12 Years Young

Chapter 2

After about an hour of this we decide to go to the diner and get some breakfast, as it was only about 8:30.

"What'll you kids be having this morning?" Asked a lady with curly brown hair and red lipstick.

We were all sitting up at the counter. The order went Vern, Teddy, me, Gordie, and Chris. We all ordered a stack of 3 pancakes.

"You gonna eat that?" Gordie asked looking at my last half of a pancake.

"Go for it." I said pushing in over to in front of him.

"Jesus Christ Gordie you eat like a horse!" Exclaimed Chris with a laugh.

"I'm a growing boy! I need my protein!" He said patting his stomach and shooting me a grin.

"Who's paying?" Teddy asked after we had all finished eating.

"I didn't bring any money." Said Vern and Gordie. "Me neither." Said Chris and I.

"Well shit we're gonna get in trouble!" Said Teddy lowering his voice to a whisper and watching the waitress.

"Hey, you guys get out. Chris stay with me. I have an idea." I said quietly.

The rest of the boys got up and I felt Gordie put a hand on my arm.

"Please be careful." He said before following the rest of the guys outside.

"Okay now you throw a plate at the back by the stove." I said pointing towards the backs of the restaurant.

"Then we run?" Chris asked a grin spreading across his face. I nodded in return.

I quickly put all the rest of the plates on the counter so it looked like we'd been waited on and got ready to run. I heard a crash and the woman yelped making her way back.

Chris and I took off running. We heard a yell just as the door was shutting.

"Run!" Said Chris with a laugh. The five of us ran off down the street. I turned back to see the woman watching from the doorway, hands on her hips.

This is probably why we're pegged as trouble makers. Because we are. Chris and I would have gotten blamed even if innocent Vern was the one who threw that plate.

Vern and Teddy got bored and decided to go climb trees at Vern's house. Gordie, Chris and I were walking outside the bar when Eyeball and Ace walked out.

"Looky here Eyeball," said Ace with a smirk. "The shit, the pussy, and the whore." He finished with a laugh.

Chris stood a little in front of Gordie who was standing in front of me. I had to peer my head around him to see what was going on.

"Come on guys we didn't do anything." Said Chris annoyed.

"Whoever said we couldn't beat you up without you doin' somethin first?" Said Eyeball with a smirk.

"Come on Richie, please!" Said Chris. He hardly ever begged. Only if me or one of the boys was in trouble.

Chris was also the only one I had every heard call Eyeball by his real name. Everyone just called him Eyeball. My dad called him a "good for nothing little bastard." I don't know why Chris called him by his real name. Maybe to bug him a little.

"I got an idea, let's make Chambers 1 watch us beat up Lachance and Chambers 2." Said Ace with a evil smirk.

Ace wasn't all that dumb. Chris would much rather get beat up than watch his two best friends get hurt. Especially if he couldn't help.

Gordie and I took a step back.

"Aw don't be scared! We ain't gonna hurt you too bad!" Said Eyeball with a laugh. I glared at him. He didn't even seem to notice.

"Look guys come on what do ya want?" Said Chris stepping in front of Gordie and I.

"We want to do something we enjoy. Beating kids who annoy us up." Said Eyeball with a smile.

"Enough talk." Said Ace punching Chris across the cheek. Now instead of Ace I saw my dad. He stood there with insane eyes, beer bottle in hand, scruffy beard, and permanently angry face.

"Run you idiots!" Yelled Chris from the ground holding his cheek.

Gordie grabbed my arm and started to pull me away. I tried to yank back. Chris was getting beaten behind us. Gordie held tight though and continued on. We ran to the end of the street and turned down the alley. We ran all the way down so we were behind the building Chris was getting beat up in front of.

"We have to help him!" I whispered to Gordie. I felt tears starting to form in my eyes but I forced them back, I've gotten good at that over he years.

"We can't yet! Jo he wants you safe!" He said squeezing my arm hard. I winced and his eyes flickered with sadness.

"I'm sorry I hurt you, I just don't want you to hurt you." He aid blushing a little. I looked away after feeling my face get red.

"Okay let's go." Said Gordie pulling me around he side of the building.

I yelped and Gordie gasped. Chris had an even worse black eye and a cut on his cheek and arm. His shirt was pulled up a little and a bunch of bruises surrounded the black and blue one from the morning.

I collapsed to my knees at his side.

"Hey, I'm fine." He said with a weak smile. I shook my head and the tears were about to come again. They stung my eyes but none fell. Chris and I didn't cry.

"You aren't fine!" I croaked. Gordie fell to his other side and looked him over.

"I'm fine I promise. The cuts aren't real deep and the bruises don't hurt too bad." Said Chris sitting up.

"I don't know how you do it Chris." I said shaking my head and sitting back.

"Do what?" He asked looking at me confused.

"You get your ass whipped and you don't cry or make it look like it hurts." I said shaking my head.

Gordie looked pale as a ghost.

"Gordo I'm fine, I promise!" Chris said with a little chuckle that sounded filled with pain.

"Let's get him to the tree house." Gordie said standing up. I stood too and we helped Chris to his feet. We walked him all the way to the treehouse and helped him climbed up.

Chris fell asleep sprawled out across one half while Gordie and I sat on the other.

"You think he's gonna be okay?" Gordie asked. I didn't hear he question right. I only heard "gonna okay". I was too engrossed in the thought that Gordie and I had our shoulders pressed together.

"Huh?" I said snapping out of my daze.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Gordie asked looking at me. I tried not to look at him because I would say something weird.

"Yeah, he'll be fine. We'll just stay here tonight." I said. Then I couldn't help it. I turned and looked into his big brown eyes.

"Ok." He said. His eyes wondered from my eyes to my lips.

My breathing hitched and he smiled.

"Dick." I muttered while rolling my eyes. He just laughed and put an arm around my waist.

"I'll stay with you, Jo." He said with a grin.

I nodded and secretly smiled to myself.

We stayed in the treehouse until dark with Chris. We decided not to move him and just stay in the tree house. I don't even remember when I fell asleep.