"And so we turned and we saw it...just floating out to sea..."
"One-Eyed Willie's ship?" Vern asked incredulously.
"Yep," Mouth said, "Just sailing..."
"It was so beautiful. And we watched it sail off, and then went home...to the homes that we helped save," Mikey finished.
"And no one ever found Willie's ship," Mouth added.
"Great story!" Vern cried.
"It rivals yours!" Teddy said to Gordie.
"I've heard that story a billion times, from each Goonie, and I still never get tired of it," Randi grinned. She had come back to the tree house after awhile.
"Shame you were at caaammmpp," Mouth taunted.
Randi smiled at Gordie. "If I hadn't gone to camp, I wouldn't have met Gordie, and we wouldn't be here right now. And I wouldn't have such good friends," she said.
"Awwwwwww," everyone chorused, reaching over to hit her playfully.
"Quit it," she laughed, fending off the barrage of hands. "Well guys," Randi said to Mouth and Mikey, "It's your last night in Castle Rock. What doooooo you want to do?" she asked as if she were a game show host.
"Well Bob Barker," Mouth joked, "What do you do around here for fun?"
"You think it's warm enough still?" Chris asked Gordie. They obviously were thinking on the same wavelength, but everyone else was a bit baffled.
"Yeah...but by the time we get down there..." Gordie said.
"All the more fun," Chris grinned. "Come on guys, let's go to the lake!"
"All right!" Teddy and Vern cried in unison. The seven of them ran as fast as their legs could carry them to the lake.
"It's so pretty," Randi breathed. It was pretty, the surrounding tall pine trees, the thick dark green grass, and the lake itself, with the moon reflecting a silvery inviting glisten off the water's surface. This was one of the rare lush parts of Castle Rock.
Teddy's arm over her shoulder reminded Randi that just up the hill was where she had kissed Teddy for the first time.
"Come on," Teddy grinned, grabbing her hand. They ran to the lake's edge and the guys yanked their shirts off and leapt in. Randi paused briefly, having a bit of a dilemma.
"Get in here Randi!" Mikey yelled. He splashed her. Randi glared at Mikey, then looked down at her clothes.
"Ah screw," she mumbled. "You're in for it Walsh!" she sang before jumping in. She grabbed Mikey from behind and dunked his head under the water.
"You bitch!" he cried, once he surfaced. Randi just giggled in reply, so he picked her up and threw her.
Teddy dunked Vern. Vern managed to get back up, and when he did, he immediately tried to exact his revenge on Teddy. Randi shook her head, watching Vern's sad attempt to sit on Teddy.
"Let me help!" she cried, swimming over to them. She and Vern successfully pushed Teddy under.
"Boss!" Vern yelped gleefully. He and Randi high-fived.
"Oh, you two are so dead!" Teddy yelled when he came back up.
"Gordiiiiiieeeeeee," Randi shrieked. "Help!"
"Come on Chris," Gordie said, puffing out his chest, "Damsel in distress!"
"Damsel? It's Randi!" Chris joked, but they got over to Randi, and dunked and splashed Teddy until he gave in.
"My heroes," Randi grinned, hanging her arms over Chris and Gordie's shoulders.
"Arrwww shucks," Gordie said in his best Goofy imitation.
"You're mine you dog!" Teddy yelled.
"Goofy's not a dog!" Gordie laughed, swimming away from Teddy.
"He is too!" Mouth yelled.
"He can't be," Chris said simply.
"You're not supposed to know what he is!" Vern explained seriously, as if he was divulging the secrets of the universe.
"Thanks for setting us straight Vern," Mikey laughed.
"Dog, Human, Mouse, Cat, Asshole, whatever, I'm still gonna get Lachance!" Teddy cried, jumping on Gordie. The guys started splashing each other, and Randi went under the water to see how long she could hold her breath. She counted to forty-seven, and then surfaced. When she came back up, she saw Teddy in front of her, facing the other way. The moonlight shone on his wet shoulders and slick hair. She bit her lip; the sight of him sent shivers down her spine. She smiled to herself, she was so lucky. She crept up behind him, and put her arms around his waist, her hands on his stomach. She kissed his neck, and he turned around.
Gordie stared at her, his doe eyes startled and filled with confusion.
"Oh God! Oh my God I'm sorry," Randi said quickly, "I, I thought you were Teddy, I'm sorry!"
"Yeah, I guess you did," Gordie said.
"I'm sorry!"
"It's nothing," Gordie told her.
"You two coming?" Vern called out. Randi and Gordie looked to see that everyone else was getting out of the lake.
"Let's go," Gordie said, giving Randi a quiet smile.
Randi nodded, and they got out of the lake. Gordie went to put on his shirt, but immediately thrust it at Randi.
"Quick, put that on," he said, his gaze not moving from the stars.
Randi was confused. "Why?"
"Because you're wearing a white shirt," Gordie explained, not moving his gaze from the stars.
"Oh shit!" Randi gasped. She quickly put Gordie's shirt over her own. Gordie's shirt was a bit wet, but it was still darker than white. "Thanks!"
"What are friends for?" Gordie grinned. Randi ruffled his hair, and he put his arm around her shoulder.