13

"Lions! Let's go Lions!"

Taylor felt completely out of place in the gymnasium where the cheerleaders had their usual practices. This was the first one she's been to, well up close anyway, after much convincing from Romee and Jas. She eyed the head cheerleader, Jas, as she guided the group along the new and unfortunately for the seniors, last routine they'd perform before officially signing off.

It wasn't just that Taylor was uncomfortable sitting alone on the bleachers really. But Romee had on a baby blue sleeves crop top with matching leggings that outlined her shapely legs clearly. It was agonizing, and she was so beautiful it hurt a lot to look at her. So Taylor tried her very best to keep her attention elsewhere and spent another thirty minutes mindlessly scrolling through her phone when she felt a soft towel thrown against her skin.

The brunette looks up to see Romee giving her a cheeky smile, doing the thumbs up. "You okay?" Taylor mentally slapped herself when she realized she was staring too long at Romee's extremely toned arms, sweaty toned arms. She nods vigorously and Romee smirks exposing her cute dimples.

"We'll be done in ten, right Jas?"

"Really? That's interesting, the last time I checked the cheer captain gave orders." Jas says sarcastically as the blonde jumps on her back playfully. "Okay fine!"

Taylor laughs at the banter taking place in front of her and shakes her head. True to her word, practice came to a close ten minutes later when Jas dismissed all of them.

"Here," Taylor extends her arm to give Romee the water bottle the blonde refused to bring from her car saying she didn't want to bring too much things for practice. "I told you you would need it."

Romee hums in response as she chugs nearly the entire bottle down in seconds, "What would I do without you?"

"I know, I ask myself the same thing everyday." Taylor jokes.

Romee playfully glares at the brunette and throws the now empty bottle in her direction. Taylor, still in a trance with the beauty in front of her, fails to act quickly and ends up being hit square on the face. She furrows her brows at Romee accusingly who brings her arms to a shrug as if to say, you deserve it.

"Okay come on loser, we still have to be somewhere. Or did you forget?" Romee asks with a smirk.

"I didn't, but I really hoped you would." Taylor replies nervously. Romee had already told her of her plans and she wasn't exactly leaping with glee of the idea. Taylor was well aware of her skill, well lack thereof especially ones that would require above average rating in hand eye coordination.

All throughout the ride to their destination Taylor spoke about why her going with would be a bad idea. And it would be unfair really, on her part to be up against Romee.

"Oh good lord we're here," Taylor groans and pretends to clutch her stomach. "Leave without me, I'm feeling a little sick." She winces for emphasis.

Romee rolls her eyes, she could see just right through Taylor. She practically had to drag the brunette out of the car and into the alley where the counter was located.

"Hi I'm Romee, we spoke on the phone yesterday?"

The boy over the counter looked to be around sixteen, and awfully smitten at the blonde in front of her. "U-uhm we did? I mean," he clears his throat in an effort to deepen his voice. The change wasn't subtle but Romee played along, charming as she was, while Taylor judged him in her head. "Yes we did talk over the phone yesterday, your voice would be difficult to miss." He makes a move to lean on the counter but he misses and ends up leaning on his wheeled chair instead and nearly falls.

"What a disaster." Taylor says in her head, well she thinks she said it in her head until she feels a nudge to her rib.

Romee dips her head towards Taylor's ear and whispers, "Be nice."

The boy in front of them looks as pink as ever, almost as pink as Romee's newly polished nails. But Taylor would argue the nails look much better. And with that, he excuses himself for a few seconds and returns with two identical shoes, but with different sizes.

"How'd you know my size?" She asks Romee when the taller girl hands over a pair that was just exactly her usual eight and a half.

"I may or may not have had to phone your family." Romee smacks her lips and tugs Taylor towards their lane. Ten pins stood upright in between the gutters, and a variation of colored bowling balls were stacked neatly at the side where the rack was located.

"Family? Family as in whom?"

"Your mother..." Romee trailed off and Taylor turned her head so fast Romee was afraid it might have snapped.

"My mother? Why would you speak to my mother?" By now, Taylor was pacing back and forth talking amongst herself like an overly frantic woman. "Oh god, what did she say? Was she rude?"

Romee laughs inwardly and reaches both of her arms to settle on Taylor's shoulders where she held her firmly. Thankfully, the action had Taylor stopped from moving around. "Your mother wasn't rude, she was..." Romee thought of a better word, or phrase to put it in a way that wouldn't have Taylor overthinking for the rest of their time. Mrs. Monroe was known to be a, difficult and stern woman. "She was just hard to get around. She asked a lot of questions but don't worry your father took over the phone and told me the one piece of information I only had the intention of getting from that phone call. Eight and a half." She finishes with a wink.

"I'm so sorry about her." Taylor groans. She felt so embarrassed she wanted to lock herself away and hide there forever. That was why she never brought anyone home, especially when her mother was around.

