Chapter 15:

Rumors like that went on all day. Then I saw Eyeball in the hall, which made me feel a lot better. I gave him a kiss, and he seemed kind of quiet.

"Rough first day?" He asked.

"Rough like you wouldn't believe. You couldn't imagine the stupid rumors buzzing around this school. Ice picks, murders, and something about Wisconsin. Man, are they retarded!"

"Uh huh."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Okay. So how is your day going?"

"Fine."

"Anything interesting?"

"No."

"No shoot outs, no fights, nothing?"

"Nope." It was silent for a long moment. Probably the longest minute of my life! Or at least it felt that way.

"Okay Chambers, what's up?"

"Nothing."

"Spill it!"

"Nothing."

"Then why are you acting so weird?"

"I don't think this is working out too well."

"What's not working out?"

"This. Us. I think we should see other people."

"What? Why?" "No reason in particular."

"So you're dumping me for no reason?"

"No, it's not that." He said, trying to sound sympathetic.

"Oh I get it. It's the first day of school, new fish. Other woman to bang huh?"

"No, it's not that."

"Yeah, sure, and I'm a dancing ice queen."

"Jess."

"Don't talk to me." I stormed away, hiding tears. Why, that little son-of-a- bitch. I don't think I've ever been this mad or upset. As soon as I was out of Eyeball's sight, I ran into the bathroom, and cried my eyes out. I've only cried about three times in my entire life. I dried my tears and went back to class.

I was feeling a little better. That is, until I got to physical education. Chris and Vern were in my class, and we had to wear stupid uniforms, a white t-shirt and red shorts. I threw my curls up into a ponytail. We were playing basketball, and the teacher was one of Uncle Will's friends, and new that Gordie and Chris were best friends, so he paired Chris and I up. We were playing against Vern and Amy. Oh what fun. We started playing, and everything was going fine. Then Amy knocked me onto the floor as she shot the basketball into the hoop. I was ready to get up and beat the shit out of her. Chris could see this and calmed me down, so I forgot about it. Vern was telling me about what happened on the weekend when Billy and Charlie came home, when Amy, again, pushed me onto the floor.

"Jess, are you okay?" Vern asked.

"What the hell is your problem Amy?" I said, ignoring Vern.

"Jess, just forget it." Chris said.

"No. Amy why the hell are you being such a bitch?"

"Me? Well, it's better than being a slut." She giggled and turned around. That was it! I shot to my feet and pounced on her from behind. As I started to beat the shit out of her, I noticed that she could fight. I was a little unprepared for that. She got a few good punches. As the gym teachers ran over and pulled us off of each other, Chris and Vern shook their heads.

Amy and I got sent to the dean of students. I had an icepack on my eye that was starting to bruise. Amy sat four chairs away from me, with her wrist bandaged. Both of us had cuts on our faces, lips, arms, etc. And our hair was hell. We were still in our gym uniforms.

Gordie walked into the room just outside the dean's office. He sighed and looked discouraged when he saw me there. The dean called Gordie into the office. He was in there a while, and I couldn't help but to feel guilty. But Amy started it. When Gordie finally came out, he looked upset and angry. He pulled me over to a corner.

"Wh-What did he say?" I stammered as Gordie sighed.

"He was just lecturing me on how that it's bad enough that we have the Cobras in Castle Rock, without having my cousin starting trouble."

"Ouch. Gordie, I am so sorry. But it wasn't my fault. Ask Chris and Vern, they were there."

"It's okay. I told him that it wouldn't happen again, and he said he wouldn't call my parents this time, but next time, you're going to be in a lot of trouble."

"Phew! I got off scott-free huh?"

"Not exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"You have a three day suspension."

"Aw man. How am I going to explain this to your mom and dad."

"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it."

"Really? You sure?"

"Of course."

"Thanks Gordie, I owe you one."

"You have no idea."

I had started to walk to class, when I found out that Amy was in my next class. So we walked along side each other, trying desperately not to beat one another.

"I hear Eyeball dropped you like a block of ice." She said in a snotty voice.

"What's it to you?"

"Nothing. I think it's for the best. I mean, I guess he just needed to sleep with something disgusting before he realized that I was the one for him." Man, I could've beat the shit out of her right there. But I remembered what Gordie said.

