12 Years Young

Chapter 8

"Gordie get off God damnit!" I yelled watching the train.

He took a deep breath and smiled.

A little bit before the train hit him I tackled him to the other side of the tracks. I sat up on top of him and started hitting his chest.

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" I screamed over the train noise. He watched me with wide eyes.

He shoved me off and jumped up.

"Why the hell did you do that!?" He yelled at me.

"Why the hell did you do that!?" I yelled back standing up as well. The tears were starting to sting my eyes again.

"I couldn't take it anymore!" He said grabbing my shoulders and shaking me.

"Gordie your scaring me." I said making him stop. Then he shoved me to the ground.

"You just had to be the hero!" He yelled with fury in his eyes.

"What the hell Gordie! No one else even knows and I don't plan on telling anyone!" I yelled back burying my face in my hands and bawling.

It's like he suddenly snapped out of his gaze. Just like my dad. His eyes softened as he processed what had just happened. Now he was crying. He fell to the ground next to me and curled up into a ball.

"I don't know what would have happened if you died Gordie. I can't lose you." I said wiping my eyes and looking at him.

"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." He said sobbing so hard he could hardly get a breath in. I crawled over to him and sat him up so his head was on my legs.

"Promise you won't ever do anything like that again." I said wiping the tears from his face.

He crossed his heart and, my mouth dropped open, kissed his pinkie. "I pinkie swear on my life." He said looking up at me.

"Not if I don't kill you." I said not joking a tiny bit, and he could tell too.

We just sat there looking at each other for what seemed like forever.

"Let's go for a walk Gordie." I said standing up and taking his hands.
I pulled him up and put my arm around his waist. He put an arm across my back and we balanced each other out.

We walked to the bridge leading into town and stood on the side looking over the edge.

"Why were you gonna do it Gordie?" I asked leaning one the railing.

"I was so sick of my parents. My mom has been trying harder but she still doesn't act like I'm fully there. She's in a dream I don't think she can wake up from it." He said shaking his head and looking down at the water.

"And your dad?" I asked looking at him now.

"Same as usual. Criticizing my every move, pretending I'm not there, giving me dirty looks." He said shaking his head.

I leaned into him and sighed. "Why did we get stuck with the shitty lives?" I asked shaking my head.

"Because someone has to have them." Said Chris walking up behind us. Teddy stood next to him. He looked up and we made eye contact before quickly looking away from each other.

"You takin good care of her?" Chris asked only joking with Gordie. He held his hand out and they skinned it.

"I think she's taking more care of me." He said with a nervous laugh glancing at me. I looked to Teddy who was looking at Chris.