THERE IS MANY-A-REFERENCE TO J.R.R.TOLKIENS "THE HOBBIT" I'll explain as much as possible, but if I'm not clear feel free to ask for clarification and I'll give it in the next chapter.
DBG- fine, fine, update that blasted fic will you?
MollyMORPHINE- that term shall be used more and more as this fic wears on seeing as I got so many positive reviews for it (3 is many :D lol)
Josh- I hated Jimy soooo much through that game- I just needed to finish it then fell in love with everyone that wasn't Jimmy xD
Seinasu- THANK YOU FOR READING THIS :D I love you so much for it. I'm glad you're enjoying this so far.
CHAPTER 11
"In Which there is a Weakness to Gary's Plan"
Gary was lying sprawled out on a ratty, yellow and blue plaid couch, he absolutely hated the couch and contemplated several times tearing away the hideous apholestry, but gave up the thought. The ugly thing reminded him of his life- if someone pissed on it who would know, or even care? Aside from the smell you wouldn't notice, and no one would come close enough anyway due to it being their least favorite peice of furniture ever brought into existance by man. Okay, second ugliest, Rusty had a cherry red and pink circular table on powder blue wheels. He wanted to kick it down the stairs and listen to it crash but Rusty would throw a fit, enticing her, her brothers, and the rest of the damned clique onto his head. He didn't need that, nor wanted it.
The thought occured to him several times: "why am I laying here?" but then was quickly answered by the high-pitched, nasally voice in the back of his mind; he was laying there, with no purpose, for the past two and a half hours because he was trying not to think about the homework Galloway had assigned. Read the first four chapters of 'The Hobbit' wasn't that for college kids? He sighed. The Greasers hadn't a single book in the Tennements and after much debate it was decided that Johnny and his boys would peddle to the nearest book store and purchase as many copies as they'd need. Gary was designated to stay behind with Rusty, Nicky and Gina. Oh yeah, Johnny had gone after this one.
Gina was.. insane, to be perfectly clear she was insane. Everything about her shook Gary's mind- wondering how a girl like her even managed to co-exist with the ever-forward-moving trends of society. She also adored the kids and was currently trying to introduce Rusty to.. to poodles. Of all things! Yes, in the fifties poodles were all the rage, but its been decades since the poodle doinated fashion and there they were looking through yellow-paged catalouges most likely owned by Gina's grandmother.
"Seeee?" Gina squealed "Innit cuuute?"
"Gina" Rusty said evenly, "Its a pink poodle on a coffee mug. Its nothing special."
"Imagine Johnny drinkin' out of it!" she continued- ignoring Rusty's unenthusiastic response, "Imagine him all bleary-eyed, messy-haired in the morning!"
"Ew. Please." Rusty huffed and rolled her eyes, "He's my brother- plus, you've never seen him in the morning. He's a jerk."
She giggled girlishly again, "Oh yes! Johnnycake Vincent!"
"He'll have a cow if he hears ya' say that" Nicky said, his index finger stuck between two full pouty lips, "He hates' it."
"I know" she giggled, "Only when bad news over there says it. I've been callin' him that all week, he gives me this cute little smile."
"Oh please, stop" Rusty sighed shaking her head
Gary opened one eye and looked over at them, "Nicky, you're gonna turn into a girl you keep looking at those shaved rat knick-knacks. Come over here and be a man."
"I think the Poodles're cute" Nicky smiled
"Oh God, the corruption has begun!" Gary drawled, "Please, if you don't stop and Johnny catches you in skirts and petticoats with snazzy little pink poodles the one who's gonna be in toruble is me."
"Why you?" Rusty asked
"He hates me. I think he thinks I corrupted little Femme-boy back in the boy's dorm. I wonder what that little creep is up to.."
--
"Hey!" Johnny tossed a shiny soft-back book at Hal, "Think fast!!"
the pointed edge of the top spine struck the unsuspecting boy in the forehead and he fell over onto the ground in shock while Johnny doubled over, clutching at his sides his knees giving way as he laughed. Peanut shook his head, grinning down at him, he didn't have the heart to reriman his best friend-- he'd been in such a funk lately over Lola; Gina had lightened it a bit but he'd hardly laughed this much in a long time.
Hal picked it up, "The Hobbit. What the hell is a Hobbit?"
"A little fat guy with fuzzy feet." Lefty replied picking the book from Hal's grubby hands- and sure enough that was the creature on the cover
"Didn't they make a movie outta' this?" Ricky asked taking it from Norton and leafing through the pages
"No- they made a movie outta the crap after it" Vance said
"Hey!" Norton snapped at him, always having a greater regard for literature than the others, "Man, this is the best work of fantasy fiction- it started the entire genre- will you NOT call it 'crap' you illiterate sonuva-"
"Easy there, man, easy" Johnny laughed punching his shoulder, "Not that big a deal. All that Grease gone to Vance's brain."
"Oh shut up" Vance huffed
Norton looked through the pages, "This one's good. My mom read it when I was a kid, I don't remember it entirely." he said,
"Alright- its got Norry's approval so let's get the hell outta here" Ricky said
They purchased several copies before starting out the door, "...Norry?" Norton hissed once they wer on their bikes and the purchases were strapped to the back of Peanut and Lucky's bikes. Ricky grinned sheepishly and pushed off, forcing the larger, more irritated Greaser to peddle faster and give chase.
--
The book, in all truth, drew Gary in like he'd never expected it to. He was captivated by the mission the chaacters were on; to regain control of a hord of Dwarves gold, the poor Dragon; Smaug; he hadn't done anything to them to be kicked out of his cozy, hollow mountain. Gary and Norton sat up late for hours reading the entire volume and by the end Gary learned quite a bit.
One, Gollum, that loathesome foul little beast was obsessed with such a stupid little ring. A stupid little ring he claimed had been a birthday present. Gary never once recieved such a thing. He understood the obsession though, it may just be the creatures pyschosis. Gary related greatly with him and his fabulous obsessions. Obsessions of death, and time, of life and irony. What an in-depth little creature.
Another, the most important, was taught by the Dragon, the beast had a bare patch on his left breast where his heart was. Though that was just an over-sight on the wyrm's behalf, Gary found meaning. He let Rusty and Nicky get too close to his heart, allowed them to see parts of him no one else was privileged too. That.. that in every way was what would be his doom. Just like with Jimmy Hopkins.. that was the approach he should have taken but these kids weren't like Jimmy, he didn't think they could stab him in the back.
He longed for companionship, against his better judgement, and let them in. They were his bare patch, right over his heart, and if he let them roost there someone may use them against him. No, he decided, no more Mr.Nice-Gary. He had to crack back down, to dfeat James, and not get hurt again. He never wanted to get hurt ever again.
Okay.. I hope that was clear. Please tell me you got all that. I don't want anyone mad at me for pulling that in. And the thing about Norton, well, he is the one who wanders the game (I just lost) and quotes The Outsiders :D
