6
E
Our school is tiny, so it's no surprise that we run in the same social circles. It's Friday night and our mixed groups have booked six of the twelve lanes at the local bowling alley. The rental shoes are uncomfortable, the pitchers of soda that litter the table are flat, and we've all scrambled to find the perfect balls to ensure high scores.
Bella's here too. She's looking all kinds of beautiful in a vintage bowling shirt she says belonged to her dad back in the day. She's still sporting a cast on her arm but insists that she'll just granny bowl and still wipe the floor with all our asses.
Newton, the slimeball he is, offers to help her, but Bella just rolls her eyes and tells him to fuck off. To be honest, I don't know how he keeps getting invited, but I think Jessica has something to do with it.
I'm sitting next to Emmett's girlfriend, Rose, helping her put everyone's name on the scoreboard. We've decided that tonight will be girls versus guys, a battle of the sexes.
"Okay. Ball Busters versus The Glory Bowls," she says once everything is straight.
When Ben says the girls should go first, we have to listen to them groan and moan about equality until Emmett grabs his ball and takes his shot.
"We're here to have fun, guys," he reminds us as his ball rides the gutter.
The ribbing goes back and forth. Cheap shots at our rivals and attempts to distract the ladies when it's their turn.
Bella laughs at her own expense when she's up. It's awkward and embarrassing when she takes her shots, but she rakes in a few decent scores.
Somehow, Mike ends up sitting next to me when we take a break to eat greasy pizza and overcooked burgers. Bella is at the next table, sitting between Jessica and Angela, but her focus is on the latter.
I catch her looking at me a couple times, but it's not for long. Every time I look her way, she turns back to Angela with a red face, and they whisper back and forth.
Somehow Mike misinterprets her glances. "She totally wants me," he says with his mouth full.
I grimace. "Who?"
He points a fry toward Bella's table. "The Swan chick. She's playing hard to get."
Emmett snorts.
"Dude, there's a reason you ride the bench most of the season. You're so friggin' obtuse."
"What?"
"She's not interested in you." Rosalie laughs. "It's blatantly obvious she's only got eyes for—"
"Rosalie!" Bella practically screams, jumping to her feet. "Come with me to the snack bar."
"Why?"
"I'm dying for a basket of mozzarella sticks, and you owe me four bucks," Bella presses. "Let's go."
Rose just rolls her eyes and climbs over Emmett. "Come on, chickenshit."
The girls walk away, and I can tell Bella is whisper-yelling at Rose.
"What was that about?" I ask Emmett.
He just shrugs. "I stopped trying to figure out girls in junior high."
I never thought girls took cheese sticks so seriously.