Page 46 of Always You

I wish I was reading at the creek instead of watching this macho match. They both have 200 points when there is one final round, and I’m ready to go home. Every single round, the date has gotten worse and worse, because those two dickheads seem to think their lives depend on this one game of bowling.

I don’t even know if it’s still a date anymore. The comments between the boys have gotten snarkier the more rounds that’ve passed. Dylan has barely shown me any attention for the last fifteen minutes, and Kylie keeps playing on her phone.

Yeah, this was exactly what I imagined my night to be.

“Alright, DylanDickhead. Your turn, so make it count.” Hunter gives him another challenging look, shooting me a wink, and I avert my gaze.

I can’t even look at him right now. I’m so angry. He’s probably going to tell me later how he means well, but the reality is, he took over my date without thinking about how I’d feel about it. He turned it into a pissing match, just like I expected he would.

“Shut up, Hansen. I’ll show you something.” Dylan lifts the ball to take a small run-up before throwing it down the lane. With the amount of passion he puts into the action, you’d expect them to have some kind of wager and price at the end of the night. If there was a possibility that I could fall for Dylan, it has been shot to hell.

Bored, we all wait patiently until the ball knocks over eight pins.

“Aaah, almost, pretty boy,” Hunter mocks, resulting in a glare from Dylan.

He throws again to knock over the last ones, but the ball misses the pins, and moves to the gutter. I look up to the ceiling, knowing exactly how this is going to end, as Dylan takes a seat next to me with a sulking look on his face.

I swear all boys are dicks.

Hunter grabs the blue ball that he’s been calling his“lucky ball,”before he takes a run-up, throwing the ball in a perfect line down the lane.

I close my eyes, thanking the universe that the night is finally over, because anyone can figure out he’s going to knock them all over. When he does, Hunter lets out a feral roar like he’s some kind of neanderthal. Granted, he probably is. I get up to put my Converse back on with a burning desire to get the hell out of here as fast as possible.

“That’s how you do it!” Hunter shouts through the entire alley, making me roll my eyes once more.

“Congrats, Hansen,” Dylan pushes out of his mouth with gritted teeth, then puts his focus on me while putting his Nikes back on. “You want to go and get some ice cream?”

I take that back; all boys are stupid.

My brows move to my forehead when I shoot him an incredulous look.

“Are you serious?” I don’t even attempt to hide my anger.

“I’m guessing that’s a no?” Dylan smiles awkwardly, as Hunter watches us carefully from the other bench.

“Yeah, that’s a no. Maybe Hunter wants to get some ice cream. He’s been getting your full attention the entire time. Why stop now?” I tie my shoes roughly, getting up, giving Kylie a polite smile.

“Have a nice evening, Kylie.”

I ignore both of the boys, pick up my vest, then stomp off like fire is on my heels.

My anger reaches a peak when Hunter bellows my name behind me, like the little stalker that he seems to be.

“Shut up!” I turn around while my finger moves between both boys. “You’re a dick for showing up here, andyouare a dick for playing right into his tactics. You were on a date withme, but you decided that comparing dicks with Hunter was more important.”

Dylan’s shoulders slump when he realizes his mistake, an expression of regret washing over his face. “I’m sorry! You’re right.” He folds his hands together in a pleading gesture. “Let me make it up to you.”

“I want ice cream. Hunt, will you take me for ice cream?” Kylie says, her girly voice making me ball my hands into fists, reminding myself to never date anyone from our class ever again.

“No.” I shake my head. “Not tonight. I’m out.” I spin, stalking toward the door, but not quick enough to not take notice of Hunter’s cold reply while I walk away.

“No, but I’m sure Dylan here can take you.”

I suck in the cold night when I walk outside, doing my best to shake my anger off when I start my way home. It’s not a long walk, but long enough to regret the fact that I didn’t bring a decent jacket. I wrap my arms around my body, doing my best to keep myself warm while marching into the chilly December night with just a vest.

In my defense, I figured I’d be driven home.

“Charls.” Hunter’s deep voice makes my body shudder from more than just the cold. I keep walking, determined to ignore my best friend for the rest of the night.

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