Trusting Milo

XI

I N D I G O

After school had ended, I went home to grab some things before heading over to Vera's. There was a note sticking on the fridge reminding me that he wouldn't be back until Sunday night. Once I was finished packing an over night bag, I skated my way to the cafe. 

"Raise your hand for bowling," Vera said while rolling her eyes.

"Okay, now raise your hand for the movies," she stated while throwing her own hand in the air. I heard her exasperatedly sigh, "so it's a tie..."

"No! Indie still needs to vote," Tyler whined while pointing at me. Everyone just now realizing I'm here, turned around in their seats with grins plastered on their faces.

I put my finger on my chin and pretended to think really hard about my decision. "I've never been bowling, so I think that'd be fun," I said while shrugging my shoulders.

"You've never been bowling?," Jake asked inquisitively.

I shook my head but could see out of the corner of my eye that Milo was frowning, so I went to sit down next to him. "What's wrong?," I asked, not understanding what I could've done to upset him.

"Nothing... I just... well, how have you never been bowling?," he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders because I didn't have much of an answer.

"What did you and your dad do for fun growing up?," he questioned.

"Uh-- we, uh... watched a lot of movies... m-my dad doesn't really like leaving the house," I replied. I mean, it was half true. Jim hates public outings.

"Hm, well it's a good thing we're going bowling then," he said humorously.

We reached the bowling alley before the sun began to set, then paid for a lane and shoes. I looked around and saw an overabundance of neon colors on the walls. There was an arcade section, a classic jukebox in the corner, a concession stand and bar in the back, and about 20 bowling lanes. Music was playing through the speakers in the ceiling and I couldn't help but do a little dance in my head.

How cool is this?!

M I L O

I watched as she spun her head around in different directions, taking in all the things in the bowling alley. She looked like a kid on Christmas. I wanted to be excited with her but I couldn't help but feel a little angered as to why her dad wouldn't take her to places like this. She was deprived of a childhood, that much I could tell.

She picked up a few different sizes of bowling balls before deciding 6 was her number, but even with that being the lightest one here she looked like she struggled.

After we all entered in our names into the keyboard in front of our lane, Tanner and I went to order a couple of pizzas and sodas.

When we returned back, it was now Indie's turn and she looked entirely clueless. I couldn't help the grin on my face, she looked so cute.

I took the opportunity to sneak up behind her and whisper in her ear, "let me help you, ángel."

I showed her where to put each finger and how to pull the ball back before tossing it into the lane. She still didn't look very confident as she stared down at the coral granite colored bowling ball. Within a second, I had my body flushed up against her back while my hands guided hers.

I could feel her tense up and saw that she was somewhat wincing. "Relax baby girl," I whispered to the back of her head. Her body slumped down a little, but when she went to toss the ball, I saw her cringe again.