Disclaimer: I don't own Stand By Me, or the two Goonies mentioned briefly.

Gordie woke up to silence in his house. He looked out the window to see his mom hanging laundry, and his dad working in the garden. He sighed. He realized that he probably would never have a meaningful relationship with his parents. He decided to take a shower. When he was getting dressed afterwards, he heard the doorbell ring. He hurriedly put his shirt on and ran down the steps. He peered out the window, and saw that it was Chris.

"Hey man," Chris smiled, when Gordie opened the door. "Let's do something today."

"Oh, uh, I'm sorry Chris," Gordie apologized, "I kinda promised Randi I'd hang out with her today."

"Well bring her along," Chris suggested.

"I don't know she's kinda freaking out..."

"About Teddy?" Chris supplied.

"How'd you know?"

"Teddy won't shut up about it," Chris laughed. "So yeah, stay with her, she'll need the moral support."

"Thanks man. Tomorrow?" Gordie left his question open.

"Tomorrow," Chris confirmed with a smile, and walked off.

About ten minutes later, Gordie walked over to Randi's house. He rang the doorbell, and instead of finding the half awake Rudy, he was greeted by a tall brunette with warm brown eyes. She smiled sweetly at Gordie.

"You must be Randi's friend. She's in her room," she pointed to the stairs.

"Thanks ma'am," Gordie said. He walked up the steps and knocked gently on Randi's door.

"Gordie?" Randi flung open the door and practically tackled him.

"Hello," Gordie laughed.

"God, I've been freaking out all morning," Randi sat on her bed, and pulled her legs under her chin.

"I like your room," Gordie remarked.

"Thanks," Randi said. Gordie looked around. Her carpet was grass green, her walls a pale blue. She had an army green bedspread, and her bed was metal. On her dresser were a bunch of framed photos.

"I remember that!" Gordie cried, picking up one of him and Randi at camp. They had their arms around each other and were grinning like crazy. "That was after we won the scavenger hunt."

"Yeah," Randi smiled. "We make a great team."

Gordie pointed to one of Randi and two boys. She was hugging one boy.

"Who are they?" he asked. Randi got up to look at the picture.

"That's my cousin and best friend, Mikey. The other guy is his friend, Mouth," Randi said, rolling her eyes as she mentioned Mouth.

"Not fond of him, are we?" Gordie laughed.

"He's okay, he's can get a bit...ergh...there's not way to describe it."

Gordie laughed.

"Anyway," Randi said, "I've been watching some quality shows today to learn about dating, and this is what I got so far," she paused and cleared her throat. Then, she closed her eyes, shielded herself and cried, "No way, I'm not that kind of girl!" She lowered her arms and smiled at GOrdie. "How was that?"

"June Cleaver would be proud," Gordie commented. Randi beamed. "I don't know why you don't just ask your mom about this, though," Gordie said.

Randi's smile fell faster than a penny off the Empire State Building. She averted Gordie's eyes.

"What's wrong?" Gordie asked.

"That women downstairs," Randi started, "That women is not my mother. My mother abandoned Rudy and me and my dad when I was just a baby. I've never even seen her. I've just got one picture," Randi walked over to her dresser and pulled a picture frame out from under a pile of clothes in a drawer. "That's my mother," she showed Gordie. "Her name is Alana." Randi's mother was beautiful, with long honey colored hair and bright green eyes.

"You have her eyes," Gordie said quietly. Randi put the picture back in her drawer.

"Sometimes, I don't like to look at her," Randi admitted, before Gordie could comment.

"So who's the women downstairs?" Gordie asked.

"That's Tina, my dad's girlfriend. She lives here. They've been dating for a year now," Randi made a face. "My dad raised me a tomboy, that's just how it is. I don't want Tina in here trying to girlie me up."

Gordie just nodded. He wasn't sure what to say.

"Gaaaah," Randi cried suddenly, "Good Lord I have a date tonight and no idea what I'm doing." Randi laid on her bed and put her pillow over her head. "Just call him and tell him I can't go, Gordie," she mumbled from under the pillow.

"You're going," Gordie pulled away the pillow.

"I'm gonna embarrass myself," Randi whined.

"No you're not, you're going to be fine. You're so headstrong," Gordie told her.

"Headstrong?" Randi verified, sitting up. "As opposed to being 'feetstrong'?"

Gordie laughed, "You know what I mean. I don't know what you're worried about. You and Teddy are going to site on the hill, and pretend you can hear what the Beatles are saying. It's not a big deal."

Randi stared at Gordie. What was his problem? He's normally so sensitive. "It's a big deal to me," Randi said, trying to keep any anger out of her voice. "You know that. Where's Captain Compassion?" she joked.

Gordie looked up at her with hurt eyes. "I'm being compassionate! I blew off Chris and the guys to come here!"

"What, you want congratulations for being my friend, Gordie?" Randi asked, growing angry.

