Inning of Love (Complete and being edited)

Scarlett.

Once we arrive at the bowling alley, Phoebe bitches to Dean about having to wear the weird-looking, smelly shoes that hundreds of people have probably worn. He rubs his temples in annoyance.

We collect our balls, testing each one for the perfect weight. I pick up the light pink one, and Ryker holds the blue colored one. He shows me the correct way to toss a bowling ball, occasionally putting his arms around me. He said I flick my wrist each time I throw the ball. I'm a softball player, and a pitcher at that, not a bowler. I have spent hours training to make my wrists flick, so there is no turning back now. I laugh to myself.

It's Phoebe's turn now. She goes to throw the bowling ball, becoming unsteady and loses her footing. She ends up throwing herself face-first on the wax flooring. I hear people laugh in the other lanes as she remains sprawled out on the floor. I stifle back a laugh and decide to help her off of the floor as her miniskirt flew up, revealing her butt cheeks.

Seriously though, who decides to wear a short skirt and a thong to a bowling alley?

"Don't you dare touch me!" She barks and yanks her arm away as if I electrocuted her.

I put my hands in the air and roll my eyes at her exaggeration. "I am just trying to help you," I say.

"Well, I do not need your help, Stephanie. If I did, I would ask for it, but that's never going to happen." She fixes her untamed hair, trying to pat it down into place.

"Um, my name is Scarlett. Not Stephanie. And by the way, you're welcome." I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to fight the urge to say something impolite.

She rolls her eyes before flicking her hair in my face. "Like I care. Waste of space and time." She kisses Dean on the cheek as he was returning from the snack bar with her soda.

I shake my head and sit back down beside Ryker. Dean walks over to me while Ryker gets up to bowl.

"Thanks for helping her, that was nice of you. I know she hasn't been nice to you and I apologize for that," Dean says to me. He was busy getting her soda when she beefed it, otherwise, he would have helped her. I shrug my shoulder and avoided eye contact.

Suddenly, I feel the warmth of his hands on my shoulders. "Hey, are you mad at me or something?" He asks.

I catch Caleb and Nina staring at us from the corner of my eye.

"No. I don't know why you would think that," I say and continue, "you don't need to apologize for her behavior. She's a big girl, so she can do it herself. I don't know what her problem is. I haven't done anything to make her dislike me, but oh well, no sweat off of me," I whisper, shrugging his hand off my shoulder. It's my turn now as I stand up to grab my ball, leaving Dean sitting alone.

After a few more throws, we finish the game, and Ryker ended up winning. Caleb asks Dean if he could drive Ryker and I home as he has a surprise for Nina. Dean agrees to take us home.

"Yeah, that's not a problem. We can drop you off first, Ryker," he says to him.

Ryker whispers something to Dean as he shakes his head in response. "Fine, dude, alright," Dean says, sounding agitated.

What was that about?

We get into Dean's jeep, and I sit behind Phoebe. Dean turns around in his seat to face me and asks for directions on where I live. I thought we were going to take Ryker home first?

I tell him my address, and he puts the jeep in gear. During the drive home, Ryker places his hand over mine. His hand is cold but somehow comforting as I let my fingers intertwine with his. I look at him and smile, glad that tonight was a success.