My heart and mind are persuading me to go with them on their courageous adventure to unearth Ray Brower; however my body won't allow me. If my mental state was dominate, we would be halfway to Back Harlow Road by now. Physical state reigns supreme though, rejecting my feet any movement further as they are stitched to this one spot. The three boys in front of me all raise their eyebrows, Gordie remains with his eyes anchored on the ground, still obeying Ace's threat.

"Well?" Chris inquires in an exasperated tone, awaiting an answer to escape from my lips "Are you gonna come?" Vern's eyes are wide and even though he doesn't say anything, I can tell he is imploring me to join them on this journey that could change the rest of my life.

"I'll even give you my comb! Please Jennifer!" he beseeches, thrusting the spiky white cone under my nose. Teddy lazily slants his head to the left to face his naive friend.

"Like Rich Girl is gonna want your comb, she probably has a million of those things! Why would she want that piece of shit comb when she has designer ones?" Teddy blurts with judgemental untruths etching his words. I only have one comb, and it cost me a dollar. It's white and plastic, just like Verns. It isn't anything special, it makes my hair look good at the end of the day and that's all that matters.

"How do you know that four eyes?" Vern protests with anger, Chris smirks at me and I do the same back as we overlook the commencing of a debate full of hilarious comebacks. Maybe the younger Chambers brother doesn't hate me as much as I estimated him to.

"Because she's freakin' rich, dumbshit! I bet if you were rich, you'd buy all the combs in the world!" I hate it when people automatically assume that because of the high amount of money my family has that I can do practically anything I please.

It's far from that, if only they knew about my parents' restrictions and their animosity for me. If only they had the knowledge of my honest story, the true way I live my life. I don't want them know my secret though. If there's one thing I can't stand its pity or the fear that someone will sympathise me. That's the reason they shall never know. Plus, I hardly know these kids. As the two boys bicker away, Chris and I snigger at them with the corners of our mouths reaching our eyes.

"She doesn't have to" Gordie mutters, his participation may have been an almost silent one, but it causes everyone's attention spans to land on him as they spin around in confusion; Gordie notices this and finally removes his gaze from the dirt masked ground, knitting his brow together "What? You can't force her to come along if she doesn't wanna" Teddy bursts out into a fit of rapturous yet mocking cackles, that bizarre laugh blaring like a siren.

"Oh shit... damn it Gordo!" Teddy collapses onto the floor in a heap of his odd witch-like laughter; a small explosion of brown dust is uplifted into the earth's atmosphere as his knees make contact with the floor. He rolls onto his side, his crown of blonde hair hitting the ground. His wild laughter is becoming almost impossible to tame. What was even so funny?

"What the hell's so funny Duchamp?" Gordie repeats my thoughts like he is telekinetic.

"Gordo... you..." the words he wishes to speak are cut off by the build up of unknown humour inside of him. I can't turn this opportunity down; these boys make me feel discharged from the strains my life has to suffer. I no longer care what my parents have to say, I'm seventeen years old not a baby. It's about time I break free from their set of strict customs "Damn it... Gordie's gotta crush on Jennifer Waters! Remember to make me godfather to your kids in their millionaire diapers!" Teddy takes in a few breaths in order for him to calm down and swallows with a rasp following. Gordie immediately darts his sight back onto the ground.

"I'm coming with you" I reveal, Gordie's eyes release themselves from Ace's mental capture and glee polishes them, looking up at me with smile gradually crawling on his lips.

"Hurray!" Vern once again soars mildly into the air with a thrilled grin. The boys all observe him doing this with narrowed eyes and an elevated brow "Sorry" Vern bows his head in embarrassment, shuffling over to Gordie who gazes at me, his admiration clear.

It isn't the first time I've had guys his age goggling at me, in fact Gordie is one of the decent ones who keep their thoughts to themselves and don't yell things associating with my body and appearance at me.

"It's cool Verno, next time we'll just put you under the short tree near school, see what happens then" Teddy informs a gobsmacked Vern who has already started to cringe in pain from the very imagination of it.

"Welcome to the gang Jennifer" Chris pats me on the back with a befriending smile. A warm and fuzzy sensation buzzes inside of me; it's the feeling of belonging to something that will guard me from any hazards or pain.

Suddenly, there is this boisterous gurgling rumble. Without a word, everyone spirals around and gawks at Vern who stands there, fully apprehensive that he has been named the culprit for the noises.

"How can you be so hungry? Seriously, you look like you've eaten two elephants for breakfast!" Teddy cries, rummaging through his pockets for some tasty snack that could hush Vern's famished stomach. Vern peers down at his stomach in shame, pressing his hands strenuously on it in either as an attempt to make him seem thinner or to silence the hungry gargles.

"I can't help it! My mom feeds me too much for dinner then Billy stuffs his leftovers down my neck! It's not my fault she makes too much macaroni cheese!"

I always knew that Billy was cruel to his brother; he often mentioned what calamities he had brought upon Vern when telling us about his day. I find it incredibly odd how Billy acts so friendly towards me but when hearing the other side of his stories, he comes across as a frightening and repellent insect that I wish to be rid of. The only person who shows their true colours of their dislike for me is Eyeball.

