Thanks for the reviews guys. I wrote some more info on the family in this
chapter and some descriptions of the new characters. More personality
traits will come out as the story moves along. Again- thanks for the
reviews
Becoming Acquainted
As soon as they reached the diner, Jackie was looking around for Gordie and the rest of the group. She noticed them sitting in the corner booth. She hurried over with Gracie right behind her. Gordie was the first to notice them. He got up when he saw Jackie's worried face.
"Jackie- what's wrong?" he asked, very concerned. The rest of the group noticed the two girls. Teddy asked Sophie if she knew who the "blonde chick" was.
"I think she's Jackie's cousin.um I don't remember her name. She just moved here from San Diego." Sophie answered.
Gracie looked around at the group before her. One of the boys had these huge rimmed glasses and a green tee shirt with army tags around his neck. He had his arm around this spunky and petite girl with curly, shoulder-length red hair. The other couple consisted of a slightly "big- boned" boy with a baby-like face. He was sitting next to a girl who seemed very feminine. Her brown hair was curled perfectly and she was wearing a pink summer dress that looked ironed.
Chris couldn't help notice how frightened the girls looked, especially this new girl. He also couldn't help notice how striking she was. She had a perfect body and a tan he wasn't accustomed to seeing on girls. What he really noticed was her eyes. They reminded him of Jackie's, blue and gray and seemingly bottomless. Gracie noticed Chris and smiled. She hoped he wasn't Vern or Teddy and noticed he wasn't sitting with anyone, like the other two boys.
Chris and Gracie were thrown out of their trance while Jackie told the group what happened with the Cobras. "There were three guys and they wouldn't let me go. I didn't even notice who they were, I was so scared." Jackie hurriedly tried to get through the story, but was obviously very shaken up. Gordie put his arm around her and stroked her hair. He was more than furious. The cobras messed with him all the time, and that pissed him off. But now they're starting to mess with his girlfriend too? It was too much for him to take.
Chris sensed how angry Gordie was. He wanted to ease down the situation, so he started asking questions.
"How did you two get away?" He asked, looking at Gracie.
"Um-this guy, I think his name is Ace" She noticed all the guys tense at the mention of the guy's name, "he grabbed me and started to kiss me. So I, um, kicked him in the uh, the groin" Everyone seemed to be impressed.
"Who's this girl again?" Vern asked
"She's my cousin, Gracie" Jackie replied.
"Wow, she's cool" Vern said.
"I just figured, you know, element of surprise." Gracie commented, which received a chuckle from the group.
"So, where are they now?" Chris asked, sticking to business.
"I don't know, we just took off and didn't look back." Gracie answered.
"We should probably get outta here before there's a brawl." Chris offered.
"Yeah, let's go to the tree house" Gwen, the girl sitting next to Vern replied and they all agreed.
Chris cautiously led the group out of the diner. He looked around outside and didn't see anyone. "That's weird," He replied.
"What?" Gracie asked
"They're all gone. They never back down when someone steps up to them. How hard did you kick him?" He asked, slightly amused.
"As hard as I could, I guess" Gracie smiled.
"Maybe he had to be hospitalized" Chris laughed.
They started to make their way down to the tree house. All of the couples were walking in pairs, leaving Chris and Gracie to walk together. Something neither of them minded.
"So, I don't think we've been formally introduced." Chris stated.
"Yeah, things got a little crazy back there. I'm Gracie Evans"
"Chris Chambers" Chris replied as he shook her hand, very soft, he noticed, "So-um, you just moved here?"
"Yeah, from San Diego"
"Wow, San Diego. Why would you possibly want to move here?" He asked, amazed.
"Oh, I didn't. It was my dad's idea. Mid-life crisis, I say." She replied, "It's not as bad as I thought, though."
"Oh really? Well, I'd say you've had an exciting day. You were hassled by the leader of the worst gang in town and kneed him in the "groin" as you put it, no wonder you like it here." She laughed and he couldn't help but fall head over heels for her laugh.
Jackie looked back to check on her cousin. She couldn't help but smile to herself. She knew from the moment she met Gracie that her and Chris would be perfect together. She would soon be able to add them to the list of people she helped to "hook up". She was responsible for Gwen and Vern and Teddy and Sophie. She only wished that matchmakers could get paid for their services. Gordie noticed her excitement. "What makes you so happy all of the sudden?"
"Oh, just look at your best friend, but don't be obvious" She responded.
Gordie looked back slyly. He noticed that Chris was definitely into Gracie. He could tell just by the way Chris was looking at her.
"Finally found someone worthy of our Chambers, eh?" He smiled at Jackie.
