Nice Shot (John Luke Robertson Book 2)

Chapter 3

After my scary nightmare, Sadie and John Luke decide I need some time away from everything. They said I'm lacking in fun. So, we are at the bowling alley. It's dim, purple and red lights twirl around the place, casting animal shapes on the floor in the kid section. Little children run around and laugh and scream.
"What size?" The man behind the counter asks. He pulls his long hair into a hideous ponytail and I stifle a laugh, and Sadie does the same beside me.
"Seven," I reply.
"Six," Sadie tells him.
"Eleven," John Luke says. I glance at him for a moment before smirking.
"Big foot," I mumble loud enough for him to hear. Sadie bursts with laughter as the guy retrieves our shoes. John Luke's cheeks turn red as we laugh at him. Then, he pouts. His big brown eyes widen even more and glaze over with a thin layer of tears, fake but still so sad. His bottom lip pokes out. "JL, don't pout. I can't do it," I turn away but sneak a glance. He looks so adorable. Sighing, I lean forward to kiss his bottom lip. "I love your big feet." A smile breaks out on his face as he wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me to him, his chest against mine.
"And I love you," he whispers, his cool breath fanning across my cheeks. I close my eyes and lean forward to kiss him. He traces y bottom lip with his tongue and I sigh softly. He flicks his tongue across the pallet of my mouth, and I try to push closer to him.
Careful...He ended up in the hospital because of you...
I hastily pull away, pushing John Luke slightly away. Taking deep breaths to calm my heartbeat, I grab my shoes with a fake smile.
"Ready to lose at bowling?" I smirk at Sadie and John Luke before pivoting and walking to our reserved lanes 2, 3, 4, and 5. Cole, Sarah- Cole's girlfriend-Reed, Alison- Reed's girlfriend- Ashley-Alison's younger sister- Danielle, Lucy, Chase, Ryder, and Bradley- Sadie and I's friends from church.
I take a seat at one of the tables and slide into the ugly shoes. After standing, Sadie and I begin to hunt for the right bowling ball. I pick up an eleven pound, weighing it, judging the hole sizes. Nope. Too big. I place it back on the rack before rolling a pink ball around to see a six. Too small. I roll and yellow one. Nine. I pick it up. Perfect. I take it back to the pulley that spits the balls back out. I set it down and wait for the others. John Luke sits beside me, eyeing me, worried. He's obviously concerned about why I broke the kiss and shoved him away, but I can't tell him I have a nagging voice that reminds me I am guilty for his almost death.
"Hey!" Alison, Ashley, and Reed barrel in quickly with bowling shoes in hand. I stand to hug each one, Reed's lasting longer. He's become a very good friend of mine. Strictly friends. He helps me like a therapist, but less formal and way better. He's funny and usually makes jokes to help me.
Alison is headed to college next August, her schedule at Yale already planned out. Her younger sister is now a junior, same as Cole and Sadie. John Luke and I are seniors, finally.
Soon after the trio have their shoes on, Cole and Sarah show up hand in hand. They make such a cute couple. Reed and Alison look happy, but Alison bosses him around too much. Sarah is more lenient on Cole, which she should be, because she doesn't own him. Alison and Sarah couldn't be more opposite. Sarah has blonde hair that reaches the small of her back, bright green eyes, light tan skin with freckles, an always present smile, narrow shoulders, and a slim waist. She's model material, but she wants to be a veterinarian. Alison on te other hand has jet black hair, pale skin, almost black eyes, a controlling attitude, more broad shoulders and a small waist. She's taller and feels as if she should have control of everything. She likes to party though, while Sarah likes to be a wallflower. I'm different than both of them, sadly. I wish I had as much self confidence as Alison, I wish I had Sarah's long hair and bright smile, and both of their free spirits.
As Sarah and I make small conversation, Danielle and Ryder walk in, shoving each other while Bradley rolls his eyes over and over. Danielle is a pretty, tall girl with light brown skin, dark brown eyes, and absolutely beautiful, crinkly curly black hair. She wears cute cheetah print tights with a loose black dress and black boots. Her lips are a bright pink as she smiles at us and waves. She and Chase have been dating for three years now. They are both homeschooled together, along with their siblings of course. Their parents enrolled them in the church program. They get taught by cyber teachers on the computers, learning bible verses along with the other homeschooled children.
