I am so sorry. This would have been out days ago but the website refused to let me login!

Sadly, mi amigos, there are only four parts left. :[ I tried to drag it out and make it longer but I couldn't. I'm sorry. As for it continuing on while they're in school. It will but only for the first two weeks. I might do a sequel, but I highly, highly doubt it. So don't expect one.

This one is sort of short. It's not terribly small but it's not as long as the others. I'm starting to run out of inspiration. I hope it doesn't totally suck. If it does…my bad.

"You're not taking him," Gordie spoke into the silent aftermath of the gunshot. My heart was pounding in my ears, my mouth wide open, my hands reaching out for Chris. He, as it turned out, had not been shot. Gordon had reached into Chris's sleeping bag that had been discarded when the Cobras arrived, and retrieved the pistol. He'd shot it in the air as a warning for Ace and the rest of the boys to back off.

As I reached out and grabbed Chris, I pulled him against me. He wrapped his arm around me, still facing the older, much more dangerous boys. Glaring at them, Chris spoke, "Nobody's taking him."

Ace Merrill took a shakey gulp. He glanced at his friends before regaining his cool and cockily speaking, "Come on, kid. Just give me the gun before you take your foot off."

"You ain't got the sack to shoot a woodchuck," Ace snickered moments later seeing that Gordie wasn't going to move. He took a linger step forward but Lachance halted him, "Don't move, Ace. I'll kill you. I swear to God."

I watch Charlie, Fuzzy, Billy, Vince, and the other boys over Chris's shoulder. Though we had a gun, if they really wanted and really dared they could still hurt us. Suddenly, Vince's eyes snapped to mine and fear spiked in my body. Instinctively, my grip on Eyeball's little brother tightened. My head was hovering over his shoulder as I held his back to my chest, his arm holding me back. Though, to be honest, I wasn't planning on stepping forward anytime soon.

"Come on Lachance, gimme the gun. You must have some of your brother's good sense," Ace drawled. He peered at Gordie. Neither of them dared to look away from each other. Especially when Gordon cocked the gun and raised it higher, aiming straighter for Ace Merrill's face. He parted his lips, his tongue flickering out quickly over his lips, "Suck my fat one, you cheap dimestore hood."

Ace's face went dark, anger, confusion, and embarrassment clearly shining through. As abruptly as it was there, it was gone. With a haughty smirk, he glanced at his friends, "What're you gonna do? Shoot us all?"

"No Ace, just you."

Ace paused. He studied Gordie's face for any trace of doubt or false pretense. When he saw there was none, he gulped, and took a step back. "We're gonna get you for this."

I knew his words rang true and I was scared. If Chris and Gordie were, they sure as shit didn't show it. Chris hardened his glare, stood up taller, and shrugged, "Maybe you will, maybe you won't."

"Oh, we will. We're not gonna forget this, if that's what you're thinkin'. This is big-time, baby," Ace mumbled as his little followers slowly began to retreat up the hill and back to the embankment. They climbed the trestle with no hesitation, didn't look back, and disappeared down the train tracks, behind the trees. Ace lingered a bit, glaring down at us, before smirking. He waved and disappeared. The three of us stood still for a good, long moment before I dropped my arms from around Chris. Nudging his back, I nodded my head up towards the tracks. He furrowed his brow and glanced at Gordie. "Go check, you wet end. See if they're gone."

Chambers nodded and peeked at both of us before gradually climbing the tracks. Only after he emerged behind the trees, did I finally look to Gordie. His arms were still hanging in the air, the gun pointed at no one. A bit of pity flashed in my heart and I tip-toed over to him. Gently, I took his hands and lowered them. His face flooded a beat red as he dropped the gun by Chris's nap sack. Lachance looked away from me, towards the woods, "I bet Teddy and Vern are half way back to Castle Rock by now."

"Wouldn't doubt it," I attempted a laugh. It didn't work very well. Chris was taking to long and we started to worry. Gordie shrugged, "Think we should go look for him?"