"And she's my cousin, how cool is that?!"
"Pretty cool, now he can stop tagging along with us" Gordie teased and kissed Jackie on the forehead.
"So what is this tree house all about?" Gracie asked Chris.
"Just a place the guys an I used to hang out in when we were kids. Now the girls feel like it's their territory, too. It ruins the whole appeal" Chris said jokingly.
"So- it's a retired bachelor pad?" Gracie summed it all up.
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Sounds like fun" Gracie replied. Chris could not for the life of him take his eyes off of her. He had honestly never felt this way about any girl. She just seemed so welcoming and easygoing, someone who wouldn't play games to win him over, like other girls had in the past. In a way, he had always been a little envious of Gordie, Teddy and Vern. Jackie, Sophie and Gwen were all great girls and the couples seemed to mesh so well. He just couldn't seem to find a girl he could confide in and have fun with and be attracted to on the inside and out. Maybe Gracie could be that person.
Gracie, on the same level felt a connection with Chris that was very foreign to her. Sure, she had had boyfriends before, but Chris seemed to have much more maturity than all of them combined. She admired the way he took charge of situations and the way he seemed genuinely concerned about others. She couldn't believe she had met so many awesome people on her first day. It made her ease up on the whole situation.
"What is your family like?" Chris asked.
"Oh- it's huge, I have three younger sisters and 1 younger brother." Gracie laughed.
"There's five of you?!" Chris asked a little surprised.
"Yeah- we were all born to be in the spotlight too. Talia is 12, she's kinda ditzy and can be annoying sometimes- but she's a lot of fun to have around. She has the most beautiful voice in the world; sometimes I think she was born to perform. Adrienne is only 5, but she's a lot like Talia- full of energy, except her forte is the piano. She just loves to be the center of attention. Then there's Benjamin, he is only three, but I can tell he is going to be the golden son. He'll most likely be an all-star athlete. Then there's Kylie- she's only a year old, so we don't know what she'll do yet."
"Probably be the first woman President" Chris joked
"Wouldn't surprise me- anything's possible" Gracie chuckled
"So what's your talent?" Chris inquired
"Dance. I've been studying ballet since I was three. I used to compete up until about a year ago."
"What made you stop?" Chris asked
"Oh- well that life is just really stressful. I still like to practice every day, though." Gracie responded.
"Sounds like it could be competitive living in your house" Chris mentioned.
"For attention- definitely, we're always trying to out due each other. But it's all in good fun, really. There's a lot of love to go around."
Chris began to feel a tad bit envious. He also wondered how he could ever be with someone who had such a perfect life.
"What's your family like?" Gracie asked.
Chris was shaken out of his daze. "My family?"
"Yeah."
"Oh...well, um, long story" Chris smiled to cover up his avoidance. "Look, there's the tree house"
"The infamous Tree House-interesting." Gracie commented.
"Welcome to our humble abode!" Teddy exclaimed.
When they all got inside, they noticed it was rather crowded. Chris sat down in an old chair. Gordie and Jackie shared the hammock. Teddy and Sophie sat on a box and Vern and Gwen took the remaining box. When Gracie got up, Chris noticed she'd have nowhere to sit and offered her "his" chair. She at first refused but when he insisted, took the offer and Chris sat on the floor.
"Okay," Jackie clapped her hands, "formal introductions, finally. Gracie, these are my friends, Sophie and Gwen. I've known these girls since pre-school. Girls, this is my cousin Gracie." Gracie looked at the two girls, the red head she noticed at the diner was now Sophie and Gwen was the feminine-looking girl with brown hair. It all made sense now.
"Nice to meet you" Sophie and Gwen replied.
"This is Teddy, Sophie's boyfriend of five months. And this is Vern, Gwen's boyfriend of six months."
"Hey" They both replied
"Hello" Gracie said as she returned the greeting.
"And this is my boyfriend, Gordie." Jackie replied as she laid her head on his shoulder. Gracie and him exchanged waves, "I believe you and Chris are already acquainted?" Jackie continued.
"Yeah" Chris and Gracie smiled and replied as Jackie winked at Gordie.
"So- what are we gonna do now guys? I'm starting to get bored" Vern complained.
"I know- Truth or Dare!!" Teddy suggested as Vern rolled his eyes.
"I hate that game!"
"Come on Vern, do you have to be a pu....I mean wimp 24 hours a day?" Gordie exclaimed, watching his language as Jackie elbowed him.
"Truth or dare sounds cool." Replied Gracie.
"Alright-it's on!" Teddy yelled as everyone laughed.
