Brad rode his BMX bike to the bowling alley. He went inside and looked around. Twenty bowling lanes were on the right and on the left was a game room. In the middle was the cashier and grill. He walked up to the grill and smiled at the girl behind the counter, "Hey Cindy."
"Hey Brad!" she over enunciated his name and they laughed. She gave him a Styrofoam cup, "Wanna sip?"
"Sure," he shrugged, wiped the lipstick from the straw and took a sip.
"The gang's here," she pointed her nose to the game room.
He wiggled his eyebrows, "Thanks," he took one more sip and walked off.
Three guys and four girls were around a pool table, laughing at the girl that was groaning. "Now an expert will show ya how it's done!" Charlie strutted around the table.
"Expert?" Brad scoffed.
"It's Brad!" Sierra cheered and threw her arms around his neck.
He bent and gave her a hug and watched Charlie miss his shot. "Who the hell told you that YOU was an expert?" he laughed.
Debbie pointed at Charlie, "Your ass has had it now! Brad will kick your...."
"To loud!" an adult from the other side of the room yelled at them.
"See? You're here 5 seconds and get us in trouble!" Jeff walked up to him and grabbed Brad's hand, bumping his chest against Brad's arm.
"I know," Brad laughed, slapped Jeff's shoulder and walked up to the table.
"What should I try for?" Sierra sighed and kissed Brad's cheek.
Brad studied the balls on the table. "Blue," he pointed and smiled at her, "If you can bounce."
She lowered her eyebrows and bounced on her feet, "I can bounce."
He looked down at her big breasts and smiled broadly, "Well, yes you can."
She slapped his arm and walked around the table as everyone laughed. She laid against the table, to line up her shot. Brad went behind her and made a square of his fingers, pretending to take a picture of her bottom. His friends laughed and one whistled.
"Bradley," Sierra warned, "if I miss this shot because of your clowning..."
"Sorry," he laughed and walked away, "couldn't resist." He went to the side table and smiled at Melody, "Hey babe," he held out his arm and she hugged him.
She pointed her hand at the girl sitting with her, "This is Ellen." She frowned and pointed at her, "Oh but you guys know each other from math class."
"Yeah," Ellen nodded and looked up at Brad with big, blue eyes.
"Hi," he smiled at her.
"Damn!" Charlie moaned when the ball dropped and Sierra laughed as others clapped.
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Brad looked around the parking lot nervously. This was the job he hated. Look out man. The bowling alley door opened and two adults came out. Brad held his breath, until they went in the other direction. He looked back at the wiggling car. Not that he could stop Charlie now. He rolled his eyes and the door opened again. He saw two of the girls come out and look around.
"There he is!" Melody pointed at him and they started walking his way.
"Damn," he whispered and walked towards them.
"Hey," Melody stopped when he caught her arm.
"Let's go back inside," he smiled.
"Why?" Ellen frowned and tried to look around Brad. She frowned up at him, "What are you doing out here?"
"Nothing," he shrugged.
"Oh my God," Melody laughed and started to take a step.
He pulled on the girls' arms, "Come on. Let's leave them alone."
Melody laughed loudly and Ellen frowned at her, "What?"
Melody stopped abruptly and smiled at her, "Charlie and Sierra are goin' at it in his car."
"Really?" she looked back.
She put her finger on Brad's chest, "And he's keepin' watch, so they won't get interrupted." She batted her eyes at him, "You're so sweet."
He frowned and shrugged, "Returning a favor."
"Ah," Melody laughed.
"Oh," Ellen looked away, but not before he saw her red face.
"You're embarrassed!" Melody pointed at her and laughed.
"Shut up!" Ellen slapped at her and Brad ushered them inside.
**************************
Brad could see the girls with their heads together, whispering. He knew they were gossiping or making plans. Either one usually meant trouble for him.
Charlie walked up to him, "Hey."
"Hey," Brad nodded.
"Wanna ride home?" he frowned.
"I got my bike," he shook his head.
"Okay. See ya man," he slapped his shoulder and they went over to the girls.
Everyone said their goodbyes and went out to the parking lot. Brad waved at Charlie and Sierra as they drove away. Then he watched Melody get in her Dad's car.
"Night Brad," Mr. Jenkins said, waving out the window, "Thanks for watching Melody."
"No biggie," Brad shrugged and waved as they drove away.
Ellen waved at Melody and Melody dialed an imaginary phone and held it up to her ear as they drove past her.
Brad walked over to the other side of the Pinhead doors and smiled at her. "Do you have a ride?" he shrugged.
She nodded, "My Dad."
Brad looked around the almost empty parking lot, "Is he late?"
"Well," she sighed, "He probably forgot. He does that."
He looked at her quickly and smiled, "How could he forget you?"
"I ask that all the time," she laughed and looked down at her feet.
"Gee, if I had a car, I'd give ya a lift," he said.
"Thanks anyway," she looked up at him. Her blue eyes were like two crystals and they sparkled and danced. A small piece of her hair flitted on the wind and tickled her face. Brad put out his finger and held it back. He slowly lowered his lips to hers. He kissed her softly and looked into her eyes. She only held her breath and blinked up at him. "Brad?" she whispered and his lips fell to hers again.
"You wanna let go of my daughter?" a man barked from a car.
Ellen jumped back from Brad and talked fast. "Gotta go. Sorry!" she ran over to the car and got in.
"What the hell, Ell?" he yelled and squealed the tires as he drove away. He stopped at the road, reached over and slapped Ellen. Her head bumped the window and the car pulled away.
