Warning Gordie, meeting Teddy.
Chris was halfway to the office when a thought occurred to him, he could go and warn Gordie and then help make up some excuse to explain why he had missed French. Sure it may be a long shot but he had to try, right? The only thing in the way of him doing this was his pride. Chris paused besides the door that led to outside, on the one hand Gordie had been kind of an asshat to him, on the other hand Gordie was his best friend and hadn't Gordie got himself in trouble only yesterday to help Chris? There was only one real option: find Gordie and get this mess straightened out. Chris nodded to himself and swung open the door, he stepped outside and walked purposely towards the buildings around the back. He knew that was where Duchamp and his gang tended to hang out and he guessed that Gordie was with them. Chris walked quickly so as to avoid bumping into a teacher. He was beginning to feel more and more apprehensive which was weird he knew these people; it was only Gordie and Teddy after all.
Gordie had never smoked so many cigarettes in such a short time, he wondered as he lit his fifth in a row whether he was turning into a chain smoker. Teddy was telling him some stupid story involving Vern and baseball but Gordie was only half listening. Mostly he was thinking about what to say to Chris and what to tell his parents about last night. He was just imagining the look on his mother's face when he turned up tonight when he spotted a figure walking towards them
"Shit" Teddy hissed. "I ain't getting caught again!" He quickly stubbed his cigarette out and grabbed Gordie's arm.
Gordie wouldn't let Teddy drag him back; there was something so familiar about the way the figure was walking. It took him just a couple of seconds to realise who it was.
"It's Chris," he said in surprise.
"Chambers? What the fuck?" Teddy wondered out loud.
Chris walked up to them and stopped a couple of feet away. He looked a little mad; his eyes took in the entire scene in one sweep. Gordie nervously took a drag on his cigarette.
"Gordo." Chris said flatly. Then with reluctance, "hey Teddy."
"Chris." Teddy said evenly.
"Hey Chris, how was French?" Gordie asked.
Chris smiled faintly. "Great, just great."
Gordie smiled back nervously. "That's good."
"Listen Gordie, Madame sent me to Bonds about you, you're going to be in some serious shit. That Tanya girl told on you."
Gordie scowled. "Wonderful."
Chris frowned. "Hey man, I came to warn you so you could do something."
Gordie stubbed out his cigarette and ran a hand nervously through his hair. "What the fuck can I do?"
Chris shrugged. "Say you were at the nurse or something. I don't know, but you should get your ass inside and tell her something. Just bullshit her, man."
Gordie nodded. "I guess."
Teddy hadn't said anything he was just staring curiously at Chris.
Chris noticed. "What do you want Duchamp?"
"How you been Chambers?" Teddy asked but there was a slight mocking tone in his voice, a smile behind the eyes.
"Good." Chris said evenly. "How about you?"
Teddy smirked. "Can't complain." He smirked. "Just wondering how your college courses are going man. Are you on the way to being president yet?"
Chris adopted a poker face. "They're going fine, thanks for asking."
"Good." Teddy said poisonously. "Cause I'd hate for you to have to drop them and join the shop courses. I know how much you'd fucking hate to have to associate with losers like us."
Gordie glanced uneasily from Chris to Teddy and back to Chris again. You could cut the tension with a knife. To Gordie it felt like he was watching some complicated dance or a chess game; Teddy and Chris were going to back each other against the ropes if you know what I mean. This was a scene Gordie had been trying to avoid for months.
"Hey Chris maybe we should go back to French class" Gordie offered. "You're right, I'll just tell her some bullshit about having to go to the nurse or something."
Chris ignored him, his attention solely on Teddy. "You're right I would hate to have to take the shop courses but there's really no need for you to worry about me cause I'm going to pass." Chris paused. "I'm going to get out of this fucking town."
Teddy eyes glittered behind his glasses. "Good for you. Shame you had to turn into such a pussy to do it though."
Chris tried not to react but it was difficult. "Meaning?"
"You're not exactly the Chambers I remember is all" Teddy replied. "Chris Chambers I used to know wouldn't be kissing some teacher's ass."
"Eat shit!" Chris snapped.
Teddy began to laugh, "e ee eee e you fucking told me Chambers, e eee eee e e!"
"Fuck you." Chris said clearly and turned to leave.
Gordie followed Chris with a little reluctance. He felt like he were being stretched out between the two of them, being stretched out this thin never worked; something always snapped.
"Bye Teddy, see you in detention." He muttered as he followed Chris.
Teddy didn't answer; he was still laughing. "E e ee ee e! Fuck you Chambers! E ee ee ee e!"
They could hear him laughing the whole way inside. Gordie wondered if it would ever stop.
