Emma and Killian stepped out of her yellow bug. They both read the "East Street Bowling" sign before she let out a sigh.
She then surmised, "We're really doing this, aren't we?"
"It appears so, love," Killian began, glancing sideways at her. He couldn't help but grin as he continued, "If it helps, just remember how utterly charming I am."
Emma shook her head, yet she couldn't help the giggle that came out a moment later.
Just then, Liam and Elsa walked over. He then questioned, "What ridiculous thing did my brother say now?"
"Oh, you know, the usual - he's being full of himself," Emma told him with a grin. Killian shook his head in response.
Liam and Elsa both chuckled before she suggested, "Let's head inside and find a couple lanes."
Everyone nodded before they began walking toward the door. Once they reached it, Killian offered, "Why don't you say we make this a little more interesting?"
The other three tilted their heads before Elsa curiously asked, "What did you have in mind?"
"A wager…of sorts," Killian answered, earning head shakes and eye rolls.
"What are you up to, little brother?" Liam then questioned, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Younger," Killian corrected with a roll of his eyes. He then took a breath and explained, "I just thought it'd be fun for us to team up and play against each other. The losing team buys everyone's dinner."
Liam, Elsa, and Emma all exchanged looks as they thought about the suggestion. After a round of nods, Emma then spoke, "That actually sounds really fun, Killian. We're in."
"Wonderful," he replied with a smile - though it looked more mischievous than genuine.
The dark-haired man then suggested, "And since this outing was you two's idea," gesturing toward his brother and friend, "it's fitting that you two will be up against Emma and me."
Liam shook his head before he pointed out, "The only reason you suggested it is because you think you and Emma are the superior team."
"He does have a point, you know," Emma chimed in as she wore a grin. She paused before she teased, "I mean, working together is what we do every day while you guys just met."
Liam and Elsa shook their heads while Killian slung an arm around Emma's shoulders and proudly spoke, "Ah, there's my favorite partner."
Emma giggled before Elsa challenged, "Oh, it's definitely on."
Killian then offered, "Then let's get on with it, shall we?" gesturing toward the door.
The four of them then began heading inside. However, Killian abruptly stopped when he realized that his arm still draped over Emma's shoulder.
"Bloody hell," he muttered before he quickly moved it. He then spoke, "Apologies, love. I, uh, didn't realize that, uh, my arm was still there."
With a shrug, Emma assured him, "It's okay," before she admitted, "I didn't even really notice."
"Really?" he questioned, his eyebrow quirking upwards.
Emma shifted on her feet and glanced down before she told him, "It's not like you ever really had the concept of personal space. At least not with me."
Killian couldn't help but grin as he replied, "Aye, love, I know. In fact, that's when I knew you didn't find me as annoying as you'd let on. When you, in fact, didn't move when I invaded your personal space."
Emma rolled her eyes at him - but she couldn't help the blush that made its way across her features.
In an attempt to hide it, she faced the door and told him, "Come on, Liam and Elsa will be wondering where we are."
"As you wish, Swan," he replied with a grin before he opened the door for her. She let out a breath before she walked through it.
When they arrived inside, Liam and Elsa had just reserved a lane for the four of them.
"Which lane are we on?" Emma then asked. "The one on the very end," Elsa explained before she motioned to said lane.
Emma nodded in reply. She then turned her attention to the shoe rental desk - only to find Killian grabbing two pairs of shoes.
She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he turned to face her, offering her the shoes. She took them from him before he told her, "I took the liberty of renting your shoes, love. And I also reimbursed my brother for our lane."
"Well, aren't you feeling chivalrous today?" Emma then commented, and she couldn't help the teasing smile that appeared.
Killian smiled back at her as he said, "For you, darling? I'm always chivalrous."
Though Emma rolled her eyes at his words, the tips of her ears turned pink - Killian noticed but didn't say anything.
She then told him, "Let's go, Jones," brushing her hair off her shoulders.
"Aye, love," he conceded before the two of them joined Liam and Elsa at their lane. Once everyone had changed into their shoes, Elsa began inputting their names into the machine.
She then stopped and spoke, "Oh! I should probably go pick out my ball."
"I can do that for you," Liam then offered, smiling at her.
She smiled back at him in response. Their gazes lingered for a few moments before Liam began picking at his nails.
He then nervously cleared his throat before he headed to a wall lined with bowling balls.
Killian shared a look with Emma before he followed his brother. She then plopped down in the chair beside her friend.
Elsa then commented, "If this is you and Killian's idea of being subtle, you're not very good at it."
"To be honest, I don't think we've ever been good at being subtle," Emma told her, resting her chin in her hand.
She then sighed and continued, "But this isn't about me and Killian. It's about you and Liam," pausing to take a breath, "believe me, I know that labels can only complicate things - especially if you're not entirely sure what's happening - so you and Liam should just have fun."
Elsa sighed as well as she questioned, "Are we really that obvious?"
"Well, you are doing that," Emma began as she motioned to Elsa nervously running her hands along her braid. She paused before she continued, "And Liam was doing that thing with his nails."
Elsa remained quiet for a few moments before she conceded, "I guess both of us just keep obsessing over the fact that this could be a date."
"Seeing as I know both of you pretty well, that's exactly what you're doing," Emma stated.
She then took a breath and told her friend, "I know that going with the flow isn't your strong suit - or Liam's for that matter - but just try to have real fun tonight, okay? You guys are friends - we all are - and that's all that matters."
Elsa looked thoughtful for a few moments before a smile broke out across her features. She then spoke, "Thank you, Emma. I really needed that."
