Disclaimer: I own nothing except the stuff you haven't seen before.
Author's Note: Please bear with me, I know this is a little tedious, but I had to set up everything. Things will get more fast-paced and exciting.
Chris Chambers walked down Main Street in Castle Rock, Oregon, enjoying the crunching sound that his beat-up old sneakers made as he stepped on the brightly colored leaves that scattered the sidewalk. He turned down Red Farm Road, making his way toward the white two-story. He quickened up his pace as he strode up the front walk, not wanting to be late on his first day of school.
He knocked quietly on the door, not wanting to be heard by anyone but his best friend, Gordie Lachance. As luck would have it, Gordie's father, Martin Lachance answered the door. Chris swallowed hard before speaking. "Hello, Mr. Lachance. Is Gordie here?" After giving Chris a harsh and appraising look, he stepped back and opened the door wider.
Chris stepped inside. "Thank you," he muttered, trying for one last time to be polite, then headed up the stairs. He didn't bother knocking as he came to Gordie's room. "Hey there, fucker."
Gordon Lachance looked up, slightly startled. "Damn it, Chris, I mighta been undressed. But you probably woulda liked it, right you homo?"
Chris laughed good-naturedly and sat down on the bed. "Hurry up, or we're going to be late."
"Okay, okay, keep your pants on." Gordie give himself a once-over in the mirror before walking toward the door. "C'mon, let's go."
Chris Chambers and Gordie Lachance had been friends almost forever, but even so, had always been an unlikely duo. Chris' family was one of the most well-known families in Castle Rock, though not for any good reason. They were the town low-lifes, and everyone knew the kids would amount to as little as their parents.
Gordie was also fairly familiar around town, for an entirely different reason. His brother, Denny, had been a hero: charismatic, smart, and a football star. But all that had changed in April of 1959, when he was killed in a Jeep accident. Neither Gordie had been the same since.
Chris was the first to speak on their walk toward Castle Rock High. "So, are you ready for senior year? It seems like we've been waiting forever for this year."
Gordie didn't answer right away. "Yeah, I guess, it's just kinda weird. Almost surreal, you know? It seems like you spend your whole life waiting for certain milestones, then, once you get there, it's not nearly as exciting as you thought it would be."
Chris was quiet, but Gordie knew he understood. That was one of the things that had made them friends. There was always an understanding between them, albeit silent. "Yeah. But at least we'll be done soon. Then we can get our of this place."
In homeroom, Chris and Gordie met up with Vanessa Matthews, one of the few people they really hung around. Vanessa was a tiny redheaded girl with a light spray of freckles across her nose. She was at least three inches shorter than the next smallest girl in their year, making her appear to be at least two years younger than she actually was. Chris and Gordie liked her sarcastic sense of humor and the fact that they could talk to her without censoring anything. Vanessa looked extremely proper and feminine, but had the mouth of a sailor, often out talking even the boys themselves.
"Hey fuckers, what the hell took you so long? I've been sitting here, all by myself, with these assholes for like an hour." Vanessa beamed up at her two favorite boys.
Chris returned the smile. "An hour? Really? You're full of shit Vanessa." He punched her lightly on the shoulder and took the seat behind her, Gordie plopping down into the one on her left.
"Hey, yeah, that would mean you've been sitting here since seven o'clock, and we all know that's some bullshit." Gordie leaned across the aisle and flicked her on the nose.
Vanessa flinched and wrinkled her nose. "You bastard." She narrowed her eyes at him. "If you weren't such a damn pussy, that could have really hurt." She broke into a wide, foolish grin. "Just messin' with you Gordo." She mussed his fine chestnut hair.
At that moment, their teacher strode into the room and rapped her knuckles on the desk. Mrs. Higgins had been their history teacher last year, and all three knew she heartily deserved her reputation as a serious bitch. "Class. Come to order immediately. You are much to old to be behaving like animals."
Chris bit his lip to keep from laughing. It wasn't so much what she said, it was the manner in which she said it. She always put emphasis on certain words, and for some reason, it cracked everyone up. As she began taking roll, Chris tuned out after his name was called and started observing the rest of the people in the room, seeing how they had changed since last year.
His eyes traveled from desk to desk, taking in each occupant. He came to a stop at Leigha Hale. He knew very little about her. She had moved to Castle Rock from somewhere in… He racked his brain. Louisiana? Georgia? Georgia. He was pretty sure that was it. She had moved here around the seventh grade, but had attended the Catholic school just outside of town. He remembered thinking she looked cute in those uniforms. She had to be smart too… she was in the college courses, just like him and Gordie and Vanessa. But, when he thought about it, he couldn't recall every hearing her say anything. Not in the halls, or in classes, nothing. Chris looked her up and down. She had impeccable posture, sitting straight in her seat. Her pale yellow skirt fell just above her knees, revealing enough leg for him to notice that her skin was tanned, probably from some summer trip, something he'd never experienced. He also couldn't help but notice that she filled out her white sweater considerably better than last year. He blushed at that thought and tore his eyes away, turning to Gordie and Vanessa, who were talking animatedly about something.
He attempted to pretend he'd been listening all along, but they caught him. "So, what the fuck was more interesting than me and my brilliant opinions, huh, Chris?" Vanessa smirked wickedly at him.
"Nothing, nothing…" He was grateful when the bell rang, and jumped out of his seat. Gordie and Vanessa followed him to the front, picking up their schedules on the front desk as they left. As they entered the hallway, they headed in separate directions.
Chris walked into his first period class, calculus; he was surprised to see Leigha already sitting down in one of the desks toward the back. Usually he was the first one in a class, because he typically wasn't screwing around in the hallways. But today he had been beat. The more he thought about her, the more she was intriguing him. He decided to take the seat next to her.
Leigha looked up when he sat down, her dark hair falling in front of her face. She smiled softly at him and went back to reading her book. He attempted to strike up a conversation, not knowing what provoked him, never having been tempted before. "You're Leigha, right?' he asked lamely.
She looked up again and the smile returned. "Yes. And you're Chris Chambers, if I'm not mistaken." Her voice was different than he'd expected, although he didn't really know what he'd been expecting. She had a Southern accent, something wholly unfamiliar to him, having never left Oregon.
His eyes met hers and she extended a hand. "It's a pleasure to formally meet you." He returned the gesture.
"Yeah, you too." The moment turned awkward, and though he wanted to try and save the conversation, he knew it was hopeless right now. He'd have to try later. But when she turned back to her book, yet found himself looking at her, studying her face. He noticed she had clear emerald eyes and very defined features, high cheekbones, and full lips. However, her face wasn't perfect. Chris took in a scar just below her bottom lip and another one beneath her left eyebrow. He wondered vaguely where she'd gotten them. As more students began to file in, he opened his notebook and began copying the board.
But Chris still couldn't help glancing over at Leigha Hale, whom he was beginning to think he could develop some serious interest in.