Disclaimer: Back again? Oh, I just love my reviewers so much!!!!! You all
rule!!!! Just a couple notes about this chappie, kay? First: Ace's Nana is
based on Sophia from 'The Golden Girls'. I was watching that show earlier,
as it's one of my favorites, and I told myself,"Sophia acts like Ace
Merrill." Then I thought, "What the fuck? He mentions his grandmother in
the movie, how if she lives with his family? I haven't seen anything like
that before." Note # 2: I know what happens between Eyeball and Ocean is
simalar to what happens between Toby and Chris in Aleka's story 'I'll Stand
by you', but I swear thats not where I got the idea of it! I'm not trying
to be a copycat. Anyway, it's only simalar, not the same. Lastly: Any songs
in this chapter are not owned by me!!!! Is that it? I believe so. Now, on
to the story!!!!
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"Are you serious, Storm? You've never been to a barbecue before?" Billy asked me, as we walked to Ace's house, heading for my first ever barbecue. Ace didn't exactly seem the type of guy to host a barbecue, but from the way the others spoke, he did it all the time.
"Serious as a heartattack." I replied.
It had been nearly a month since my little eppisode with Eyeball in the bathroom. I was still embarrassed about the whole thing. I'd apoligized for it and he said it was cool, but I still felt weird. We still hung out though, and he had opened up to me about his life a little bit more. I, in return, told him the whole thing with Pete Greene and my Mother. The thing was, after all that I was still uneasy around him, and now here I was, going to Ace's house, where I would spend the entire afternoon with Eyeball. I'd been to Ace's a couple of times, so I knew his family fairly well, except for his father, whom I had met only once, and his older sister, Gail, that I'd never met, because she was away at school. According to Ace, she had been an excellent student and had a scholorship to college. She was in Europe this summer, with some program from school.
Aside from Mr. Merrill and Gail, there was Mrs. Merrill, Ace's younger sister, Corrine, and Mrs. Hammlin, Ace's grandmother, who was simply dubbed 'Nana' by all of us kids. She was a crazy old woman, having suffered a stroke a few years ago that damaged the part of her brain that controlled what came out of her mouth. Some of the stuff she came up with, it was a riot just to listen to her. Nana had come to America from Sicily when she was just seventeen. She met Ace's grandfather in New York City, and they moved to Oregon and settled in Castle Rock. She always had a story to tell anout 'the old country'. Even though Ace would never admit it, I could tell he loved Nana very much.
"I just can't believe that!" Billy exclaimed as we crossed Main Street. I rolled my eyes, something that had become a bit of my trademark.
"You didn't know my Mother well, Bill, but you knew enough of her to see what kind of woman she was. We didn't go to barbecues, we went to gamlan concerts."
"What the fuck is a gamlan concert?"
"Something to complicated for you to understand. I wouldn't have time to explain it anyway, 'cause we're here." The two of us bounded up the front steps and knocked on the door. Nana answered. She was so short, that I had too look down at her and I only stood 5'3! She had curly white hair and dark complected skin. "Hello Nana!"
"Hello Cloud." She said, opening the door wider so we could come in.
"Um, her name's Storm, Nana." Billy corrected.
"Fine. The other kids are outback. I can't believe that jackass grandson of mine invited that little hussy here. What's her name? Llama?" Nana lead the way to the back porch.
"You mean Alana?" I asked. Nana nodded.
"That's the one." When we reached the back porch, she look over Ace's shoulder as he stood barbecueing some ribs. "Great, ribs. Why don't you just kick the dentures out of my mouth, John?"
"Nana, I've asked you not to call me John. It's Ace." He rolled his eyes.
"Why?That's not the name your parents gave you. Not that John is so great, either. If I'd had my way, you'd have been named Alfonzo." She told him. I guess Ace choose to ignore that, because he didn't answear.
I looked around to see who all was there. Apperently, Billy and I were the last to arrive. I sat down between Sandra and Val.
"I love Nana." Sandra giggled "She is SO FUNNY!" I smiled.
"I know. She called me 'Cloud' earlier." I told them. Val leaned toward me.
"Oh my God, you should have heard her before you guys got here! She was telling Ace one of her stories, something about pepperoni swimming upstream. It was hilarious."
"Pepperoni isn't a fish!" I said. Val grinned.
"I know. The jist of it was, she thinks Alana's a slut. What that has to do with swimming pepperonie, we may never know." I giggled. I guess the sound of my laughter drew Eyeball's attention, because he stared at me.
"Ohhh." Sandra said. "Look's like Eyeball's in looooove." I smacked her arm.
