Once in a lifetime.

22

July

After two turns my phone chimes. I pick up my phone and see a string of messages, I don't even have to read them before my heart starts to pick up speed. Seeing his name is enough to make my stomach do flip-flops.

Dalton- Sent: 1:40pm
Jules!
Doll!
My girl!
Ohh, I like that. My girl.
We got the schedule. Text me back when you can.

I may or may not have annoyed our manager for it so that I can find a day to look forward to seeing you again.

"Dalton?" I hear Tori ask, and I nod.

My brother scoffs, "Of course it's Dalton, her phone never gave her so much joy until he was on the other end of it."
I hurry and type out a response.

Juliet- Sent: 1:42pm
Didn't you land a little bit ago?

I put my phone down and try to pay attention to what is going on around me. I don't want to become that girl that is so obsessed with a boy that she misses things around her. I watch as my brother blows on his fingers before picking up a bowling ball. I look at Elenore and roll my eyes. She giggles through her nose. Aaron lined himself up for the throw, and he misses. The three of us erupt in laughter as he does a walk of shame back next to Elenore.

"Let me show you how it is done." She says as she stands up, and grabs a bright pink ball. We all watch her as she gets a strike. My phone vibrates and I do my best not to look at it.

I can feel my brother's eyes on me before I see them. "Aren't you going to get that?"

"No, it can wait." I think about my stomach and what he does to me. I watch as Tori bowls next, keeping my eyes glued to her. I can still feel her eyes watching me. "What?!" I yell turning my whole body towards him.

"Whoa." He pulls back a little. "Sorry I was just wondering how long you were going to last."

I roll my eyes and get up for my turn. I miss every pin, but I don't mind, I don't care about bowling right now. I want to get back to my phone.

Dalton- Sent: 1:44pm
Yes! BUT I annoyed our manager until she was able to give me some idea of the next time we would be close to you.
I missed you
Is that weird?
It's probably weird

I smile at my phone.
"So is Tori okay?" I look up at my brother as he sits down after his turn. He got a strike and his cockiness is back.

"Yeah, she's okay."

"What happened to her?"

"Ummm," I glance at Tori as she cheers on El. "I don't think you wanna know."

"What? Of course, I wanna know. Now I feel like I need to know."

"No."

"No." he nods his head. "So you just give me a one-word answer and I am supposed to be okay with that?"

"Well...I mean you don't have to be okay with it." He stars at me and I do my best to hide a smile.

"This isn't funny."

"I know." I exhale "But seriously she's fine."