Chapter Two - Meeting - Hunter's Story

There are very few things that allow for respite from Hunter’s unrelenting religious family and that’s bowling. If there’s something that makes him feel even the least bit of excitement, is that he gets to go to practice and forget his family for a moment. Even if it’s only for two hours during school sanction practices. Hunter tries to drive out to the bowling alley a bit more on off days if the time allows. He gets busy during the school year trying to focus on his grades.

He doesn’t know what he wants to do in life, but he knows college is in the future. It just has to be there’s no other path forward. At one point his family had his future planned out for him. However, as Hunter has gotten older this has slightly subsided. This doesn’t change the fact that his family only supports a conventional route: going to college, getting married, and starting a family. With no better alternative in sight, Hunter decides to follow this expected path.

Strolling into the bowling alley, Hunter remembers going here as a kid and how it’s not really changed on bit. The same classic 90s bowling alley carpet, the bar food down at the end of the alley making the alley smell good as they fried the food. He enjoyed the time in eating the fried chicken tenders, even though he was well aware they were mass-produced and frozen. They made him feel a longing for his childhood, a time when life felt far simpler.

As Hunter is walking in, he notices that Brittany and Brendon are there, wanting to hopefully boost his mood, he’s going to at least attempt to socialize his way out of it.

“Hey guys! It’s super nice to see you here! Ready for a good practice? Looks like we’re next to each other today… Brittany are you leaving?” Hunter trying to break conversation, but Brittany looks as if she’s packing up and not unpacking her equipment.

“Oh hi! Yeah, I’m so sorry, I got my times messed up last time I saw you. The girls' team was at a different time today. The bowling alley leagues had too many people on the lanes. I had a great practice though! How are you doing?” Brittany genuinely seems upset that the boys’ and girls’ teams had different times due to the league.

Though Hunter could get why that’s upsetting. Why do the girls have to change their schedules by gender? It does seem weird, but then again when the bowling league management did not seem to be efficient. Either something is scheduled wrongly, broken, or ancient. While Hunter does appreciate the nostalgia, he’d rather have SOMETHING in the bowling alley made in the century he was born in.

“I’m doing… well. Just feeling a bit under the weather lately. Must be the weather? It’s been super rainy and gloomy. It’s probably that.” Hunter says being all too honest, maybe he shouldn’t have said that.

“Dude, I feel the same way. Like, I love the trees and all, but the gloomy weather has been such a bummer.” Brendan expresses, “But at least we get to bowl out any feelings, right? Like sometimes I imagine those pins as any of my negative thoughts and just knock them away.”

“Brendon are you okay? That was shockingly deep for you,” Brittany is laughing at Brendon for making such a deep remark, he’s never this way.
 

“Sorry I can’t stay for too long Hunter, I got to get to studying, Spanish has been such a drag this term. I can’t get one more failing test otherwise I won't be able to bowl. I’ll see you around though! I think Im going to practice a bit extra this week. Say hi if you see me” Brittany explained. With that Brittany packed up and left the alley.

Hunter turned to Brendon to continue the conversation, “I guess that leaves you and me then, I’m not really wanting to get to the team yet. They were so... jockish last time. Like dude we bowl, it’s not that serious.”

Hunter was right slightly. In the school hierarchy jocks are typically on the top. However, there’s a hierarchy there in itself and bowling? It’s the lowest there is, most don’t even consider it a sport. While he highly disagrees with the sport part, he just doesn’t like how the team has a pretentious attitude this season. Were they always this way?

“Yeah, I could barely hear them last week, and even then, they were honestly terrible. I’m glad my team isn’t like that. Honestly, none of us would hurt a fly. Though, I’ve got a feeling some of them might be in some secret club or something. They’re the total opposite of jocks—kinda weird, if you ask me.” Brendan expressed his own dissatisfaction with the opposing team. He wasn’t even super competitive; he just didn’t like them as people.

