A/N: I'm sorry this chapter took so long, everyone! I wanted to make it a bit longer and I wanted everything to be just right. I have 2-3 more chapters left, so we're nearing the end of the story. Hope everyone enjoys it:)

Chapter 12

Gordie was shocked to see the reflection staring back at him the mirror. Dressed in a black suit that was freshly pressed, his sandy brown hair combed neatly to the side, Gordie thought he looked...well, manly. He was wearing Denny's old suit that he'd worn to his junior high dance, and although it was a little loose fitting, it still looked nice on him.

"Oh my". He heard his mother gasp at the bedroom door way and he quickly straightened himself out, pretending like he hadn't just been checking himself out in the mirror for the last fifteen minutes. "Gordie, you look so handsome!" She entered the room, a soft and subdued expression on her face.

"Thanks," he replied, blush rising to his cheeks.

She sat at the edge of his bed, never taking her eyes off of her son. "You know, I knew that suit would look good on you…I just knew I had to go searching for it in the attic." She finally turned her head, gazing out the window forlornly. "I remember buying that suit for your brother," she went on. "God, he hated wearing it. Well, that was, until his girlfriend at the time, Elaine, gushed over how good he looked." She chuckled a little at the memory.

"You know," she continued softly, "I don't think I'll ever stop missing Denny…you look so much like him right now that it hurts." She sniffed, and Gordie knew she was trying to keep the tears from raining down. One tear was brave enough to escape and it settled on the bridge of her nose. "Oh god, I'm sorry," she apologized, wiping it away. "I don't want to ruin your night, Gordie…I want you to have a good time."

He stared at his mother, suddenly feeling sorry for her. Seeing her so fragile and lost made him understand what she was going through, what she has been going through for the last few months. Maybe what he thought was hatred towards him, was actually just sadness. Sad because he reminded her so much of Denny, the son she'd hoped would do so much with his life. Sad because she could never have those memories back.

"It's alright, Mom," he assured her. "I'm going to have a great time." He even smiled for her benefit.

She stood up and enveloped him in her arms, running a hand through his freshly shampooed hair. "Yes, you will," was all she said, kissing him softly on his forehead before leaving the room.

---

"So, I'm picking you up at 10:30, is that right?"

"Yup, 10:30."

Gordie gazed out the car window, staring at the trees whiz by in a blur as his Dad's Ford Sedan soared down Baker Street. He never knew what to talk about during rides with his father, and they usually ended up making awkward chitchat about school. Tonight, however, he was even too nervous for that, his mind addled with the thoughts of his first junior high dance.

His dad cleared his throat, and glanced over at him when they stopped at a red light. "You look real sharp, son," he muttered and quickly looked back at the road.

Gordie was taken aback by his father's compliment, knowing they were few and far between. "Thanks, Dad," he said, unable to keep the pride out of his voice.

Mr. La Chance nodded, as good a 'You're welcome' as Gordie was ever going to get. They turned down Stanley Court, a suburb in Westchester that was probably the most posh area in Castle Rock. The lawns looked a little more kempt, the houses more ornately decorated than the ones where Gordie lived. He suddenly felt embarrassed pulling up to Sara's house in his Dad's clunker of a car; all the times he'd gone to Sara's had been by foot, so her parents were none the wiser that he came from a lower middle-class home.

"You go on in," his Dad said. "I'm going to wait here."

He nodded, suddenly feeling ill. His arms felt like jelly as he attempted to open the door and the hand that clutched Sara's white corsage was sweaty. As he walked up her driveway, feeling like he was marching to his own execution, he wondered if she was still mad at him. He rapped on her door timidly, letting out his caged breath in one anxious exhale.

He could hear Sara's mother calling out to her from somewhere in the house, then the sound of heels slapping on hardwood floor approaching the foyer. Mrs. Wittenberg poked her coifed blonde head out the door and exclaimed, "Gordie, come on in!" She allowed him room to squeeze by, being careful not to let the family's Persian cat Minky escape. "Boy, you look handsome tonight!" she gushed. "Sara's going to be so happy to see you all dressed up. Sara, you date is here!" Mrs. Wittenberg nudged Gordie on the shoulder and smiled at him. "Go on in the kitchen…her sister's putting the last finishing touches on her hair."

