AN: sorry I havent updated in soo long! I've started another fanfiction so check that out as well its called You look so familiar. Anyway hope you enjoy this one the next chapter will hopefully be up soon because im superstitious and don't like having thirteen chapters.
Alex programmed their names into the machine; he of course was first, followed by Liana, Sam, Abby, Luka and then Carter bringing up the rear.
"At the end whichever group does the best, wins the championship of all championships" Alex told everyone with a very serious expression on his face. Liana nodded enthusiastically and the adults looked on with a bemused expression.
"I'm first" Alex said picking up a dark blue ball with his fingers. He breathed in deeply and extended his arm back releasing it after a run-up. It rolled quickly down the alley and knocked over seven pins. Alex turned around disappointed he hadn't managed to achieve a strike.
"Nice roll Alex," Luka said clapping. Alex shot him a look and Luka returned his hands to his side smiling in Sam's direction. He took his second shot; the last pin wobbled dangerously but remained still preventing him from getting a spare.
"That sucks" Alex said and slouched down on the seat next to Sam.
"You did a good job" Luka ruffled his hair much to Alex's dismay. Liana stood up and carefully chose the smallest ball that fitted her fingers. She hugged it close to her body and staggered towards the line with it. To everyone's amusement she got down on her knees and placed the ball in front of her.
"Liana do you want a hand?" Carter asked stifling a laugh.
"No she has to do it by herself." Alex quickly butted in.
Liana stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth and with all her might pushed the ball down the alley. Everyone watched as it slowly rolled down the alley and stopped just before the pins, touching the front pin ever so slightly.
"Oh" Liana said in dismay, "Did I not get any?" She stood up and looked at the board confused.
"You still get another go" Abby said trying not to laugh.
She took another ball and tried a different tactic placing her fingers inside the holes. Liana walked up and let the ball go with all her might. With more success she managed to knock three pins over and her face lit up when seeing her score on the board. She returned to the seat triumphant and extremely pleased with herself.
Sam groaned when seeing it was her turn, she rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a ball. Luka laughed out loud when seeing her serious expression as she prepared to release the bowl. To Sam's dismay the bowl thundered down the alley and went straight into the gutters leaving her with no score.
"Mum!" Alex exclaimed angrily.
"Oh oops" Sam giggled and turned red-faced to the rest of them. Luka's eyes twinkled and he groaned pretending to be annoyed. Her second attempt was a repeat of the first and she returned to the bench with zero on the scoreboard.
"Even Liana did better than you" Alex muttered as his competitive streak emerged.
It was Abby's turn next so she stepped up from the bench and chose carefully the ball she wanted to use.
Liana watched her mum in admiration and spoke out loud, "Look how pretty she looks with her dark hair".
The rest of the group turned and laughed at her comment. Abby, unaware of her compliment, took a deep breath and managed another strike due to her accurate bowling. She whipped her head around and excitedly punched the air, much to Alex and Luka's annoyance.
Abby triumphantly returned to the others and sat herself between Carter and Liana. She pulled Liana onto her lap and tightly wrapped her arms around her body planting a kiss on the back of her head. Liana lent her head against Abby's chin and sat back watching everyone with a content smile on her face.
To their amusement Alex started scowling seeing the number of points they had on the scoreboard; he nudged Luka to go up. Both Luka and Carter managed to follow up Abby's strikes. They exchanged a civil look when passing but Abby smiled slightly when seeing a competitive look in their eyes.
She thought back to that time when there competitive streak had emerged when they had fenced. Maybe this time, she prayed, wouldn't be violent as they were in a friendly kid's environment.
"Abby it's your turn!" Alex yelled over knocking her out of the trance. She glanced up seeing it had evened out. Liana jumped down from her lap and walked idly over to the gumball machine in awe of all the different colours. One eye on Liana, and the other on the end of the bowling alley Abby let the ball go and it thundered down the alley knocking all the pins at the end.
"How do you do that?" Carter asked in awe. Abby shrugged and gave him a wry smile, her face fell slightly when she saw Liana had wondered off away from the gumball machine.
"Hey you guys won" Sam said brightly looking up at the board.
"Yeah no thanks to you," Alex scowled and scuffed his feet along the ground. Carter stood up and shook Luka's hand in a friendly genuine way much to the others delight. Luka placed his hand on Carter's back and they walked off towards the main desk chatting and laughing. Abby searched the whole arcade, and started to panic as Liana was no where in sight.
"Guys can you see Liana?" Luka and Carter turned around and furrowed their eyebrows in confusion.
Abby lifted her hand over her forehead, relieving it of her fringe and wondered if this was another game of hide and seek. Liana suddenly wondered around the corner slurping away on an ice-lolly. Abby sighed in relief and quickly lifted her off the ground into a motherly hug. Liana pushed Abby's fringe away from her face and returned her attention to her ice-lolly.
"Where did you get that?" Abby asked concerned. Liana shrugged her shoulders and pointed in a general direction of the shop.
"Did you pay for it, or did someone buy it for you?"
"I just took it" Abby groaned and put Liana down on the floor grabbing tightly onto her hand.
"You don't just take things without paying, Liana!" Her small face fell in response to Abby's angry tone. Liana suddenly pulled her hand away from Abby's grip and flung the ice-lolly down on the ground. She clenched her fists and stamped her foot in annoyance.
Abby tried to take her hand again, but she stubbornly refused.
"Don't you dare misbehave in front of everyone, that was wrong of you…do you hear me?" Abby hissed out the words and returned her daughter's stubborn stare. Liana flung her arms up in the air, her bottom lip trembling.
The sudden mood change frightened Abby as she didn't know how to deal with the bipolar disease in children. Carter came over and bent down to her level affectionately stroking the top of her head.
"We won miss, we beat the others," Carter whispered in her ear causing a small faint smile to emerge on her face. He tickled her under the arms looking for a reaction and she squirmed in his arms squealing out in surprise.
Abby watched on jealous by his ease with children, especially Liana he had the ability to make her face light up. Liana shyly took Carter's hand when he held it out for her and they walked over to where the others were standing. Abby sighed and followed, still unable to cope with the fact that Liana was bipolar.
AN: Please review a wee insight into the next chapter...Maggie and Eric come for a visit xx