Chapter 8: Not A Party

After running to the other boys, I said to Teddy, "Don't worry about what King Kong says about your father, Teddy."

Gordie nodded in agreement. "He still stormed the beach at Normandy, right?"

Teddy mumbled, "Forget it, alright?"

Vern continued. "You think that pile of shit was at Normandy?"

Teddy rose his voice and said a little louder, "Forget it."

Vern once again ignored him. "He don't know nothing about nothing, he's just dog shit."

Chris agreed. "Whatever's between you and your old man, he can't change that."

Teddy then nudged Chris's hand off of his shoulder and yelled, "FORGET IT, ALRIGHT! JUST FORGET IT!"

We all walked in silence for a while, then Vern burst in singing with, "Have gun, will travel, reads the card of a man/ A night without armor in a savage land…" he trailed off after Chris gave him a glare that silenced his voice.

Teddy stopped in his tracks while the rest of us kept all turned around to face him. "Sorry if I'm spoiling everybody's good time," he said apologetically.

"It's fine, Teddy," I said, and Chris put a hand on his shoulder.

"Maybe it shouldn't be a good time," Gordie remarked thoughtfully.

"You saying you want to go back?" Chris asked.

"No," Gordie said, "but… going to see a dead kid… maybe it shouldn't be a party."

Vern nodded. "Yeah. Like, if he's really gross and has blood and shit all over him… I might have nightmares."

Chris rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Vern."

We kept walking for a long time, and pretty soon, the sadness in the air had floated away and we were back to having fun again. Still, what Milo said about me being fat was really starting to get me thinking: was that what everybody thought of my appearance. Did Teddy think that? Did Vern? But worst of all… did Chris and Gordie think that?

I was walking by myself, my thoughts racking my mind. Then, I needed to talk to someone.

"Hey, Chris," I said meekly. Chris asked, "Everything ok, Sam? You seem a little… down."

Oh my God, was this the sweetest boy in the world or what!? I put my hands in my pockets and shuffled around. "You… you and the other boys don't think I'm… you know, do you?"

Chris immediately gave me a half-hug, much like Gordie did and said "Listen to me, Samantha Jane Daylife: I swear on my life that we would never, EVER think about you that way and if any 5000 pound dueschbag thinks they can trick my girl into thinking she is something she is not, they're going to have to go through me and my boys." He paused. "And by the way…you're not fat."

I smiled. "Thanks."

Chris smiled. I smiled back. I couldn't get my eyes off him…and he couldn't stop staring at me either. We were close, inches apart. Love intensified in my veins. He was moving his head. Was he trying to kiss me? My eyes were closing. He was coming closer…and closer…until he pulled back. He then gave an awkward glare to me and walked behind, striking a conversation with Gordie. I was left in shock and confusion.

From behind me, I could hear Chris and Gordie talking about college courses, and where they wanted their futures to take them, while in front of me, I could hear Teddy and Vern arguing over whether or not Mighty Mouse could beat Superman in a fight. I smiled to myself.

I then saw that Chris and Gordie had stopped long before, and Teddy, Vern and I were way ahead of the both of them. "Come on, you two!" I yelled, waving for them to hurry up.

Teddy yelled, "Yeah, by the time we get there the kid won't even be dead anymore."

Finally, we reached the biggest problem anyone could think of: the train tracks running over the river.