Wow it's been a long time coming, but here are the next few chapters. I'm going away tomorrow for Winter break so the next update won't be for another two weeks at least. Anyway hope you enjoy reading the latest chapters and I hope everyone has a great holiday season!! *heart heart heart*
Life.
"Come on Lachance let's kick some ass!" Laura screamed.
Gordie chose a bat from the fence and turned to look back at his team-mates. He actually felt a little better, something about the fresh air and exercise I guess.
"I'm on it" he called back and jogged to the plate.
Their team was down two runs in the fifth inning and they had two outs. They had decided to play six innings and then go for lunch. It was hot now and the sun beat down on their backs. Gordie was pretty good at baseball but he hadn't played much recently. He always played as pitcher when he played with Chris and the guys but some fat guy called Tommy had claimed that position so Gordie had been playing way out in left field. This was his third time up to bat. The first time he had struck out. It had been so embarrassing, the rest of his team had looked as if they wanted to murder him. The second time he had made it to second base.
"Hey darlin, you're blocking the plate" the pitcher mocked.
Gordie rolled his eyes. The pitcher on the other team was a big guy called Matthew Royston. He was in the grade above Gordie at school and he was the stupidest fucking loser ever in Castle Rock. Gordie had hated him with a passion since the time in seventh grade when he had stolen some girl's wallet and blamed it on Chris.
Gordie twirled the bat in his hands and concentrated on seeing the ball. The first was a ball. The second pitch a strike. The third pitch was good, Gordie swung the bat as hard as he could and connected with the ball. It was a pop fly. As he ran to first base he shielded his eyes with his hands and watched the descent of the ball. It looked like the centre fielder was going to catch it but he had miscalculated the distance and the ball sailed over his head. Gordie ran as fast as he could and slid into third base as the ball sailed back into the infield.
"Good job Gordie!" someone called from the sidelines.
Gordie stood up and brushed the sand off his pants before glancing over to see who it was. It turned out to be Vern. He was leaning on the railings drinking from a bottle of soda. Gordie waved then turned his attention back to the game.
Chris and Teddy were at the Blue Point Diner eating cheeseburgers. They were sat opposite each other but barely exchanged glances. Both concentrated on their food. Finally Teddy spoke.
"I think we should go talk to Gordie."
"Together?" Chris asked, swallowing the last of his burger.
"Sure." Teddy took off his glasses and awkwardly polished them with a napkin to avoid looking at Chris.
"Okay," Chris said with some reluctance. "When and how?"
"Some time today. Maybe I could arrange to meet up with him tonight."
"What will we say?" Chris asked and took a swig of water.
Teddy shrugged. "I don't know. I guess we tell him we're kind of worried about him."
Chris glanced out the window. "He'll hate that."
"So?" Teddy asked. "Sincerely Chris I love Gordie but last night was a fucking trip. It was wrong man. It's wrong for him to be puking in the gutter like that."
Chris nodded. "You're right, but aw shit this is going to be tough."
"Life ain't easy," Teddy said and his eyes suddenly looked haunted. He shoved his glasses back on and fiddled nervously with the cord of his hearing aid.
"Don't I know it," Chris said softly. "Okay Teddy you're on. We'll do it tonight."
"Do what exactly?" Teddy asked with a sly smile and the look in his eyes lifted.
Chris threw a straw wrapper at his friend. "Talk to Gordie. Why? You got another idea?"
Teddy laughed. "Eee ee ee e eee maybe ee ee e."
"Fuck you man" Chris said, but in a friendly way. He stood up and pulled a couple of dollars out of his jeans pocket and threw them on the table. "Come around later."
"Yeah" Teddy agreed and leaned back in the booth. Chris left Teddy alone in the diner. Chris had only agreed to come in cause it was empty. He didn't really want everyone to see his face all messed up like it was. People talk and that talk can really hurt. Teddy shut his eyes. He was tired, mentally and physically. He hadn't been back to his house in a few days now and though he'd never admit it, he was scared. His mom's boyfriend was a crazy, arrogant bastard and his mom was completely under his control. Teddy hated it and what he hated more was how she was preventing him from seeing his dad. His dad wasn't perfect, no way. But he was his dad you know? His dad. Teddy put his head on the table and fell asleep. It was comfier than the tree house at least.
"There's a party tonight," Vern told Gordie. The game had just finished and Gordie had wandered over to the fence to talk to his friend.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah you should go man," Vern said enthusiastically. "I'll get Teddy to go as well and we can all go together. It's at Emma's friend's house, should be good. What do ya say?"
"Maybe," Gordie said and ran a hand through his hair. He was kind of sweaty and his face was flushed.
"Aw come on man, it'll be boss I swear," Vern promised.
"Okay I guess," Gordie said reluctantly.
"Great!" Vern said beaming. "You finished here? Let's head around to Teddy's and see if he wants to come too."
"Yeah I'm finished," Gordie, said then, "um I don't think Teddy will be home right now."
"Why not?" Vern asked.
Gordie glanced at the floor. So Teddy hadn't told Vern about sleeping in the tree house. It wasn't his place to say anything.
"I uh saw him earlier, maybe he's gone to the tree house or something."
"Oh, well okay I can give him a call later," Vern said. "I'll meet you about eight then, maybe I can get the car off my mom."
"You drive Verno?"
"Sure, why? Is that a problem Lachance?"
"No, no problem."
