usually fought Kyle for first place and won more than he lost. But het already lost two matches tonight and was thirty points behind Kyle in this one, with four frames left to play. James thought Kyle rubbing in the misery was harsh, conveniently forgetting he would have acted exactly the same if it had been Kyle having a bad night.
James grabbed his ball as soon as it clattered on to the rack and stopped spinning. He lined up to take his second shot, glowering at the two pins standing on opposite sides of the lane.
To make a seven-ten split, you need to hit one pin so hard that it bounces against the wall behind, then spins out and knocks down the pin on the opposite side. The shot requires a hefty chunk of luck and even a world championship standard bowler wouldnt expect to make it often.
Hou抣l never hit both in a million years,?Kyle goaded.
James turned back and smirked at Kyle, struggling to fake an air of confidence. Tit your butt down and watch the master at work.?
James swung the ball as hard as he could, but when you bowl fast you lose control. The ball did a little bobble as James let go. It had plenty of pace, but James knew straight away that it wasnt right.
Turn back,?James gasped desperately, as the ball edged closer to the gutter. Come onnnnnnn baby e
The ball thunked into the gutter a couple of metres shy of the pin. James put his hands over his eyes and cursed under his breath. He almost couldnt bear turning away, knowing het catch sight of Kylee smug face.
Eight points and a gutter ball,?Kyle said happily. Laybe you should wander down to the bumper lanes and ask the supervisor if you can play with the little red-shirt kids.?
James huffed as he slumped back into his seat next to Gabrielle. The way It going tonight, I reckon the little kids would beat me.?
Houte doing better than Callum and Connor, though,?Gabrielle said sympathetically, pointing up at the TV screen with the scores on it.
Tome consolation that is. Those two are hopeless.?
Gabrielle smiled and brushed the back of her hand against James?leg. Lust not your night, I guess.?
As she said it, both their backs got sprayed with more Coke. They turned quickly to see two beefy looking guys in football shirts wrestling in a puddle on the floor. James waited until they broke apart before having a go at them.
Lhat are you two retards playing at??James barked furiously. it bloody soaked.?
Ly tope all marked,?Gabrielle said, looking anxiously down her back and wondering if the stains would come out.
The two lads were giggling as they got to their feet. Lete just having a laugh,?the one in the Tottenham shirt said.
The other lad looked less sympathetic. Theree loads of empty seats over there,?he grunted. Lhy dont you just move??
Because this is our rink,?Gabrielle said. i dont want to walk five miles every time I take my shot.?
Heah,?James agreed. Lhy should we move, just because you want to roll around the floor with your boyfriend??
The kid jabbed James in the back. Ire you calling me a queer??
James and Gabrielle stood up and turned around to face the two lads, who towered over them.
i didnt come here for a row,?James said.
Ror did I,?the tough guy said. But youte going the right way about getting into one; so why dont you just take your little wog girlfriend off and sit somewhere else??
The tough guy had twenty-five centimetres and fifteen kilos on Gabrielle, so he never expected what happened next. Gabrielle, who was a second-dan Karate black belt, launched a high kick over the row of plastic seats. Her bowling shoe slammed into the thuge kidney and by the time het got his breath back, he was pinned to the ground with a bloody nose and an orange painted thumbnail digging into his cheek.
Call me that again,?Gabrielle screamed, as she bunched up her fist. Lo on ?I dare you.?
Her voice echoed across the bowling alleye metal roof as a hundred sets of stunned eyes turned towards her. The whole place went quiet, except for the sound of a couple of squealing toddlers and the blipping of arcade machines.
James quickly straddled over the rows of seats and rested his palm on Gabriellee shoulder. Come on, Gabrielle,?he said soothingly. Cool it. Ite not worth getting upset over the likes of him.?
Gabrielle released her hand from her victime face and stood up. James thought het defused the situation,