Extraordinary

"Thanks to the Stupid Luck I Have."

Chapter 11

        "Bumpers or no bumpers?" Zach asks me nicely. I look down at my hands and blush; about to answer him with bumpers, but then Donovan scoffs; causing me to look up in time to see him rolling his electric blue eyes and tapping the monitor controlling the screen up top. 

        "No bumpers. And just because there are girls here, doesn't mean we're backing down. Now, everyone shut the fuck up so I can put names in." He orders and we all simmer down. I watch his thick brows scrunch together as he works the stubborn and non-calibrated touch screen. I smile softly and look up as everyone's names are only being put in as their first three letters, cause it's the longest it'll allow. 

        Don. Jak. Zac. Kev. Tye. Jes and then Zar. 

        Of course, thanks to the stupid luck I have. 

        My throat tightens up as I start to replay earlier events, but Donovan claps loudly and it snaps me out of the sadness. As soon as I look up, he locks eyes with me and squints his, then looks up at the monitor. He sucks his teeth as he seems to be thinking, then he goes to the touch screen again, taps around and then I feel so much better as my name is now changed. 

        Ria. 

        I actually like it. 

        "Thanks." I mumble and he smiles tightly. His thick fingers slide up the slope of his black mohawk, then he grins in excitement and it makes my stomach do flips like a miniature acrobat is living inside me. 

        "Alright, lets make this a little... interesting. How about the highest scorer gets whatever they want tonight. One thing and that's it. It can be to have my bed and make me sleep on the floor or whatever the case may be. Agreed?" He asks and we all nod and murmur in agreement, "Then let's get to bowling." 

        We scatter off not too far away to get the right size bowling balls for ourselves and then we bring it back in and I watch Donovan go as he's first. He picks up his ball which is pretty huge, but then again his hands are massive so it's like meant to be. He doesn't even prep his throw -- he just strides up, throws it...

        And gets a fucking strike. 

        "Damn, son!" Tyler screeches and claps loudly -- and Donovan is just eating it up. He has this million dollar grin on his face and he comes back, soaking in all the praise. An 'X' sits in his first box and I look away from the screen as Jack's up next.

        Zach's voice breathes out next to me, "So, are you alright now Zara?" He asks and I look over his face to see that he genuinely wants to know. His eyes are a lovely warm brown and it makes me want to smile forever. I could get use to Zach, maybe even if I can never get Donovan to be attracted towards me. 

        "Honestly, no, but what can I do? I can't make Max stop seeing that girl, but I can end what we had going on and I will. As soon as I see him again." I say seriously; sorrow aching in my voice. He smiles sympathetically and flinches as Donovan shoves his head in a rough, but playful manner -- I think. 

        "Oh Zachary, your turn." Donovan says and Zach gets up quickly, shakes out his hair and goes to the ball dispenser and picks up his. I swallow my voice as Donovan takes the seat next to me that Zach was just sitting in and nods towards me, "You enjoying yourself so far? I'm trying to avoid being an ass for the remainder of the night." He says with a small smile forming on his face and I giggle. 

        Dammit face, don't heat up on me now. 

        "I really appreciate that and I'm having fun... so is Jess." I nod over towards her and Kevin; the quiet one, are chatting softly amongst each other. I scrunch my nose up, "Wait, why aren't you complaining about him and Jess together? He's eighteen." I point out and he leans back in the chair with a smug look on his face. 

        "Yeah and Jess is seventeen. Just turned it last month, actually and Kevin just turned eighteen two months ago. Barely a year apart." He says as if it matters and I want to slap his sexy ass face.

        I frown, "You just like to make things difficult for me. I like Zach." I suddenly say as I glance over at the pins to see him strategizing his throw while Jack and Tyler yell at him to hurry up. I smile and look back to Donovan as he leans forward with his elbows now on his knees and his hands rubbing together as if he's conjuring up an evil plan. 

        He grins, "Oh yeah? You shouldn't have told me that." He says darkly and I gasp inaudibly, then watch him looks away from Zach and grin at me, "Is it because he's a blondie like you?" He asks and looks at my hair hanging off my shoulder and I roll my eyes. 

        "No! And stop hating on the blonde! It's not so bad." I say sulkily and he nods slowly, then reaches out and deftly picks up a few strands, then rubs it between his pointer and thumb while staring at it. I hold my breath by how close he is and finally when he looks up; I'm stuck in his unnerving eye trance. 

        "Guess not." He says quickly and I want him to say more. Say anything more. I just want him to keep talking and talking to me, but sadly someone shouts my name and I jump; causing my hair to slide out of his gentle grip.

        Jess smiles apologetically at me, "You're up -- Ria." She purrs and I scowl at her as she's doing it to mess with me. I self consciously get up; aware that I'm walking in Donovan's line of vision, but he's probably on his phone, not looking at me at all. I grab my bowling ball and go to the lane and I unintentionally pop one leg up and bend over, then toss the ball. 

        And it's a gutter ball. Shit. First of the night and first round. 

        Everyone laughs and I cover my face in embarrassment. 

        I turn around and cross my arms, then blush as Zach comes walking up with a smile on his face, "Zara, it's all good. Come here." He gently grabs my arms and turns me around, "You should throw like this." He stands behind me and guides my right hand on how to toss it, "And just follow through with force. Don't do too much, cause you'll fuck it up, okay?" He asks and looks over my shoulder and I feel myself melting into his beautiful brown eyes. 

        "Okay." I whisper and he grins, then pulls away. I turn numbly to get a new ball and then widen my eyes as Donovan is glaring at me. I can already hear what he probably wants to say to me. Something along the lines of: Zach is too fucking young for you and if you keep trying to string him along, I will lock you in your room or stop inviting him over. God, I wish he'd stop inviting Jack over instead. 

        Speaking of Jack, I glance over at him to see him giving Zach shit for helping me. They both then look up and at me and I quickly look away, grab my ball and head back to the lane. I pop my leg out like always as I cant help it, then I toss it like Zach told me to. All the pins go down except for one. 

        "Fuck!" I whine and then drag my disappointed ass back over to my seat. Donovan is getting up since he's first and it's all starting over. He doesn't make any eye contact with me and I realize quickly that he's pissed off. Seriously though? I'm going to be seventeen in a few more months. I wonder when he turns nineteen. 

        Maybe then he'll leave me alone about being too young.