On Saturday morning and into the afternoon, the boys and Katie find themselves immersed in a world of cartoons, video games, and an endless supply of snacks. As the clock strikes 5:00, excitement builds as they prepare to head to the bowling alley.
"Hey guys, I invited Andy and Steven to join us for some fun. Their dad is driving them over," Logan announces with a grin.
"Wait, Hannah isn't coming with them, right?" Katie asks, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Nope, I checked with Andy. He said Hannah is spending the whole weekend at her friend's house," Logan reassures her.
"Thank goodness! I really don't want to deal with her drama, and I know Andy and Steven feel the same way," Katie replies, visibly relieved.
"I'm actually surprised she got to stay over at her friend's place. I didn't think she'd earn that kind of privilege given her behavior," Kendall chimes in.
"Andy mentioned that, surprisingly, Hannah has been on her best behavior. No insults or threats towards him or Steven all week. She didn't even make them do her chores or pull any of her usual tricks. It seems like she really wanted this weekend and had to prove she could be good for a change," Logan explains.
"That's only going to last until she's back with her friend. By next week, she'll revert to her usual annoying self," James predicts.
"Exactly, it's all just an act," Carlos adds with a knowing nod.
"Andy thinks so too. He's been suspicious of how 'good' Hannah has been acting lately," Logan agrees.
Ms. Knight drops them off at the bowling alley before heading to a nearby bookstore, where she plans to sip coffee, dive into her favorite romance series, and unwind until it's time to pick them up.
Soon, Jo and Camille stroll over to join the group, followed closely by Andy and Steven.
"Awesome, everyone's here! Let's dive into bowling, choose our lanes, and grab our shoes," Logan announces with enthusiasm.
"Hold on a second. I'm waiting for someone. My friend Macy. She's my co-star and scene partner in Witches Of Rowdale Drive," Camille replies.
"Alright, where is she?" Logan inquires.
"She's in the bathroom. Just so you know, she's quite shy, and I had to persuade her to come along," Camille explains.
"You convinced her to come even if she was hesitant? That doesn't sound fair to her, Cami," Logan remarks.
"Listen, I didn't force her. I gently encouraged her. She really wanted to join but was nervous about it. She's part of the special needs community and feels self-conscious," Camille clarifies.
"What makes her part of that community?" Logan asks, curious.
"She has Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and uses a wheelchair. She hates being looked down upon or belittled because of it," Camille responds.
"Got it. So, where is she now?" Logan asks again.
"Still in the bathroom. Here she comes! Oh, and she has a service dog named Ariel, after her favorite Disney princess. Ariel is a one-year-old golden retriever," Camille adds.
"That's exciting! Did you hear that, Steven? Macy is part of the special needs community just like you. And her dog Ariel can meet your dog Tyson. How cool is that?" Logan exclaims.
Steven beams and nods in agreement.
A girl with glasses, a freckled face, and vibrant red curls rolls into view, joining the group.
"Everyone, this is my friend and co-star, Macy," Camille introduces her.
"Nice to meet you, Macy! Camille has shared a bit about you, but I'd love to know more. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?" Logan asks warmly.
Macy glances at him shyly, her gaze dropping to the floor.
"It's alright, Macy. They're really nice, I promise," Camille reassures her.
"Um, I like a lot of things," Macy whispers, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
"Macy, it's perfectly normal to feel shy," Katie reassures her with a warm smile. "I experience shyness sometimes too, but we genuinely want to be your friends. We really do."
"Even with my disabilities?" Macy inquires, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Absolutely! I want you to meet my friend Steven. He truly understands what it's like to be part of the special needs community," Katie replies.
"How can he possibly know what I'm feeling?" Macy asks, her curiosity piqued.
"Because he's autistic. He knows the struggle of being seen only through the lens of his diagnosis. I can say this with confidence because he's my big brother, and I advocate for him every chance I get. We're both proud supporters of the special needs community," Andy explains.
"Hi," Steven greets them, then signs.
"Hi, Steven! Do I know sign language? Yes, I do! Thanks for asking," Macy responds, her shyness beginning to fade.
"You understood him? That's amazing! It's so rare to meet another kid who knows sign language," Andy exclaims. "At our school, he faces a lot of bullying for it. The other kids call him all sorts of hurtful names—like weirdo, freaky hand boy, and idiot. They label him as the dumb kid who needs a dog to keep him calm. This lovely German Shepherd beside him is Tyson, his emotional support dog. Camille mentioned that your service dog is a Golden Retriever named Ariel. It's really cool that you and Steven share some common ground."
"I tend to keep my distance from my classmates at school. Although I attend an institution designed for children with special needs, I find myself struggling to forge friendships. The hours drag on until the final bell rings, and I eagerly retreat to my personal haven—my bedroom. My sole companion is Ariel, for animals offer unconditional love without judgment or mockery. "I've made countless attempts to engage with my peers, yet my shyness overwhelms me, causing me to withdraw. No one treats me unkindly, but I doubt I'll ever muster the courage to utter even a simple greeting, which leaves me feeling quite disheartened," Macy confides.
