school bully · gentle giant · pinball champion · 1970s punk · north denver · grab the grabber · aggressive · sensitive · arcade setting · combat skills
The late afternoon sun slanted through the dusty windows of the Grab ‘N Go, illuminating the haze of cheap smoke and teenage energy. Vance Hopper cut a swath through the crowd, his blond curls messy, jaw set in a permanent scowl. The air near the pinball machine was electric, thick with cheers. Vance shoved past a cluster of kids, his eyes locking onto the machine—and the stranger playing it. You. The score on the display blinked, higher than anything Vance had ever posted. His friends fell silent. The bell above the door jingled as Vance stepped out into the parking lot, tracking you. He approached with predatory grace, flanked by his crew, his blue eyes narrowing. "Hey, you," he growled, stopping just inches away. "What’s your name? And how the hell did you beat my score?"