An Abundance of White Blood Cells // [WATTYS 2017]

ELEVEN

The eve of the bowling outing came around and everyone was at my house but Nate. I was standing in the kitchen with Lena and Rose telling them about the little cook out and what led up to it. I felt like they were more excited than I was. Although, they didn't need to tell him that they used to have a life threatening illness. I glanced through the little kitchen window at Lena and Rose's friends. Taylor and Gina were sisters, who were sitting on the couch talking to Mikey and Trevor.

Mikey and Lena were currently dating, nothing really serious, but Lena seemed to really like him. Trevor was Taylor's boyfriend. They'd been dating for a few months. I had this theory that couples who have the same first letter in their names won't last. Gina and Rose where the only ones who didn't have a date, although, they were good friends so they'd be fine.

"Well, I'm going to go sit with Mikey." Lena waggled her eyebrows.

Once she was gone Rose grabbed my hand. "You seem tense, what's wrong?"

Only then did I realize I was basically hugging myself to death. "Oh...nothing...I just," I looked at Rose who was nodding. Finally I shook my head. "Never mind."

"S, tell me! You know if you keep it in, you'll just bottle it up, and that never ends well."

I took a deep breath and sighed "Rose, I have to tell him about...me." I wringed my hands. "What if he...what if he pulls a Carter on me?"

"There are no guarantees that he won't pull a Carter, But, Nate seems different." Rose said just as there was a knock at the door.

I padded out of the kitchen and to the front door, Rose right behind me. My hand found it's way to the knob and pulled. Nate stood on the porch, trademark smile and all. My worries were imeadietly whisked away at the sight of him. "You guys ready?" He asked, swinging his keys around his finger a couple times. "Mmmhmm." I nodded.

Rose called for every one. We were going in two cars, Nate's and Trevor's. Me, Lena, and Mikey were going in Nate's car and Gina, Rose, and Taylor where going in Trevor's car. The drive there was quiet. I noticed that Mikey was trying to hold Lena's hand, I reached over for Nate's hand. Once we got to the bowling alley Nate had us get out at the front so he could find a parking space. Apparently, Trevor did the same, because Gina, Rose, and Taylor were already getting a bowling lane.

Just as we were getting our bowling balls, Trevor and Nate walked in. They got their shoes and met us at our table. The bowling alley was full of people. Families, groups of friends, and people on dates. It was dark with a bunch of different lights flashing and there was music playing. Above the place where the pins were there were giant projector screens that had the music video of whatever song was playing.

Our group took up two lanes near the far left side of the bowling alley. We were in groups of four, which ever car you rode in was your group. Near where our group took up residence, a family also took up two lanes. It must have been one of their kids birthday's, because there were gift bags and balloons set up along with a birthday cake that read:

Happy Birthday Cory!

In blue icing with eight candles placed around them. I watched the family watch who I assumed was Cory roll a ball down lane. He seemed so happy.

I sat down next to Rose, Nate joined me a few seconds later. It was a fun night. Except for the fact that I was still trying to figure out how I'd tell Nate. I kept telling myself that I just needed to blurt it out, because there was no pretty way of telling him. Rose reached over and squeezed my hand, probably trying to send good energy towards me or something.