“Really? I think your team seems to be perfectly okay! Maybe Tyler is the weird one out, but I think I’ve only seen him once and that was last week. It’s weird that I’ve never seen him before. Does he not bowl often?” Asked Hunter as it is weird that in his three years bowling, he’s not laid eyes on Tyler.

“Yeah, he’s not as into bowling as we are. He’s into music more. Also, you’ve always been varsity and he’s only now gotten to varsity. They have different schedules. Though I do find it weird as much as you are here that you haven’t seen each other more? Must be one of those crazy coincidences.” Brendon explained.

“Ah I guess that makes sense, hey I’m going to get set up. Looks like we’re sitting next to each other today so maybe we could actually get to talk.”

With that Hunter went and got set up for the practice ahead. Brendon was right the pins getting knocked down in a strike is such a great feeling and makes him forget the pressure that’s on him outside of the alley. Or the bleakness that he’s feeling lately. There’s something missing and Hunter knows that, and it’s been knowing at him. However, being a let concentrate on bowling just gives him that bit of respite.

After getting all set up, Hunter just decided to tune out the rest of the team and scroll on his phone. He didn’t care much about what they had to say. Just as Hunter was starting to get into his thoughts while doomscrolling, the coach announced that it was time for warm ups. Hunter was excited to get started and finally get out some of the weird feelings he has in him. However, when he was looking up, he noticed that Tyler was sitting right next to him.

Hunter wasn’t so sure what to think of Tyler being so close to him. There was a sense that Hunter wished Tyler would talk to him. At least then he could get to know why this boy was staring at him the entire time last week. But for once Hunter was nervous to start a conversation. This is weird because while Hunter was usually a laid-back person, he was always able to start a conversation with other people. This was silly, he’s never felt nervous about talking to people, he just needed to get out of his head.

Thoughts did start to go through Hunter’s head, however. What if the others start to make fun of Tyler when is RIGHT there. Is the team that mean where he has to worry about it? They were just loud enough to where others were able to hear last week. Whatever happens, Hunter hopes that he’d be able to speak up this time at least. He was quite ashamed how he handled it last time, he just wanted to be a decent human being.

Hunter a couple minutes later is still waiting for his turn to bowl. Seems to be taking forever to get going, he thinks he heard something about the pins being stuck. Just another benefit of old equipment. A random thought entered Hunter’s head. There’s a smell that he enjoys. Weird, it smelled of vanilla and cashmere? Where would he smell that? It was Tyler!

Hunter liked the way Tyler smelled, and this was weird in his mind. Hunter has NEVER thought that somebody smelled good, more or less a boy. This got Hunter thinking that he’s slightly sad Tyler hasn’t made the initiative to start a conversation. Is it nerves for the first practice of the year? Did Hunter make Tyler nervous himself? Admittedly, this made Hunter feel a little giggly inside? He kind of liked the feeling that somebody felt nervous to talk to him.

Hunter never had anybody like him that much. Yeah, he’s had a few girlfriends, however, none of them last very long. He just never feels that spark that he thinks you’re supposed to feel. He’s usually the one to end things. He just doesn’t want to lead the girls on for something he feels won’t work out. He’s not a monster.

“Hey, its your turn Hunter! Get going!” The coach demanded.

Hunter quickly gets up and gets to the ball return, getting ready to bowl that first frame. While getting his ball he notices that Tyler is getting his ball too. Hunter flashes a smile in hopes that it would get Tyler to talk to him after this frame. That didn’t seem to work though, Tyler seemed a bit flushed at this point.

That didn’t work the way Hunter expected, whatever, Hunter is just going to releases the frustrations through chuckling his ball down the lane. Hunter didn’t need to pay much attention; he practices all the time. At this point it’s just muscle memory. With the perfect approach and throw, Hunter makes bowls a strike! He’s happy with himself, at this point though strikes are just a part of bowling, he’s been on varsity since freshman year for a reason.

As Hunter is going back to his seat, the loud foul line buzzer goes off. Hunter is startled, that sound does usually go off at practice. He knows it’s Tyler who made it go off. A giggle escapes Hunter, is he the reason that he wasn’t paying attention? Is Hunter really that big of an impact on somebody. Somebody who hasn’t even talked to him.

