On Wednesday, I paced my living room as I waited for Jax to pick me up. Darren was driving Noah and Emily to the bowling alley directly.

Yesterday after lunch everyone left immediately. It was awkward for me how I reacted when Kevin told me about them coming with us. Noah looked sad, and I tried to talk to him but didn't get any chance.

I honestly didn't have any problem with spending more time with Noah, but I was afraid of what was going on in Kevin's head.

At school today, I tried to find Kevin and to ask him what was he up to, but he would always turn the other way whenever he saw me coming in his direction and whenever I called him it went straight to voicemail.

I was having a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. Kevin was definitely up to something. He invited Noah and Darren meant there was definitely something running in his thickhead, otherwise, he wouldn't have given a damn about it, because the last time when we went to the movies with everyone he only came because I forced him.

A horn cut through my train of thought. Quickly grabbing my bag, I gave one last look in the mirror. I wore a grey crop sweater with black tight ripped jeans and white sneakers.

I ran outside, locking the door behind me, and strode to Jax's car. He was getting out for the door, but I gestured for him to stay and opened the door myself, settling in the passenger seat.

"You look anxious," Jax asked, giving me a once-over.

"I'm fine," I replied, sinking into my seat.

"Ok..." He trailed off, not knowing what else to say, and started his car.

We silently sat in his car until his phone rang. I side glanced as Jax picked it up. He smirked and put it back.

"Who was it?" I asked curiously.

"Ivy." He simply replied.

I arched my brow at him. "You are not answering it?" I darted my eyes at the phone, which was still ringing.

"No." He answered and turned his head towards me. "Last night she called asking to meet today since it's been a while since we hang out together."

"And you said..." I already know the answer since he's beside me.

"I said no."

"Why?" I asked curiously. I never thought he had in him to say no to Ivy.

"Have to make her run after me." He gave me a smirk.

"Honestly, I never thought that you'd ignore her." I gave him a look.

"This isn't the first time." My brows knitted in confusion, but he continued. "And I'm learning," he glanced at me and grinned, "I got you as my teacher." I chuckled, shaking my head.

Wow. Jax was finally learning to ignore Ivy. Now I wondered if it was a good thing or not. I turned my head towards the window and watched the trees pass by.

* * * * *

We reached the bowling alley after a few minutes and saw Natasha and Jim standing outside waiting for us. I glanced one last time in the rare view mirror to see my makeup and got out of the car.

Jax came by my side and grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers. I frowned at our hand, then at Jax. He winked at me and dragged me towards our friends.

Jim and Natasha stood grinning as we approach them. "Hi." Natasha greeted us with a sly grin, eyeing our hands.

I rolled my eyes and greeted her back. Now I got why Jax did it. He had to show everyone that we are a 'couple'. I glimpsed at Jax as he chatted with Jim.

At first, I thought that he didn't know how to act, but after the drama, he pulled during the homecoming, he proved me wrong.

"Emily's not with you guys?" Natasha asked, looking behind me.

"She's coming with Darren and Noah," I replied, adjusting my shirt.

"Why are they coming?" Jim questioned in confusion.

I frowned, turning my head towards him. "Kevin didn't tell you?"

"No." He shook his head. "He said something about a surprise though."

Surprise?

I prepared myself for it. I didn't want to get caught off guard like yesterday.

"What about everyone else?" Jax asked, looking around. The whole football and cheerleaders team comes and plays together whenever we plan to go anywhere.

"Kevin said that it'll be us only today." Natasha shrugged. I groaned and massaged my forehead.

I wish I could read his brain!

I whirled around when I heard a car being parked. Noah, Darren, and Emily came out, I shrugged my hand out of Jax's grip when Noah came closer with everyone. From the corner of my eye, I saw Jax frowning, but I ignored him and kept my gaze ahead.

"Hi." I greeted them with a smile.

"She was serious about them?" Jim muttered behind me, but I ignored him and introduced.

"Jim and Natasha." I turned towards them, giving them a stern look. "This is Noah and Darren."

"Hi." Darren beamed, extending his hand towards Jim. "You are amazing at football! It's amazing how you and Kevin play! I wish I could play that like you guys and..." He kept ranting about football, I glanced at Noah who had a poker face.

He doesn't look in a good mood today.

Darren finally stopped, and Jim shook his hand, blinking at him. "Uh... thanks?"

We heard a horn behind us and turned to see Kevin parking his car. I narrowed my eyes as he got out with a huge grin on his face.

"Who's ready to have fun today?" Kevin exclaimed in enthusiasm, avoiding eye contact with me.

"I am. Let's get this party started!" Jim yelled, getting inside the bowling club.

We followed him inside and I kept my eyes on Kevin and tried to read him but got nothing. I sighed and glanced at Noah, who was walking in front.

We haven't talked since yesterday, and it felt so weird not to talk to him now. I spend three years without talking and now I couldn't stand a day.

We went towards the counter, and the boys paid for getting the equipment. I took my shoes off and wore the bowling ones, then we went inside the play area. I observed my surroundings and saw a few groups of people playing already. This was the only bowling alley in our town, and it was pretty good too. We always came on weekdays because on weekends it's packed.

I know how to bowl, but I was no expert. Jim and Kevin know how to play and well... Kevin's an expert. Emily doesn't play she just comes with us and sat down to read her book and as, for Natasha, she loves her manicure more.

"We'll play in teams like always." Kevin started as we went towards our usual corner.

Kevin and Jim would split into two teams and choose their players from among everyone else, and the losing team becomes slaves for the weekend.

"I'll choose-" Jim started, but Kevin cut him off.

"We are always the leaders and today we have our old friends-" He gestured towards Noah and Jax. "-so why not let them be the leaders." He said smirking.

"Sure..." Jim looked around unsure, then shrugged. "I don't mind."

Kevin grinned. "Since we don't have many players, why not let them decide who they want to be with?" He finished with a smug look, boring his eyes into mine.

Natasha and Jim went and stood beside Jax. "We'll be with Jax."

"Noah, obviously." Darren went and stood beside Noah.

"I'll go with Noah too," Emily said, standing beside Darren.

Then everyone turned their head toward me. I blinked my eyes, looking between the two teams.

"What are you waiting for, Lexi? Come here." Emily said, gesturing for me to stand beside her.

"Why would she go there?" Natasha scoffed. "Lexi is definitely choosing Jax."

"Why would she choose him?" Emily asked, folding her arms.

"Because he's her boyfriend," Jim said in a duh tone.

"And Emily is her best friend." Darren intervened. The four of them started bickering, saying that I will choose them over the other.

I wanted to go with Noah, but everyone was going to make a big deal if I choose him over my 'boyfriend'.

So this was going in Kevin's mind, to make me choose between them?!

Kevin must have sensed things between me and Jax getting changed that's why he was asking questions at homecoming and now he was doing this!

"Lexi?" I flinched out of my thoughts when I heard my name called.

"Y-yeah?" I murmured and saw everyone's eyes on me.

I glanced at Jax and Noah who stood, watching me with their hopeful eyes while Kevin grinned.

"It's your turn to choose, Lexi."

F**k. Me.

* * * * *

A/N
The first and last time I went to bowling was when I was a kid so I don't really remember how things work but I have played this game a lot in my computer 😅
And Lexi's outfit!