No Use for a Title (Ch. 4)

Tyler woke up the next morning at eight o'clock. He quickly showered and got dressed. Today was Saturday and he couldn't wait to be with his friends. They were going to the downtown arcade. The local hang out spot. The place as pool and air hockey tables, arcade games, and a snack bar. It was a teenager's paradise.1

He grabbed a granola bar and went out the door. It was a warm September day. He ran to the arcade which was only a few blocks away. When Tyler went to the "gang's" normal table, he sat down with Mike and Matt.2

"Dee and Spunk aren't here yet," said Matt. Tyler nodded and when to the counter.3

"Large Dr. Pepper, please," he said and gave the man the money. He got the soda and went back to the table. Dr. Pepper was his favorite soda.4

About five minutes later, Shannon and Dee arrived.5

"Dee! Spunk!" Matt shouted, waving to them.6

The girls came over and Shannon sat down next to Tyler. He offered her some of his soda and she took a sip. "Thanks," she said.7

"Now that we're all here," Matt said. "Game time." He walked over to the arcade section with Dee close behind. Mike got some french fries. Tyler and Shannon were waiting for Mike so they could play a game of pool. 8

When he was done, the three of them went over to a table. Mike was playing Tyler first. Shannon would play the winner. Lose twice and you're out. Whoever was sitting out would play the winner.9

Tyler won the first game. Both had gotten every ball in. They battled for the 8 ball and Tyler got it. Now he had to play his girlfriend. She smiled at him and told him that she wouldn't care if he beat her. 'Thank God,' thought Tyler.10

Tyler was on a roll today. He won again. He flattened her. The next game would be Tyler vs. Mike. After a very long game, Mike came out on top. Tyler sat out and watched Mike demolish Shannon. She was out.11

It was the championship game. Tyler vs. Mike. By this time, Dee and Mike came over to watch the last game. Mike got all of the solids in and was trying for the 8 ball. Tyler still had four more plus the eight ball. He got the four in on one turn and tried for the 8 ball. He missed. Mike tried. He missed. They kept missing for five minutes until Tyler finally hit it in. 12

"I am the champion!" he sang. "My friends. And I'll keep on.."13

"Tyler," said Dee. "Keep your day job."14

"Haha very funny," he said.15

"I thought so."16

"I knew you would," said Tyler.17

Mike, Dee, and Matt started to play another tournament while Tyler and Shannon played arcade games. Tyler sucks at these. His hand-eye coordination is horrible. Shannon beat him at everything. He finally won one game.18

"Spunk," he said. "I heard about the boyfriend letting the girlfriend win, but this is ridiculous."19

"Ha," she said. "I didn't let you win. You did that by yourself."20

"Me?" said Tyler. "Wow."21

"Tyler," she said. "You're not as bad as you think you are."22

"Riiiight," he said. Shannon shook her head. Tyler hugged her.23

"Hey. Thanks for going being my girlfriend," he said. "I really like you."24

"I like you too," she said. "I've liked you for a while but I didn't think you'd ever like me back."25

"Really," he said. Shannon nodded. "Well, you're wrong. I like you a lot."26

Shannon smiled and hugged him. "Let's get back to the tournament."27

Mike had just beaten Dee for the championship. "Crap," Dee said.28

After their day at the arcade, Tyler walked Shannon home. When they got there, they stood outside and hugged each other. They said bye and they kissed.29

Tyler walked down the street to his house thinking. 'I just kissed Shannon,' he thought. All of a sudden, Cindy popped up out of nowhere. 30

"Hi Tyler!" 31

"Hi Cindy," he said monotonously.32

"Listen," she said. "I was wondering if we could go out sometime."33

"I'm sorry," said Tyler. "I have a girlfriend."34

"A...girlfriend?" she asked.35

"Yeah," he said. "I'm going out with Shannon. You know Spunk."36

She nodded as he walked away. He had just broken her heart. And he's going out with Shannon. Cindy knew what she had to do.37