Faye loved the school library. Something about the scent of musty old books was just so cool. (( a/n I have an obsession with that smell LOL McBride haha)) She scanned the many shelves piled with books and tried to find one that looked appetizing to her. Her English teacher had assigned a book report and she was absolutely pissed off. She hadn't done a book report since grade seven. But she enjoyed reading, so she scanned the book shelves thoroughly.

Faye pushed a stray strand of hair that had come loose in her half tied back hair and her eyes searched for a decent book, ANY book, just a damn freaking book!!

Finally getting fed up, she looked around the library to see if she knew anyone here. Nope, nada. What dorks hung out at the library during lunch? Faye sure did.... finally seeing 'Sense and Sensibility' by Jane Austin, she grinned. That was her mother's favorite book. She took it off the shelf and stuck it in her bag. She wasn't going to check it out...she had a pretty bad history with the library, known for never returning the books. So the librarian, Miss Mathews, a kind old lady, allowed her to just take the books and return them as she wished.

Faye leaned against the tall bookshelf and slid down to the bottom, sitting there. She closed her eyes. She missed her brother Dan. He would have been graduated from high school now, if it hadn't been for that terrible accident so long ago...

She missed his goofy demeanor. She had been twelve when he was killed in a jeep accident. Along with Denny LaChance. The two had been best friends, just like Faye and Gordie. When things got tough, Gordie and Faye could understand each other so much...that was part of the reason they were so close.

It was really quite weird that Gordie and Faye were best friends, their brothers were best friends and both were killed together in the same accident and their moms were best friends. Just one of life's insane coincidences. Then again, nothing is a coincidence.

Gordie had taken it much harder than Faye had. Denny and Gordie were so close to each other. Faye loved Dan, but she being a girl, they just didn't have that special bond. She regretted it now, of course, but at least she had Gordie to talk to.

Faye opened the book and began to read. It was really rather a very good book, and she loved the way it was written, 'old English.' She was just getting really into it when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She looked up and grinned when she saw it was Chris.

"Hey," she said, folding her legs. She was just then aware of wearing a skirt.

"Hey. What are you reading?" He sat down beside her. Faye glanced into his eyes and was momentarily paralyzed. They were so clear, so fierce, so blue. She was captivated by their beauty. She never really realized Chris' beauty before. His fly away blonde hair, his perfect lips. It was kind of crazy how such a stunning guy went to her school and girls weren't falling for him left and right. There was not one flaw in the boy before her. None that she saw at least.

"It's called Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin," Faye said, shaking out of her gaze. "It's my mom's favorite."

Chris grinned. "Cool. Is it for that English report?" Faye nodded. "Man, I hate Gimmins. She's a vulture." He shuddered causing Faye to laugh. Chris noticed that when she laughed, her smile was crooked, more of a smirk. He found it quite unique and adorable, but he didn't tell her that.

"So what brings you to the wonderful library?" Faye asked. Chris shifted his weight and twiddled his fingers.

"Forgot lunch money this morning so I didn't feel like being in that damn cafeteria." Faye grinned.

"Oh yes, cause it's just so bad in there."

"I don't like it."

"Why not?"

Chris didn't know why he was talking to this girl so openly. But something about her compassionate eyes made him feel like everything was going to be okay.

"Honestly, I don't like the people here very much. And they don't like me either," he said. He wasn't ashamed to say it, and it seemed like Faye didn't mind him telling her. But she did roll her eyes.

"People here are such jackasses. They are so obsessed with being like everyone else, it's incredibly boring."

Chris nodded. "I know! Like, even some of my closest friends are afraid to be themselves. I don't like it."

Faye looked at him and smiled. "Well you're not like everyone else."

"Really?" Chris asked, somewhat bashfully.

"Um no," she said, like it was the most obvious thing. "But one thing I don't get is how you went out with a girl as one dimensional as Anne Donahue, when you're so cool."

Chris looked at Faye thoughtfully. Why had he gone out with Anne? It certainly wasn't love, so why had he gone head over heels for the one girl who would break his heart? He still had feelings for her, of course, but then, why did his stomach feel fluttery when he was near Faye? Girls were so confusing, he thought.

"Actually, I dunno."

Faye nodded just as the bell for third period rang. "Well, see you later Chris."