What's gonna happen next? You'll have to wait to find out!! Oh- and give me some constructive criticism-I'm always looking to improve. Thanks a bunch and have an amazing day.
Becoming Acquainted
As soon as they reached the diner, Jackie was looking around for Gordie and the rest of the group. She noticed them sitting in the corner booth. She hurried over with Gracie right behind her. Gordie was the first to notice them. He got up when he saw Jackie's worried face.
"Jackie- what's wrong?" he asked, very concerned. The rest of the group noticed the two girls. Teddy asked Sophie if she knew who the "blonde chick" was.
"I think she's Jackie's cousin.um I don't remember her name. She just moved here from San Diego." Sophie answered.
Gracie looked around at the group before her. One of the boys had these huge rimmed glasses and a green tee shirt with army tags around his neck. He had his arm around this spunky and petite girl with curly, shoulder-length red hair. The other couple consisted of a slightly "big- boned" boy with a baby-like face. He was sitting next to a girl who seemed very feminine. Her brown hair was curled perfectly and she was wearing a pink summer dress that looked ironed.
Chris couldn't help notice how frightened the girls looked, especially this new girl. He also couldn't help notice how striking she was. She had a perfect body and a tan he wasn't accustomed to seeing on girls. What he really noticed was her eyes. They reminded him of Jackie's, blue and gray and seemingly bottomless. Gracie noticed Chris and smiled. She hoped he wasn't Vern or Teddy and noticed he wasn't sitting with anyone, like the other two boys.
Chris and Gracie were thrown out of their trance while Jackie told the group what happened with the Cobras. "There were three guys and they wouldn't let me go. I didn't even notice who they were, I was so scared." Jackie hurriedly tried to get through the story, but was obviously very shaken up. Gordie put his arm around her and stroked her hair. He was more than furious. The cobras messed with him all the time, and that pissed him off. But now they're starting to mess with his girlfriend too? It was too much for him to take.
Chris sensed how angry Gordie was. He wanted to ease down the situation, so he started asking questions.
"How did you two get away?" He asked, looking at Gracie.
"Um-this guy, I think his name is Ace" She noticed all the guys tense at the mention of the guy's name, "he grabbed me and started to kiss me. So I, um, kicked him in the uh, the groin" Everyone seemed to be impressed.
"Who's this girl again?" Vern asked
"She's my cousin, Gracie" Jackie replied.
"Wow, she's cool" Vern said.
"I just figured, you know, element of surprise." Gracie commented, which received a chuckle from the group.
"So, where are they now?" Chris asked, sticking to business.
"I don't know, we just took off and didn't look back." Gracie answered.
"We should probably get outta here before there's a brawl." Chris offered.
"Yeah, let's go to the tree house" Gwen, the girl sitting next to Vern replied and they all agreed.
Chris cautiously led the group out of the diner. He looked around outside and didn't see anyone. "That's weird," He replied.
"What?" Gracie asked
"They're all gone. They never back down when someone steps up to them. How hard did you kick him?" He asked, slightly amused.
"As hard as I could, I guess" Gracie smiled.
"Maybe he had to be hospitalized" Chris laughed.
They started to make their way down to the tree house. All of the couples were walking in pairs, leaving Chris and Gracie to walk together. Something neither of them minded.
"So, I don't think we've been formally introduced." Chris stated.
"Yeah, things got a little crazy back there. I'm Gracie Evans"
"Chris Chambers" Chris replied as he shook her hand, very soft, he noticed, "So-um, you just moved here?"
"Yeah, from San Diego"
"Wow, San Diego. Why would you possibly want to move here?" He asked, amazed.
"Oh, I didn't. It was my dad's idea. Mid-life crisis, I say." She replied, "It's not as bad as I thought, though."
"Oh really? Well, I'd say you've had an exciting day. You were hassled by the leader of the worst gang in town and kneed him in the "groin" as you put it, no wonder you like it here." She laughed and he couldn't help but fall head over heels for her laugh.
Jackie looked back to check on her cousin. She couldn't help but smile to herself. She knew from the moment she met Gracie that her and Chris would be perfect together. She would soon be able to add them to the list of people she helped to "hook up". She was responsible for Gwen and Vern and Teddy and Sophie. She only wished that matchmakers could get paid for their services. Gordie noticed her excitement. "What makes you so happy all of the sudden?"
"Oh, just look at your best friend, but don't be obvious" She responded.
Gordie looked back slyly. He noticed that Chris was definitely into Gracie. He could tell just by the way Chris was looking at her.
"Finally found someone worthy of our Chambers, eh?" He smiled at Jackie.
"And she's my cousin, how cool is that?!"
