𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘫𝘫

- ok i can see this coming about because you took your little sibling to the arcade when they had a birthday party to go to

- but in reality you didn't drop them off and go home right away

- you sat at a bench and watched them have fun

- screaming and laughing while they played their games with their friends

- you let your sibling know you'd keep their tokens safe so they didn't have to worry about losing them

- because at the arcade, tokens were as valuable as gold

- your eyes were glued to the carousel as it spun in slow circles, the animal seats raising up and down with the movement

- the music that played as it went around and around brought you back to your own childhood

- back to the times when you thought the carousel was so tall

- and when you needed an adult to help you up

- begging your parents to let you go again and again

- your life now was great, but stressful

- lately things with jj have been heavy as he went home last week and you hadn't heard from him in days

- and of course that worried you

- you loved him and wouldn't trade him for the world

- but you missed the days where you didn't have to worry or stress about his safety

- you just wanted to have fun with him again, but his well being came first

- so next time you saw him, you told him all about your day and how much fun your sibling had at the arcade with their friends

- "i miss that so much. those were the good days and i didn't even know it at the time."

- "yeah, i know what you mean." jj added, now reminiscing about the better parts of his childhood also

- and as if he read your mind, his next words sent the biggest smile to your face

- "it wouldn't be a bad idea to go to the arcade again. who says we can't just because we aren't 7 anymore?" jj expressed. "would you wanna go?"

- "you don't even have to ask twice. it's a date."

- and that is how your arcade date came about

- it was a friday night, bright and colorful lights flashing inside that lit up every square inch of the place

- the smell of the arcade's pizza hit you like a truck as jj held the door open and followed you in

- you two immediately went to the coin machine to get all of your tokens

- while you went for the change in your wallet, jj stopped you

- "i got it." he offers, pulling a sandwich sized ziploc bag full to the brim with coins out of his jacket pocket

- the poor bag looked like it was about to pop and send the coins rolling all around the black and neon-designed carpeted floor

- "woah. where'd you get all that change from?"

- jj paused, debating how he would answer this question

- truthfully, in his true mischievous fashion, stole john b's piggy bank

- one that he had gotten as a kid, but occasionally added a coin or two to the collection

- jb might not even notice it was gone

- or borrowed by his blond haired friend

- "just some change i found lying around." jj answered with a shrug.

- "quite a bit that you found there, babe." you muttered, more so to yourself as you eyed him suspiciously, but didn't stop him as he inserted the coins into the machine

- once you got your tokens, you were set

- first, jj let you pick, which was obviously the carousel
after about 5 times, it would get old to him though

- "are you not tired yet?"

- "of the carousel? never."

- when it came time to play the games he wanted to, it was the same kind of thing

- after several games lost he would keep inserting more tokens, hellbent on winning just once

- "are you not tired yet, jj?" you taunted, mimicking his words from earlier.

- "oh shut up, this shit is rigged! that's why i'm not winning."

- "mhm. that's why." you teased, giggling to yourself as you watched the frustration on his face

- jj tried to win in air hockey, confident that he would beat you

- and you led on that you might not be that good

- only to win against him every single time

- you were undefeated in air hockey and today wasn't the day to lose that title

- "what the hell? i thought you said you've never played before?"

- his eyebrows furrowed as he watching your lips curl into a smile

- "hey, you tricked me! what's up with that?"

- "sorry, honey. you had to be humbled."

- when you guys played basketball, jj was going so fast that one of the balls hit the rim and bounced right back out of the area

- nearly hitting some kid in the face

- when you guys got your tickets at the end, jj was ecstatic

- rubbing his hands together with a grin on his face as the tickets kept unraveling out of the slot, making a pile on the floor

- when you got up to the counter to exchange your tickets for prizes, jj turned towards you as if he was expecting you to pick his prize

- "no, jj. pick something yourself. you earned those."

- "fine. we'll take the panda please." jj told the employee, your jaw dropping as a result

- they took their hook and got a giant panda plushie all the way from the top, placing it on the glass counter for you guys to take

- jj immediately handed it to you with a smile, your arms circling all the way around it due to its size

- "are you sure?" you chuckled. "this is unnecessary, my love."

- "i'm positive. but next time, just let me win in air hockey please."

- you tilted your head up to kiss his cheek, leading the way out of the arcade. "never."