Escaping Grace

Vale was sulking.
I had ignored her all day and now I was leaving in a few minutes. I glanced at her moping form on the couch, the TV obnoxiously loud.
"Are you going to stop pouting any time soon?"
"No," she replied. "I can't understand why you would want to go out with him after he said those things to you."
"Everyone needs a second chance."
"Everyone?"
I frowned at her. There was a knock of the door and I stepped over to it with a sigh. "I'll see you later, Vale."
"Whatevs."
I rolled my eyes and opened the door. Andy was waiting, his hands in the pockets of his black trenchcoat. I gave him a smile and hastily stepped outside and closed the door.
"Still bitchy?"
"God, yes," I said, shaking my head. Andy chuckled. "Well, what was the plan today?" I asked as we headed down all three flights of stairs.
"Well, I considered the movies but you are popcorn don't seem to be a good combination."
I blushed. "You caught me at a bad time is all."
"Did I?" he glanced down at me, holding the door open. We stepped out onto the street, and I was glad for my jacket as a cold breeze swept by.
"Well, a movie did sound nice," I said, and he nodded.
"You do live conveniently a few blocks from the mall."
I grinned. That's actually why we chose our apartment. We walked the two blocks to the mall, and Andy quickly pulled his sunglasses on. I chuckled.
"Do you think that's actually a good disguise?"
"It's better then nothing," he glanced at me. I rolled my eyes.
"Yknow, you roll your eyes way too much."
"Sorry." We walked to the theatre completely fine, no fans ready to maul us in sight. It must have been relaxing for Andy.
We stepped up to theatre and waited in line.
"What do you want to watch?" I asked, looking up at the options. He raised his head, and then pulled off his glasses. "They're playing Batman," he suggested, and my lips twitched. His face lit up like a kid at Christmas when he saw that option.
"Sounds good to me." I could remember seeing some Batman movies with Vale and Clarke, but none of them had stuck with me. Andy bought our tickets and we went to the concession stand, where I bought the rest, despite his reproachful glare.
"You bought the tickets," I pointed out, "so I'll buy the popcorn. This is just as friends, remember?"
He didn't argue, but maybe it was because I was carrying the popcorn.
We headed into the Cinema and sat in the back. I pulled my legs under me and settled, seeing we'd made it just in time. The commercials were just starting. Andy squirmed, and stretched his legs out best he could.
After a few minutes the movie came on, and Andy gave his full attention to it. I think he even quoted a few lines. Personally, it was okay but I unfortunately was not as interested. I nommed on my twizzlers, and eventually the movie came to an end and we headed out.
"Where to next?" I asked, spying the playground. Right now there were a bunch of kids on it, their parents sitting around with shopping bags or cell phones.
"How about some pizza?"
"You literally just ate an entire box of popcorn." I stared at him. "How are you still hungry?"
"How are you not?"
"Well, I'm not one to turn down pizza. Let's go." I should really bet on him when it comes to pizza, I realized twenty minutes later. I literally had no idea where he was putting it. Like two slices and I was out.
"Jinxx is the real master of pizza," Andy told me. "I have seen him eat an entire one by himself before."
"No way. Pizza coma."
"I'm serious! He is the pizza king."
I smiled. Andy was really close with his band, that much was obvious. But when you spend so much time with people you either love them or hate them. I glanced over, seeing the arcade room was basically deserted.
"Come on," I hopped to my feet and pulled him out of the booth after me. I kept a tight grip until we were inside. "Pick one," I ordered, and he stepped over to the claw machine. "I suck at these," I said, standing beside him. "I think they're rigged."
"You just have to have the skill," he told me, feeding it fifty cents. I glanced down at the stuffed pac men and mario themed prizes.
"Which one?"
"Which one what?"
"Do you want?"
I pursed my lips, then pointed out Luigi in the back, Princess Peach sprawled across his lap for the first time ever.
"Luigi?"
"Yep."
I'd always liked Luigi better then Mario.
"You have got to be kidding me," I watched as he expertly manuevered the claw, magically got Luigi, and then dropped it into the slot. "How the fuck did you manage that?"
"You have no idea how many arcades me and the guys have visited," he said, and tossed me the doll. I blinked down at it.
"Here," he pulled me over to air hockey. I stepped up to the side, sitting Luigi down safely in the side. "So, what do I get if I win?" Andy grinned at me.
"I'll let you have two day a week custody of Luigi."
He snorted, shaking his head as he tossed the puck down. "We'll see about that."
"What? You don't like him?" I asked, blocking the puck.
"He's great and all, but I think I have something else in mind."
"Oh? Like what?" I grinned as I scored.
He smirked. "You'll see." I frowned, and narrowly protected my side.
"Best four out of seven?" I suggested as he won again a few minutes later.
"Nope, I win, come on," he said, and I sighed. I grabbed Luigi and hurried after him, and we stepped out onto the street. "Where are we going?" I asked, hurrying to keep up with him.
"You'll see." I hated it when people said that. I glanced behind me as I heard a shriek. Uh oh.
"It's BVB! Andy!" I heard someone gasp, and Andy glanced behind him.
"Run!" he whispered, and took off. I merely stepped to the side, letting all the fangirls rush past me and after him around the corner.
I did not run. I waited a minute or two, and then called him.
"Did you escape?" I asked, following the direction he went.
"Yes. I said run!"
"They were after you, not me. I don't run," I told him, rounding the corner. "So where are you?"
"You would know if you would've come with me."
"Don't sound so annoyed. You needed to run off all that pizza anyway." I glanced around, not seeing Andy anywhere. "Where are you anyway?"
Right as I spoke, someone grabbed me, and I shrieked.

Notes