The Miraculous Story of Harper Lynn

Chapter Eight.

           "Um, I think that that's probably the worst idea you've ever had. And trust me, you've had some doozies." Brent says, "No offense Leonard."

     "None taken, I'm agreeing with you on this particular subject actually." I reply back. Jerry shoots us both an inquisitive glance and cocks an eyebrow.

     "Why? I mean, these seem like pretty cool people." Jerry reasons.

     "And they also seem like they could be the next juvenile vigilantes that we'll see on the news for accidentally tasering themselves." Brent counters. The image of a twitching drunk group of laughing teenagers on the ground pops into my mind.

      "As true as that might be my confabulating compadre, I believe it is our DUTY, to meet these profanity yelling taco-bell eating crazy-driving maniacs who have befriended out little Leonard." Jerry speaks like he's on broadway, using his arms and clutching his chest dramatically. I almost burst out laughing when I see Brent's face.

      "Yo, I literally understood Nothing you just said. Was that even English??" He asks. Jerry grins and tips an invisible top hat.

      "It's not my fault you have the vocabulary of a two year old." Jerry grins, and winks at a passing blonde girl. Her face lights up and she walks away swinging her hips just a bit more than she was before.

      My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I see I've gotten a new text.

      Ever gone neon bowling? It's from Harper. I wonder what she meant when she texts me again.

     Me and the Gang are meeting up at 2, we can pick you up if you need a ride. I check the time. 2 o'clock is in a half hour. Brent eyes me suspiciously.

     "Yo, you need to be somewhere?" He asks me. I hate to leave the guys since we haven't seen each other in so long, but my heart races with anticipation.

     "Um, yea, kind of. Sorry, I gotta go, um, meet next weekend?" I say as I slip my jacket back on. Jerry looks disappointed, but shrugs it off.

     "Yeah, sure man. Call us when you ain't busy." Brent waves goodbye as I rush out the door. 

     I had heard of neon bowling before, in sixth grade Jerry had his birthday party at the Campbell Bowl, but I had a dentist appointment so I missed it. I'm teetering off when Harper texts me again.

     Yo, you in or not? This is information I need to know if I need to pick you up.

     Yea, I'm in. on my way so you don't need to come get me. I reply back.

     Sweeeeeeet, aight see you soon. I turn off my phone and pedal hard, the wind whipping at my face. The sun is high in the sky now, and the streets of the city are alive with music and color. Also with people, making it quite difficult to speed away on my ten-speed.

     By 2:15 I am locking my bike into the locks at the store next to the Campbell bowl. Julio's Tanning Salon and Nails the sign reads in neon. I can already hear the loud dub-step music from the bowl. I step inside, and an intense smell of burned french fries and shoe leather overwhelms me. The dark takes me a few seconds to adjust, but I can already hear Jadyn's whoops and Lexi's squeals. 

     "YYOOOOOO PRICK!!" Lexi screams, taking me into an embrace when I get to their lane. I grin back at her and fist bump Jadyn. Zach is at the lane, practically launching the bowling ball down into the pins at the far end. Harper lands next to me (from where she jumped I have no idea) and punches my shoulder in a greeting. She looks stunning in a tight black tank top and ripped blue skinny jeans and flip flops. Dark eyeliner is smudged under her eye lids and her lips are a dark crimson. I smile at her, hoping I don't have any leftover pancakes stuck in my teeth. 

     Zach leaps down from the steps fairly gracefully, and sizes me up. He narrows his eyes but grins. I try to do the same, but Zach is easily six inches taler than me. 

     "Do you have a ball?" Jadyn asks me, his dark blue glitter eye liner catching the strobe lights. I shake my head no, and he snakes his arm across my shoulders. 

     "T'is okay babe, you can share with me!" He smiles and winks at me. My face flushes and I hear Lexi stifle a giggle. Jadyn drops a very sparkly blue ball into my arms, and I nearly fall over. He  chuckles and leads me to the steps by the crook of the arm. 

     I haven't gone bowling since I was a kid, and I could barely remember how to let go of the ball. I stuffed my fingers into the tiny holes and looked over into the next lane. A handsome boy with dark hair and a glowing white tee-shirt swung back his arms and released the ball perfectly for a strike.  I look forward to my own lane. 

     "You got this Leo!" Harper yells from behind me. i glance back around and see they're all sitting down waiting for me to go. I take a deep breath and swing my arm back like how I saw the other boy do. I bring my arms forward and try to let go of the ball, but something unexpected happens. 

      My fingers stay lodged in the ball, and I am propelled forward by the sheer weight and force of the ball. I land hard, and my chin thumps loud on the wood floor. I hear several people gasp, and Harper runs up to me, kneeling down to help me up. My jaw hurts like hell, and the rest of my body doesn't feel too good either. Jadyn stands beside me and wraps his arms around me tenderly, while Lexi tries to pull the bowling ball of my hand. I can hear Zach laughing in the background, and I even hear the boy in the next lane laughing too. I can feel my face heat up, and I look sheepishly at the ground. 

     "Holy hell, THAT looked like it hurt." Harper says. She turns my head to examine the already forming bruise along my jaw. 

     "It did." I groan. Jadyn hugs me tight and gives me a quick peck on the cheek. I've never had a boy kiss me before, even if it's just on the cheek. I don't know how I feel about it. I mean, I've seen boys kiss before, at school and on the street and what not, but no one has ever kissed ME before. 

     "It's okay hun, I'll get you some ice for that nasty bruise." He croons. Jadyn tosses his hair back and starts towards the food stand. 

     "No, Jadyn i'm fine, really." I say. He curtly turns on his heel and comes back.

     I see the boy from the lane next to ours staring at us, as well as several others. I blush and grit my teeth. Lexi see's it too, and punches Zach to stop laughing. 

     "C'mon Leo, this place sucks anyways." Harper says, taking me by the elbow and walking towards the door. Lexi Jadyn and Zach follow, Zach grumbling about what a klutz I am. I try my best to keep my cheeks clear of tears. 

     Harper squeezes my arm and smiles at me comfortingly. I smile back at her, which pathetically just makes me want to cry more. 

     "I'm starved." Zach declares once we're out of the building. Lexi giggles in agreement, and Jadyn nods. Harper grins and twirls her keys on her index finger.

     "Taco Bell anyone?"