14 _ Out With Friends.

Cassie sighed as she looked up at the clock and saw the time. Soon she would round up things there and get home to indulge herself in some lady pampering and a warm bubble bath. Her phone vibrated in her pocket and knowing the caller , she left it unanswered.

She clutched the intercom and made the announcement she made every Thursday night at 8:50. "Crystal Lake Library will be closing in ten minutes."

"Hurrying home to meet Your boyfriend ?" Mal whispered conspiratorially and added a little wink at the end of the sentence.

Mallory was twenty one , a nice girl that worked the stacks with her. She wore glasses , had a nice smile and was explosive in her friendly welcome and niceness to others. Every thing with her was much better than Sandi.

She winced as the thought of Blaze crossed her mind. He was performing with his band in another part of the country and was probably spending his spare time with another girl in his bed. "Nah. Just planning to soak in a hot bath , drink some soda and Watch tv till I pass out. Want to join me?"

"Sorry but I already promised Dana that we'd go bowling tonight, Raincheck?" Mal added bringing Cassie out of her reverie.

"Sure." She replied then asked. "Bowling?"

"Yeah everyone's going down to Marx's bowling alley this evening to knock down some pins. Why don't you join us? It'll be fun!" Mal gave her a friendly nudge with her shoulder and winked again. "Zac's going to be there."

"Even if I decided to go , it isn't because of Zac." Cassie huffed. "And that's a huge IF."

"Come on , having a little fun with your friends won't hurt anyone?"

Perhaps she really needed to spend time with other people. Recently she round herself think it about Blaze even when she tried not to. He called her over and over , leaving a number messages but she didn't reply not after what happened a week ago.

She needed space to think things out and this would be a perfect opportunity to distract herself as long as she could from facing reality.

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"And Cassie gets another strike!"

When she opened her eyes , there wasn't a white pin left standing.

Again.

As the electronic scoreboard excitedly flashed a big X , Mal put her hands around Cassie who turned to face Sandi. As usual she was there only because Zac had decided to come along and indulge in a little fun and games. Sandi with the bouncing ponytails stared at the scorekeeper's monitor , her lips pinched together like someone had paved the cops she was drinking with pure lime juice.

Apart from Mal , Zac , Sandi and she , there were two other employees from the library that decided to join them in making some strikes. As they were all ten in number , Mal had decided that they share themselves in groups of two and compete against each other as who took out the most pins and surprisingly enough , she got stuck with Zac.

He was really nice , sweet and considerate but the only thing stronger than Zac's determination to win was the magnetic pull of the gutter on his ball that he never put one pin down.

"Whoo-hoo! Another strike! Sweetie , don't you want to ditch your date and join our team?" Dana Wells , one of her colleagues in the filing department called out to her from the next lane and cocked at eyebrow in a joking manner at Zac. "We'll let him watch."

"We're not dating ." Cassie corrected lightly as she demonstrated and she heard Zac mutter 'Not Yet' underneath his breath but let it pass. She wanted this to be a stress free evening where she would just chill and relax , playing a game she liked with her friends.

But the might was just beginning.

Dana's partner, Tristian nudged her slightly before he and Zac simultaneously threw their balls . Sandi was already at the edge and shot back at Dana icily. "You know the rules Dana." She began , placing her red bowling ball on her nips and glared at him. "Stick with your team , plain and simple."

Dana insulted by her words , walked up to her chest heaving. "You know what Sandi , Maybe I should stick my ball in your face."

The two warring women were quickly separated before a fight broke out in the bowling alley and Cassie sighed. "Thanks Dana but it seems You and Tristian are doing fine without me though. I'm just here for fun."

And to run away from confronting your fears , Her mind added.

Apart from that little tiff, the night had been fun so far as she and Zac chatted Cheerily while Mal continuously winked at her and Sandi ate her heart out.

"You're awesome in bowling." He complimented while they were relaxing and drinking a couple of sodas and to cool off.

"Thanks. You're great too."

"Please..." He scoffed at himself. "I couldn't roll that ball straight to save my life. You in the other hand are the Queen of pins." Cassie could not help laughing at his humorous wit and found herself promising to give him some lessons. His eyes brightened as he brushed off some strand of his hair that fell into his eye and held her hand tightly.

Staring into his intense blue eyes , she turned scarlet and pulled her hand away and they continued their game. Soon it was time to leave as the alley was closing up and Zac offered to escort her out. They conversed while they walked and Cassie started knowing him more. He was funny , smart , cute but somehow her thoughts kept on wandering back to Blaze. His strong muscles and ripped and , that handsome face and his cool tattoos... No one just seemed to measure up to him.

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"Screech!!!!!!

Zac pulled her out of the way in a nick of time as a Familiar Harley came to a screeching stop in front of them. The rider alighted from his Harley and took of his helmet and Cassie was left almost breathless.....