This is awkward.

It's been. Um. Over a year. And.

And this story is just ASDFJKL;ASDFJK;LASDFJKJ;. It's so lame and I reread parts of it today and ASDFJKL;ASDFJKL;ASDFJKL;;LFKDJAAJSKDFL; and ugh.

This is a very quick, very pointless, very ridiculous chapter and I should be ashamed to post it, but at least this story isn't dead, yeah?

I just got internet at my new place, and my room mate set up the wifi. So this story will be completed eventually.

There will be like. One more chapter? And it will be an epilogue or sommat.

Anyway.

I apologize in advance for the uselessness of this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Stand By Me, The Body, or the characters.

Warnings: None.

Flamers be flaming.


All things considered, it was actually pretty stupid to sit against a public building during a school dance, making out with another guy. They were indescribably lucky that no one had wandered out after them.

Well, no one except Teddy, who made a noise of exasperation before throwing half a cup of ice water at Chris and Gordie, who broke apart instantly. "Because that's a brilliant thing to do with our entire school right inside the building," Teddy remarked, watching in vague amusement as Chris scrambled to his feet, leaving Gordie against the wall.

"Um, we were just- I mean-"

"I just wanted to warn you that I've heard exactly six threats to beat the shit out of you two, two plans to rat you out to the Cobras, and precisely no blessings to your stupidly obvious relationship." While it was said in an airy tone, there was serious concern on Teddy's face. Chris felt his stomach sink and throat go dry, and he could see Gordie had lowered his head to his hands from the corner of his eye. "I, um. I think maybe you should head home early or something. Or maybe not home. Maybe the tree house."

Gordie groaned, peeking up over his hands. "How long until this stops being a big deal, do you think?" Both Teddy and Chris turned to give him an incredulous stare, and Gordie's eyes flickered to the ground. "Oh."

After a moment of tense silence, Chris hesitantly turned and lowered a hand out to his best friend, gently helping him to his feet. The two released the grip immediately, and Teddy sighed. "Just. Be careful, okay?" He watched silently as the two nodded and then proceeded to make a run for it.

He had carefully neglected to mention that one of the Cobras their age- a newer rank who was looking for a good way to suck up to Ace and Eyeball- had been at the dance with some trampy date, and that he had left the building a second after Chris's announcement.

The Cobras probably already knew by now, and there were threats of more than just beatings flying around.


Chris hurried up the ladder after Gordie, snapping the trapdoor shut and latching it with a rusty old padlock. It was hardly a good defense system, but it made them feel a little less on the verge of being attacked. They sat on opposite sides of the small card table, both staring at scratches on the surface and clueless as to how to start this awkward conversation.

"So," Gordie began, but then closed his mouth.

Chris shifted uncomfortably. "So." There was an awkwardly long pause, and then all at once Gordie slumped his shoulders, breath leaving in a heavy sigh.

"I wish Denny was here. He'd know what to do." He rubbed his forehead tiredly, finally looking up at Chris. "We're as good as dead, you know."

"Yeah. I know."

"We can't go back to school. We can't stay home. We can't- we can't stay here."

Chris nodded miserably. "I know."

Frustrated, Gordie banged his fists on the table. "No, I don't think you do. We have to leave. Forever. We can't live in our own goddamn homes- our own goddamn town anymore! We're not even out of school, and we're gonna have to- have to-"

Chris glared at him, frowning. "I know. I get it. We need to leave or we'll be killed."

Gordie stood up abruptly, beat up lawn chair tumbling backwards from the force. He slapped both palms onto the table, shaking it slightly but not caring in the slightest. "We are going to die!"

"I know!" Chris shouted, and Gordie flinched and shut his mouth. "I know, okay? My brother is Eyeball goddamn Chambers, in case you forgot! We can't stay here, I know! At least you can go home and pack your shit up; the second I step near my lawn my brother will probably blow my effing brains out!" He took a shuddery breath, standing slowly. "I. Know. And I'm terrified, Gordo. I am. I can't even… I'm not ready for this. I didn't mean to do this, I swear. And I wish I could take it back, but-"

"No!" Gordie blurted, flushing light pink immediately. "I mean. Um." He looked away, crossing his arms defensively. "I don't. I didn't mean I wanted you to take it back. I just…"

Chris couldn't help the slight smile tugging at his lips. "I just meant that… I shouldn't have included the last bit. In public. At our school dance. On stage. Over a microphone."

"Well, yeah. Maybe. But I mean… yeah."

They stood there for a moment, half-smiling at each other. Their heads nearly brushed the roof of the small tree house, having grown a little too big to fit perfectly, and there was a constant risk of someone tracking them down and beating them to a pulp. But for just one small moment, they stood in peace.

But it ended quickly, and Chris sighed. "You better go pack what you can before your parents hear anything," he said softly, and Gordie nodded.

"Come with me. You're gonna have to use my clothes and stuff, since you can't really ever go home," he replied, biting his lip. Chris would never see his mother or his younger siblings again. He and Gordie would have to run away, to some other small town where no one knew them. They'd be dirt poor, have to start working young, and would probably be homeless for the better part of a while. They didn't have much of a choice, though.

But Chris only smirked. "Like I could fit my muscular body into your tiny-ass clothes," he teased, and they both laughed a little too hard at that. "Oh well. Let's get going," he added, watching as Gordie unlocked the padlock and opened the trap door again. He had one foot through it when Chris reached out and grabbed his shoulder, stopping the brunette abruptly.

Without a word, Chris stepped up close, smiling softly as he leaned in and pressed his lips to Gordie's. Gordie inhaled slightly, and then slipped his hands over his best friend's shoulders. Chris pulled back just a moment later, smile turning almost bitter. "Won't get to do that for a while," he commented mildly, giving a semi-awkward pat to Gordie's shoulder.

"Oh. Right, yeah. Um, we need to. Um. We. What were we doing?"

Chuckling, Chris pushed past Gordie and slipped out the trap door.