A/N: Here you guys go!
We made it to the river quicker than I expected, however no one was really talking. I couldn't help but feel guilty. A few weeks ago it was all anyone could talk about and now the tension was so thick I could barely stand it. Vern was stomping so loud through the tall grass I could've hit him. "What the fuck are you doing?" Teddy snapped.
My stomach dropped; here it goes was all I could think. "I'm keeping the snakes away. They feel the vibrations and move. I don't wanna get bit." Vern explained. Teddy didn't look satisfied with his answer and muttered something I couldn't hear. The grass thinned out closer to the water and Chris helped Vern with his tent, while Teddy and I got stuff for the fire.
Chris wiped sweat from his brow, "Just like old times." He smirked at me. It wasn't like old times, I was practically sick to my stomach. I sat under the growing shade of a tree and lit up a cigarette. "Except this'll probably be the last time we're all together." His voice drifted away from me.
"Yeah, you and Gordo will be going to college." Teddy laughed, "Can't believe that, Chambers." Chris shrugged and settled down next to me.
"I had a lot of help." He was smiling at me.
"Shit, I'll rot here." Teddy frowned. He wasn't going into the military, he wasn't going anywhere.
"What about you Vern?" Chris asked.
"I might have a factory job after graduation, depends on if dad can swing it." He grounded out his cigarette. Teddy's face was void of emotion. "Gordie, you still gonna be a writer?"
"Dunno, maybe." I shrugged. I wish it was time to sleep already, the sun was sinking fast. The whole day cast in the blue hue of dusk. This was the end and it felt bittersweet.
"Chambers is just going to chase all that college tail." Teddy laughed. Chris grinned, but it wasn't real.
"Yeah, get all those skirts, won't know what the hell happened after I get a hold of them." He chuckled.
"Lucky." Vern sighed, "I'll be stuck with whatever rolls into town." Teddy stiffed at that comment, his hands curling into fists.
"How 'bout some dinner?" I grabbed for the bag with the food. Fumbling with the drawstring, Chris eyed me.
"Poor Verno, no new girls for him." Teddy chimed a glint in his eye. I pulled the pot out of the bag and got beans started. Silence fell over us, but not for long.
"Same goes for you." Vern piped up staring Teddy in the eye.
"I doubt you'll be any competition." He spat back.
"Yeah all the girls want to date the lunatic." Vern rolled his eyes and snatched a spoon from the pile. Teddy's face was gathering color, it looked worse in the fire light. His eyes bugging out of their sockets, I stirred the beans.
"Almost done." My voice faltered, Chris looked at me with wide eyes. Almost asking, 'What the hell is going on?'
"Like you want to date girls, you faggot." Teddy spat. He stared at Vern, something burning in his eyes. For a beat it seemed like everything froze for a moment. The surprised look on Vern's face, confusion on Chris, rage on Teddy, and electricity ran down my spine.
"The fuck is wrong with you Teddy?" Chris asked, eyeing him carefully. He was going to explode any moment.
"Nothing's wrong with me, ask that peter-puffer what his deal is! Acting like he isn't one. Fucking disgusting is what it is. You queer." He spat in Vern's direction. In no time flat Vern was on his feet and had Teddy by the throat. My mouth hung open in shock. I could barely process what was happening. Push-over Vern had Teddy by the neck.
"Take it back you motherfucker." Vern tightened his grip on Teddy. His glasses knocked askew, his toes barely touching the ground. Teddy was no match for Vern. Chris was up in seconds trying to pull Vern's hand away.
"Vern, take it easy man." His voice calm. "It's just Teddy being a dick like usual. Let him go." Vern wasn't listening, he pushed harder on Teddy's windpipe.
"Jesus Christ! Vern let him go!" I shouted my hand now tugging at his hand. "You don't want to do this Vern." Teddy's eyes were bugging out for a totally different reason now.
"Vern." Chris said he pulled his head towards him. They were eye to eye, giants in that moment compared to Teddy and I. "Let him go. Man, look at him he's turning purple. He's not worth it." Vern's arm drooped. Hand finally releasing Teddy, he stepped back and turned away from us.
"Fucking nutcase." Teddy rasped messaging his throat. He coughed until the veins in his temples bulged.
"What the hell just happened?" Chris asked staring at me. I attempted to shrug but before I could, "Something is going on and I want to know what the fuck it is. Jesus. Everyone hasn't been a psychopath for the past month for no goddamn reason."
"Gordie'll tell you." Vern said.
"You told Gordie? Of course you would. Gordie knows what it's like to be different, unloved." Teddy flopped onto the ground still coughing.
"Shut your mouth, you sack of shit." I growled.
"Can you stop and just explain?" Chris asked, his tone angry.
"Fine." I snapped. Vern was staring out towards the river, Teddy the ground. I didn't want to look Chris in the eye. So I took a deep breath and focused on the spot right behind him. "Vern got roped into a game of truth or dare or spin the bottle or some other shit at a party. Had too many and make out with Dan Yost. Teddy saw and got really pissed off and uncomfortable. Dan and Vern kept seeing each other and Teddy attempted to jump both of them, it wasn't a bar fight it was Teddy being ridiculous that day at school. Then Dan got scared away and Vern has been hoping that Teddy would keep his secret and stop hating him." I took a long breath. "Which Teddy appears to still have some bad blood?"
Chris looked at both of them. "Walking talking Jesus." He shook his head.
"It ain't natural." Teddy choked.
"Shut the hell up." Vern snapped.
"You shut the hell up." Teddy countered.
"Both of you shut it!" Chris yelled. "God, Teddy it's none of your business what Vern does. Vern isn't even 'with' Dan, so stop your shit."
"You're taking that queer's side?" Teddy huffed.
"How would you like it if someone called you queer?" I shot him a look.
"I'm not. Why would anyone call me that?" Teddy answered.
"Well you fucking faggot, queer, fudge packer, that's your best friend so shut your mouth and accept it. Or ignore it, does it really matter?" I gritted my teeth, "What anyone does behind closed doors is their business and not yours. Grow up, Teddy. There will be things you don't like or don't understand that you're going to have to deal with. Vern's not coming on to you so what the hell does it matter? Jesus. If he loves a guy, so? And if he loves a skirt, so? It's not your goddamn business!"
All three of them stared at me with gaping mouths.