Chapter 26

Evelyn

“I swear, I’ve got to stop drinking so much,” Ava groans as we make our way across campus. “My head is killing me.”

I laugh at my friend. “That’s what happens when you drink more than you study.”

Ava rolls her eyes. “Easy for you to say. Your grades are perfect!”

“Because I don’t drink most nights of the week!” I bump my shoulder with hers as we both keep giggling. “I just want you to be safe, that’s all, I promise.”

“Appreciate that. Not many people seem to give a shit these days.”

“And I’m not like most people.”

Ava links her arm with mine, squeezing with affection. “And that is why I like you.”

I smirk as we keep trekking, planning on meeting up with Olivia at the coffee shop near her last class.

“Hey, wait up!” A voice calls, causing Ava and I to turn in the direction of the sound.

William, Sebastian’s roommate, comes jogging up to us, a grin on his face and sweat on his forehead. “You two walk abnormally fast.”

“Gotta compensate for all those men walking in one stride what we do in four,” Ava jests.

“So, listen. A bunch of us are going out tonight. Bowling at Lolita Lanes. I’d meant to ask sooner but hadn’t run into you guys. Wanna come?”

Ava and I share a glance. Then, standing up a tad straighter, asks, “As friends?”

His eyes widen. “Oh, oh my God, yes, obviously! No strings attached. Just have enjoyed spending time at parties with you guys. Bring Olivia. She’s free to come, too.”

Ava nods. “We’ll be there.”

William, pleased, claps his hands together. “Sick! We’ll be meeting up there at seven. Gonna eat there as well, so bring cash for the pizza and beers.”

He looks down at his ringing phone and then back at us. “Gotta take this and run, see ya there!” William calls, beginning to jog away. He waves as he goes, before picking up his phone.

“Well, that certainly wasn’t on my Bingo card,” Ava quips.

“Going bowling with William, Sebastian and co?” I question.

“William asking you on a date.”

“He literally said it wasn’t a date!” I argue.

“Maybe he said that, but that boy doesn’t do anything without a reason. And claiming he wants to just hang with us? I’m very suspicious.”

I wave it off. “Not a date, not a problem.”

I turn back toward the direction we were heading. “Come on, gotta grab Olivia. Now we need to find some cute bowling outfits to wear!”

Ava’s eyes seem to study me for a moment, and I wonder if there’s something I’m missing. Sebastian would never let his roommate go out with me, even if he’s there.

Besides, this isn’t a date. A bunch of people are going bowling. What’s the harm in that?

After we finally get to Olivia and tell her about the invite, she insists we must go, no ifs and or buts. So, we quickly get our coffee and head back to our place to change.

Lolita Lanes is the closest bowling arena to campus, but we still take a cab there. We’ve decided to dress simply: jeans with crop tops and ponytails.

Seeing as the shoes won’t matter, we all opt to wear whatever sneakers we have before we head out, buzzing with excitement to hang out with these guys.

I consider texting Sebastian, but figure surprising him will be more fun. He seems more relaxed in recent days, and each interaction with one another reveals new truths. I know I’m the one who keeps pushing for us to end things are be siblings, but something always seems to be in the way.

Like a force stronger than our own will.

When we arrive at Lolita Lanes at seven, William and his group of friends are already chattering away at the desk in the lobby. When he sees us, we’re waved over.

“Nice of you to make it!” William says as we join them. “Guys, this is Evelyn and Olivia, and you already know the lovely Ava.”

William’s friends all say hey, and William points as he goes down the line, introducing each person, starting with the tall black-haired girl. “Vivian, Colin, Ricky, and Danger,” he calls.

I look at the last guy, shorter with blonde curls. “Your name is not Danger, is it?” I ask, incredulous.

“My last name, in all honesty,” he admits, reaching his hand out. “No one really calls me by my first name, but if you must know, it’s Simon.”

Ava snorts. “Simon Danger? Sounds like a terrible game of Simon Says,” she exclaims.

“And that is exactly why I just go by Danger!”

I join in on the laughter, but I also find myself disappointed. I thought Sebastian was going to be here. What had happened there?

I guess William never said his roommate would be here, but it makes sense that I would think that.

We’re eventually sent to bowling lanes seventeen and eighteen. Since there are too many people for one game, we split up girls against boys.

“The highest-scoring side wins, and the losers buy the next round of beer!” William taunts.

