Higher Stakes [Strings: Part 1]

Chapter 6: Clearly not the right thing

Thinking it thoroughly, Bradley watched her go and sat back down with the girls passing the foods and sharing them. She managed to smile again when Selena sat by her eating her tacos. They burst out laughing, the five of them lighting up the sour mood.

He drew a mouthful of air, shook his head and headed off back to the boys who were sitting there as David pep talking them to score more strike clearly sucking out all the fun. As he drew near and near, he can actually figure out that David was giving out the same speech that he gave out during paintball match-up against the Suite Life crew. With the brain and the brawn, we must catch them by surprise and go for the kill. Well, he doesn’t mean by actual ‘kill’ just symbolically.

“Remember, with our brains and brawns mashing up together we will be unbeatable,” David instructed, complete with his hands up and down in front of him. “Our guns are unbeatable! Say it with me!” He cleared his throat and swung his hands as if he was a conductor for an orchestra. “Our… guns… are… un-beatable…”

“Well, our guns will never work if we dying for water.” Bradley interrupted forcing the water against David’s chest. “Can we please just have fun David? Come on, it’s supposed to be a friendly game.”

As Bradley passed the others their coke, David unexpectedly pulled Bradley to the lane and exchanged his coke with a black glossy bowling ball. “Dude, I don’t want to ball.” He protested.

“Just throw it.” David insisted, moving back immediately, giving him some space. “Feel it, bro.”

Sighing, Bradley stuck his fingers into the three holes and held it accordingly. Eyes on the white with red stripe pins, he swung it up against his chin, calculating math in his head about his future shot. When it’s time, he rushes over to the edge of the lane with the ball swung behind him.

Releasing it just in time, it shot out straight like a bullet towards the pins and serves its main purpose. He hit a strike. “I did it!”

“See? That’s what I’m talking about.” David started to cheer again but was cut short when Selena stepped in and jumped onto Bradley joining in the celebration. She wrap up her arms around his neck and cheered, “Oh my gosh, you did it! Your first strike!”

“Cannot believe I did that.” Bradley professed. He had this silly smile on his face and then decided to join his best friend in the celebration, pulling David in the fun as well.

Later on, after one hour to be exact, everyone looked so tired and starting to have enough of bowling but David still wants it going strong.

Fixing up her hair in the ladies’ room, Demi took one last look of her face on the mirror and headed to the door. The instance she was out, she bumped into someone. “Oh, I’m sorry…” Looking up, she froze as she meet the same brown eyes she met at the food stall staring back.

Bradley, who had his shirt totally unbuttoned down completely showing his slim fit light blue plain shirt, which had her thinking of how fit he is since his active actions earlier. She shook it quickly. “I’m sorry.” She repeatedly, looks down trying not to look at his figure. Moving her feet forward, she shut her eyes trying not to think of making any verbal interaction.

“Demi, wait!”

Froze, she automatically turned back to him.

“It’s Demi, right?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Good,” he breathed out. “At least, I got your name right on the first go.” He smiled.

She froze. ‘What’d he want from me?’ she thought.

“Listen-“ he began.

“If you thinking that I’m just going to talk about what happened to my dressing room, please don’t waste your breath. It’s done. It’s all a misunderstanding and I love him.” She intercepted after she took a mouthful of air. “I really love him.” She assured.

He stared at her like she was crazy.

‘Crap! Way to go Demi, you just broke him!’ she thought.

Instead, he chuckled. She was starting to get confused. “Why are you laughing? This is not funny.”

“For me it is.” He chuckled. “clearly, I nearly beat up your more-than-friend friend back there and here you are giving me early warning as if you’re the one trying to beat the crap out of me.”

“You’re not making sense, Watson.” She rolled her eyes and walked off.

“Oh,” he started. “So you have heard of me before. That’s a start.”

“Start of what?” she repeated, still walking. Trying to keep up with her, Bradley speed up his paces and stood right in front of Demi.

“Something new, I guess.” He stated. Demi sighed.

Suddenly, that smile faded from his face and replaces it with a serious looking one. His eyes were clear and he was looking straight at her, with sincerity and comfort. “What he did is immature, I’m sorry I have to say that about him but it is the truth. Truth hurts sometimes and you got to deal with it.” Placing his right hand onto her shoulder, he continued, “trashing your property is not a right thing to do, clearly you would know that. Where the self respect in that Demi? He needs guidance and I hope you would give him some.”

Taking his hand off, he nods and was walking away leaving Demi there still frozen. She shut her eyes and shivered but quickly gets back to her self when she heard him calling her name. She turned.

“Where are my manners?” He began. “I’m Bradley and it is a pleasure finally meeting you Demi.” He smiled.

She froze again. “But… but I know who you are.”

“It’s never wrong to really introduce yourself to someone new.” He grinned before he walked off over to the boys joining in another fun.

She smiled and for the first time tonight, she feels lightened up a bit more.