Chapter 19:
I danced with Teddy, Vern, Chris, and Gordie. But most of the time I was bored out of my mind, missing Eyeball. It started to rain real heavily. The kind of pouring rain I love. I decided to take a walk in it. Of course my hair, make up, and dress would get messed up, but I didn't care. My navy blue high-heels tapped along the sidewalk. I jumped in freezing puddles in them. I danced with myself in the rain. Gordie came outside.
"Jess, what the hell are you doing?"
"I'm dancing in the rain."
"No shit. Come inside, will ya?"
"No thanks." Elisa came out looking for Gordie.
"What are you too doing out here? It's freezing." Elisa said, and Gordie took off his black blazer and put it over Elisa's shoulders. They looked so cute in the rain together, and she gave him a small but meaningful kiss. I stood there drenched, with water running down my face. Then it hit me. I knew what was missing. Eyeball was supposed to be here. Chris, Ali, Teddy, Ellie, Vern, and Emily came out looking for the three of us.
"Come on Jess." Gordie said. I stood there looking at him. Then I ran off to find Eyeball. They all chased after me. I didn't care about them, they could do what they wanted. I just needed to find Eyeball. Lucky for me, I didn't slip with my heels and the water. I ran to the Chambers' house. Eyeball's, Ace's, and Vince's cars were in front. Without a thought in my head, I ran inside and I searched the house for Eyeball. I passed Chris's room, and for some reason I looked in there. Chris's room was full of baseball bats, records, and cards. Then I went to Eyeball's room. I opened the door with a smile on my face. But as soon as my eyes fell upon the scene, my smile dropped.
There were beer bottles all around the room. Ace and Cheryl were making out and practically doing it, in the corner. That was more than I needed to see. Vince, Fuzzy, and Charlie were passed out. Billy and some topless slut were in a corner together. And then there was Eyeball. He was asleep under his covers with Cherry next to him. I walked in a slammed the door, and got everyone's attention.
"What the hell?" Ace said.
"I was just about to say the same thing! Eyeball! What the hell are you doing?!!" Eyeball looked next to him, and yelled when he saw Cherry.
"Ah! No! Jess. Shit." He started looking around.
"Looking for these?" I said, holding up his boxers, then tossing them to him.
"Jess. This isn't what it looks like."
"Ha! Oh really, well it looks like you're in bed with Cherry."
"Okay. So maybe it is."
"I cannot believe you!"
"Jessie babe."
"Don't Jessie babe me!" Eyeball got out of bed and walked toward me. "You might want to put some pants on there buddy!" I yelled, and he put on jeans. Cherry sat up, and had a blanket to cover her. I wanted to scream and cry at the same time. Eyeball put his hand on my shoulder, but I pulled away.
"Don't touch me!"
"Jess."
"Get the fuck away from me!" He put both hands on me and I couldn't escape his grip, so I stopped crying.
"You know what Eyeball. It's okay." He let go and looked at me strangely. I punched him in the face and ran out of there. I ran into Chris's room with the Cobras following me. I picked up one of Chris's baseball bat, and held it firmly in my hands.
"Oh shit." Ace said, and Eyeball flinched when I walked by. I walked outside, the guys still following me. Gordie and everyone came by me too. It was still pouring rain outside.
"Jess, what are you doing?" Gordie said. I looked at Eyeball's car, my eyes tearful. I lifted the bat in my hands and slammed it on Eyeball's car.
"SHIT!" He screamed, as I continued to hit it. Everyone stood away from me as I swung. I made dents in the hood and cracks in the glass. Pieces of the wooden bat and the windshield glass went flying. Each time I swung harder. I could feel everyone's eyes watching me. Finally on my few last swings, the bat snapped in two.
I turned around and glared at Eyeball. He looked afraid. I loved it. I cleared some rain from my face and threw what was left of the bat, on the ground. I started to head home.
"Shit my car!" I heard Eyeball behind me, and I smirked. My thin heels sloshed through puddles, as I went home.
The next week, Eyeball sent me a dozen roses everyday. I found new and interesting ways to shread them and send them back to him. That next month was hell. Everyday Eyeball would leave flowers and notes at my locker. Gordie even told me that Eyeball was asking for advice from his little brother.
