Josh arrived at work a few minutes earlier than usual, eager to make up for leaving early the previous day. Although he wasn't authorized for overtime, he wanted to reclaim every extra minute he could. As he sat in the dark, unable to turn on the lights yet, he nervously chewed his nails. Regret filled him for not stopping by a coffee shop on his way out of his apartment, but he had forgotten to buy creamer, and he couldn't afford much on his low wage. He settled for a cold glass of water, which did little to wake him up compared to the energizing effect of music.

  His morning alarm was a playlist of rock and grunge music, and today it blared Green Day's "Basket Case." Some days were better than others, and mornings that began with "Basket Case" were unpredictable. Josh's responses to the world were erratic, sending mixed signals to those around him. Most people tried to avoid aligning their paths with his for too long. But his neurotic tendencies weren't limited to interactions with others; they permeated his entire existence.

  He had a tantrum, kicking the sheet off his bed, but then suddenly sprang up, headbanging to the music like a bad reenactment. His burst of energy quickly dissipated, leaving him drained. Just as he reached for the creamer, he realized his mistake and poured the coffee down the sink. Without creamer, he found the bitter taste unbearable and would rather drink cold tap water from his fridge. He planned to buy a water filter eventually, though he wasn't well-versed in the differences in water quality.

  His watch alarm interrupted his dazed state, and he closed his eyes, engaging in a counting ritual with his thumb and fingers. He repeated the counting sequence three times before silencing the alarm. When asked about his ritual by a curious acquaintance, he lied, claiming that the watch was a sentimental heirloom and the alarm wouldn't shut off unless it had gone off a certain number of times. The truth, however, was that Josh was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, PTSD, severe insecurity, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

  Since graduating two years earlier, he had been living on his own. The Flip Flop Game Shop was his first and only job, and he hadn't yet surpassed $12 an hour. While many people thought the job was dreadful, Josh enjoyed it. He liked the crowd, for the most part, and appreciated the slow pace that allowed him to focus on topics he truly understood. It gave him a sense of self-worth, as he could provide a service based on his otherwise useless knowledge.

  Today, he expected things to be slow, and he looked forward to it. Tomorrow would be hectic with the release of new games, but for now, Josh turned off his alarm and flicked on the light switch. The Flip Flop Game Shop was open for business. One of his regular customers was waiting outside, eager to come in and immerse themselves in gaming.

  "Morning, Mosh the Thrasher!" the kid greeted Josh.

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  Josh smiled at the nickname. "Codezilla!" he replied, throwing up the rock symbol.

  They both spun around, playfully mimicking the Headbangers, a 90s tag team they both admired. Cody had just turned 13 and recently acquired a new bike, granting him the freedom to come to the mall without relying on his sister for a ride. His sister worked at the mall, allowing him to spend days in the arcade of the game shop without much objection from their parents.

  Unbeknownst to Josh, Cody had seemingly become the closest thing to a friend that he had. While this might sound sad and pathetic to most twenty-somethings, Cody loved watching wrestling videos that Josh played in the store. Not for the same reasons as Josh, though. Cody imagined the announcers going crazy over his own gameplay. He even got to choose entrance music for when he walked into the arcade during tournaments. Cody had a laid-back personality, accepting people for who they were without judgment. His interpretation of things allowed Josh to relax, something he didn't realize he desperately needed. He knew he was considered strange by most people.

  However, this particular morning was different. Cody had forgotten to inform his parents that he had stayed overnight at a friend's place, leaving early to come to the mall. He’d told his sister – not knowing that she had her ear buds in. She had turned towards him and the next exchange had created a misunderstanding that while had told her… she hadn’t heard. As Cody's friends' parents worked the night shift and were sound asleep, the news of Cody being reported missing had not reached those in the know yet.

  "Mason here yet?" Cody asked.

  What a silly question, Josh thought to himself. He had just opened the door for Cody. Suppressing his initial comment, Josh responded, "Not yet. I'll send him back when he gets here."

  Cody headed towards the arcade, but Josh stopped him, saying, "Hold up, Codes." He turned to the PA system and announced, "Queuing up your music."

  Cody paused and forced a smile. While he found it cool the first couple of times, it had become repetitive. Josh had wanted to establish this as their thing, but in an empty store, it lacked the excitement of performing to a crowd of adoring fans. Cody began to anticipate the future when he would have his driver's license and could venture beyond the confines of the mall. The allure of games was fading as he found himself increasingly captivated by the girls who frequented at the food court. His friend Mason seemed somewhat behind in this regard, being more of a nerd. Considering the mall was the local hangout spot for kids their age, all the other kids put on niceties with Josh because he would occasionally dole out game credits to those who made him feel cool.

  "Cody, wait up," Mason's voice called out.

  Mason, Cody's best friend, was always there for him, nerdiness aside. They had been in the same class throughout elementary school until this year when their schedules changed, resulting in only two shared classes per day. Even then, the teacher felt compelled to separate them in one of those classes, except for gym class where they made sure to be on the same team.

  "Sup, Mace!" Josh greeted, changing the entrance music to a legendary tag team's theme. "Tag team entrance!"

  Mason nodded at Josh before turning to Cody, sharing a knowing look. "Now entering the arena," Cody exclaimed as the two of them walked through the entrance into the empty arcade.

  ?? On Thursday, you’ll meet the final two major characters in the story.

  Please comment your thoughts on each chapter so far. Feel free to critique and suggest edits or ask any clarifying questions.