Knock Me Down - [COMPLETE]

13 - Jasper's Ring

I shake my head slowly, "No"

"Then you should be fine when I watch you and want  you to win"

His phone dings and he picks it up. From where I can see it's from my brother. Jasper's supposed to let him and Dima vacation these next two days and then pick them up.

"Um, I'm gonna go. So I can start packing up. For the trip" He doesn't respond to my brother's text and listens to me. "I didn't say it since you're not one for the holidays, Thanksgiving 'n all. You—you said you don't but you help me and uh--I'm grateful for that"

I'm awkwardly holding the door knob to leave, bag in hand. When I don't get a reply I take that as my cue to leave. Before I can move the corner of his lips move for what barely could account for a smile, "Look for me in the crowd"

--

I can't turn away the feeling of wanting to see him. There are groups of people crowding the area starting from the first lane to lane 45. There was a line of tape marking the walkway that left about a foot and a half of room to walk through. It was a pain in between game changes. I didn't expect Holden since all I told him was to come at 1 in the afternoon.

I had a 212 for the first, we're in the beginning of the second game with four more games to go. I was starting to lose hope even if there was so much left in the day to expect Jasper. I was the lead off bowler and every time I stepped off the approach I'd look back to the people check to see if he came. I mean, I did tell him not to come. But the last thing I expected was for him to follow directions. Oliver, the senior anchor bowler and captain, finally pulled me aside.

"You doin' okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're fidgetin"

I glance back at the walkway again. Maybe he was stuck behind some people standing on stools. I did text him I saved him a spot on the set-up bleachers. Did someone take it? Shit. Someone probably did.

"See? You're doin' it right now. Ya nervous or somethin'?"

I shake my head, "I'm not. I swear. I'm just expecting someone"

"You invited someone?" He raises his eyebrows crossing his dark skinned arms. He had a bit of southern drawl when he spoke it was comforting alone because it was so interesting but I wasn't anxious. Not yet at least "Thoughtchu had that thing, uh, the jitters when ya brought someone? That's why I never see your Ma here"

I shrug, "I'm changing"

He smiles and puts a hand on my shoulder, "That's great! Just make sure it don't affect yer bowlin'. Okay? Now quit bein' weird. Your scores are fine so I won't pick your brain about it"

He walks away, his turn to bowl, and I look back one more time. I see Jasper. His height proceeds most of the people around him so he's not hard to spot. When we make eye contact he nudges his head up acknowledging me. I want to talk to him already. But we have 5 more frames to go. Half way there. We move over to the other lane in our pair for the next frame and my ball hits through the nose. It stirs them up and gives me an unconventional strike. Oliver along with the others give me a low five and tells me, "It's an X on the board and that's all that matters"

I take that and see Jasper looking at other screens. Probably comparing teams.

"Hey, uh, is that the one you were waitin' on?" Oliver says speaking by my ear so I could hear him through the obnoxious howls and cheering of other competitors. He's pointing to Jasper.

He laughs, "Aw, okay. I thought you was waitin' on a lover or somethin'. With how nervous you were. But the boys on the track team, Fabian, told me about you and Jasper"

"Ah fuck. Don't listen to them. They think I'm his, like, fan. I grew up with him. That's all. And he's kinda famous. You know, with all the shit he's done. I look up to him"

He cocks his head, "A bowler to a track runner? Funny model ya got there"

He nods to himself and in an attempt to make me feel better says, "But I guess you can learn lots from any good leader"

We get through it and I pull a little higher of a game. A 228. I put on my shoe covers and run up to Jasper. I quickly tell him our next lane assignment and as soon as I see the team finish and clear out I move my gear over to the first open chair. Claiming a table was important because if you didn't you were stuck putting shit in the back or on the floor under the chairs. We had a solid two minutes before we had to begin. I meet Jasper by a vending machine. We're leaning on the wall huddled closely out of the way of all the people going through.

"I was starting to think you listened to me for once"

"You should know better. Got held back by my dad"

"Oh well if it was important than you should've–"

"This is important"

I don't know why but that makes my insides beam, "Thanks for coming"

He smirks and shrugs with one side, "I make my intentions clear. You're doing good"

"I want to do better"

"That's always the goal"

"We were in third after first since we had pretty average scores, and not sure now but if we keep going up we could climb to first"

"I'll check the scores for you"

I nod, "Okay, but don't tell me about me. That'll fuck me up. Team not individual"

"Mateo!" I hear the assistant coach call me.

"Shit. We're starting" I say that but I don't get off the wall. Jasper lets me linger a little longer than I should be and I try to find something to say to justify it.

He raises a hand and ruffles my curls like he used to in high school and it brings warmth in my cheeks when he keeps the minimal smile on his face for me. It makes me feel like I'm doing something good. God. I liked being praised by him. He pats my shoulder, "They're waiting"