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Kennedy walked the short distance to the pool hall and put her books on the nearest stool. She made herself look like a fool in front of Chris and Kennedy knew he was going to tell Gordie. Kennedy racked the table and took a pool cue off of the rack. Pool always made her feel better. She chalked the end and broke the stack. All the pool balls breaking nicely and two stripes went into the lower right and left pocket.
"Not bad," someone said. Kennedy looked up before taking a shot and saw Chris staring at her.
"What are you doing here? You follow me?" Kennedy said shooting the fifteen into the right center pocket.
"I knew you didn't go home," Chris said sitting on the stool and facing the pool table. "You usually go right out of the diner to go home like I do. You went left."
"So you're stalking me," Kennedy said sinking the fourteen ball. Chris looked at Kennedy than back at the game. "What do you want Chris?" Kennedy shot again sinking another strip ball.
"I shouldn't have said what I did," Chris said pushing a piece of hair away from his eyes. "I shouldn't judge you."
"Everyone else judges me, why shouldn't you?" Kennedy said sinking the last of the strips. "Left center pocket." Kennedy said sinking the eight ball in the pocket she called.
"I know what it feels like to have people think your nothing because of your brother," Chris said. "I was wrong. Mostly scared someone was going to see you talking to me and I was going to get beat up by Ace or Eyeball."
"Ace and Eyeball are drunk everyday; I doubt they would remember if someone told them they saw me talking to you." Kennedy said racking the pool balls up.
"I'll play you," Chris said jumping off the stool and grabbing a pool stick.
"You sure?" Kennedy said. "I don't want you to cry when I beat you. You break." Chris shot the cue ball and broke the stack but nothing went in.
"Table is still open," Kennedy said hitting the two ball and sinking it in the left pocket. Kennedy then lined herself up and sunk the four ball into the same pocket.
"So Chris, you apply to college?" Kennedy asked sinking the three ball next.
"Yeah Oregon State," Chris said sitting on the stool with his pool stick.
"You get in?" Kennedy asked as she hit the seven ball into a different pocket.
"Yeah," Chris said. "The Law program."
"Law," Kennedy said hitting the one ball next into a pocket. "Impressive."
"As long as I pass all my college classes," Chris explained. Kennedy hit the six ball into the far left pocket and than the five.
"They are letting a Chambers into the Law program, who would have thought that?" Kennedy said. "Eight ball, corner left pocket." Kennedy hit the eight ball into the pocket, winning the game.
"I didn't even get to play," Chris laughed. "I can see why Eyeball comes home with wads of cash every week. Why do you let him do that to you?"
"Do what?" Kennedy said putting her stick back on the rack.
"Let him use you for money. I know you haggle people every week in pool. I also know Ace and Eyeball make you do it." Chris explained.
"It keeps them happy," Kennedy explained. She grabbed her books and made her way of the pool hall with Chris following. "Listen I like playing pool, I been playing ever since my mom died. It keeps me sane. I need to go."
"Wait," Chris said grabbing Kennedy's arm lightly. "Are we cool?"
Kennedy looked at Chris and than smiled. "Yeah were cool. I'll see you tomorrow."
8am came to fast for Kennedy. She quickly changed and made her way out of the house before Ace and Eyeball who was passed out on the couch noticed her. Kennedy knew her friends would not be going to school, since they always ditched on Fridays. So Kenney had to walk the five blocks to school.
"Hey Kennedy," someone yelled behind her. "Wait up." Kennedy turned around and her heart skipped a beat. Gordie was running up to her out of breathe.
"I saw you walk by my house," Gordie said.
"So you decided to run to me," Kennedy joked pushing her messy brown hair out of her face.
"I thought maybe we could walk to school," Gordie said shoving his hands into his pockets. Gordie wore the same thing the night Kennedy met him. Black shirt tucked into blue jeans. "I heard you talked to Chris last night."
"Word travels fast doesn't it," Kennedy laughed.
"Chris stopped at my house after he talked to you," Gordie explained. The duo rounded the corner and bumped into someone coming out of the liquor store.
"Kennedy!" they said stumbling into her.
"Drinking so soon Billy," Kennedy said pushing Billy away from her.
"Just heading home," he said combing his hair with a small black comb. "Where are you going?"
"To school, it is 8am," Kennedy said walking past him with Gordie.
"I saw you at the pool hall with Chris last night," Billy said causing Kennedy to stop dead in her tracks. "I just called Ace from the pay phone and told him."
"Why would you do that?" Kennedy said turning around to face Billy Tessio.
"You know the rules Kennedy. No hanging out with people Ace don't like." Billy said. "I think I see his car now." Ace pulled his car up to the side walk and rolled down the window.
"Get in the car Kennedy," Ace said.
"I have to go to school Ace," Kennedy said. Ace glared at Gordie and than Kennedy.
"I'll drive you, get in the damn car," Ace yelled.
"I'll see you later Gordie," Kennedy said defeated and got into the car. Ace sped away before Kennedy could shut the door.
Kennedy stared out the window of Ace's car. She knew he wouldn't drive her to school.
"Why are you hanging out with Chris and Gordie?" Ace asked. Kennedy was surprised at the calmness of his voice. "I told you not to."
"They are nice boys," Kennedy said. "You have a problem with them Ace not me."
"They are no good Kennedy," Ace yelled.
"No good!" Kennedy argued. "Eyeball is no good, fucking Billy is no good. Chris and Gordie are going to college."
"Kennedy I told you before not to hang out with them!" Ace yelled back.
"Why? Because you have a problem with them cause of something that happened six years ago. Your twenty four years old Ace and your fighting with a eighteen year old." Kennedy explained. Ace looked at Kennedy and than back at the road.
"Kennedy…"
"No Ace, I'm not going down your path. I'm going to college. I am getting the fuck out of Castle Rock. Just like mom wanted!" Kennedy said. They were stopped at a red light and Kennedy made her getaway. She opened the door and jumped out grabbing her books and purse. She slammed the door and walked away.
"Get in the car Kennedy," Ace yelled.
"No," she yelled. "Fuck off Ace."
"Get in the car," he said again driving slowly on the street to keep up with her.
"No Ace," Kennedy said. "Just leave me alone." Kennedy ran down a back alley where she knew Ace couldn't follow. Kennedy stopped once she got to the back alley and sat down on a crate. Ace never acted like this when their mom was around. Then she died and everything changed for the worse.