Gordie felt relieved. One minute spent with Mrs. Wittenberg always drained him—he could definitely see where Sara got her chatterbox personality. She reminded him of those Southern women who spent all their time sitting on their expansive porches, drinking mint juleps and dishing out the latest gossip with the ladies from the country club. Except, Mrs. Wittenberg wasn't Southern, nor did she belong to any country club that he knew of…she was just a plain busybody who had money.

He peeked in to the kitchen and was astounded to see Sara dressed in a long taffeta gown that was the color of butter cream, wearing off-white pumps to match. She was actually wearing make-up too, something she rarely did. Her older sister Elizabeth was brushing her hair back in to a bun, a bobby pin wedged in between her teeth.

"God, Sara, stop moving!" Elizabeth grumbled, although it sounded more like 'Gush, Shara, sthop movin'!" with the pin in her mouth. She finally took the clip out of her mouth and pinned it in to the center of the bun, holding it firmly in place. "Done! I would've been finished a lot sooner if you weren't so squirmy."

Sara rolled her eyes and finally looked at Gordie. "Wow, Gordie, you clean up nicely!" she said appreciatively. "You look real put together for someone who didn't even want to go with me yesterday."

His cheeks burned hotly as he mumbled, "That's not true." God, was she going to keep reminding him of what a jerk he'd been?

Sara laughed and came up to him, giving him a hug. "I'm just kidding…I'm over it, really. No, seriously, you look really nice, Gordie."

"You do too," he said shyly. "Oh, I've got your corsage."

She puffed out her chest, making him blush even more as he tried to keep his eyes off the pale breasts that were visible at the top of her bodice. "I'm ready for you, Gordie," she teased. He brought the corsage to her dress, being careful not to poke her with the sharp point as he fumbled with it.

"Man, this is harder than it looks!" he chuckled nervously. Finally, he got it in without any injury, and then fastened it shut.

"Aw, and you didn't even make me bleed!" she chirped with a grin. "Very nice!" He finally smiled, relaxing. This night wasn't going to be so bad. "Ok, Mom, I'm getting on out of here! Gordie's dad is waiting!" she called in to the living room.

"You're not staying for some cake and tea, honey?" her Mom replied, her voice laced with disappointment. "I thought we were going to have a little dessert and chat before the dance?"

"Mom, chatting in your world means talking a mile a minute and not letting us get a word in edgewise," she said dryly, shooting Gordie a wink. "Maybe after the dance we can do something."

"Well, ok," Mrs. Wittenberg obliged. "But I expect you back here at 10:45 sharp…you've got dance lessons early tomorrow morning."

"Don't remind me," Sara muttered. "Ok, night, Mom!"

"Goodnight, Mrs. Wittenberg," he said with a wave, and followed Sara outside. He leaned over and whispered, "I didn't know you danced."

"It's more my Mom's thing than mine…I just do it to keep her happy," she explained with a shrug. "Why, are you afraid I might look better than you at the dance?" she teased.

He gave her a playful push, deadpanning, "I know you'll look better than me…I can't dance for shit."

---

"Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolly, lolly".

Vern sang under his breath, something he had a habit of doing whenever he had to walk the dark streets of Castle Rock alone. He couldn't wait to get to Teddy's house. Every little sound, from the chirp of a cricket in the thicket of trees surrounding him to the crunching of tires over pavement, made him sing even louder. He kept picturing Ace's car barreling behind him, ready to run him off the road. Thank god Gordie decided to stay home tonight as well, or he was sure to be killed. Now he wouldn't have to tell anybody about what he'd heard Eyeball and Billy talking about.

"Sweeter than candy on a stick…huckleberry, cherry, or lime," he crooned, his voice growing hoarse from repeating the lyrics for about the tenth time. Man, he could really go for some candy right about now. He saw Teddy's house looming at the corner, swathed in a golden hue that illuminated from the porch light, and he breathed a sigh of relief, jogging up to the door.

