Neon Love

My boyfriend was trapped in an arcade game.

Every day after 5pm, we met at the arcade. Under flashing neon lights, we’d play together for hours on end. I’d shoo away anyone who attempted to steal him from my clutches. I held the reigning high score. My heart soared seeing my name drawn in pixels where he resided. EMI. He would maneuver past enemies in his spiky dark hair, cropped red tee, and light wash jeans and I’d guide the joystick. We were an unstoppable force, that is, until I arrived on a Friday evening to see I had been outdone. There was a new high score player named PIE. I vowed to destroy PIE. I ferociously played for hours. After regaining my spot as 1st, I was drenched and sweaty with ambition.

“Finally, I meet my rival.” He said with a ludicrous smile stamped onto every word.

I turned to the evil PIE. “You.”

My blonde hair was wild, untamed and plastered against my forehead. I powered up to attack. Combo moves flared in my vision.

I aimed a high kick at his cute, freckled face.

He ducked. “I don’t want to fight, EMI.” A devilish smirk propped up dimples on his cheeks.

My heart attempted to lurch out of my esophagus and hit him.

“Yeah, well, I do.” My hands reached for his throat.

PIE pried my fingers away from crushing his trachea, pulling me into an embrace. The warmth of him triggered rigor mortis in my limbs.

“Please?” He whispered into my ear. “Let’s get pie.”

I couldn’t deny that pie sounded delicious, so I dragged a free finger across his throat in a mock slice. “It’s on your dime.” There would be time to fight later.

He would remain my foe when we shared bites from the same fork. We would still be opponents when we kissed. The coffee we’d order would be completely different and we would ridicule each other for our choices. He and I would be competing angels. I warred my way into Heaven on earth.