"Shut up, we're just friends." I told the two of them. They just laughed harder. "We are!"
"Sure you are. I used to say the same thing about me and Billy." Val said. "And look at us now!" I just shook my head, but I was grateful when Ace annouced that the food was done. I loaded my plate and sat down on a wicker swing.
"Hey." Eyeball said, sitting next to me. We both ignored the knowing looks our friends were sending us. "You mad at me or something?"
"Why makes you think that?"
"You ain't said a word to me since you got here." He pouted. "I thought you was mad."
"No, I was just busy talking to Sandra and Val."
"What about?" He asked. I'd die before I told him. So I just shrugged.
"You know, just girl stuff." He arched an eyebrow.
"Meaning......................"
"Meaning nothing that concerns you. So drop it okay?"
"Okay, ya don't have to bite my head off. Jeez, Storm." He turned back to the other conversation.
"I'll be glad when Junior adds on the addition to the back of the house." Mrs. Merrill was saying. "That way when Gail comes home, she and Corrinne don't have to share a room. I'm glad it's not like when I was young, and all four of us kids shared a bed."
"Please." Nana retorted. "In Sicily, four in a bed is a treat. It means half you family is away. I shared a bed with my two brothers till I was fifteen. I was briefly engaged to one of them for a short while, but that another story."
Ace's face turned red and I stiffled a laugh. God, the shit that woman came up with!
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I had a good time the rest of the evening, and it was nearly 9:30 before we got home and I was exhausted.. It had started to rain, so Ace took us home, stopping to pick up Vern, who had spent the day at Teddy's house. Aunt Charlene and Uncle Dan were over in Durham. Aunt Charlene's sister. was in the hospital and they went to visit her. They'd be gone till the next day.
"Oh, I'm so tired!" I told Billy. "I'm taking a shower, then I'm going to bed. What about you guys?"
"I'll probably take a shower after your done." Billy said. Vern shrugged.
"I guess I'll watch TV."
The hot shower felt so good, I didn't want to get out, but if I used up all the hot water, Billy'd have my ass. I dried off slowly, squeezed the excess water out of my hair, and pulled a my pajama's, a pair of flannel shorts and an old white tee shirt that Billy gave me.
"Alright Bill, you can get in now!" I told him.
"Okay." He exited his bedroom, carrying his clean clothes.
Once, I was in my room, I snuggled under the warm blankets. I didn't usually go to bed this early, but I was so tired. I fell asleep almost immeaditly.
Plunk! Plunk!
I sat up quickly. What was that noise? I looked at my clock. It read 2 a.m.
Plunk!
There it was again! Cautiously as possible, I looked out my window. Sheets of rain were pouring down. I could just barely make out someone standing in the side yard. I squinted. It was Eyeball! I pushed my window open.
"Eyeball, what the hell are you doing down there?"
"Storm! Thank God! Let me in, please!"
"Okay, come to the front door." I hurried downstairs to let him in. When he stepped into the light, I gasped. Not only was he sopping wet, but his nose was bleeding, his lip was cut, he had a huge bruise blooming on his cheek, and what looked like the beggining of a black eye. "Oh my God! What happened to you?"
"My old man. He drug me out of bed because I parked my car in his spot." He said, touching his eye. "I got away from him fast as I could and ran all the way over here."
"In the rain?! You're house is nearly two miles from here! Why didn't you drive?"
"I didn't have time to grab my keys." I eyed his clothing.
"You better get out of those wet clothes. You'll get sick."
"What am I suppose to wear?" He asked. "I can't walk around naked, you know."
"I know. Here take off your shoes and socks. Let's go upstairs, and I'll get you some of Billy's clothes. You can take a shower, if you want. Are you hungry? I'll make you something to eat."
"Yeah, that'd be nice."
"Which one? The food or the shower?" I teased him. He grinned, then winced, bring his hand to his busted lip.
"Both."
I sneaked quietly into Billy's room and over to his dresser. I pulled out a clean shirt, some sweatpants, clean underwear, and a pair of socks. "Here you go." I gave them to Eyeball. "Let me get you a towel and washcloth. Oh, yeah and you can use my shampoo. It's the lemon scent."
"Thanks,Storm. Really, I mean it."
"It's no big deal. Hey, what do you want to eat?" I asked. He shrugged.
"Just a sandwhich, if thats okay."
"Sure. Turkey okay?"
"Um, yeah, it's fine."
