chapter 3

Andrew stepped up and took his turn scoring a respectable 8.

“Not bad huh?” he asked a smirking Ellen

“Yeah sure” she mocked as she took her turn, smashing another strike in the process “for an amateur I guess”.

Andrew took the remark in his stride as he took his second turn picking up a spare in the process.

“Alright! I got em all that time!” an elated Andrew remarked, looking for some sort of recognition from his bowling partner. What he received was a laugh in his face.

“Way to go champ! Try watching this and you might learn something.”

True to form, Ellen took her ball and smashed another strike.

“Gobble gobble, we call that a Turkey in this game.” she gloated even though she felt rather odd in that moment.

As her score registered on the board above them, she blinked in unconscious recognition at the change that had overtaken her body. Her normally firm midsection now pressed softly against the waistband of her jeans, jeans that contained thighs that had also lost their tone. Her arms also looked like she’d been slacking off at the gym and her bra band dug into her sides ever so slightly. A look of confusion crossed her face as she scratched a now rumbling stomach.

It was Andrew that roused her from her thoughts.

“Oh wow, that reminds me. This place has the most amazing turkey subs, you totally have to try one!”

Normally Ellen wouldn’t be caught dead eating the food they served at the alley but she had to admit she was suddenly ravenous and a turkey sub was probably one of the healthier options on offer.

“Well, maybe you should treat me to one once you take your turn.” she said, confident that Andrew would do anything to appease her.

“No problem! I’ll head right up after this.”

Andrew picked up a pretty poor 7 in his latest attempt, bringing more derision from Ellen.

“You need to concentrate Andy, you look flustered by my skills, try to ignore my score” she said as she made eye contact with him.

He seemed a little rattled by Ellen’s boasting and stood gawking until she nodded in the direction of the snack bar, prompting him to go and get her turkey sub.