Bi The Way

Ally stood in her living room, hands on her hips, surveying the hulking Pac-Man machine like a general regarding her troops. She had enlisted the help of Matt's closest friends - Parker, Steven, and Luke - to pull off the birthday surprise she was certain would prove once and for all just how well she knew her boyfriend, and make up for their fight at her party.

"Did Matt even ask for this?" Parker questioned, skeptically pushing up his glasses as he eyed the dusty arcade game.

"No," Ally admitted, brushing a strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear. "But as his girlfriend, I have to show how well I know him with a unique and personal gift." The boys exchanged glances before Steven spoke up.

"Getting this thing working again will be a lot of work, Ally. And there are so many things Matt asked for...maybe we should just stick to the list?"

"Matt loves video games and these old arcade machines," Ally insisted, her blue eyes flashing with determination. "Besides, he told me once that his favorite childhood memory was playing this game with his mom in the arcade in Niagara Falls."

Luke sighed, clearly touched by the sentiment. "That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard. Alright, I'm in." Steven nodded agreement, and after a moment's hesitation, Parker joined in as well, not wanting to be the odd one out.

-----

The next day at school, Rodney sat slumped over his desk, staring at the red 68 scrawled on his latest English essay. He'd never scored so low on anything in his life, and panic gnawed at his insides like a rabid squirrel.

"Rodney, it's just an essay," Derek said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Madison and I have done way worse."

"Exactly," Madison chimed in, flipping her brown hair over her shoulder. "You'll bounce back."

"Guys, I've never gotten lower than an 85 on anything," Rodney confessed, his voice barely a whisper. Their expressions of shock mirrored his own disbelief. "I spent hours researching this, I thought it was perfect."

"Alright," Derek said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's find out what happened."

As the trio delved into the mystery of Rodney's grade, Ally and her team of fixer-uppers labored over the Pac-Man machine, determined to bring it back to life in time for Matt's birthday.

Ally's hands were a blur of nimble fingers as she worked to reassemble the Pac-Man machine, her determination fueled by Matt's impending birthday surprise. Luke, Steven, and Parker hunched over the project with her, their brows furrowed in concentration and they looked up the tutorials online.

"Okay," Ally said, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. "Let's take a break for a minute." She glanced around at her motley crew, seeing the fatigue etched into their faces. "So, I was wondering... What's the nicest thing you guys have ever done for a past girlfriend?"

Steven chuckled. "In grade eight, I volunteered to be Missy Dawson's model for an art class. Didn't realize I'd be modeling a dress she made, though." He grinned sheepishly. "But hey, I wore the crap out of it."

Laughter bubbled up from the group, breaking the tension. It was Parker's turn next. "Well, I've never actually dated anyone," he admitted, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "But the nicest thing I've ever done for someone I like was stepping aside so they could go after the person they really wanted to be with."

Luke snorted. "That's lame. How do you even know they wouldn't be happy with you?"

Parker's face flushed crimson. "I just... know," he mumbled, his gaze fixed on the floor.

"Alright, Luke, what about you?" Ally asked, trying to steer the conversation away from Parker's discomfort.

"Uh, let's see..." Luke scratched his head, deep in thought. "I guess the nicest thing I've ever done for a girlfriend was buy her a lemonade."

Parker rolled his eyes. "This is why you're single, man."

"Hey, it was an expensive lemonade! It had real strawberries and everything!" Luke protested, crossing his arms defensively.

As the banter continued, they all returned to the Pac-Man machine. After a few more minutes of tinkering, they stood back and prepared to plug the machine in. To their surprise, the machine hummed to life, its familiar jingle resounding triumphantly through the garage.

-----

Meanwhile, Rodney squared his shoulders as he entered Mr. Greenburg's classroom after school, Derek's pep talk still echoing in his ears. "Mr. Greenburg, can we talk about my grade on the essay?"

His teacher peered at him over his glasses. "Ah, yes. I remember your paper. It wasn't your best work, Rodney."

Rodney swallowed hard. "I know, sir, but a 68? I know it wasn't that bad. Is there any way I could get another chance?"

Mr. Greenburg shook his head, his expression unyielding. "I expected more from you, so I marked you more harshly. Learn from it, and move on." He pointed Rodney toward the door.

With that dismissal, Rodney left the classroom, his heart heavy with disappointment. He relayed the conversation to Derek and Madison, who shared his outrage. They exchanged knowing glances, silently agreeing that Mr. Greenburg had crossed a line – and it was time to seek their revenge.

-----

The evening sun dipped below the horizon, Ally paced excitedly in Matt's living room. Matt's birthday party was about to begin, and all his friends had already gathered at his house, waiting to surprise him. She could feel her heart racing with anticipation, certain that he would love the gift she'd spent days working on.

