There was only one week of summer left until the new school year started, and Castle Rock was busy with the telltale signs. Mothers could be seen dragging their children in and out of the stationery store Teddy's uncle owned, buying the necessary items like pencils and notebooks.
As for me, I was currently sitting alone in the diner, waiting for Sara to finish her shift, and trying to think about anything other than school. I wasn't a bad student – usually brought home A's or B's – and I wasn't even nervous about being "the new kid". I'd been through that enough times to be almost immune to it. No, I wasn't worried for myself. I was worried for Chris. I don't mean for it to be as trite as it sounds, really. But yesterday, the subject of school came rolling up once again and Chris acquired the same look as when he first met Kadance. I managed to catch Gordie alone and ask him what was up with that. He told me that ever since Chris had enrolled in the college courses, instead of the shop courses like everyone had expected, school was barely short of hell for him. Kids jeered at him because he was a Chambers, and teachers hated him because they didn't think he deserved to be there. I mean, I knew Chris was unpopular with our peers, but teachers? How could any proper teacher discriminate against a boy who worked his ass off to make it as far as he has, who was one of the nicest, deserving boys I had ever met? How could they be so narrow-minded and biased? I think the whole educational system, with teachers that are supposed to help us develop into good citizens, is completely corrupted.
I wondered if it was really as bad as Gordie made it out to be. Judging by that dreading look I'd seen on Chris' face, I guessed it would have to be. I'd find out next Monday anyway. Right now there was a mango smoothie that was calling for my attention.
Right after Sara got off work, we left to go see Chris and Gordie. I haven't mentioned that they were going out now, have I? Yeah, I believe it was actually Sara that asked him out, but at any rate it was great that it happened. They were so cute together! Things, however, were not going so great with Vern and Maddie. They still really liked each other, but Maddie's parents just revealed that they were moving to Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada. I feel sorry for her not only because she's leaving Vern, but because I heard Thunder Bay gets insanely cold in the winter and Maddie hates the cold.
We found the two boys at Gordie's house. Mr. Lachance let us in, and I had to work hard to conceal my dislike for him. I knew he treated Gordie like he should be dead, and Denny alive, if he even noticed him at all. He knew Gordie was going out with Sara (I guess news travels fast in this town, because it just happened!) and at least he was happy that she came from a good, respectable family, unlike me or any of the other guys. I think he thought my mother was some kind of whore, to have a daughter without a father. Shows how perceptive he is – my mother hasn't had a relationship with a man ever since my father went over the edge.
Gordie's bedroom door was open so we just walked in. Gordie was hunched over his desk, the pencil moving in swift, clean strokes, and Chris was lounging on the bed tossing a baseball up in the air and catching it with his eyes closed. Neither saw nor heard us enter, so I walked quietly up to the bed and caught the ball as Chris tossed it.
"What the-" he opened his eyes, startled when the ball failed to return down into his hands. Then he saw me standing over him, ball in hand and smiling. "Hey, didn't hear you come in."
"That was the point," I said, tossing the ball back to him, and walking over to Gordie so I could look over his shoulder. "Whatcha doin', Gordo?"
He hastily covered the paper with his hand and shoved it into a drawer, but not before I had seen what was on it. He had been sketching a picture of Sara. I grinned; this could be used as leverage for blackmailing in the future. Ooh the possibilities! I tucked that away in my memory for later use, and sat down on the bed beside Chris, while Sara sat in the other chair.
"Why is it always me that has to start the conversation?" I asked when no one else said anything, flicking myblack hair out of my face.
"Because you're the one that hates the silence," Chris reminded me with a smile.
"Good point. So what's up for today?"
"Vern wants us to camp out in his back field," Gordie informed us. "You know, as an 'end of the summer' and going away bash for Maddie, since she's leaving in three days."
"That sounds cool, well not that Maddie's leaving, but yeah you know…I'm sure my mom will be okay with it. What about you Sara?"
