#scmanex

  Kevin liked to think of himself as a reasonable guy.

At least that’s what he had told himself when he started this battle with the vending machine. There was not a vending machine on earth that could keep him away. Especially if that vending machine had mars bars. He wasn’t crazy. No. Robert Shroud was crazy. Kevin was just determined to win. The game of the mars bar, that’s the only thing on this planet worth winning. Maybe the lottery. But that would get him more than six, probably.

So when he came across a lone vending machine in the community center labeled out of order with a single mars bar, just screaming out to him, he wasn’t going to let some sign stop him. He took it as a challenge. Out of order? He was a loose canon. He didn’t follow rules. Rules followed him. Nothing was out of order when he was around. Out of order just meant; the game has been changed.

After looking around, Kevin shoved his quarters into the slot only to hear them clink back into the change bin. He narrowed his eyes at the machine. Nice try. There was only a thick sheet of glass between him and victory. He leaned down and retrieved his quarters, pursing his lips in defiance. He slipped the coins back into his pockets before taking another glance around.

Upon seeing the hallway was clear of both people and cameras, he stepped back and then kicked out as hard as he could. When his foot impacted with the glass, he swore loudly as pain shot up his leg and the glass remained unscratched. The contents of the machine barely shook, so he regained his footing and tried it again. He slipped to the right and crashed to the ground with a grunt.

Brushing his jeans off in defiance, Kevin gripped the edges of the vending machine with both hands and forcibly tried to rock it back and fourth. Small amounts of progress was made. At this point he was sweating, but that wasn’t going to stop him. He attempted to shake it again. Kevin growled at it, earning a strange look from a passerby. He wasn’t going to be defeated so easily.

He shoved coins in the slot and pressed in the number before they even had a chance to get denied. The whole thing made a whining noise. What a baby. He just wanted his damn chocolate bar. The metal spiral that held the candy in place rattled out slightly. Kevin quickly pressed himself up to the glass, staring hopefully. He was met with more disappointment when it stopped halfway, some dangling over the edge.

Kevin hummed to himself in thought. The mars bar sat on the second level. He could grab that easily enough. Right? He gave it no time for second thought. He dropped to his knees, hurriedly yanked off his leather jacket to set it on the floor beside him, then angled himself so he could stick his arm up the chute. He grimaced when the plastic dug into his shoulder, but the pain would be worth the gain.

With a huff, he strained to reach for the shelf with his fingers brushing against everything else but the one thing he wanted. He swore loudly again when the slot door cut part of his arm. All he wanted was the mars bar. Was that too much to ask? He was so close, yet so far. Maybe if he tried looking around for a crowbar, he could pry it open. That seemed like a dandy plan until he went to pull his arm back out and realised it was stuck.

He shifted but had lodged his arm in there pretty good. For fuck sakes. He didn’t want to end up on front page news as the idiot who got stuck in the vending machine. He grunted, using his other hand to push open the slot door.

“I’m not entirely sure that’s how you operate a vending machine.” came a voice from behind him.

Kevin hadn’t heard anyone coming, so the sudden sound almost made his heart leap out of his chest. He lived for the excitement but this was too much. He strained to look over his shoulder. Pretty difficult when your whole arm is lodged inside a vending machine.

“I’ve been a professional vending machine hunter since I was born.” Kevin replied, turning back to face his objective, “I know what I’m about.”

The newcomer laughed, “It seems like you’re stuck.”

“Nah, I got it right where I want it.” Kevin scrunched up his face as he strained against the slot door again.

The other sighed and walked around and into Kevin’s view, backpack slung over his shoulder. Kevin felt relief wash over him - he had thought this guy was a staff member come to put an end to his vending machine days. Instead this guy looked his age, way more nicer looking and probably had no vending machine skills.

“What are you even trying to get?” Backpack asked, staring in amusement.

“The mars bar!” Kevin exclaimed, “Now go away, I’ve got this all under control.”

He raised his eyebrows, “Yeah, I can see that.”

Kevin narrowed his eyes again,  fingers grasping at air, “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“I just finished here and was about to head home when I saw you struggling.” He smiled helpfully, “I don’t suppose you need help?”

Kevin clenched his teeth as he strained again then glanced back over at backpack guy. He then noticed the name tag hanging around his name reading ‘Steven’, so it made him wonder if this guy was staff or not.

“Does it look like I need help?”

“Yeah.”

Kevin huffed, “I can get my arm out any time.”

Steven smiled at him, then glanced down at Kevin’s jacket on the floor. He leaned down to pick it up and quickly stepped back when Kevin lashed out to grab it back but ended up twisting his arm more at the sudden lurch.

  “You put that down.”

