The disconnected feeling Faye got from sitting atop a tree branch, the wind rustling her hair, was the most wonderful feeling in the whole entire world to her. She thought those moments were so precious when she could escape her home life and sit there watching the sun and the wind blow, and feel totally complete.

Lately, she had been feeling down about herself. Being sixteen was hard enough but adding schoolwork, home shit, boys and self-esteem, it really made it a bitch. She hated having teen angst, but sometimes, you just couldn't help it.

"Hey there."

Faye looked down and saw Gordie, climbing up the tree. She grinned. "Hey." She hadn't talked to him in what felt like forever, but in fact, was only a few days. She missed Gordie, her best friend.

"Figured I'd find you here," Gordie said, finally sitting next to Faye, resting his back against the tree. He looked out into the horizon and grinned. "Mmmm this is nice."

Faye sighed and leaned back with Gordie, also staring into the horizon just beyond the field they were in. "Yeah, it is. Oh God, I love it here so much."

Gordie turned his head slightly and looked at Faye. Her eyes looked so troubled and confused, and her face was set in such a deep look his heart ached for a moment.

"Something wrong, Faye?" His voice was deep and compassionate. Faye could listen to him talk forever and never become bored. The nights they would stay up talking late into the night, they would forever be with Faye.

Faye grumbled and played with a stray leaf from the tree. "I dunno, Gordo. Sometimes, I dunno, I just forget everyone and everything and zone out and forget about everything...and I go to my own place where nothing can hurt me or make me upset. It's stupid, I know, I mean, what have I got to be so upset about?" She dismissed her emotions effortlessly, but her eyes said something else.

Gordie knew there was more so he listened intently.

"Gordie, I've known you my whole life," Faye started. "And I know you know me so well...it's just, sometimes I can't help but feel so trapped, so in the shadow. You know? I hate it. God, I hate it so much I can't help but get angry and sad and feel needy. I've never fallen in love, Gordie, and I see you and Grace and it hurts 'cause it's always been her who gets the guy, always her smile who lights up everyone's day, always Grace who everyone feels sorry for, or loves, or is friends with and she's my best friend I know and I love her so much, but sometimes it's just so much and I can't take it..." Faye had light tears in her eyes from the power of her emotions. "Gordie, I don't know what I'm thinking, seriously, I don't know what I'm feeling. But it's not good and I want to fall in love, I want to have someone to hold me and care for me and tell me it's gonna be okay even if my life is so fucked up I can't do anything about it."

Gordie never knew Faye felt like this. She never went out like this. "Faye, I'm here for you always, and so is Grace, you know that."

Faye nodded and took a shaky breath. "I know, Gordie."

"But Faye," Gordie said. "You're different than other girls. So what if you're not this gentle, sweet, little pixie charmer? Grace is amazing, she is, but you're so different. You're not like everyone else. You've got big dreams, Faye, and someday someone is gonna see how wonderful you are and love you so much and is going to take care of you forever and he's going to be one of the luckiest men I know."

Faye smiled. "Thanks Gordo. I love you, you know."

Gordie ruffled her hair in a good-natured way. "I love you too, Blush."

They sat there for the rest of the night, watching the sunset and feeling so grateful for having found such wonderful friends in each other...

**

Walking home alone at night, in the dark, was not one of Faye's favorite things to do. Gordie had walked her to his home and then left her the rest of the way. What a true gentleman...

Shivering in the cold, Faye's heart beat fast as she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around sharply but was relieved to find it only to be Chris.

"Hey, what are you doing walking home at this hour?" Chris asked, walking up to her and grinning.

"I was out with Gordie for a while, and he left me to walk home...figures damn bastard."

Chris smiled and Faye's heart couldn't help but flutter. Did she really like Chris? She wasn't sure, but she knew that the way his smile made her day so much better...it was this feeling she didn't want to let go of.

"What are you doing here at night?" Faye asked suspiciously. Chris moved uncomfortably and put his hands in his pockets.

"I-um-" he trailed off and Faye didn't need to hear anymore. She knew his dad was probably on a mean streak again.

Faye looked around uneasily. "You don't have to tell me."

Chris looked at her, his eyes creepily aged and shadowed. "You already know just like the rest of Castle Rock does."

Faye didn't know what to say. "Chris, I know you've probably heard this a million times, but you know, you don't deserve what you get."

Chris looked at her indifferently. "And how do you know that?"

Faye wrung her hands together like she always did when she was nervous or uncomfortable. "I just know. I see the way you care about Gordie and how much of a wonderful person you are. And as lame as this sounds, something about you makes me so intrigued and I can't help but want to know everything about you." Faye blushed so furiously at this point, that Chris could see it even in the dark.

"Really?" Chris asked, rather harsher than he meant to. Faye squirmed, evidently very uncomfortable. In the dark, Chris saw her shrug.

"I guess."

Chris grinned. "Thanks."

That wasn't the answer she expected and she smiled rather wryly. "...sure."

"Come on, I'll walk you home, it's getting late."

"It's okay, I can walk myself home."

Chris grinned. "Yeah I know. But come on."

Shrugging, she walked next to him until they reached her house and she sighed.

"You can stay here if you want, you know, if you're not ready to go back home," Faye said. She didn't trail off at the end or act all shady about it, and for once, Chris was thankful someone acted so normally about it.

Chris looked around. "It's okay. Thanks, though, Faye. I'll see you tomorrow in school."

Faye grinned. "Alright. But remember, she gimme a call and you can always come over."

Chris didn't know what it was, but at that exact moment and at that exact place he felt something in his heart...and he never felt it before.

***