Disclaimer:
I do not own Stand By Me or "The Body", I just wish I did. They belong to Columbia Tristar and Stephen King, both of whom I am not affiliated with. I'm not making money off of this so you can't sue me. Please read and review and remember any flames will be turned into fluid for my lighter.
Chapter One
It was the worst summer of my life, the summer of 1959. At least that's how it started.
My "perfect" family was falling apart, my steady boyfriend and I had just gone through a messy break up, and to put the cherry on it all, we were moving.
To be more specific my brother, mother, and I were moving. My dad and mom were divorcing and they couldn't stand to be in the same house, let alone the same town. We were moving from the happy town of Lewiston to the tiny, redneck town of Castle Rock. No matter where we went we could always be found in good ol' Maine and I wouldn't have had a problem with it if we didn't have relatives there.
Everyone knew the Chambers family, but they didn't exactly have a good rep. So, three days before school started my brother and I packed up and headed out. My mom would meet us there sometime soon, hugs, kisses, and we were gone.
My first day in Castle Rock was hardly memorable. Things got juicier as time went on, but that's getting ahead of myself.
Andrew Cameron, my nine-year-old brother had fallen asleep on my shoulder after getting all jazzed about the train ride.
"Ms. Cameron, Castle Rock." The Conductor informed me. I nodded and shoved Andrew off. He woke up and rubbed his eyes.
"What the hell'd you do that for?" He asked after the conductor left and closed the door behind him.
"Watch your mouth dipshit." I replied.
As the older sister, by seven years, I had every right to cuss at the little psycho.
"Are we here?" He asked peering out the window into the train station. This was exciting for him and I could feel him getting jazzed all over again.
"Yeah so grab your stuff, put an egg in your shoe, and beat it." I mumbled, ruffling his golden colored hair.
"You suck Jovanna." He said, grabbing his suitcase and flying out of the car as I winced.
I sincerely hated my name. I mean who the hell names their kid Jovanna anyway? But ask anyone who'd ever made the mistake of ranking me about my name. They probably still have the scars to show you.
Glumly I got off the train and followed Andrew to the nearest bench so we could take a good look around.
I had been twelve years old the last time I saw my cousins and my Uncle Ed. My Aunt Carolyn came to visit us every two months to take a break from her husband. At which time she'd make the mistake of leaving my cousin Eyeball in charge of things. Unfortunately for me Eyeball was the one picking us up.
"Is that him?" Drew asked excitedly. I looked in the direction he was pointing and felt my upper lip curl.
"Yes, that's him." I said.
I led Andrew to the spot where Eyeball was standing with some j.d. buddy of his.
"Hey Rich." I said casually. I hoped maybe he'd forgotten who we were.
"Eyeball." He corrected, upon turning around. 'No such luck in him forgetting,' I thought. I tugged at my skirt nervously as we stared at each other for a few awkward seconds.
"Who're you?" Drew asked, unsure of Eyeball's cohort.
"Vince Desjardens, these're my cousins, Drew and Jovanna Cameron." Eyeball introduced. I glared at him.
"Jovie works just fine." I insisted as we walked out of the station to the ugliest car I'd ever seen. It was a '54 Studebaker, which was a pretty boss car, but it was pink. I gave a small cough that went unnoticed.
"You can shove your shit in the back." Vince said opening the trunk. As he did I noticed a fresh tattoo on his arm that read 'Cobras'.
Drew and I put our 'cases in the trunk and hopped in the backseat. As we drove through the sleepy town, Eyeball and Vince gave us the unofficial, and in my case, unwanted tour. Drew was hanging on every word.
"And that's the pool hall, where only the bossest cats hang, and that's Blue Point, and see that trail up by where that black car is…" Eyeball trailed off and Vince, being the half brain he is, followed Eyeball's gaze.
"Hey Eyeball, isn't that Ace's car?"
"Yeah, and if you could see a little further into the car you'd see why they only call it 'The Point'." Eyeball laughed. I almost laughed with him. He had just about the weirdest laugh I'd ever heard.
"Lemme guess. They don't just go to look at the wonderful view, admire the stars, and spin yarn?" I asked sarcastically.
Vince gave me a confused stare and I rolled my eyes.
"I get it." I said with a sigh. He gave a snorting laugh and I rolled my eyes again.
We continued on down the street, turning on a couple of back roads, Eyeball still on about his tour until we reached the house.
Outside Sheldon and Emery were playing a kiddy version of baseball. Tagging along behind Emery was two-year-old Debbie. Chris watched them from the porch.
Vince stopped the car to let Drew and me out. He opened the trunk (so courteous), let us get our suitcases, and like a flash he and Eyeball were gone.
"Hey stranger. Long time no see." I said as Chris got off the porch. He had grown quite a few inches from the last time I'd seen him but the only other thing that seemed to have changed was the way his face was set. He used to have a carefree look, but now his face seemed hardened. Probably worn down by the stress of taking care of the kids and the shit his dad gave him.
"Yeah, only been waitin' for the past two weeks to see you. Hey Drew." Chris said ruffling Andrew's hair and giving me a hug.
"So, where are we sleeping?" I asked, looking up at the rickety, shack-like house.
"Follow me." Chris said, opening the door.