Eyeball often rolls his eyes when Ace puts my own needs in front of his. I remember one occasion where Eyeball was drunker than a sailor and he told me exactly what he thought of me. His precise words were:

"You're just a spoiled little rich girl who wants all the attention. Ace only likes you 'cause you're hot and rich. Once your Daddys money's gone, you'll be lonely. Ace'll leave you and you'll be on the streets with nothing but a name and a few rags to keep you a little warm"
I was emotionless when he confessed this, I was expecting it. What I wasn't expecting was for him to begin touching me inappropriately in areas that no man should lay hands on if not in love with the woman, and kissing me with his slimy lips. I was helpless, squirming around and yelping for help with fresh tears running down my face whilst Ace and his friends idly watched on, laughing at Eyeball torturing me.

He was correct about Ace. When it comes to dating women, Ace ignores all personality traits and hunts for the pretty faces and lean bodies. I am positive that Chris will be the opposite of his brother. If he does turn out completely different, he has a chance for his future.

"Aw man! I ain't got anything!" Teddy sighs infuriated; I pat around even though I have no pockets "Anyone else bring somethin'?" we all look at each other with hope that someone has anything that we can digest. "Oh well isn't this just great? What are we supposed to do now? Eat our feet?" he then groans sarcastically.

"Ha ha Teddy, very funny! So I'm guessing you didn't bring anything either?" Chris accuses with his hands on his hips to show his authority, Teddy glares at Chris and opens his mouth to retaliate "I didn't think so"

"Hey! This wasn't my idea!" Teddy all of a sudden turns on me, I know exactly what he's about to do "What about Rich Girl? Why isn't anyone shouting at her? I don't see any food coming from her hands!"

"Because Asshole Merrill forced her to come along at the last minute, that's why!" Gordie snaps, his fists are clenched and glued to his side so he can withhold himself from throwing punches in Teddy's direction. Out the corner of my eye, I can see Vern hugging himself and looking as if he is about to burst out in tears, Teddy also notices this and finds his escape.

"What about you? Remember, this was your idea!"

"I brought the comb though! Aw shucks, Chris you know me! I'm useless at this sorta stuff!" Vern's voice is desperate for any kind of help, and everyone can see it – including Teddy who in order to dig himself out of the hole he constructed when he offended Gordie by using me as an excuse, rounds up on Vern.

"Like a comb's gonna help anything! Why the hell did you even bring it? You don't have any hair!" Vern defensively clutches his head that is glowing red in anger. His boiling point has been consumed.

"I brought it along especially for you guys goddamnit!" the two boys who are portraying immortal enemies as the square up to each other with their eyes inspecting each other to discover a slightest hint of fear "Do you wanna look a mess when the news people interview us?"

"Well your gonna be a mess no matter what you do to yourself! So you'll ruin the picture anyway! I'd be surprised if you don't break the camera!" Vern's face illuminates redder than a cherry, seeing this I have to intervene before Vern strikes out.

At once I position myself between them; I've witnessed too many fights to count before with Ace and innocents who had unwillingly flung themselves on his bad list. I accompanied the boys on this journey for something new, not to relive the whole experience of conflicts all over again.

"Ok, first off – you two calm the hell down and second of all, has anyone got any money we could buy food with?" I command, this wasn't a suggestion.

For once in my life, I'm calling the shots. I knew this trip would convert me from a passive girl who would usually stand in the desolate corner and not utter a word, to a brave woman who isn't afraid of anything. I'm taking gradual steps though, but I'm almost there. I can feel it in my bones that I'm modifying myself to that person I've idolized and yearned to become.

"I agree with Jennifer" Gordie instantly says, perching down on the train tracks and exploring through his pockets.

"I had a feeling you'd say that..." Teddy grumbles and sits down next to Gordie. Vern rebuilds his patience and waits for me to sit down until he does so himself, next to me like a lost puppy who is loyal to its owner.

The sound of pennies clattering on each other is like a wind chime, soothing if not a little disruptive. As soon as everyone contributes, including myself since I discovered seventy cents in a pocket I forgot I had, Gordie counts through the money. Everyone has smiles fixed on their lips until Vern hands over his addition, that happiness fades away into disbelief.

"Seven cents? Really Vern?" Gordie questions, shaking his head in disappointment. Vern shrugs and explains how he hasn't found the pennies that have been missing for six months.

"You can get a lot at that store by the junkyard for that amount of money, we should go there" I propose, all the boys approve of my decision. All except Teddy who stares at me in bewilderment.

"Junkyard stores aren't very designer you know?" I just roll my eyes at him as do the other boys. Ace on a regular basis takes me to that store; he rarely pays for any of his purchases though.

I'm about to retort when in the distance the chugging of a train can be heard and as I glance behind my shoulder, I can just the silver smoke drift above the trees horizon. I haul myself up and jog down the minor hill as do the others. Everyone is calm and then in sync, every set of eyes enlarge – Teddy is on the tracks.


Whoop! I love all the responses to this story, thank you all so much! Thank you to- MadeInThe90's, Izout and Duck for reviewing on the last chapter and to everyone who has read this! Heres the update guys and hope you enjoy :D