Keeper

Chapter 26

I shifted uncomfortably on the leather chair which cause it to squeak,

"I'm not really into the whole party scene." I stammered.


Harry raised an eyebrow at me,


"Have you ever even been to one?"


"Birthday parties, yes, but not some...some high school, 'get drunk and make a giant fool of yourself' kind of party."


"Oh come on, you'll have fun I promise."


"My parents with wonder where I am." I shrugged.


"Please?" He begged, childishly holding out the 'e'.


"I'm sorry but no."


He shrugged,


"Well, just think about it."





We pulled into the somewhat crowded bowling alley parking lot and pulled into the fist open space we could find. The sun was just beginning to completely set behind the trees, the sky a beautiful mixture of pink and orange making the wispy clouds appear to be cotton candy.


Harry grabbed onto my hand and almost immediately Layla's words came floating into my head,


'...whenever I see you he's always got his hands on you somehow..."


I had to admit, she did have a point. Once we reached the front entrance I delicately pulled my hand from his grasp to open the door, quickly sticking it in my jeans pocket afterwards.


Harry walked ahead of me to what I had assumed to be the bowling shoes counter. The walls were lit up with bright neon lights and signs that appeared to be from the seventies. It was cute though. Behind it stood a blonde man who appeared to be in his mid fifties,


"What size can I get ya?" He asked as he loudly chewed on his piece of gum.


"Six's." I smiled.


"Alright, and for you boy?" He asked, diverting his attention over to Harry.


"Eleven's."


The man nodded and turned around, leaving me and Harry to stand quietly side by side.

I looked over at him and his eyes were almost pleading,


"If you come with me tonight I promise you'll have fun."


I just stared at him considering my 50/50 option, Harry took my silence as a cue to continue his persuasion,


"I don't break my promises."


"But you can't control what happens at a party." I debated.


"I can't. I know I can't. I know-I know fights break out, I know people get drunk and start stupid shit, but just trust me?"



I bit on the inside of my cheek as I evaluated my options. I could go home and pass out watching some stupid TV show or I could be a naive, careless teenager for once and actually live a little.

"I don't know yet."


Harry simply nodded and licked his lips.


The man came back not soon after with two pairs of brown shiny shoes, one pair in each hand. Harry insisted to pay for everything and before I knew it I was standing in front of a bowling lane, a sparkly pink bowling bowl in hand. Harry insisted I used it, he said it fit me.

The hour went by much faster than I though it would be and my high expectations of Harry's bowling skills skyrocketed when I watched him single handedly get six strikes in a row.


"You should join the school bowling team, they would surely appoint you captain." I joked, nudging his shoulder as he required his bowling bowl.


"Bowling isn't really my thing." He shrugged teasingly.


A thought seemed to pop into his head as his eyes lit up,


"Okay, how does this sound. If I get another strike, you have to come to the party with me. If I don't get it, well- then I'll try out for your little bowling team."


"I was only kidding about that." I laughed.


Harry quickly raised an eyebrow,


"But I'm not."


I gave him a questioning look,

"You're serious about this?"


"Absolutely." He replied.


I stuck my hand out,


"Styles, we have a deal."


I watched as the one end of Harry's lips rose up forming a smirk,


"Alright, Patterson."


He grabbed onto my hand and shook it firmly, the seriousness in his movements making me giggle involuntarily.


He walked up to the bowling lane with narrowed eyes, his teeth clenched down on his lip ring, wiggling it from side to side as he concentrated.


He threw his arm back and when it swung forward he released the ball, the shiny black sphere moving like lightning down the lane. I went to blink and when I went to open them harry had his fist raised into the air in success.


"It's party time babe." He winked, grabbing his jacket off of one of the many purple plastic chairs.


"Remind me to never make a bet with you again?" I joked, pulling out my phone.


I brought my eyebrows together,

"It's only seven-thirty six?"


Harry slipped on a pair of sunglasses I didn't recall him having earlier,

"The earlier we get there the longer the party. The longer the party the more fun we'll have."


I just shook my head and Harry let out a laugh, his hands staying to themselves this time around as we returned our bowling shoes and bowling balls.



I hopped in the passenger side of Harry's car as Harry took to the steering wheel, quickly pulling out of the parking lot and carefully speeding onto the highway.



I rested my head on the cool glass of the car window and closed my eyes, the beat from a slow indie song acting as my lullaby.

Once I felt the car come to a compete stop only minutes later the sound of a deep bass reached my ears. I shot my eyes open to see Harry staring down a me,

"We're here."


I made a small nod with my head before letting out a yawn. I unbuckled the seatbelt which was strapped over my chest and slid out of the car, a gasp leaving my lips at the fairly unfamiliar feeling of Harry's cold arm slinking around my waist.


"You'll have fun, babe. Just stick with me."