DARLING, chris chambers

two

Jackie Favelle

I climb out of my bed and stand up to the floor after sleeping once again. The mirror in front of me shows my outfit which includes just some waist-high jeans and a black tee shirt. The bright yellow hair tie stands out in my high ponytail. My black sneakers slip on my feet easy and I head out of the door. 

Blue Point Diner comes into sight, memories of my friends from back 'home' come back to me. Always ordering Cokes and fries. 

A few open seats wait for me, "Good morning! What can I get you?" The waiter smiles.

"Ah yes. Just a coke."

Someone sits beside me, "Hey Teddy!" The waiter laughs, "Coke in the morning? Alright." Teddy hugs me tightly.

"Make that two please!" I say to the waiter and hand her the coins.

The cap pops off and I sip the cold soda. "So where did you go yesterday? We hung out at the treehouse all evening, just chilling with card games and Winnie's." Teddy nudges my shoulder eagerly. "I just spent the evening in my room, I'm pretty sure I slept for the most of it." I give a kind smile to the boy.

"So uhh.. where's Vern, Chris, and LaChance?" I ask Teddy. He looks around as if he can see them.

"Not sure- speaking of the bastards." I turn to where Teddy's pointing and looking.

The three boys I questioned Teddy about walk into the diner, "Hey! Look who showed up."

We spent almost two hours talking and laughing. Not once did anyone stop smiling, there had to be about eleven empty Coke glasses when we left. The five of us walked to the treehouse everyone having their own conversations. I'm the last to climb up, "Which one of you guys slept in here last night?" Chris asks dealing the cards to start up a game of 31 with Teddy. "It was just one of those nights, y'know," I speak up. Chris nods and ashes the cigarette in his hand.

"So, Junior High in a matter of weeks - that means the ladies are everywhere!" Teddy says.

"Sorry Teddy, I'm not into girls," I nudge his shoulder.

"I was talking to them not you," Teddy pushes me back. "I was talking to them not you!" I mock him hoping to get a reaction out of him. He picks up the pack of Winstons and chucks them out the window, "Hey! What! Those were mine." He laughs and mocks me, "Hey! Those were mine."

"Shut up Teddy, why on earth would you do that?" I chuckled climbing down the tree.

The trapdoor feels heavy as I try to open it, "oh, you guys are dicks." They won't let go of this bit of locking me out for the life of me. I surprisingly, even to myself, climb through the window. 

"What how? I would've broken the roof," Vern thinks long and hard. I go over to the kid and snake an arm around his shoulder, "Verno, no stress man."

Teddy clears his throat, "Anyways Jackie.. since you're so not into girls. Who do you like?" I look at Teddy and my eyes just happen to meet Chris who's already glancing at me. I look away quickly hoping to hide any embarrassment from my expression.  "Well geez Teddy, loaded question but that's only for me to know."

-

It's about evening time and Vern says, "Hey, I'm going home for dinner now." I put on a fake pout. "Now that I think of it, me too," Gordie agrees. Teddy leaves with the other two, "See ya later now."