Steven ignored him and examined the leather jacket from where he stood a few feet away just out of reach, “Nah, I think I’m gonna keep it. You won’t need it anymore.”

“I’m gonna kick your ass.”

With a shit-eating grin, Steven slipped his backpack off his shoulders and put on the jacket over his sweater. His hands just barely poked out of the sleeves, but he stuffed the hands in the pockets.

“What’dya think?” He asked, “Do I look cool now or what?”

Kevin, sitting there in just a tank top, looked utterly unimpressed, “You wish.”

Steven fished around in the pockets and his eyes widened as he pulled out a wallet. Kevin swore. He thought he had put that in his pants pocket. He needed money to go buy a mars bar later. But luckily Steven didn’t seem interested in the money.

“Kevin, huh?” He mused, obviously looking at his drivers licence, “Weird, you don’t look 18.”

“Do I look like I’m going to shove my foot up your ass?” He asked as threateningly as possible, “Because I’m going to.”

Steven sighed and rolled his eyes before stuffing the wallet back in the pocket and taking the jacket off. He walked over and crouched down next to the machine, wedging the slot door so it flipped up enough so that Kevin could shift his arm into a comfortable position. He then pushed one of the metal spirals out of the way until Kevin could easily slip his arm out.

He  sat back and rubbed his wrist, frowning at the machine. He had never been beaten before. He could just go and buy a mars bar but it wouldn’t be the same. There’d be no sense of victory. It would taste like defeat. He was about to mumble his thanks when Steven shook his head and started fishing around in his pockets and retrieved out a set of keys. Kevin frowned, but the other simply picked one and slid it in the key slot on the door.

He turned it and seconds later it was followed by an unlocking sound. He opened the door, grabbed the mars bar and turned to Kevin.

“I think you’ve earned it.”

“So you do work here.” Kevin said accusingly

Steven laughed, slipping the keys back in his pocket, “No, I’m just a volunteer. They gave me a set of keys so I can get into places.”

Kevin took the chocolate out his hand, “And they trust you with that kind of power?”

“I’m the most trustworthy person you’ll ever meet, Kevin.”

He unwrapped the mars bar as Steven closed the machine back up, making sure it locked with a loud click then nodded to himself. Kevin had already finished half of it by the time the other turned back around.

“I owe you my life.” Kevin said through a mouthful

Steven rolled his eyes, “I’m too tired. You can owe me a coffee instead.”

Kevin put on his jacket with one hand, then when he was done he slung his other arm around Steven’s shoulders like they were best buddies.

“Done. But if you order that expensive cappuccino shit I’ll kill you.

“It’s not like you could pay for it anyway.” Steven grinned, “You had a bunch of lint in your wallet.”

Kevin pulled away like he had been shot, “And to think I thought you were my friend! I should take back that friendship bracelet I made you.”

“You can’t. I saved your life, remember?”

“Mars bars are far more important than any friendship.”

It was Steven’s turn to look offended, “I’m hurt. For that, you owe me two trips to the cafe.”

Kevin raised his eyebrows when they started walking down the hall, “Hey now, I’m not made of money.”

“Three trips.”

“How about one trip, and I walk you home afterwards.” Kevin bargained, only to have the smile on Steven’s face widden.

He patted his pocket, “Or, you give me your number so we can go whenever,” He glanced over at Kevin, “And I’ll open the machine up for you whenever you stop by.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Steven.” Kevin sighed before glancing down at the mars bar almost eaten in his hand, “You better make sure they’re always stocked up.”

Steven laughed and then they stepped outside. He turned to Kevin,

Sometimes it benefited to be up watching videos on youtube at 3am, especially when you had school the next morning. So when the shrill ringing of the fire alarm blasted throughout the apartment complex at three in the morning, Steven was able to spring up from his bed, grab his jacket and bolt out into the hall.

While nearly slipping down the stairs in a hoard of tired and grumpy people, he realised he forgot his shoes and socks but it was too late to turn back now. He wished it wasn’t a real fire because there were too many valuable things in his apartment, including his comic books signed by Stan Lee he had been collecting since elementary school.

The corridor was dark because someone had yet to turn in the lights, but as long as he didn’t fall flat on his face he was fine. Living on the top floor maybe wasn’t his greatest idea for many reasons. Especially when the elevator was out. And he had a lot of school work. Which was always.

Steven was unsurprised to find it was windy outside, and the parking lot was cold on his bare feet. At least he was wearing his pajamas, unlike a lot of people flooding out the doors. Mainly older people who were in gowns and pre-teens who thought it was cool to sleep in their underwear. He shuffled over  to the fenced in area where a few people already were.

