Chapter 7

By the time Vera left the diner with Greta and James to tour the town, the atmosphere had lightened considerably thanks – largely – to James, who had tried to flirt with a young woman he bumped into on the way to the bathroom. The attempt was mediocre at best, but the laughter that followed was just what the group needed to lift the serious mood that had settled over them as they finished their food.

"So what do you guys like to do in your free time around here?" Vera asked as they casually strolled down the sidewalk of Derry's main street. "I know you said there wasn't too much people come here for, so do you go somewhere out of town or does Derry have anything special during the summer?"

"Eh, not really," answered James on her left. "It's only Derry, so everyone usually just hangs out with friends and family around here."

"But there are some things we have that you can do. There's a reservoir not far outside town, and lots of places outdoors you can walk around if you like that kind of thing," Greta was quick to point out. "Of course, we don't have some giant mall or anything," she noted disappointedly, "but there are a lot of shops and places to browse around here in town. And there's always the movie theater if you're really bored." She said the last statement with a jerk of her thumb back towards the way they'd come.

"We've also got a couple summer fairs at the start and end of the season, right around when everyone gets out of school and around the time we go back," James added and Greta nodded. "Those are pretty fun, and Greta and I usually go with a couple friends from school. The first one starts at the end of next week if you're interested."

"Doesn't sound too bad – as opposed to sitting around indoors all day," Vera smiled lightly and tilted her head back as if considering it.

"You could come with us – that is, if you don't mind our company. Maybe like a sort of 'welcome to Derry' party or something," James invited her.

"Only if you don't mind mine," was Vera's response. "I don't want you guys to go out of your way for me if it troubles you or if I'm boring you. If I'm some kind of third wheel just tell me."

James and Greta turned and frowned at Vera in synch.

"Don't say that," Greta said, sounding hurt. "If I hang out with someone it's because I want to, not because of some obligation."

"No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that as an insult or anything," Vera quickly started, taken aback by how earnest Greta's reaction was. "It's just that sometimes… I feel like people would only do things or include me because they had to, you know?" She looked down sheepishly. "It's awkward when you're with people and you know that they know that you don't really fit in with the group; just makes it uncomfortable for everyone." I know we just met, but don't feel it means you have to stick around just because you're the first people who have truly met me and I don't know anyone else yet. Vera wanted to say the words out loud, but kept the thought to herself for fear it might be taken as a further insult.

Greta looked hard at her for a minute, opened her mouth to say something, seemed to think better of it, and closed it, instead turning her head back to face front.

"We wouldn't do that to you," James stepped in where his cousin fell silent. "Not me, and especially not Greta," he said earnestly with conviction. His eyes briefly left Vera to glance at the blond beside him as if to gauge her response, and Vera knew there was something there, unspoken, that had happened with the young girl in the past.

Maybe she would ask James about it sometime if they had a moment alone, but she currently felt it was much too soon to discuss personal matters with them. Those were things you didn't usually talk about until you knew someone really well, and certainly for longer than a day – a few weeks at the very least. "I know," she agreed and smiled apologetically at them, knowing that the mood was quickly going south again. "I'm sorry, I'm just being ridiculous. I'm glad you guys ran into me because I honestly don't know very many people here, so I feel a bit out of place right now." That was the truth. "But I'd love to have some company if you're both going to the fair; it's more fun to do those sorts of things when you're with friends than by yourself."

"Damn straight," Greta mumbled quietly from beside Vera, who noticed that the other girl seemed to be coming back out of her brief unhappy mood, though she still bore the semblance of a frown on her brow.

"I second that," James agreed, trying to help lighten the mood once more which Vera noticed he seemed fairly good at – if not accustomed to. "We don't have to plan everything out just yet since we've still got some time, and I'm sure we'll be seeing each other more often since we know you'll be at the library like Greta. Just leave next Friday evening open and we'll go from there."

"That shouldn't be too difficult," Vera smiled. "It's not like there's that much else I'm planning to do around here; it is Derry, after all."

"Touché," James returned her smile with a look of approval. "So where to next?" he asked then as the group came to a halt at an intersection where the town's buildings became intermixed with small old apartments and residences. "More aimless wandering, or do you have a preference?"

The question was directed more towards Vera, but she still turned to look at Greta to see if the younger woman had any input. The shrug and blank look she got in return suggested none, and she paused a moment in thought before recalling "I thought I saw a park a few days ago, somewhere nearby. If that's not too far, I was thinking it might be worth a visit, if not just to relax a little since it's a nice day outside."

"Bassey Park?" James assumed.

"That's not a bad idea," Greta spoke up and gave James a nod. "It's a little ways back the way we came and where they usually set up the fair," she explained to Vera. "It's right at the town center and has a nice green space with a canal that's always good for a walk-through or picnic."

"Probably a good idea to see it at least once, then, so I know where I'm going next week," Vera reasoned out loud. "Besides, I don't need to see everything in one day. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time later to see more of the sites outside of town."

"You actually could see the whole town and its surrounding area in one day if you wanted to," Greta informed her, "but we should probably save some of the excitement for later," she agreed, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Heaven forbid we show you everything now and Derry returns to its normal, uneventful self."


Although it had been Vera's intention to see more of Derry that afternoon, the trio didn't make it out of the park until the sun was receding behind the buildings and treetops.

Together the three had toured the perimeter of the park before entering deeper into its grasses, Greta and Thomas each taking turns pointing out the sights and recalling some amusing story or odd rumor about them. There was the Paul Bunyan statue at the front of the park that Vera found to be a bit of an eyesore – if not tacky; the local high school where all the hallways smelled of toilet water and sweat – according to Greta; the canal which divided the park in two for the most part, with one side appearing more upkept and used than the other; and finally the red "kissing bridge" that served to connect both sides of the park, so named for the multitude of lovers' names and initials carved into the wooden structure throughout the years.

Aside from these notable elements, the park was generally as cozy and as "normal" as any park could be. Most of the space was unoccupied in the warm afternoon sun, the only exception being the occasional dog-walker or persons who looked as though they might be involved in organizing the upcoming fair. The green space gave off a feeling of calm, and paired with the early summer weather, it wasn't long before the three young adults had settled down on a spot in the grass and just talked – Vera about life in the city and the university she had attended, and Greta and James about growing up around Derry, the current gossip of the town, and their own studies.

Overall, it was a pleasant way to pass the time and Vera could have easily listed it as one of the most enjoyable days she had had in the past month. As such, it came as a surprise when she finally noticed that the sun was setting, alerting her to the fact that they had been in the park for several hours and that she should begin heading back to her aunt and uncle's house before it got too late.

Promising to make plans for the fair the following week, and with a tight hug from Greta, the three said their goodbyes for the evening and went their separate ways. Walking home, Vera couldn't keep the smile from her face as she thought about her day, sending a quiet thank you to the heavens and praying that the ones to follow would be just as good.