Title: Last Chance
Author: Love In Vein
Summary: A girl moves to Castle Rock with one last chance to redeem herself. But how can she if the Cobras, especially Ace Merrill, seem determined to drag her and her new-found friends down with them? Takes place in the school year after Stand By Me.
Disclaimer: The Cobras, Castle Rock, etc. belong to Stephen King and Columbia Tristar. Katherine, her parents, Maggie, Sarah, and Jennifer belong to me.
A/N: This story isn't really a Stand By Me fic, in that it has nothing to do with Gordie and the rest of the gang. They probably won't even be in it at all. This is a total Cobras story, told from the point of view of Katherine. I'll try my hardest to make sure this doesn't end up Mary Sue. I moved Castle Rock back to Maine, since I have no idea why they moved it to Oregon in the first place. I'm guessing the Cobras are all around 17 years old, so those that are still in school (I know Eyeball dropped out in 10th grade) are seniors. The first chapter is kind of exposition, and may seem boring. I needed to get it out of the way, though. Ok, I think that's it! Read, dammit!


Chapter 1

This year was my last chance, sincerely. I think I've been to four or five different schools since I started the seventh grade, mainly on account of me fighting. Well, there was that one time I came to school drunk outta my mind on plain old whiskey. That had been dumb, and I guess you could say I was asking for trouble. That's, I guess, a problem with me. I'm a spoiled brat, and a typical one too. The only child of an upper class, "socialite" couple. Mama and Daddy give me just about whatever I want, 'cept I gotta buy it myself. We don't celebrate Christmas, and I've never had a birthday party. It's a pay-off, I guess. Their respective families woulda shit bricks if they had decided to give me up for adoption, so what do you do with a kid you gotta keep and really don't want? Their simple solution is to just give me what I want as long as they never have to see me. Hah, and look how good that's worked. But as I was saying, this was my last chance.

About a day before the school year ended, I cut some girl 'cause I heard her talk shit about me and, predictably, the school folks wigged. Called my parents down, a meeting was held, and once again I was permanently expelled. Well, usually, that would mean a stint in some reform school or something like that, but this time it was different. More than different. *Fucking* different, dig? My parents actually sat me down. *Sat* *me* *down*. They told me that my father had gotten an offer to open a new branch of his bank in some shit hole in Maine. Fucking Maine. And my father agreed, mostly because he wanted to be the Big Boss for a change. They also mentioned somethin about property taxes and dollar values, but I wasn't paying attention at this point. I think they were just excited to have a house bigger than this one, even though our house was the biggest on the block. Whatever. Then comes the killer. Since I would be going to the public school (public school?) there, I would have a small chance to start over. Redeem myself in the last year of my secondary education. Just one catch. If I fuck up *at* *all* before winter break, I would be out. As in, on my ass. Fun for the whole family, right? Of course I agreed. What the hell else could I do?

So it was a week before the start of the new school year when our moving vans, with our cherry Rolls-Royce riding behind 'em, pulled into the driveway of our latest digs. And, man, I gotta admit that it was (well, still is) a swell looking place. Really great. Classic Victorian and all that. The neighbors aren't too far away, but far enough so that they won't be a bother. I liked that. Dad really must've hit the jackpot. That, or nobody wanted to live there. Oh, well.

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"Katherine?"

"Yeah?" I fucking hate that name. Katherine. What kinda fucking name is that, anyway?

"Why don't you check the place out? I think the tower room is calling your name," Daddy said, in that voice that really means 'just go away.'

"All right, Daddy," I replied, flashing him that dazzling smile, mostly for the benefit of our new neighbors, who I saw were peering through their curtains at us.

I climbed the steps, opened the door, stepped inside and immediately I was hit with this certain feeling. A premonition, if you will. Castle Rock was gonna be the death of me.

Maybe I shoulda paid attention to that premonition, that little thought. It probably woulda saved me a lot of trouble in the long run. But if I had, you wouldn't be hearing this little story. And you are. So obviously I didn't.