            Both teams are laughing at Tyler, which does make Hunter feel slightly bad. It does make Hunter mad that his team is critiquing Tyler so hard. They make it seem as if Tyler is some kind of freak. Not to Hunter’s surprise more homophobic remarks roll of their tongues in an attempt to put Tyler down. Hunter knows Tyler can hear it and he’s starting to feel awful.
 

As Tyler gets sat, both coaches tell the teams to be quiet and get to bowling. It does make the teams quiet down but it doesn’t seem to make Tyler any more comfortable. Hunter sees Brendon trying to make Tyler more comfortable however, it does not seem to be working. With a great speed, Tyler seems to book it to the bathroom.

            This makes Hunter feel even worse. He should’ve stuck up for Tyler. Hunter’s team seems to be taunting Tyler behind his back now. Calling him a loser and for running off so fast. Hunter feels as if he should go and calm Tyler down. Is that appropriate though? Hunter isn’t sure if it would make the situation worse or better.

            As if something was taking over, Hunter decides to go make sure Tyler is okay. Finally get a conversation in with him and see if he can’t calm the nerves. On the way though, Hunter cant seem to get what words to say to Tyler.

“ Hi! What’s your name? I know you might be obsessed with me let’s be friends.” These thoughts have passed Hunter’s mind but he knows that is not good enough.

Hunter’s made it into the bathroom, albeit a little begrudgingly, the bathroom was literally shit. The smell was awful and the bathroom was so worn down. Hunter wasn’t sure how they could be so busy sometimes and yet can’t update or clean their bathrooms.

As Hunter gets into the bathroom he runs right into somebody. It happens to be Tyler! Oh gosh, what was Hunter going to say? What is he going to do? This might have just made it slightly more awkward.

“Hey sorry for running into you,” Hunter says with a slight grin on his face. He’s trying to be super friendly, he’s hoping it’s not coming off as creepish.

“I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced, my name is Hunter, what’s your name?” Hunter asked trying to truly get the conversation going, he’s tired of beating around the bush.

“My name? … It’s… It’s Tyler. It’s okay, I don’t think I’ve seen you since I joined JV in my freshman year. So, we wouldn’t have met before.” Tyler is clearly blushing and he’s trying to hide it. Hunter finds it a little bit cute… CUTE?! What is Hunter thinking?

“It’s nice to meet you Tyler,” Hunter giggles ever so slightly. Why did Hunter just giggle? What effect does Tyler have on him? He’s never this way.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking… Are you,” Hunter tries to finish his sentence; however he’s quickly interrupted by Tyler. Which makes Hunter slightly annoyed, Tyler is clearly trying to get out of this conversation.

“I’m sorry, I got to get back to practice, I’ve been gone way too long. I’ll see you soon.”  Tyler quickly rushing off barely leaving room for Hunter to even listen to his words.

This short interaction has left Hunter really confused. Why is Tyler so nervous around Hunter? Why is Hunter nervous around Tyler?! Tyler seems nothing but sweet compared to what his friends are saying about him. If Tyler was stalkerish in anyway, he might as well be the worst stalker to have existed.

Well, might as well get back out there. Tyler doesn’t have an excuse to hide again. Hunter feels bad, maybe he’ll leave Tyler alone for the night. Though Hunter really wants to make sure Tyler is okay. He also wants to calm Tyler’s nerves. While it’s slightly amusing that Hunter has an effect on Tyler, it’s not fair to Tyler to make him visibly nervous.
 

Whatever Hunter’s feelings are, he wants to get it resolved… Wait is Hunter actually feeling something? Something has felt like it was missing and Tyler seems to be filling a need that Hunter has been looking for. Hunter’s not too sure why Tyler makes him feel something but Hunter is not going to let it go until he figures out why. He has desire for once and he’s going to run after it. Whether or not he fully understands it.