Ante Up

Chapter Four

It had been two days since the little gang war. And to the boys surprise, Ace and his men hadn't come looking for them. But, one couldn't be off guard, they were everywhere. The ears and the eyes of Castle rock.

"Hah!" Teddy shouted, slamming his cards down and revealing a full house. Everyone groaned, and Teddy unfolded his arms, sweeping up the ante with a smile. "That's right girls. Duchamp wins anther round!" he laughed. Chris rolled his eyes, taking a drag from his cigarette.

"Hey Gordie, wasn't it a lot more quiet without Teddy?" Chris smirked, glancing to his best friend. Gordon nodded, giving a laugh. Chris took another breath, Teddy mocking him. Teddy picked up a penny, flicking it at Vern who was reading a magazine.

"Verno, wake up," he said, leaning out to turn up a radio. "You in this next round?"

"Na," Vern replied, flipping a page. Teddy sighed, rolling his eyes.

"What are you reading anyways?" Gordie said, leaning in to look at the cover.

"Pussies United," Teddy replied, and everyone chuckled. Vern scowled. Tossing it down. He looked at the radio, then to each of his friends. This clubhouse was pretty beat up, and man it felt good to be back with his best pals. Teddy began shuffling, and dealing the cards. Chris picked up his, licking his finger and aligning them to his liking. Gordie did the same, but flicked one with a smile. Vern looked down to his small pile and picked it up. He looked over it, instantly knowing he had nothing. He groaned inwardly, glancing to Teddy who was lighting up another cigarettes.

Vern cleared his throat, "Where's that girl?" he said, looking up to hear a song come on the radio. Teddy turned it down, tossing a nickel into the pot. He looked up, licking his lips and leveling his glasses.

"She's tired," he said, a hint of smile dancing over his lips. Vern quirked his brow in confusion. Teddy took a long drag from his cigarette, attempting to make a circle with his smoke. "We did the dance," he said with a snicker. Vern still did not understand. Teddy rolled his eyes, leaning a bit, "The mumbo Vern," he said. Vern shrugged. Teddy slapped his hand onto the table, "Come on Verno! I banged her!" he said, looking up. Chris laughed uncontrollably, Gordie looking at him with a quizzical smile.

"Ya and I was elected president," Chris said, laying his hand down. Gordie and Vern laughed.

"Damnit," Teddy said, laying his hand down and shoving the ante to Chris. Chris piled the ante into his lap, still snickering. Suddenly, a knock came from below, and everyone paused. Teddy flicked his cigarette butt, and coughed. "Who's there," he said, the silence gnawing.

"Abby," returned the voice of their new found friend. They moved the table, and in climbed Abby. She stood aside as they placed the table back, and sat down on the floor, looking at the four boys awkwardly. Teddy sighed, looking at his friends. Obviously, he had not 'banged' her.

"Guys this is Abby. Abby, this is Chris, Vern and Gordie," he said, pointing to each one to match their name. Chris waved, Gordie nodded, and…Vern asked a million and one questions.

"Are you a real girl, or some queer? Why do you dress like that? Have a boyfriend? Is the Connelly house haunted?" Abby looked at him with a light smile, and laughed.

"Hey guys," she responded, giving a wave. Teddy began shuffling again, this time dealing in Abby. "Um no, I'm all girl. I like dressing like this, no and no," she replied to Vern's interrogation. Teddy smirked.

"Verno here never saw a girl before, or at least up close. Don't be surprised if he tries to feel you up," Teddy said, and in response everyone laughed, except Vern.

"Shut-up Duchamp," he responded, picking up his cards. Everyone had their hands, and looked intently at them, exchanging spare glances. "Abby, you bring money?" Vern asked, glancing up at her. Abby nodded, rearranging her card. Gordie sighed.

"I fold," he said, placing his hand down. He glanced to Abby, who was wearing almost the same thing the day they first saw her. Except now she was wearing jeans. Teddy laughed, tossing a penny into the pot. Vern did the same, and so did Chris. Abby also did the same, but tossed in a nickel. She smirked at them, quietly going over her hand.

