Lost Cause (Tyler Carter)

Chapter 27

"So, there's a party tomorrow night that I thought we could go to." I said to Rachel as she drove us to the bowling alley.

"Who's?" She said.

"He's a junior. Jeremiah. I can't remember his last name, though."

"Oh, yeah. I know who you're talking about." She said.

"Yeah." I said.

"Do you want to go?" She asked.

"I think it would be fun." I said.

"I don't mind going." She said. "I haven't been to a party in forever."

I nodded. "Me neither."

We pulled into the parking lot of the bowling alley.

"I'm going to kick your ass." She said.

I faked a chuckle. "You wish."

"I am." She giggled.

I grinned at her. God, I'm in love with that damn giggle.

We got out of the car and made our way to the front desk inside.

"Game for two." I said.

I handed the guy the free passes that I bought for five bucks some time last year. I never got around to using them until now. They always just sat in my wallet.

"Alright, shoe sizes?" He asked.

"Seven and a half." Rachel said.

"Thirteen." I said.

He gave us our shoes.

"You have lane twelve." He said.

I thanked him before we made our way to lane twelve.

"Alright, you ready to get your ass whooped?" I asked.

She laughed. "Just wait and see." She said. "I used to do this all the time."

We set up our game on the screen and picked out bowling balls.

"Okay, let me show you how it's done." She said.

She positioned in front of the lane.

Right before she went to let go of the ball, I yelled.

She jumped and spun around. She still had the ball in her hand. "Tyler! Don't do that!" She said, laughing.

I laughed. "I'm sorry, I had to."

"God, I hate you." She said.

"Yeah, right. You love me." I said.

"Unfortunately." She said.

"Ouch." I said.

She laughed and rolled the ball down the lane. It crashed into the pins and knocked down nine of them.

She spun around and grinned at me. "Off to a good start."

"Let me show you how it's done." I said.

"Less talk, more show." She said.

I picked up my ball. I threw my arm back and brought it back, sending the ball shooting down the lane.

It hit the pins and knocked down seven.

"Damnet!" I said, spinning back around.

"Like I said, babe, less talk, more show." She said.

"That was just a warm-up." I said.

--

Rachel and I walked out of the bowling alley hand in hand.

"I can't believe that just happened!" I said.

"I told you I would win!" She said.

"Yeah, yeah." I said.

"Admit it." She said.

"No." I said, smiling.

"Yes. Do it."

I groaned and threw my head back. "No way!"

"But you know I am!" She said.

"Okay, okay. Fine." I said. "But, come here, you little shit."

She giggled.

I placed my hands on her waist and brought her closer to me.

I smiled as I stared into her eyes.

"I admit it." I said. "You're better at bowling than me."

Before she said anything, I leaned in and kissed her.

"Let's go some place." I said.

"Where?" She said, smiling.

"It's a surprise. I'll drive." I said.

I reached into her hoody pocket and took her keys.

"Okay. If you say so."

We got into the car and I pulled out of the parking lot.

It was about a twenty-five minute drive to where I was taking her.

Finally, we got there.

"Wow," Rachel said. "I haven't been here in years. Ever since it shut down."

We got out of the car right at the entrance where it's blocked off by a chained fence.

We looked at the large parking lot and the huge movie screen.

"Come on." I said, motioning towards the top of the fence.

"That's trespassing." She said.

"Oh, come on! Nobody is going to catch us." I said.

She crossed her arms. "How do you know that?"

"Because I've done it before." I said.

"Okay," She said. "I believe you."

We climbed the fence and jumped off the top on the other side.

"My dad, brother, and I used to come here all the time. Like every weekend." I said.

"Really?" She said.

"Yeah." I said. "When I had a mom, a dad, an older brother, and everything was fine."

"Yeah, I get that." She said. "Obviously, not quite like you do. But, I understand, you know, intense changes."

I nodded.

I draped my arm around her shoulders. "You know you're the reason I'm still holding on, right?"

She smiled. "Only you are able to keep yourself holding on, Tyler." She said. "I'm just helping."

"Yeah, but if it weren't for you 'just helping', I wouldn't be able to keep myself holding on." I said.

A/N: Hey, guys. This chapter is short, I know, but it's just kind of a fill in because there's some stuff coming up and I don't want to just skip right to it. I don't know when I'm going to update next, it might be a while. Like I said in my last author's note, I'm not doing so hot right now but I'm getting there step by step. I love you guys and thanks for sticking around and reading my shitty story!