After a mere few months of being engaged, Chris and I got married under the tree house, with just our family and the rest of the boys and the girls as our guests. Not even a year later, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Alana. She had beautiful blue eyes, just like her fathers.
We bought a small house just outside of New York and raised Alana there for a few years. We then decided we wanted her to grow up in Castle Rock. So we sold our house and moved into my family home that my mother left for me after she moved in with my grandmother. Soon after, Chris built a small house right next to he tree house, just like he had promised.
We then found out I was pregnant for a second time, and soon welcomed James, a spitting image of his father with striking blue eyes and beautiful dirty blonde hair. James tried to be like Chris in every way possible. He wore nothing but blue jeans and a white t-shirt, throwing a plaid shirt over top of it every now and then. He also loved to pretend to shave his face with his toy shaving kit while Chris's shaved his early in the morning. He was like a mini Chris.
Though we were both now in our early forties, we were still head over heals for each other. Despite the wrinkles threatening our once young features, Chris never failed to make me feel beautiful. "I love you too baby girl" were still my favorite words, never growing old to me.
Even though we moved back to Castle Rock, we unfortunately, never kept much in touch with the other boys. Gordie was Alana's godfather, so we got the occasional phone call from him asking how we were. Teddy tried getting into the army countless times, but as we all predicted, didn't make it. He took up drinking after that, and could always be found in the pub in town. Despite his less than stellar life choices, he was James's godfather. We tried many times to get him help, but he refused. Vern was now just another face in town, we always spoke a bit, asking how the other was, but the innocent boy I once knew died exactly when Molly did. She came back from school and got engaged to Vern, but was soon diagnosed with breast cancer, dying 3 months after Vern proposed.
I heard the Ella came back in town a few months ago and was living with Teddy, trying to get him help. When Emma came back for mine and Chris's wedding, she surprised everyone when she brought her son, Mark. She told Gordie it was his son, that she found out she was pregnant not long after leaving for University. She up and left that same night, leaving Gordie with his son and never once looking back. What a bitch, I know. As hard as it was for Gordie to be a singe father, that boy was his pride and joy.
Castle Rock high had a 25 year anniversary for the class of 1963. At first it was awkward, since we hadn't really talked to the other boys for years. But after the first hour things felt as if we never left high school. Of course being the loudest table at the reunion, getting judgmental stares from the other former students. I remember when we were leaving we automatically migrated to the big oak tree, chatting for hours even after everybody had left. Something caught my eye on the windowsill and when I looked close enough, I realized what it was. "March 27, 1963 E.A.M.E.T.C.V.G." it was still there from when Ella wrote it the night we did our senior prank, all those years ago. It was faded, but it was there, clear as day.
Smiling, I walked over and dug a Sharpie out of my purse. I wrote under it "March 27, 1988 E.A.M.T.C.V.G. R.I.P. M" I felt the presence of everyone behind me and turned around smiling. Suddenly Ella gasped "THE SIDEWALK!" my eyes widened as we all ran over and there they were; our initials. The A.G+C.C, surrounded by Chris's sloppy heart still clearly visable. Despite the years of barley any contact, we were our normal selves again. The stupid, naive, full of life teenagers made a reappearance that night for a few hours.
It was not long after that, that my life came to a standstill. Chris was stabbed in the neck, while trying to be his kindhearted self and break up a fight. He died almost instantly. For years I could barley function, the warmth in my heart gone. Thankfully I had my children to help me through it. As if it wasn't hard enough seeing Alana's eyes, seeing Jame's was worse. He looked just like Chris did. But I learned to be thankful I still had two beautiful parts of him.
About a week after Chris died, I looked out my window at the tree house and saw the other boys. Standing under the door, talking. We talked for 3 hours before we had the courage to actually go in the tree house. Even after all those years it still smelled like Winston's. Empty cigarette boxes, Pez containers, notebooks filled with stories and cards were strewn everywhere. It was hard, emotionally, but worth it. I shed a few tears, but just like every other time, I had my boys to comfort me...minus one.
Though their appearances had changed, they were still my boys, no matter what.
And now, in present day, I pushed open my front door and could smell the sweet smells of summer. I sat down on my porch swing and looked out over Castle Rock. All my best memories were in this little town. I grew up with my boys here. Athough I hadn't seen any of them in years, despite our better efforts, I still loved them. They were my boys, and I was their girl. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could almost feel Chris sit down next to me on the swing and hold my hand. I imagined him humming the tune to My Girl, our song. I smiled and sighed "Soon" I looked up to the sky "I'll be with you soon".
Suddenly, I felt free. I was rid of the pain from my old brittle bones. I felt like I had more energy. I looked at my reflection in the window. My long brown hair blew in the wind. I felt my face, no wrinkles, no age spots. I smiled and turned around. I faced the body on the porch swing. It was me. The 87 year old me. I knew I should be sad that I died, but I knew what would be happening soon. I smiled and jumped up and jumped up and down. I did a cartwheel on the long porch and giggled "Andy Chambers, you still got it" I turned back to my body and kissed my forehead. "You did good girl, but I can't say I'll miss ya!" I heard a honk behind me and turned as fast as I could.
There he was, leaning against his blue 1960 Ford pickup truck. He smiled that crooked smile I had missed so dearly. I ran as fast as I could and jumped into his arms. Immediately tears prickled my eyes as I squeezed him as hard as I could "I missed you" He smiled and set me in the back of his truck "I missed you too, but now we get to stay like this, forever. And let's face it, the boys probably don't have much time left, and I'm sure Vern can't wait to see Molly" I smiled "forever?" and nodded "forever" I looked into his crystal blue eyes "I love you" His face softened and he said the words I had waited 44 years to head "I love you too baby girl"
The End!
That's it guys! I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Just a heads up i'll be co-writing a story with Alana (CherryPezFoo) very soon! It'll be a Teddy story this time! Hope you guys check it out and again, thank you so much to all my reviews and followers!
-Kelly xx.