"Got a good hand Abby?" Chris said, picking up a soda and taking a swig. Abby shrugged, glancing to Teddy who was reading her. She sighed, uncrossing her legs.

"She aint got shit," Teddy said, adding the nickel. Vern folded, and Chris put his in. Abby sighed, and spread her hand down. A royal flush. "Shit," Teddy sighed, throwing his down. Chris did the same, and Vern laughed.

"Holy cow! A royal!" he said, pointing at the hand.

"No shit Verno. I may be half-deaf but I'm not blind," he said, punching Vern's shoulder. Vern rubbed his shoulder, scooting away from his friend. Abby sighed, picking up her win. Teddy gathered up the cards.

"Hey guys, you hear about those murders?" he said, glancing to each one in turn. Everyone shook their heads. He sighed, flipping the cards over and setting them down. "Ya. That Dennison kid. Found him in the woods near the tracks. With a bullet in his head," Teddy said. Everyone listened carefully, Vern wide-eyed. "They never found out who is was. That was last week. Last night, they found another one. His face was so screwed up, they couldn't identify him."

"Whoa," Vern said, picking up a cigarette and lighting it. Teddy nodded. Chris sighed, and waved his hand.

"Bullshit Teddy," Chris said. Teddy stood up.

"Fuck off Chris. Its true," he said, glancing to everyone. "I say, we figure this thing out, and finally get our names in the newspaper," he said, slamming his fist on the table. Vern nodded rapidly.

"Ya, ya!"

Chris sighed, looking at Gordie. "What happened last time Teddy? We got the shit beat out of us!" he said, Gordie nodding as well. Vern shivered, looking at Abby, who was completely in the dark about the whole thing. Teddy rolled his eyes.

"What are you all? Pussy?" Everyone except Abby growled, and began arguing. Teddy mocked Vern, causing Vern to lunge at him. Chris and Gordie lept to keep him off Teddy, while Teddy aimed an uppercut to Vern's jaw line. Abby sighed, watching as she plopped her chin into one hand. Suddenly, Chris shouted.

"Enough!" Everyone was quiet, even Teddy, who looked ridiculous without glasses. Teddy growled, scooping up his glasses and setting them back on his face. Everyone looked to Chris, who was breathing heavily. He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Alright. Alright, listen. it's a good plan Duchamp. A plan and a half. But, what about the people who are doing this? Its not Ace and his gang now, they wont stop to think twice about killing us. We're just another Tyler Dennison to them," he said, glancing to Vern who was miserably rubbing his face.

Abby nodded, "Hes right. My grandpa was a cop. These people aren't some cheap dime store bandits. They are the real deal," she said, bunching her hair up into a ponytail. Teddy set hid jaw, slugging his shoulders.

"Who died and put you in charge?" he said rather acidly. Abby narrowed her eyes.

"Shut the fuck up Teddy," she replied, her chest rose, and she glanced at the other three boys who were wide-eyed and in literal shock. Teddy was quiet, but quickly retaliated.

"Who said you were even in this Harris?"

"I do," Chris said quickly, glancing to the new gang-member.

"What!" Teddy wailed, glaring daggers at Chris. He slapped a cup off the table, it shattered on the wall, and left a fizzing mess all over the ground. Abby glanced between the two, and sighed.

"Alright. Listen Teddy. I'm not trying to take over, or anything. Its just, I've seen first hand what a murderer can do, and its not all sunshine and roses. They will, kill you" she said, standing up and dusting off her jeans. Teddy ran a hand through his thick hair, and nodded. In a crazy way, he understood. Chris agreed, and soon everyone had sat down around the table, and swapped ideas. Vern however, suggested they go eat. This aroused another argument between he and Teddy, which resulted in a massive pile-on. Abby laughed and she jumped on the very top. Vern wailing on the very bottom of it all.