Chris passed by the Lachance house and just kept walking. All of the lights were off and he figured that no one was home. He continued walking towards Main Street, trying to think of the places where Gordie might be.

Gordie, however, was actually just sitting at home. His parents weren't home. He was busy entertaining Elizabeth, whose bad mood at completely lifted. They were currently watching The Blob, an old horror movie in the living room with the lights off to add to the affect.

Gordie loved movies like this, no matter how campy they were. But he loved watching them with Elizabeth even more because she got scared easily, and what with him being so manly and comforting, she always curled up on the couch next to him, scooting closer during the scary parts.

When the end credits started rolling, she sighed. "I don't know how you find that crap enjoyable."

Gordie laughed. "I don't know how you find it unenjoyable."

"I'm never going to look at Jell-O the same again," she said.

"Mmm…Jell-O…Do you want something to eat?" he offered. She declined. "Oh well, screw you, I'm going to go make myself a meal."

"Don't leave me in the dark!" she snapped.

"What? I'm sorry, there's too much distance between the living room and the kitchen and I can't hear you. You'll have to speak up next time."

She grumbled to herself, and wished she could be brave enough to get up and turn on the lights. But she was secretly afraid of getting sucked under the couch by the monster that lived under there.

Somewhere in the house, something creaked. She told herself that it was just the house settling. Then, when she heard the same noise again, only this time louder, she rolled up in a ball in the corner of the couch and yelled at Gordie to hurry up and come back.

"Just a minute!" he called.

"But I keep hearing noises!"

He didn't reply.

"Gordie! Are you eaten?"

"No, I am not eaten," he said, coming back into the living room. "I'm eating though."

Elizabeth sighed, but relieved when she saw his silhouette walking towards her. As he came closer, she could see him a little better and she felt somewhat more at ease. "Listen, can't you hear anything?" she asked.

Gordie gasped dramatically. "Ellie!"

"What?"

"Did you hear that?" he whispered.

"No," she said. "What did it sound like?"

Pausing for a second, he said, "Like screaming children and flesh being ripped off of bones."

Angrily, Elizabeth slapped his arm. "Shut up, I'm serious!"

"So was I." He shrugged. "You think I would make something like that up?"

She looked over at him with her eyebrows raised, and glared.

"Well I didn't!"

Sighing, she whined, "I need a light."

"What for, you don't smoke."

"I need a light so that I can see, moron."

"Why? Are your eyes failing you?"

"Stop it," she hissed. "It's pitch black and I can hardly see anything and I don't like the dark and I hate you for making me watch The Blob so can you please turn on a light?"

He replied politely, "No."

"Please?"

"I'm right here," he reminded her. "The flesh eating child molester can't get you unless I leave so it's okay. Besides, flesh eating child molesters don't like the dark either, so it won't come looking for you. Those noises you heard were probably just it trying to find the light switch."

Elizabeth was doubtful, but she curled up closer to him.

"And it's a flesh eating child molester, remember?" he asked gently. "You're not a child."

She didn't say anything back. But she laid her head on his shoulder. Or at least she thought it was his shoulder, it was too dark to tell.

"Of course, you are pretty short…" He shrugged. "And people bigger than children are usually just target practice for them."

Elizabeth groaned. In a moment, she swung her legs off of the couch.

"Where are you going?"

"To turn on the light." There was a thump. She growled. Apparently she had ran into the coffee table.

Gordie grinned to himself and then crawled across the couch silently. He yelled, "Elizabeth! The flesh eating child molester! Behind you!" The he snatched her elbow.

Elizabeth screamed at the top of her lungs and flung herself back on to the couch, accidentally flying into Gordie. He was laughing maniacally.

"YOU turn on the light!" she yelled at him.

Having some problems breathing while laughing, Gordie shook his head. Elizabeth tried to push him off the couch in the general direction of the light switch but she wasn't strong enough. He went to move off himself but his giggles were quite powerful and he just toppled off instead. He managed to choke out, "You're kinda cute when you're scared!"

"Shut up!"

His sides were in great pain. "Your voice--quivers--oh my God--"

She growled and leapt off the couch and ran towards where she thought the light switch would be located. Instead, she slammed into the wall with a huge bang.

Gordie was laughing so hysterically that he could have been heard in some place far, far away. He crawled toward her because he was laughing too hard to stand. "Are you--hahahahaha--you----hahahahaha---okay?" He snorted. "Hahahahaha!"

She snapped, "It's not funny, I think my nose is bleeding!"

"Are you okay?" he asked again, this time not laughing so loudly, only snickering.

Letting him take her up in his arms, she nodded.

"Here, I'll turn on the light now," he offered, feeling bad because she wouldn't have run full speed into a wall if he hadn't been taking so much pleasure out of her fright.

"No, don't turn on the light! My nose is all bleedy!"

Gordie said, "You always run into stuff and bleed, I'm used to it. Besides, we have to stop your nose from running."

"It's not running, it's bleeding."

"Oh, my bad everyone, my bad." Gordie stretched up and flipped on the light. He got up and grabbed a Kleenex box, walked back to her and sat down next to her again. Gingerly, he held a tissue against her face.

"Ack--asshole--I can't breathe--"

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said, taking away the tissue so she didn't suffocate. He laughed softly and she resentfully started to giggle. She leaned her head back and rested against him, not mad at him anymore for making her break her face.