The New Kid

Chapter 17- Home For The Holidays: Thanksgiving

Soon, Thanksgiving break was upon us, and I returned to Indianapolis to be with my family at Valerie's house. I was greeted by my tearful sister. She hugged me so hard, I thought she'd crush me to death.

"No need to kill me yet, sis," I said.

"'Yet'? What does that mean?" Valerie asked.

I laughed, "I'll explain later."

Then, I was greeted by my nieces, Josie and Kara. They came down the sidewalk squealing with joy at the sight of me. Josh, Valerie's fiancé, came and shook my hand. Then, I saw Topher and his twin sister Alyssa come outside. They each hugged me, Alyssa never did want to let go of me. Topher had to pull her off me.

"You should stay the night with us!" Alyssa suggested.

I shrugged my shoulders, "Why not?"

We walked inside Topher's house. We talked about what had happened in Indianapolis since we'd been gone, and we talked about Phoenix.

"So, Scott, what've you done that I should kill you for?" Valerie asked.

"Well, I made a rivalry between me and this guy, I danced to West Side Story with a girl, I threatened the principal, I kissed a cheerleader, I fought two guys and won, I threw a rock at the kid I have a rivalry with and knocked him out, I kissed his girlfriend, and I robbed his house to get my phone back," I explained.

Valerie's eyes widened, "Scott, I'm beating your ass after this."

I laughed, "I love you sis."

She smiled, "I love you too."

"So, what's been happening with you, Val?" Mom asked.

Valerie sighed, "Well, we recently filed a restraining order."

Mom's eyes widened, "Who? What happened?"

"Philip Sterling happened. He followed us around at Wal-Mart and tried to take me away from Josh," Valerie explained.

Back then, Valerie had an odd choice of boyfriends, and Philip Sterling took the cake for the weirdest guy ever. He had crosses tattooed under his eyes and I gave him the nickname 'Crosseye'. The weirdest thing about him was the fact that he also had a tattoo of a kiss print left by Valerie on his left cheek under one of the crosses. This guy was always at our door, waiting for Valerie. Then one day, when I had to share a room with Valerie since we were repainting my room, I saw him outside our window, his hand pressed against the glass. I shook Valerie awake, and she screamed. My dad ran in with his shotgun and Crosseye immediately ran off. She broke up with him the next day. I'll never forget that day. After that incident, I swore to Valerie that I'd protect her from anyone.

"What the hell's he doing still trying to get with you?" I asked.

"I don't know, Scotty. He just...pops up outta nowhere and it scares the hell outta me," Valerie said.

I always hated the nickname 'Scotty', but since I was so close to Valerie, I made her an exception. Soon, Valerie gasped.

"Someone's outside our house," she said.

Topher, Josh, Valerie and I walked up to the door. Sure enough, Crosseye was standing outside the door. Valerie handed me her revolver.

"Point it at that asshole, don't shoot him. If he doesn't leave, shoot a couple rounds into the air." she said.

As soon as I held the grip of the revolver, a vision of Adelaide flashed before my eyes. Her blonde hair was unkempt and fell over her face. It was the last time I ever saw her.