Surprisingly, the movie theater was quite crowded. Usually the kids of Castle Rock hung out at the local diner or parties, and the movies weren't really a big thing. But as Faye, Chris, Gordie, Grace and Teddy entered the movie theater, they found it to be pretty packed.

"Of all nights, it had to be crowded tonight..." Faye grumbled as the group of teenagers made their way to the ticket window.

"Oh, stop complaining, Faye," Teddy teased, while Faye glared at him.

"Two for Casablanca," Gordie told the Ticket taker.

Faye grinned at Gordie. "Awwe, thanks Gordo, didn't know you were paying for me."

Gordie rolled his eyes. "Please."

"I'm hurt!" Faye feigned hurt, but laughed lightly all the same.

Chris came up behind her and smirked. "I'll pay for you, if you promise to stop babbling."

Faye blushed lightly, but smiled shyly all the same. "Oh-you don't have to- I was only kidding..."

"Yeah, yeah," Chris said, smirking lightly. "Two for Casablanca, please."

"Who's gonna pay for me?" Teddy asked, looking around expectantly. Everyone rolled their eyes at him and made their way to the concession stands. "Oh, yeah guys, I feel real loved. So not fair. *One* for Casablanca, please."

Teddy caught up to the rest of the gang at the food stands and sighed. Sometimes, he couldn't help but feel like the fifth wheel. Gordie and Grace were inseparable, and he knew sooner or later Faye and Chris would end up together. Teddy wasn't one to feel jealous, or wallow in self pity. But after being ignored by his mother for so long and his asshole of a father, it was hard to stay so strong for so long.

"Can I help you?"

Teddy looked up and smirked to himself when he recognized the girl who was waiting on him as some chick from school.

"Hey, I know you," the girl said, grinning slightly.

Teddy smirked. "Teddy DuChamp. I've seen you around, Tilly, right?"

She nodded and began drumming her fingers on the counter. She was one of the 'slut' girls around Castle Rock, with a size D cup and bright blonde hair. One of those girls who wore too much eye makeup...one of those girls who would be actually very pretty if they laid off on the smutty outfits.

"So, what can I get you, Teddy?" Her eyes drifted off to Faye, Chris, Gordie and Grace who were ordering their treats the next cashier over. "Here with your friends, huh?"

Teddy looked over at the happy group and felt a pang of jealousy. "Yeah, but they barely notice I'm here."

Tilly nodded. "I hate people that do that. So pussy, you know?"

Teddy nodded and grinned. "Yeah. It's annoying, but their my best friends....guess they just don't realize it."

"That's bullshit," Tilly said. "They know you're here."

Teddy didn't want to believe her, but he couldn't help but feel vulnerable. "I dunno."

Tilly ran a hand through her hair and leaned across the counter, giving Teddy a clear view down her shirt. "Say, I get off in like five minutes, and there's this killer party up on Miller's Hill. Wanna ditch your lame ass friends and go with? I hear they got some great booze."

Teddy contemplated this. He was always in the mood for a wild party and good booze. Besides, he doubted his 'friends' would even notice he was gone. Teddy knew that was total bullshit, of course, he was just feeling sorry for himself. He knew they cared about him, but they couldn't help it anymore than he could. He wasn't going to be the tag along forever.

"So, what do you say?"

Teddy smirked.

"Sure."

***

"This movie is going to blow, I can tell you that right now," Faye whispered to Chris as they made their way into the movie, behind Gordie and Grace.

"Tell me about it," Chris replied. "It's just an excuse for Gordie and Grace to get all 'intimate'."

Faye made a face that made Chris laugh. "I hate it when they do that. Especially in public, for heavens sake."

"You know, we can hear you," Gordie called over his shoulder. Faye smirked then looked around.

"Hey, where'd Teddy go?"

Chris and the others looked around also. "I dunno, he was right with us at the concession stand. That's weird."

