theme: pacman
"Is Eileen alright? She looks a little... out of it," Mordecai remarked, his voice rising barely above a whisper. The cardinal waitress merely shrugged in response.
"She hasn't spoken a legible English sentence to me in two days! It's so weird. I asked her if she was okay earlier this morning, but she just muttered something under her breath," Margaret explained, sinking down to Mordecai's level.
"And Eileen isn't texting me back like she always does.. I'm afraid that there's something wrong with her."
"Maybe she's just overworked?" Mordecai suggested. "Maybe."
He adjusted his frame of view back to Eileen, nearly cringing at how awful she appeared. Her usually sleek auburn hair was pulled back into a messy bun, as opposed to a side-ponytail. Mordecai took note of the growing tangles she was trying to conceal beneath it.
Eileen's clothes were disheveled, as if she had just thrown them on during the car ride to work. The eggshell-colored skirt she was dressed in had a large coffee stain on the back. As soon as she faced his direction to converse with a customer, he caught a glance of her eyes; noticeably bloodshot with bags curving down beneath them. Mordecai heard Margaret intake a sharp gasp of air.
"She looks even worse than this morning!" Margaret exclaimed hoarsely.
Rigby, who had been scarfing down his meatball sub during their conversation, decided to throw in his two cents. "Eileen looks like she got hit by a bus." Mordecai's fist flew into his arm. "Dude, not the time. There could be something wrong with her health or something!"
"Okay, okay.. sheesh," Rigby whined, rubbing the newly bruised portion of his arm. "But didja see how she was taking orders, man? Eileen was all shaky." He paused to wipe the marinara sauce off his chin. "Do you think," Rigby began, his voice dropping. "that she might of started doin-"
"No," Margaret interrupted. "Eileen's been my best friend for years now. I know her. No matter what the circumstance, she would never resort to something like that." While her voice was firm, her tone hinted that she was unsure, as if she was trying to convince herself as well.
"Hey, I'm just sayin'."
"Rigby, why don't you go talk to her? She does, after all, have an insanely huge crush on you," Mordecai insisted. Rigby rolled his eyes. "Ugh. If it'll get you off my case, fine," he mumbled, slipping off of his stool. Almost immediately, he caught sight of the petite waitress, playing a game at the back of the store. He approached her with a grin.
"Hey, Eileen! How's it going?" Rigby asked.
Eileen had focused all of her concentration towards the game, not even glancing over at who was talking to her. "I'm on my break," Eileen sighed. Her fingers were trembling as she fiddled with the buttons. Rigby took a step closer, trying his best to maintain his smile. "Um, whatcha playing?"
"I'm on my break," she repeated expressionlessly. Rigby distanced himself from her, heading back to his seat. Mordecai and Margaret exchanged anxious expressions. "So? What did she say to you?"
"She kept on saying that she was on her break or something. And.. Eileen didn't even look at me! It was almost like she had tunnel vision. I dunno what her deal is," Rigby accounted, attempting to overlay his disappointment with annoyance.
"Margaret, all chicks are on their things at the same time, right? Is it that time of the month?"
Margaret blushed furiously and lowered her brow into a scowl. "No! I mean, not all women have it the same time, but- even if I did know, I wouldn't tell you!"
"Just be quiet, Rigby," Mordecai hissed. He then wrapped his arm around his girlfriends' waist. "Sorry, Margaret. Rigby's just a jerk sometimes, that's all," he said while he consoled her.
Rigby pushed out his chair. "Well, I guess I'll see you lovebirds later," he called out.
Rigby had out his phone, mindlessly toying with the apps, when a green flashing light sparked his interest. An old text from Eileen that he had never read popped up as he tapped it lightly with his thumb.
Hey Rigby! (: I have to close up shop tonight, so see you later~
He briefly skimmed for that date. She had sent it to him about a week ago. Rigby let out a defeated sigh, letting his fingers go to work.
eileen- r u ok? mordo told me to text u, hes p worried
He pressed the send button and began awaiting for a response, pleasantly surprised when his phone vibrated only ten seconds later. Rigby opened up Eileen's response.
u'M FONE. OK?
Rigby frowned. The reply was so unusual, it didn't even sound like it was coming from her. His suspicion was aroused.
u dont sound ok eileen. seriosly, tell me wats goin on w u!