"Listen, I don't wanna fight with you. Have fun with Teddy," Gordie said, and walked out. Randi sat on her bed and raked her hands through her hair. She jammed her palms into her eyes, refusing to cry. 'Randi Riverton doesn't cry,' she reminded herself.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

After much deliberating, Randi put on brown jeans and a white shirt with military-like logo on the front. She was brushing her hair, when Tina called her.

"Randi, your father's home. Dinner's almost ready. Check to see if Rudy's awake, will you?" her voice rang from the kitchen.

"Yeah, yeah," Randi called back, and tiptoed to Rudy's room. He was sleeping, but studying him closer, Randi could tell that he had been up earlier that day, because he was wearing real clothes, not pajamas.

Randi felt it necessary to sit on Rudy's stomach.

"Oof," Rudy jolted awake, "Rans, get offa me!" Randi obliged.

"Dinner," she said, tugging on Rudy's arms until he stood up. He glanced in the mirror, and brushed off his shirt.

"How do I look?" he asked.

"Ghastly!" Randi supplied.

"Someone's been reading the dictionary," Rudy smiled, ruffling Randi's hair.

"You morphodite!" Randi cried, smoothing it down. "I just brushed it!"

They pushed each other playfully down the steps. They walked into the kitchen, to find Randi's dad, Rick, and Tina already sitting down.

"Boy Randi, you look nice," Rick smiled.

"No I don't," Randi sat down quickly.

"Hey, he's right kiddo, what's with the nice pants?" Rudy asked.

"They're the only ones I had left!" Randi cried defensively.

"That's not what you were wearing this morning," Rudy pointed out.

"How would you know? You were sleeping," Randi snapped. She crammed a roll in her mouth, hoping that would be the end of it.

"Rudy's right. Are you going out somewhere?" Rick asked.

"Yefff," Randi answered with her mouth full. She nodded to get her point across.

"Out somewhere with that boy that came over?" Tina asked, winking and smiling.

Randi choked on her bread. "Gordie?" she squealed, after being smacked on the back by Rudy. She shook her head violently. "This has nothing to do with Gordie."

"Oh yeah," Rudy recalled, "You have a 'date' (he made air quotes with his fingers) with that guy that walked you home, right?" Randi winced. Rudy had a hard time remembering things, but he always seemed to have a perfect memory when it was inconvenient for her.

"You have a date Randi?" her dad asked skeptically.

"No! We're just hanging out!" Randi protested.

"With a boy!" Tina added with a grin.

"So what's this mystery guy's name?" Rick asked.

"Teddy," Randi answered shortly.

"Does he have a last name?" Rick pressed.

Randi rolled her eyes. "Duchamp, okay? Stop grilling me."

"Oh, I met his mother at the store! I almost forgot, she invited us to dinner tomorrow. I told her we'd be there."

"So we'll get to meet this Teddy character," Rick said.

"Great," Randi said sarcastically. Now Teddy'd have to meet her dad and Tina, after their first date. She prayed silently that that they wouldn't embarrass her. Well she could worry about that later.

Rudy kicked Randi under the table and gave her a sympathetic glance. There, at least Rudy was on her side.

Randi quickly finished her dinner and managed to dodge or give extremely vague answers to Dina and Rick's' questions.

"Excuse me," Randi mumbled, getting up.

"Hey Randi," Tina stopped her. "Do you want to borrow some of my makeup, I could show you how to use it," she offered nicely.

"No way!" Randi said without thinking. Tina looked a little hurt. "I mean, uh, no thank you. I'm gonna just brush my teeth then go." Randi escaped upstairs.

"Rudy?" Tina asked, sitting back down at the table, "Does Randi hate me?"

"No," Rudy said, "She doesn't like girly things. She also doesn't like to talk about guys and stuff," he said matter-of-factly.

Randi appeared back down the steps.

"Bye guys!" she called as she ran out the door. It was already growing dark, and getting cooler. IT was about ten minutes before Teddy said he'd pick her up, so Randi sat on the curb. She just needed to breathe and get away from her parents. She thought of a great idea for a poem, and was writing when a voice startled her.

"Hey," Teddy smiled, "What are you doing?"

"Writing," Randi said, and Teddy helped her up.

"Can I see?" Teddy asked. Randi blushed and put her notebook in her back pocket where she got it from.

"I'm a bit sensitive about my poetry. No offensive."

"None taken," Teddy said. They started walking towards the hill.

"I don't know if you know about this, but your mom invited my family over tomorrow," Randi said.

"She did wha?" Teddy asked in disbelief. "God, she never clears anything with me anymore. I mean, ya know, not that I, uh, wouldn't want you over, but uh..."

"Would you like a shovel to help you dig your hole?" Randi teased.

Teddy grinned. "You know what I mean."

"Yeah. Well, just brace yourself. They all know I'm out with you tonight, so my dad might try and give you the third degree."

"Wonderful," Teddy said sarcastically.

"I'll try and keep him off you as much as possible. And Tina will ask you a million questions about you. She's that kind of person."

"Is Tina your sister?" Teddy asked.

"No, she's my dad's girlfriend."

"Oh," Teddy said softly. "Did your mom die?"

