Kai's Pov
It was a normal Saturday and my friend Doug invited me out bowling with a couple of his friends. He told me it was to celebrate the start of one of his friend's tours, but I didn't hear who it was since I was making pancakes when he told me and didn't really care to listen much.
My brother, Mason, and I were arguing back and forth on whether I was going or not because I wanted to stay back with him and his little family, while he was desperate to kick me out. Although I know he always enjoyed my company the most.
Mason knew I hated going out anyway, so I didn't see why he was even putting up a fight. I just didn't see the point of spending my Saturdays' bar hopping and bowling, when I could be home, warm, and safe.
Mason folded his arms, letting out a sigh after about ten minutes passed. "Kai, just go. It'll be fun, trust me."
"Mason, I told you, I'm staying here with Malia," I responded, following my brother as he went to get laundry from around the house.
For reference, Malia was my niece and Mason's two-year-old daughter with his wife, Lia.
"When's the last time you went out?" He asked, stopping to look at me. "Never mind, it was Tuesday, for dance rehearsals, which was almost a week ago."
"I'm not going, I promised Malia we would watch Ratatouille tonight anyways."
"You can't Mal your way out of this one." Mason chuckled, rolling his eyes. "You're twenty-two with lots of friends. There's no reason why you just stay home, work, or visit us. You should be having fun, so go home, and get dressed because you're going tonight."
I crossed my arms, leaning on the walls of the laundry room as my brother tended to the clothes. Mason was right in a way. I didn't really go out, unless I was with Shawn, Camila, or Bea, or because of work.
Instead of arguing back, knowing I would lose to his stubbornness, I just said my goodbyes to the three so I'd have enough time to get ready.
"Be good, Mal, I love you." I smiled, placing a kiss on my niece's forehead as I left out the front.
Once I got home though, I showered and got dressed so I'd have time to run a few errands before it was really time to leave out.
I figured it was gonna be cold later tonight, so I put on some hoodie of Camila's with Sweetener written across it. I wasn't exactly sure which band that was, but I liked the look of it with my fit, so I kept it on.
Just as I was about to leave out and go grocery shopping, I got a text from Doug, earlier than what I expected. Honestly, I was hoping this was him canceling so I didn't have to go anymore.
doug middlebroom💙
doug middlebroom💙: i know i said we were all gonna meet up @ 8 but everyone's here already. so get ur ass hereeeeee
recieved 6:35pm
me: on my way middlebroom
sent 6:37pm
doug middlebroom💙: middlebrook***
received 6:40pm
me: its gonna forever be middlebroom
sent 6:42pm
doug middlebroom💙: fuck u. but get here bitch🥳
received 6:45pm
I laughed at his text before once again, grabbing my car keys and driving to Spoon's bowling alley. It was only about twenty minutes away, and traffic wasn't bad so the commute was easy. The problem was, once I pulled up, I noticed that the parking lot was super full.
Luckily, I finally found a parking space, right next to a white range that was just a bit away from the door, but honestly it was still a reasonable walk.
As I walked to the entrance from my car, a security guard by the door stopped me.
"Excuse me ma'am but Spoon's isn't open to the public tonight." He explained, stepping closer to me so I wouldn't break for the doors.
"Oh I'm with my friends—"
"Sorry, you have to leave before I escort you-"
"She's with me." Doug said, coming outside with two glasses in hand.
The security guard nodded, after looking between us and finally let me in.
Walking inside, there maybe had to be ten or so people here, which didn't make sense if it was a Saturday. The place should be packed.
"Wait, did you rent the place out?" I asked Doug as we made our way through the neon-lighted place.
"Duh, we would've been bombarded by paparazzi, if not." Doug laughed, but I gave him a weird look. "Oh honey, I didn't tell you who was coming?"
"Nah, why?"
"Let's introduce you." Doug smirked, dragging me by my hand to a group of people who were towards the back of the bowling area. "Hey bitches, this is Kai, the friend I was telling you guys about. Kai, this is Alexa, Scott, Courtney, Victoria, Ariana, Frankie, Brian, and Scooter."
