It's Friday night and I have to go babysit tomorrow. I decide to use this time to read a book, something I haven't done in a long time but just as i'm about to read the first page. My phone gets a notification.

it's a text message from Rodrick

Hey u down for the arcade tomorrow?

My heart immediately starts beating faster. Is this a date? it couldn't possibly be one then I get another message.

Greg says he wants to challenge u to arcade games

Are your parents okay with it?

Yea they don't care

Wait what about Manny?

Parents are taking him with them, stop worrying tmrw will be fun

I guess i'm going to an arcade tomorrow?

I throw my phone onto my bed and reopen my book. I read for awhile then I get tired.

The next day I wait outside the arcade which happens to be inside the mall for Rodrick and Greg. While waiting I see Kim walk past with her younger brother. I run up to her and we started talking.

"He totally asked you out on a date" Kim told me

I blush softly.

"No he didn't, I'm just taking care of his brother" I tell her back

"Rightttt, well anyway I have to go but if you need me just text me and i'll kidnap Greg for you" she jokes

I laugh at her joke and she leaves. I spot Rodrick, Greg and some other kid? They come up to me and Greg tells me it's his friend Rowley.

"We're going to beat the dance dance revolution here" Greg explains to me. Him and Rowley look very excited and they leave really quickly so i'm left with just Rodrick. As soon as we step into the arcade Rodrick looks like he has an idea.

"Do you want to make a bet?" Rodrick asks.

I nod. This is definitely going to be fun.

"Okay so, whoever gets enough tickets to win that doll is the champion of the universe." He says as he points to this gigantic alpaca doll. It has to be as big as I am.

I laugh, "Champion of the universe?" I ask him. He smiles "fine then, guess you're too scared i'm going to win" he says.

"oh i'm definitely going to beat you, you're on."

Me and Rodrick both had the same idea and we both rush to this car racing game.

"You know i'm going to win." I tell him. "You wish" he replies.

We both sit in the seats and get prepared. The game was really fun, and we were both usually tied until the end. I don't really know how this happened but in the end I managed to speed up and beat him. He was so pissed it was hilarious.

He begins to start complaining how it wasn't fair but I ignore him. I spot something in the distance so I grab his hand and drag him to the photobooth.

"We have to do this, it'll be fun" I tell Rodrick. He looks hesitant but goes along with it anyway.

Me and Rodrick agreed to make the first picture normal, but when it came out he had peace signs behind my head.

The second picture we both crossed our arms and sat back to back like those funny movie posters. We looked so stupid but we were having so much fun.

The third picture we both made really ugly faces.

The pictures came out and we each got one copy. "We look so dumb in these." I tell Rodrick as i'm staring at the photos. "You may look dumb but quite frankly, I think I look great" he jokes. We both start laughing.

We must have played most of the arcade games by the end of the day and we were exhausted. Greg and Rowley ran off to get icecream and we were both going to catch up with them but first we had to see who won the bet.

Apparently, we didn't have nearly enough tickets to get the huge doll which makes sense so me and Rodrick both got these matching pokémon keychains. He got one with pikachu on it and mine had eevee. I thought they were really cute.

We went to the icecream shop and both ordered ice creams. We both got cookies and cream ice creams and they were really good. Rodrick was going to drop me off but I remembered Mrs.Heffley insisted on me coming over afterwards so she could pay me.

I always forget this is a job.

We arrive at the Heffley's house. Mrs Heffley comes up to me and thanks me for getting Rodrick and Greg to spend time together because apparently they used to never do that. We talk for a few minutes and she pays me. I go to leave but Rodrick offers to drive me home even though I only live a few miles away.

We're joking around in his van and Rodrick turns to me.

"Hey I need to ask you something.. it's kind of important"