Gordie and Chris are on the phone.

"I can't believe you made that leech comment in front of all those people!" Chris remembered laughing.

"Since when have I cared what people thought of me! I mean, I'm friends with you aren't I ? And besides, I had to get you back for that granny comment!" Gordie exclaimed, breathless with laughter.

"No, but see the difference is, mine was funny, yours was just scary! I never needed to remember that…ever!" Chris said, trying to sound serious but failing miserably.

"Hey, I'm the one it happened to! I'm the one who should be disturbed!" Gordie said indignantly.

"Yeah, but you got a blissful moment of freedom from Teddy and Vern when you passed out! I never knew nobody who fainted before! Maybe he made a bad mistake and looked at your face." Chris remembered.

"They said that?" asked a once-again-breathless Gordie.

"Yeah, they really crack me up sometimes. It's like they live in their own little world…hey hold on a minute okay?" Chris said as he heard the door slam. He put the phone down on the table cautiously.

"What are you doing little fucker? Its already………" his dad tried to read his watch but shortly gave up.

"Shut the fuck up! It doesn't matter what time it is! Shouldn't you be doing your homework or something. Isn't it time for little babies to be in bed?" His father slurred.

"It's only 8:30, and I already finished my homework, sir." Chris said respectively, not wanting to get in a fight with Gordie on the phone.

"Don't use that tone with me boy! You stupid little fucker! You think you're a hotshot because you're in smart classes, but your still nothing but a worthless little bug to me! I guess I'll just have to squash you!" his dad bellowed as he punched Chris in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

"Come on, you little pussy! Get up and take it like a man!" his dad screamed at the top of his lungs.

When Chris didn't get up, his dad grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and punched him across the face. Chris didn't even react, he closed his eyes and Gordie's face came to his mind. Him and Gordie were gonna get out of here. Just a couple more years and he and Gordie were gonna leave and never come back and he would never have to see his dad again. When Chris didn't react his dad began shaking him to get a response out of him. Chris could feel it but he just thought to himself, 'two more years, two more years and I'm out of here' over and over. His dad slapped him around a little more, but when Chris didn't respond his dad eventually lost interest, threw him against the wall and walked away. Chris just laid there for a few minutes thinking about how much he hated his dad. After a few minutes he remembered that he had been on the phone. He went to the desk and picked up the phone, doubting anyone would be there.

"Hello" Chris said cautiously.

"If you're not here in ten minutes, I'm coming to get you" Gordie said, his voice trembling with rage.

"Gordie, I'm fine…this happens all the time!" Chris said.

" Nine" Gordie said before he hung up, cutting off all arguments.

Chris quickly got some clothes together went out the door, there was no way he was going to let Gordie see his dad. Tonight it would be too much. He didn't think he could handle pity. Not from Gordie. But still, he was secretly glad for the escape.

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When Chris got to Gordie's house, he was already heading down his sidewalk. Chris, not thinking Gordie would actually be watching the clock, burst out laughing.

"Chris, there is absolutely nothing funny about this situation!" Gordie said incredulously.

"Its just that…I…didn't think you would actually be sitting there timing the ten minutes!" Chris exclaimed.

"Why the hell not?" Gordie asked "Didn't I sound serious to you?"

"Well, yeah, its just that…aw come on, you know it's funny!" Chris said breathlessly.

"No…I don't" Gordie said seriously.

"Aw, forget you." Chris said with a wave of his hand.

"And to think I was worried about you! I'm more upset by this than you are!" Gordie said jokingly, catching that right now Chris needed to laugh.

"That's because you're a pussy freaking out about everything." Chris said.

"I am not! You stupid ass!" Gordie exclaimed.

"I rest my case" Chris said.

"Oh, why don't you fuck off Chambers!" Chris exclaimed.

"Only in those fantasies of yours" Chris responded.

"No, you must be thinking of someone else, like, oh, I don't know, maybe you?" Gordie said, raising and eyebrow.

"You're such a retard." Chris said.

They talked for a couple of hours about nothing in particular. Chris was quiet for a couple of minute and Gordie noticed the he had a distracted look on his face, like a thought had just occurred to him.

"What you thinking so hard about?" Gordie asked.

"Nothing…so, what do you wanna do?" Chris asked.

"I don't know, it's pretty late, why don't we go to sleep?" Gordie suggested.

"Naw, come on, that's pussy. Let's think of something to do." Chris insisted.

"Man, it's getting on towards midnight, we've got to get up soon." Gordie reasoned.

"But I'm not tired at all man" Chris complained.

"Then lay there and stare at the ceiling, I don't care what you do, but I'm going to bed." Gordie stated.

"Man, you really suck" Chris said

"Sorry about that, night" Gordie said as he crawled into bed.

"Where am I supposed to sleep?" Chris asked uncomfortably.

"What the fuck? Where do you always sleep? Come on!" Gordie said as he patted the bed next to him.

"Man, I don't know" Chris said uncomfortably.

"Why the fuck not? I mean, I know I'm fat, but I think we can both still fit if we scrunch in" Gordie said sarcastically.

"Ha Ha" was all Chris said.

"Chris, you have my word of honor that I won't grope you in your sleep, okay? And when you inevitably have a weak moment and can't resist my sexy body any more, I'll pretend like I don't know, okay? Now can we please go to bed?" Gordie said sarcastically.

"Your so funny." Chris said shortly.

"I know. Can you get the light?" Gordie asked as he turned over and promptly fell asleep.

Chris slowly went and closed the door and turned off the light, trying to postpone the inevitable as long as possible. Finally he had to slide into bed next to Gordie. He slammed his eyes closed and tried desperately to make his brain shut up. This night was going to be hell.