One day when I came home from school, there was a letter from home for me. It was from my brother Jared. It read:
Hey Lemon,
Hi Jess. How are things at Aunt Dora's house? Mom really misses you. We all do me most. Mom got re-married. Again. His name is Walter Winters. He's, like mom's other husband, very rich and very old. Anyway, mom is pregnant again. Fay is excited but Greg and I know that this isn't going to be easy. Oh, and Michael told me to tell you hello. Anyway, we miss ya. Mom is sending me out there soon to get you. She wants you home, we all do. So Greg, Fay, and I are coming on a train in a month to get you Lemon. Be there soon! Love, Pumpkin, Sweet pea, mom, and Cookie
Jared would be coming soon. I couldn't wait to see him and I couldn't wait to go home. I have had enough of Eyeball. And my ex-boyfriend Michael was thinking of me! Now I was really beaming.
Three weeks after I had received the letter, Eyeball stopped me in the hallway.
"Jess, wait."
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Just hear me out."
"No."
"Jess. I'm sorry. Please, give me a chance."
"I did, and you blew it."
"I'm sorry. I really am. Come on Jessie, we both know I'm shit without you."
"You're shit anyway."
"Nice." I sighed. "I'm sorry Jess. Please believe me."
"How can I?"
"Because I love you."
"Yeah. I bet you loved Cherry that night too." "No Jess. I screwed up. I'm sorry. I love you, please take me back."
"Why should I?" Eyeball got down on his knees, and hugged me around the waist, his head on my stomach.
"Please, please, please." He wined. "I need you Jessie, I love you. Please forgive me."
"Eyeball, get up." He did what I said.
"What'd ya say?"
"Eyeball. If I give you this last and final chance, and you screw up, the last thing you'll have to worry about is your car getting hit with a bat!" He smiled.
"Jess, I love you!" He gave me a kiss, and we walked out of school hand in hand. That week was like the old times with Eyeball. Full of sex, booze, and of course, the Cobras. Jared came on Tuesday as scheduled and I waited all morning at the train station, although his train wasn't due in until 1:00.
"LEMON!" He shouted and came off the train with Fay in his arms.
"PUMPKIN!" I yelled back, and laughed. He put down Fay and gave me a big, tight hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Is that String Bean I see there?" He said laughing.
"Hey Pumpkin," Gordie said smiling and they hugged.
"Lemon, Lemon, Lemon!" Fay said, and ran to me, and gave me a hug.
"Hey Sweet Pea!" I stood up, and Greg walked over to me.
"Hi Lem." He said and gave me a hug.
"Hiya Cookie." I gave him a kiss on the cheek. Chris, who had come with us, looked very confused.
"What's with all the food names?" He asked Gordie.
"It's a Lachance thing." I said.
"Yeah, when we were little, we use to call each other by whatever food reminded us of each other. And it just stuck." Gordie explained, then laughed to himself.
"Remember Denny's?" I said.
"Sure do."
"Peaches!" We all said allowed, laughing. I remember he hated that name because it was a nickname for a girl. But he got to like it after dozens of years and family reunions.
We got to Gordie's house where everyone was waiting to meet Jared, Fay, and Greg. Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Will were the first to greet them.
"Hello Jared, Pumpkin." Aunt Dorothy said to Jared and gave him a kiss.
"Hi Aunt Dorothy."
"REMEMBER ME AUNT DOROTHY!!!" Fay shouted, and she laughed.
"Of course Fay, Sweet Pea."
"Hi Aunt Dorothy." Greg said.
"Hello Cookie." Uncle Will greeted them the same way. Teddy, Ali, Elisa, and Vern looked just as confused as Chris did earlier.
"It's a Lachance thing." All of us Lachances said at once, then laughed.
After everyone got settled in, we all talked in the living room.
"So Lem, tell me. You must have had at least one boyfriend out here, where is the guy?"
"Shut up." I said, and threw a pillow at him. Just then, this trip turned into a disaster.
"HELLO LACHANCES!" My mother said, coming through the door.
"MOM!" I yelled in horror. Why me?
"Oh Lemon darling, I'm so happy to see you." Could my mother's cleavage me exposed anymore? I didn't think so.
"Sylvia!" Aunt Dorothy yelled in delight. Shoot me, kill me. Please?
