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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Trix on Dec 13, 2017 23:11:53 GMT
275 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Her brag made him place a hand to his chest and he faked being choked up, "A woman after my own heart." But he wasn't worried about her winning. In fact, he was fairly used to losing at video games thanks in large part to his mother and Emma. Most of his masculinity had been challenged as he was growing up and being beaten by a girl at anything no longer hurt him the way that he noticed it hurt other guys. At least he was built and could fight and use a gun in real life, right?
She tugged at him and he laughed, "Okay, okay. Let's go." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close as they walked down the street. Even just walking towards the arcade put some pep in his step. He wasn't sure he'd ever be able to top the feeling he had in that moment because he was with an amazing person, doing something that he loved in places that he'd grown up. It was the only time he'd felt comfortable sharing his world with someone else. Nick kissed the top of her head just as the came up to the entrance.
"Okay hot shot, pick your poison," In front of them there were easily fifty games or more. And to the left was the counter littered with small gizmos and gadgets that they could win. "But I'll have you know, I know tricks to these machines. So choose wisely."
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Dec 15, 2017 3:56:55 GMT
172 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
She chuckled and punched him playfully in the arm. "That's my ammo, stealing men's hearts with my rad joystick moves."
Leaning into his hold, Halley felt warmth spread all over her body. It was such a small thing, walking with someone's arms around her but it just felt really good. She turned her head to the side and breathed Nick in, closing her eyes and turning back to the front where she was met with the front of the arcade.
The kiss came as a surprise and her smile widened and for a second, she blanked on why they were even there. She blinked a few times before looking up at Nick and then at the arcade before laughing and shaking her head. "Right, we're...yeah." She looked around and saw a machine that she had done pretty damn well in back when she frequented arcades.
"Oh my God, Time Crisis." She grabbed Nick's hand and yanked him in to get tokens. She rummaged through her bag to fish out some dollar bills.
And never seemed so right before
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Trix on Dec 15, 2017 5:29:12 GMT
212 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Nick realized with her reaction that he might not have wanted to do that so soon. They'd known each other for months, they were friends, but on a first date, he supposed he should have kept his hands and face to himself. She hadn't reacted poorly, but still he felt like he should retract a bit for fear of scaring her off. He was just about to put his hands in his pockets when she picked out the machine she wanted to run to first and she grabbed his hand.
He couldn't protest the contact and when she began digging around in her bag, his eyebrows pulled together, "What are you doing? I've got it covered already." Nick gave a nod towards the guy standing behind the counter as he slid over a bag of tokens that was pretty hefty. "Don't spend 'em all in one place," He said sheepishly as he held the bag open for her before going towards the machine that eagerly awaited them.
Nick gestured for her to pick which side she wanted. "You're challenging a cop to a shooting game...gutsy."
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Dec 15, 2017 17:09:11 GMT
188 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
Nick hadn't scared her off at all. In fact, if he hadn't brought her to an arcade, where her attention was surely divided, Halley would have wanted to bring him home. She was scared she would scare him off, if she were being honest. She'd liked him ever since she moved in a year ago. Was it that surprising that now that they were on their first date, her thoughts were less than innocent?
She stopped rummaging in her bag and looked at the bag of tokens the man behind the counter produced and her smile grew just as her eyes swept up to look at Nick. "I don't want to alarm you but you just made me like you even more than I already do." She bit her lower lip and walked over to the first person shooter machine.
She went to the Player Two side and picked up the gun, gesturing for him to insert the tokens. "No guts, no glory." She winked and aimed the gun at him. "Pew pew." She snorted as she was reminded of Nick when he was in the hospital.
And never seemed so right before
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Dec 18, 2017 6:44:26 GMT
260 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Nick arched an eyebrow and laughed at her words. He hadn't realized that a bag of tokens would win a lady's heart, but he supposed if it were the right lady then perhaps that was why. As he was thinking about it, he still found himself comparing her to his ex and though he knew it wasn't right to, it wasn't like he saw Halley in the negative light. Everything about her was just better.
She walked up to the red player two side and he was glad because he had wanted to blue. Not just because he was a boy, but it was always easier for him to get into it and the way she had him flanked more or less like it was real. He placed the tokens in the slots shaking his head with another laugh. It was funny that he had warm thoughts about the time he'd spent in the hospital for getting shot. Luckily he'd healed nicely. Also a big thanks to his partner holding the player two gun.