He got a message in return a second later.
ajut yp aleught? i dwofg90epfw f
He began frantically typing.
eileen theres somethang wrong with u and ur not telling me. just come out with it alreade. where r u?
The answer took a bit longer to come back.
c0free shoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
He looked perplexed.
the coffee shop isnt open, how r u there?
This time, though, Rigby didn't receive an answer. He grumbled, springs screeching as he got off his trampoline. Rigby hesitantly admitted to himself that yes; he was worried about Eileen, along with her well-being.
It was weird to say, but he missed her constant babbling about video games and astronomy.. even if it got on his nerves sometimes. He missed her flawless grammar in her text messages to him. He missed her upbeat attitude.
But most of all, Rigby missed Eileen.
He scribbled out a note to Mordecai and placed it on his nightstand. Hastily, Rigby scurried on all fours down the steps, making his way out the front door. His tail was slightly puffed up out of anxiety. By the time he got to the iron gate, he was out of breath.
Nightly shadows cast over the pavement and the brick barriers. The gate creaked as Rigby pushed it open. He didn't really consider that Eileen might of lied to set him off course somewhere, but by the time he arrived, he took notice of a glowing screen inside the Coffee Shop.
Squinting through the glass door, he made out the silhouette of small figure, slumped over the arcade game. He let out a quick gasp.
"Eileen!" Rigby shouted, hand flying for the door handle. Gaining entrance through the back way, he was surprised to see Eileen lurched over the control panel of the old PAC-MAN game. A Styrofoam cup of coffee had been knocked over the side, spilling its' dark contents along the side of thee machine. Eileen had her eyes shut; Rigby wasn't sure if she was conscious or not.
"Eileen," he said, gently nudging her side. No response. "Eileen!" Rigby shouted, jostling her shoulders.
She awoke with a start, adjusting the glasses on the brim of her nose. Eileen looked dazed, wiping some drool from her mouth. "What? Where am I?" she asked, her speech slightly slurred. "The Coffee Shop."
Eileen swerved around, confused to see Rigby standing next to her. "What are yooou doing here?" she questioned, still disoriented.
"The text you sent me."
"Text?" Eileen scanned around for her phone, only to find it on the floor, soaking in a puddle of coffee. "N-no, I have to replace it again! Ugh!" She scrambled down to her knees to retrieve the broken cell phone.
Rigby frowned. "Eileen, what's wrong with you?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why have you been acting weird these past few days?"
"I haven't b-"
"Yes you have! Stop being distant and talk to me!" he yelled, frustration seeping through his voice. Eileen's bloodshot eyes blinked multiple times. She had seemingly been caught off guard. For the first time that day, Eileen engaged in eye contact with him.
"Key.. I was locking up with the key," she whispered, raspy in tone. "And- oh man. I totally got hooked to this game..! I was on my break, and Margaret was chatting up Mordecai... and you weren't here for me to talk to. I hadn't played PAC-MAN in such a long time," Eileen explained, appearing somber.
"I fell so hard, I got so addicted.. every break was wasted, hunched over this dumb game. But if felt so good to beat the high score! Since Tuesday, every night when my boss would give me orders to lock up, I would stay here and try to get my score higher... and higher.. and before I knew it, it would be daylight. I drank a crap-load of coffee to keep myself standing," she moaned, placing a hand to her forehead.
"So.. you haven't slept in three whole days?! There's no way that's good for your health," Rigby told her.
"I know, I just didn't know what to do..!" Eileen staggered over to the supplies closet. "If my boss finds out I was here past closing I'll-" She ran into a table, letting out a stifled "oof" in the darkness. Eileen found her footing again. "I'll be fired," she informed him, reaching the closet door.
Rigby looked away. "Yeah, I know that feeling pretty well," he muttered. "But.. don't worry, okay! I'll help you clean up the coffee. And- you aren't thinking about driving home, right?"
Eileen began to groan. "I didn't think so. Anyways, I'm sure that Benson would be alright if you slept on the couch over at the Park House," Rigby said.
She instantly dropped the mop. "Really, Rigby?! Wow, thanks so much. I owe you biiig time."
"No big deal. Just consider it compensation for breaking your spine."
"Eh- water under the bridge. And... Rigby?"
His ear twitched slightly. "Yeah, Eileen?"
"Thanks for being worried about me."
A/N: i know that mordecai and margaret aren't officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet, just consider this to take place after 'steak me amadeus'