Identify Normal | Stand By Me

Drunken Mess

My friend is getting deployed and I'm losing my mind...so I hope you guys enjoy.

Chapter 8

Sadie's Pov

I was entranced.

They carved into themselves, not with fear, but excitement. They knew exactly who they were and exactly where they wanted to be. In that moment, they were brothers. Taking turns they etched the word 'Cobras' into their forearms, with the 's' transforming into a serpent. All the while we were joking around and passing beers. Everything seemed to be surreal.

I was joking with Richie, err, Eyeball. I found out that the nickname came from a night that my dad threw a beer bottle at him, and a scrap of glass scarred him just below the eye. John was known as Ace not only because he was the leader of their little gang, but also because no one could beat him at a game of cards. Speaking of which, he gave me his white t-shirt...leaving himself shirtless. Damn, I must have blushed like wild, but he didn't say anything. He'd just look over at me once in a while, smirking to himself.

My John was back. I was back, and they all welcomed me in. They talked about getting out of Castle Rock, about girls, money, booze, about a missing kid, and bets. I loved the bets the most. They were making bets over who could drink the most or who could boost the most cars. Fuzzy talked about racing bikes, and pulled out a mighty fine dirt bike from the back, which caught my interest.

"Is it like racing jeeps?" I asked with curiosity. The boys smiled.

"Kinda, but these bikes get a whole lot faster, missy." Billy Tessio smiled.

"Right on. Dennis told me he was racing jeeps nowadays. Maybe you could beat him in a race sometime." I giggled. They didn't laugh with me, but grew quiet and looked to the ground. "What?" I questioned defensively after a moment.

"Sadie," Rich spoke up sourly, "Denny got in a jeep accident and...died this spring." He looked from me over to John, who I noticed was clenching his jaw and crossing his arms.

"What do you mean? Died? I was over there this morning and everything seemed fine-" I was cut off.

"You were over there?" John burst out. His demeanor turned cold.

"Well, yeah. It was on my way home-"

"So what? Is Lachance important or something?" he spat.

"What's your problem?" I was taken aback.

"That goody two-shoes being the hot-shot is grade A bullshit, Chambers." He bellowed.

"John, what the hell are you going on about?" I questioned, shocked.

"He's the golden boy, and I'm the fuck up. Isn't that right? You'd rather see him, right? He's more important than me, right Sadie?" He spat my name like it was a sour taste in his mouth. I was stunned and took a step back. Rich put an arm around me and looked to him.

"Ace." He began, almost as a warning.

"What, you have nothing to say?" John asked, looking my way. "Some friend you are-"

"Me?" I chirped up. "At least Dennis had the decency to try and talk to me through all this time I was in that hell hole. What'd I get from you? Nothing. So some friend I am? No. Some friend you are, John Merrill. Fuck you." I concluded, and his eyes looked as if they could kill. Without another word though he grabbed his car key and walked off. Soon, I could hear his car's engine roar to life and speed off. The air was still and no one knew what to do.

"Fuck." Rich breathed out.

"Well...what just happened?" Billy added.

"Ace...just walked out." Another guy spoke up. I just stood there, shaken up. He pushed a button. Damn him. Like he knew what the hell was going on.