Nick stepped back and rolled his shoulders back before lifting the gun out of the holster and aiming very carefully at the machine to start it, "Not to sound like a total dude, okay, but you're going down, Hal." He smirked and clicked through the beginning settings quickly and without faltering in his stance. He took shooting games very seriously.
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Dec 20, 2017 13:44:12 GMT
173 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
She was quite aware just how childish she was acting. She was twenty-eight years old and getting excited over an arcade. In front of a guy. On their first date. It was absolutely ridiculous and she knew it. But if she were being honest, she didn't actually care. Nick brought her to an arcade. If he didn't want her to play and be excited about it, he wouldn't have brought her to one.
When he rolled his shoulders and issued the challenge, Halley snorted very unlady-like and rolled her eyes. "We're supposed to be on the same team, silly." She responded. "I mean, if I end up killing more bad guys...it's good for me, I mean the team." She licked her lips and bit her lower lip to stop her from grinning too much and watched as he went through the settings quickly.
She took in his stance and she giggled before going into a similar stance and pointing the gun at the screen. Once the bad guys popped up, she began shooting.
And never seemed so right before
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Dec 21, 2017 3:24:36 GMT
210 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
"We might be on the same team, but stats are always a competition," He winked at her. To be honest, he wasn't sure he'd even be paying attention to the game to begin with. She didn't have to know that though. When the game started, he glanced at her and watched as she took his stance. For a brief moment he thought about showing her how to actually shoot. It never hurt to be prepared and aware of gun safety even if she was dating a cop.
The game finished and as the stats appeared on the screen he snorted, "This game is obviously rigged. Did you cheat? There's a strict penalty for cheaters." He laughed and holstered the controller. As he looked at her, he could still feel the happy high. Yes, she'd beaten him at one of his favorite games, but she was cute so that made up for it.
"Alright, alright. My turn to pick since you hustled me. Galactica here we come," Nick slung his arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the machine. "I hold the high score."
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Dec 21, 2017 17:32:59 GMT
158 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
Halley just started giggling as they began the game. Although she did try not to be too competitive, which was exactly how she was in actuality, it absolutely showed that she was in it to win it. And once the game finished, she tried not to brag too much as she held the gun up to her lips and blew on it. "I mean." She holstered the gun and winked at Nick, shrugging coyly at his warning.
She laughed when Nick accused her of hustling him. There had been no hustle because she did warn him beforehand. She immediately wrapped an arm around his waist when he slung his around her shoulders to bring her over to the machine she wasn't so familiar with. A smirk came to her lips before she looked at him, her smirk turning into a sweet smile.
"Would you mind showing me how to play first? I don't think I've played that before."
And never seemed so right before
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Dec 23, 2017 5:12:19 GMT
175 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Nick narrowed his eyes at her when she played coy. He was oblivious to many things, but he also knew that the likelihood of an arcade girl not having played Galactica was slim to none. He wasn't very well planning on saying no, but he was onto the game she was playing.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek, not even minding that it was probably very forward of him. "Okay, so your right hand is going to control the joystick, like PacMan. You can only move side to side though. And your left hand is gonna hit the fire button." Nick pressed start and let his hands cover hers as the game began. He controlled the toggle and watched the screen intently.
"Alright, press the fire button as fast as you can on my mark," He moved the ship to the right. "Okay, now!"
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Dec 25, 2017 6:24:41 GMT
196 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
Being a highly affectionate person was not always a positive thing, Halley had learned. Since she was a kid, she craved physical contact and any chance she got, she always latched on to someone. It became a problem because her exes always called her clingy and needy because of it but she just couldn't help it.
Which was why any contact with Nick was appreciated and she relished all of them. The little kisses, the side hugs, the hand holding, they all felt good. Even if they were just on their first date. She wished she could tell him without running into the risk of being called clingy right away.
As he guided her on the arcade machine, she bit her lower lip to stop her from grinning too widely at how close they were. She was trying to concentrate on the simple task of pressing a damn button but he was too close. So without even thinking, she turned her head and pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips. She turned back to the game and started pressing the button. She pursed her lips to stifle the giggle that threatened to leave her.
And never seemed so right before
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Dec 26, 2017 3:51:56 GMT
206 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
When she turned, he glanced down, which would explain why she missed his mouth. It still shocked him a bit that she'd done it, but he hadn't minded so much. She turned back to the game and so he decided not to make a big fuss over it. Instead he just tightened his free arm around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.
