wrist and leading him out of the diner. "See ya later, Lazy Susan!" She called back before exiting back into the main street.
"Oh wow, that sounds like quite a lively bunch!" He laughed, thinking about how ridiculous the name "Manly Dan" sounded.
"Yeah, everyone is a bit odd around here." She smiled.
"Even you?" The white-haired boy smiled back, looking at Pacifica.
She felt her cheeks grow warm again.
"Even me." She replied, adjusting her backpack.
Gideon rubbed the back of his neck nervously and looked down at his sneakers.
"I'm really glad that I made a friend here already!" He finally managed to say, "I wasn't sure if I was gonna make any friends."
"Whatever, doofus!" She playfully punched his shoulder. "You're way too cool, of course you would make friends right away!"
Gideon grinned at his newfound blonde friend. She was so enthusiastic and excitable, he couldn't help but feel that way too, especially with this strange book in his possession and those mysterious twins on his trail. It was enthralling to think about, adventures and friendships and-
Romance?
He glanced at Pacifica, blushing. She was a very pretty girl, it was obvious that she was filled to the brim with an unyielding sense of optimism. Her eyes were colored with such a wonderful and earthy hazel that they could even leave an impression through the brightest of colors. Her whole embodiment had this feeling of morality and goodness that made her so much more than what she appeared to be.
Gideon shook off the feeling. After all, he had only met her a few hours ago, it was a bit foolish to start making such observations already.
They strolled past the local arcade, Gideon's eyes widened.
"Whoa! An arcade? That's so sweet!" He rushed up and pressed his face against the glass doors, trying to get a good look inside the dark building.
"Yeah," Pacifica looked down. "Hey, let's put some flyers up over on-"
"Let's go in!" The boy swung open the door eagerly.
"Uh, I'm not sure we should-" Pacifica's heart began to race rapidly.
"C'mon, it'll only be for a minute, I just wanna see!" He waved his blonde friend over.
"I'll just stay out here-"
"Don't be silly!" He exclaimed, cheerfully pulling Pacifica inside the arcade. "You afraid of video games or something?"
Pacifica stumbled into the dimly lit building, though it had been brightened by the electronic screens and flashing lights. Sounds rang through the air, the beeps and dings and whistles of the arcade games filled the room.
"It's not that, it's just-" Pacifica's explanation was suddenly interrupted by a loud clearing of the throat. The blonde girl's eyes widened to the point of terror and turned her head slowly to face the sound.
"Hi Wendy." Gideon said politely, looking at the tall red-headed teenager standing at the prize counter behind Pacifica. She wore a dark blue hooded sweater along with a dark green beanie cap resting loosely atop her head. Around her neck was a lanyard that had a key ring filled with hundreds of keys attached to it. Clipped lazily to her sweater was a name tag that just stated 'Wendy'. Her expression was different this time; instead of a dull heaviness, her face seemed to be tense and her eyes very aware.
"What are you doing here, kid?" She glared at Pacifica harshly. "Shouldn't you be helping out Robbie at the Mystery Shack?"
The blonde began to tremble over her words.
"I- uh- I was just-"
"We were putting up flyers." Gideon finished.
"Whatever," She ignored Gideon, continuing to glare at Pacifica. "I know what you're doing. You're trying to goof off on your job, I know it. And you're dragging this idiot along with you."
"Hey, cut it out! I was the one who wanted to come in here, not her!" He proclaimed.
"She's an idiot for letting you drag her in here," Her eyes darted to Gideon and quickly fixed themselves back on the blonde. "In fact, she's an idiot altogether."
"No, I'm not!" Pacifica spoke up, voice cracking at the end of her exclamation.
"Quit bullying her!" Gideon chimed.
Wendy smirked and moved fluidly out from behind the counter; almost snake-like toward the two flaxen-haired teenagers. Suddenly the intrusive ringing of the counter phone seized her sauntering. She groaned in frustration and quickly picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
The red-head's face relaxed almost instantly.
"Oh, hey babe!"
She twirled a crimson strand of hair with her finger.
"Oh no. Work is so dead today," She shot a venomous look in their direction. "You should stop by if you're done with work early."
Gideon swore he could feel his blood boil, he couldn't stand her. Why was she being so sour to such a nice girl like Pacifica? It made no sense.
