Noticing the goosebumps on Abby's arms, Gordie wrapped his coat around her shoulders without a word. She looked up at him in surprise, but he pretended to be window shopping.

The two of them were walking aimlessly around Castle Rock. There wasn't a whole lot to do in the tiny town on a Saturday. And, with most of their friends coupling off, Gordie and Abby spent many Saturdays together just enjoying each other's company. Delia was the exception of the couples ordeal, but neither of them really thought of inviting her along. No one generally thought of inviting Delia along for anything to be honest.

"Did you have fun last night?" Gordie asked her.

"Yeah," she grinned, her grey eyes eager. "I quite enjoyed the part when Vern tried to kiss Tabitha."

He laughed. "And he missed her mouth and kissed her nose."

"Vern's always been a smooth operator, hasn't he?"

"Well, if we're speaking in the language of sarcasm, yes."

"Remember when he was the fat kid?"

"That was like two years ago, Abby," he laughed. "I remember."

"Hey, remember when you were the bean pole?" She cackled. "Silly me, you still are a bean pole."

"Your attempt at humour is cute but futile," he informed her, grinning.

They stopped at the park and sat under a huge tree that they had once carved their initials into. Not in a AC + GL=love in a huge heart, just in a way to kinda say they had been there.

Sitting in content silence, Gordie began to think about Denny. He'd never told Abby, but he had picked this tree to make his mark in because it was the best climbing tree in the park, and it had been the one that he and Denny used to climb. The first time he'd gotten scared and got stuck on the first branch and wouldn't move. But Denny had been there. Denny had always been there.

"Well of course you gotta hit him back," Denny said, combing his dark hair back, in preperation for his date.

"He's practically six foot five!"

"And he's in the fourth grade?"

"Hormones, Denny."

Denny gave him a look, amusement in his eyes. "Sorry."

"Wanna be my bodyguard? You could wear sunglasses and a trenchcoat."

"Sure, kiddo," he promised, holding him in a headlock and messing up his hair.

Maybe it was the looks that Denny used to give him that Gordie missed the most. But then he'd think of something else that he missed the most, like how he would always stick up for him or how he always laughed at the right parts when he used to read his stories. And then Gordie would get even more lonely. Maybe it was just having Denny as a brother that he missed the most.

"Are you okay, Gordie?" Abby asked, shattering his memory.

If he had trusted his voice to not be filled with tears, Gordie would have assured her that yes, he was okay, but he felt his throat constrict and all he could do was look at her helplessly.

"Gordie," she murmured, recognizing the look. "Denny wouldn't want you to stay so sad."

"I just miss him," he said quietly. "I was twelve when he died, and I'm just about sixteen now, and I don't get why he's still so...gone."

Unsure of what to say, she put a hand on his arm, wishing she knew the magic words that would make his pain disappear.

"If I were to, say, cry or something, would you make fun of me?" he asked, with a sad laugh in his voice, but fat teardrops were already lolling down his cheeks.

"Nah, I'd just wait with you until you stopped," she told him, not looking at him, knowing he would be embarrassed to have her see him cry.

"Thanks," he murmured.

"Hey, that's what friends are for."

Gordie hesitated, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. "What if you were more than just my friend?"

She looked at him, not noticing his rosy cheeks or red rimmed eyes. "Is that a hint?"

"A hint? I'm not sure..." Tucking her curly blond hair behind her ear and then leaving his hand to rest against her upturned face, he kissed her softly. When he moved away, his tears had been replaced by a smile. "But that definetly was."