Masked Attraction

Chapter 41: Strike

"Hi, nice to meet you you're Emma right?" Serena comes and sits next to me in the plastic chair. I nod my head attempting a smile.

"This seems fun! I normally just go to bars and parties. I like the change-up," she tells me.

"Yeah Jess always has great ideas," I say.

"Sounds nice! I hope to be invited to more with Sebastien!"

I nod my head back with a close-lipped smile wanting to be as civil as possible. She doesn't deserve my poor attitude. I continue to listen to her as I watch Sebastien talking with Luka and Jess and then Jess bursts out laughing at something Sebastien said.

Serena catches my gaze. "So how do you know Sebastien?" She asks innocently grabbing my attention.

"Oh, he's just my neighbor back from our hometown since like elementary school."

"Wow! And you have been friends this long! That's crazy."

I smile softly at the floor. "Yep" I respond. She keeps talking and she comes off as nice. I have trouble concentrating because I am still stunned at Sebastien bringing her here. Even though I don't know what I was honestly expecting. I should be glad things are returning to normal and nothing has changed between our friendship. The overhead screen buzzes indicating the game began. Our names pop up with an empty scoreboard.

"Who wants to start?" Becky asks us all.

"You guys go, you'll need the advantage," Luka taunts.

"Oh really?" Jess says and walks up. She grabs her fire red ball and bends down slightly. She takes a step forward and pulls back her hand, throwing a strike first try. My eyes widen in surprise.

"Wooo!" Jared says and whistles. Jess grins sneakily. Jared goes up next and follows with a strike as well.

"Well damn we got some competition," Bash says and I hide my smile biting my lip.

"Just great. I hope you guys have some hidden skills I don't know about," Luka says. Serena goes next hitting a fair amount of pins and then my name pops up.

"Alright Emma, knock them out," Bash tells me.

I quickly glance over as he grins back at me and next to him Luka gives me a thumbs up. I grab my ball, slipping my fingers in the hole, and test the weight in my hands. I align myself to the center of the lane, whip my hand back, and throw the ball with a good amount of force. I don't move and watch it in anticipation to see it roll right into the gutter. I scrunch my eyes up in embarrassment my body tensing.

"The ball is supposed to go in the lane Emma," Sebastien teases.

The tension breaks in my body and I turn to the sound of his voice. "Oh hush," I call out to him rolling my eyes in fake irritation.

I wait for the whirr of the ball to recycle back through and grab it again. Focusing completely on my target I line myself up and forget how old and frayed my shoes are. I quickly turn taking a step and then the wooden floor slides from beneath me, my feet go up, and I am going down. I gasp bracing myself, but something grabs me preventing me from falling flat on my butt. I feel hands steadying me, holding my waist. A red flush spreads across my skin as I recognize the sandalwood soap.

"You good?" Bash says to me chuckling softly in my ear. I peek over my shoulder at him and I get a straight eye view of those blue orbs. He stares back and I realize how close we are. Luka's loud laugh bursts out in the background pulling us both out of the moment.

"Mhmm. Yep, thanks," I utter quickly to Bash snapping my head back forward before I somehow manage to get redder than I am. This neutral event is not going as I planned at all. He clears his throat and releases me to sit in the chair on my right.

"Are you alright Emma?" Becky asks and I nod my head laughing softly.

I blow out a huge gulf of air attempting to calm my nerves and focus again. I walk very very slowly this time and throw it a little softer aiming for the middle. I manage to at least knock down a few pins this turn. Ray and Becky follow their turns with splits boosting their team's score. Meanwhile, Luka misses half the pins like me, but Sebastien manages to throw a strike.

We continue to play, it is apparently clear that Jared, Jess, and Sebastien are the top players amongst us with Luka and I being the worst. Finally midway, I manage to throw my first strike, completely on accident, but no one needs to know that.

"Yesss!" I give a near-silent shout. Everyone cheers for me and I feel pretty proud of myself. I quickly look over at Bash, instantly chiding myself for even wanting to see his reaction. He gives me a wink back and I look down my face beating scarlet.

Sebastien and Jared break off to the food court coming back with plates of wings and chili nachos.

"Here, got some cheese fries for you," Sebastien says sliding them over to me. I thank him and he steals a fry before walking over to Serena to share a plate. We continue playing and by the final score, Jess's team wins. Jess ended with the overall highest score and Sebastien following in second place.

Jared slightly picks her up spinning her and she giggles into his side.

"Good going Emma," Luka says jokingly as I sit next to him.

"Dude you only got five points higher than me," I say chastising him.

He waves his hand in indifference but then leans to me his face serious. "I guess the conversation didn't go well," he whispers shooting his gaze quickly to Bash and Serena insinuating our past phone call about the kiss.

"I guess it depends who you ask," I mutter and his face grows filled with concern. I shrug and then look up to notice Sebastien watching the two of us and I sit back up straight. We start to all pack up, those who rented shoes returning them, and us buttoning up our coats.

"That was so much fun! Wasn't it?" Becky exclaims with Ray on her other side their hands laced together as we walk out the exit.

"Yes, it really was," I respond and look towards Lukas. "I wish Vanessa could have come."

"I know! She loves bowling too!" He makes a sad face. I glance back to Sebastien and Serena and he comes up on my side.

"Want us to drive you both back to your dorm?" Sebastien says indicating to me and Becky.

I peek over at Becky and she nods. "That would be great thank you," I answer back.

"No worries and I had a great time tonight thanks for inviting me," he says smiling as his arm is around Serena.

"Me as well," Serena adds in.

I nod with a weak smile as we separate from the rest of the group and hop in his car.

***
*author's note*
Thank you!! I am so appreciative when I see new and continuing readers and also some new votes :) Please continue to vote <3

By the way, my goal is to reach around 60-70 chapters for the story (not definite) !! I am already over 50,000 words which is crazy because I have trouble writing 1000 words for my schoolwork lmao.
Stay safe and happy reading 💜