"No worries. I like your mother, she's very beautiful." Romee points out. Green eyes, ones which Taylor inherited except hers were nearly emerald. Silky brunette hair that Romee was sure she went for hair spas every week. No wonder Taylor was just as delightful to look at, she thought. Maybe even more.

"Romee, my mother is terrifying. It's okay I won't crucify you for stating the obvious."

"I bet she can be, but she was rather protective of you," Romee could see Taylor's eyes sparkle from where she was standing. Almost as if the brunette wasn't used to kindness coming from her mother. "Where are you taking my daughter? Who's going to be around?"

"It should be a relief that she cares about you. That's not terrifying." Romee continues and then grabs a pastel yellow ball. She sticks her fingers and thumb into the designated holes and holds the ball to her face. "And if you don't mind, we better get started. I faintly remember promising your mother I'd have you back home by 8." With that, Romee threw the ball with ease. All ten pins tumbled down just the way they were meant to be. An easy strike.

It had been nearly an hour now. Taylor was losing, badly. The score was 107 and Taylor was barely keeping up with her 66. The first one she threw went in the gutter. The second one slipped off her fingers and landed nowhere where it was supposed to be. It ended up toppling the chair behind them. And the third? Well Romee cheered enthusiastically when it ended up hitting one pin. One.

"Come on Taylor, don't give up just yet."

"Wait," Taylor says and breaks her position. She holds up the bowling ball in her hand. "There's something wrong with the ball."

"There's...something wrong with the ball?" Romee stifles her laughter and nods her head in fake agreement. "So get another one."

Taylor heads over to the rack and sizes up each one carefully. She finally settles on the black one. "That one good enough? You're sure there's nothing wrong with it?"

"Yep, this one's good."

Taylor grew competitive all of a sudden. She glues her eyes on the center pin. She swings her arms backward, and then released the ball forward. The ball headed straight down the lane, toppling all ten pins.

"Oh my god!" Taylor shrieks and jumps joyfully. "Did you see that? Romee did you see that?"

"Yes I did," Romee walks over and gives her a big congratulatory hug. "And I'm very proud. You won."

"What? No, the scoreboard." Taylor says and points above them where the tally of their points were located. 107 to 76.

"Nope, you won." Romee insisted.

Taylor shrugs in delight, she'll definitely take the victory after all the bending and running she's done. "Whatever you say!"

The duo walk over to the counter to return the bowling shoes. Romee makes a move to hand over the pair but the brunette grabs her arm and prevents her from doing so. "What?"

"We have to check the soles," Taylor turns away from the same boy on the counter still gawking at Romee. "What if there's like, gunk, we've picked up from when we used them?"

"You're being silly, mine are clean!" Romee states when Taylor ducks down to take a look.

The brunette shakes her head and clicks her tongue, "There it is."

"What?!"

"I'm kidding," Taylor laughs and finally gives their shoes back. Romee just shoots her a playful glare. "Hey since I'm the winner don't I get a prize?"

"Nope, definitely not." Romee shakes her head in disapproval.

"Oh come on please." Taylor whines. She looks absolutely ridiculous, like a child about to go on a tantrum for a piece of candy. But Romee sighs and gives in.

"Fine, what do you want?"

"A piggyback ride on the way to the car." Taylor fails to stifle her laugh at the look on Romee's face. Out of all the things she expected to give Taylor, it was definitely a piggyback ride.

"Or I could just throw you over my shoulder."

Eventually Romee beckons the younger girl over with her hand and crouches down a little. Taylor grins and climbs unto her back, arms encircling around her exposed neck. The brunette shivers at the feel of skin-to-skin contact, how warm Romee felt against her. Taylor was so afraid Romee would feel her heartbeat against her back, fast and strong. And she was the reason.

"Okay, are you ready?" Romee asks softly. She did feel it, Taylor's powerful heartbeat beating against her. But she decided not to comment, she herself didn't know what to make of it.

"Thirty minutes to eight, Romee. Still wish to keep that promise?"

"Wouldn't change it for the world." Romee chuckles and motions to run to the car.

The pair delved into the feel of wind brushing against their faces. Romee scanned the blue sky, dots of white clouds suspended in them but unfortunately she couldn't make out any shape from where she was. It was a beautiful day, and happiness blossomed inside her. Taylor was beside her, everything was perfect and she wished they could stay like that forever. But it was not meant to be, soon they'll reach her car and part ways when she brings Taylor home. Romee still laughed in delight, the freedom of speed overtaking her. It felt liberating.

The boy from the counter looked over at them far as he was with a faint smile on his face. A little disappointed that he now knew he had zero chance with her, not when it was so clear to his eyes. Romee's heart was taken by another. But the display of love right in front of his eyes was enough for him to adore.