Chapter 3

 The Park

Tessa woke up, ready to go back to bed, she wasn't sure where she was and didn't intend to stay up long enough to find out. Then she remembered that she told Teddy and Chris that she was going to meet them at the tree house at 12. She looked at the clock and it was 11:30. she jumped out of bed and hurried to get dressed, good thing she took a shower last night. She put in her cutest outfit and set out.

She went to the tree house and knocked

"That's not the secret knock!" Gordie yelled over his card game.

"I didn't know there was a secret knock!?" Tessa said back.

"Let her in Chris, we all know that its Tessa." Vern said wanting to get back his game.

"Fine" Chris said, still looking at his cards and opening the door and letting her in.

"Playing cards again?"      

" We are always playing cards." Vern said tonelessly, because he was so engulfed in his game.

"Tessa, are you better?" Teddy asked.

"Yea, Chris, still breathing right?" Tessa said sarcastically.

"Yup, RUMMY!"

"I want you guys to show me around, to places that you like. I want you to tell me things." Tessa said dying to explore her new town.

"Well, we can go down to the 9th street park and then over to the school, summer school already started and they may be able to give us our schedules." Gordie stated.

 "Lets go!

They went to the park on 9th street. They went to the swings first, everyone goes to the swings first. They were swinging, and all of a sudden Gordie jumped up and ran over to the slide. They didn't realize until they were chasing him that Tobii was playing on the slide with her little sister, Amanda.            

"Mandy look who it is, its Gordie." Tobii pointed to Gordie.

"Tob, don't you know that it is rude to point! Mandy tell your sister that its rude to point."

"Hello Gordie. Obi, its rude to point." Obi was all that Mandy could pronounce of her sisters name. She was only 3 years old. "Gordie, do you want to play on the side with me?"

"Nah Mandy, I'll play in a little bit. Okay?"

Tessa, Chris, Teddy and Vern walked over. "Hey Tobii, Hey Mandy girl, how ya doin'?"

"Chris, will you play on the slide with me?" Amanda ran over and gave Chris a hug.

"Sure Mandy, Tobii, I am gonna take Mandy for a little while, ok?"

"Yea she has been obsessing over the slide like all day." Tobii said relieved to get someone to take Amanda.

"Teddy." I whispered

"Yea."

"Why did Chris offer to play with Mandy?"

"Chris is Mandy's babysitter when Tobii is out of town. Mandy loves him. That's a bit often since Tobii is the super basketball player and she is constantly trying to get a team together, most girls don't play basketball here, so she goes from town to town looking. Its lucky she has parents who want her to do something besides Gordie." Eee-eeee-eeeeee, Teddy said laughing hysterically. I was laughing too not because of his joke, but his laugh. After he calmed down, "Its good for Chris because he really doesn't get trust from a lot of people, being a Chambers kid."

Quickly changing the subject, "Do they call her Mandy?"

"Yea"

"She is very cute."

"Yea"

"You like that word don't you"

"Yea" He was smiling that adorable smile again.

They left the park when Mandy got tired of the slide. They walked Tobii and Mandy home. When they got there, Tobii gave Gordie a kiss on the cheek and went in. Then they walked Vern home and the Chris and Tessa walked Teddy home. They stopped in for a minute because Tessa was complaining that she needed a drink they got her a drink and then Tessa and Chris were on their way.

"How do you like it here so far?"

"Well thanks to you Vern, Teddy and Gordie, I am actually having SO much fun. I mean I would have had an entire summer to kill. I m really glad that I moved next to you."

"Thanks Tessa, I am glad you moved in too, the old neighbors were old fags."

"Nice to know."

"Yea, Shit, we forgot to go over to the school. I guess we will go back another time, or wait to get them in the mail."

"Guess so."

They got home, eventually got their schedules, and they were all in lunch together. Tessa was in a couple of classes with Vern and Teddy. She was in Tech Media with Teddy only, and was in three classes with Teddy and Vern. She was in one class with just Chris and was in all the rest with Chris, Gordie and Tobii. The summer left as soon as it came and it was one week until school started.

Dear Diary,

            I had such a good day at the park. Tobii's sister is the cutest kid I have ever seen. I think it was cute how she ran to give Chris a hug. I am glad that I got my schedule and I am in a class with everyone. I cant believe that school is actually starting in a week, its like I moved here yesterday. I cant wait, I know I am going to meet some new people, but I already know that I am going to stay good friend with the people I have already met. It really bugging mee, I mean Teddy is hinting that he likes mee but so is Chris and I don't know who I like better, its really getting to me. I have spent numerous times trying to figure it out.

            I am really happy, I have been here for two months and Cameron hasn't came home drunk yet. I think the move may have changed him. Also he is hanging out with that Ace fella and Eyeball, they both really scare me, they are always drunk and its not cool.

            Well I am really tired and I have a real bad headache.

                                                                                      Forever and one,

                                                                                                Tessa 333