Light Me Up [HS AU]

24

Peyton spent the entire drive to the bowling alley scolding me for making her go bowling. Alli chuckled at us and shook her head when Peyton suggested we could exchange her for bowling shoes. 

"Ask Harry to help you when it's your turn," Alli suggested and wiggled her eyebrows at Peyton. "Just imagine him standing close to you, helping you aim for the center pins, his body pressed against yours, his face right by yours..." 

"Yeah okay, reel it in," I said with a scoff. "They are only allowed to kiss and hug." 

Alli laughed warmly and rolled her eyes at me. "I think they get to decide that for themselves." 

"I'm fine with Morgan setting the boundary, because I can't be in charge of that," Peyton held her hands up, making both Alli and me laugh. 

"Do you really like him?" I asked and looked at Peyton. "Like really?" 

Peyton looked at her feet shyly and nodded. "Yeah, I think I do." 

It made me smile to hear her say she liked him. Harry deserved to be with someone sweet and smart, and Peyton was perfect for him in so many ways. I was hesitant because I worried it would cost me either her or him, but there was always the chance that it would gain me a new sister and who knew, maybe nieces and nephews one day. 

When we were dropped off at the bowling alley we went straight in. Niall texted me that they were there already, having drinks in the bar at the bowling alley. Peyton looked nervous and I stopped her to have a look at her. She was really pretty in an off-the-shoulders top and a denim skirt. Her hair was loose and she had taken my advice to let her waves stand out. I put my hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. 

"You look beautiful, P. Harry wants to see you, and you're a catch. He knows that." I smiled at her and kissed her cheek. 

"Thank you, Morgan," she whispered as she hugged me. I grabbed her hand and pulled her along through the doors and down to the bowling alley. 

***

My nerves were getting the better of me. My pulse was escalated as we walked into the bowling alley and I spotted the guys in the bar, laughing and drinking beers. The foyer was filled with people; your local groups of fellas in matching bowling shirts, obviously there to play against each other, but also teenagers there to have fun and couples on couple-dates. A couple of teenage boys, probably around the age of 17 or 18 gave me a look, making me feel insecure, which was ridiculous. I shouldn't care what they thought about me. But when we passed them, one of them said: "Dibs for the one in the short skirt," which made Morgan whip around and look at them with a killer gaze.