Chapter 7: Strikes and Spares
The bowling alley, with its faded neon signs and the smell of stale popcorn, was a relic of a bygone era. Damon, surprisingly, found himself enjoying the dated ambiance. He watched as Bonnie, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, expertly launched the bowling ball down the lane, the ball careening towards the pins with a satisfying thud. A strike.
"Nice one, Bennett," he grinned, clapping his hands.
Bonnie gave him a triumphant grin. "Beginner's luck, I guess."
As they continued to bowl, a friendly older couple approached their lane. "Mind if we join you?" the man asked, his eyes twinkling.
Bonnie and Damon exchanged a quick look, then nodded in agreement. "Sure, no problem," Bonnie said.
The couple introduced themselves as Helen and Arthur, and it quickly became apparent that they were regulars at the alley. They teased each other good-naturedly, their banter filled with a warmth that spoke of years of shared laughter and companionship.
As the game progressed, Helen turned to Bonnie and Damon. "You two remind me so much of us when we first started dating," she said, her voice soft with a lifetime of cherished memories. "Always teasing each other, that competitive spark… it's wonderful."
Arthur chuckled. "Helen always thought she could beat me at bowling."
Helen playfully swatted his arm. "Nonsense, Arthur. I was just letting you win."
Damon and Bonnie exchanged a bewildered glance. Neither of them had ever considered their dynamic with the other in that way. They were friends, allies, and sometimes, reluctantly, partners in crime. But romance? The idea felt foreign, almost impossible.
"You two have a special connection," Arthur continued, oblivious to their internal turmoil. "Don't let it slip away."
Helen nodded in agreement. "Cherish these moments. They go by faster than you think."
Their words hung heavy in the air, leaving Damon and Bonnie feeling strangely unsettled. They finished the game, thanking Helen and Arthur for their company, then retreated to a quiet booth, the older couple's words echoing in their minds.
"That was… interesting," Bonnie said, finally breaking the silence.
Damon shrugged. "They seem happy."
"Yeah, they do," Bonnie agreed, a thoughtful expression on her face. "But us?"
She trailed off, unable to articulate the jumble of emotions swirling within her. Was there something more to their relationship than they realized? Could there be? The thought was both exciting and terrifying.
Damon remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. Helen and Arthur's words had struck a chord within him, a faint echo of a longing he hadn't acknowledged before.
As they left the bowling alley, the neon lights reflecting in their eyes, they knew that their lives, like a well-aimed bowling ball, had taken an unexpected turn. The future, once a hazy blur, now seemed to hold a glimmer of possibilities they hadn't dared to imagine.