Good Girls Can Be Fun

8. Olympus (Part 1)

CHAPTER 8-OLYMPIANS LIKE GO-KARTING

                  I weighed the ball in my hand. My fingers fit snuggly into the three holes. It was Thursday night or according to Dean bowling night. He would pick me up in his big truck along with Lily and Avery and take us bowling. It had become a tradition. I set the ball back down, not liking the weight of it. Dean came up behind me and tickled my sides. I shrieked, drawing the attention of the whole bowling alley.

“You sound like a dying pig!” he laughed.  I shoved him away.

“You’re such a joker,” I retorted. He grabbed a ball off of the rack and walked away before even testing it out. It didn’t matter what ball Dean had picked up, he always won the game, whether it was too big or too small. “It kept the game more interesting.” he once explained. I finally found the perfect bowling ball and headed over to our lane.

“Well, surprise surprise. Look who’s here, Alexis and her minions,” Avery announced, her tone one of a person that is highly displeased. My hairs stood on edge. I hadn’t yet had an inevitable encounter with Alexis. She wasn’t a girl who sat back quietly when something or someone she wanted was snatched away from her. I was waiting for the moment that she would come up to me and slap me for taking her latest conquest, Dallas.

We made eye contact as she grabbed her shoes off of the counter and turned towards my direction.  I diverted my gaze and quickly sat down by my three friends, hoping that they could serve as my protection. I peaked over Lily’s shoulder to spot Alexis. She was walking towards us. Lily got up to take her turn. I dug my fingers into her arm and pulled her back down roughly.

“What do you think you are doing?” I exclaimed.

“I think I was about to roll this ball down the wooden lane. What are you doing?” She looked at me baffled, “And could you ease the grip I think I’m loosing feeling in my arm!”

I immediately released my hold on her, “Sorry I…” before I could finish the sentence, the sound of Alexis’ signature four inch heels clacked loudly against the hardwood floor, warning me that she was getting closer. I was nearly shaking from fear.  Alexis and her friends sat down behind me. I felt her hard stare burning through the back of my head. I dared to turn around, but before I could a voice called out, “Max! It’s your turn!”

I rolled the ball down the lane and got a strike on my first try. Dean stared at me incredulously, “I’m going to go get a drink.” I announced and scurried to the concession stand, needing to get away from Alexis’ unrelenting stare.

“A medium coke and a small fry please,” I ordered.

“Okie dokie,” the older woman behind the counter chirped after she rung up my order, “That’ll be $3.19.”

I paid the three dollars then dug around in my pockets in search of change, coming across a quarter, “Keep the change.”

The woman smiled and took the quarter. I knew that she was calling me cheap in her head. It was a lousy tip.  She walked off to get my soda and fry. “Hey!” a voice shouted in my ear and a hand slammed down on the counter. I jumped, backing away from the owner of he voice, “Oh, did I scare you? I’m so sorry,” Alexis said, not sounding sorry at all.

“It’s okay,” I said turning my back to her. Her claws clamped into my shoulder as she spun me around.

“Look, you little…” Alexis started, calling me by a name I dare not repeat, “Who do you think you are? Did you think that you could just swoop in like a dirty vulture and take Dallas without any consequences? The last time I checked he was a jock and you’re nothing but a little man-stealing whore!”