I just watched Super 8 again. God, I LOVE that movie so, so so so so so so so so, much. The beginning of this chapter should sound familiar. Because I stole just about every sentence and movement from the movie. I had to pay really close attention to what the kids said, or else this would be so inaccurate. And Cary just cracked me up a few times at "You're not supposed to talk at all in silent reading section!" then he whispered "It's for silent reading." Do you guys remember that? It makes me giggle. I also noticed something about Preston. You know how everyone (including me) portrays him as quiet and observant and background-typish. Well, I was watching and when the kids were waiting for Alice to show up with the car, he was singing along with the guys, playing air guitar, and laughing just like everyone else. Alright, enough with my amazingly long author's note.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Super 8.
-C is for Caring-
I stood with my group of friends at a table, "What do you think was in the coffin?" Cary asked. That kid is weird. I mean, he's a great friend (sometimes) and all, but he is just so... Cary.
"Jesus. Shut up," Martin said to him.
Ignoring me completely, he decides to continue to talk, "Just saying. 'Cause of how she died." It's true. Joe's mother did die in a really terrible way. Cary looked around at us, "You guys weren't wondering that?" he asked.
I sighed, "No,I'm eating macaroni salad." I replied.
"I was wondering about that, too," Charles said. This was one of the only times I had ever heard them agree on anything, "I heard it crushed her completely."
I looked at him. And for once, Charles and I were able to agree as well, "Steel beams? Those things way a ton" I paused, "Literally."
"I don't know how you guys can eat," Martin said.
"Try the turkey and you'll discover how," Charles said to him. Even at funerals our group is able to be themselves.
But I kind of agreed with Martin. I glanced out the window. I saw Joe, our best friend, sitting on the swing set, looking extremely melancholy and holding his mother's locket tightly in his hand. We were interrupted when we heard Joe's dog, Lucy, barking and begging for food. Jack, Joe's father, pulled her down, "Lucy, down! Get down!" he scolded. He looked back, "Joe," he called. "Have you seen Joe?" he asked somebody behind him. We watched silently from the table.
"Bet Joe's not gonna want to do my movie anymore." Charles stated. I wouldn't blame Joe. His mother just died. And Charles is thinking about his movie? I know it's really important to him and all, but there are more important matters going on.
"Why?" Cary asked. No offense to him or anything, but Cary isn't the brightest.
I didn't look back at them, but I knew that neither Cary nor Charles had looked away from Lucy and Jack, "Why do you think why? The story." he explained like he was talking to an annoying five year old. Cary came close. "The living dead."
What?, I thought. "His mother's not a zombie," I said, breaking contact from the dog.
"But she's dead, shithead," he said to me. Thanks Charles. What a good friend you are to me.
Out of blue Cary said, "These turkey legs are pretty good."
"Told you." Charles answered.
I hardly even remembered what happened next, it happened so quickly. But we all saw Louis Dainard walk in through the front door. We all stared, knowing that this would mean trouble because Jack blamed Louis for Elizabeth's death. Anyway, we watched as the blond asked someone if they knew where Jack was.
No sooner had he come in that Jack was storming up to him, "Get out!" he shouted.
"Wait! Wait!" Louis pleaded.
There was some more yelling, "Jack! Please wait!"
"Get out!" Jack shouted again, and he pushed the other man out of the house, holding one arm behind his back. We watched a lot of struggle between the two and we continued to watch through the window as many people went silent. We watched as Jack pushed Louis into the cop car. Jackson looked at Joe one more time, and seemed to say something before he climbed into the cruiser as well and sped off.
We all looked at each other for a few minutes, not saying a word. Until finally Cary said, "It would suck to be in that car right now."
I looked out the window at Joe one more time, "Hey, guys. I'll be right back." I said slowly before I started to walk away from them and out of the house. I knew they were watching me. But I also knew that in a few seconds Cary would say something stupid and they would stop focusing on me. And, honestly, I preferred it that way.
I walked out of the house and slowly, ever so slowly, walked towards the swing set as the not startle Joe. He didn't notice me until I sat down on the swing next to him, he looked at me and quickly wiped under his eyes with his sleeves. "Hey Preston," he said quietly.
His cheeks and nose were red from the cold. And he just looked so...sad. "What are you doing?" I felt really dumb asking that question, but what else could I say?
"Nothing," he replied, looking down at the snow that blanketed the ground.
I didn't really know what to say next. But I wasn't going to leave the conversation lingering that, "Are...are you alright, Joe?" I asked, debating with myself whether or not to put a hand on his shoulder.
He looked at me. God, he looked so damn sad. But he had helped me when I needed it, I plan to help him. Not to mention he'd helped Cary when his dad left. Joe helped everyone and it was about time someone helped him, "Yeah, uhm, I'm...I'm fine." He had definitely been crying.
"You sure?" I asked. I already knew the answer was no, but he wouldn't admit it immediately.
"Hmm," he nodded convincingly. But I knew Joe well enough, I could see right through his act. But I couldn't blame him for denying anything, his mother just died. She was everything to Joe. He looked as if he wanted to ask me something, but he wasn't sure if he should. Eventually, he asked, "Uhm... Preston?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?" he asked, still having that doubtful look in his eyes.
"Sure," I said. I would do anything to help him out right now.
He was silent for a few moments, and finally he said, "What did you do when...when your sister died?" he looked up at me through his bangs.
I tensed a little. I didn't really like to talk about the death of my sister, it was really sad, but like I said, I'd do anything to help him out right now. "Well...I guess that I just, put it in the corner of my mind. I didn't do what was healthy. I didn't talk about it. I just put on a smile, and lived my life like it was before. But I shouldn't of."
"Why shouldn't you have done that?" he asked, "Isn't it better to put on a brave face?"
I looked at him, and studied his expression, but it was unreadable. "No." I started, "It's not healthy. You can go into depression that way."
He looked back down and left a lot of silence lingering between us. After a couple of minutes, I stood up slowly, "Alright. Well, if you ever need me Joe, I'll be here."
He smiled at me a little, "Alright."
I turned and started walking but before I could get too far, Joe stopped me, "Hey, Preston?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for caring."
Well, there y'all go. I love this chapter. Call me crazy (not really), but I think it rocks. Originally, it was going to be his mother who died BUT as I was watching the movie, I realized that Preston said, and I quote "Your obsession of fire, and I'm saying this as a friend, concerns me...and my mother". Then I realized that his mother can't be dead if Cary's obsession with fire concerns her...
Anyway, bye! The next chapter will be sad and dark! Just a warning!
