Goodbye.

Detention that day was the same as always, although strangely Teddy wasn't there. Vern was. Afterwards as Gordie was taking some books out of his locker (he had a huge History essay due Monday) Vern appeared at his side. Vern was still a good four or five inches shorter than Gordie and though he wasn't quite as chubby as he once had been, he was still rounder than most.

"Hey Gordie," Vern said around a mouthful of Pez.

"Hey Vern," Gordie said absently as he read the blurb on the back of one of history textbooks to see if it would help him with his essay.

"What are you doing tonight?" Vern asked, cramming a couple more candies into his mouth.

Gordie glanced at his friend. "Um nothing," he answered. "How about you?"

It was Friday now. Gordie didn't have any real plans for the weekend; usually he and Chris just hung out and took either the Lachance's car (if Mr Lachance was in a decent mood) or the Chambers's car (if Mr Chambers wasn't around) down to the river. Obviously that wasn't going to happen this time. Gordie felt an ache when it came to Chris, but it wasn't terrible pain. Throughout detention he had dwelled on the argument and now he felt curiously empty.

"Ah nothing much," Vern said. "Probably I'll just meet up with Teddy. You want to come with? We can just shoot the shit like we used to." Vern looked at Gordie with wide, hopeful blue eyes.

"Sure, that sounds okay." Gordie slammed his locker shut. The noise echoed in the empty hallway.

"Boss," Vern said simply. He swallowed his candy. "I'll call for you around seven."

"Great," Gordie said shouldering his backpack.

They started walking together.

It was still raining outside and though Gordie didn't care, Vern looked annoyed.

"Aw shit!" Vern said as some water dripped from his hair into his eyes.

Gordie flicked his own hair out of his eyes. "C'mon Verno a little water ain't going to kill you." It could have been four years earlier only there was no Chris to commiserate with. Stop thinking about Chris, Gordie told himself. It's in the past. It's over.

"Man this storm is fucked up," Vern said. "It was fine out this morning and now look at it". Vern gazed up at the rain clouds.

"Hey Vern you ever think about that kid?" Gordie asked out of nowhere.

Vern glanced at Gordie. "Brower? Sure, sometimes" he said carefully. "Not as much as you would think. It's too…it's too, you know…weird" his voice trailed off.

"Yeah," Gordie agreed. "It is weird."

Vern nodded thoughtfully. They had reached the point where they would go their separate ways.

"Sometimes I wonder what he was thinking about, you know, just before he died," Gordie said and he felt a sudden wave of sadness. "Pretty fucked up dying at thirteen hey Vern?"

"Shit Gordie don't think of it that way," Vern whispered. "It's too morbid man."

"Yeah, I'm sorry." Gordie smiled a little. "Guess I was just thinking out loud."

"So I'll see you at seven?" Vern said hesitantly after a minute's silence.

"Sure" Gordie said, then he turned and walked up his street.

It was hard to talk when there was no one to listen. Chris would understand Gordie thought suddenly. Chris would understand why Ray Brower was such a big thing for me. Chris understood that seeing that body was like seeing fucking Denny. Chris would understand but Chris isn't here.

Gordie kicked a rock. Goodbye Denny. He cut across his front lawn. Goodbye Ray. He pulled his key out his pocket and went to unlock the front door. Goodbye Chris.