Chapter 25 Arcade date
~Ava's pov~
The next day, Charlotte nearly choked on her cereal when I told her about what happened with Logan.
"You did what?" She gaped at me from across the kitchen table.
"I said yes to a date with Logan," I muttered, sipping my coffee, trying to sound casual but inside I was freaking out.
Charlotte slammed her spoon down. "Ava! This is huge! Logan doesn’t date. He flirts, he hooks up, and then he moves on."
I winced. "Thanks for the reminder."
"But," she continued, pointing her spoon at me, "he likes you. Like, actually likes you. I seen the way he looked at you everytime."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
Charlotte smirked. "Ava, that boy is whipped. He is glaring at any guy who so much as glanced in your direction whenever you aren't looking. It is so hilarious."
I blinked. Logan… jealous? That didn’t seem like him. Am I too dense to understand anything?
Before I could overthink it, my phone buzzed.
Logan: Be ready at 7. I’m picking you up.
I stared at the message, my stomach flipping.
This was real now!
I was going on a date with Logan Carter. The star quarterback of Westbridge uni. I bet anyone would kill to be in my place right now,to say I was excited was understatement.
At exactly 7 PM, there was a knock on my door.
I took one last deep breath, smoothed down my dress it's been like forever since I've worn a dress and I'm feeling weird. a simple black one that Charlotte forced me into and opened the door.
And there he was.
Logan stood there in a black button-up and dark jeans, his usual smug expression replaced by something softer. He looked… nervous?
"You look…" He cleared his throat.Um...really good."
I felt my cheeks warm. "You too."
He smirked. "I always look good."
"Unbelievable," I muttered, shaking my head as I grabbed my phone and went out.
He led me to his car, opening the door for me like a gentleman.
"So," I said as he started driving. "Where are we going?"
"It’s a surprise."
I raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried? what if you murder me? Is it bad?" I asked
He shot me a side glance. "A little."
I rolled my eyes but let him have his fun.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to… an arcade?
I blinked at the neon lights flashing outside the building. "Logan… an arcade?"
He grinned. "You’re always so serious, nerd. I figured we should have some fun."
I stared at him. "You planned a date where you don’t get to impress me with your wealth?"
Logan laughed. "Shocking, isn’t it?"
He held out his hand. "Come on, let me kick your ass at some games."
I smirked. "Oh, Logan. You have no idea what you just signed up for."
And just like that, my nerves melted away.
"Best out of three?" Logan smirked, holding up a basketball at the arcade’s hoops game.
I crossed my arms. "You’re on."
The arcade buzzed with energy, the flashing neon lights reflecting in Logan’s blue eyes. There were kids running around, couples laughing, and groups of friends shouting over their games. It smelled like buttered popcorn and the artificial sweetness of cotton candy. People were living their lives.
Logan and I stood by the basketball game, the electronic scoreboard glaring at us. I wasn’t going to let him win this easily.
"Hope you’re ready to lose, Carter," I teased, stepping up to the machine.
He chuckled, standing beside me. "Oh, I’m more than ready to destroy you, nerd."
The timer started, and we both launched into action. The sound of basketballs hitting the rim and bouncing off filled the air. I focused, aiming carefully, but Logan was relentless.
"Come on, nerd, is that all you got?" he taunted, sinking shot after shot.
I narrowed my eyes. "You talk too much."
I picked up the pace, throwing in perfect shots one after the other. The scoreboard kept climbing until…
"Yes!" I shouted as the buzzer went off. My score was just a few points higher than his.
Logan groaned. "No way."
I turned to him, grinning. "Face it, Carter. I’m just better."
He huffed. "Beginner’s luck."
I laughed. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."
Before I knew it, we had gone through almost every game in the arcade. Air hockey, racing games, claw machines Logan kept trying to beat me, and I kept proving him wrong. It was the most fun I’d had in a long time.
After our last game, we collapsed onto one of the benches in the corner of the arcade, both of us slightly breathless from all the running around.
"I have to admit," Logan said, stretching his arms behind his head, "I didn’t expect you to be this competitive."
I smirked. "You underestimated me."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah. I won’t make that mistake again."
I glanced around, watching a little girl struggle to win a stuffed animal from the claw machine.
Logan followed my gaze. "Want one?"
I raised an eyebrow. "You think you can win?"
He stood up, cracking his knuckles. "Watch and learn, nerd."
I laughed, watching as he stepped up to the machine. He inserted a token, eyes narrowing in concentration. The claw moved, hovered, then dropped only to come back up empty.
Logan frowned. "This thing is rigged."
I rolled my eyes. "Sure it is."
He tried again. And again. After five failed attempts, I stepped in.
"Move over," I said, inserting my own token.
Logan crossed his arms. "If you win this on the first try, I’m walking out of here."
I smirked, guiding the claw with expert precision before pressing the button. It latched onto a plush wolf, lifting it up and dropping it into the chute.
Logan stared. "You’ve got to be kidding me."
I grabbed the plush and handed it to him with a grin. "Here, for your bruised ego."
He groaned, but he was smiling. "You’re ridiculous."
"And you love it."
He looked at me for a long moment, something unreadable in his eyes. Then he shook his head with a small laugh. "Come on, let’s get something to eat before you destroy me at another game."
We found a small food stand just outside the arcade, selling hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes. Logan ordered for both of us before I could argue, handing me a strawberry milkshake with a smug grin.
"You remember my favorite?" I asked, surprised.
He shrugged. "I pay attention, nerd."
I stared at him for a moment. Logan did pay attention, more than I realized.
We sat on a bench nearby, eating in comfortable silence. The night air was cool, and for once, everything felt… easy.
Logan suddenly nudged my arm. "So… was this the worst date you’ve ever been on?"
I smirked. "It’s up there."
His jaw dropped. "You’re lying."
I laughed. "Okay, fine. It was fun."
His expression softened. "Good."
I took a sip of my milkshake, my mind replaying everything that had happened tonight. Logan had surprised me. He hadn’t tried to show off with expensive dinners or fancy gifts. Instead, he took me somewhere fun, somewhere that felt real.