Chapter 3:
Gordie, Chris, Elisa, and the Cobras helped plan the wedding. I was doing some shopping a week before the wedding day, when I unexpectantly ran into an old friend.
"Jess?"
"Ali?"
"Oh my God, what are you doing here?!" She said and we hugged.
"In a shoe store or in Castle Rock?" I laughed.
"Castle Rock, of course!"
"Well, I came back to visit, and I'm getting married!"
"No way! To who?"
"Eyeball."
"Really? That's great! Hey do you want to get some lunch, and catch up?"
"That'd be wonderful!"
"Great. We can visit Teddy. He's working at a diner."
"Okay, cool."
Ali and I asked for Teddy when we reached the diner. We decided to wait until he was on his break. Around 1:00 Teddy got a lunch break, and we all sat down.
"So Jess, tell us what's new." Ali said.
"Nothing really. I have a four year old daughter and I'm getting married to Eyeball in a week, but other than that nothing."
"Wait, wait, wait. You have a kid?" Teddy said.
"Yeah." I laughed.
"With who, Eyeball?" Ali asked, and I nodded.
"Her name's Melanie. I can't wait for you guys to meet her. So what's new with you two?"
"Would you like to go first Al?" Teddy implied. "What's going on?"
"Well, since you left Chris and I have gone out."
"I knew you two would."
"But, last year we broke up."
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
"And, I've been dating Ace." I almost choked on my food.
"I think that's the best reaction I've ever gotten."
"That's. umm. I'm so. happy for you?"
"Well, I just bailed him out of jail, again."
"What'd he do this time?" Teddy asked.
"He went after that Eric guy."
"They're still not over that?" I asked.
"Oh, that's right, you've been away." Ali said.
"What do you mean?"
"There was a gang fight a year ago, and Fuzzy was shot." Teddy said.
"W-What. Well, is he okay?"
"No. He died instantly."
"I take it that didn't go over too well with Ace."
"Nope. And he found out that Eric had called out some out-of-state members of the Scorpions to have a huge fight."
"No kidding."
"Yeah. It's going to be awesome!" Teddy said. We stared at him strangely.
"Well, I mean. A-Anyway."
"When is this suppose to be happening?" "Sometime this week."
"Damn. I take it, that Eyeball will have to participate."
"Yeah, and now that you're back, Ace is going to want you to come." Teddy said.
"Me? Why?"
"Well, in Castle Rock or out, you're still a Cobra. And the only way to get out is to die."
"I can't. What about Melanie."
"Ace is very persuasive." Teddy said.
"I've noticed."
I got back to the house right after lunch. Eyeball was playing with Melanie in Gordie's living room.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" I yelled.
"Tell you what?" I covered Melanie's ears.
"About the fight you fucking idiot!"
"What fight?"
"Don't play dumb! Between the Cobras and the Scorpions."
"I didn't want to worry you."
"Well, great job. We both have to fight you know?"
"Yeah."
"So there was no time that you could've pulled me aside and said, 'hey Jess, there's a big bawl between us and the Scorpions, and you and I both have to fight in it. And we'll probably die'."
"Well."
"Well if you think I'm not fighting then you've got another thing coming."
"You're going to fight?"
"I'm going to try to get out of it, and talk to Ace."
"He won't let you. He's a stubborn bastard."
"Like you?"
"Hey." Eyeball paused and looked as if he was thinking about something serious. Then he continued. "What about Melanie?"
"What about her?"
"Well, what happens if you and I both die?"
"I told you, I'll try to get out of this fight."
"And if you can't?"
"I-I'll fight well. I won't die."
"Jess there's no guarantee on these things."
"She'll be okay." I looked down at my daughter, remembering my pregnancy. I found out one day when mom was having the same sick symptoms as me, because of her pregnancy with Raspberry. She was kidding around and said 'Jeez Lem, it's like we're both pregnant.' Then I thought of it as a possibility, and took the test.