"Pretty cool, now he can stop tagging along with us" Gordie teased and kissed Jackie on the forehead.
"So what is this tree house all about?" Gracie asked Chris.
"Just a place the guys an I used to hang out in when we were kids. Now the girls feel like it's their territory, too. It ruins the whole appeal" Chris said jokingly.
"So- it's a retired bachelor pad?" Gracie summed it all up.
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Sounds like fun" Gracie replied. Chris could not for the life of him take his eyes off of her. He had honestly never felt this way about any girl. She just seemed so welcoming and easygoing, someone who wouldn't play games to win him over, like other girls had in the past. In a way, he had always been a little envious of Gordie, Teddy and Vern. Jackie, Sophie and Gwen were all great girls and the couples seemed to mesh so well. He just couldn't seem to find a girl he could confide in and have fun with and be attracted to on the inside and out. Maybe Gracie could be that person.
Gracie, on the same level felt a connection with Chris that was very foreign to her. Sure, she had had boyfriends before, but Chris seemed to have much more maturity than all of them combined. She admired the way he took charge of situations and the way he seemed genuinely concerned about others. She couldn't believe she had met so many awesome people on her first day. It made her ease up on the whole situation.
"What is your family like?" Chris asked.
"Oh- it's huge, I have three younger sisters and 1 younger brother." Gracie laughed.
"There's five of you?!" Chris asked a little surprised.
"Yeah- we were all born to be in the spotlight too. Talia is 12, she's kinda ditzy and can be annoying sometimes- but she's a lot of fun to have around. She has the most beautiful voice in the world; sometimes I think she was born to perform. Adrienne is only 5, but she's a lot like Talia- full of energy, except her forte is the piano. She just loves to be the center of attention. Then there's Benjamin, he is only three, but I can tell he is going to be the golden son. He'll most likely be an all-star athlete. Then there's Kylie- she's only a year old, so we don't know what she'll do yet."
"Probably be the first woman President" Chris joked
"Wouldn't surprise me- anything's possible" Gracie chuckled
"So what's your talent?" Chris inquired
"Dance. I've been studying ballet since I was three. I used to compete up until about a year ago."
"What made you stop?" Chris asked
"Oh- well that life is just really stressful. I still like to practice every day, though." Gracie responded.
"Sounds like it could be competitive living in your house" Chris mentioned.
"For attention- definitely, we're always trying to out due each other. But it's all in good fun, really. There's a lot of love to go around."
Chris began to feel a tad bit envious. He also wondered how he could ever be with someone who had such a perfect life.
"What's your family like?" Gracie asked.
Chris was shaken out of his daze. "My family?"
"Yeah."
"Oh...well, um, long story" Chris smiled to cover up his avoidance. "Look, there's the tree house"
"The infamous Tree House-interesting." Gracie commented.
"Welcome to our humble abode!" Teddy exclaimed.
When they all got inside, they noticed it was rather crowded. Chris sat down in an old chair. Gordie and Jackie shared the hammock. Teddy and Sophie sat on a box and Vern and Gwen took the remaining box. When Gracie got up, Chris noticed she'd have nowhere to sit and offered her "his" chair. She at first refused but when he insisted, took the offer and Chris sat on the floor.
"Okay," Jackie clapped her hands, "formal introductions, finally. Gracie, these are my friends, Sophie and Gwen. I've known these girls since pre-school. Girls, this is my cousin Gracie." Gracie looked at the two girls, the red head she noticed at the diner was now Sophie and Gwen was the feminine-looking girl with brown hair. It all made sense now.
"Nice to meet you" Sophie and Gwen replied.
"This is Teddy, Sophie's boyfriend of five months. And this is Vern, Gwen's boyfriend of six months."
"Hey" They both replied
"Hello" Gracie said as she returned the greeting.
"And this is my boyfriend, Gordie." Jackie replied as she laid her head on his shoulder. Gracie and him exchanged waves, "I believe you and Chris are already acquainted?" Jackie continued.
"Yeah" Chris and Gracie smiled and replied as Jackie winked at Gordie.
"So- what are we gonna do now guys? I'm starting to get bored" Vern complained.
"I know- Truth or Dare!!" Teddy suggested as Vern rolled his eyes.
"I hate that game!"
"Come on Vern, do you have to be a pu....I mean wimp 24 hours a day?" Gordie exclaimed, watching his language as Jackie elbowed him.
"Truth or dare sounds cool." Replied Gracie.
"Alright-it's on!" Teddy yelled as everyone laughed.
What's gonna happen next? You'll have to wait to find out!! Oh- and give me some constructive criticism-I'm always looking to improve. Thanks a bunch and have an amazing day.