She knocked several aliens out of the sky and Nick laughed, "There ya go! Get 'em!" He let her go on the toggle and rested both of his hands on her waist to watch her go on her own. "Left! They're shifting left! You got 'em!" It was fair to say that he really got into video games. It was ridiculous, he knew, but anyone who knew his mother also knew where he got it from. His eyes narrowed the more she played and he almost felt like she was going to beat his score at this too.
"I'd love to see you and my mom here. She's a beast at video games. It's terrifying."
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Dec 29, 2017 20:03:54 GMT
143 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
When he left her to full control the machine, Halley would have lost herself in the game if not for his hands finding their way to her waist. His encouragement, however, pulled her through the distraction. The game was simple enough, she didn't really need much concentration anyway.
She quietly enjoyed his closeness, at one point, practically leaning against him as she shot through the levels.
At the mention of Layla, Halley smiled and killed the last alien on the screen before stopping. She placed her hands over Nick's and wrapped it tighter around her. "I bet that's where you got this competitiveness from. Whereas I got it from just being a nerd who spent most of her time alone." She chuckled and turned her head a little to look up at him.
"Don't tell me you're also good at skeeball." She grinned.
And never seemed so right before
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Jan 8, 2018 6:19:01 GMT
260 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Nick took a shaky breath when her hands covered his and wrapped them tighter around her waist. It wasn't that he was nervous so much as he was scared that things were going too well. That's how it always started, wasn't it? Halley was not his ex, by any stretch of the imagination, but his last relationship had left him traumatized and on edge constantly around women. He knew that Halley genuinely liked him and that she was a nice girl who cared about others before herself. But the trauma he'd experienced flared up when he wasn't prepared and he knew if things kept up the way they were, he was going to ruin it.
He kept his chin rested on her shoulder and hugged her closer for comfort and relief. Talking about Layla and being compared to her on a competitive level made him laugh and ease back into his good humor. "Actually I'm not sure which of them I got it from. My dad gives her a run for her money," He smiled and glanced at her when she looked up at him. How did they make it look so easy?
The next challenge being skeeball made him grimace. "Believe it or not, I'm actually kind of terrible." He laughed sheepishly and gave her one more squeeze before releasing her, "But hey, if you want to keep hustling me, lets do it."
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Jan 8, 2018 8:14:56 GMT
245 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
Halley still didn't know much about Nick's ex but she did know enough to read his reactions, no matter how small they were, and pinpoint why they were the way they were. She could chalk it up to her being perceptive but in all honesty, it was probably because she paid way too much attention to Nick's body language. Either way, when she heard his shaky breath in her ear, Halley couldn't help the sympathetic grimace on her face. She was just glad Nick couldn't see it.
It helped that shortly after that, he became even more affectionate. It calmed her and she was back to being just as affectionate. She knew this was just their first date but she wasn't about to put the brakes on just yet. She liked being showered affection and she liked it coming from Nick.
Talks of his parents warmed her up and she was glad Nick was comfortable enough with her to share bits and pieces of his life so easily with her. "Just like I am with you right now?" She chuckled.
"Hey! I warned you from the get go that I was good at...almost everything here." She gestured to the whole arcade with a finger before laughing. She slid her arms around his waist and looked at him with a sweet smile. "Besides, am I really hustling you if the payoff is in kisses?" She teased and leaned closer to place a kiss on his nose.
And never seemed so right before
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Jan 16, 2018 5:57:22 GMT
282 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
When she pointed out that they were basically the same way as Patch and Layla, he felt almost giddy. All he'd ever wanted, since he could remember, was a relationship like theirs. They had the most solid foundation that he'd ever seen in his life and he couldn't find a single way that it would get ruined. If he and Halley were half of what his parents were, he was pretty sure they'd be fine. "You make a valid point," He smirked and shook his head with a laugh.
Quickly though his face scrunched up and he narrowed his eyes at her, "Alright, alright, look, I'm a guy. Guys don't take well to losing." Even if he'd basically been taught to lose his whole life. Emma could beat him at football when they were younger. He of course blamed that on her size difference and being quick and small, but still. The fact of the matter was that he'd been beaten at games by women his whole life. It hardly seemed fair for his girlfriend to beat him at these things, too. Couldn't he catch a break?
She kissed his nose and he shook his head, "Your kisses will not sway me! You're a hustler through and through, babe. In fact, you're gonna be my secret weapon for couples pool games." Which were a thing that he'd always had Emma for, but now, now he actually had a girl he could bring home. And Emma could just use Faith...or Elliot if that ever went anywhere.
The scariest part is letting go..
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