Love and Other Lies

~Anna Marie~
"ok, so this is my house. stay in the car and i will be RIGHT BACK!" I said almost jogging into my house. I sped past the living room into the small hall. moving past the SMALL guest bedroom into my medium sized room. I grabbed my bowling bag containing my bowling ball and bowling shoes. I rushed back out of my house, well as fast as i could go carrying a fifteen pound bowling ball that was hitting me in the legs. I jumped in and hurried out of there. If my grandma knew I was skipping she would kill me. Good thing she wasn't home, but she could be home any moment. See she doesn't work but my grandpa owns a scrap metal business. I moved in with them when i was about ten. My mom was a druggie and my "dad" was not in the picture.. for good reason. It was all a big thing and they are a bit protective. We make it to the bowling alley and i hop out, smiling at Dimitri I wait for him to step out. I grab my bag and start towards the door. He stopped me, grabbing my bag and making a face at how heavy it is.

"holy crap chick" He smiled starting back towards the door.

"i am the captain of the bowling team.. i can't be a sissy" I smiled opening the door and walking to the front counter.

"Hey Don!" I exclaim at the old man.

"hey Anna" He smiled poking at the touch screen monitor and turning on my favorite lane.

"been busy?" I asked making brief small talk.

"naw, you so far, and him" He smiled and winked.

"don't get any ideas Don" I smiled pushing away from the counter telling Dimitri to get shoes. I walked up and put my bowling name in first. MooMoo, me and my brother named our bowling balls his ball's name is Bacon.. anyways. I put Dimitri's name up and put my ball in the cradle, getting out my shoes I saw him approaching. I slipped on my shoes and went up to bowl. Taking a deep breath i lined my feet up. Swinging my arm back and hitting my mark. Strike. Like always on my first ball. I'm a #1 bowler. that is my number in league. In league you have five bowlers to a team.

"i might have gotten my self in over my head" He smiled walking up to the line and just throwing his ball, immediately it went into the gutter. I stifled a laugh.

"no. i'm just the captain of my bowling league...." I smiled raising my eyebrows and smiling.

"oh, so you want to give me some helpful tips captain?" He said grabbing his bowling ball and staring at me. god his stare. NO! i tell myself. Standing up and tugging him to the dots.

"sure. put your foot there on the big dot and set your other foot right outside the last dot, take four steps starting with your right foot, on the second step bring your arm back and on your fourth it should almost be a slide, release in the midst of your fourth step. aim for the second dot on your right. and smile." I said knowing he didn't have a clue about what i was talking about.

"ok" He said taking about six steps and throwing the ball. it hit three pins and he smiled. "ok, so i might have messed up" He said sheepishly.

"it's ok, just watch me" I said grabbing my ball. doing exactly what I told him to do, another strike.

"it can't be that hard" He said grabbing his ball and again messing up. This time i couldn't help but laugh. He gave me a helpless look grabbing the returning ball again. Lining up at the dots. I ran up behind him and sighed.

"wait" I said moving him in the right spot. "i'll walk with you" I said standing beside him and lining up my arms like i had my ball with me.

"that may just make me nervous" He said smiling back at me.

"just follow my lead" I said taking a step, he followed my lead but missed his mark. He at least hit somewhat in the middle, getting him six pins.

"wow..... i have never gotten that many pins before" He said almost buzzing in happiness.

"my turn" I smiled lining up on my dots and swinging, missing my mark but only leaving one pin. The five pin, if my brother was bowling with me he would raise his hand, if i missed the pin i would owe him a drink. haha i'm not teaching Dimitri that though.

"no strike?" He teased.

"naw.... but this is an easy shot." I replied. I lined up and ate the pin up with my ball. "get up sunshine" I smiled walking onto the buffer between our lane and the next. "hit my finger with your ball" I said placing my finger on the second arrow.

"are you allowed out there?" He asked puzzled

"me? yes.. you? no" I smiled "now hit my finger" I said watching him take the right steps and throwing the ball, i removed my finger right before it hit it. Strike. I couldn't help but smile. A huge smile filled his face, I ran up to him without thinking and threw my arms around his neck. "YOU DID IT!" I almost yelled.

"yea!" He said hugging me back. Then i realized what i was doing and let go. I took a step back and grabbed my bowling ball. clearing my throat and trying to hide my blushing I stepped onto the dots. He went back to the seats and sat down. the rest of the game was just like that, silent. He took well to my instruction and beat me. i was proud, but i wouldn't tell him that.

"wanna play some pool?" I asked thinking of something not awkward to do.

"sure.. but are you some pool tycoon too?" He smiled at me.

"naw, i'm actually really bad at it, but i like the game." I said back to him walking into the arcade part of the bowling alley. Putting fifty cents in and racking up the balls. He broke and got stripes. It came my turn and i lined up my pool stick. Missing the Q-ball at least twice i finally succeeded in sinking two of his and scratching.

"it's ok, you just need to hold the stick like this" He said demonstrating how to hold the stick. I tried and failed at it. The red starting to color my cheeks.

"no like this" He said reaching over and moving my fingers into place.

"oh" I said hitting the Q-ball perfectly, sinking one of my balls.

"perfect" He said aiming for the eight ball. calling out a corner pocket, he sunk it. Smiling he asked me if i wanted some help sinking the rest of mine, and being the stubborn person I am i told him no. continuing to embarrass myself. "like this" He said coming up behind me and setting my fingers right, grabbing the back of the stick and hitting the Q-ball, sinking the remainder of my balls. I took a deep breath, noticing how close he was to me. I looked up to his smiling face right next to mine.

"thanks" I almost whispered, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. I didn't want it to end, but i panicked, he was touching me, he was close, he was KISSING me. my heart started to pump uncontrollably and my eyes started to tear up. I broke the kiss and looked down, trying to hide the tears.

"i'm sorry" He said stepping back rubbing the back of his neck.

"i.. it's fine" I said turning away. "we better get back to school" I said wiping away a rebel tear and starting back up towards our lane to get my stuff.

"yea" I heard behind me. He sounded disappointed.