Collision Course [+ Additional Levels]

Level Thirteen - New Arcade

Andrew walked to the vehicle they shared. Technically, it was Karan's, because it was legally under his name, but paying for it was a group effort. "I'm driving," he announced before his friend could.

Moe let out a disappointed cry, grinning. "Aw, man."

Andrew glanced at him, his eyebrows arching up. Huh. He usually gives more pushback than that. He quickly dismissed the thought, taking the win for what it was.

The evening air was cool, and pink colored the horizon in the distance as a highlight in the blue sky that darkened overhead. A slight breeze brushed by them as they entered the white Tahoe. Andrew settled into the driver's seat, and keyed the ignition. The headlights turned on and the Tahoe's engine started. They buckled in. The vents started blowing, and Andrew turned them down and turned on the headlights before pulling out of the driveway.

Moe yawned, covering his mouth as he did. Andrew glanced at him. "Long night?" he asked.

His friend shrugged in response from the passenger seat. "Not really. Why?"

Andrew looked ahead of him at the road, with the occasional glance at his mirrors. "I heard about last night."

Moe looked at him. "Which part?" he asked, his brows raised.

"The part where Mira came in and found you on the floor," Andrew replied slowly.

He tilted his head back, resting it against the headrest of his chair with a gentle thump. "Ah, that."

"Why? Was there something else that I missed?" Andrew asked him.

"No, no," Moe said, shaking his head.

There was a silent pause in the vehicle.

"Well? You want to tell me what that was all about?" Andrew prompted.

"I think I either fell down, dizzy, or I rolled off the bed," came the simple reply.

"Mira said you told her that it was the former, not the latter."

"Right, I had a dizzy spell, or something. So?"

Andrew cocked a brow. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Moe caught the note of disbelief in his voice. "Yeah, I am," he said a little defensively. "But I told you and Karan yesterday, I'm just fine. And I still am."

Andrew's brows rose. "I thought yesterday you were just saying that you needed more rest."

Moe rolled his eyes. "You know me, Andrew! I'll take any excuse to stay in my pajamas all day."

Andrew laughed at that. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Ha! 'Guess so?' We both know so."

"Yeah. And for me too."

"Word."

"Yup."

"Haha, yeah..."

Despite the assuring exchange, an unsettling silence hung in the air between them, both of them lost in their thoughts. Andrew was still worried about Moe, and felt like every moment they were drawing closer to the arcade―when he could be researching Moe's injury―was a moment wasted. Moe looked away and out his window, feeling uncomfortable about holding back from one of his closest friends.

After a tense ride to the arcade that lasted forever, Andrew broke the silence with the announcement:

"There it is."