The Freak| Jimmy Darling

Chapter Eighteen

Peter and I started walking towards the main tent where everyone was eating dinner. As we were walking, he started talking again.

"Did you hear about Carl?" he asked me.

I turned my head towards him. "No. What happened?" I asked.

"He was found dead yesterday. He was shot through the head. And it wasn't a suicide," He said.

My heart stopped. My head span. "Are you serious?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yup. I'm surprised you didn't hear," he said. I stayed silent. Peter noticed and looked at me. "I thought this news would make you feel a little relieved," he said.

"I just can't believe it. He had the whole world in the palms of his hands and someone was brave enough to just take it all away, y'know? It's just weird to think about," I responded.

"Yeah it is weird," he responded.

We walked through the tent door and said hi to everyone. First, I walked over to Ethel. Her eyes lit up when she saw him.

"Who is this?" She asked cheerfully.

"Ethel, this is my brother Peter," I responded.

"It's so nice to meet you! I've heard many good things," Ethel said.

"Thank you, Ethel," Peter said.

She smiled. "Peter, meet Suzi," Ethel said to him with a smile.

When Peter turned, her smile disappeared and she leaned in to me. "You better introduce Peter to Jimmy before Jimmy has a heart attack," she whispered.

I turned to look at Jimmy who was with Maggie. He was looking at Peter and I. "Thanks," I said with a laugh.

I dragged Peter to Jimmy. "Jimmy. Maggie. This is my brother Peter. Peter, this is my best friend Jimmy and his girlfriend," I said.

Relief filled Jimmy's face as he shook Peter's hand.

"It's great to meet ya," Peter said.

"Yeah. You too," Jimmy said with a forced smile.

"I think I'm gonna take a vacation and stay with Peter for awhile," I said.

"What? But-" Jimmy began.

"You should. You totally deserve a vacation," Maggie said with a smile.

"Thanks," I responded with a REALLY fake smile.

"What if we're gone by the time you get back?" Jimmy asked.

Did he seriously just ask that?

"We'll have to say our goodbyes before I leave. Besides, you weren't gonna say goodbye anyway, right?" I asked.

Peter and Maggie watched the tension between Jimmy and I with wide eyes.

Jimmy scoffed with a sarcastic smile. "I was, Melanie. But you're too jealous to see that," he said.

"Jealous?!" I yelled.

At this point, the whole tent was looking at us. I thought we had made up in the tent earlier.

"Yeah. Jealous," he responded.

"You're fucked if you think I'm jealous," I said.

"Well I guess I'm fucked," he said.

"You're ridiculous, you know that, right?" I asked.

"Ridiculous? I'm just trying to live my life! You're just dragging me down," he spat.