JeffMads Modern AU | Year 1 {Complete}

Going Bowling Minus The Bowling Part

So they we are; just off the bus, about 4 blocks away from the bowling alley, when a group of girls walks by us, giggling.

I scan their faces and recognize all of them. Elizabeth, Peggy, Angelica Schuyler, and Maria Lewis. The Maria that couldn't make it to her and Thomas' weekly sweet-outing.

I wondered if Thomas knew she was hanging out with the most popular girls at uni over him. So I looked over at him. He looked like he didn't even notice.

So then I pulled a bitch move.

"Hey, Maria!" I called out.

Her smile faded when she saw Thomas and I.

"James, Thomas." She rubbed the back of her neck.

The rest of the girls eyed us up and down.

"Maria? What're you doing? You said you had an essay to do and that's why you couldn't come." He looked hurt.

"Uh... right..." she tucked a strand of her curly hair behind her ear.

"Hey Mimi, do you know these boys?" Peggy asked her. She didn't seem to know me, when I knew her name.

"Why'd you lie to me?" Thomas didn't give Maria time to respond to Peggy.

"Thomas- look if you can't handle me having more friends than just you-"

"No Maria, I'm totally fine with you having friends! Why wouldn't I be? You're the one who lied to me." Thomas grabbed my arm and started to walk away.

The Schuyler sisters just stared at us.

"Thomas Wait-"

"No, just stop Maria, I'm going on a date with my boyfriend. We'll talk when I'm not busy." And we left.

Thomas was clearly upset and I felt like it was my fault, I shouldn't have called out to Maria. Honestly I thought Thomas would've known....

"I can't believe her." Thomas broke the silence.

"What about it?"

"It's just she didn't have to lie to me about it, she should've at least told me she already had plans, yeah I'd be disappointed but I wouldn't be mad."

I just nodded as we turned a corner and the bowling alley came into view.

"I just don't know why she chose the Schuyler sisters of all people," he continued, "I mean they're popular, and Maria isn't like that. She's not craving the attention like those three."

"Well, that's true but you do have to be open to her having more friends."

"I am! It's just we've been friends for forever and we've done the same thing almost every single Sunday, I get she could've planned something else. She just lied. I shouldn't feel betrayed but I do, I would never lie to her."

We were now inside the building, waiting in line to get shoes.

"You know what, James?" He turned and looked at me. "Let's go to the icecream shop."

I didn't say anything.

"Without Maria."

"Thomas-"

"No, no you're right. We should tell her to come here and-"

"No, Thomas, I think you should just let it be..." I reached for his hand and looked up at him.

"But- she- ugh, fine. Today is for me and you." I could still hear the edge in his voice.

I nodded. "Let's go play bowling, by the way, I'm totally going to beat you."