One Up

Chapter 1

"...am..."

Huh?

"Sam!"

Rachael waves her hand in front of my face, snapping me out of a daze. I didn't realize I had drifted off. The call of the International League of Gamers caught me in a daydream.

"Sorry," I say apologetically. "I wasn't in my headspace."

"No s**t girl, you were in outer space, but it's your turn to play Pacman."

I laugh before stepping up to the familiar console. You don't see too many old-style arcade games, but the Gameseum in Ephrata has a few. The Art of Recycle used to be in this arcade's place, but they moved locations, giving my mother an excuse to kick me out of the house.

I slip my coin in, bringing the famous pill-popping character to life. Rachael, my long time best friend, watches me. Rachael is always there for me. We have the same video game addiction, and like her, she's lost someone special in her life.

When my brother Jordan died, gaming and Rachael were all I had. It was tough... I almost didn't make it out alright. Aside from her, I didn't have anyone else after Jordan. I miss him terribly.

"Damn Sam, you're doing good!" Rachael squeaks. I smile, loving her enthusiasm.

"Eh, you can do better than me," I interject pridefully. She scoffs.

"Yeah, maybe I'll get super mastermind powers and be better than you, but let's face it Sam, you're unbeatable."

"Do you have proof of that?" I ask in bewilderment as I rise into the next level of the game.

"Let's see, the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight grade gaming tournament first prize trophies awarded to Samantha Arya Keys..."

"That was middle school. Everyone is pretty much amateur level."

"Sam, you beat the highest players of the nation in even high school! Stop being so hard on yourself! How else did you think you got the invite to the ILG? You're the bomb-diggity of gaming!" Rachel exclaims. I shake my head.

"Yeah, we'll see about that with that upcoming tournament. I heard that the winners get to be testers of One Up." I explain.

"I heard that it's going to be a great game. What do you think Sam?"

"I guess we can only wait and see, but I'm absolutely anxious to play."

I finish up playing Pacman before stepping away from the retro-style console. I look around the arcade, with it's old style lighting and it's nostalgic vibe. It reminds me of the good old days when everything was... simple.

"You ready to go, Sam?" Rachael asks.

I nod, before walking out of the doors into the crisp autumn air.

Ephrata is always so calm and serene. If you overlook the drugs and the occasional murder, Ephrata is the town that you can truly enjoy.

Even though I love it, boy... do I want to leave.

I want to see the world of excitement, meet new people... and above all, I want to meet gamers like myself. I always feel somewhat secluded in the fact that I like gaming. It was typically a boy thing. If it wasn't for my brother Jordan, I might have been like every other girl. I might have loved to gossip and shop. I might have been able to put my makeup on correctly. Instead, I'm a gamer and that's how I'll always be.

Rachel loops her arm through mine as we travel down mainstreet towards Roma's. It was the only pizza shop close by that I truly enjoyed. Their sicillain pizzas are to die for.

We look thoroughly through the menu within the italian-style pizza shop. Though I had tried almost everything from their strombolis to their paninis, today felt like a simple fall day.

"I'll take a pepperoni sicillian please," I address Marty, the manager. I slide him a $20. He returns my change with a smile before sauntering into the kitchen. Turning on my heel, we travel to the window seat.. our favorite spot in the restaurant.

"So Sam, did you hear about the new kid in school?" Rachael asks, twirling her golden-blonde hair as she slides into the booth. I shake my head.

"I'm afraid I haven't. Who is it?" I retort, sliding into the opposing booth.

Rachael holds up a finger before showing me her phone. A f*******: profile illuminates the screen, revealing a dark haired beauty I had never seen before. His blue/green eyes stand out to me above everything else. My mother always said the nature of someone is held in their eyes. When I look in his.. it speaks of a mysterious danger.

"He's definitely a looker. Who's class is he in?"

"I honestly don't know. I've only seen him in the halls. Marcella told me about him. Apparently everyone is dying to get to know who he is."

"Everyone's dying to get to know him? Does that suggest he doesn't want to get to know everyone?"

"I dunno girl. You should ask him yourself," Rachael says with a suggestive wink. I roll my eyes in response.

As if on que to deviate from the conversation, arrives a hot steaming pan of sicilian pepperoni. With a thank you to the waiter, we dive in, enjoying every slice we can. Food was a helpful escape to the troubles on my mind.