Looking Up Episode 2

Chapter 4: I'll Remember You This Way

Super Mario Bros. 3, released in 1988, was probably my favorite in the series, and that's saying a lot considering how long Nintendo has been pumping out these games. They've in no way become stale, but the series has been going for more than thirty years. Francisco really did adore this game, too. We had a blast playing and we were both so good, that we were always at each other's necks in the same levels. I didn't think I'd get to experience this kind of fun so soon when I first came to Rosenhall just a bit over four hours ago. Yet, here I was. I let Francisco be Mario this time, it was my way of apologizing for tricking him. As we played, we talked more.

"Hey, so about what I said, I'm not gonna lie, it's all true.", Francisco said.

"It's ok, man, I understand you.", I cut him off.

"It's normal to feel isolated. I've felt alone before."

"No way.", he said.

"Of course. Nobody's alone forever, but we're not just handed friends or trust. You know what I did when I was feeling lonesome? I spoke up. Nobody came to me, so I came to them. And now, they're gone, but that doesn't mean it's over for me.", I said.

"That's the thing, Adam. How do I just talk to them like that out of the blue? Shouldn't we be in a situation that calls for interaction? I don't know what the other person is thinking, what they're feeling, their likes and dislikes-"

"Francisco! Francisco, listen to me. We're high schoolers, most of these people are still figuring themselves out. There's no point in stressing out about them. Approach anyone in this arcade and strike up a conversation, I promise you they'll happily oblige.", I said.

"You know what? I'll take you up on that challenge.", he said as he paused the game and stood up. I got up with him and we both scanned the area.

"Who do you want to go for?", I asked.

"Hmm.", Francisco thought. There was quite the diversity in here. In one corner I saw a group of teenagers circled around a Galaga cabinet competing with one another, in the other I saw some kids sitting at a table playing Dungeons and Dragons.

"What about him?", Francisco said pointing a finger past me.

I glanced in the direction he was pointing at and saw a thin guy with dirty blonde short hair wearing blue glasses. He was leaning against a Rampage arcade machine as he watched two others play. One was a heavyset shorter guy with black hair which was brushed upwards, and the second was fit and freckles peppered his face.

"Go ahead, try him.", I insisted.

"Alright, just talk to him.", Francisco said to himself as he stepped forward. I followed, but just before he got close to him, I changed my direction to another game cabinet to listen in without being noticed. I'm hoping eavesdropping doesn't became a natural thing for me here.

"Hey.", Francisco said trying to keep his cool.
The guy looked him up and down but said nothing. Francisco took out a quarter and placed it onto the arcade machine in front of the two guys playing.

"I play winner.", he said to them. They looked at his quarter, then him, and then returned to their game without muttering a word. "So..what's your guys' favorite game here?", Francisco asked attempting to ease the tension. Still, they gave no reaction. Francisco cleared his throat and watched them play. "Great match, who's winning?", he continued awkwardly. After a few minutes, the two guys' game ended with the one on the left beating the other.

"Alright, you and me now!", Francisco said eagerly as he anticipated the right guy to move out of the way. However, he didn't. The two guys stood there as the dirty blonde haired guy got off the machine and apprehended Francisco. Francisco was about half an inch shorter than he was and looked intimidated. The guy smacked Francisco's cap off his head by slapping the brim's underside and it went flying back. "Get your fruit cake lookin' ass outta here.", he threatened and pushed him back. "Can't you see we're not trying play with you?", he added as he removed Francisco's quarter from the machine and threw at his chest. Francisco glared at him, then turned around and went to pick up his hat. They started up a new game, this time with the guy who shoved Francisco and the guy who won competing. Francisco had his back turned to them for a couple of seconds, when suddenly he turned and ran over to them. When he got close to the two guys playing, he grabbed the back of their heads, and smashed them into the screen. They both yelled in pain and cussed at him. The one who wasn't playing punched Francisco in the face and began helping his two friends. A trickle of blood came out of Francisco's nose as he realized what he had done and dashed out of the arcade.