Chapter 7: Getting Away From It All

I just needed to take a step back from the reality of life and have a bit of time for myself, use my free time. I felt like I trapped in my house, I'm a prisoner in a prison and I want to escape, I feel like that I might be going stir crazy. Luckily today was a Saturday, the perfect chance to do it, it has been a week. My parents wouldn't mind me leaving the house, as long as I don't do anything silly.

I put my MP3 player on and rode down to Central Park, where I was meeting my other friend, Arthur Jackson. I didn't really talk to him that much during Elementary School but now he's opened up and somehow I've become friends with him. I had to ask him where to go; there are too many places to go to in Sunset Valley.

"So where should we go?" I ask.

"Um maybe, The User's Arcade?" Arthur asks me.

"That sounds like a great idea!" I reply.

The User's Arcade was an arcade that had been in town for years, I never went there as it has fallen into a state of disrepair, even though it is a popular hangout for teenagers who want to play some arcade games. I just wanted to play some skeeball. I wasn't the best at it neither was Arthur. It was by the beach and quite close to Claire's house but I didn't want to annoy her.

Arthur and I hopped onto our bicycles and rode again downhill to The User's Arcade. At the front entrance was asphalt and weeds growing on the side. Also was a big blue and pink neon sign, showing that it was a shed turned into a fifties arcade which has fallen into decay. The building was made out of rusting corrugated iron; I hope the building doesn't crash on me.

I entered the building; there were some new machines, a whack, a mole machine and a claw machine! Time to get some prizes! I kept staring at the claw machine in the middle of the room then I went up to it and put in 1 Simoleon. While I was distracted with the claw machine, Arthur was doing some trick shots with the pool table at the back.

I was too busy playing with the claw machine that I didn't notice VJ Alvi walk in. He sneaks up behind me... "Malcolm Landgraab, we need to have a little chat outside."

I looked behind, "VJ Alvi, we don't need a chat, just get away from me!" I shouted.

Everyone stopped what they were doing; I think I spoke a bit too loudly. "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Everyone was shouting; spurring VJ on. I didn't want to fight VJ nor could I defeat him, it was either defend or run for it!

I had to get some space, I moved forward and he took a step back, he held up his fists, ready for a fight. I held up my fists too, but I wasn't ready to fight. I took a deep breath then I wonder who was going to take the first hit. Out of nowhere I see a fist come flying at me! I blocked it with the palm of my right hand. It really hurt but I wasn't going give up showing weakness.

I had to take a punch and get out of there. I quickly, as hard as I could, punched VJ in the stomach. He instantly fell to the ground, looking pretty hurt or that was his sneaky plan to make me think that he is weak. The only thing is that I am scrawny and weak and he is big and strong, there was no way to get out of this without major injury. I pushed VJ to the side, called out to Arthur, "Arthur! Let's get outta here!" I ran outside to the front, clouds were forming in the sky, which was a first in a while in Sunset Valley as it has mostly been sunny like every single day.

I had no time for weather in Sunset Valley; I had to run away from VJ before he could attack me again. I asked the question, where could I go to hide? Central Park? School? Home? Arthur's house? Claire's house? None of those suggestions could work, they're just too plain obvious.

Maybe we could go to the beach, swim into the sea and hide under holding my breath? That was too far-fetched but it could work. I ran across the road to Old Pier Beach, I dived into the cold water and then Arthur went up to the water and questioned me. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to hide from VJ", I replied.

"Oh. But you're going to catch a cold swimming in cold water." He asks

"It doesn't matter I really just need to get away from VJ before he can attack me."

"I don't think he will chase you, he'll just be at school on Monday." Arthur shouts undeniably telling the truth.

"Damn, I didn't think of that and now I'm wet," and then it started to rain, I think I spoke too soon about me being the only one that was wet, "Alright, Arthur we better go home. So I'll see you later."

"Goodbye Malcolm," he shouts as he walks away.

I had no raincoat, no umbrella to protect myself from the rain. So I had to ride home using my bicycle. It will be pretty dark soon, I hadn't realised how many hours I was at the arcade and well they say time flies when you have fun!

As soon as I got home I went upstairs into the lounge to watch the weather channel on the television. The reporter said that Autumn/ Fall had begun and Sunset Valley will be going into winter after that. Sunset Valley has been stuck in a perpetual summer for over 3 years!

I had nothing really else to do at home, then I thought about my old chemistry set that I used to dabble on and make crazy concoctions, like bladder flow, that created a lot of mischief in the house.

Then again I thought about the weather, for some peculiar reason, there's something going to happen. Then I realised that it is becoming Autumn/Fall that means the Fall Festival at Central Park will be happening soon, I cannot wait! Maybe I'll get to go slow dancing with Claire or kiss her at the kissing booth or play some horseshoes or go roller-skating?

Either way, the problem with VJ just seems to get worse, I try not to do anything about it but I always make a scene and make everything worse.