I left him to take his shower and headed down to the kitchen to make his sandwhich and pour him a glass of milk. My head was whirling. Why would you beat your own child? And for something as stupid as parking spaces? I didn't understand, but I was glad Eyeball came to me. I was also glad Uncle Dan and Aunt Charlene were out of the house. I carried his food back to my room and waited for him to finish his shower. He came into my room slowly, like he was afraid I'd make him leave. He'd combed his clean wet hair flat to his head, except where it curled around his forehead and the nape of his neck. I didn't think I'd ever seen him look so sexy.
"Here's your food." I handed it to him.
"Thanks." He sat down on the bed beside me and wolfed it down. He practically drained the milk in one gulp. "Um," He looked like wanted to ask something, but was embarrassed.
"What?"
"Do you happen to have a extra toothbrush I can borrow? I feel like I have food in my teeth." He blushed and ducked his head, so unEyeball like.
"Yeah, it's under the sink. I think it's a blue one." I willed myself not to laugh. Thankfully, I suceeded.
"Great."
When he came back from brushing his teeth, he sat down beside me and lightly touched his arm.
"You okay?" I asked. He nodded, but sniffled and swiped at his eyes. "Listen, if you want to cry or anything-"
He cut me off. " I don't cry! Cobra's never cry!" He swiped his eyes again. I took his hand.
"Why don't they cry, Eyeball?" I asked. Tears were starting to roll now, and his body was shaking with pent up sobs.
"Because it's pussy! It's pussy! It's-" He grind his fist into his eyes, but couldn't keep the tears from falling. I put my arms around him and pulled him closer to me. "Why does he hate us so much? Why doesn't he love us? God, we're part of him! Why?"
"Shhh, honey, I know. I know." I held him, just like he held me that time a Vince's and we rocked back and forth. Finally, he calmed down and the tears stopped. We lay back on my pillow, and I wraped my arms around him again. He lay his head on my shoulder.
"Sing 'Michelle'." He whispered.
"Michelle, ma belle....." I sang the song to him three times before he was satisfied, running my fingers through his still damp hair while I sang. He looked up at me, his brown eyes still so sad.
"Sing a lullaby. But noting to sappy" I thought for a second trying to remember a song my Mother used to sing when I was upset. When she actually noticed, that is.
"Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me. Starlight and moonlight are waiting for thee. Sounds of the cruel world heard in the day, now in the nightfall, all passed away.........." I sang until he fell asleep. Then, I pulled the blankets up over us and held him close to me. I was exhausted. What a night this had been.
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Whew, that was a long one. I hope you liked it. Okay, I know maybe it seems like Eyeball is a little OOC, but come on! He's human! You don't think if your Dad had beat you, you wouldn't act like that? I'm speaking from experience here. Yeah, my Dad, the worldest biggest dickhead, was just like that with me. Thankfully, I never have to see him again. But enough about that! Review, please!!!!!
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"Are you serious, Storm? You've never been to a barbecue before?" Billy asked me, as we walked to Ace's house, heading for my first ever barbecue. Ace didn't exactly seem the type of guy to host a barbecue, but from the way the others spoke, he did it all the time.
"Serious as a heartattack." I replied.
It had been nearly a month since my little eppisode with Eyeball in the bathroom. I was still embarrassed about the whole thing. I'd apoligized for it and he said it was cool, but I still felt weird. We still hung out though, and he had opened up to me about his life a little bit more. I, in return, told him the whole thing with Pete Greene and my Mother. The thing was, after all that I was still uneasy around him, and now here I was, going to Ace's house, where I would spend the entire afternoon with Eyeball. I'd been to Ace's a couple of times, so I knew his family fairly well, except for his father, whom I had met only once, and his older sister, Gail, that I'd never met, because she was away at school. According to Ace, she had been an excellent student and had a scholorship to college. She was in Europe this summer, with some program from school.
Aside from Mr. Merrill and Gail, there was Mrs. Merrill, Ace's younger sister, Corrine, and Mrs. Hammlin, Ace's grandmother, who was simply dubbed 'Nana' by all of us kids. She was a crazy old woman, having suffered a stroke a few years ago that damaged the part of her brain that controlled what came out of her mouth. Some of the stuff she came up with, it was a riot just to listen to her. Nana had come to America from Sicily when she was just seventeen. She met Ace's grandfather in New York City, and they moved to Oregon and settled in Castle Rock. She always had a story to tell anout 'the old country'. Even though Ace would never admit it, I could tell he loved Nana very much.
"I just can't believe that!" Billy exclaimed as we crossed Main Street. I rolled my eyes, something that had become a bit of my trademark.
"You didn't know my Mother well, Bill, but you knew enough of her to see what kind of woman she was. We didn't go to barbecues, we went to gamlan concerts."