Ryder has a white shirt, black vest, and black jeans with red vans. He likes to think he's the bad boy when really he's the sweetest guy here, besides JL.
Ryder has light tan skin and smoldering green eyes.
"Hey," I hug Ryder and Danielle when suddenly, a giant squeal sound in my ear and a weight lands on my back, arms grabbing around my neck. "Oh, Gosh."
"Kaysie!" A feminine voice shrieks. I smile. Lucy. She hops down and I throw my arms around her in a hug. She's beautiful with pale blonde hair and silver eyes. Today, she wears a white, short sleeved blouse and a pink and green flower print skirt that reaches the tops of her flip-flop covered feet.
"Lucy Lou!" I shout at her. She giggles in my ear. Her last name is Louery, so I call her Lucy Lou. "Where is Chase?"
"He's coming." Chase is Lucy' brother, adopted. After her parents had Lucy, they couldn't have anymore children, but they wanted a boy. So, they adopted one in California. They named him Chase.
"Let's get this party started!" A loud voice booms, and Danielle shrieks, throwing herself into Chase's arms. Danielle's step-brother, Ryder, chuckles at them before letting his eyes travel over Lucy's body. Looks like the bad boy's got a crush on the good girl.
"I just wanna party! I just want, I just want, I just wanna party," The gang sings in response to Chase's comment.
"Who is ready to bowl?!" Cole shouts. With all of these loud voices, we are going to get kicked out.
"Kaysie, you're up first," Sarah says with a big grin.
"Why do I go first?"
"John Luke put the names in. Just shows you who is on his mind all the time," Sadie smirks. Bradley sits beside her, trying to flirt. She shrugs him off, and I laugh. Ashley sits in Bradley's lap, and then his attention is on her.
"Hardy har," I mutter to Sadie. She giges and I pick up my bowling ball, swinging it carelessly down the lane. Gutterball. Shoot. "I can't bowl," I pout, watching the bowling ball I just rolled come back to me in the dispenser. I pick it up and hold it against my chest, debating. Should I granny roll, or lay down and push it forward, or get a gutter ball again?
"Here," John Luke walks up behind me, his chest to my back. I look over my shoulder at him as he places his hands on my wrists, his arms encircling. "Okay. You have to take a step forward, pull this arm back. You have to keep your arm steady and straight. Don't wobble. Let go when you get here," John Luke says, pushing my arm in front of me. I nod, letting go of the ball. "No!" John Luke shouts, quickly reaching around me to grab the ball. "Not now," he lifts the ball back, now standing in front of me and placing it in my hands. "When you bowl. Ready?" He stands behind me again. I nod. He takes a step with me and guides my arm, helping me let go in the right place. The ball rolls and slides down the center of the lane, taking out all but two pins.
"Ha!" I grin, letting out a surprised laugh. I face John Luke. "I did it!"
"Yeah, you did. Better than I'm gonna do," he mumbles the last part, pecking my cheek. Whoops and hollers echo from our friends and I blush, hiding my face with my hands as I take a seat between Sadie and Lucy at the bar island in the back.
"Y'all are so cute it's almost sickening," Lucy pouts, propping her chin in her hand. I giggle, laying down on the table top.
"Well, it seems as if you're a bit jealous. Got your eye on someone?" I say, giving her a side glance.
"What? No?"
"Is that a question?"
"No. I don't like anyone," Lucy says, her eyes widening.
"I thought Christians didn't lie," I say, glaring.
"Okay fine. Forgive me, Lord, for I have spoken a lie. I like Ryder Jennings. Sue me," she grumbles. "It's weird right? Look at him."
His vest is slightly wrinkled as he slides the bowling ball down the lane. Ryder is hot in a bad boy way. But he's sweet.
"He's-"
"Holy crap! Hide me," Lucy pleads, trying to shield herself.
"What? Why?"
"See that guy with the blue plaid shirt and jeans with the brown cowboy boots?" Lucy whispers, pointing. A few rows down is the boy she described. Except, maybe it's a man. He's tall and buff.
"Yeah?"
"He is my ex boyfriend. I broke up with him after three months, and he's been after me ever since. He never leaves me alone. He can't see me," Lucy whispers, shrinking back. Suddenly, Lucy squeals and I watch the man glance at her with a smirk. Uh oh. An idea pops into my head.
"I know how to get him off your back."
"How?" she asks, frantic. I smirk.
