Chapter Three: The Tree House
"Chris, where are we going?" Laney said.
"Here," Chris said stopping.
On the hill, was a view of the entire city. Next to them was a large tree with a tree house.
"Come on," Chris walked towards the tree house.
Laney followed Chris closely.
"Me, Gordie, Teddy, and Vern used to hang out up here all the time when we were younger."
Chris started walking up the ladder.
"What you afraid?" Chris said.
"Will it hold us?" Laney questioned nervously.
"I hope so."
Chris let her up. Laney entered the tree house. It was dark and she couldn't see anything. Chris flicked out his lighter and found the lamp the Teddy installed. Light filled up the tree house. Laney looked around, amazed.
"Well, what do you think?" Chris asked.
"Wow you guys did all this yourself?"
"Pretty much. God I haven't been up here in so long. Not since we got back from Harlow."
Chris pulled out a bunch of dusty crates that they used to sit on. He dusted one off and gave it to Laney.
"Thanks," she said. She smiled at him.
Chris pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"Want one?" Chris asked Laney.
"Oh no, I'm good. My old man would kill me."
"No he won't he wouldn't know."
Laney took one and lit it.
"You're lucky Chris. Your parents aren't all over-protective and wouldn't spend an hour trying to get to know friends and picking out every little imperfect detail and a younger sister who does everything right and." Laney continued on but Chris couldn't listen. He was guilty that he lied to her. About everything. His family, school, everything.
"Laney. I'm so sorry," he said out of the blue.
"Chris it's okay, I mean I'll be out of my house, away from them in two years."
"No Laney I lied to you. My parents are divorced. My father has no job. We're on welfare. He beats on me and Eyeball. Me the most. I dropped out of school. And me and Eyeball are like oil and water."
Chris was trying not to cry.
"Chris, why would you do this to me?" Laney asked.
"I really wanted you to like me. I just ranted on and on about a perfect life that only exists in my head. I'm sorry I couldn't stop myself.'
Laney just looked at Chris. She didn't know whether or not to forgive him. He lied to her, but he admitted it. He looked so sad. So desperate.
"Laney if you want to leave that's okay," Chris said with a shaky voice. He was in tears. Not sobbing like that night with Gordie, but I silent cry.
"No Chris, I'm not gonna leave," Laney said, "I know that nobody's perfect. We're no exception." He laid his head on her lap. She began to cry too. He looked up.
"I guess we're both pussies now, huh?" Chris said. Laney smiled and wiped her tear. She put her hand on his neck and kissed him. He laid back down on her lap.
Chris didn't feel anymore shame in crying in front of Laney. He sometimes wished he could just cry everything out and not look like a wimp.
"Chris, where are we going?" Laney said.
"Here," Chris said stopping.
On the hill, was a view of the entire city. Next to them was a large tree with a tree house.
"Come on," Chris walked towards the tree house.
Laney followed Chris closely.
"Me, Gordie, Teddy, and Vern used to hang out up here all the time when we were younger."
Chris started walking up the ladder.
"What you afraid?" Chris said.
"Will it hold us?" Laney questioned nervously.
"I hope so."
Chris let her up. Laney entered the tree house. It was dark and she couldn't see anything. Chris flicked out his lighter and found the lamp the Teddy installed. Light filled up the tree house. Laney looked around, amazed.
"Well, what do you think?" Chris asked.
"Wow you guys did all this yourself?"
"Pretty much. God I haven't been up here in so long. Not since we got back from Harlow."
Chris pulled out a bunch of dusty crates that they used to sit on. He dusted one off and gave it to Laney.
"Thanks," she said. She smiled at him.
Chris pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"Want one?" Chris asked Laney.
"Oh no, I'm good. My old man would kill me."
"No he won't he wouldn't know."
Laney took one and lit it.
"You're lucky Chris. Your parents aren't all over-protective and wouldn't spend an hour trying to get to know friends and picking out every little imperfect detail and a younger sister who does everything right and." Laney continued on but Chris couldn't listen. He was guilty that he lied to her. About everything. His family, school, everything.
"Laney. I'm so sorry," he said out of the blue.
"Chris it's okay, I mean I'll be out of my house, away from them in two years."
"No Laney I lied to you. My parents are divorced. My father has no job. We're on welfare. He beats on me and Eyeball. Me the most. I dropped out of school. And me and Eyeball are like oil and water."
Chris was trying not to cry.
"Chris, why would you do this to me?" Laney asked.
"I really wanted you to like me. I just ranted on and on about a perfect life that only exists in my head. I'm sorry I couldn't stop myself.'
Laney just looked at Chris. She didn't know whether or not to forgive him. He lied to her, but he admitted it. He looked so sad. So desperate.
"Laney if you want to leave that's okay," Chris said with a shaky voice. He was in tears. Not sobbing like that night with Gordie, but I silent cry.
"No Chris, I'm not gonna leave," Laney said, "I know that nobody's perfect. We're no exception." He laid his head on her lap. She began to cry too. He looked up.
"I guess we're both pussies now, huh?" Chris said. Laney smiled and wiped her tear. She put her hand on his neck and kissed him. He laid back down on her lap.
Chris didn't feel anymore shame in crying in front of Laney. He sometimes wished he could just cry everything out and not look like a wimp.