I won't dance for a year. It just won't be at school or in front of anyone other than you. The girl is friends with Casey, so I'm around her at lunch. I've decided to eat at a different table." I felt like a ton of weight had been lifted off my shoulders now that I'd confided in my mom.
"That's probably a good idea. There's no sense sitting with someone who has it in for you."
"That's exactly how I feel. I don't like the person I become when I'm around her. She brings out the ugly in me."
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to get on your bad side," Mom joked.
"What? You don't think I have a bad side? I have a bad side." We shared a laugh. "Mom this dinner was a great idea. I know you have a lot going on yourself. I didn't want to bother you with my issues."
"Honey, I know the move has been difficult, but I think in time you'll understand. Just remember, I'm always here for you. I don't care what's going on; your happiness is extremely important. Please don't be afraid to come to me."
* * *
"Are you ready for me to kick your butt?" Mom snickered, as we crossed the street to the bowling alley.
"Sure, but I should tell you I'm going to be hard to beat. I do have a high score of eighty-seven." I looked at the cars in the parking lot. "Wow, this must be the hot spot on Friday nights."
Mom laughed, "This is one of the few places in town for anyone under twenty-one to go."
I froze in my tracks. The familiar F-150 was parked in the parking lot. "Oh no, I think he's here." I couldn't believe that I'd said that out loud.
"Who's here?" Mom looked around.
"Lucas." I whispered. "He's the cutie from study hall."
"Oh, I see. We don't have to go in if you're embarrassed."
I was torn. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but I also didn't want to walk into the 'Hot Spot' with my mom. I also wasn't sure I could handle seeing Lucas with another girl. "Mom, I'm not embarrassed. Anyone would be lucky to have a relationship like ours. I just don't want to see him with another girl."
"I thought you two were just friends?"
"You have a point." I rolled my eyes. "Come on, I have to try to beat my top score."
"Okay. If you're sure?"
We stepped inside the bowling alley, surprised to see it was dim. Neon lights hung randomly on the walls and a strobe light flickered in the middle of the ceiling. Above the entrance a big sign read: Rockin' Bowl Friday Nights from Seven to Midnight. Come get your Spin On!
We made our way through the crowd to the counter to check out shoes and get a lane. The place was packed. Luckily, the group in front of us had finished and we snagged their lane, which was located smack dab in the middle. Mom put her shoes on while I found the perfect balls.
While I was searching through them, a loud voice caught my attention. It was Casey laughing. She was with Sasha, Evan, Emily, and Jack. This can't be happening. I walked to my lane hoping I wouldn't be seen. I sat the balls down and started putting on my shoes. I told Mom, "I grabbed two balls, but I'm not sure if they'll work for you."
She lifted the bowling balls. "I think they're too light. I'll go find a different one. I'll be right back."
"Okay." I glanced over to see if Casey's group had noticed me. I couldn't have been more thankful for the darkness and the packed lanes. They were several lanes over and the sea of people between us acted like a shield. I turned to look in the other direction for Lucas. Through the crowd, I caught a glimpse of him picking up a ball. I craned my neck to see who he was with, but I couldn't see without standing. I stood and quickly regretted my decision.
"Eliana!" Casey squealed.
I wasn't the only one that heard my name. Lucas turned in the direction of Casey's voice. Instantly, I whipped around, hoping Lucas hadn't noticed me staring at him. Casey and Emily walked over.
"Hey, Casey," I smiled
"Hey, I thought you were going out with your mom tonight."
"I am, she's somewhere around here. We went to a movie and dinner, and weren't ready
"That's probably a good idea. There's no sense sitting with someone who has it in for you."
"That's exactly how I feel. I don't like the person I become when I'm around her. She brings out the ugly in me."
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to get on your bad side," Mom joked.
"What? You don't think I have a bad side? I have a bad side." We shared a laugh. "Mom this dinner was a great idea. I know you have a lot going on yourself. I didn't want to bother you with my issues."
"Honey, I know the move has been difficult, but I think in time you'll understand. Just remember, I'm always here for you. I don't care what's going on; your happiness is extremely important. Please don't be afraid to come to me."
* * *
"Are you ready for me to kick your butt?" Mom snickered, as we crossed the street to the bowling alley.
"Sure, but I should tell you I'm going to be hard to beat. I do have a high score of eighty-seven." I looked at the cars in the parking lot. "Wow, this must be the hot spot on Friday nights."
Mom laughed, "This is one of the few places in town for anyone under twenty-one to go."
I froze in my tracks. The familiar F-150 was parked in the parking lot. "Oh no, I think he's here." I couldn't believe that I'd said that out loud.
"Who's here?" Mom looked around.
"Lucas." I whispered. "He's the cutie from study hall."
"Oh, I see. We don't have to go in if you're embarrassed."
I was torn. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but I also didn't want to walk into the 'Hot Spot' with my mom. I also wasn't sure I could handle seeing Lucas with another girl. "Mom, I'm not embarrassed. Anyone would be lucky to have a relationship like ours. I just don't want to see him with another girl."
"I thought you two were just friends?"
"You have a point." I rolled my eyes. "Come on, I have to try to beat my top score."
"Okay. If you're sure?"
We stepped inside the bowling alley, surprised to see it was dim. Neon lights hung randomly on the walls and a strobe light flickered in the middle of the ceiling. Above the entrance a big sign read: Rockin' Bowl Friday Nights from Seven to Midnight. Come get your Spin On!
We made our way through the crowd to the counter to check out shoes and get a lane. The place was packed. Luckily, the group in front of us had finished and we snagged their lane, which was located smack dab in the middle. Mom put her shoes on while I found the perfect balls.
While I was searching through them, a loud voice caught my attention. It was Casey laughing. She was with Sasha, Evan, Emily, and Jack. This can't be happening. I walked to my lane hoping I wouldn't be seen. I sat the balls down and started putting on my shoes. I told Mom, "I grabbed two balls, but I'm not sure if they'll work for you."
She lifted the bowling balls. "I think they're too light. I'll go find a different one. I'll be right back."
"Okay." I glanced over to see if Casey's group had noticed me. I couldn't have been more thankful for the darkness and the packed lanes. They were several lanes over and the sea of people between us acted like a shield. I turned to look in the other direction for Lucas. Through the crowd, I caught a glimpse of him picking up a ball. I craned my neck to see who he was with, but I couldn't see without standing. I stood and quickly regretted my decision.
"Eliana!" Casey squealed.
I wasn't the only one that heard my name. Lucas turned in the direction of Casey's voice. Instantly, I whipped around, hoping Lucas hadn't noticed me staring at him. Casey and Emily walked over.
"Hey, Casey," I smiled
"Hey, I thought you were going out with your mom tonight."
"I am, she's somewhere around here. We went to a movie and dinner, and weren't ready
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