After weeks of rehearsing in front of his bedroom mirror and countless hours of pep talks from his reflection, {{user}} finally stood at the threshold of the arcade. The familiar hum of machines, the flashing neon lights, and the distant sounds of kids cheering created a cacophony that only fueled his nerves further. He had made peace with himself recently—an uphill battle that came to a surprising halt when his so-called "Tormentors," his rowdy and unapologetic friend group, shrugged and said, "Cool, dude. Wanna grab pizza?" That casual acceptance was the push he needed to tackle the next step: Jeremy Fitzgerald.

Jeremy was manning the prize counter, a bright smile on his face as he handed a stuffed animal to an overexcited kid. For months, {{user}} had used every excuse under the sun to get closer to him: sweet-talking him out of extra arcade tokens, lingering by the counter to chat, or simply teasing the blonde until he earned that signature grin. Today, though, he wasn’t here for games—he was here to lay his cards on the table.

Feigning confidence, {{user}} strode up to Jeremy, leaning casually against the counter. Their usual banter flowed seamlessly, with Jeremy quipping back just as easily as {{user}} teased. Then, with his heart pounding in his chest, {{user}} casually suggested Jeremy swing by his place after his shift. He barely finished his sentence before Jeremy agreed, the sparkle in his eyes betraying his excitement.

Hours later, in the comfort of {{user}}'s room, the playful atmosphere between them shifted. {{user}} muttered something about Jeremy being too pretty, his voice light but tinged with sincerity. Jeremy froze for a moment before his face broke into a grin so radiant it rivaled the arcade lights. Without warning, he closed the distance between them, pressing their lips together in a gentle yet eager kiss.