When the results came back, I figured that I was just paranoid. But it came back positive. Frantically I took five more after that, hoping it was wrong. It wasn't. The first person I told was Jared. Surprisingly he didn't lecture, he knew how hard it would be to have a kid at fifteen. Well, I didn't gain weight until around my third or forth month, then I told everyone at home. They were all delighted, all except Greg. He knew it wasn't good to have a child now. My mom figured I was starting early and starting to be like her. Shutter. Mike took the news hard. I told him around my forth month and we had been dating up until then. After another month of the cold shoulder, he saw me in a now visibly pregnant situation. Then he helped me with everything.
My water broke a month early, at four in the morning. Earlier that night, I had been eating two hamburgers, a thing of cheese fries, chips and soda pop, all while watching a horror movie with Mike. I smiled at that. I was in labor for ten hours with this kid. Excruciating pain for ten fucking hours. Mike and Jared were there the whole time. My mother showed up a little drunk, but Greg took her home to help her. Melanie was as beautiful then as she is now. During the 8 months, and ten hour labor, I started thinking, no way a child is worth all this, she better be fucking, Elvis for all this! When I held her in my arms for the first time, I realized she was worth all of it. Mike wound up proposing to me when Melanie was two. I told him I just couldn't, not until I saw how this would play out with Eyeball. Luckily, he understood.
"I-I don't want to fight. Melanie won't be okay!"
"Ya see."
"But I have to. I committed myself to the Cobras and I refuse to become a pussy just because I became a mom."
"Okay, whatever you say. The fight's on Saturday."
"What?!?"
"Yeah."
"A day after our wedding! Eyeball! Reschedule!"
"You can't just reschedule these things Jess!"
"I hate this!"
"Cherry called me."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah. She asked why I haven't called her."
"You didn't tell her that you're engaged to me?!!!!"
"Not exactly."
"EYEBALL! Now she expects you to still be going out! Eyeball you asshole tell her now!"
"I'll tell her later."
"This isn't something you just brush off like no big deal!"
"Hey Jess, what the hell are you yelling at me for? You came back after five years of not a word, and say 'Oh gee Eyeball, you have a kid.' What the hell am I supposed to do with that! I loved Cherry and you just came in a dumped this brat on me!"
"Watch it! Say whatever you want about me, but if say anything about Melanie, I swear I'll kill you. And you did not love Cherry you piece of shit."
"I could've!"
"But you didn't! You want to marry you're whore. Fine, go ahead! See if I care! Melanie and I have been doing just fine without you're lazy ass for four years!"
"Fine then. You fucking bitch." He mumbled. Eyeball walked out of the house and slammed the door. I released my hands from Melanie's ears, and sighed angrily.
"Where did daddy go?" Melanie asked.
"Off a cliff I hope. Listen Melanie, how would you like to go get ice cream with Uncle Gordie?"
"Yay!" Gordie came into the living room.
"Eyeball left?" He asked.
"Yeah, listen can you take Mel out for some ice cream?"
"Sure, you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just peachy fuckin' keen."
"Tell me about it later if you feel up to it. Come on Melanie, what kind do you want?"
"Chocolate!" When they left, I heaved a giant angry sigh, and fell backwards onto the couch. What would I do without Gordie? Thank God he's here for me. I checked the mail beside me on the coffee table when I saw a letter for me. It read:
Dear Jessika,
I know we haven't been that close, but I'd like to change that. I figured as a nice gift for you and Melanie that I'd do you a huge favor. Attached to this letter is a notice stating that you now own a house in Castle Rock. I figured that Melanie should be close to her real father. I bought it for you in your name. It's only one story, but it's pretty cozy. The address is on the notice, we love you Jessika.
Sincerely, Your stepfather, Walter
"Oh my God." I said allowed to no one in particular. Tears fell from my eyes heavily. Some of anger with Eyeball, and some with joy from this letter. Walter was the greatest. I hopped to my feet as Gordie walked through the door.
"I forgot her coat." He paused, staring at me crying. "Are you okay?"
"I own a house! A house in Castle Rock! Walter bought it for me!" I hugged him long and tight. "Screw ice cream Gordie, take me to my house!" He drove Melanie and I to our new home.
