Hey You

8

"You are killing me!" I said to Katie as Roxanne and I were trying to get ready. 

“So let me get this straight” Katie started “he asked you and Roxanne out  last night?” 

“Yes” I replied for the tenth time, while gathering my stuff.

Steven had already texted me, with plans to meet at his house so they could drive us.

I walked down the hallway towards the kitchen where Katie's parents were making lunch.

“Morning girls, leaving so soon?” Mrs Stone asked pausing while making her sandwich.

“Yes, they got asked out on a lunch date.” Katie spat out. 

“Oh that’s wonderful” Mrs. Stone replied to her, making me smirk. Even Mrs. Stone could see her daughters jealousy, and how ridiculous she was acting.

“Yeah, and we’re meeting them for 12” Roxanne advised as we continued our war through the kitchen and out the door.

“Bye” we both yelled.

“Katie, I don’t know why you’re having a hard time with this.” Roxanne said to her as she threw her bag in my backseat.

“Maybe because Matt hasn’t messaged me to go out. But late last night Steven asked you two to go out!” Katie blurted.

Her jealousy was oozing out of her.

Roxanne and I rolled our eyes, as I too threw my bag into the back.

“We’ll talk to you later Katie.” Roxanne said as she climbed into the front seat.

We drove the 20 minute ride to Steven's house, checking our reflections in the visor mirrors before getting out of the car.

The side porch door opened as we walked up the path. Steven and Craig exited the house. Shutting the door behind them.

“Hey you.” Steven said walking up to me.  Bending down to kiss my cheek.

I inhaled his scent, becoming intoxicated with the want of him closer to me.

“Hi.” I replied.

“We’re going to take our truck. Hop in the back with me Roxanne.” Craig state.

Steven held the door open as I climbed in, shut it, then walked around the front to the driver's side.

I watched him walk around the truck. His jeans hugging him in all the right places, his shirt was tight around his biceps and loose along his abs. He donned a beat up baseball cap with the Red Sox emblem on the front.

He hopped in the truck, and started it up.

“So we were thinking, maybe we could do something fun.” He said as he backed out of the driveway.

I looked at him confused, “sure, I'm up for whatever.”

“Yeah, me too.” Roxanne said from the back.

“Great!” He said putting the truck into drive.

We drove in silence for the first few minutes. As Roxanne and Craig quietly talked in the back seat.

“How was work?” I asked him, turning in my seat to face him.

“Dirty...long, I was exhausted.” He said with a side smile.

“Sorry, you were up so late.”

“I'm not.” He said. 

Steven pulled into a parking lot, the sign displayed a large ball and bowling pins.

“We're going bowling?” I asked with a laugh.

“It's stupid right? You guys want to do something else?” He asked.

“Are you kidding me? No way!” I smiled over at him.

He pulled into a spot and cut off the engine. We both hopped out of the truck, and waited for Roxanne and Craig to climb out before walking towards the entrance.

He paid for our shoe rentals while Craig paid for Roxanne. Following each other to our lane, we stopped by the kitchen for some water and ordered a pizza to share.

“Are you ready to lose?” I said to them over my shoulder picking up my ball. 

“Lose? Me? Ha, we'll see about that.” He said with a smile.

His smile made me weak in the knees, causing me to lose balance. I caught myself just as he grabbed my elbow and lower back.

“Whoa, are you okay?” He asked.

I looked up at him, “Um yeah I'm good. Must be these shoes.” 

Roxanne snuck by us laughing, “Yeah, must be the shoes.”

Steven stood there for a few minutes, holding me. I didn't dare move. His warmth was encasing me. I looked up into his blue eyes, as he stared back down at me. 

A smile cracked across his face, slowly he stepped back. “Let's see what you got!”

I smiled and went up the bowling area. Lifting the ball up, taking my stance I stared down the lane to the pins. I stepped forward and swung my hand back, letting the ball go as it came forward. Standing there I watched the ball glide down the lane, and went right into the gutter.

“Ooooh!” Steven expressed from behind. While Roxanne and Craig both laughed.

I grabbed another ball, “I'm just warming up.”

“Okay, okay.” He laughed.

I threw the ball down again, taking 3 pins down.

I laughed turning on my heels to look at him. Lifting my hands up in an oops manor.

He laughed, stepping towards me. “Watch and learn.” He said sidestepping as I stepped down from the bowling area.

“Oh, I'm watching.” I blurted, embarrassed by the words. Roxanne chuckling behind me.

He just turned his head and smiled at me. I shot him a smile back as he turned away and threw his ball down the lane.

He turned around, not watching the ball and walked towards me. I looked back and forth between him and the ball.

The ball hit the pins right down the middle, strike. 

I looked at him with his cheesy smile stepping towards me. “Now that's how it's done.” 

Roxanne got up to take her turn and I stood up in the back watching her with Steven standing next to me.

I felt his eyes on as I turned to glance at him standing inches away, our hands barely touching. He turned towards me, and slowly started to bend down, getting closer to my face. I inhaled deeply, taking in his pine scent as he came closer to my face. I closed my eyes, I could feel and smell his minty breath.