"Okay, everyone! He's almost here!" Ally whispered, eyes sparkling with excitement. The room fell silent as they all hid behind furniture and held their breaths.

The front door creaked open, and Matt stepped inside, completely unaware of the surprise waiting for him. In unison, the group leaped out from their hiding spots, shouting, "Surprise!"

Matt's eyes widened in shock, and then a grin spread across his face. He rushed over to Ally, pulling her into a passionate kiss. "You guys really got me," he laughed, looking around at his friends.

"Wait, there's more," Ally said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. She led Matt to the garage, where the freshly restored Pac-Man machine stood proudly against the wall. The moment felt perfect – until she saw Matt's reaction.

"Wow, Ally, this must have cost a fortune. I can't accept this," he said, running a hand through his hair, his smile faltering.

"It wasn't too bad," she reassured him, trying to gauge his thoughts. "Don't worry about the cost."

"But I don't really have a place for it," Matt mumbled, glancing around the garage.

"Your dad said we can keep it out here," Ally replied, forcing a smile. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had some messed up. Matt's smile seemed forced, and she thought maybe she didn't know him as well as she thought she did.

"Thanks, Ally. It's... thoughtful." His words hung in the air, and Ally's heart sank a little.

-----

Meanwhile, under the cloak of darkness, Rodney and Madison stood outside an old home, shivering slightly in the night air. Rodney's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why are we here, Madison?"

"Revenge," she whispered, revealing a carton of eggs and a roll of toilet paper. "We're at Mr. Greenburg's house."

Rodney hesitated for a moment, weighing the consequences. But as he remembered the sting of his undeserved grade, he felt a surge of determination. Together, they began their assault on the teacher's home, pelting it with eggs and draping toilet paper over every possible surface.

The thrill of retribution coursed through Rodney's veins – that is, until the piercing sound of police sirens shattered the night. Panic took hold as Madison sprinted away, leaving Rodney to stumble over a bush in his haste to escape. The world seemed to slow down as he tumbled to the ground, knowing he'd been caught.

"Son, you're coming with us," said the stern-faced officer as he escorted Rodney back to his house. His mother was waiting for him, disappointment etched into her features. She didn't say a word, simply gesturing for him to go to bed.

-----

"Seriously? Rodney did that?" Ally asked, barely able to conceal her shock and curiosity as Parker recounted the previous night's events.

"Yep. Egged Mr. Greenburg's house and everything," Parker confirmed with a wry smile, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

Ally shook her head, strands of her long blonde hair dancing around her face. "Wow. I never would have expected that from him." A glimmer of admiration flickered in her eyes before she hastily added, "Not that I condone it or anything."

"Of course not," Parker agreed, his expression playfully conspiratorial. "I should get going, but I just thought you'd want to know."

"Thanks, Parker," Ally said, watching him walk away. She felt an uncharacteristic urge to share the news with Matt; perhaps it was the novelty of Rodney's rebellious act or maybe since she felt she couldn't talk to Rodney about it, Matt was the safer option.

Ally made her way to the gym and spotted Matt on the bleachers, talking animatedly to Jordan. As she neared, Ally's steps slowed, her ears catching snippets of their conversation.

"...sold the Pac-man machine – got enough cash to buy everything else on my birthday list," Matt boasted, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction.

"Man, what's Ally gonna say when she finds out?" Jordan asked, concern etched on their face.

"Relax," Matt shrugged, a smug grin spreading across his features. "Ally won't find out. We never hang out in my garage anyway."

Ally's heart shattered, her earlier joy obliterated by an overwhelming tsunami of sorrow. She fought back tears, silently retreating before they could spot her eavesdropping.

-----

Rodney fidgeted nervously in the school psychologist's office, unsure of what to expect. The door swung open and Mr. Rogo entered, a kind smile on his face.

"Hello, Rodney," he greeted warmly. "I understand you've been having some difficulties adjusting to your new school environment. I'm here to help, tell me what is going on and I am sure we can find a solution."

"How do you plan on doing that?" Rodney asked skeptically, his fingers tapping a restless rhythm on the armrests of his chair.

"By listening," Mr. Rogo replied gently, taking a seat opposite Rodney. "You can start any way you want – just tell me what's on your mind."

Rodney hesitated for a moment before launching into the story of his move to Strathroy, his voice growing more confident as he recounted the challenges and triumphs he'd experienced thus far. But when it came time to discuss his feelings for Ally and Parker, he faltered, pausing just long enough to catch himself.

"...Ally and Madison," he added hastily, avoiding Mr. Rogo's perceptive gaze. "Is it possible to have romantic feelings for more than one person?"

Mr. Rogo leaned back in his chair, nodding thoughtfully. "It's not uncommon, especially at your age. Emotions can be complex and confusing, but they're also an important part of who we are. Let's explore that together."