Chapter 11: Gordie's Spot Light and the Fight
Abbie sat nervously in the large auditorium crammed with students, twisting her fake diamond ring Chris gave her as a sign of them going steady. Chris was on her left side, his arm draped over her shoulder, looking towards the stage. Gordie was on her other side, staring at the floor.
A few weeks had passed since Abbie and Chris had gotten together, and things couldn't be better. It was so rare that you would see them separated, lips and all. Abbie felt so comfortable with Chris, like she could do and say anything in front of him, and she felt protected with even the slightest touch of his hand. As for Chris, he had never felt greater. His heart seemed to soar whenever he saw her, and his problems of his reputation and school seemed to just float away. The two of them could tell there was a special connection between them. One could tell when the other was upset, one could almost feel the same pain the other was feeling….but it wasn't just that. Whenever their lips met, or even when they held hands, they felt some sort of pleasurable surge run through their bodies. They didn't know what the surge was, but it made them feel whole. They were each other's halves.
Gordie, on the other hand, was feeling almost as low as when his brother died. Once he found out that Chris was the one Abbie was talking about, his anger and frustration at her went away. But he was always found moping about, staring at the floor. He and Chris had sat down and discussed how and why the pain of Denny's death came back to him. With every one of their sessions, Gordie seemed to perk up a little, but still was seen with his doe-brown eyes glazed over. With encouragement from Chris, Gordie submitted one of his stories into the yearly writing competition at school, and was now waiting to see if his story did well.
The principal soon stepped forward towards the microphone, cleared his throat obnoxiously, and then spoke, "Good afternoon, students and teachers! We are having this assembly to announce the winner of this year's Young Adult Creative Writing Competition. At first we had 24 entries, but then went on to 12 and chose from there. All of the pieces were fantastic, but the winner had a captivating, almost mesmerizing way of writing. This student will go on to achieve great things. Now, I'm going to read an excerpt from the winner's story, an excerpt that we thought was most amazing……. 'Why does he feel that way about her? He just seems to sit and ponder where she is, what she does…..I sometimes find it sickening. Can't he afford to get another hobby? Whenever I tell him that he thinks about her too much, he has this expression that he wants to slug me, and that he's ready for me to give him a good punch. We both knew true love averted friendships, slashing through it like an axe murderer did to one of his helpless, screaming victims. In a way, it was exactly that, but in a more slow and painful technique. Our camaraderie was going to be broken apart, and my best friend will be lost. No more jokes, no more laughs at other kids, no more late-night talks, no more debates on whether Marilyn Monroe was prettier than Marilyn Mason, no more slaps on the back and "You're gonna leave this town and make a difference out there", no more of it all. There will only be that nagging feeling of dreadful loneliness that wasn't even there before eating away at your insides until there's nothing left. Why do feelings of the opposite sex get in the way of everything?'………….an excerpt from the winning story, I Wish We Could Leave. Congratulations, Gordon Lachance!"
Gordie sat frozen in his chair, eyes wide and his hands gripping the sides. Abbie gave him a small nudge and he stood up, shaking. He slowly made his way up the stairs of the stage, feeling that he would soon melt into a puddle, but nevertheless, an excited and happy puddle. By this time the audience applause was starting to die down, except for Chris, who was standing up and whistling deafeningly through his fingers. Gordie hesitantly took his tall, golden trophy from the principal and turned to face the crowd of students. With a small, innocent smile, he realized: Denny would be proud.
Everybody else had left the school campus, except for Chris and Abbie, who waited patiently outside for Gordie to emerge through the doors of the auditorium, since he had a talk with the judges of the contest. Well, Chris and Abbie weren't really waiting as much as they were paying each other attention.
Chris tasted the sweet tang of Abbie's lips and gave a shaky, but satisfied deep sigh. This had to be the best kiss yet.
"You git sto mooch bet-ter ah his," Abbie praised while the two still locked lips.
"Way fo his!" Chris replied slyly.
He gently pushed his tongue against her teeth, and for the first time, she let him in. His tongue immediately started its enjoyable journey through her mouth. It reached her molars and started to explore. Abbie gave a slightly muffled moan, which reverberated through her and Chris' mouths. This felt so great, it was almost too overwhelming. Abbie started to collapse into Chris' arms, and he held her tightly. Suddenly, someone cleared their throat. Chris and Abbie broke apart reluctantly and turned. Gordie was standing on the bottom step of the stairs, smiling awkwardly, but staring at them good-naturedly.