Gordie, Chris, Elisa, and the Cobras helped plan the wedding. I was doing some shopping a week before the wedding day, when I unexpectantly ran into an old friend.
"Jess?"
"Ali?"
"Oh my God, what are you doing here?!" She said and we hugged.
"In a shoe store or in Castle Rock?" I laughed.
"Castle Rock, of course!"
"Well, I came back to visit, and I'm getting married!"
"No way! To who?"
"Eyeball."
"Really? That's great! Hey do you want to get some lunch, and catch up?"
"That'd be wonderful!"
"Great. We can visit Teddy. He's working at a diner."
"Okay, cool."
Ali and I asked for Teddy when we reached the diner. We decided to wait until he was on his break. Around 1:00 Teddy got a lunch break, and we all sat down.
"So Jess, tell us what's new." Ali said.
"Nothing really. I have a four year old daughter and I'm getting married to Eyeball in a week, but other than that nothing."
"Wait, wait, wait. You have a kid?" Teddy said.
"Yeah." I laughed.
"With who, Eyeball?" Ali asked, and I nodded.
"Her name's Melanie. I can't wait for you guys to meet her. So what's new with you two?"
"Would you like to go first Al?" Teddy implied. "What's going on?"
"Well, since you left Chris and I have gone out."
"I knew you two would."
"But, last year we broke up."
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
"And, I've been dating Ace." I almost choked on my food.
"I think that's the best reaction I've ever gotten."
"That's. umm. I'm so. happy for you?"
"Well, I just bailed him out of jail, again."
"What'd he do this time?" Teddy asked.
"He went after that Eric guy."
"They're still not over that?" I asked.
"Oh, that's right, you've been away." Ali said.
"What do you mean?"
"There was a gang fight a year ago, and Fuzzy was shot." Teddy said.
"W-What. Well, is he okay?"
"No. He died instantly."
"I take it that didn't go over too well with Ace."
"Nope. And he found out that Eric had called out some out-of-state members of the Scorpions to have a huge fight."
"No kidding."
"Yeah. It's going to be awesome!" Teddy said. We stared at him strangely.
"Well, I mean. A-Anyway."
"When is this suppose to be happening?" "Sometime this week."
"Damn. I take it, that Eyeball will have to participate."
"Yeah, and now that you're back, Ace is going to want you to come." Teddy said.
"Me? Why?"
"Well, in Castle Rock or out, you're still a Cobra. And the only way to get out is to die."
"I can't. What about Melanie."
"Ace is very persuasive." Teddy said.
"I've noticed."
I got back to the house right after lunch. Eyeball was playing with Melanie in Gordie's living room.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" I yelled.
"Tell you what?" I covered Melanie's ears.
"About the fight you fucking idiot!"
"What fight?"
"Don't play dumb! Between the Cobras and the Scorpions."
"I didn't want to worry you."
"Well, great job. We both have to fight you know?"
"Yeah."
"So there was no time that you could've pulled me aside and said, 'hey Jess, there's a big bawl between us and the Scorpions, and you and I both have to fight in it. And we'll probably die'."
"Well."
"Well if you think I'm not fighting then you've got another thing coming."
"You're going to fight?"
"I'm going to try to get out of it, and talk to Ace."
"He won't let you. He's a stubborn bastard."
"Like you?"
"Hey." Eyeball paused and looked as if he was thinking about something serious. Then he continued. "What about Melanie?"
"What about her?"
"Well, what happens if you and I both die?"
"I told you, I'll try to get out of this fight."
"And if you can't?"
"I-I'll fight well. I won't die."
"Jess there's no guarantee on these things."
"She'll be okay." I looked down at my daughter, remembering my pregnancy. I found out one day when mom was having the same sick symptoms as me, because of her pregnancy with Raspberry. She was kidding around and said 'Jeez Lem, it's like we're both pregnant.' Then I thought of it as a possibility, and took the test.