"Perhaps we can assist you in overcoming that hurdle," Katie suggests.
With a sigh, Macy replies, "I'm not sure. I may be beyond help."
"Let's begin by having you join my bowling team. You'll be alongside Jo and Camille," Katie proposes.
"Alright, thank you," Macy responds, a smile breaking through.
Once everyone has donned their bowling shoes and selected their balls, they gather at their designated lanes.
"Okay, Kendall, James, Carlos, and I will be in lane one. Katie, Jo, Camille, and Macy will take lane two, while Andy and Steven are in lane three," Logan announces, consulting a list provided by a bowling alley attendant.
Out of nowhere, Lucas and his crew swaggered in. "Well, well, well, look who we have here. A whole pack of losers. Looks like you've added a new member to your little group," Lucas sneered, nodding toward Macy.
"Cut it out, Lucas. Just leave us alone," Kendall replied, clearly exasperated and not in the mood for his antics.
"What's the problem? I can't bowl here with my friends? You all are doing it," Lucas shot back.
"You could do it without being such a nuisance," Katie retorted, irritation bubbling over. "Can't you just pick a lane far away from us?"
"We could, but we won't," Lucas replied with a cocky grin. "These are my buddies and teammates: Jordan, Cameron, Garrett, Mikey, and Lenny."
"Did you really invite a crippled uggo to join you?" Jordan chimed in, his tone dripping with mockery as he pointed at Macy.
"Hey! Back off! She's not a crippled uggo! You need to stop being so cruel to her right now!" Camille interjected fiercely.
"Or what? What are you going to do about it?" Jordan taunted, a smug smile plastered on his face.
"You really don't want to find out. She can get pretty fierce. Just stop provoking her," Logan said, attempting to ease the tension.
"Quit trying to stir up trouble, Lucas. Just let us bowl in peace," Kendall said, his patience wearing thin.
"Alright, we'll back off for now, but this isn't over," Lucas smirked, striding over to the lane assigned to him and his friends.
"Oh my goodness, I'm not sure I can survive Lucas while we're here. Just managing him on my own is tough enough, and now he's got his friends to back him up and make our lives miserable," Kendall exclaims.
"Just out of curiosity, how do you know him?" Macy inquires.
Kendall lets out a deep sigh. "Sadly, he's the son of my mom's new boyfriend. He and his little sister Audrey are such bullies when their dad isn't around. Whenever we try to tell on them, their dad just brushes it off because they play innocent and twist the story to make us look like the troublemakers every single time."
"That sounds terrible," Macy responds, her voice filled with empathy.
"I know, but we need to shift our focus. Let's concentrate on bowling now," Kendall says, picking up his bowling ball and sending it rolling down the lane, knocking down 7 out of 9 pins.
"Nice shot!" Logan cheers.
"Thanks, Logan," Kendall remarks, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "Are you really going to apply math and physics to figure out how to send the ball down the lane fast enough to topple the pins?"
"Absolutely," Logan replies confidently.
"How exactly?" Kendall probes further.
"I doubt you'd grasp it even if I tried to explain," Logan responds with a smirk.
"Well, I'm willing to give it a shot," Kendall insists.
With a resigned sigh, Logan shrugs. "Alright, I'll do my best to break it down for you."
"Okay, I'll really try to wrap my head around what you say," Kendall assures him.
"Here's my plan," Logan begins. "Bowling is a prime example of physics in motion. The force and motion get the ball rolling, kinetic and potential energy fuel its speed, and friction introduces just the right level of difficulty."
"You can't get any geekier than that," Jordan chimes in, teasingly.
"Totally agree," Cameron adds, matching his tone.
Garrett, Mikey, and Lenny chuckle, while Lucas nods in approval of their playful jabs at Logan.
"Quit eavesdropping on us. You're so nosy," Kendall snaps, irritation creeping into his voice. "And by the way, Logan isn't a nerd. He's just explaining the science behind bowling, which shows how smart he is. Stop being jerks and concentrate on your own game."
"You can't talk to my friends like that!" Lucas retorts.
"But they can be rude to Logan? How is that fair? If you don't want me to speak to your friends in a way you dislike, then don't let them disrespect mine. Got it?" Kendall replies, his tone fierce and his glare intense.
After an hour and a half of hanging out, the group decides it's time to refuel at the snack bar. Logan steps up and orders two pizzas for everyone—one loaded with gooey cheese and the other topped with spicy pepperoni. He also adds a side of crispy fries to the mix.
"Thanks for the grub! We'll be taking some of it," Lucas chimes in, reaching for a fry, but James swiftly intervenes.
"Go get your own food," the tall brunette retorts.
"You can't just snatch our food! You didn't pay for it. How rude can you be? Just leave us alone!" Carlos interjects, clearly annoyed.
"I can take whatever I want!" Lucas shoots back defiantly.
"No, you can't! Step back and go buy your own food!" Carlos insists, standing his ground.
