Falling For You

-XIX-

Have you ever gone bowling? Do you like it? 

**********

Harley

"Take that, adorable Drewinator!"

"That's your first strike Alisonair."

"And it's not going to be my last!" Why are my best friends so weirdly competitive?

"Let's see if Harley Difficult throws another strike." Drew says smugly as that's the only way he's going to win, through another person. Today seems to be my luck, the black ball slides straight down the centre, effortlessly knocking all the pins in one go. Strike for Harley Difficult.

At first Drew was annoyed at Ally and I for laughing at my choice of name, but even he cracked and admitted his punny days were quite humorous.

"Harley have you been secretly coming here and honing your skill at this or something?" Wearing a perplexed but mostly pissed off face Ally frowns at me. "I never remembered you being this good."

"Uh, beginners luck?" I sheepishly smile not knowing myself how I managed to get more strikes than gutter balls.

"Harls you're definitely not beginner."

"Then it's a fluke." They both give me a look that show they don't believe me.

Our attention diverts towards the jingling of the bell on the door followed by a loud laughter floating in the room. We've been the only ones here for the passed half hour.

I recognize that laugh.

When the person emerges from behind the clay orange wall I wonder how I couldn't figure it out before. There's Cody Spears talking with very dressed down blonde girl from our school, presumably on a date. I think her name is Alyssa, she's somewhat part of the 'popular' group of kids. 

Ally Drew and I return to our game with Drew throwing next. It seems that the sound of the ball attracted Cody's attention, who zeroes in on where it's coming from. Locking his eyes on our group he nudges his date proceeding to walk with her our way.

"Hey, who's winning?" He asks once he'd sauntered over.

"Harley." Ally says not very happily. It's amazing what a game can do to your friends, they all of a sudden become your worst enemy.

"Of course, wouldn't expect anything less." He chuckles. "Deacon that wasn't a very good throw." Smirking he looks at Drew. Who only knocked three of the white pins down. 

"I really don't care what your opinion is, Spears." Drew shrugs indifferently. 

Putting an arm around the girl with him he gives us one last look with his signature smirk."Good luck losing Deacon." 

I internally laugh at Drew's expression, wearing a heavy scowl giving his forehead a few wrinkles.  

"Okay Drew, no need to try getting grandpa wrinkles already." Ally calls out snapping him out of his grumpy look. 

"I'm not going to get wrinkles from that." 

"Uh, yes you are." Ally steps up to the lane swinging her arm back then in a swift motion drops it forward letting go of the heavy ball. Hitting five pins she shoots Drew a victorious look. 

"Don't give me that look, it's only half of the pins." 

"But it's more than you!" She says in a sing-song voice. 

Ignoring their banter I take my turn, letting go of the ball it smoothly glides down the middle, effectively knocking all ten pins down. Strike. 

Hearing my best friends groan in annoyance I turn around to look at them. "What? I can't help it." I'm literally only doing the same steps that I always do. 

"Sure." Ally says dripping with sarcasm.  

With a determined look on his face Drew puts his fingers in the small holes on the ball. Exhaling a deep breath he swoops his arm back then forward letting go. He hits four pins, earning a rather smug look from the red head. 

Once Drew has knocked the others over in two shots, I pick up the smooth ball about to throw before a high piercing laugh distracts me. Side glancing at the lane next to ours Cody is behind his date, who I still don't know what her name actually is, his arms wrapped around her holding onto her arms and guiding them. She's clutching the ball but you can tell that Cody is bearing most of the weight, not that the cheery giggles coming from her seem to say she doesn't mind. 

Focusing on my own lane again I'm just bringing my arm back when a high pitched screech startles me. Is she trying to make me lose? 

Peering at their lane Cody's date seems a little, scratch that is very, excited at her ability to throw the ball. It's a fucking ball girl! 

"Someone is trying to sabatoge you." Ally discreetly whispers quietly laughing. "It'll be Harley difficult though, right Drew?" 

"You'll never let me live that down will you?" Drew rubs a hand down his face groaning. 

Deciding that the silence from the lane over meant that I'd actually have a chance at getting my ball thrown in the proper lane, I try again  managing to almost get my arm forward before getting interrupted again. 

"Oh my gosh!" The annoying blonde practically screams while jumping up and down clapping. "That was such a good throw Cody! You are like, a pro at this!" My poor eardrums, the volume those words were said were much too high. 

Groaning I let my head fall back. "Will I ever get to throw?" I direct the question at my two oh so supportive best friends sitting on the beat up looking chairs laughing at my expense. 

"Cody!" I call out knowing I'm never going to get a straight throw with a screeching girl jumping beside me. 

He stops laughing at something the girl said and gives me a questioning look. "Yeah?" 

"Could you and your date keep it down a bit?" I say as nicely as possible instead of caving to my internal frustration; my arms are getting rather sore from holding this ball for almost ten minutes. 

Cutting off Cody who's about to respond the blonde talks. "No need to be so jealous that nobody wants to date your ugly ass." Woah girl, that's a lot of assumption for a first impression. As our friend groups are different I only ever see her and never speak with her, hence her lack of information on me. Although it seems she begs to differ. 

"Wasn't talking to you." I drop the nice act, no need to give out niceness to hopeless people. "Could you guys just not scream as much? That would be nice for the sake of the others here, thanks." 

"We were so not screaming," she stomps her foot childishly, once again not letting the guy who brought her here speak. I'm surprised she hasn't broken a precious nail yet. 

"Come on, let's just leave them alone." Oh look who finally found his voice.  

Reluctantly retreating with Cody she sends us one last scorching glare. 

Luckily after that we were able to resume our game, I won and surprisingly Drew managed to beat Ally by two points. Which she is super bitter about. She'll be over it by the end of the week. 

**********

"See you later!" Drew calls out. 

"Yeah, bye." Ally barely coherently grunts out. 

"Bye Ally!"

"See ya, Harls." She responds a little louder. I shoot Drew a smug look which he sends an annoyed one back. 

After dropping me off I find some leftover food from the refrigerator. When I'm finished my supper I turn in for bed rather exhausted; the sleepy feeling not taking very long to take over.