When the results came back, I figured that I was just paranoid. But it came back positive. Frantically I took five more after that, hoping it was wrong. It wasn't. The first person I told was Jared. Surprisingly he didn't lecture, he knew how hard it would be to have a kid at fifteen. Well, I didn't gain weight until around my third or forth month, then I told everyone at home. They were all delighted, all except Greg. He knew it wasn't good to have a child now. My mom figured I was starting early and starting to be like her. Shutter. Mike took the news hard. I told him around my forth month and we had been dating up until then. After another month of the cold shoulder, he saw me in a now visibly pregnant situation. Then he helped me with everything.
My water broke a month early, at four in the morning. Earlier that night, I had been eating two hamburgers, a thing of cheese fries, chips and soda pop, all while watching a horror movie with Mike. I smiled at that. I was in labor for ten hours with this kid. Excruciating pain for ten fucking hours. Mike and Jared were there the whole time. My mother showed up a little drunk, but Greg took her home to help her. Melanie was as beautiful then as she is now. During the 8 months, and ten hour labor, I started thinking, no way a child is worth all this, she better be fucking, Elvis for all this! When I held her in my arms for the first time, I realized she was worth all of it. Mike wound up proposing to me when Melanie was two. I told him I just couldn't, not until I saw how this would play out with Eyeball. Luckily, he understood.
"I-I don't want to fight. Melanie won't be okay!"
"Ya see."
"But I have to. I committed myself to the Cobras and I refuse to become a pussy just because I became a mom."
"Okay, whatever you say. The fight's on Saturday."
"What?!?"
"Yeah."
"A day after our wedding! Eyeball! Reschedule!"
"You can't just reschedule these things Jess!"
"I hate this!"
"Cherry called me."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah. She asked why I haven't called her."
"You didn't tell her that you're engaged to me?!!!!"
"Not exactly."
"EYEBALL! Now she expects you to still be going out! Eyeball you asshole tell her now!"
"I'll tell her later."
"This isn't something you just brush off like no big deal!"
"Hey Jess, what the hell are you yelling at me for? You came back after five years of not a word, and say 'Oh gee Eyeball, you have a kid.' What the hell am I supposed to do with that! I loved Cherry and you just came in a dumped this brat on me!"
"Watch it! Say whatever you want about me, but if say anything about Melanie, I swear I'll kill you. And you did not love Cherry you piece of shit."
"I could've!"
"But you didn't! You want to marry you're whore. Fine, go ahead! See if I care! Melanie and I have been doing just fine without you're lazy ass for four years!"
"Fine then. You fucking bitch." He mumbled. Eyeball walked out of the house and slammed the door. I released my hands from Melanie's ears, and sighed angrily.
"Where did daddy go?" Melanie asked.
"Off a cliff I hope. Listen Melanie, how would you like to go get ice cream with Uncle Gordie?"
"Yay!" Gordie came into the living room.
"Eyeball left?" He asked.
"Yeah, listen can you take Mel out for some ice cream?"
"Sure, you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just peachy fuckin' keen."
"Tell me about it later if you feel up to it. Come on Melanie, what kind do you want?"
"Chocolate!" When they left, I heaved a giant angry sigh, and fell backwards onto the couch. What would I do without Gordie? Thank God he's here for me. I checked the mail beside me on the coffee table when I saw a letter for me. It read:
Dear Jessika,
I know we haven't been that close, but I'd like to change that. I figured as a nice gift for you and Melanie that I'd do you a huge favor. Attached to this letter is a notice stating that you now own a house in Castle Rock. I figured that Melanie should be close to her real father. I bought it for you in your name. It's only one story, but it's pretty cozy. The address is on the notice, we love you Jessika.
Sincerely, Your stepfather, Walter
"Oh my God." I said allowed to no one in particular. Tears fell from my eyes heavily. Some of anger with Eyeball, and some with joy from this letter. Walter was the greatest. I hopped to my feet as Gordie walked through the door.
"I forgot her coat." He paused, staring at me crying. "Are you okay?"
"I own a house! A house in Castle Rock! Walter bought it for me!" I hugged him long and tight. "Screw ice cream Gordie, take me to my house!" He drove Melanie and I to our new home.