Surprisingly, I actually heard of some of the people here and they knew who I was. Some of us had a few mutual friends so we kinda erupted into a big conversation after a while of banter. By the time it was over, I ended up exchanging numbers with Frankie, Victoria, the twins, and Courtney.
Once everyone left to bowl, I decided to go get my shoes and Scooter went with me too because his shoes didn't fit.
"Hey so, I've actually been meaning to get in contact with you." Scooter smiled, pulling me aside as we started to put on our shoes. "I know this is very unprofessional to do right now. But it's no secret you're a triple threat Kai, I'd love to work with you sometime."
"Can I get some time to think about that? It's sudden and well obviously, I wasn't expecting anything like this tonight."
"Oh yeah, of course. You have my number, so think it over and let me know what you think."
Once I got my shoes, I got settled into bowling by myself, while everyone else opted on doing shots. Sitting by me, was a woman that Doug had actually introduced me to earlier. I couldn't think of her name, but I know I've seen her before.
"Hey," I said, seen as we were the only two here and sober.
"Hi." She replied simply, staring at her phone, not even bothering to look up.
I shrugged her attitude off, deciding to bowl more. But this time with everybody except the woman, for a couple of hours or so. To which, Brian ended up winning a round, so did I, and Alexa.
"Hey, you wanna bowl? We need an extra person to even things out." I asked the woman after a while. Doug was feeling tired after his last shot, so we were short.
"No." She said bluntly.
"Ari, just bowl." Courtney sighed.
"No, stop fucking asking." She retorted.
"Damn, relax." I said, defending Courtney. "Why go bowling if you're just gonna sit on your phone the whole time?"
"You're telling me to relax? You're a fucking fan, what are you even doing here?" Ariana blurted, now standing up to my face, even though she was shorter than I was.
"Me? I don't even know who you are." I argued back. Ariana rolled her eyes, "You're wearing my merch, dumbass."
"This is yours?" I laughed, and took off the hoodie, leaving me in a black shirt.
"Fuck you." She ran into the bathroom, as tears had started to fill her eyes.
"I should go check on her." Courtney said, giving a sympathetic smile.
As soon as Courtney left, Doug came by with a drink in his hand. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah." I lied, deciding I would let it go and not let it ruin my night.
"Ari's boyfriend Pete is probably just being an ass. She normally isn't like that, I promise. You'll love Ariana, just give her a chance."
"It's okay," I said, as Ariana and Courtney came out of the bathroom, looking in my direction.
"I'm sorry, I gotta go." Ariana mumbled to Doug and I, but she hesitated while collecting her purse. "Can somebody walk me to my car?"
"Yeah, let's go." I answered, knowing I wanted to leave too, but I didn't wanna bail on Doug, so leaving with her was the perfect excuse. Ariana nodded and the two of us walked out of Spoon's, saying our goodbyes.
It was evident, everyone was confused since we had just argued, but neither of us said anything about it and continued walking through the parking lot.
Once we got to her car, she turned around to me. She was the white range from earlier. "Thank you, you can go back with the others now."
"I was actually gonna leave and get food. You're welcome though, I guess."
She must've picked up on my frustration, because tears started flowing down her face once again.
"Fuck, I'm sorry, okay? My boyfriend and I have been having problems all night and he broke up with me a couple of minutes ago and I shouldn't have been acting bitchy towards you." She said, as well as sobbing.
"Hey, I'm sorry to hear that, it's okay though. You wanna grab food with me then? Hopefully, it'll cheer you up at least." I asked, watching a smile spread on her cheeks as she wiped her tears.
"No, but you can come to mine." She suggested with a small laugh. "I can order food, and we can have a sleepover."
"Oh, so friends now, huh?" I said giving her a playful smirk.
"That depends on this question." She smirked. "Dogs or cats?"
"Dogs all the way." I said, with a smile.
"Friends."
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"I'm sorry, it's time to leave, I gotta leave now
Got somewhere I gotta be now, I'm starving
Can somebody walk me to my car?
If I go alone, I'm not gon' make it very far
I'm happy for the love and all of the above
If I'm being honest
I done been through way too much."
- a.g. (fake smile)
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