Anyway, back to the house. It was big and empty, real lonely like. I took the main staircase to the second floor, and looked around, taking it all in. Three bedrooms and a bathroom, plus what looked like a study or something. The most interesting thing about the second floor was a small spiral staircase that lead to the main turret. I took those stairs up to that room, and as soon as I saw it I knew it was mine. Cut off from the rest of the house, it was a neat place to be. A huge oak tree was just outside one of the windows, and would provide a great means of escape many times over the course of that year.

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I think I spent that entire week in that house, barely venturing a step beyond our property. My parents made the social rounds, meeting and greeting to their hearts' content. Mama said people asked after me, but I highly doubt that. When would they have even fucking known I lived there, anyway? My '58 fire engine red T-bird arrived from Boston that Saturday, and was I ever glad. Grade A, that thing is. Still my little pride and joy.

On the Monday that school started I got dressed in a nice outfit, just for my parents benefit. But once I was in my car and around the corner, I pulled off that stupid skirt to reveal my favorite jeans and off came the neat sweater set in favor of a slightly snug black t-shirt. I pulled the ribbon out of my long, cinnamon-colored hair and slipped a black headband over it. I know, already I was beginning my vicious cycle all over again.

Pulling into the Castle Rock High parking lot was kinda nerve-wracking. Yeah, I admit it, I was nervous. This was the make or break time, and ten-to-one my rep. had already gotten around. Anyway, despite this I walked with complete confidence through the huge double doors, ignoring the looks and whispers I was getting. They coulda all fucked off, far as I was concerned. I had been directed to go to the Main Office, and when I finally found it I leaned on the long counter that separates the kids from the "authority." After a few seconds I began to get real impatient and drummed my fingers on the hard wood. An annoyed-looking woman finally came out of a side office and looked at me with a scowl on her old, wrinkled face. "What do you want?" she asked, obviously having no idea who I was.

"I'm Katherine Reyes, I was told to come here to get a schedule or somethin," I replied, my lips quirking up in a slight smile when her features noticeably paled.

"Katherine Reyes? Yes...yes, I was told you would be coming," she stammered and disappeared back into her office. When she came back she was holding a yellow piece of paper. "This is your schedule. Follow me."

I followed her through the empty halls and she began to make small talk with me for some reason. "We've already been informed of your...problems, Miss. Reyes. Hopefully you will use this opportunity to make a positive change in your life."

"Yeah, hopefully," I muttered. I saw that she was eyeing me suspiciously outta the corner of her eye and felt my temper flare just a bit. The bitch was already stacking the deck against me.

We reached a random classroom and she knocked on the door. The teacher inside motioned for us to come in and the class fell silent when we entered. The woman handed the teacher my schedule and she looked it over and gave me a fake-looking smile. "Hello, Miss. Reyes, I am Mrs. Webber. I will be your homeroom teacher," she said to me and then turned to the class. "Class, this is Katherine Reyes. I hope that you will all make her feel welcome."

A couple of kids droned 'hellos,' but most just kept on staring. It was freaky. "Katherine, why don't you tell the class something about yourself?" Mrs. Webber asked, but of course she wasn't really asking.

"Okay. Name's Katherine Reyes, but I like to be called Kat. Moved here from Boston. I already hate it here," I added and Mrs. Webber's eyes widened in shock. A couple of kids in the class snickered and she hastily told me to take an empty seat. I did, and noticed the kid to the left of me kinda flinched.

"What's that for?" I asked her.

"Nothing," she said quietly, and I decided to let it drop. No need to start something on the first day.

After that class I walked out into the hall and was uncertain of which way to go. "Hey, Kat right?" a petite girl with long, dark brown hair and wide blue eyes asked as she walked up to me.

"Yeah, what's it to you?"

"My name's Sarah. Thought maybe you could use some help's all," she replied defensively.

"Hey, sorry about that. Just hate comin to a new school," I said, feeling bad about my harsh words. "I would like some help, thanks."

"Boss! Here, let me see your schedule," I handed her the thing and she quickly scanned it. "Oh, we have a couple of classes together. Geography's next."

"Yuck," I grumbled, and frowned.

"Hey, we better get going if we're gonna make it in time."

"Okay, sure. Lead the way."