"Lordy, it's Gordie!" Abbie exclaimed playfully, trying to avoid any questions.
"Haha, funny," Gordie said sarcastically.
"Gordo," Chris started, weaning away from Abbie, "I'm proud of you man, I really am. That part the principal read was fantastic, and that was just one part! I bet the whole story is amazing! It was all you, Gordie, all you. I told you, man: you're gonna get out of this town and do something with your life. You've got it made."
The two best friends smiled at each other and then Chris placed his hand out, palm up.
"Give me some skin."
Gordie instantly put his palm on Chris' and then they reversed.
"What the hell?" Abbie asked with a smirk.
Chris gave her an identical smirk and walked back over to her after slapping Gordie on the back. He put his palm out, and then with the other hand grabbed Abbie's and placed it on top of his. Abbie moved her hand back and then flipped it over and Chris did the same thing. Then Chris grabbed her by the waist and dipped her. His smirk became more prominent and then he kissed her again. She kissed him back and was about to slip her tongue into his mouth this time when again, they heard someone clear their throat, although more timidly this time. Chris brought Abbie back to a standing position and she sighed with frustration.
"S-sorry."
Abbie turned swiftly, surprised.
"Vern? What are you doing here?"
"Abbie, you have to come see," Vern told her, his voice sounding urgent, "You've got to see, sincerely!"
He started taking off across the campus, and Abbie, Chris, and Gordie followed at his heels. They rounded the right side of the building to reveal Emma and Catie on the ground, fighting. Teddy stood off to one side, wearing a frown, but his eyes dancing with a glint that confirmed he was completely turned on. Emma was on top of Catie, slapping her face hard, and Catie had reached up and was now pulling Emma's hair.
"Girls, stop!" Chris called.
"Emma, get off of her!" Abbie ordered as she skidded to a halt in front of them.
Of course, Emma didn't listen. She punched Catie in the chest, disarming her. But then Catie regained her composure and kicked Emma in the stomach, causing her to fall back, wheezing. Catie jumped on her, and the two rolled on the ground, taking turns slamming each other's head against the grass. Chris leapt forward and grabbed Emma around the stomach and yanked her off of Catie. He pulled her back, with some difficulty. Catie started towards them, but then was held back by the combined strength of Teddy and Gordie.
"I hate you, you bitch!" Emma screamed at Catie.
"And you think I like you?" Catie replied incredulously.
"I swear, I'm gonna rip the hair off your head and use it to make a rope to strangle you!" Emma shouted.
"Oh, so clever and creative with your insults, aren't you? Mark my words," Catie responded in a low, menacing whisper, "I'll get you back for this. I swear on it," Catie then looked over her shoulder at Teddy, "You'll regret choosing that curly-haired whore over me," She then turned upon the rest of the group, "You'll see, all of you! I'll make you all pay!"
And with that, she broke away from Gordie and Teddy and took off running. Everyone stayed silent, until:
"She's lying. I'll kick her scrawny ass to hell and back!" Emma exclaimed, "Teddy is mine and everyone knows it!"
She gave Chris a small pat on the arm and then went over to Teddy.
"And what do you have to say about all of this?"
"I'm sorry I didn't get that bitch off of you sooner," Teddy apologized, "And I must say, you really had me going there."
Emma smirked and replied, "Wait for round two, and I'll have you practically craving me!"
"I can hardly wait," Teddy responded, licking his lips with a grin.
"Hey, that's pretty gross!" Vern interjected in a childish tone.
"So's your face," Teddy retaliated smoothly and linked arms with Emma, "C'mon Em Gem, let's get out of here."
The couple strutted away, proud of their witty quotes and insults and what they were going to do together alone. Abbie gave Teddy's backside an odd look as he disappeared from view.
"Uhh…..Em Gem?"
"It rhymes, remember? You're a poet, and now you know it," Chris said tauntingly.
Abbie stared at him with a quizzical look on her face. "Wha…..?"
"Never mind," Chris chuckled.
"Why were they fighting?" Vern asked.
Everyone was silent.
"Vern………….Catie likes Teddy plus Emma likes Teddy plus Catie and Emma hate each other equals fist fight, learn something for once, would you?" Gordie answered, frustrated at Vern's stupidity.
"Wonder what Catie's gonna do," Chris said aloud.
"What does it matter?" Abbie replied, shrugging, "Catie can't do anything to us."
