This one's a little on the short side, guys. Still, I hope it's enjoyable. Let me know if I'm correct. Reviews are loved!

Our feet dangled off the edge of the rickety bridge. Rays of sunlight shone down reflecting beautifully off the water. My eyes watched as the gentle flow of river caused the sparkling light to dance. We'd be on the bridge all afternoon just soaking up the sun and bathing in one another's company.

Chris shifted suddenly. "Let up for a moment, baby."

I unwound my arms from his waist and waited as he peeled off his tee shirt. The sweaty garment was discarded beside him. He sent me a friendly smile and gestured me back. I slipped my limbs around him once more; his back to my chest, I laid on him. His bare shoulder blade was hot and warmed my cheek. Christopher braced his arms on the railing of the bridge. I could feel the swinging motion of his legs as he stretched and swayed.

"Hmmm, this feels nice," he told me, his chest rumbling beneath my hands. A murmur of agreement slipped through my lips. Chambers chuckled at my lazy response, "Getting sleepy, again?"

"No," I grumbled in a false grumpiness.

"You've been sleeping an awful lot lately. Are you getting sick?"

"Of course I sleep a lot. Being friends with you four is exhausting."

"Speaking of the boys, Vern's having another camp out Saturday. Wanna go?"

I snorted. "Do I have a choice?"

Once more the beautiful boy chuckled. Twisting, he placed a tender kiss on my shoulder, grinning. "No, not really."

"Wet end."

Chris coiled at my teasing jab, scoffing playfully. We remained legs dangling over the water for quite some time. Unfortunately, the heat became too much for Christopher. He suggested that we call it a day and retreat. At that, I whined. Since the night of our 'fight' things had been tense at home. Not because of Chris and I mind you. The hostile atmosphere came courtesy of my parents who stayed permanently on my case because of all the panic I caused the night I fell asleep in the tree house.

"Don't make me go home."

"They're not mad! How many times do I have to tell you?"

I deadpanned. "Liar."

My boyfriend laughed. He helped me to my feet and draped an arm around my shoulders. I leaned into his embrace, allowing him to lead me off the bridge. "Fine. What would you like to do, then?"

I gave a coy smile and tucked my chin back to the bridge. Christopher moaned, "Danni, it's too hot!"

"I don't mean the bridge…"

The water was cool, chilling even as my bare feet and ankles waded in. The next step was practically freezing. I yelped and squealed and giggled and shivered. Goose bumps spread on my skin. Chris waded ahead, stopping when the water reached just above his naval. He urged me on.

Standing in a modest pair of underwear and my bra, my cool skin baked under the powerful rays of the sun. Had I been there with anyone else I would've died of embarrassment at the scant clothing. However, with him it was different. We shared silly smiles as I forced myself on. The rocks and mud were slippery beneath my toes. Slipping a few times I eventually made it to the patient boy. He arms circled me at once.

"Too cold to swim?"

"Nah. I just need to warm up a bit," I murmured, pulling away to skim my fingers over the surface of the glinting water. I took a few shaky steps away from my boyfriend, folding into the murky river. A deep breath later I submerged myself completely in the water.

When Chris and I finished swimming we dressed and marched hand in hand up the embankment. Discussing the tent out in Tessio's backyard, we froze when a terrifying scream pierced the humid air.

"Chris," I breathed.

He tugged my arm. "Come on."

Hurrying out of the trench, we moved to the main road. Someone screamed again. I followed Christopher's gaze as his eyes darted around searching for the source of the noise. He frowned, "Wait here."

"What? Hell no."

"Da-"

"You're not leaving me." Another scream. "Shit. What the hell?"

We followed the sound of the horrifying shrieks. The shrills seemed to be coming from behind Vinnie's pharmacy. Sure enough, when we rounded the brick building we saw a familiar hoodlum hunched over a crying girl, her back pressed roughly against the bricks. I shuttered at the déjà vu.

"Hey!" Chris shouted, his voice startlingly deep and authorative. The Cobra whipped around, the abused girl collapsing to the ground. Fuzzy's eyes narrowed into slits. He grimaced, squaring his shoulders. "You know the treaty, Chambers. You leave us alone, we leave you alone. I don't consider this leaving me alone. I suggest you go on."

"Let her go," Chris demanded.

The thug took a step forward. When he did I moved to the weeping girl's side and place a warm hand on her back. "It's okay, you're alright." Scared eyes flickered up to mine and I gasped as I recognized her. "Angie?" Making sure she wasn't bleeding or broken, I shushed her comfortingly and fixed my gaze on Christopher.