"What the fuck is a gamlan concert?"
"Something to complicated for you to understand. I wouldn't have time to explain it anyway, 'cause we're here." The two of us bounded up the front steps and knocked on the door. Nana answered. She was so short, that I had too look down at her and I only stood 5'3! She had curly white hair and dark complected skin. "Hello Nana!"
"Hello Cloud." She said, opening the door wider so we could come in.
"Um, her name's Storm, Nana." Billy corrected.
"Fine. The other kids are outback. I can't believe that jackass grandson of mine invited that little hussy here. What's her name? Llama?" Nana lead the way to the back porch.
"You mean Alana?" I asked. Nana nodded.
"That's the one." When we reached the back porch, she look over Ace's shoulder as he stood barbecueing some ribs. "Great, ribs. Why don't you just kick the dentures out of my mouth, John?"
"Nana, I've asked you not to call me John. It's Ace." He rolled his eyes.
"Why?That's not the name your parents gave you. Not that John is so great, either. If I'd had my way, you'd have been named Alfonzo." She told him. I guess Ace choose to ignore that, because he didn't answear.
I looked around to see who all was there. Apperently, Billy and I were the last to arrive. I sat down between Sandra and Val.
"I love Nana." Sandra giggled "She is SO FUNNY!" I smiled.
"I know. She called me 'Cloud' earlier." I told them. Val leaned toward me.
"Oh my God, you should have heard her before you guys got here! She was telling Ace one of her stories, something about pepperoni swimming upstream. It was hilarious."
"Pepperoni isn't a fish!" I said. Val grinned.
"I know. The jist of it was, she thinks Alana's a slut. What that has to do with swimming pepperonie, we may never know." I giggled. I guess the sound of my laughter drew Eyeball's attention, because he stared at me.
"Ohhh." Sandra said. "Look's like Eyeball's in looooove." I smacked her arm.
"Shut up, we're just friends." I told the two of them. They just laughed harder. "We are!"
"Sure you are. I used to say the same thing about me and Billy." Val said. "And look at us now!" I just shook my head, but I was grateful when Ace annouced that the food was done. I loaded my plate and sat down on a wicker swing.
"Hey." Eyeball said, sitting next to me. We both ignored the knowing looks our friends were sending us. "You mad at me or something?"
"Why makes you think that?"
"You ain't said a word to me since you got here." He pouted. "I thought you was mad."
"No, I was just busy talking to Sandra and Val."
"What about?" He asked. I'd die before I told him. So I just shrugged.
"You know, just girl stuff." He arched an eyebrow.
"Meaning......................"
"Meaning nothing that concerns you. So drop it okay?"
"Okay, ya don't have to bite my head off. Jeez, Storm." He turned back to the other conversation.
"I'll be glad when Junior adds on the addition to the back of the house." Mrs. Merrill was saying. "That way when Gail comes home, she and Corrinne don't have to share a room. I'm glad it's not like when I was young, and all four of us kids shared a bed."
"Please." Nana retorted. "In Sicily, four in a bed is a treat. It means half you family is away. I shared a bed with my two brothers till I was fifteen. I was briefly engaged to one of them for a short while, but that another story."
Ace's face turned red and I stiffled a laugh. God, the shit that woman came up with!
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I had a good time the rest of the evening, and it was nearly 9:30 before we got home and I was exhausted.. It had started to rain, so Ace took us home, stopping to pick up Vern, who had spent the day at Teddy's house. Aunt Charlene and Uncle Dan were over in Durham. Aunt Charlene's sister. was in the hospital and they went to visit her. They'd be gone till the next day.
"Oh, I'm so tired!" I told Billy. "I'm taking a shower, then I'm going to bed. What about you guys?"
"I'll probably take a shower after your done." Billy said. Vern shrugged.
"I guess I'll watch TV."
The hot shower felt so good, I didn't want to get out, but if I used up all the hot water, Billy'd have my ass. I dried off slowly, squeezed the excess water out of my hair, and pulled a my pajama's, a pair of flannel shorts and an old white tee shirt that Billy gave me.
"Alright Bill, you can get in now!" I told him.
"Okay." He exited his bedroom, carrying his clean clothes.
Once, I was in my room, I snuggled under the warm blankets. I didn't usually go to bed this early, but I was so tired. I fell asleep almost immeaditly.
Plunk! Plunk!
I sat up quickly. What was that noise? I looked at my clock. It read 2 a.m.
Plunk!
There it was again! Cautiously as possible, I looked out my window. Sheets of rain were pouring down. I could just barely make out someone standing in the side yard. I squinted. It was Eyeball! I pushed my window open.