"Bye Faye."

**

Grace Hanlon sat on her porch sipping lemonade, watching the sky turn pink in the last fading sun rays. Summer was ending, it was the second week of school and the nights were getting shorter, the breezes colder. Her deep red hair blue in the September wind and her emerald eyes watched the beautiful sky. The sight was breathtaking and she was thankful her dad was busy in his office. Her home was always quiet. It was just her and her dad. Her mother left when she was only five and she never saw her older brother, Bran, whom would have been a senor at the high school, a year older than her. Bran left with their mother when he was six and she didn't really remember him. Her memory of her mother was faint...the only thing she remembered was her smell. It was a smell you couldn't name...it was just so wonderful, so sweet, so...intangible.

Lately she had been missing her mother. September twenty-first was her mother's birthday and every year since her mother left she mourned. Grace couldn't help it. She never had anyone to talk to about girl stuff. She had Faye, but Faye had four older brothers and wasn't the best person to talk to about that kind of stuff. She wished she had a mom to help her get ready for dates, show her the ropes, help her with being a woman. She never knew why her mother left, Mr. Hanlon didn't like talking about it much. Grace always would be resentful towards her mother. How can someone just LEAVE their child? It doesn't make sense. Grace never did anything wrong. She was only a small girl when her mother had left.

Grace sighed. Sometimes, when she was alone at night, which was every night, she'd cry herself to sleep, wishing everything would be okay. She had Faye of course, but Faye had plenty of problems and Grace needed someone who could fill that love that so long ago left her.

Grace grinned to herself and she got butterflies just thinking of him. Gordie. Gordie Lachance.

Oh God how she had fallen for him. She wasn't sure if she *loved* him but she knew she cared very deeply for him. Perhaps the deepest she ever felt for anyone. The way he would just listen to her, and the way he would talk to her for hours and it never got boring. She loved being in his company and she didn't feel right anywhere but where he was. Smiling like a little girl again, she thanked Heaven's angel's one last time that she had found her own angel.

"Hey."

Grace looked up and smiled. She immediately became happy and complete. She watched as Gordie came and sat by her on the swinging bench.

"Hey Gordie." He gently kissed her cheek before leaning back on the bench, causing it to sway with his feet.

"Whatcha doing?"

Grace sighed. "Watching the beautiful sunset. It's so pretty Gordie. Look at the pink!" She pointed and Gordie smiled. She looked so beautiful and innocent sitting there with her lemonade in her hand, her eyes sparkling. Most of the guys in Castle Rock wouldn't look twice at her. She wasn't exactly beautiful, cute in the least. A dusting of freckles trailed along her cheeks and her blue eyes were so amazing he loved looking into them. But Gordie thought she was the most beautiful creature in the whole world, and that was all that mattered to him.

Gordie looked up into the sky also. "Yeah, it is pretty. Kind of crazy, like some miracle. How the sky turns that perfect shade of pink."

Grace grinned. "Yeah I know." She turned towards Gordie. "So, what brings you over yonder to these parts?"

Gordie sighed. "Just wanted to see my most favorite red head in the whole world." Grace laughed softly.

"Aw, how nice. And you're my favorite bean pole."

Gordie feigned hurt. "Ah! How dare you. I am NOT skinny still. I've grown into a well rounded man."

Grace laughed a loud now. "Yeah whatever man," she joked, poking him the stomach, feeling his hard stomach.

Gordie laughed. "Ouch. So, I found out Faye has a crush." Grace looked up, interested.

"Really? Who?" She asked anxiously. "I can't believe she didn't tell me!"

"It's Chris...at least I think," Gordie said. "I'm not sure. But I found her talking to him on my porch after I drove Halle home."

Grace became distracted. "Halle?" she asked. "Halle Chambers?"

Gordie nodded absentmindedly. "Oh," Grace said, feeling a bit disturbed.

"What?!" Gordie asked defensively. "I was being nice. It's Chris' baby sister."

Grace diverted her gaze. "I know. It's just-oh never mind."

"What?!" Gordie wanted to know why in the world people kept making such a frigging big deal out of it. "It was a friendly gesture."

"Gordie!" Grace snapped. "I trust you. I really do! It's just....Halle has that reputation. You know she does."