"Yes," Randi said after a moment of hesitation. "When I was little."

"I'm sorry," Teddy put his hand on her shoulder. Randi hoped it was just dark enough for him not to have seen her turn beet red.

They approached the hill. You could see the drive in screen from there, and all the cars lined up below. On the other side of them, was a large lake, the moonlight reflection off the dark waters.

Randi breathed in, "It's beautiful." They both sat down. Randi laid down on her stomach, and propped herself up to watch the ripples in the lake. Teddy did the same. They watched in silence for a moment.

"You're really pretty, you know that?" Teddy said.

Randi turned away from him, "How about now?" she had flipped her eyelids inside out. She stuck out her tongue.

"Oh that's so gross!" Teddy cried.

"One of the valuable things my cousin Mikey taught me," Randi grinned, rubbing her eyes back to normal.

Teddy started laughing, that high-pitched, almost maniacal laugh. Randi stared at him, then cracked up herself.

"I mean it thought," Teddy said after they both calmed down.

"Oh shut up," Randi said, though not in a mean way.

"Just wanted to make sure you know that," Teddy said.

"Well thank you," Randi smiled. She laid on her back. "You're pretty damn cute yourself," she said more to the stars than Teddy. Teddy took her hand, and they laid and watched the stars.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, Chris, Gordie and Vern were sitting in the tree house. Vern and Chris were playing cards, and Gordie was reading a magazine by flashlight.

"I'm bored," Vern whined.

"That's cause you're losing," Chris said matter-of-factly.

"I'm pretty bored too," Gordie put down his magazine. He knew exactly what he wanted to do, but was afraid he'd have a hard time getting the guys to go along with it. "I wonder what Teddy and Randi are doing..."

"Oh I know what they're doing!" Vern wiggled his eyebrows and laughed.

"Yeah, right," Gordie rolled his eyes.

"More accurately, Teddy tired to make a move, and Randi punched him in the face," Chris laughed. Gordie laughed too. Randi wouldn't let Teddy touch her. She's too strong. Gordie sighed inwardly, remembering his conversation with her earlier.

"What do you think Gordie? She's your friend," Chris broke Gordie's train of thought.

"Huh?"

"Off in dreamland," Chris grinned.

"I said, 'You wanna go see what Teddy and Randi are up to?'," Vern repeated. Wow, that was easier than Gordie thought it'd be.

"Well, ok," Gordie said, as though he was unsure of the idea.

"Well, let's go," Chris said, and the three of them clamored out of the tree house. They walked down to the lake.

"There they are!" Vern whispered, poking Gordie. He saw Randi and Teddy lying on the hill, holding hands.

"Holy shit, will ya look at that?" Chris said. Vern laughed.

"Shhh!" Gordie said, smacking him. "I can't hear what they're saying, let's move closer."

They guys moved into some bushes closer to the hill. They started to pick up the conversation.

"...kinda upsetting, ya know? I mean, I go and visit him with my mom every Sunday, but it's like...he can't even remember my name," Teddy said. Gordie knew he was talking about his dad. Teddy didn't often talk about his dad, but Gordie knew that Randi was the type or person that you could really open up to.

"I know how you feel," Randi said, sitting up. She let go of Teddy's hand, and ran hers through her hair. Teddy sat up and moved closer to her. He tilted her face up and kissed her. Gordie's stomach sank. He waited for her to pull away, hit him, something, but she didn't. Gordie looked over to see Chris and Vern biting their lips to keep from laughing out loud. Vern couldn't help it, and let one giggle escape.

Randi and Teddy broke apart.

"What was that?" Teddy asked, looking around.

"Shit, run!" Chris hissed. Randi turned and looked behind her, and saw three shadowy figures dart off into the woods. Her heart fell.

"Oh Gordie, how could you," she whispered.

"What?" Teddy asked.

"I said, 'It was probably a deer'," Randi repeated.

"Oh, ok," Teddy smiled. He put his arm around her. All Randi could think about was the doe eyed deer in the bushes, her best friend.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Oh man, we almost got busted!" Chris laughed. The three boys arrived at the tree house breathless having fun from the hill.

"That sure was fun though," Vern laughed. "I almost pissed my pants!"

"Yeah," Gordie said. "I'm pretty tired, I'm gonna head home."

"All right man, see you tomorrow," Chris said. He and Gordie 'skinned-it', and Gordie walked home.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"I'm pretty tired, I should probably go home," Randi informed Teddy.

"Ok," Teddy said, helping Randi up. He walked her home.

"Thanks, I had a lot of fun," Randi said.

"Me, too. Goodnight." Teddy leaned in and gave her a quick kiss.

"Goodnight," she whispered. She stood there smiling for a moment. Then, she peered in the front window, and saw that her dad and Tina were asleep. She waited until Teddy rounded the corner, then marched over to Gordie's. Considering it was past ten o'clock, she wasn't planning on ringing the doorbell.

A/N : Whoo this was a long chapter. Thanks to everyone who reviewed :)