We walked in silence for a little while, but I could tell she wanted to ask me something. "Sarah, you got somethin you wanna ask me?"

"Huh? Well, it's just that we've all heard the rumors..." she started and trailed off.

"Oh, really? Boy, word travels fast around here," I said, and I was kinda amazed. After all, I'd only been here a week.

"Sure, there's nothing else to do in this town. New gossip is highly prized," she joked. "But, seriously, is any of it true?"

"If I say 'yeah,' you gonna run scared?"

She appeared to be thinking it over, and that upset me a little bit. Finally she answered. "No, I'm not as much of a goody-goody as I look. I don't have the most proper reputation myself," she admitted.

"Well, then, yeah, probably some of it is. But I've never killed anybody, I've never been in juvi, never done any truly serious shit like that. Sincerely."

"What then?"

"Fightin...heavy fightin. Skippin a shit-load of school. Came to school drunk a couple a times," I replied honestly. There was no point in trying to make my exploits more than they were.

"Oh, that's not *so* bad. Well, I guess it's bad enough, though."

"Yeah, definitely bad enough," I agreed. "So, anything good to do 'round here?"

"Well, it kinda depends on what your idea of fun is," she started slowly.

"What's your idea of fun?" I asked her as we turned down a hallway and walked into the first classroom we came to on the right.

She answered as we slid into seats next to each other. "Me and the other girls just sort of hang out. Usually either at one of our homes or at the diner. Sometimes the pool hall if we're feeling dangerous," she said and smiled.

"The other girls?"

"Oh, yeah, I'll introduce them to you at lunch. It'll be cool."

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The next three classes before lunch crawled by. I really don't know how I did it. Anyway, I met Sarah at lunch and she showed me to a table where two other girls sat. "Girls, this is Kat Reyes. Kat, that's Maggie," Maggie, who has short, curly black hair and brown eyes, waved cheerfully. "And Miss. Priss over there is Jennifer."

"Hey, I'm not so prissy!" Jennifer, a leggy blonde that looked like she could be on the cover of one of my mother's fashion magazines, exclaimed. "I just like dressing nice, is all."

"That's cool," I said as I sat down in an empty chair. "So, it's just you three?"

"Well, sometimes other girls sit with us, but mostly it's just us," Sarah agreed. "We're not squares, but we're not j.ds either, ya know?"

"I get it. Kinda like me. 'Cept everyone thought I was a criminal for sure," I added with a smile.

"So you're not?" Maggie asked, and immediately blushed. "Sorry."

"No prob. Ya gotta ask, right?"

Around this time I noticed a weird hush feel over the lunchroom. Some of the kids were cautiously looking at something behind and to the right of me, so I turned around. A group of guys, who looked like some of the greasers I knew back home, 'cept tougher, were walking towards us. But they weren't really. They stopped at a table of nerdy looking kids and were harassing 'em. Really bullying 'em and all. "Who are they?" I asked Sarah.

"Oh, those are the Cobras. Well, most of 'em, anyway. A couple of the guys dropped out a while back."

"Yeah, like Sarah's *boyfriend*," Maggie teased and Sarah blushed bright red.

"Your boyfriend?" I asked with curiosity. She didn't seem to me like the type who would be going with a guy like that.

"Not really," she huffed. "We kissed like *twice*. That's *all*. They just like to tease me about it."

"Oh please, Sarah. You know you got a thing for Eyeball Chambers. For some weird reason," Jennifer said in a disapproving voice.

"I can't help it. I like a tough guy," Sarah admitted with a shrug.

"Also, you know your folks would flip if they knew you hung out with those guys," Maggie pointed out.

"Yeah, that too," said Sarah and she grinned.

The Cobras had apparently finished with their game and continued walking, towards one of the open doors on either side of the back of the cafeteria. As they passed our table, one of the guys grinned a little lasciviously at Maggie and another said "Hey ladies." But the one that interested me was obviously the leader. He looked me over once or twice and smirked. Then they just kept on walking.

"Hey, Ace was checking you out pretty hard!" Sarah exclaimed once they were out of hearing range.

"Ace?" I asked.

