Author's Note/Disclaimer:
I do not own Stand By Me or "The Body" they belong to Stephen King. Allie isn't mine, Lizzie isn't mine, and Claire isn't mine. Whew! Those are a lot ofstuff I don't own.
Cha cha cha! Uhm, now that that's over! You guys are in for a treat with this chapter, although it's not as exciting as the next one. I hope you like it!
OTHlover04- Mucho thanks!
Allie- Here you are sweetie and you get Chris! Yay! I wonder where Ace and Jovie are going… okay, no I don't because I know!!
Bleezie- The details are here! Yay!

Chapter Eight

As we walked to meet everyone at the Blue Point I became lost in my thoughts. My mom wasn't suddenly pregnant after two weeks. It meant she was a lying, backstabbing hypocrite. It meant neither of my parents had been true to the other.

"Hi Jov." Vern greeted. I smiled and gave him a small hug.

"Hey Vern-o. What's going on?"

"Not much."

"Hey, the skags are in there. Eyeball and Ace too." Chris said, looking at the diner window. I shrugged and leaned against the mailbox.

"Big deal."

Everyone was slowly getting there. Gordie and Lizzie hadn't been too far behind Vern-o and Teddy followed close behind with a girl I didn't recognize. She had dirty blond hair that fell to the middle of her back in layers and sparkling blue eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses.

"Guys, this is my cousin, Allie." Teddy introduced. I waved, not feeling like myself.

"Hello." Lizzie said cheerfully.

"Let's go in, I'm starvin'!" Vern declared.

"This must be the week of cousins." Gordie shook his head.

"You're a strange kid Lachance." I said. He grinned and nodded.

We went into the diner, Jez had the day off, and took the booth in the back. It was harder to squish the seven of us in. I ended up between Gordie, Lizzie, and Teddy at the end. Across from us was Allie, Chris, and Vern.

It was a long wait for the food and the entire time I wanted out. There was so much going on in my head. I wanted to talk to Lizzie or Chris, just somebody who would listen.

"So, Allie, how long are you here?" Lizzie asked, trying to make conversation. Her eyes kept moving towards Eyeball and he was giving her the eye back. I stood up.

"Hey guys, I'm going for a walk. It was nice meeting you Allie." I smiled. "Maybe you can come and hang out with us sometime."

"Well," Teddy said smoothly, "I was thinking of having a sleepover at my house Saturday. You know, you could come and keep the Almeister company."

Allie glared at him.

"Wait, do we get to go too?" Vern asked seriously.

"No Vern-o. We have to stay home while Teddy camps out with the girls." Chris replied, rolling his eyes. Everybody laughed.

"I'll go with you." Gordie said, getting up.

"I'm coming tonight Teddy. Be prepared." I warned with another smile.

"Yeah me too." Gordie seconded.

"Ooh, lovebirds. Don't do anything I wouldn't." Teddy cooed. I flashed him the finger.

Gordie and I passed by the table where Ace and Eyeball were sitting. Ace and Claire weren't talking, but Claire still gave me that I-dare-you look.

"You know," Gordie said when we were out in the sunlight. "Just because you made-out with Ace Merrill, doesn't mean you're dating."

"How d'you know that?" I stared at him and he shrugged.

"Chris mentioned it before we sat down. I don't think Teddy or Vern heard. So I wouldn't worry about it."

"Jesus." I said.

We were passing by the Mellow Tiger now. I stopped and pawed at the dirt with my sneaker.

"Gordie, I don't know how much more of this I can take. I mean… first my Dad cheating on my Mom. Then my Mom was cheating on Dad and now she's pregnant. Ace, oh god! I don't even know what to think about Ace." I stamped my foot hard on the ground, tears burning my eyes. "I can't stand the way Chris has to live either. Emery and Sheldon are going to be mean just like their Dad and Eyeball is stupid! I want Chris out of that house because he can be so much more."

Gordie was speechless, his eyes wide. I burst into tears.

"I've gotta look like the biggest bawl baby." I sniffled. He came over and gave me a hug and I cried on his shoulder. He was still a few inches taller than me.

"No, no, it'll be okay. Sincerely." He was trying his best, I think, not to cry with me. I wiped my eyes, taking a trail of eyeliner and mascara with me.

"You tell anyone about this Lachance and I'll deny it."

"As a man of my word, I swear not to tell a soul." He held up his hand in Scout's Honor.

"You sincerely swear to God on your mother's good name?" I asked. He nodded profusely and crossed his heart for good measure.

"Good." I clapped my hands together. "Now, onto the next order of business… Teddy's sleepover. How weird is that going to be?"

"Pretty weird." Gordie agreed.

"His cousin seems normal though. Have you met her before?" I asked. Allie was shy, but she seemed like she was holding back a million secrets that she had to tell.

"Al? The only other time she came down. Her Mom sends her here for a little while and then we don't see her. She's a crazy cat."

I pondered that for a minute.

"Sounds like a hell of a lot of fun though." I said. Gordie nodded.

"I think Chris likes her."

"Well, that makes her safe from Teddy." I grinned and we laughed.

To laugh like that with Gordie felt really good.