Nobody Said Life Was Going to be Easy. And I, Should Have Known Better

3: Bowling

I made sure I had everything I needed for homework that night and bounded to the student parking lot. I saw Vince sitting on the hood of Jace's Chevy Malibu and watched as a girl came up and stood between his legs. I just smirked, man-whore. Halfway there I was suddenly attacked from behind, my toe catching on a crack in the un-even sidewalk and fell into the shrubs. I looked up to McKenna with her hands over her mouth, wide-eyed. No less than a second later, Jace appeared behind her and burst into hysterical laughter.

"Gee, thanks" with sarcasm dripping from my voice.

"Oh my god! I totally did not mean for you to fall!" Mckenna burst.

I rolled my eyes and looked at all the people around me. Vince had appeared and asked if I was okay, desperately trying to suppress his laughter. I grabbed a hold of their hands as they offered to help me up and I was vertical once again. We finished walking to Jace's car while Jace picked pine needles out of my hair.

"Where's Kathy?"

"I dunno...?" We visually scanned the parking lot.

"Wait! There she is!" I pointed to a couple over at the soccer feild, consecutive to the lot. Our jaws dropped when we saw her lean over and kiss the mystery guy.

"Hmph, she doesn't waste any time. It's only the second week of school?!" McKenna sighed.

"Jealous are we?" Vince nudged her side. I was getting tired of waiting.

"Kath! Let's go, by the time you get over here there will be no sense of going." I yelled across the parking lot. Her only response was the middle finger.

"Okay! Well we're leaving without you then!" Jace yelled back. "Shotgun".

I groaned and piled in the back with McKenna. Vince honked once and started to pull away when all of a sudden we heard a thud in the back. McKenna, Jace and I turned around to examine and see Kathy smiling at us through the rear windshield, sprawled across the trunk.

"Vince! Stop!" we all screamed and he slammed on the brakes. We opened up the doors to be greeted with the laughter from Kathy.Before we could say anything Kathy pushed McKenna and I over and got in. We started off once again.

"Jeez, finally girl. Stop sucking face and hang out with your friends!" Vince exclaimed while glancing through the rear view mirror.

"Vince, why are you driving Jace's car? Do you even have your license?"

"He didn't want to drive and yes smartie pants I do...are you done with the interogation?" "Hey guys, let's play I spy"

"Jace, one: it's a five minute ride. Two: you're seventeen...not nine."

"I spy something.....blue!" he continued, ignoring my remoark.

"The sky." Kathy sighed.

"Oh my god, how did you know?!" Jace guessed, shooting Kathy a death glare.

"Like it wasn't obvious?"

"it could have been a car?"

"Jace, you always choose the sky."

They continued bickering and Vince slowly turned the volume up on the radio.

"Thank God!" I sighed, relieved. I quickly regretted that comment though as soon as a song came on.

"Dontcha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?? Dontcha wish she was a freak like me! Dontcha!" Vince started with Jace joining in right after.

I buried my face in my hands, McKenna stuck her fingers in her ears and repeated "lalalala" while Kathy silently banged her head on the window. I looked up and sighed out of relief when I saw the neon bowling sign. Needless to say I was the first one out of the car. "Come on! 'Lise, haven't you missed us?" Jace put his arm around my shoulders.

"Well..." I protested but couldn't conceal my grin.

"Yeah 'Lise! Didn't you miss this?" Before I saw it coming everyone enveloped me in a group hug.

"Okay guys! I can't breathe!"

"What's the magic words?"

"Uncle?"

"Mmmm, nope we don't think so!"

"Jace and Vince are the hottest guys ever"...gasp..."McKenna and Kathy are the prettiest girls ever?"

"Uh, close enough. We'll let you off." I gulped in air as soon as they released me.

"Alright! Who's ready to get their ass kicked?" Vince clapped his hands together. I rolled my eyes.

"Let's go." We walked up to the counter to get shoes. "Excuse me! We need five pairs of shoes!" Jace exclaimed, way too excitedly.

The guy working took off his headphones and looked bored.

"Size?"

"Nine...wait!" He lifted up his shoe "Anna, what's this say?"

"Umm...ten actually." I raised an eyebrow at him. He mock glared at me.

"Ten it is."

Everyone went before me, I stepped up to the counter which was somehow at eye level. "Hey shorty" he peered over the counter. "...oh hey Annalise"

I look up to see one of the three delinquent boys from art class.

"Oh hey...umm"

"Todd...my name is Todd" He shot me a smile. "Size?"

"Seven, please."

"Should have guessed, midget feet, to go with a midget body" he teased ...Or I hoped.

"Can I just get some shoes?" I growled.

"Umm...sorry couldn't hear you."

"Please..."

"No problem" he smirked and I grabbed them out of his hands.

"Thanks." I walked over to the group.

"What took you so long?"

"Yeah 'Lise what happened?" I looked over at the counter only to find him staring at me. I quickly looked away.

"I don't know, are we playing or not?"

"Well duh! Silly goose." Vince went first, then McKenna, Jace, Kathy and I last. I lost by 30 points all three games.

"It's alright "Lise, better luck next time!" McKenna nudged me. Vince dropped me off at home.

"Bye Annalise!" was the unanimous response from the Chevy before it sped off. I sighed and looked up at my house. The gray siding was dirty and peeling off, the porch sagged and was rotting. Home sweet home.