Carson P.O.V
I was walking through town trying to find some place to get a meal when I was jumped by two boys. They slammed something over my head and the world went blank.
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I awoke to darkness. Had the boys that jumped me left me somewhere in the woods? I started to feel around and touched gravel, that means I'm next to the street. I slowly sat up so I wouldn't get dizzy. I saw the two boys yelling at some kids. They looked familiar.
I stood and walked closer until I saw who it was. Gordie and Chris from school were talking quietly to the boys who'd jumped me. They looked to be around 16, maybe older.
I must've crunched a branch or something because the older boys whirled around and stared at me. The blond one, Ace I think, stepped towards me and put me in a choke hold before I could react. He pulled a knife and spoke slowly. "We find Vern. We take the money. You get your little friend back."
Had he seen me talk with Gordie all the time? Who is Vern? Why am I a part of this? Questions ran through my head until I got a migraine.
"What do you want with me?" I coughed out, sounding more scared than angry.
"Shut up." Ace jolted me and I stopped talking. I wasn't looking to die on the first day of summer.
"Your an asshole." Chris said with venom in his words.
"You'll regret that Chambers. Your not taking Vern from us like you took Ray Brower." Ace shot back. He threw me to the ground and stepped towards Chris.
Gordie leaned down and helped me up. I hated being the weak one.
"Take it back Chambers." Ace said while holding Chris's collar. Eyeball, whom I've heard horrifying things about, was laughing to himself. Then I realized something. Chris and Eyeball had a slight resemblance.
"Go fuck your mom some more." Chris said sounding like he was gonna kill Ace.
"Idiot." Ace said before slamming Chris to the ground and smashing his face to the pavement. He took his cigarette and slowly brought it to Chris's face.
"Shit. Shit, come on man." Chris barely got the words out before Ace put his whole weight on him.
"I take it back! I take it back."
Ace got off him as Gordie went to help Chris.
"Now you pussies outta just get your candy asses back home before we kill you." Eyeball said.
"I hope dad realizes you've been gone. Better hope he ain't drunk when you get back." Chris shot back at Eyeball. I knew then that they were related. It was hard to imagine. Chris seemed so kind and peaceful, while Eyeball was a perverted asshole.
Ace and Eyeball headed back into town, probably to hop in a car and take the other route to get to Back Harlow road. (idk if that's what it's called)
"Are you okay?" Gordie asked looking mad and sympathetic at the same time. I realized in the dim light of dawn that Gordie was extremely handsome. But I kept that thought to myself.
"I'll be fine. Where were you two going?" I said looking at Chris.
"One of our friends went missing, Vern Tessio, if you know him. We gotta find him before the guys who hurt you do. We call them The Cobras. And since we kinda pissed them off, Who knows what they'll do to him." He responded. "You can come wuth if you want. We could use the company."
Chris winked at Gordie. I couldn't tell if he blushed since it was still dark.
I thought for a while. My mom wouldn't be home for a few days, and I sure did wanna get closer to Gordie. "Sure." I said with a smile.
Chris punched Gordie and started walking along the tracks. Gordie followed and as we walked he kept turning around to see if I was still there. I dint know why but it made me feel more comfortable walking through the forest with two boys I barely knew.
Holy shit. What was I thinking!? I barely know these boys at all, and I followed them alone into the forest. In the middle of the night.
I had never had a crush on anyone before. But I guess it fogged my mind since I had just made the mistake every adult spent years trying to teach you not to do. Don't talk to strangers (and don't follow them into the forest at 2am.)
"Stop it." Gordie whisper shouted to Chris. I smiled at them. I could tell that they had a close friendship.
Chris turned to me. "So Carson, where ya from?"
"New York City." I responded with memories flowing back of my time there. My father and I were great until my mother claimed custody over me. Everything got complicated after that and my old life faded away. Soon enough I was moving away to Castle Rock, Oregon. A woodsy town in the middle of fucking nowhere with my mom, whom I hadn't seen since I was 2.
"Really? What's it like?" Gordie asked. I realized then that the kids in castle rock didn't have the things I had back in New York. I had shopping and bright lights. I had money and parties. The kids here had a treehouse, cards, and cigarettes.
I wasn't sure which life I preferred, but I sure as hell did miss my dad.
Chris waved his hand in front of my face. "Hello?"
I snapped out of my memories. "It was different. A lot of things are different in New York."
The boys must've realized that they touched a sore spot in my life because they immediately changed the subject.
"I'm hungry." Chris stated.
"I brought apples, but they kinda got squished somehow. Quidaciolus market is only about a mile away. How much money did you guys bring?" Gordie questioned. His comb over was starting to come apart. His dark brown hair started to fall down into bangs.
"I have a dollar." Chris said before slowly handing his money to Gordie.
"I only have seventy-five cents." I took the money out and placed it into Gordie's hand. Our hands touched for a moment and a wave of warmth filled my body. I quickly pulled my hand back so Chris wouldn't notice.
"I have a dollar twenty-five." Gordie said before taking out his own money. He paused and then added, "Three dollars. Better than last time."
Chris chuckled and then a wave of sadness over took his blue eyes. But he quickly shook it off and almost punched Gordie, but stopped his fist right in front of his face. Gordie flinched and stepped back.
"Two for flinching." Chris said laughing and playfully punching Gordie's arm.
Gordie smiled and moved his leg up to kick Chris's but. Chris returned the gesture and they both started to walk again. I felt like a didn't belong. I almost felt like an extra that made the movie worse. I felt like I was prying them apart from eachother, and I hated it.
Gordie noticed me falling behind and slowed his pace until I caught up to them. "Is something wrong?"
"No." I replied, "Everything's wrong."
