Hello Mr. Player [Revised.]

Chapter Four

AUTHORS NOTE: 

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Chapter Four

I made it to the bowling alley with four minutes to spare. As I pulled into a parking spot I could already see a group of people my age. I got out of the car and made my way over to them. Kaden and Alex both waved at me. The group had about five people, not including me.

"Guys this is Kaylee," Alex introduced me to the two girls that were standing with the group. "Kaylee this is Brittany," he motioned towards a black haired girl with brown eyes. "And this is Emily." Emily had curly red hair and green eyes. She smiled at me and Brittany glowered at me.

Brittany had her arms crossed over her chest and seemed unapproachable. I stared at her confused. Had I done something to her? I didn't think so. I mean, I couldn't have I just started school today.

"Nice to meet you guys." I smiled at them both, trying to look friendly. Kaden came around and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I visibly stiffened and leaned slightly away from his arm. No one seemed to notice my reaction. I tried to relax and quietly took in a breath.

"Everyone is here now. Let's go in." Kaden said and everyone nodded. We walked through the gravel parking lot and to a set of double doors. Kaden removed his arm from around me to open one of the doors. He held it open and motioned for me to go in while saying "Milady."

I rolled my eyes at him and stepped through the door. There was another door inside and I pushed it open before Kaden could. We all filed in one by one and made our way over to the counter.

"Hey man," Kaden greeted a boy that looked to be about our age. "I need a size eleven." Kaden turned to me and asked, "What size do you need Kaylee?"

"eight please," I replied and grabbed my wallet from my back pocket. When I tried to hand the money over to the guy at the counter everyone laughed. I looked around confused, and Alex shook his head still chuckling.

"We don't pay here. We're good friends with Derek so he gives us a little discount." Free seemed to be way more than a "little discount" but I didn't say anything. Derek smiled at me as he handed me my shoes.

"Here you go Kaylee," I took the shoes from Derek and thanked him. He nodded and began handing out everyone's shoes. I made my way over to one of the lanes and sat down. Pulling off one shoe then the other, I placed them on the floor. Then I slipped on the hideous looking bowling shoes.

"I grabbed you a bowling ball." Kaden came up and put it in the ball return. I didn't understand why he was being so nice. Kaden and I had not ended on good terms. I didn't thank him and waited as everyone came over. They all sat down and put on their bowling shoes.

I entered my name into the machine in front of us and then one by one the others did too. When the match started, it had me going first. I probably shouldn't have put my name first. I sighed and got up. Alex cheered me on as I grabbed my ball and swung it.

It rolled down the lane going to the left and then the right before going straight into the gutter.I waited for the ball to come back and then grabbed it. The second time it rolled straight into the gutter again. I heard a feminine laugh and turned back shrugging. I had told them I wasn't any good at bowling. Maybe now they would believe me.

Brittany still was snickering in her seat and she had her hand covering her mouth. Her acrylic nails were long and pointy and I found myself disgusted by them. They were too much, and so far from what I had seen so was she.

I made my way back to my seat and sat down. Kaden got up next to bowl and knocked down three of the bowling pins. He tried again and knocked down two more. Smiling, he made his way to his seat next to me and Alex got up next. I watched Alex as he prepared to bowl and made a show of it. He kissed his muscles and flexed his arms.

"Kaylee we need to talk," Kaden spoke softly from beside me. I turned to look over at Kaden. His eyes were serious and I found myself nodding in agreement. He stood up and put his hand out for me to grab. I wrapped my hand around his and let him pull me out of the seat. We made our way over to the arcade section of the bowling alley. I leaned against the wall and waited for Kaden to speak.

"Kaylee I need to apologize about what happened," He started and then continued, "If I had known how much it would hurt you I would have told you." I stared at him incredulously and shook my head.

"Really Kaden, if you had known it would hurt me?" I snapped the words "You should have known already. What Eric did to me was fucked up. He made it where I couldn't even stay in the school anymore."

"I know Kaylee I just wasn't thinking at the time. We were younger then. It didn't seem like it would matter as much as it did." Kaden apologized and I could see the pleading in his eyes. "Please, Kaylee let's move past this."

I thought about it for a moment. He was right in a way. It was a new year and I had wanted to start fresh. My past was hanging over me, threatening to ruin my year at the new school. I bit my lip, so hard that I could have sworn that I almost drew blood. I ran my hands through my hair and then nodded.

"You're right Kaden. It's not your fault that Eric did that to me." I admitted and then continued, "We should move on. After all, it's been two years since that happened." Kaden gave me a relieved smile and I gave him one back hesitantly.

"Thank you Kaylee I promise you won't regret it." Kaden's face was serious. I gave him a sharp nod and then pushed away from the wall.

"Let's get back. Everyone is probably wondering where we're at." Kaden shrugged as if he didn't care and then waited for me to start walking. He followed behind me and I could swear that I felt his gaze on my butt.

We made our way back to the lane we were bowling at and sat down. Brittany was watching us with something akin to hatred in her eyes. I stared back at her questioningly and her eyes went over to Kaden's.

"Kaden, It's been so long since we've bowled together. You should show me how like you used to." Brittany purred the words and I immediately understood what was happening. Brittany was jealous of me. Kaden didn't seem to notice the evil look Brittany shot me when he agreed to help her.

They went up to the lane, her holding the bowling ball in her hands. She and Kaden stood together talking quietly and he began to imitate himself throwing the ball. She nodded and then made the same movement with the ball in her hands without releasing it. He nodded and she gave him a big smile. Kaden took the ball from her and showed her the movement one more time and then spoke. I couldn't hear what they were saying from how quietly they were talking.

Brittany laid her hand on Kaden's chest and her eyes flicked over to me. I could see the victory shining in her eyes. I didn't understand why she was competing with me over Kaden it's not like I was going after him.

I met her eyes and shrugged. That seemed to make her angry because she yanked the ball out of Kaden's hands and tossed it down the lane. It rolled down the lane and crashed into the bowling pins. She got a strike.

She turned back to me and her eyes were filled with challenge. Looks like I had made my first enemy. I sighed and got up to take my turn. It was going to be a long night.