Chapter 3: All Packed?

All I did was stand there as I listened. Just watching Chris. "Hey, Riley, whatcha been up to?" Chris asked.

Jumping up and down, Riley said, "Come on! You gotta see a story I wrote." Riley grabbed Chris' hand and dragged him into the kitchen, where me and my mum where.

"Hello, Chris," my Mum beamed. Chris smiled and replied with just as much enthusiasm, "Hello, Mrs. Daylife." He then turned to me and said softly, "Hi, Sam."

"Hey, Chris," I replied just as softly. Just as we were getting locked in a gaze, Riley pulled me and Chris up the stairs.

As my brother dragged us up, I turned to Chris. "What are you doing here?" "I was going to pick Gordie up but while I'm here I might as well bring you too," he said.

Once we got to my room, Riley pulled out the piece of paper and handed it to Chris. "You see, Chris? You read, you read!"

Chris brought the paper closer and screwed up his eyes. He obviously had problems reading the lines of mess.

"Uh…Riley," Chris said softly, "I can't really read it." Immediately, Riley's eyes widened. His mouth dropped. Tears began to swim in his eyes. Then, he gave Chris the lower lip and revealed his gums. And before you knew it, Riley was sobbing hysterically.

As Riley continued to cry, Chris quickly said, "Oh, I'm sorry, Riley. I can see it now. Yeah, I can read it." When Riley began crying even more, Chris actually picked him up and soothed, "Shhh. Shhh. Shhh. It's alright, Riley. Don't cry. I'm here, you're alright." I couldn't help but smile. Chris was so cute!

Riley rubbed his eyes and said "You don't like my story!" "No, no, no, I love it," Chris whispered, "How about you read it to me?" Riley rubbed his eyes again and softly said "Okay." Chris then put Riley down and listened to the three year old speak.

After Riley had told the story, Chris cheered and clapped. "That was awesome," said Chris, "Skin it!" Riley then ran his palm down Chris' and did it again. That was our handshake, kind of.

"Oh and I thought of a really good ending," Riley said. "Yeah, what is it?" I asked. "After you fix the bird, you and Sammy kiss each other!" he said. Then the awkward silence dawned again.

"That's um… that's a great ending, Riley," Chris finally said. "Why don't you go downstairs?" Then, Riley gave all the signs again-tears, widening eyes, lower lip. And before I knew it, he was crying again.

Chris hugged him and said, "I'm sorry, Riley, I didn't mean it like that." "You don't want me here! You don't like me!" he whined. "No, no, Riley," soothed Chris, "I just want to spend some time with Sam."

Then, a smile formed on Riley's lips. "Why?" he said, "Are you gonna kiss her?" He then began to laugh hysterically.

Oh, God. Why did I tell my brother all of my secrets? When Chris and I were left alone, Chris turned to me. "So… your brother is quite the writer, isn't he?

"Yeah," I replied meekly. I just looked at Chris. He was such a great guy yet what was he doing with a girl like Mandy? Probably because she is hotter, more popular and richer than everyone else…especially me. I let my thoughts show on my face.

"Everything ok?" Chris asked me. "Yeah, I'm fine," I said. But Chris knew me…and my problems.

"It's about Mandy, isn't it?" he asked. "I'm sorry," I apologised, "I shouldn't be thinking bad things about your girlfriend." "I told her to stop giving you guys a hard time," he said, putting his hand on my shoulder. Little did he know that when he placed his smooth hand on my shirt he sent a thousand bolts of energy running in my veins.

"It's fine," I said, "We should go now."

He nodded. Then a thought popped into my head: Shouldn't I bring food? I thought about it for a moment, and then figured that one of the guys would bring something. I picked up my sleeping bag and slung it over my shoulder. "All packed, Mr. Chambers?

Chris nodded. "Ready when you are!" He flashed one of those amazing smiles and we walked downstairs. Once we got downstairs, Riley was helping Mom make a chocolate cake. Only, he wasn't really helping. He banged an egg on the bowl which somehow managed to get on Riley's pants.

Mom ran over to help him. As she attended to him, I said "Mum, Chris and I are leaving now."

My Mum rushed over and enveloped me in her hug. Riley came running over and wrapped his arms around my kneecaps.

Riley smiled, showing his baby teeth again. I then kissed the top of his head, did the same to my mom, and walked out the door with Chris.

As we went past his house, Gordie came running out of his house to join Chris and me, wearing his brother's Yankee cap. He was red-eyed and breathing heavily. He then wiped his eyes and I know he had been crying.

"What's wrong, Gordie?" I asked.

Gordie sniffled and looked down. "Nothing. Its just Dad being Dad."

Chris scoffed. "What a dickhead!"

We stood in silence for a minute, and then Chris said, "Well, since we're all going to be walking together, let's stop at the coffee shop over by Maple Drive. I want to show the both of you something."

I got excited. ""Oooh, what is it?" I asked.

Chris wagged his finger and smiled. "Eh eh eh. You're just going to have to wait."

I sighed and headed into town with Gordie and Chris. Tomorrow was Labor Day of 1959. Little did I know that nothing would be the same between me and my best friends again.