"Give him another minute," I muttered, I silently didn't want to move for fear of getting lost but then, there was the fear that they really hadn't left and something terrible had happened to Chris. "Hey Gordie maybe-"

"They're gone."

Our eyes snapped up and landed on the blonde haired wonder as he jogged down the trestle and stopped in front of us. "You okay?" he asked, stroking my arm. I nodded, "I should ask you the same thing. Both of you. I can't believe Vern and Teddy just ran like that."

"I can," Gordie scoffed. Chris turned to look at him, a boyish grin forming on his lips, "'Suck my fat one?' Who ever told you you had a fat one, Lachance?"

"Biggest one in for counties," he spoke proudly. After some suggestive eyebrow raising, we went on into the edge of the woods calling for our lost friends. They had been hiding in the underbrush about ten yards away from the decaying body. When they scurried out, Teddy had a mad look on his face. I figured he was angry at himself. And he damn well should be.

"Are we going to take him?" Vern asked quietly, hovering over the body.

"No," Gordie shook his head solemnly.

"What?" Teddy asked, glancing at us. "But we came all this way. We're suppose to be heroes."

"Not this way, Teddy. Not like this," he spoke. His voice trailed off as he began to pivot, his eyes traveling all around us. He wander over to where Chris and I stood with the sleeping bags. Bending down, he snatched up his bag and retrieved a blanket. Walking back over to Ray Brower, he began to fan it out. "Chris, gimme a hand."

Together they spread the sheet out over the dead boy's body, feet and all, while Teddy, Tessio, and I stood back. Watching this act, this act of respect and kindest, from two boys so young made me start to wonder a bit. If these two boys, so different and yet so similar, could be so brilliant and mature…what the hell happened to Ace Merrill? What had made him, and his idiot friends, so cold? So heartless?

"So what are we gonna do?" Vern asked. I glanced over at the chubby boy. His hands we shoved in his pockets, his eyes glued to the body. I bit my lip, "We need to tell the police."

"Yeah? And have our parents skin our hids?"

"Well, Teddy, they're going to anyway. We're all going to be a day late coming home, and with no body to report, we're gonna get it," I pointed out. Vern's eyes went wide, "Yeah, she's right! Guys we need to take him back. I don't wanna get hided!"

"Too bad, Vern," Chris shot him down. He and Gordie were finished. They grabbed their bags, Teddy and Vern doing the same, and, before we headed back to the tracks, we stood there. We held a moment of silence. One of respect for me, Gordie, Chris, and Teddy, one of confusion for Vern, as we peered at the blanket covered Ray Brower for the last time. Teddy was the first to head back to the tracks, the rest of us shortly following. It was decided that we would walk around the Royal River and avoid another leech attack, but because of the extra five mile hike, we'd have to walk through the night. Though none of us were particularly happy about this arrangement, Vern was the only one to complain.

"Typical," Chris muttered after three hours of non-stop whining from Vern. "You think he'd just be happy we didn't make him cross the river again."

"You would think," I scoffed. Chris and I were walking behind Gordie, Teddy and Vern following slowly behind. "The body wasn't as bad as I thought."

"Yeah?" he raised his eyebrows. "What did you think he'd look like?"

"Let's just say Vern got to me," I mumbled, glancing away. A small chuckle rose from Chris's lips. "Blood and guts, huh?"

"Torn limbs and bugs too."

It was silent again, before he nodded up ahead, "It got to Gordie. Bad. Did you hear him?"

"Only bits and pieces."

"He's really messed up, you know? His dad has totally ruined him. All that comparing him to Denny. It's messed with Gordo."

"Seems to be the story of my friends' lives," I slipped out. "You, Gordie…Teddy…"

"At least you got a good one. You're pop's alright," Christopher smiled at me. I mirrored him, slinging my arm over his shoulder, "Eh. He's okay. Seems to like you."

