Some Things Never Change.

By the time Vern stopped by Gordie's house the rain has petered off to a fine drizzle. The town was cooler and before Gordie left the house he pulled on a blue Hawaiian shirt on over his t-shirt. When he answered the door he was surprised to see not only Vern and Teddy but also a couple of girls.

"Hey man," Teddy said smiling briefly, his girlfriend Sarah was standing next to him and she smiled too. "Hi Gordie," she said sweetly.

"Hey," Gordie said glancing from face to face. Vern was there with his girlfriend too. Gordie felt a little out of place.

"You coming man?" Vern asked, the others had started to drift back across the lawn but Gordie had stayed in the doorway.

"Yeah," Gordie said clearing his throat. He stepped out and turned to lock the door. Teddy, Sarah and Emma were waiting on the sidewalk, Vern stood next to Gordie.

"Hey man sorry, I didn't realise Em and Sarah would be coming," Vern whispered. "You cool with it?"

"Yeah," Gordie said. Then with more conviction, "Yeah, it's fine."

"Come on Lachance! We don't have all day," Teddy called.

"I'm on the way man, shit don't have a fit," Gordie snapped and then he and Vern joined the others.

"Where are we going?" Emma asked running a hand through her dirty blond hair.

"Let's go to the diner first, I want to get something to eat," Teddy said. "Then we can just hang out somewhere, maybe drive out to the river, what do ya say?"

"Sounds good," Gordie said.

"Aw the diner?" Emma complained. "We were just there yesterday!"

"Hey I gotta eat don't I?" Teddy said irritably. "I'm not like your boy Tessio over there. He eats all the time. I haven't had anything since lunchtime."

"Hey!" Vern protested but only cause it was the automatic thing to do; he didn't really have much of a defence.

"Yeah okay but let's not stay there for hours," Emma conceded. "I get sick just thinking about you cramming down three hamburgers in a row like you did last time, that was disgusting Duchamp, sincerely."

Teddy laughed. "Shit that was a good time!"

"The most!" Vern agreed grinning. "That Tupper bitch looked like she was about to explode she was so mad!"

Gordie again felt that feeling like he was out of place. It was clear to him that these four spent a lot of time together. He felt awkward and more than that he felt unneeded. He was the fifth wheel and it wasn't fun. Still this was better than sitting around home watching TV with his dad while his mom sobbed over an old photo album or something.

"Hey Gordie man, are you okay?"

Gordie glanced up, snapped out of his thoughts to see Teddy staring at him with a strange expression on his face. Gordie realised then that they were at the diner.

"Yeah, sorry I just zoned out a bit I guess. It's been a pretty tough week."

Teddy nodded. "The others went inside." He gestured at the door to the diner. He still had that look on his face. "Are you okay Gordo? You haven't said a word since we left your house. You feeling out of place, man? Cause if you are, don't. The girls really want to get to know you, they was bugging me and Vern so much we said they could come tonight."

"Ah I'm okay," Gordie said. "Just a lot on my mind, but it's cool. I probably just need some food or something."

"Great" Teddy said and he looked relieved. "Hey did you find Chris?"

"Yeah. I found him."

"And?"

"His dad got him pretty bad, his face is fucked up." Gordie looked away sadly.

"That bastard still giving him shit, huh? That sucks" Teddy said sympathetically. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he'll be fine. You know Chris." Gordie said and even as he said it he wondered if it was true. Did Teddy know Chris? It had been a long time since they had said much to each other.

"I remember how he was." Teddy's face clouded over. "He always took responsibility for everything, always took the blame. He's a strong guy."

"The strongest."

The two boys lapsed into thoughtful silence. Eventually Vern came to the door.

"Guys? You coming in or what?"

Teddy and Gordie followed him in silently. Some things would have to be examined later on.