We didn't go bowling. We never intended to. Bowling is for jerks.

"Nobody is here."

Theo looked at me with an expression that screamed I had said something stupid.

I continued to look around. Honestly, I didn't want anyone to come. I like the grass and the sunshine falling on the grass. I like Theo. It's a perfect afternoon.

"You aren't nervous, right?!"

I was nervous. I was losing my mind.

"I don't know."

"They're just like us. Secluded just like us."

"Yeah."

He didn't know what else to say; he knew I was uncomfortable. Theo wasn't secluded. Everybody loved him. He was charming. He chose this. He decided to stick with me. He chose me.

"Big T! Waddup?"

We turned to see a group of 5 people approaching us. They look intimidating. I don't have a good feeling about it. I don't have a good gut feeling about most things lately.

"Hey, Caleb! How are you, bud?"

They did some weird handshake. I wanted to run away.

"So, this is that friend of yours?"

They are referring to me; I wanted to be invisible.

I gave an awkward smile. Theo says this smile of mine makes me look constipated. 

He extended his hand. I shook his hand. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

"You guys go to the arcade often?"

I felt I was the reason we had gathered, so I thought it was somehow my responsibility to get the conversation going.

All of them started to laugh.

"We practically live there."

I gave that smile again.

"You workout?"

For a second, I didn't realize he had asked me that.

"Umm....no."

"You've got a good built."

I didn't know if he was being sarcastic. I looked away.

"It's his dad's genes; he was in the navy."

"That's cool, bro. So, you're a rich kid?"

"No, not really. There was some tragedy. Some big, bad corporate people framed him."

Theo speaks a lot. He overshares a lot. Until a few months back, I didn't approve of this habit of his, but now I guess I don't mind.

"I hate the corporate."

The only skinny guy in the group said, who I thought was their bully victim. 

"The corporate sucks," Caleb said. 

Everyone looked at me for some approval. But I was blank. The ground was pulling me in. I wasn't able to understand anything. I wanted to tell Theo, but I couldn't. Not when so many new people were around us. Not when for a change, they didn't think I was weird.

I couldn't help it. I couldn't fight it. I looked at Theo, and I collapsed.