𝑰𝒏 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒏𝒐

9 : If I...Then you...

𝕊 𝕆 𝕄 𝔼 ℝ

February 20th, 20xx

"If I make at least two go down, then you have to spend a day wearing a short sleeve!" I said, shouting the last word as I threw the bowling ball down.

As soon as we had paid for the lane, Oakley and I had decided to make the game have a twist. Every time we did as we thought we could, whatever we said, had to happen. So far, I had to buy more drinks and he bought us candy. It was the little things that we made a 'bet' over.

"You aren't going to make it!" Oakley shouted at me.

He came up behind me, his hand softly grabbing the back of my shirt in anticipation, watching the ball roll straight down the middle. I gasped, hoping the ball would continue to go down. Oakley softly whispered against the ball once more but that was enough for the ball to swerve off and hit the gutter.

"No!" I covered my face with my hands.

"Yes!" Oakley's hands went up as he bounced in a circle.

It wasn't as if I was really sad but I was sad that my bowling ball didn't make it down the middle. It was going perfect, why did it have to swerve?

"My turn. If I make them all go down, then you have to," he paused before he boldly stated, "go to the beach with me and my family next weekend."

Oakley didn't turn to face me. His body stayed looking forward but hearing his words made me hear the beat of the blood flow inside my ear. I was lucky it was a bit darker where I sat and he still had yet to turn to face me.

Drawing his arm back, he took a few steps forward before he threw the ball down. I had no need to ask the ball to go into the gutter. Instead, I was rooting for it to take down all the pins.

Make them all fall down. I want to spend more time with his sister and get to know him. I want to go to the beach. I want to know what it's like to have a loving mother and a sibling. I want to know what it's like to have...a family.

"Awe, I hope your schedule is open next weekend, looks like you're going to the beach with me," he said as he turned to face me.

"Fortunately, for you, I almost never have anything going on during the weekends."

Don't throw out useless information, Somer.

"Dooley noted, I'm guessing my sister is going to want to see you a lot and you're better than all the other friends I've had."

Of course, it's not because he wants to hang out, just his sister. Of course, I'm just being used.

"I've been promoted from stranger to friend?" I gave him a smirk to get a head nod in return.

"You've been promoted for a while!"

I laughed before I took a sip of my drink. When it was my turn, I realized something. My last request had come true because he would have to wear a short sleeve to the beach. Had he...taken that into account or was it just coincidence?

Get ahold of yourself, Somer. It's not like he did it for you.

"You okay?" Oakley asked when I stood still for a second.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, just thinking of what to say." Thinking for a few seconds, I let the simplest thing I could think of out. "If I get it into the gutter, then you have to-"

I threw it before I could finish the sentence. Luckily, there was a crowd of people who loudly cheered and my softened voice was drowned out. Oakley and I watched as the ball had gone close to the gutter, running along the line of it.