I woke with a start when the freight train rattled past. Bright morning sunshine shined on me, warming my skin. I looked down at the campsite. The fire had gone out and Teddy and Vern were still snoring away.
My back was so stiff, so I tried to move. I realised, however, that I was pinned against something solid. I glanced down and saw Chris' arms still around me. He was snoring loudly, with his cheek pressed on top of my head.
"Chris," I said quietly. He continued to snore, obviously in a very deep sleep.
"Chris!" I repeated louder. No response.
I smacked his leg and he woke with a start. Bashfully, he released me. I got up, stretched then turned to face him.
"You okay?" I asked him.
He smiled. "Absolutely. Thanks for the company last night," he smirked.
I blushed. "No problem." I felt embarrassed as I contemplated the idea of us asleep together.
With that I turned and went to gather my things.
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In the blistering heat, we pressed on. We were all consuming what little that was left of our small supply of food.
"Geez, Georgie. Why couldn't you have gotten some breakfast stuff, like Twinkies and Pez and root beer?" Vern accused.
"Sorry, Vern," I replied. "I guess a more experienced shopper could've gotten more for your seven cents."
With our stomachs rumbling, we pressed on towards the Royal River. The reality of Ray Brower was growing and kept us moving despite the heat. For me, the idea of seeing that kid's dead body was starting to become an obsession.
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Finally, we arrived at the forest that surrounded the Royal River.
One hand on his hip, Chris announced. "Ladies and gentlemen, The Royal."
Teddy looked to the left. "God, the tracks go way out of the way."
"If we cut across this field here we'll be there in an hour," Chris replied.
Vern shook his head. "I think we should just stick to the tracks."
"I say we go across the field," Teddy countered.
"Georgie?" Chris asked me.
"Yeah."
"Let's go!" Chris exclaimed and together we ran across the field, Teddy not far behind us and Vern, reluctantly, trailing us.
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The field was a bad idea. It led us into a mud-laiden forest which had us sinking to our ankles. We trudged on, until we reached the Royal.
"I hate this shortcut," Vern grumbled.
"I hate this shortcut," Teddy mocked him. Vern made a sharp movement, and Teddy flinched. Vern burst into laughter.
"You flinched! Two for flinching! Ha-ha!"
Teddy punched him twice in the arm. "But…you flinched," Vern said, confused.
"I know. Two for flinching," Teddy rolled his eyes.
Soon, we came to the bank of the river. Chris grabbed a long branch and felt for the bottom of the river, testing its deepness.
"Hey y'all, it's not that deep. We can walk across." He threw the stick aside.
With that we hitched up our bags and proceeded to cross the river.
We took three steps and found ourselves submerged in murky river water. We all gasped for air as our heads broke the surface.
Chris had look that on his face that clearly said "Crap." I would have laughed, had I not been preoccupied with thoughts about seeing Ray Brower.
"I told you we should've stuck to the tracks," Vern grumbled.
Teddy looked at him. "Is it just me or are you the world's biggest pussy?"
"I suppose this fun for you?" Vern replied sarcastically.
"No. But this is."
With that, he grabbed Vern's head and dunked him under the surface, laughing the whole time. I rolled my eyes as Vern and Teddy wrestled with each other in the water.
"Come on, Teddy! Act your age!" Chris cried.
"This is my age!" Teddy cried back. "I'm in the prime of my youth and I'll only be young once!"
"Yeah, but you're gonna be stupid for the rest of your life."
I sighed in quiet frustration as Chris smirked at me. I looked ahead at the bank as I heard Teddy reply, "Oooo, that's it, Chambers! You just signed your own death warrant! You die, Chambers!"
I turned as Teddy and Vern pounced on Chris and attempt to dunk Chris. With the weight of both of them they accomplished this, however, Chris could dunk them both effortlessly.
Leaving the boys to their wrestling match, I waded my way over to bank on the other side of the river. I nearly got their unnoticed until I heard Chris taunting voice, "Hey! Where d'you think your going, Lachance?"
I turned. "Come on you, guys," I sighed.
I kept on moving, but I could hear yelling and splashing following me. I groaned. I figured they were coming after me.
"Come on you guys!" I repeated louder. Suddenly, I was tackled to the ground. I glanced up and saw Chris on top of me, grinning with a wild look on his face. I groaned as I felt Verns' weight and Teddy's weight pile on top off me.
"Get off guys!" I yelled.
They took no notice. Vern grabbed my head and held it in a lock. "Sleeper hold! Sleeper hold!" he chanted, tugging on my ear.
Glancing up at Vern, I noticed a small, dark spot on his neck. "Hey, Vern. Vern! There's something on your neck!"
"Yeah right! I'm not falling for that one, Lachance!"
"No, Vern," came Chris' voice from above me, "there is something on your neck!"
"It's a leech…" Teddy trailed. Then he screamed, "LEECHES!"
We were all on our feet at once, yelling at the top of our lungs. We stripped down to our underwear, frantically ripping the mountains of leeches from our bodies.
Small black shapes lay all over my body. I could feel the little sucking motions pulling at my skin. I swatted all the ones I could reach, but I could still feel them on my back.
"Georgie, there's some on your back!" Chris exclaimed. I swung around and let him swat the leeches from my back. Despite my frantic fear of the leeches, the feel of Chris' warm hands brushing against my back sent tingles along my spine. Where were these feelings coming from?
"Are there any on mine?" Chris asked me, turning his back to me. I brushed the leeches off his muscle-ridden back.
Eventually, all the leeches were gone from our bodies. However, something didn't feel right to me. Then, I felt it.
I looked down into my underwear and found a leech on a very discreet part of my anatomy.
"Oh shit…." I muttered. "Chris. Oh, shit, Chris," I said looking up, my voice shaking. Chris looked back at me warily. "Oh shit, man!"
All the boys' eyes were on me as I retrieved the leech. However, blood was all over my fingers as the leech dropped to the ground.
I was never good with blood. Suddenly, all went black.
When I regained consciousness, I was on the hard ground. Chris, Teddy and Vern were all around me, still half-naked. Obviously, I hadn't been out for very long.
"You okay, Georgie?" Chris asked me, hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah," I replied weakly. "Just let me lie here for a second."
Chris nodded. Vern and Teddy left, but Chris stayed with me. I weakly pushed myself up into a sitting position.
"You sure you're okay?" Chris asked, placing a hand under my jaw line, and stroking my cheek with his thumb. The trail his thumb left felt like fire against my skin. I felt a blush creeping up my neck.
"Yeah," I replied, smiling.
He gave me an answering smile in return, then got up and joined Teddy and Vern.
I sat there, running my new feelings for Chris through my head. Then realization hit me like a lightning bolt.
I was in love with Chris Chambers.
