A/N: I know some of you are DYING to find out what happens to Chris and Gordie, trust me the answers will unfold BUT I wanted something about Teddy and Vern to be put out there. So read on, and yes, I know I always make the O.C. be the bad guy.
Chris had managed to put my head into a fury of thoughts. All the time I had to watch what I was doing. I'd been zoning out in class for days, lucky for me it was all review. The hype of the football game Chris was talking about buzzed around school. Multiple people asked if I was going to play.
I really didn't want to but Teddy pleaded with me, "Come on Gordie, it'll be fun. It's not even that pansy ass touch football." He looked really excited. He and I would no doubt become easy targets if we managed to get a hold of that ball.
"It's not really my thing, Teddy." I said shrugging.
"If Vern's playing, you're playing." He said with a tone of finality, "You have to."
"What's that supposed to me?" Vern asked looking offended.
"Fine." I sighed, rubbing my temples.
"You're clumsy, Vern you've got two left feet." Teddy shoved him slightly.
"He's like twice your size Teddy, he'll do fine." Chris chimed in. "Gordie, you don't want to be the only guy sitting on the sidelines watching with the girls do you?" He smirked.
"I said fine! Jeeze. If I break my leg or arm or something it's your guys' fault." I shot a look at both Teddy and Chris.
When that fateful Saturday came in that vacant lot on the outskirts of town I wished someone would've broken my arm the week before. Not just senior guys turned out for this game, guys Eyeball's age appeared ready to play, including Dan Yost. I sighed. "Why's he here?" Teddy mumbled.
"We are going to get creamed." I said with disbelief. If I got tackled by any number of those guys I'd be in bad shape. We all lined up on the freshly mowed field in our sneakers. Mark Rodgers was holding a football claimed he'd be one team's captain. He picked another jock friend of his Will Shanholtz to be another.
In the end Teddy and I ended up on the opposite team from Vern and Chris. We were two of the last picked. The number of people there was perfect for a team but Teddy and I were thrown out on the field. "Don't worry we'll get this." Dan said to me motioning between himself and Will. I could only hope.
It was so goddamn hot I could barely stand it. After the first couple plays everyone was drenched in sweat. "This is bullshit." Teddy said next to me, "Hot as hell and we haven't even touched the ball." Just then it came right for us, Will shot it over to us. I scrambled for it, it landed too perfectly into my hands and I hauled ass. I could hear the cheers from my team.
I was so close to making it to the goal line. Right as my left leg was crossing the line I was tackled pushed forward into a touchdown. There were plenty of boos and screams but my head was pounding my chin had slammed hard off the ground. I let go of the ball and rolled rubbing my face. Chris extended a hand to help me up. "Did you have to make me eat the ground?"
"Sorry, but congratulations!" He beamed and clapped me on the back as we headed back to the formation.
"Stop fraternizing with the enemy Chambers!" Mark scolded. By halftime we were down a field goal. Will was trying to do a sneak play but I didn't have any confidence in it. Teddy was supposed to sneak the ball but he'd already been tackled pretty sever; we had to call a timeout. Jack Anderson stole the ball from Teddy and passed it to Vern.
Who was quickly and aggressively taken down by Dan, Vern laid sprawled out on the ground. Dan's eyes got huge and he jumped away. "What?" Vern coughed, the wind had been knocked out of him.
"He's got a stiff one!" Dan shouted. Vern looked mortified.
"N-no I don't!" He got up and shouted back.
"Then what the hell jabbed me?" Dan looked at me.
"Tessio, I always pegged you for a queer." Jack laughed.
"I don't have a stiff one!" Vern yelled pushing Dan. Dan shoved Vern to the ground.
"You faggot." He reared his fist back getting ready to strike and Teddy was between them in seconds.
"You don't want to do that." Teddy said.
"Get out of my way, bat shit." Dan tried moving Teddy. Teddy socked him in the jaw and whipped out his switch blade.
"Take a step back Yost." He demanded. Dan looked at him, bewildered.
"I'd do what he says." Chris said. I helped Vern up.
"Look at him, he look like he's got a hard-on for you?" Teddy spat. Dan backed up a few steps and eyes the four of us.
"Who pulls a knife in the middle of football?" He asked looked to the other guys for support they all avoided his gaze.
"Who accuses some one of having a stiff dick after they tackle them?" Teddy growled. The others watched slightly shaken. "Seriously? That's fucked up."
"You're a goddamn psycho like your old man!" Dan shouted, "Your friend's a queer!" He turned away and stalked off.
"That's what you want Dan. You want him to be a fag like you!" Teddy challenged.
"Teddy…" Vern started but Chris shook his head.
"Say that to my face." Dan retorted.
"You're the one that walked away, but you're the fag." Teddy said fire in his eyes. Dan gritted his teeth. "Doesn't sound so great when it's you who being called it now does it?" After that camping trip Teddy must've done a lot of growing up.
"Put the knife down and we'll go toe to toe." Dan threatened. Teddy dropped his knife in the dirt. The sun beat down on us. Blood was boiling and it wasn't going to turn out pretty.
"Come on guys, let's just finish this game." Mark interrupted.
"Shut your mouth." Dan barked.
"Bring your shit." Teddy taunted. Chris stepped in between them.
"You gotta go through me. Shit talking on Vern." Chris said, Teddy nodded.
"And me." I got up there. Even if Dan could snap my leg like a twig I didn't care. I was sick of this bullshit, self-hate that he was projecting on Vern. Teddy and Chris stood firm behind me.
"But first you gotta take on me." Vern piped up. The four of us stood together under that hot sun. Dan backed down.
"Not worth it." He left. The game dispersed and Mark's team was declared the champions.
"That just wasn't necessary ." Will commented as we headed off the field.
"He's a little weird." Mark said. "Next time he's not playing."
"Sounds like a plan." Chris nodded.
"That was crazy shit, Teddy but it was cool of you to stand up for Vern like that." Will clapped him on the back.
"He's my best friend; some asshole isn't going to ruin his reputation around town." Teddy answered.
We had stood together that day. I never found out why Dan did what he did. Possibly because he thought Vern chose Teddy over him or he just wanted to get some heat off of himself. I didn't know. That Monday Chris and I were studying for our English final, "I'd pull a knife on someone for you." He said.
"I'd do the same, man." I nodded.
"I know you would." He flashed me a smile and went back to his work.