"What reputation?" Gordie decided to play coy. "Tell me Grace, I forget."

Grace burned with anger. "Stop it! I - oh Jesus, I'm sorry I said anything. I just-I trust you Gordie, I know you wouldn't make a move. But I don't trust Halle!"

Gordie rubbed his forehead. "Yeah I know. But she's a bitch, so it's not like I'm attracted to her at all. Although she is pretty hot." Gordie smirked, teasing Grace.

Grace shook her head. "You're bad Gordon Lachance."

"Oh you know it." He smirked devilishly at her and kissed her sweetly despite his 'devilish' ways. He pulled away and smiled at Grace.

"I love you red-head."

Grace's heart stopped. "I love you too, beanpole."

**

Dinner at the Chambers' house was not exactly a wonderful affair. Halle always found some way to get on her mother's nerves and Geri just sat there, somehow disconnected from the estranged family. Chris tried talking to his mother like a GOOD son would, since he was her only son left in the house. But she just didn't like corresponding with him.

"Can you pass the potatoes, Halle?" Geri asked. Halle gave her sister a cocky look.

"Here," she said, passing the potatoes to her. Geri snatched them from her and glared at her older sister. Chris saw the exchange between his sisters and rolled his eyes. Could they ever just get along?

Danni, the baby of the family, being only four years old, sat in her booster chair beside Chris. He always got stuck taking care of her and usually didn't mind it. She was a cute kid, when she wasn't biting your fingers. Mr. Chambers had left only a few months after Danni was born, leaving Mrs. Chambers to raise four children alone. Damn bastard.

"So, Halle," Mrs. Chambers began. "How's school going?"

Halle took a sip of her drink and sighed. "Sucks ass."

"Halle! You know I don't like it when you swear," Mrs. Chambers said, scolding her daughter.

"Sorry," Halle answered, but didn't sound sorry at all. She hated her family sometimes. Chris and her had gotten the beatings so bad when her father had been home, she would be scarred for life and for the better part never trust a man again, besides Chris. Geri always got off easy, mostly because she was hardly ever home.

Geri always had this bored expression on her face. She looked at her sister.

"Halle's failing algebra," came her bored voice from her bored face.

Mrs. Chambers looked surprisingly at Halle. "Is this true?"

Halle kicked Geri from under the table. "You little bitch!" She growled.

Chris watched the whole time with amused eyes. He hated when this happened...

"Halle! I will NOT have you swear in my home! Danni might pick it up!" Mrs. Chambers cried exasperatedly.

"Heaven forbid," muttered Halle.

"Stop it!" cried Mrs. Chambers. "Now, when were you going to tell me you were failing algebra dammit!"

So much for not swearing in the house...

"I don't know!" snapped Halle. "Maybe when you started caring about my schoolwork!"

"I always cared about your schoolwork!" Mrs. Chambers cried.

"Bullshit! You NEVER care about ANYTHING I do!" Halle snapped again, tears in her eyes. "You're always too busy working, or out with your friends, or...oh God I don't know."

"Don't you dare talk to me like that Halle Susan Chambers!" Mrs. Chambers yelled.

"I'll talk to you anyway I frigging I want to!" Halle yelled, now standing up.

"Halle-don't!" Chris pleaded, afraid of how this was going to end.

"GET OUT!" Mrs. Chambers stood up. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE! I WILL NOT BE TALKED TO IN THAT MANNER UNDER MY OWN ROOF! I HAD ENOUGH OF IT FROM YOUR FATHER, I DON'T NEED IT FROM YOU!"

"Fine!" Halle screamed. "But don't expect me back anytime soon!" Danni began to cry now.

Halle stormed out of the house, and ran down the street. No one saw the tears that fell from her usually composed face.

Chris helped clean up that night and his mother went to bed early. Geri was completely not phased by anything and went out to a movie with her friends. Chris put Dani to bed and decided to go to bed early. The fights had been getting worse lately. It was like no matter what, things were always unhappy in the Chambers home.

Chris found peace in his slumber. At least in his dreams, no one was hurt and everything was safe and happy. No one would ever know about the innocent, afraid, aged boy inside of Chris Chambers that so longed to seek freedom and peace in his stressful life.

At least in his dreams...