Chapter 8: Mugging

"Arthur, that's so cool! Are you going to be in a movie?" Simon took a sip of his drink and smiled. "I knew you'd make it big!"

Arthur had brought Jennifer Aniston and Simon to the bar to celebrate.

"Well, it's just a supporting role," Arthur said, waving his hand while holding Jennifer close. "What about you? Weren't you going to start an internship?"

"Yeah, I'll be heading to the Bay Area soon. A small company over there offered me a position," Simon replied, scratching his head.

"Oh, by the way, I heard that after you beat up Ron, he went home and got another beating from his father," Simon said, laughing.

"Hahaha, so Ron not only lost money but also got beat up twice?" Jennifer Aniston laughed and kissed Arthur on the cheek.

"Hey, is that the finals?" Arthur looked up at the TV in the distance, broadcasting the opening game of the Lakers vs. Pistons finals.

Simon nodded quickly, "Yeah, in last year's finals, the Lakers beat the Pistons. This year, the Pistons are back for revenge!"

"Kareem is 41, right? He should be retiring soon," Arthur pointed out.

"Probably," Simon shrugged.

"This year, the Pistons are doing really well, and the Lakers players are getting older and aren't in great shape."

Simon's eyes lit up. "I'd love to see a game at the Lakers' home, the Great Western Forum."

Arthur glanced over and said, "Then go. Even though Lakers tickets are the highest in the league, they're still only a little over $40!"

Overall, in the NBA, either the Los Angeles Lakers or the New York Knicks have the highest ticket prices. The Great Western Forum is a venue in Inglewood, Los Angeles. The Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960, first playing at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, then moving to the Great Western Forum in 1967. Eventually, the Lakers would move to the Staples Center, but they wouldn't be there for another ten years.

Simon wrinkled his nose. "Haha, we can't afford finals tickets; they're several times more expensive."

"Even playoff tickets aren't cheap. Regular season tickets are more affordable, though!"

"Alright, I'm going to dance," Simon said, noticing a curvy woman on the dance floor and leaving the table without hesitation.

Arthur nodded, lost in thought. Michael Jordan hadn't won a championship yet, but the Chicago Bulls dynasty was soon on its way!

"What are you thinking about?" Jennifer Aniston slapped Arthur's arm. "Come on, let's dance!"

"Oh, okay," Arthur shook off his wandering thoughts. What was he daydreaming about?

In the dim dance floor, men and women exuded pheromones as Arthur held Jennifer close, swaying to the music's rhythm.

Jennifer Aniston kissed Arthur on the lips, receiving an enthusiastic response.

"Let's go to my place tonight," Arthur suggested after the kiss.

"Alright," Jennifer Aniston agreed, knowing it would be a while before they'd see each other again. She planned to spend the next few days with Arthur.

"Honey, take a break while I go to the restroom," Arthur said after they returned to their seats and then made his way to the back.

Walking through a dim corridor filled with graffiti and oblivious to the couples making out, Arthur headed to the restroom.

After finishing, Arthur washed his face at the sink and stepped outside for some fresh air, lighting a cigarette.

"Hey, man, the girls here are amazing, aren't they?" A guy in baggy hip-hop pants, a large T-shirt, and a hoodie approached Arthur.

Arthur glanced over, "Not bad."

The man got closer and said mysteriously, "Need anything? I've got some stuff."

Arthur knew what he meant and shook his head. "Not interested."

"Come on, man. It's cheap," the guy persisted.

Arthur waved him off, dropping his cigarette and turning to go back inside.

"Hey, kid," the guy signaled, and two more men joined to surround Arthur.

"Hand over your money," the first guy demanded menacingly.

"Damn," Arthur thought, realizing he was about to get mugged. He quickly scanned their hands, seeing no weapons, nor did they appear to have any knives or guns on them.

"I have no money. I'm a college student at Northridge; we don't have any money," Arthur spread his hands.

"Take him over there and search him," the first guy ordered, and he and another guy dragged Arthur into a dark alley.

"Hand over the money, or we'll get rough," the first guy threatened, pushing Arthur against the wall.

"What a perfect place for a mugging," Arthur thought, noting the pitch-black alley.

Before the guy could react, Arthur kicked him into the wall. The other two men barely had time to process what happened before Arthur grabbed one by the hair and slammed his head into the wall. As the third guy stood in shock, Arthur punched him in the face, then grabbed his neck and kneed him, knocking him down.

"Damn it," the first man came at Arthur again, but Arthur countered with a straight punch followed by a kick to the groin.

"Oww," the man howled, his eyes bulging as he clutched his groin and fell to his knees, then collapsed.

Arthur checked them for weapons and verified they had none, just to be safe.

"Man, we messed up," the second guy, the one Arthur smashed against the wall, started to beg.

"You can take a beating?" Arthur was surprised. Why was this guy still standing while the others were down?

"What are you trying to do?" the guy squatted as Arthur approached.

"Ugh, hand over your money!" Arthur's patience wore thin.

The guy quickly handed over $12. "That's it?"

"He has more," the guy said, pointing to the downed men, quickly retrieving their cash and handing it to Arthur.

Arthur counted about $100. "Pathetic."

He whacked the guy with a kick, leaving him twitching on the ground. "Ugh, what bad luck!"

Pocketing the money, Arthur nonchalantly returned to the bar, leaving three gasping men in the dark alley...

*****

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