Chapter 15: Mohegan Lake Mall

JJ hopped into the shower shortly after Debbie left. He was thrown at first when he saw her face peering in through the window. Usually, if she was going to come over, they would have talked about it earlier in the day. So, when JJ heard the knock at the window he wasn't exactly happy.

JJ had plans to meet up with Stacey after dinner. When she didn't show this morning naturally JJ was annoyed. Although, since she explained herself when he saw her at the bleachers, he decided not to make a big deal about it. When JJ suggested they hang out tonight, Stacey agreed. For a split second, JJ thought about canceling. He wasn't sure if his having sex with Deb would now make getting with Stacey unlikely. Up until now, he and Debbie always stopped after third base. They had gotten close a few times, but today was a game changer. JJ was a guy after all. How much restraint could he be expected to have when Debbie was eagerly waving him in to home plate? He rationalized his reasons for keeping his plans with Stacey. Debbie was cool, she shouldn't expect things to change between the two of them. He kept assuring himself that he had always been clear with Debbie on where they stood. The issue was, he wasn't sure if he wanted just the same casual thing with Stacey.

Dinner was simple, hot dogs and beans. JJ's mom wasn't much of a cook; his father was already on his third beer by the time they finished eating. JJ's dad pushed his empty plate into the middle of the table, slid his chair back and left the kitchen.

"Bring me another," Mr. William's yelled from the living room.

Mrs. Williams retrieved a beer from the fridge and scurried quickly to make the delivery.

JJ helped clear the table, then dashed up to his room to put on his boots and grab his jacket. When he returned downstairs, his mom was watching television, and his dad was snoring on the recliner.

JJ yelled from the front door, "Going out!" not pausing for a response.

Even though it was spring, the night air was chilly. JJ thought about going back for gloves, but decided stuffing his hands into his jacket would do. He cut through the dunes and headed up Lenape Road. He passed by several businesses and restaurants until he reached Hudson River Middle School. The school was perched on top of a hill and overlooked a small valley where the Mohegan Lake Mall stood. JJ remembered peering out of the classroom windows when he attended school there wishing he were at the arcade. He passed the school and made his way down a steep path, dodged through light traffic, and crossed Main Street.

The plan was for Stacey to meet JJ at the entrance of the movie theater. The theater occupied its own building, sharing the parking lot with the mall. There was a girl sitting in the window of the ticket office who kept looking over at JJ He smiled at her, she blushed and gave him a wave. She was wearing a black uniform vest, white shirt, and a red bow tie. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail and her face featured a noticeably pointed nose. She was cute in a librarian sort of way. JJ thought that if Stacey ended up ditching him again, he would definitely go talk to Miss Red Bow Tie.

JJ pulled his hands from his pockets, found his cigarettes, and lit one. He hated waiting. He felt stupid standing there looking around with no one to talk to. Halfway through his cigarette, he decided to walk around to the other side of the theater. Maybe he had misunderstood the location and Stacey was waiting on him? JJ flicked his cigarette in annoyance when he saw that she wasn't there. He walked back to the front entrance and there she was.

"Hey," Stacey greeted. "I thought you were no showing me this time," she giggled.

"Nah. Just went around back to keep warm," JJ lied.

"So where do you want to smoke?" Stacey asked.

Oh shoot. That's right. JJ thought to himself. The whole purpose of the secret meeting was for Stacey to try the new potent supply. He nearly forgot about the ploy to get her to meet him alone.

"Let's go behind the mall. There are woods back there and this way we can be out of sight. Then afterwards we can hit up the arcade if you want to stick around."

JJ pulled a handful of tokens from the front pocket of his jeans to show her. Stacey nodded and followed behind him.

The back of the mall contained many identical doors, with the exception of the unit numbers stamped in black stencil. Each interior shop had a rear exit allowing for discretionary deliveries and garbage dumping. There were forty shops inside the mall, plus a small food court with eight places to eat. JJ never spent much time in the mall. He would usually enter from the east entrance since the arcade was just a few steps from the door.

Games- Players -Paradise was like a second home to many teens in the town, JJ among them. He met his first girlfriend there when he was in the seventh grade. Molly was a year ahead of him in school and attended St. Matthews Catholic Preparatory. She would never know that JJ lied about his age when he told her he was in high school. He had been told more than once how he looked and acted older than his age, so he figured that he could get away with exaggerating. Molly was excited to be dating a high school boy.