“Get ready to lose!” Olivia giggles.

Vivian, a sophomore, is actually quite good at bowling. She steps up to the lane first and blows us all away with a strike off the bat.

“Shit!” Colin shouts, throwing up his hands. “I forgot about Vivian’s bowling prowess!”

William winks at us. “Which is exactly why I brought her.

While Vivian is incredibly good, Olivia and I are taking up the rear. It was rare if I ever bowled back in Hawaii, but I still manage to gain a few decent points.

“Watch and learn, ladies,” William tells his buddies, stepping up to the lane. He takes a few steps forward, throws the ball, and immediately gets a gutter ball.

“I’m sorry, what are we learning? That you’re trash?” Ricky jests, shoving his shoulder into William’s chest.

He moves aside. “I’m just getting warmed up!”

Well, he doesn’t get much warmer. By the time we’ve reached the end of the first round of games, we’ve eaten three pizza pies, and Vivian has led us to victory over the boys, with a combined score of 304 against 280.

“We’ll take whatever’s on the top shelf,” Vivian calls breezily, tossing her hair back. “Go fetch, boys.”

“I’m gonna use the bathroom, anyone need to join me?” Olivia asks the two of us. We all nod, and head off together as Vivian says she’ll wait for her drink.

In the bathroom, I look at my makeup in the mirror, touching up on the lipstick I’d worn.

“This was so fun, I’m glad we did this!” Olivia is gushing as she joins me at the sinks.

“I thought William had some ulterior motive, but clearly, I was mistaken,” Ava responds from her stall.

“Told you!” I call back, smushing my lips together.

As we freshen up, I notice Ava doesn’t come out of the stall for a minute. Then it’s three.

“Ava, are you dying or just taking a shit?” I call out, concern beginning to set in.

She comes out immediately, the toilet flushing behind her. But her face is pale, like she’s seen something she’d rather not speak of.

Before I can ask her, she holds out her phone to me. “Ew, wash your hands,” I reply, laughing. But my friend pushes the phone closer, and I notice an image on her screen.

I take the phone as Ava washes her hands, staring at me through the mirror.

It’s a picture of me on one of William’s social media accounts.

It’s the caption that has me nearly dropping the phone.

“Poll for all to answer. This chick’s been all over me tonight. Do I let her down gently, or do I take her back home to show her a good time?”

I gasp, wanting to run away crying at this. What the hell?

“What the fuck!” Olivia grabs the phone from me. “He did not!”

Memories go flooding through me like waves in the ocean. I can remember running away from those who tried to give me attention in the hotel. I can remember older men smiling down at me, wanting to appear kind but really just terrifying.

And worse, I can see no one standing up and protecting me.

Ava grabs my hand and pulls me out of the bathroom, Olivia following close behind. I don’t know what the hell she’s doing, but I’m absolutely flabbergasted.

Ava had been right.

She drags me back to the bowling lanes, Vivian looking concerned as she watches us join the boys.

What is she concerned about?

“William, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Ava shouts; anyone nearby grows silent quickly as my friend stands in front of him.

“What’s wrong, Ava, sad William didn’t pick you to fuck tonight?” Danger slurs.

Ava shoves Danger away from her, pointing a finger at William’s face. “You told her you wanted to hang out. I knew you were being a fucking liar!”

William rolls his eyes as he returns his gaze to me, and I can see he too, has fallen drunk. How many beers had the boys had before coming here? And how many since arriving? I hadn’t been paying close enough attention.

“Come on, Evelyn, I could tell you wanted it to be just the two of us. You’re telling me you haven’t been thinking about me like that?”

His voice drips with alcohol, and he comes closer to me as I take steps away. Ava shoves William as hard she can, forcing him to fall to the floor.

“Hey!” Colin snaps.

“Fuck off, all of you! You think you can just say shit and get away with it because you’re drunk? You’re sick!” Ava yells at everyone.

I see Vivian standing off away from the others, and I question if she knew this was going to happen.

I just keep my mouth shut, anxiety clawing at my skin.

All the attention like back in my childhood.

All the fears and all the constant broken trust.

I turn and run off, ripping off my bowling shoes as I go, heading for anywhere I can hide.

It’s then that my phone repeatedly goes off, and I see Sebastian’s name on the screen through my tears.

This isn’t what I need right now!