"Ace Merrill, silly. Leader of the Cobras, toughest guy in maybe all of Maine!" Jennifer explained. "Really, he really gave you the once over."

"Well, I'm definitely not lookin to get involved with anyone like *that*," I said pointedly, even then knowing that it was a moot point. It seemed like I already was. "I don't need no more trouble."

"That's probably a good idea. He's like the *definition* of trouble," said Maggie emphatically.

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After school, I was walking to the parking lot when I saw Maggie, and it seemed like she was being hassled by the guy that had smiled at her during lunch. I walked up to them against my better judgment, I guess. "Maggie, hey," I said and smiled.

"Kat, hi!" she said, and the look in her eyes said 'I need help.'

"Need a ride home or somethin?" I asked.

"I think Mags is cool right here," the guy I had been ignoring said.

"Why don't *you* shut the fuck up?" I snarled, really without meanin to do so.

"Who da ya think ya talkin ta, bitch?" the guy demanded, and I knew that this would be trouble.

"Hey, hey, what's goin on here?" said Ace, appearing it seemed from nowhere.

"Nothin, Ace. Just seems this girl need ta know who she's dealin wit."

"Oh, yeah, Jackie?" Ace asked and he turned to me, one eyebrow raised.

"First, name's Kat, not 'girl.' Second, I sincerely don't want no trouble. Me and Maggie'll just split right this second," I said, and was painfully aware of how weak I was sounding.

"Well, I'm Ace Merrill, and this here's Jack Mudgett. There's really no need for a nice-lookin broad like yaself to get involved with Cobras business," he said in a tone that seemed like he was talking to a chick who was a little on the dumb side.

"Maggie's my friend, and I don't like for my friends to be harassed. That's just my way, I guess," I said in an amazingly calm voice.

Ace regarded me for a minute and then he relented. "All right, get outta here. I ain't got nothin against ya, Kat. Just don't pull that shit again."

I almost said something that I really would have regretted right then, but Maggie grabbed my arm and pretty much dragged me away from the leader of the Cobras and his pissed-off friend.

When we got to my car, Maggie checked around quickly and then gave a sigh of relief. "Wow, that was great what you did back there, Kat. Great and *totally* stupid! Those guys coulda *killed* you!"

"Yeah, but they didn't. And that's what counts," I grinned at her and revved the engine. "Do you hang out with those guys?"

"Sometimes," Maggie admitted.

"How come? That Jack guy seems like an asshole."

"Yeah, they can be sometimes. It just really depends."

"On what?"

"Well, Ace controls 'em pretty well. Also, if they got in trouble at school or something like that. How much Jack drinks really makes a difference too."

"Oh, you go with him?" I asked, really confused at this point.

"Oh, no!" Maggie exclaimed. "No way! He seems to like me or something, but I like...stable-er guys."

I got it. No mean drunks. The rest of the ride home was pretty quiet. When we got to her house, I saw that we lived pretty close to one another. "Hey, I live over on Delont," I said.

"Great, that's not so far! Well, not in miles, anyway," Maggie replied softly.

I knew what she meant. Even though she only lived a street over, my house was obviously in the "nice" part of town. Hers' was not in the shabbiest part of town, but not where I lived, either. "Yeah, but who the fuck cares?" I tossed out.

"People do," she answered as she got out of the car.

"Well, I don't."

"Cool. See you tomorrow...and thanks again!" she waved one last time, then disappeared into her house.

When I got home my mother was actually sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea or something and reading a fashion magazine. She looked up as I walked in. "Katherine, how was your day?" she asked very casually.

"Fine. Didn't get in trouble or nothin if that's what you're askin," I replied. I realized that I hadn't changed my clothes again but she didn't seem to notice.

"I was, and that's good. Did you meet any new people?"

'What's with the interrogation?' I wondered. "Uh-huh, just a coupla girls. Normal, regular people."

"That's nice. I'll call you when dinner is ready," she said, and turned back to her magazine.

I took that as my cue to go and hurried out of the kitchen before she could change her mind.

Later that night I actually completed an essay (How I Spent My Summer Vacation), and tried hard not to think about the Cobras or Ace Merrill. And it worked, mostly.