Chris' POV
I departed from Ash and went to the tree house. That's probably where the guys went. I beat on the trap door and they let me in.
"So, did Ace kill you?" Vern asked me. I roll my eyes and sit on a bucket.
"Obviously not. He's here, isn't he," Teddy hitted Vern.
"Hey, guys calm down," I said.
"What's her name?" Gordie asked.
"Ashton, but she goes by Ash," I responded.
"Oh wow," Gordie rolled his eyes.
"Come on guys, give her a chance," I sigh.
"No thanks, Chris. We don't need another Ace in the town," Teddy shakes his head.
"Yeah, she'll probably beat the shit out of us," Vern said.
"No she won't, she–," I didn't continue when Teddy interrupted me.
"How do you know how she is, you just met her!," Teddy retorts.
"Look," I sigh. "The Cobras treat her like they treat us. Hell, even worse. She's Ace's little sister. I can't imagine what she goes through."
"So? You're Eyeball's little brother," Teddy laughs.
"She told me that Eyeball is always messing with her. He nearly burned off her lip. Eyeball is never at home and he's constantly at Ash's house," I told them.
There was a long silence. Then, Vern spoke up. "What does that have to do with us?"
Teddy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, her and Ace have the same blood. She must be like him."
"Just because she's related to him doesn't mean shit, Teddy! Just because she's in that family, doesn't mean she'll turn out like them!" I yell furious.
I opened the trap door and climbed out of the tree house. I walked on a trail that led to woods.
Gordie's POV
There was a long awkward silence after Chris left. I could see why he was upset.
"Teddy, you're so dumb," I sigh.
"Me? You should talk about Chambers, LaChance," Teddy yells.
"Everybody thought Chris was going to turn out bad. Look at him! He's nothing like Eyeball or his dad," I said.
Teddy eyes widened. He finally realized.
"I guess your right," he said softly.
"Yeah, we were being judge mental," Teddy said.
"Chris didnt say where he was going?" I noticed.
"We should go look for him," Teddy suggested.
Vern nodded. We got up and left the tree house to go find Chris.
Ash's POV
I was sitting on a branch located on a high tree. I was tossing a baseball up in the air and it would land in my cupped hands with a smack. Yup, I was bored out of my mind.
I was still a limitless hurt that Gordie, Vern, and Teddy ran away from me like that. Even though I'm related to Ace, I never got that typed of reaction. I guess it's since Ace picks on them a lot. Though, Ace is known to be a rebel of Castle Rock, and when I tell people I'm related to him, they don't react that way. They act normal like if I wasn't related to him.
I heard sticks being crushed by feet and I looked to my left.
"Hey, Chris," I greet.
He stares up at me and frowns.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Aren't you a little bit too high up?" Chris asked worry dripping from his words.
"No, I climbed higher," I answered. "I'll come down if you want me to."
I began to climb down the tree. I jumped from a branch and landed gracefully on my toes.
"Does Ace love you?" Chris asked as soon as I landed.
"You know, I really don't know. If he does, he does a good job of not showing it," I answered truthfully. "What about you, does Eyeball love you?"
He shrugged. "I think so.
"Hm."
I plopped down and laid against the tree and Chris followed my lead. We both sighed.
"It's not easy being the younger sibling, is it?" I asked and narrowed my eyes at a dead tree up ahead.
"No, its not," Chris responded. "Gordie can relate to that."
"Why the hell are you talking about me, Chambers?!" We heard s voice.
We snapped our heads to the sound of the voice and I tended.
"Why the hell are you smirking like that, LaChance?" Chris asked standing up.
"Well, since Ash is a part of the group, I think we should give her the 'welcome present'," Gordie replied. Then, he turned to me.
"How old are you, Ash?" He asked me.
"Ten."
"Ten?!" Vern repeated.
"Yeah."
They all gawked at me like I was a two headed beast.
"What?"
"I knew you weren't in junior high, but you look like a 3rd grader," Chris exclaimed.
"No," I laugh.
"Then, what grade are you in?" Teddy asked.
"5th."
They all nodded approving this. I rolled my eyes before smiling.
"So, am I really a part of you guys group?" I asked with hope in my eyes.
"Yeah," Vern smiled.
"Sorry, we were being judge mental," Teddy apologized.
"Its okay," I forgave them.
"Now, that we got that cleared up, time for your present," Gordie smiled.
Chris somehow got behind me and threw me over his shoulder. He ran forward and the smell of lake water began to cloud my nose.
"No!" I squealed.
He threw me in the lake and I landed with loud splash. I decided to play a prank on them. Hehe!
I kept my head, hands, and legs in the water and let my lumped back show.
"Is she dead?!" Vern panicked.
"Nah, she's playing a prank on us," Teddy shrugged.
"No man! She must of fell unconscious due to the impact of the water!" Chris jumped in the water.
He reached in the water and pulled me up from my under arms. He got in front of me. I opened my eyes, smiled, and spit water in his face. He stayed still for a minute before pushing me under water.
"Vern, help," I holder out my arms like a baby wanting to be hold.
Gordie, Vern, and Teddy joined Chris in pushing me underwater.
I laughed underwater and I lost my oxygen. Uh oh.
Ways back from the road...
"The fuck you know about this?" Ace said.
"It looks like the squirts found your sister," Eyeball smirked.
"How are we going to handle them, Ace?" Billy asked.
"By confronting them," Ace replied. "Call your guy, Boys. That's who you'll talk to."
"Ace, we'll switch siblings," Eyeball said.
"Fine with me," Ace shrugged.