He was less than two feet from Ace's lackey now. Seeing him facing off with Fuzzy I realized just how much he'd grown and filled out over the two years that had passed since the journey to find Ray Brower. With shoulders broader than Fuzzy's, he stood just as tall as the Cobra. Never had Chris looked more like a man than a boy. Eyes sweeping back and forth between the two I concluded that – should a fight break out – Chris could very well win so long as Fuzzy didn't pull a blade.

They were speaking in low, angry tones and I saw Fuzzy take a defiant step closer. Chris didn't so much as flinch. His eyes glared fiercely at the Cobra. My beautiful boy looked menacing. For a split second I was almost worried Chris would swing first. Almost.

A beat lapsed and Fuzzy's furious gaze moved to where I crouched with the new girl. He steeled his jaw, mumbling something about a whore, and stormed away.

"Is she hurt?" Chris crossed to my side.

"She's fine. Just shaken up. Chris…its Angie."

His frown deepened. Softly, he reached out to her. Repeating her name gently he snapped her out of her delirious fear. Lips quivering, she wailed, "Chris?"

"Hey," he nodded; he coerced her to stand so I could do a full body sweep. Accessing her injuries, I tilted my head, letting Chris know she was okay without actually saying it.

"Angie, can you tell me what happened?" The tender lilt in his voice was endearing and caused my heart to swell.

Sniffling, Angie wiped her nose and proceeded to recount the day's events. Apparently her grandmother owned the house next to Fuzzy's. When she passed she left the estate to Angie's father. They moved almost immediately following the funeral. Fuzzy and his cousin David helped the movers with the heavy furniture per Fuzzy's mother's demand. Later, Fuzzy confessed to Angie that he didn't mind too much after getting to check her out all day.

"He continued to flatter and dote on me and finally I gave in. I accepted his invitation to lunch this Saturday. At first he was wonderful but after dining he suggested we go for a walk. That's when he cornered me a-and…you know," the new girl trailed off. I squeezed her shoulder lightly, "It's all right."

She sent me a thankful smile.

"He shouldn't bother you again and if he doesn't let me know. I'll take care of it," Chris told her. "Let's get you home."

The walk to Angie's was awkward. Thankfully it was also short. When we finally reached the single story home we halted at her mailbox, the timid girl blushing. She tucked her lengthy bangs behind her ear. "I'm so embarrassed. Thank you, both."

"Don't be embarrassed," I forcefully spoke. "I was in a situation a lot like yours not too long ago. Bad things like this happen more often than they should. It isn't your fault and it's nothing to be ashamed of-you did nothing wrong, Angie."

Her blush reddened and she gave a hesitant smile. "Thank you anyway."

"You don't have to thank us, just take care of yourself and be careful." Chris smiled sadly before taking my hand and turning on his heel. We trudged on in silence for a moment.

"Are you upset?" Chris's voice broke the quiet.

"Not at all," I assured him. "At least not at you. After…what happened with Ace I can't help but empathize with her. I hate that she had to go through that. I'm proud of you for helping her, though."

"I wish I could've helped you," he mumbled. Chris pressed a kiss to my temple. We made it home as darkness fell.

Teddy missed Vern's sleepover the following weekend. This, we would come to realize, was only the first of many he would miss. It took five months for Duchamp's constant absence to manifest into an actual thought.

"He's got new friends. It happens," Gordie murmured as he, Chris, and I walked home from school. Chris stroked my knuckles soothingly as I sighed, "But I miss him and now Vern=o is starting to follow his lead."

"We're all in the college courses, Danni. They aren't. They feel like we're…I don't know, better than them now or something. I don't know. It's stupid. They're being stupid," Gordon rambled. "I knew this would happen."

"We need to do something," I bit angrily. "We're losing our best friends and just letting it happen."

"What can we do, Danni? They're the ones leaving us," Chris sadly pointed out. Frowning, I felt ridiculous tears blurring my eyes. I blinked them away and leaned into my boyfriend.

Our feet carried us to the old sandlot. Chris and Gordie instantly launched into an argument over a past game and a chasing sequence ensued. I watched them, a bemused smile on my face thinking that the two of them would be friends until the end of the world. Twirling, the skirt of my dress flared out and I plopped down in the brown, dead grass.

Clouds were scattered in the sky. I thought on Gordie's words - it happens. My guts twisted at the truth there. In less than two years we would be leaving Castle Rock and going our separate ways. We would no longer be little kids in a crappy town who grew up seeing too much; we'd be adults, independent and grown. The thought was terrifying.