"How stunning of you."

"Yeah well, he's mine so don't even think about getting him back."

"You can have him. Honestly, I've had way better." I tried to make it sound like Eyeball was shit to me. Amy stopped dead in her tracks.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, and I plan to have better. Eyeball was just practice. I've got my eye on the real prize." I'm not too sure that that was the best thing to say. But I had to say something to make it sound like I was unaffected by this. Even though inside I was dying.

"Uh huh, and who would that prize be?"

"Ace Merrill." That was the first thing that popped into my head.

"You couldn't get Ace if you tried."

"No, I'm not like you."

"And what does that mean?"

"I heard about how you tried to get to Ace through Eyeball, but Ace turned you down because you were too cheap." She looked at me as if she could cry. I loved it. I didn't really hear that. I just figured it was something she'd try to do. Guess I was right.

"Well. Aren't you doing the same thing? If it's so bad and low, how come you'll be doing it?"

"Yeah, but the thing that annoys you the most, is that I'll succeed, and you know it." She stood there for a second, seeming hurt. Oh well.

"You are a bitch!"

"No more than you sweet cheeks."

"I'm going to tell Eyeball this, and he's going to kick your ass!"

"Like he doesn't know." Bluffing (cough, cough)

"You told him?"

"Of course. Unlike you, I'm not ashamed of anything I do." Lying (cough, cough)

"You should just shut the fuck up!" Amy yelled, and a teacher came out.

"Ladies! Where are you suppose to be?!" She yelled.

"We were just going to class, Mrs. Tomson." Amy said, sweetly. It was nauseating.

"Well then stop causing a ruckus and get to class!" She peered over to her classroom. "Richard!" She called. Eyeball came out of her class and looked at Amy and I, surprised. I stood wide-eyed, as Amy fixed her hair. Eyeball gulped.

"Y-yes Mrs. Tomson." He stuttered. I saw his eye twitch a little.

"Please see to it, that these disturbing young ladies get to their class quietly." She said, and walked back into her classroom. Amy, Eyeball, and I started walking silently. Then Amy hooked her arm with his.

"So, Eyeball. Are you going to the homecoming game?"

"Uh, I don't know."

"Well, I am."

"Okay."

"I might need a ride from someone as cool as you."

"Okay." I could feel him watching me.

"So it's a date then?"

"Uh."

"Well, Jessika here was planning on going with Ace Merrill, so maybe we could double." Amy said, knowing it would make this situation unbearable.

"ACE? You're thinking of going with Ace?! Jessie what the hell is wrong with you!"

"Why not Ace. I think we'd have a good time, don't you."

"You can't!"

"Well, I might. Why do you care anyway."

"Yeah Eyeball, go with me. I promise, you'll have fun." She said licking her lips. She disgusted me. We got to our classroom. "Well, see you Friday, then." She said, and gave him a flirtatious kiss on the cheek, then went inside. I wanted to ring her neck!

"Jess, I'm sorry about breaking it off with you." Eyeball started to talk more, but that's where I tuned out. A real hot guy walked over, and kissed me long a passionately. I punched Eyeball in the face, stepped over him, and walked over, hand-in-hand with my new guy. Fazing back from the daydream, of how great that would be if it happened, Eyeball finished talking.

"Yeah, Eyeball, that's real interesting and everything, but I don't give a shit. Go steady with Amy. See if I care." I said, and went into my classroom. Next period was finally my lunch period came. I didn't recognize anyone but Charlie. I quickly made my way over to him.

"Hey cousin Lachance. How was your first day?" He asked.

"Did you not hear all of the rumors?"

"Oh yeah. Well, don't mind them."

"Yeah, I guess. But then again I can always think about how Eyeball dumped me, and I got into a fight with his ex-girlfriend." "So he did cut you loose huh?"

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Uh, nothing."

"You mean this was pre-planned?"

"I didn't say that."

"But that's what you meant. What did Eyeball discuss this with everyone before me?"

"Uh huh."

"Gee thanks. So why did he drop me?"

"Some chick."

"I've noticed you guys don't give a shit about other people's feelings. You could've at least lied to me, and said 'No Jess, I don't know'. Are you that dense?"

"Yeah, basically."