Emma smiled back at her. She then said, "Sure thing."
Elsa then resumed inputting their names. As she typed, she surmised, "So, uh, I couldn't help but notice that you're taking your own advice when it comes to Killian."
"Well, ignoring him sure as hell didn't work," Emma quipped - though a smile played across her features. She then said, "I mean, we are best friends, and we didn't want to lose that. At least for tonight anyways."
A look of guilt appeared on Elsa's face. Just as she prepared to apologize, Emma stopped her.
"Killian and I do need to just, like, chill, you know? Like we did before everything got complicated. And this gives us a chance to do that."
Elsa nodded in response just before the guys walked back over.
With a grin, Killian then spoke, "Well, Elsa, I hope you and my dear brother are ready to lose."
She shook her head at him. She then grinned back and told him, "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Killian," followed by a giggle.
Liam grinned before he told his brother: "Well, it seems like you and Emma won't be the only ones throwing out jabs."
Elsa giggled once more while Killian - and Emma - rolled their eyes. Emma then offered, "Alright, let's get this competition started. Who's first?" rising from her chair.
Elsa followed her movement before she answered, "That would be Liam." She then looked up at the screen hanging from the ceiling and explained, "Next will be Killian, then me, then you."
Emma nodded before Liam and Killian placed the balls on the rack, save the former, who held a red bowling ball in his hand.
He then stepped up to the end of the lane and readied himself to bowl, while Killian sidled up next to Emma.
The dark-haired man leaned down slightly before he whispered, "Perhaps we should give ourselves an advantage."
Emma surprised herself when she didn't shudder at his proximity. In fact - it felt natural, and she wasn't sure which scared her more.
She shook her head from those thoughts. She then turned to face him before she told him, "We're not sabotaging Liam and Elsa. It wouldn't be fair, and they're nervous enough as it is."
With a shrug, he pointed out, "That doesn't mean it wouldn't be fun." She rolled her eyes in response.
The two of them then turned their heads at Liam's voice. "Let's see you beat that, little brother."
Emma and Killian looked up at the screen to see that he had bowled a 6/4 spare.
Killian grinned at his older brother as he told him, "Oh, I most definitely can." He then grabbed his bowling ball and stepped up to the end of the lane.
He carefully aimed the dark blue ball at the pins before he threw it. The ball swiftly rolled down the lane - it soon knocked down all ten pins.
"Yes!" Killian cheered as he pumped his fist in the air.
He then turned to his brother and triumphantly declared, "And that is how it's done," a wide smile on his face.
His smile turned teasing as he addressed Elsa: "I do hope you fare a bit better, love."
She shook her head before Liam offered, "Don't pay him any attention. He's full of hot air."
"As someone who works with him for over 8 hours a day, I can pretty much guarantee that he is," Emma then added, a playful smile playing across her lips.
"Hey! Swan, you're supposed to be on my team," Killian complained with crossed arms.
"I am," Emma began. She paused before she pointed out, "But even I can see you're being a bit ridiculous."
Though Killian initially rolled his eyes, he soon realized that his best friend had a point.
"Alright, Swan, you win. I'll tone it down a bit," Killian resigned. A moment later, he then added, "But this is still a competition," giving pointed looks to Liam and Elsa.
Even though they rolled their eyes and shook their heads, the blonde soon grinned and told him, "We wouldn't expect anything less, Killian."
She then grabbed her bowling ball and stepped up to the lane while Killian walked back over by Emma.
In mock seriousness, he told her, "I don't appreciate being ambushed, Swan."
With a shrug, she replied, "Someone had to knock you down a peg or two." She couldn't help the giggle that followed, and she became surprised when Killian didn't join her.
She then asked him, "Alright, Jones, what is it?"
He scratched behind his ear as he spoke, "Well, love, I'm just happy to have my best friend back."
Emma smiled at him as she replied, "I am, too." She then added, "I guess "fake it 'til you make it" wasn't a terrible idea after all."
"See, Swan, I knew you'd come around," he began with a grin, and she couldn't help but shake her head.
His grin then gave way to a hopeful expression as he continued, "Perhaps we can go back to the way things were even after this night is over."
Emma didn't have a chance to reply because she realized it was her turn. Without another word, she walked over to the rack and grabbed her ball.
She didn't have to turn around to know that Killian's blue eyes were on her. And it had zero to do with bowling.
Luckily, Emma excelled at masking her emotions, and she bowled a 9/1 spare.
This spare edged them in front of Liam and Elsa's two spares since they had Killian's strike.
"So far, so good, eh, Swan?" Killian surmised when she walked back over to him.
With a roll of her eyes, Emma pointed out, "We just finished the first frame."
"I'm aware, but you've always been my good luck charm," he replied with a grin before he moved her hair off her shoulder.
She couldn't help but stiffen at his touch, and concern filled his blue eyes.
He sighed before he told her, "Look, Emma, if you don't want me teasing you, just tell me."
She ran her fingers through her hair as she considered his words.
Emma took a breath before she told him, "I don't know, Killian. I mean, I want us to be, I don't know, normal, but I have that…that thing stuck in my head."
Seeing his expression change to one of guilt and concern, she quickly reassured him, "It's not your fault, Killian. At least not entirely."
He offered her a small smile in response. His blue eyes lit up as he got an idea.
He then told her, "Play my turn, love. I'll be right back." He then rushed across the bowling alley to the back wall near the door.
Liam then walked over and questioned, "What is he doing?"
"Honestly? Your guess is as good as mine," Emma began, craning her neck as she tried to catch sight of what laid along that wall.