I danced with Teddy, Vern, Chris, and Gordie. But most of the time I was bored out of my mind, missing Eyeball. It started to rain real heavily. The kind of pouring rain I love. I decided to take a walk in it. Of course my hair, make up, and dress would get messed up, but I didn't care. My navy blue high-heels tapped along the sidewalk. I jumped in freezing puddles in them. I danced with myself in the rain. Gordie came outside.
"Jess, what the hell are you doing?"
"I'm dancing in the rain."
"No shit. Come inside, will ya?"
"No thanks." Elisa came out looking for Gordie.
"What are you too doing out here? It's freezing." Elisa said, and Gordie took off his black blazer and put it over Elisa's shoulders. They looked so cute in the rain together, and she gave him a small but meaningful kiss. I stood there drenched, with water running down my face. Then it hit me. I knew what was missing. Eyeball was supposed to be here. Chris, Ali, Teddy, Ellie, Vern, and Emily came out looking for the three of us.
"Come on Jess." Gordie said. I stood there looking at him. Then I ran off to find Eyeball. They all chased after me. I didn't care about them, they could do what they wanted. I just needed to find Eyeball. Lucky for me, I didn't slip with my heels and the water. I ran to the Chambers' house. Eyeball's, Ace's, and Vince's cars were in front. Without a thought in my head, I ran inside and I searched the house for Eyeball. I passed Chris's room, and for some reason I looked in there. Chris's room was full of baseball bats, records, and cards. Then I went to Eyeball's room. I opened the door with a smile on my face. But as soon as my eyes fell upon the scene, my smile dropped.
There were beer bottles all around the room. Ace and Cheryl were making out and practically doing it, in the corner. That was more than I needed to see. Vince, Fuzzy, and Charlie were passed out. Billy and some topless slut were in a corner together. And then there was Eyeball. He was asleep under his covers with Cherry next to him. I walked in a slammed the door, and got everyone's attention.
"What the hell?" Ace said.
"I was just about to say the same thing! Eyeball! What the hell are you doing?!!" Eyeball looked next to him, and yelled when he saw Cherry.
"Ah! No! Jess. Shit." He started looking around.
"Looking for these?" I said, holding up his boxers, then tossing them to him.
"Jess. This isn't what it looks like."
"Ha! Oh really, well it looks like you're in bed with Cherry."
"Okay. So maybe it is."
"I cannot believe you!"
"Jessie babe."
"Don't Jessie babe me!" Eyeball got out of bed and walked toward me. "You might want to put some pants on there buddy!" I yelled, and he put on jeans. Cherry sat up, and had a blanket to cover her. I wanted to scream and cry at the same time. Eyeball put his hand on my shoulder, but I pulled away.
"Don't touch me!"
"Jess."
"Get the fuck away from me!" He put both hands on me and I couldn't escape his grip, so I stopped crying.
"You know what Eyeball. It's okay." He let go and looked at me strangely. I punched him in the face and ran out of there. I ran into Chris's room with the Cobras following me. I picked up one of Chris's baseball bat, and held it firmly in my hands.
"Oh shit." Ace said, and Eyeball flinched when I walked by. I walked outside, the guys still following me. Gordie and everyone came by me too. It was still pouring rain outside.
"Jess, what are you doing?" Gordie said. I looked at Eyeball's car, my eyes tearful. I lifted the bat in my hands and slammed it on Eyeball's car.
"SHIT!" He screamed, as I continued to hit it. Everyone stood away from me as I swung. I made dents in the hood and cracks in the glass. Pieces of the wooden bat and the windshield glass went flying. Each time I swung harder. I could feel everyone's eyes watching me. Finally on my few last swings, the bat snapped in two.
I turned around and glared at Eyeball. He looked afraid. I loved it. I cleared some rain from my face and threw what was left of the bat, on the ground. I started to head home.
"Shit my car!" I heard Eyeball behind me, and I smirked. My thin heels sloshed through puddles, as I went home.
The next week, Eyeball sent me a dozen roses everyday. I found new and interesting ways to shread them and send them back to him. That next month was hell. Everyday Eyeball would leave flowers and notes at my locker. Gordie even told me that Eyeball was asking for advice from his little brother.