Grace screwed her face up in thoughtfulness. "Oh you know, I saw him leave with some blonde we know from school. Gilly or Willy, or something. I called out his name, but he just kept walking."

Faye frowned. "That's odd. Why would he leave?"

"No idea," Chris said as they made their way to their seats. Settling down, Faye sighed.

In the middle of the movie, while Grace and Gordie were - erm - 'busy' Faye decided she needed a break from the sappy movie.

"Be right back," Faye whispered as she got up to leave.

"Not fair!" Chris pleaded. "You can't get out of this without taking me with you!"

Faye smirked. "I'm going to the bathroom-and I'm sure you don't want to come with me."

Chris rolled his eyes and leaned his head back in his seat as he lifted his legs up for Faye to leave.

Breathing in the fresh, cool air, Faye stepped out of the theater for a few minutes. She never really liked the movies; she didn't like sitting in one position for more than an hour at the most. She had a hard enough time sitting still in school, but during a sappy romance? It was more than she could bear.

Leaning against the brick wall, Faye breathed a long, deep sigh. Sometimes, she just needed to get out-it seemed totally cliché, she knew, but she couldn't help but feel that way. Grace was constantly with Gordie more and more each day and it felt like she was losing her best friend. And she hated it. She knew she might have been being selfish, but honestly, Gordie was her best friend too. And now her two best friends were in love and she felt like the fifth wheel.

"Bathroom break, huh?"

Faye looked up and grinned when she saw Chris come out with his hands in his pockets. He looked so young and innocent right there, it almost took her breath away.

"Yeah, well, I can't take sitting still in that damn theater for too long," Faye replied as Chris came over and stood in front of her.

"Me either," he admitted. "But honestly, the movie's not too bad. I actually find the plot line interesting."

Faye laughed. "Oh really?"

Chris laughed also. "I just get fascinated with these kinds of things....pretty gay, huh?"

Faye shook her head and looked up into the night sky. "Not really. It's actually kind of sweet."

Faye couldn't help but blush now and Chris grinned, noticing this. He moved closer to her and her heart beat faster.

"Soo," Faye broke the sudden awkward moment, not one to like those silences.

"Yeah," Chris said. "Why'd you come out here anyway?"

Faye fiddled with the hem of her cardigan, a nervous habit she had acquired when her father had left the family.

"I like to feel like I can escape."

Chris nodded. "I know what you mean."

Faye looked curiously up into his eyes. "Do you?"

Chris nodded again. "I do. I mean, my home life-it's unsatisfying. You know? My mom's never home...it's always me with Dani. I just-sometimes it gets too much." Suddenly feeling self conscious, Chris shrugged. "Sorry-I know I'm boring you."

Faye shook her head. "You're not, honestly. You're very interesting, Chris. And when you talk-I dunno, I could listen forever."

That had come out way cornier than it was supposed to, and as soon as she had said that she felt extremely embarrassed.

Chris looked at her in the darkness. "Man, that's like the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me in the longest time. Thanks."

Faye laughed nervously. "You're welcome."

They stood there in silence for the longest time, unsure of what to say or how to break the silence. Faye wished to say something witty, and Chris wanted to say something intelligent. However, both of them were too caught up in the moment to come up of anything to say.

Faye wanted so badly to kiss him right there, to have him hold her. But instead, they just went back into the movie to see what Gordie and Grace were up to. As she watched him, Faye knew she liked Chris more than just a friend. She wanted to know everything about him and felt she had so much more to learn about him. She wanted to fall in love with him, she wanted to have him to talk to.

Little did she know he was fighting back the same feelings that very moment...

***

Oh my goodness, that was incredibly fluffy and corny! I'm so sorry ya'll. In the future chapters, I'll try to not be so corny. I'm sorry, but that was my attempt at making it all sweet and whatnot.

However, I'm hoping to get more action between all the characters, make the plot interesting. So please, review for me. Oh, and Happy New Years!! May you all have a healthy and happy holiday!

Take care :)

Love and Strawberries, The Good Girl