Sara looked a bit torn. "I don't know if my parents will let me…They're kind of strict when it comes to me and boys…"
"So you don't think they'll let you camp out with boys?" She nodded and I went on. "Just tell them you're staying over at my place! If worse comes to worse, I'm sure I can get my mom to cover for you."
"Okay then. It's a worth a try!"
That night after dinner I packed all the stuff I'd need and tried to dig my rolled up sleeping bag out of the closet. Chris walked in the door right as I was pulling with all my strength to free it from all the rest of the junk we'd tossed in there when we unpacked.
"Want some help with that?" he asked, just like the day I first met him.
"I may not want it, but I might need it," I replied with a grunt.
Chris laughed and dropped the sleeping bag he had slung around his arm. "I'll just pretend I heard, "Oh yes Chris, I really could use your help! You're my hero!" and come save from your fate of sleeping on the cold ground…Or I could not help you, and you could share my sleeping bag!" He pretended to truly ponder that while I tugged and twisted at the buried bag.
"Chris-" I started to say warningly, before the blue-eyed boy decided to come over and give me a hand. He grabbed a handful of the half buried sleeping bag and yanked the same time I did. When it finally came out, the force made us fly back a few feet and we landed in a pile at the bottom of the hallway wall opposite of the closet. Both of us burst out laughing simultaneously.
"Oww," I managed to say through my laughter. "I hit my funny bone!"
Chris stood up slowly, rubbing the back of his head. He extended a hand for me, and I grasped it tightly with my own and was pulled to my feet. I was very close to him, barely an inch apart, and he spoke gently.
"What about me?" he asked teasingly. "What do I get for my pains? I think I may have gotten a concussion." He gave a dizzy stagger for good effect.
I messed up his hair affectionately, and smiled at how he tossed his head in mild annoyance. "You're fine," I told him. "Or else that would have hurt like hell."
Chris wrapped his arms around me, never taking his eyes off mine. "Maybe it did. But I know something that will take my mind off it…"
"Like if I injured another part of you-" I was cut off in mid sentence by Chris leaning in and kissing me. We stood there kissing for a few minutes, feeling that sweet, familiar electricity shoot through our nervous systems. I buried my hand in his hair and pulled him closer, feeling his steady heartbeat against me. I wanted to stay there forever, with Chris as the only thought and feeling in the world.
Finally I pulled away, with great reluctance. "We're late," I murmured, leaning away from him a tiny bit so I could look at him. "They're gonna wonder where we are."
"Let them wonder," was his only reply as he came in for another kiss, and I couldn't help but let him, for a little bit anyway. Then I pulled away a second time, this time with an argument ready that we were going to miss the marshmallows, and he gave in.
We picked up the bags that were still on the floor and I slipped on my shoes, and then we started down the road to Vern's house.
When we got there they had already started the bonfire and it was blazing brightly. The gang was seated around it, but they hadn't started roasting the marshmallows yet. Good, I didn't miss them! Marshmallows were a favourite of mine; nicely burnt marshmallows!
"Hey guys," Vern said as we walked up. "You're just in time! The coals are just about right for the marshmallows." He poked the coals to prove his point, and they glowed a cheery red. "The tent on the right is for the guys, the one on the left for the gals. Just throw your stuff in."
I did that and that sat by the fire in between Chris and Sara. A few minutes later we were roasting marshmallows and taking turns telling jokes. Before long it was completely dark out and the moon had rose high above the trees, casting a pale light over the town.
(Ace's POV)
"So Ace, now that we've got all the booze, where are we gonna drink it? Castle View?
It was about eleven o'clock and the Cobras and I were driving around Castle Rock with bottles of Wild Irish Rose and cases of ginger ale. "Nah, the fuzz busted some guys there a couple days ago. They'll be watching it pretty close," I replied.
"Well how about the forest behind my house?" Billy suggested. "My folks aren't home tonight, and if we go on that dirt road that cuts through it, no one will know we're there. It hasn't been used in ages."
"Sounds like we've got ourselves a plan, boys," and I turned the car and headed towards that forest. Little did I know what we'd find once we got there.
