"Ummmm....yeah I think so. I'll check with Brandon when he wakes up. I'm broke right now though, so I can't be spending any money."
"Oh, hey man, don't worry about it. It's all on me tonight. Everything."
"Alright, cool. What's the occasion?"
"Nothing special, I just felt like going out."
"Cool. I'll see you later then."
"I'll already be there by the time you guys show up so just ask the guy at the door for me, he'll send you up to my table."
"Your table? Okay, we'll be there."
I hung up and finished getting ready. I had a lot to take care of before four.
I arrived at Gameworks at about three o'clock. It's located in a rather crappy mall called Arizona Mills right near the border of Tempe and Phoenix. There were definitely nicer places I could have chosen but Mills was sort of our designated meet-up place on the times I didn't pick them up when we got together. Neither Carlos nor Brandon had a car.
We had all gone to school together, each of us for graphic design, and graduated about the same time. We got together to hang around every week or so. They were probably the closest friends I had in Arizona and I definitely wasn't going to leave them out of my good fortune. When I have the means, I'm very good to my friends.
There wasn't much of a line this early in the afternoon so, after handing my keys to the valet guy and getting my ticket, I only had to wait behind a few people before I got to the front desk. I could have jumped ahead but why be rude. I was in no rush.
"Welcome to Gameworks, what can I get for you."
"I'd like three game cards with one hundred dollars a piece on them. Also I'm having some items delivered to me here in," I looked at my watch, "About twenty minutes, could you see that they are brought to my table in the restaurant upstairs?"
He gave me a brisk nod as I slid him my debit card. "Absolutely, sir. I'll bring them up as soon as they arrive."
"Thanks. Also, some friends of mine are going to be asking for me, my name is Stephen. Could you send them upstairs when they arrive?"
He gave me an odd look but agreed. Sure thing, I'll send