"Gideon, I'm going to just wait outside." Pacifica spoke softly, her voice very faint.
"Okay," He felt a sore guilt trickle up his body. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause such a big mess for you."
"It's okay Gideon." She opened the front door and went outside.
"Love you too, babe. Bye." Wendy placed the phone back on its receiver and quickly looked at Gideon. He returned her glance with a sharpened scowl.
"What's wrong with you?" He spat. "Why did you have to go and treat her like that?"
"Mind your own business, kid. You've been here for one day and have already gotten on my bad side." She walked lazily over to the coin dispensing machine. Unlocking it with one of her hundreds of keys, she ripped the paper off of a roll of quarters and began to slowly fill it up, placing them individually down the slots inside.
"I don't care what side I've gotten on with you!" He followed her. "Why are you bullying my friend for no reason?"
"No reason?" She looked at him with a sneer. "You have no idea about anything that's going on, so you shouldn't be taking sides with that bimbo so fast."
"SHE'S NOT A BIMBO!" He felt his voice lunge out of his throat at a volume he couldn't control.
The red-head smirked again, placing more coins in the machine.
"I see the way you look at her. It's the same way she looks at my boyfriend." Her voice lifted at the end, sharpening and stabbing itself into the point she was making.
"I-"
"Robbie, being the kind soul he is, helped her fix her bike once. She's clung on to him tight ever since. She's clung on a little too tight," She dropped a quarter into the machine slot, it made a loud clinking sound on its journey down. "She sees him as this huge hero now, some plaid-wearing superman. And all because he fixed her stupid bike. It's actually a bit pathetic if you ask me."
"Why do you care?" He seethed. "What's it to you if she sees him that way?"
CLINK.
"You're not very bright, are you?" Another clink, she turned and looked at him. "Do you ever get out?"
"Of course I do." He spoke through clenched teeth.
"Then you should know, through all the movies you must have watched, that when a girl is "saved" and "rescued" by a handsome young man, she will most undoubtedly fall in love with him."
"He didn't save her though, he just helped her with her bike."
CLINK.
"Not according to her." She turned her attention back to the machine. "Funny isn't it? How the delusional mind will twist things around-"
"Shut up."
The roll of coins dropped, sending an array of clinks to echo through the empty arcade.
"What did you just say to me?" Her eyes burned down at him.
"Did I stutter?" He burned back, focus unmoved.
Before the white-haired boy could even react properly, he felt himself falling backwards from the sudden force of the red-head violently shoving him. His head slammed against the side of one of the Pac-Man machines, causing his breath to expel a loud 'Oof!' in the sudden force
"Get out of here you little punk-ass kid." Her voice darkened and lowered frighteningly.
Gideon sat up as fast as he could and got to his feet, backing away from Wendy and toward the front door.
"Did I stutter? Leave before I call the cops!" She lunged at him again, her hands swiping to get a grip of the kid's tee-shirt, but this time Gideon was able to back out of the way.
"Okay okay!" He shouted before thrusting himself shoulder-first out of the front door.
The blaring sun welcomed him back into the outside world, the bluster of wind sweeping his white bands back from his forehead, he rubbed the aching spot on back of his head tenderly.
"Is everything okay, Gideon?" Pacifica said running up to him, she had waited over by the stop sign, putting up way too many flyers for one post.
"Yeah," He replied, not stopping his brisk pace. "Let's get out of this area."
"Oh God. Gideon did something happen?"
"Nothing."
"Gideon, your head... Did she hit you?"
"No. "
"I-"
"We got in an argument, she was saying nasty things about you and I wasn't going to let her get away with it."
"You shouldn't have done that. I'm used to Wendy's rudeness at this point."
"That doesn't justify it and make it okay!" He stopped and turned to her. "She shouldn't call you those things and treat you like that!"
"I know but-"
He grabbed her small hand and held it in both of his own. Her skin was soft; innocent. He looked into her eyes, his dark green meeting with her deep hazel.
"I'm not gonna let people make fun of you, okay? And neither are you. You have to stand your ground, Pacifica!"
Her voice quivered, her eyes snapping quickly to her hand in his. She gently freed herself and quickly walked ahead of him.
"W-we need to put up the rest of these flyers and get back to the shack." She called back, hiding the deep crimson hue spreading across her cheeks.
Gideon let out a sigh and slowly followed behind her.