"Isn't he just the cutest thing!" Emma shrieked waving her phone in front of my face.
I squinted my eyes and leaned in over the cafeteria table and even then I couldn't make out anything. "Stop waving it I can't read." I said holding her wrist.
"See what he texted me?" She asked excitedly bouncing on her seat.
"Just the same old 'I love you.'" I replied with a smile.
"Well yes but he's Luke Hemmings and just ugh Harlin!"
I nodded slowly and took a bite of my ham sandwich. "I see."
"You know, he has a pretty hot friend." She said flashing a smile at her phone as a new text came in.
"And that is important because...?" I trailed off. I was so happy that my best friend had actually found a good boyfriend but they had only been dating for two days and she hadn't put her phone down.
"Well maybe I could set you two up and we could double date or something!" She exclaimed, setting her phone down.
"You're going to set me up on a blind date?" Her phone buzzed.
"Yeah! Do you like drummers, guitarists or bassists?" She asked glancing at her phone but turning it over, looking up at me.
"Em, you're not doing this." I said shaking my head.
"Just tell me!" She said.
"I am not going on a date."
"Come on!" She pleaded. "It'll be so fun. Luke and I and you and mystery boy."
"I don't want to go on a date." I replied, putting the scraps of my lunch back into my lunch bag.
"Yes you do."
"No I-"
"I'll be at your house at six tonight, wear something cute." She cut me off, picking up her phone and walking out of the lunch room.
-
I looked at myself again in the mirror. Straight dirty blonde hair, ripped skinny jeans, black Green Day shirt, red flannel and black vans. I don't know why i was freaking out about this, I didn't even want to go on this date.
"Harlin! Emma's here!" I heard my mom yell from downstairs. I sighed and plopped down the steps.
"You look cute." She greeted with a smile and a small eye roll.
"So do you." I said. Her long brown hair was pulled up into a braid and she was wearing a maroon skirt with a grey fall out boy shirt, knee high socks and high-top converse.
"Shall we?" She asked. I nodded and said goodbye to my mom.
The car ride was silent until the end. We pulled into the parking lot of a bowling alley.
"God, I hope they have pizza." I said sighing.
"Oh yeah? Why?" Emma asked finding a parking spot.
"I hate bowling." I muttered.
"Come on whiney pants. Don't kill my vibe."
"Don't." I said getting out of the car and walking toward the door. Crisp fall air surrounding me.
Once we got inside Emma instantly grabbed my arm, whispered "behave" and nodded her head in the direction of two boys, one with blonde hair the other with brown hair with a blonde streak off the front.
"Em!" Luke, the blonde one, said giving her a hug as we walked over.
"Hey Lukey." She said, a smile on her face.
The brown haired boy made a gagging noise at the back of his throat. I bit back a laugh.
"This is Calum." Luke said shooting an ice glance in the boy's direction.
"Harlin." Emma said pointing at me.
"I could have introduced myself." I said under my breath.
"Well let's play!" Emma said kicking my leg.
I sat down at a table behind the lane we were playing on. I sighed and watched as Luke and Emma flirted.
"I hate being the third wheel." Said an Australian voice behind me.
"Yeah. Me too." I replied.
---
so this is way over due i know but its up so whooo!