"Eyeball, what the hell are you doing down there?"
"Storm! Thank God! Let me in, please!"
"Okay, come to the front door." I hurried downstairs to let him in. When he stepped into the light, I gasped. Not only was he sopping wet, but his nose was bleeding, his lip was cut, he had a huge bruise blooming on his cheek, and what looked like the beggining of a black eye. "Oh my God! What happened to you?"
"My old man. He drug me out of bed because I parked my car in his spot." He said, touching his eye. "I got away from him fast as I could and ran all the way over here."
"In the rain?! You're house is nearly two miles from here! Why didn't you drive?"
"I didn't have time to grab my keys." I eyed his clothing.
"You better get out of those wet clothes. You'll get sick."
"What am I suppose to wear?" He asked. "I can't walk around naked, you know."
"I know. Here take off your shoes and socks. Let's go upstairs, and I'll get you some of Billy's clothes. You can take a shower, if you want. Are you hungry? I'll make you something to eat."
"Yeah, that'd be nice."
"Which one? The food or the shower?" I teased him. He grinned, then winced, bring his hand to his busted lip.
"Both."
I sneaked quietly into Billy's room and over to his dresser. I pulled out a clean shirt, some sweatpants, clean underwear, and a pair of socks. "Here you go." I gave them to Eyeball. "Let me get you a towel and washcloth. Oh, yeah and you can use my shampoo. It's the lemon scent."
"Thanks,Storm. Really, I mean it."
"It's no big deal. Hey, what do you want to eat?" I asked. He shrugged.
"Just a sandwhich, if thats okay."
"Sure. Turkey okay?"
"Um, yeah, it's fine."
I left him to take his shower and headed down to the kitchen to make his sandwhich and pour him a glass of milk. My head was whirling. Why would you beat your own child? And for something as stupid as parking spaces? I didn't understand, but I was glad Eyeball came to me. I was also glad Uncle Dan and Aunt Charlene were out of the house. I carried his food back to my room and waited for him to finish his shower. He came into my room slowly, like he was afraid I'd make him leave. He'd combed his clean wet hair flat to his head, except where it curled around his forehead and the nape of his neck. I didn't think I'd ever seen him look so sexy.
"Here's your food." I handed it to him.
"Thanks." He sat down on the bed beside me and wolfed it down. He practically drained the milk in one gulp. "Um," He looked like wanted to ask something, but was embarrassed.
"What?"
"Do you happen to have a extra toothbrush I can borrow? I feel like I have food in my teeth." He blushed and ducked his head, so unEyeball like.
"Yeah, it's under the sink. I think it's a blue one." I willed myself not to laugh. Thankfully, I suceeded.
"Great."
When he came back from brushing his teeth, he sat down beside me and lightly touched his arm.
"You okay?" I asked. He nodded, but sniffled and swiped at his eyes. "Listen, if you want to cry or anything-"
He cut me off. " I don't cry! Cobra's never cry!" He swiped his eyes again. I took his hand.
"Why don't they cry, Eyeball?" I asked. Tears were starting to roll now, and his body was shaking with pent up sobs.
"Because it's pussy! It's pussy! It's-" He grind his fist into his eyes, but couldn't keep the tears from falling. I put my arms around him and pulled him closer to me. "Why does he hate us so much? Why doesn't he love us? God, we're part of him! Why?"
"Shhh, honey, I know. I know." I held him, just like he held me that time a Vince's and we rocked back and forth. Finally, he calmed down and the tears stopped. We lay back on my pillow, and I wraped my arms around him again. He lay his head on my shoulder.
"Sing 'Michelle'." He whispered.
"Michelle, ma belle....." I sang the song to him three times before he was satisfied, running my fingers through his still damp hair while I sang. He looked up at me, his brown eyes still so sad.
"Sing a lullaby. But noting to sappy" I thought for a second trying to remember a song my Mother used to sing when I was upset. When she actually noticed, that is.
"Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me. Starlight and moonlight are waiting for thee. Sounds of the cruel world heard in the day, now in the nightfall, all passed away.........." I sang until he fell asleep. Then, I pulled the blankets up over us and held him close to me. I was exhausted. What a night this had been.
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Whew, that was a long one. I hope you liked it. Okay, I know maybe it seems like Eyeball is a little OOC, but come on! He's human! You don't think if your Dad had beat you, you wouldn't act like that? I'm speaking from experience here. Yeah, my Dad, the worldest biggest dickhead, was just like that with me. Thankfully, I never have to see him again. But enough about that! Review, please!!!!!