I got out of the ORV, excited to see my family again, to breathe the fresh Castle Rock air. I had come back to my home, the place all my childhood memories took place.

But what's even more exciting was knowing in less than 5 minutes I would be seeing the greatest person I knew, my twin brother Chris. I know it isn't normal for a brother and a sister to be as close as we were, but living in a town with a population of 1200 people, you tended to get on best with the first person you remembered seeing.

It was weirdly silent as I walked up the path leading to the porch. Usually I would've heard the sounds of The Chordette's 'Lollipop' bursting out of Chris' open window and the popping noise from his finger in his check along with it. But no. I walked along to my dearly missed home with tweeting birds as my background music.

As I reached my front door something still seemed eerie about what I was about to step into.

The door was unlocked so it was easier to open it and leave my suitcases in their rightful place at the bottom of our stairs.

As I approached our hallway I shout

"I'm home!" but instead of being welcomed by hugs and kisses, I walked into the raging shouts from a drunken dad and upset screams from a beaten brother.

I knew Chris was being hurt by my father but I never expected it to be full on beatings from him. I had never really been around for the punches, dad made sure me and mom were out of the house before he got rid of all his anger. However, today I wasn't expected for another hour and my mom was meant to be grocery shopping. But I knew from the muffled cries, my mom was hiding from dad in the hallway closet, crying out her woes for Chris.

I couldn't stand to hear the cries of my best friend so I ran before I had a chance to cry.

I didn't know many places in Castle Rock. After being in Astoria for 3 years, I had forgotten this small town in Oregon. There was however one place I still remembered clearly: Castle Rock 'n' Roll Diner.

I ran, ran as fast as I could to get away from the horrific memories I had just encountered. I ran Irby's Billiards club and I was there outside what was now know as Blue Point Diner.

I rushed in and sat at the counter not really knowing I wanted anything other than the comfort from Josie the waitress.

"Elizabeth Chambers, well you know I've missed you loads!" I heard Josie's familiar soft voice in front of me.

"Jose, you know I prefer Lizzie…" I replied, giggling along the way.

"Sorry Lizzie, the usual?" The usual never changed from a can of sodapop and a slice of triple chocolate fudge cake. I just nodded and made a little noise like 'mmhuh'

I knew that after hearing Chris being beaten up, I wouldn't be able to keep up the conversation well, but with it being Josie, I tried.

"Lizzie, it's your first day back, what are you doing here?" Josie said, bringing me my welcome home snack.

"Walked in at the wrong time…" I mumbled, swirling a straw around the can opening.

"Been out again huh?" I just nodded. "You can stay here all you like y'know, we'll all be happy to look after you!" I gave a weak smile and went on eating my cake.

We talked about Astoria and the school I went to for about twenty minutes before we were interrupted. I was telling her about my friend Clarke when we heard the laugh. Eeee-eeee-eeee. A nails down a blackboard laugh.

I looked around the diner towards a window booth with three boys about my age. A short podgy boy was sat next to an average skinny boy. I saw them both clearly but neither was producing the intriuging laugh. I looked further on and saw there was a boy sat with his back to me, his blonde haired head bobbing up and down. It had to be him.

I didn't realise I was staring until the skinny lad said something and the blonde boy looked around at me.

The front of him was so much different than what I was expecting. His large brown eyes stared me up and down through horn rimmed glasses. His ear was badly scared, nearly completely gone. In his shirt pocket, a couple of cigarettes poked out. This boy seemed different almost…interesting. He was also kind of, cute.

I knew I was staring but it didn't click until he gave me a look that said 'take a picture it might last longer'.

I turned away from the table of boys and picked up my fork again only to notice it had all gone. I must've been enjoying the cake so much I didn't notice when it ended.

I downed the rest of my drink and said goodbye to Josie. Walking out of the diner I had a strong feeling, even though this town was small, I was sure I wouldn't see the boy or his friends ever again.

I strolled along the streets under the July sun hoping that the speed would help my second entrance be much more pleasant. I hoped that dad had gone out drinking again. I hoped Chris was ok and mom wasn't over caring for him.

Walking up my drive for the second time, nothing has changed. I lingered at my porch, my hands in my denim shorts' pockets looking down at my scuffed reed converse.

I walked in and as soon as I had closed the door, I was entangled in my over protective mother's arms.

"Honey, I'm so glad you're ok, I was worried when I saw your suitcases but not you! Where have you been!"

"Mom I'm being crushed! I was down at the diner. I just walked in when…" I was too busy choking on my tears to finish my sentence. But my mother knew what I meant and just nodded.

At that exact moment, I heard heavy footsteps thunder down the stairs. I turned so I could seize hold of the best thing in Castle Rock.

"LIZZZZZ!" And there he was: my twin brother Chris Chambers standing at the bottom of the stairs with a massive grin plastered on his face.

"CHRISSSSS!" I screamed back and squeezed him into one of my famous bear hugs. He winced. I immediately let go, just remembering what had just happened to him.

I apologized and stepped back while he gave his lopsided grin.

"Liz, it's ok. I'm happy to go through any pain as long as I get to hug my best friend!" and he hugged me again.

.

Eventually, we realised our mother was still awkwardly lingering and went and sat in our backyard.

We had been talking for about forty-five minutes before I realised it wasn't exactly Castle Rock I had missed, it was the people and our conversations. I knew 5 people (excluding my family) in Castle Rock but they're what made this small town amazing to me. Sometimes only knowing five people helped. Especially because I was a very shy, claustrophobic girl. Being crowded by a small amount of people made the space more comforting and open.

By the time we had finished, it was 6pm and dinner was ready. We had been talking for a good three hours, just watching the sun edge closer to the edge of the horizon over Castle Rock.

I might've only been home for four and a half hours but being home and seeing Chris made this a perfect end to a perfect beginning.

AN – hey guys, I know I haven't updated or uploaded in forever so I thought I needed to give you something. A while back my friend told me to watch Stand By Me and I love it. So I wrote a story, and I wanted to see what you guys thought of it. I hope you enjoyed it. Ps. There is and will be loads of Goonies and Lost Boys references.

Peace out. Ps. I'm changing my name to CharlotteAlanFrog (=