Greg met someone there too. Molly's best friend Talley attended the same school and on their second meeting, Molly brought Talley to the arcade. JJ talked up Greg to Talley, so on their third meeting, Greg came along to be set up with Talley. Of course, JJ had to make sure Greg was okay with saying he was in ninth grade and not seventh. At first Greg was reluctant, but it didn't take much convincing to get him to agree.

The four of them always met at the arcade on Saturday afternoons. JJ and Greg would get there early to get tokens and play a few games before Molly and Talley arrived. A few times they walked over to the food court to buy an Orange Julius. JJ would talk to Molly on the phone a few times a week until her father would tell her it was time to hang up. Greg reported a similar experience with Talley. A few months later, Greg met Franey and lost interest in Talley. Their breakup didn't sit well with Molly, so she stopped coming to the arcade. JJ tried calling her a few times, but he was given excuses like, "She's doing homework and will have to call you back or She isn't home right now." JJ quit trying after two weeks.

JJ found a clearing in the woods behind the mall. They were deep enough not to be noticed by anyone who might use the back door. JJ also liked this spot because it was far enough away to hide the skunky smell. He pulled out a roll of tin foil from inside his coat pocket and waved it in front of Stacey. She giggled and to JJ 's surprise, snatched the roll from his hand.

"Hey," JJ chuckled.

"Come and get it," Stacey teased playfully and began walking backwards. JJ liked this side of Stacey. He'd never seen her act flirtatious. Stacey held out the package like she was giving it JJ, but each time he went to take it, she pulled it back. She laughed and giggled continuously, amusing herself. JJ couldn't believe how excited he was to be there with her. This was going better than he expected.

"Okay. Come on Stacey," JJ pleaded.

"Fine. Let's smoke and then we can really have some fun," Stacey said seductively.

JJ could not wait to see what she meant. He fumbled for a minute with the foil, then unrolled it, and removed a joint. He pulled a red lighter from his jacket pocket and lit up. JJ took two deep hits before passing it over to Stacey. She inhaled and hummed with each delightful drag. Then she walked over to JJ and put her arms around his neck. JJ placed his hands around her waist, and they began kissing. JJ wanted her. And as if she could read his mind, Stacey backed away, opened her coat, and unbuttoned her shirt. JJ froze, his eyes fixed on her pink lace bra. Much to his surprise, Debbie's image came into his head. He had sex with her only a few hours ago. Was he wrong to be here with Stacey now and like this? JJ couldn't believe what he was thinking.

"We can't do this," JJ rationalized.

"Why not?" Stacey questioned. Stacey stepped closer to JJ

"No. It's wrong. I can't," he insisted.

Stacey ignored JJ and tried to put her arms back around JJ's neck. JJ pulled her off and held her arms.

"No, I said. Knock it off Stacey."

"What the hell JJ! What's wrong with you? she shouted.

"I can't explain. I don't need to explain," JJ insisted.

But Stacey was determined, she wasn't letting up. Instead, she removed her coat, unzipped her jeans, and pulled them down to her ankles. JJ shook his head in disbelief.

"You're not getting the message," JJ pleaded.

"And you're NOT getting the message," Stacey said teasingly and made another attempt to put her arms around JJ This time JJ blocked her forcefully. Stacey lost her balance and fell backwards onto the ground.

"Stacey!" JJ yelled. He knelt down next to her, "Stacey? Stacey? Come on."

JJ placed his hand on her arm and shoved it back and forth. No response. JJ's heart was pounding.

"Stacey? Oh my God, Oh my God."

JJ picked her up by the shoulders, revealing a pool of blood that began collecting under Stacey's skull. The pointed crimson rock looked noticeably out of place.

"Oh my God. No. No," JJ cried out.

JJ fell onto his backside and began bawling.

"What have I done? How did this happen?" he sobbed.

Muffled voices and the slamming of metal interrupted JJ's weeping. Peering through the trees, he could make out two figures smoking cigarettes, while a third was throwing bags of garbage into the dumpster. JJ wiped his face on his sleeve and stood up. Stacey's blue hooded coat laid crumpled a few feet away. He picked up the jacket and covered her body, blanketing her chest. JJ took one last look at her, shuffled through the brush, and exited the woods.

He walked calmly into the east entrance of the mall. The familiar sounds of bells and digital beeps were heard upon entry. JJ dug a token out of his pocket and rubbed the gold coin between his fingers. Then he walked through the arcade and deposited it into his favorite video game.