(Back to Callie's POV)
I was leaning against Chris with his arms around me comfortably, listening to Teddy tell some completely bogus story about some crazy-ass cannibal hermit who lived in a forest and waited for children to venture in so he could prey on them and eat their flesh. I almost couldn't stop myself from laughing; it was more funny than scary. Chris glanced down at me warmly, and I smiled back, wishing we were alone.
Teddy had finished his story and we were trying to find something else to do when Vern piped up.
"How about Truth or Dare?"
Everyone groaned and there was a loud chorus of no's. "We aren't twelve anymore, Vern-o."
He gave us a look that said it all, but he spoke anyway. "No, I don't mean pussy little dares and stuff, I mean fun ones. Scary ones, even. C'mon, let's give it a try, it could be fun!"
We argued for awhile, and then someone said Maddie should be allowed to decide, since this whole campout was for her anyway. As soon as Vern gave her a beseeching look, I knew it was all over.
"Let's play it."
And of course, I was the first one up. Great. I picked dare, and after a little whispered discussion between Vern and Teddy (which I think should be against the rules) Vern turned to me and told me my dare. "You have to go into the forest so you can't see us anymore, and wait there for ten minutes."
I looked over at the dark, shadowy forest that was awaiting my entrance, and then to Chris. He must have seen the fear in my eyes, and known the reason, because he demanded that he be allowed to go with me. He was refused, of course, and so I told him it was okay, I'd be fine.
"Do I at least get a flashlight, so I can see my watch?"
"Yeah," Vern replied and handed over a small flashlight that barely gave off any light. "Remember, ten minutes starting from when this fire is out of view."
"I got it Vern," I replied with a sigh, keeping the shakiness I felt inside out of my voice as I spoke. "It's not that hard of a concept."
Chris walked me to the edge of the forest, and when he was sure they couldn't hear us when we talked softly, he said, "You don't have to do this, you know. I can make then give you another dare; I won't tell them anything about your dad."
"No, it's okay. I have to do this for myself, prove to myself that he's not going to appear whenever it's dark or I'm scared. There hasn't been any sign of him for a long time anyway." My eyes flicked from staring at my feet to his eyes, inwardly wanting desperately to see approval and understanding there. And I did.
"Okay, I get it. Just be careful okay?" I nodded my head compliantly and he gave me a quick kiss before walking away.
"Save me a seat by the fire," I said reassuringly when he looked back with one last anxious glance.
"No problem." He gave me a smile I'm sure would send anyone swooning, and went back to the fire.
I stepped into the dark woods slowly, twigs cracking beneath my feet. I shone the flashlight ahead of me, but it didn't do much good. I nearly tripped twice on knobby roots that stuck out of the ground like hands of the dead reaching out for me, grasping, tugging at my shoes. I looked back every once and awhile, only to see the bright fire still visible. No good, I thought miserably. Have to go a little farther. C'mon Jordans, you aren't chicken.
After what seemed like hours (however, according to my watch, it was only two minutes) I reached a rotting log and the fire disappeared just out of view. I sat down on it, not particularly caring at the moment that I was getting my shorts dirty and there were probably bugs crawling on me. A little while later I examined my watch with the dim light and saw I was halfway done.
Unfortunately, at the same time I was congratulating myself for hitting the halfway mark, I heard twigs crack. This time it was not because I had stepped on them. Fearfully I sprang up, waving the crappy flashlight around me in a panic. When I saw nothing and heard no more sounds, I brought me hands back down to my sides and breathed deeply. For fuck's sake Jordans it was probably just a squirrel, I reasoned with myself angrily.
Suddenly hands grabbed me, covering my mouth and reducing the intuitive scream I had let escape my throat into a low muffle. The flashlight fell from my hands and I tried to twist away but the hands held firm, and my attempts were futile. Before long my wrists were tied painfully behind me, and a rag stuck in my mouth. I was shoved forward roughly and I stumbled to the hard ground, landing on my knee painfully. Then I was yanked upright again and forced to keep walking through the forest, as vegetation scratched at my exposed skin, and tore into my clothes.
