Chapter 13
It was the next day that things started falling apart between me and the guys. Teddy and I stayed tight, but it was the start of a downfall. The five of us; Teddy, Vern, Chris, Gordie, and I, were hanging around in the parking lot before school started. As Ace walked by, he winked at me, and the boys began talking about him.
They told me a story from when they were twelve and thirteen. Over the summer, they were following a story in the news about a boy about their age, Ray, who went missing not far from The Rock. In short, Vern heard his brother talking about finding the body and Vern told the guys where Ray could be found. The four of them walked for a couple days along the tracks to get there. As soon as they found the body, the Cobras appeared in couple cars, led by Ace. Apparently, Ace was so determined to receive credit for finding the body, he pulled a knife on Chris and would have cut him if Gordie had not shot into the air with the gun Chris had hawked from his old man.
"He's rotten to the core," Vern said when the story was finished being told.
"Fucking-A," I told him and got up to leave. Of course I wasn't happy Ace could've killed my friend, but I was strong enough, bad enough to handle him myself. I didn't need them warning me, or judging him.
"Oh, and don't go to Castle Lake," Chris called after me, causing me to stop and turn around.
"Why not? What's up at Castle Lake?"
"It's where guys take girls they wanna hook up with, but don't ever wanna see again," Gordie explained.
"He's taken plenty of broads up there, sincerely," Vern commented.
"And you're hot enough to be a victim," Teddy laughed.
I flashed him a grin and walked on. I walked past Ace and into the school building.
That night I couldn't sleep. I kept worrying that the guys were mad at me, that they wouldn't want to be my friend anymore. It was a legitimate fear; I was developing a friendship with the biggest hood in Castle Rock, my best friends' sworn enemy.
I tried to fix things as best I could. I sought the four of them out before school started and apologized. I said I was sorry for the way I acted and they were right to be mad at me and hate Ace. I told them I didn't take criticism well, and that was my problem. They forgave me and we stayed friends.
"I was never mad at you," Teddy said giving me a bear hug and picking me up off the ground.
The damage had been done, though. They knew that I would follow Ace, even if I didn't realize it yet. We stayed a group of five, for the rest of my time in Castle Rock. We grew apart though, Chris, Gordie, Vern and I. I tried to pretend like everything was okay, but it was never the same. It never could be. The hatred between them and the Cobras ran too deep for too long.
Eventually, I would have to make a choice.