One person in particular, he noticed, was precariously under dressed. His cool, slightly above average looking neighbour, Kevin. The only reason he knew his name is because Kevin’s roommate would come home drunk at obscene hours and bang on the door, calling his name while demanding to be let in. He was used to it. Everyone was. Well, maybe everyone except Kevin who seemed shocked every time he showed up.

Swerving from the point. There Kevin was, standing against  the chain link fence in a pair of jeans with no shirt on. His arms were crossed, like he was trying to protect himself from the wind chill. At least he had shoes. Steven glanced down at his own, sockless, shoeless feet. Some people were just born lucky. Lucky enough to put on shoes before ditching your apartment.

Kevin had a miserable look on his face. Well, he always looked that way but tonight just added to the list of things to be miserable about.  He didn’t seem to notice Steven approach, he just huffed when a breeze came by.

“You look cold.” Steven pointed out.

Kevin turned his gaze towards Steven, half-lidded eyes filled with tiredness and irritation like how dare someone try to communicate with him at three in the morning in a parking lot.

“Considering it’s like zero degrees in the middle of july, i didnt have time to put on a shirt and some asshole decided to pull the fire alarm at three am,” Kevin started, “Yeah, you could say that.”

“Well, you could have it worse.” Steven said, looking over to a group of young teenagers huddling together, “You could be them, stuck out here in your scooby doo underwear.”

Kevin rolled his eyes and looked away so Steven took that as his chance to flick his eyes up and down Kevin’s form in a not-so-inconspicuous way that clearly stated ‘no im not checking you out what are you talking about’. He didn’t know if it was on purpose, but Kevin stretched his arms over his head and yawned rather loudly. Some features stuck out more at this. Steven wasn’t complaining.

“Or you could be stuck next to someone who checks you out when you look away at something.” Kevin pointed out, making the other glance away.

“To be fair, you can move away from me.”

Another cold burst of air hit them, and even Steven shivered at that one. Kevin pretended to act like it didn’t bother him, but he crossed his arms again. The fire alarm was still going off and he didn’t know how long they were going to be out here for, so he took off his jacket and held it out.

“Here. You need it more than I do.”

Kevin didn’t refuse, he just reached out and took it with a grateful expression. Some of his bitterness even faded at the gesture - he slipped the jacket on with ease and quickly zipped it up. It fit him for the most part except for the little area of stomach that was still visible.

“Thanks.” He gave a small smile and stuffed his hands in the pockets.

Steven shuffled his feet closer together, “No problem.”

Kevin glanced down at the other’s bare feet, then back up again, “Didn’t have time to put on shoes?”

He shook his head so Kevin stared for a moment. The gravel was digging into the bottom of his feet, which he apparently didn’t notice beforehand. He must have been only focused on the cold. After a few seconds, Kevin knelt down to undo the laces of his sneakers. He stepped out of them and then slid them over next To Steven’s feet.

“Won’t your feet get cold?” Steven asked.

“I’ve got socks, I’ll manage.”

Steven slipped the shoes on easily and sighed at the instant warmth he felt. He didn’t worry about the laces because he figured he wouldn’t be wearing them for long anyway. He smiled happily.

“Your feet are big.” He commented.

“Well now I’m offended.” Kevin flashed him a look of disbelief, “Maybe I should just take my shoes back.”

“Then maybe I should take my coat back.”

“Touche.”

He was still smiling even when the shrill alarm cut off. The landlord called out, telling them they had to stay out for another few minutes while they finished checking for a possible fire, so there was an audible groan from the crowd.

“You don’t look like you were sleeping anyway.” Kevin remarked.

“I wasn’t.” Steven replied, feeling fully awake, “I was watching youtube videos and playing minecraft. Kind of hard to do when I use someone else’s wifi.”

Kevin turned to him, “So you’re the fucker using my router. How did you even guess my password?”

“Because at first glance you seem like someone who’d have a complicated password,” He grinned, “but then after a while I figured you’d be the generic ‘password’ as the password guy.”

“I’m changing it as soon as I wake up.” Kevin grumbled.

Steven pouted, “I don’t suppose I can convince you keep it?”

Kevin stared at him for a moment, “That depends. I share my wifi with you; what are you gonna share with me?”

“A spot on my couch, a movie and a bowl of popcorn later?” He smiled sheepishly.

“Are you suggesting my wifi is worth a date?” Kevin raised his eyebrows.

“A date with me.” Steven corrected him.

The landlord shouted something and the tired crowd began shuffling back towards the doors with mumbles of appreciation. The two of them stood there for a moment until Kevin finally glanced back at him.

“I guess I’ll see you later tomorrow.”

“It already is tomorrow.”

“It’s not tomorrow until i go to sleep and wake up.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works,”

“Don’t push me, Steven.”

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