The night was cool and breezy and it felt almost like summer, in Castle Rock. As Sadie walked down the avenue towards Gordon's house, her shadow seemed to stretch for miles below every single landpost. She breathed in and out slowly, smiling and pacing herself.

He'd caught her eye. At first, of course, he'd seemed rather awkward and strange, but with time, she'd really started to… like him. The way he sat on the dais with his notebook every day, writing endlessly. The way he sometimes leaned back of the metal steps to let the sun bathe his skin, opening his arms widely.

She'd still been surprised when he'd come to her to ask her out for dinner. At the diner where her brother worked. Of course, if Ace had been working that night, it would have been rather awkward but luckily for her, he wasn't. So, she'd agreed to go out with him with great pleasure.

But he hadn't shown up.

Playing softly with the fabric of her dress, she bit the inside of her cheek in anxiety. This whole situation was so strange… if he wasn't coming, why had he sent someone to greet her and tell her off before telling her to meet him at his place? A simple phone call would have done the trick…

A dark shadow erupted from an alley a few feet from her and Sadie found herself jumping in surprise.

"Ace… What's wrong with you? Why'd you have to scare me like that?"

"Sorry, little sis…" Ace muttered as he slowed down to keep pace with her. "Where you headin' like that? All dressed up and all… You've not going on a date, are ya? Who's the bastard, so I can beat him up?"

"Come on, Ace…" Sadie sighed. "You swore you wouldn't do that again!"

"Well, it depends on the guy…"

"No, I said don't beat him up!"

"Who's he?"

"No one."

"Don't tell me it's that little Chambers faggot!"

"No, it's no Chris. I would know ; you've told me all my life never to date that guy."

"Good. The girl has learned her lesson."

"Shut up. Now, could you please leave me alone? I really have to go…"

"I could escort you there and get to meet him! It's a win-win! The streets aren't exactly safe, young lady…"

"Oh, and who's fault is that?" Sadie grinned.

Ace stopped, faking to be outraged before running back to Sadie and laughing.

"You say that like it's a bad thing!"

"It is! Now, leave me alone! Don't you have anyone else to bug?"

"Not really, no."

"Well, go annoy your buddy Chambers. He's at the diner."

"Eyeball?"

"No, Christopher. I saw him there twenty minutes ago."

"You what? Why'd you go to the diner? Did he speak to you? The son of a bitch."

"Ace, stop it, you're doing it again."

"Hmm?"

"You're being the over-protective brother again."

"Oh, sorry."

"Now, let me go. Go beat Chris up, for all I care."

"Oh, the girl has definetely learned her lesson!" chanted Ace as he finally ran off, leaving his sister alone on her way to paying Gordon Lachance an unexpected visit.