"Ryder!" I exclaim when he finishes his roll. He pivots and I motion for him to come forward.
"What are you doing?" Lucy demands in a whisper.
"Would you mind doing Lucy and I a small favor?" I ask when Ryder places his hands down on the bar.
"Sure, what do you ladies need?" He drawls in his sweet and rough voice. I smile.
"There's a certain person here who has been after Lucy for a while after they broke up, and she doesn't really want to speak to him but he's spotted her, so would you mind pretending to be her boyfriend so he will leave her alone?" Please say yes please say yes.
Ryder smiles and chuckles.
"Weird request, but why not? Where's he at?" Ryder asks. Lucy blushes, pointing to the man who is walking over. "How old is he?"
"21," Lucy mumbles. Ryder's eyes widen.
"Lucy, that's illegal. You're seventeen!" Ryder whisper-yells.
"He was nice to me, and I didn't know his age until three months into the relationship. That's why I broke up with him. Well, that, and he cheated on me," she mutters, her eyes glistening.
"Aw, heck no. Uh uh. Nobody cheats on Little Lucy. Come on, girlfriend. Let's show him what he missed," Ryder almost growls, coming around the bar. I smile as he wraps his arms around her waist from behind. The man stops in his tracks before slowly walking forward.
"Hey, Lucy Louery," the man says in a deep voice.
"Hi, Gavin Daniels." My blood runs cold. Gavin Daniels. Gavin Daniels. Gavin Daniels! He acquainted with my sister! He shared a college dorm with James, the guy who almost killed John Luke. The guy who told me to meet him at that country club. The guy my sister dated. The guy who my school nurse, Clara Bridges-sister of Taylor Bridges, my sister's used to be best friend- likes. This Gavin is James' friend, his old roommate. He knows Ryan Ash, the guy John Luke and I met at the coffee shop over six months ago.
"Well, I guess I'll be going then." I snap out of my thoughts. I missed their whole conversation. Gavin smiles, turning an walking away.
"Wait!" I call, running to catch up with him. He looks at me oddly.
"Who are you?" He whispers.
"Kaysie Ty. You knew my sister, Hailey," I state, needing answer.
"Holy crap, yeah. I do. She dated my roommate. She was...killed by-" he stops, looking over my face. "Yeah. I'm sorry."
"No, who was she killed by?" I demand. "Finish your sentence."
"I can't."
"You can't tell me who murdered my sister?!" I exclaim, standing tall.
"No. I don't know exactly. My friend told me he figured it out, but he only said it was one of his friends."
"Who is your friend?" I ask him. He presses his lips into a thin line. "What's your friends name? Please tell me. Please. I need to find out who killed my sister."
"His name is Michael."
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"I remember the night before she...passed," she says, careful not to make me cry I guess with saying the d word. "She texted me a million times. I didn't have my phone of course because I was at a party and she said you guys were going camping so she had to pack. Her texts were all about this guy. Not my friend, the one she dated. But this guy she met at a party. She was scared of him but he was obsessed with her."

"What was his name?" I ask, thinking. Maybe he was the one who started that house fire. Clara looks impatiently at me.

"His name was Michael, but she never specified on which Michael. She wanted me to find him. He is studying to be a doctor so he would still be in college. I tried to find him, I did. I just don't know where to strt. He didn't come to any of the parties after that." She finished and I raise my eyebrows for more. "That's all I know. Your sister and I weren't the best friends. That was my sister and your sister. The best of friends. But she came to my party once and got my number and then she wanted to come to every one. She found new friends and everything. That's all I know."

"Well, what about this Michael guy? Do you know what college?" I ask her and she nods.

"Tulane University."

"That's in New Orleans." John Luke comments.

"Yeah," Clara nods.
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Clara knew about Michael. She told me about him. My sister talked about him all the time. And he went to Tulane University. I have to find him.
"He goes to Tulane Uni, so you can find him there. But I won't make any promises because he vacations a lot." Gavin's eyes roam around, looking guilty for spilling his best friends secret.
"Thank you so much," I say, grabbing my phone. I type a reminder in my phone. I don't want to be rude and ditch this party so I will do it later. Just wait, Hailey. I'll find out who killed you.