Teddy's mother answered the door on the second knock, still dressed in the blue plaid uniform she wore at the diner.

"Hello, Mrs. Du Champ, is Teddy here?" he greeted politely.

She squinted at him from behind her cat-eye glasses, her crinkles deepening. "Is that you, Vern Tessio? I didn't know Theodore was expecting you."

"Mom, for the last time, it's not Theodore," groaned Teddy as he came thumping down the stairway behind her, his dog tag jingling. "And I told you the other day I was going to Chris' house tonight, remember?"

Mrs. Du Champ frowned. "Well, no, but I don't remember much of anything you tell me. I'm so damned busy nowadays, it's a wonder I can remember my own name." She leaned over, giving Teddy a kiss on the cheek, which he promptly wiped away with the back of his hand. "Try to come back before the sun comes up, eh?" she admonished him.

"I'll try," Teddy said with a smile, giving her a little wave before setting off with Vern. "I heard you singing 'Lollipop' all the way down the road, Vern-o".

"I can't help it!" Vern whined. "Do you know how many noises I heard in those woods…do you? This is a dangerous time we're living in!"

Teddy merely rolled his eyes. "Yup, I'm sure those owls are deadly". Vern blushed, knowing Teddy was right, as usual. They began shooting the breeze about comics and t.v, trying to fill in the deafening silence that came with a rural town at nighttime. By the time they'd decided that The Flash could definitely take down Superman, the La Chance residence had come in to full view.

"Hey, let's go see if Gordie is done cleaning…maybe he wants to come over Chris' house too," Vern suggested.

"All right, but you're taking the blame if his Mom rags on us for being there so late," Teddy obliged.

"But I did that last time!" protested Vern. "How come it's always me that has to take the blame?"

"Vern, just accept it," Teddy said. "It'll always be you."

Vern shook his head. "I hate you, Teddy."

"I love you too, Vern-o," Teddy proclaimed with a grin. "Come on, stop being such a pansy and knock on the door!"

Vern did so, his knuckles rapping as quietly as possible to avoid annoying Mr. La Chance. They could hear I Love Lucy blaring from the television through the open window, and Teddy was sure they couldn't hear them after the third knock.

"I think they're sleeping," Teddy said. "Come on, let's go…maybe you can climb up the tree near Gordie's window or something."

"Oh sure, send me up there! Let's pick on the fat kid again!" squawked Vern. "I'm sick of"-

"Can I help you boys?"

They both swiveled around, scared by the voice that rang out behind them. It was only Mrs. La Chance standing on the porch, clothed in her pale, pink nightgown.

"Oh…we were just wondering if Gordie was home," Vern replied nervously. Shit, he was surely done for now.

Mrs. La Chance shook her head. "No, Gordie's at the dance up at the school tonight. His father dropped him off a little while ago."

Vern paled and felt his stomach drop to his knees. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit," he muttered frantically. He'd thought that Gordie would be in the clear, safe at home and away from Ace and his knife.

"That little liar," Teddy breathed, an amused smile on his face. "Ok, thank you anyway, Mrs. La Chance!" he called out. Mrs. La Chance nodded and promised she'd tell Gordie they'd been looking for him.

"God, that little shit," Teddy laughed once Mrs. La Chance had gone inside. "I knew that cleaning excuse had to be bull…how often does Gordie clean any way?" He turned his head, realizing Vern wasn't laughing along with him. "Hey, what's wrong with you?"

"We have to go to Chris' house…now!" Vern sputtered.

"What…why?"

"Look, I heard my brother and Eyeball talking about how Ace was gonna be looking for us at the dance and how he's really pissed. I"-

Teddy looked confused for a moment, but his eyes suddenly sparked to life at the realization of what he'd just heard. "Why didn't you say something before, Vern?!" he practically yelled.

"I didn't think Gordie was going! How was I supposed to know he was lying?"

Teddy kicked at the ground, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Shit, come on, let's go!" They both took off in to the night towards Chris' house, unprepared for what was about to come. All they knew was they had to do something before it was too late.