This caused my best friend to smile like an idiot, "You think so?"

"Definitely."

The sun slowly set and the night sky took over. We made it thanks to Gordie's flash light. He was able to cast a small light ahead of us so we didn't trip over our own feet. As we walked on through the night, Chris kept the pistol tucked into his pants incase there was a fox or something along the way. For the most part we stayed together, only lingering two or three feet away from each other. Despite the many thoughts that raced through our heads, thoughts ranging from life and death, to fleeting ideas about one another, we barely spoke. Only rarely did we speak, except the occasional decision about whether to walk on the tracks or off, or to announce an oncoming train.

I didn't mind really; I had decided to let my mind to some thinking. I reminisced on my days in California. Pictures of my cousins popped into my mind. David, the ten year old perve, with his thick brunette hair and face full of freckles. Jack, the two year old sweetie, with thin curls and only six teeth. Rebecca, the twelve year old wet end, who tattles like it's nobody's business. My aunts and uncles, the beach house, everything. I thought about coming home and seeing mom and dad. With a shudder, I remember the deal I made to spend the weekend shopping with my mom. Somehow I knew it was going to be weird. Doing things like weekend shopping sprees seemed sincerely insignificant after this little adventure.

My mind drifted then to school. I pondered how going back would be. I thought about old Lady Simmons and the milk money. I hoped that Chris would be able be enroll in the college courses. I tried to imagine sitting in class listening to dull teachers moan on and on about useless information about mathematics and geography. Somehow, I just couldn't see it. But then, I thought about eating lunch with the gang. I pictured us talking about more important things than sock hops and that weeks episode of Wagon Training. I envisioned us being better people because of this journey. Wishful thinking I suppose.

We stopped on the way back to town at the Castle Rock Salvage. Once again, we climbed the fence, leaving our bags behind, and made our way over to the pumps. We drank and drank, filling up with water until we figured we'd burst. Though we were fully hydrated, we were starving and no amount of water could make up for an empty stomach. Taking five under the shade, we sat in silence as the sun began to rise. The sky was a light purple, the orange horizon coming up in the east. We sat and watched the sunrise together.

I laid against Chris, my body molding into his. Teddy was beside me, Gordie beside Chris, and Vern beside him. As we sat watching the haze of pinks, purples, blues, oranges, reds, and yellows that is the beautiful sunrise, I felt Chris's lips graze my neck and cheek. The contact sent shivers down my body, goose bumps rising on my skin. Delight and pleasure rippled through my body and the reaction that followed was not expected my neither myself or him; turning my head ever-so-slightly to the right, I pressed my lips against his. Then, I instantly tore away. Facing the sunrise again, I blushed a furious crimson red. I was embarrassed to say the least and thanked God none of the guys had seen what I just did. Though they wouldn't care, they would have mocked us both until hell froze over.

I half expected Chris to laugh, or pull away, or start ragging on me. He did none of that. Instead, he rested his chin on the top of my head, and held on tight.

When the sun finally rose, we silently stood and moved toward the gate. After refilling our canteens, we climbed over the gate and continued home. The mood between us seemed different now. The fact that we'd seen a dead body and made it through another night okay re-instilled a sense of hope in us. Though we were still quiet, I would catch the guys horsing around in shove-wars or butt-kicking fits. We would pass small, secret smiles to each other.

When we reached the long, hundred foot high bridge, we stood, hesitant still. This time, Gordie was the first to embark down the planks. "Let's go, hurry up before the freight comes." Safely, we made it to the other side. Vern felt this a sort of victory.

About four or five hours later, we finally saw the city limit sign for Castle Rock. Grinning to each other, we hurried our pace. One more bridge and we were safely back home. We walked on together down main street, passed Vincent's Drug Store, passed the Blue Point Diner, passed the Town Hall, and finally, we stopped at the crossroads of Hilton and Perry a little after five o'clock Sunday morning, two days before Labor Day.