Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 86: Fun Night

Chapter 86: Fun Night

Arec’s POV:

Since our last outing, I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to make these dates, or whatever they were, a more constant part of our lives.

I found out that, being around Ella made me feel like I’d tapped into a side of myself I’d forgotten. So, I decided to ask her out again, and this time, I was determined to show her a different kind of fun.

The moment we stepped into the arcade, I knew this was a whole different world from what I was used to.

Bright, flashing lights illuminated every corner, accompanied by the constant, overlapping sounds of beeping, cheering, and the occasional electronic tune blaring out from the nearest game.

For a split second, I felt out of place amidst the whirlwind of noise and color. But when I glanced at Ella, her eyes already lit up with excitement as she took it all in, that feeling evaporated.

"So, where do we start?" I asked, genuinely curious. I was used to planning out each step, but here, I had no idea what to expect. This place was a maze of colorful machines, blinking lights, and an energy that was impossible to ignore.

Ella grinned, looking at me with a glint of challenge in her eyes. "You sure you’re ready for this? I’m not planning on taking it easy on you." She teased, hands already resting confidently on her hips.

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "Oh, is that so? I thought you might need a head start. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating me."

"Oh, really?" she shot back, already tugging me over to a row of games against the wall, her fingers brushing against mine for a fleeting second. I could feel the jolt of that small touch even in the noisy arcade.

The first game was a basketball shooting contest. The machine displayed a hoop that moved back and forth, and a timer started ticking down as soon as she hit the button. She didn’t hesitate, grabbing a basketball and firing shot after shot, each one sailing into the net.

Her focus was fierce, her eyes narrowing as she lined up each shot, and I couldn’t help but watched, impressed, as shot after shot went in effortlessly. Her movements were quick, smooth, and focused. This wasn’t the playful teasing I expected, she was legitimately good.

When she finally finished, the score on the machine was almost double what I’d managed in my last attempt. She shot me a triumphant look, her eyes sparkling.

"You know, if you wanted to impress me, you could’ve just told me," I said, grabbing a ball to try my luck.

Ella chuckled, leaning against the machine. "Maybe I just wanted to show you how it’s done. Go on, let’s see what you’ve got."

The game started, and I tried my best to match her score, but I couldn’t even come close.

I felt the need to at least put up a fight. I shot the first few basketballs, but my score didn’t even come close to hers.

She watched with a smile that turned into full-on laughter when I missed three shots in a row. I wasn’t used to losing, not like this, but there was something about seeing her so genuinely happy that made the defeat worth it.

"Alright, alright," I said, putting my hands up in surrender. "You’ve got me. What’s next?"

She laughed, shaking her head, as leading me to the racing games. We slid into the seats, and as the countdown began, I felt the same rush of competition from before. But this time, I could see her side-eyeing me, clearly trying to get in my head.

"You ready to lose again?" she teased, revving the virtual engine.

I smirked, "Not a chance."

The race started, and for a while, I managed to keep up with her, but she had this natural knack for the game that I didn’t. She leaned into every turn, practically becoming part of the game. I was so caught up in watching her that I barely noticed when she crossed the finish line before me. She threw her arms up in victory, looking back at me with that same playful grin.

"Alright, you win this one too," I admitted, shaking my head. "You’re a bit of a surprise, you know that?"

She just laughed, her eyes bright with pride. "I guess you’ll just have to get used to it."

We moved through the arcade, competing at nearly every game we passed. Whether it was air hockey, skee-ball, or even the claw machine, she somehow managed to beat me at almost everything. And with each victory, she’d throw in another tease, another laugh, and I couldn’t help but find myself drawn to her confidence and joy.

At one point, she leaned in close, her shoulder brushing against mine as she whispered, "Maybe next time, I’ll give you a few pointers."

My pulse skipped a beat, her playful flirting catching me off guard. I forced a grin, trying to keep my composure. "Oh, really? I’m not sure I need them. Just... warming up."

By the time we finally left the arcade, I’d lost more times than I could count, but I hadn’t enjoyed myself like this in a long time. She led the way out, still laughing about my last attempt at winning a game, and I found myself chuckling along, wondering what it was about her that made everything feel lighter.

From there, we made our way to a karaoke bar nearby. I’d never pictured myself doing something like this, but Sam had insisted it would be fun, and at this point, I was willing to try anything that might bring out that smile from Ella again.

Inside, the place was dark and cozy, with a faint glow from neon lights lining the walls. We settled into a private room.

I knew all these places was way out of my comfort zone, but Sam had insisted this was a good idea, and seeing the way Ella’s eyes sparkled as she looked around, I was starting to understand why. She started flipping through the song options with that same excitement I’d seen in the arcade.

"You’re not just going to watch, are you?" she challenged, handing me the microphone with a mischievous grin.

"Are you actually going to sing?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She shot me a daring look. "Backing out already?"

I rollmy eyes, and took the microphone. "Fine, but I’m not responsible for anyone’s hearing."

She laughed, and soon enough, we were belting out a duet to a cheesy pop song, her voice harmonizing with mine, though I could barely keep up with the rhythm. She laughed every time I fumbled a line, and by the end of the song, I found myself laughing along, unable to care about how ridiculous I probably looked.

For a moment, I felt a strange kind of freedom, an ease I hadn’t realized I’d been missing. As we sang together, she’d occasionally glance over at me, her eyes bright and full of joy, and I felt something shift. Something that went beyond attraction, it was an undeniable connection, something that made my heart beat faster and steadier at the same time.

We continued through a couple more songs, each one adding another layer to the unexpected closeness that was building between us. At one point, she reached out to grab my hand, pulling me into an impromptu dance, and I found myself following her lead without hesitation. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this light, this present.

Eventually, we wrapped up our little performance, still laughing as we made our way out of the karaoke room and back into the night. The air was crisp, a slight chill brushing against my skin, but with her beside me, I barely noticed it.

We strolled in comfortable silence, her arm occasionally brushing against mine, each unintentional touch sending a thrill through me. There was something so easy, so natural about being with her, as if every worry, every concern, faded into the background in her presence.

We stopped by a small food stand, grabbing a couple of hot drinks to warm up from the cool night air. As we laughed over memories from the night, we both reached for a napkin at the same time. Our hands met, and for a second, I forgot to move, her touch sending a shiver up my arm.

I looked up to find her watching me, her laughter fading as her gaze softened. Her hand was still on mine, and I could feel my pulse quickening, my heart beating faster with every second that passed.

She didn’t pull her hand away, and I found myself unable to move my hand either, captivated by the warmth of her gaze.

The noise of the world around us faded, leaving just the two of us standing there, inches apart, lost in a moment that felt fragile and electric all at once. My eyes drifted down, catching the way she glanced at my lips, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d push me away if I leaned in.