One day when I came home from school, there was a letter from home for me. It was from my brother Jared. It read:
Hey Lemon,
Hi Jess. How are things at Aunt Dora's house? Mom really misses you. We all do me most. Mom got re-married. Again. His name is Walter Winters. He's, like mom's other husband, very rich and very old. Anyway, mom is pregnant again. Fay is excited but Greg and I know that this isn't going to be easy. Oh, and Michael told me to tell you hello. Anyway, we miss ya. Mom is sending me out there soon to get you. She wants you home, we all do. So Greg, Fay, and I are coming on a train in a month to get you Lemon. Be there soon! Love, Pumpkin, Sweet pea, mom, and Cookie
Jared would be coming soon. I couldn't wait to see him and I couldn't wait to go home. I have had enough of Eyeball. And my ex-boyfriend Michael was thinking of me! Now I was really beaming.
Three weeks after I had received the letter, Eyeball stopped me in the hallway.
"Jess, wait."
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Just hear me out."
"No."
"Jess. I'm sorry. Please, give me a chance."
"I did, and you blew it."
"I'm sorry. I really am. Come on Jessie, we both know I'm shit without you."
"You're shit anyway."
"Nice." I sighed. "I'm sorry Jess. Please believe me."
"How can I?"
"Because I love you."
"Yeah. I bet you loved Cherry that night too." "No Jess. I screwed up. I'm sorry. I love you, please take me back."
"Why should I?" Eyeball got down on his knees, and hugged me around the waist, his head on my stomach.
"Please, please, please." He wined. "I need you Jessie, I love you. Please forgive me."
"Eyeball, get up." He did what I said.
"What'd ya say?"
"Eyeball. If I give you this last and final chance, and you screw up, the last thing you'll have to worry about is your car getting hit with a bat!" He smiled.
"Jess, I love you!" He gave me a kiss, and we walked out of school hand in hand. That week was like the old times with Eyeball. Full of sex, booze, and of course, the Cobras. Jared came on Tuesday as scheduled and I waited all morning at the train station, although his train wasn't due in until 1:00.
"LEMON!" He shouted and came off the train with Fay in his arms.
"PUMPKIN!" I yelled back, and laughed. He put down Fay and gave me a big, tight hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Is that String Bean I see there?" He said laughing.
"Hey Pumpkin," Gordie said smiling and they hugged.
"Lemon, Lemon, Lemon!" Fay said, and ran to me, and gave me a hug.
"Hey Sweet Pea!" I stood up, and Greg walked over to me.
"Hi Lem." He said and gave me a hug.
"Hiya Cookie." I gave him a kiss on the cheek. Chris, who had come with us, looked very confused.
"What's with all the food names?" He asked Gordie.
"It's a Lachance thing." I said.
"Yeah, when we were little, we use to call each other by whatever food reminded us of each other. And it just stuck." Gordie explained, then laughed to himself.
"Remember Denny's?" I said.
"Sure do."
"Peaches!" We all said allowed, laughing. I remember he hated that name because it was a nickname for a girl. But he got to like it after dozens of years and family reunions.
We got to Gordie's house where everyone was waiting to meet Jared, Fay, and Greg. Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Will were the first to greet them.
"Hello Jared, Pumpkin." Aunt Dorothy said to Jared and gave him a kiss.
"Hi Aunt Dorothy."
"REMEMBER ME AUNT DOROTHY!!!" Fay shouted, and she laughed.
"Of course Fay, Sweet Pea."
"Hi Aunt Dorothy." Greg said.
"Hello Cookie." Uncle Will greeted them the same way. Teddy, Ali, Elisa, and Vern looked just as confused as Chris did earlier.
"It's a Lachance thing." All of us Lachances said at once, then laughed.
After everyone got settled in, we all talked in the living room.
"So Lem, tell me. You must have had at least one boyfriend out here, where is the guy?"
"Shut up." I said, and threw a pillow at him. Just then, this trip turned into a disaster.
"HELLO LACHANCES!" My mother said, coming through the door.
"MOM!" I yelled in horror. Why me?
"Oh Lemon darling, I'm so happy to see you." Could my mother's cleavage me exposed anymore? I didn't think so.
"Sylvia!" Aunt Dorothy yelled in delight. Shoot me, kill me. Please?