During the torturous walk I kept working to spit out the rag that stuffed my mouth. It was halfway out, and my captor had not noticed, until a thorny branch caught onto it and ripped it from my mouth. That allowed me one short, shrill scream before I was clubbed into unconsciousness and dragged along by someone who was undoubtedly my father, although I had not yet seen the face through the darkness.
A/N: Ugh, another cliffhanger. I didn't realize it would take so long to write this part, so the rest is going to be the next chapter. Fear not! I've already started working on the next one, so it won't take me very long to finish! I'm anticipating it just as much as you guys! Well, maybe a little less since I know what's going to happen. But I still want to get it written and posted quickly! And yes, Maddie is moving away, but someone with a little more personality will take her place! They'll meet her at school, but that's all I'm saying. So anyway hope you liked the chapter, and I promise to have the next up soon soon soon! One last thing: does anyone else not like the new login format? I hate it! Maybe I just don't like change. I'd still like to know what you guys think (authors anyway). On to review replies!
OTHlover: Thank you very much!
Screaming666: Yeah, where I live there's pretty much nothing to do in the winter unless you drive 3 hours to ski. And I don't ski. Hahaha…Well if you didn't like THAT cliffhanger, you're definitely not going to like this one! But I promise to have the next chapter up real soon!
Get A Room: Switched your pen name did you? That's cool. Thanks for reading and reviewing! And to answer you question, PDA stands for Public Displays of Affection. Thanks again!
Snykurz: Hahahaha…you're review made me laugh. Nice little scene there! Ahhh gigantic spiders runs away from giant spiders crawling all over the computer…I'll make sure to update really soon this time, I swear! Lol. So you share my dislike for Forbidden City? I think almost everyone does. Thanks for reviewing!
HellGirlAngel: Awwe thank you! You're adding this fic to you're favourite stories? jumps up and down YESS! Thank you so much! You changed your pen name too!
StormShadow21: I hate when the site does that…I always forget to go back and do it later lol. You have to update your fic soon! It's one of my favourites! Seriously it's so good! Haha yeah, Gordie's going out with Sara now! I'll write more about them and their relationship (maybe from their point of view) later in the story. Yeah, I have two ideas for The Outsiders fanfics, so I know what you mean. I'm taking more time on planning them out though than I did with this fic…I'm deciding everything in this as I go along, and backtracking to make sure it fits in. And between you and me, although others may read this too, there WILL be a confrontation between Chris and Callie's dad, but not right away. Hehehe… Thanks for reading and reviewing so loyally!
Hippie-girl13492: Okay, thanks for the descriptions! I won't be bringing them in until Callie and the gang start school, but then they'll become somewhat main characters, like Teddy and Vern. Thanks again, hope you liked the chapter!
Tracia: Thanks! Yeah, her dad was in this, although not as much as I planned since I shortened it down. There'll be a lot more in the next!
Icy-dropletz: Thank you! I didn't take as long to update as I thought I would, although my story was bumped down to 19 on the page…A lot of people started updating! Thank you very much, and your story's still awesome too!
MidnightBlue88: The part at the doctor's office turned out differently than I wanted it to. I meant for the doctor to be more pompous and a bit perverted, and that's why he seemed to happy…But you do have a very good point. And lots of thank you's for the advice on the PDA and such! I'll definitely keep it in mind, and I tried to apply it to this chapter. I completely agree with what you said. Thanks for taking the time to review and give me advice!
Chocolate Pudding1: Haha, it's never late to read a story! Well, unless it's been deleted I guess. But I won't be deleting mine! Thanks for all the compliments, and I'm glad you like Callie – I'm always paranoid she'll become a Mary-Sue. Thanks again, hope you keep reading my fic!
Now I'm tired...But keep reviewing anyway! I've got stamina! Which reminds me, I need to go study for my French anthology tests now…ugh. But I'll have the next chappie up soon!