I love meeting SBM fans in the oddest places...

-Tommy

"Smile!"

Gordie squinted as a camera flashbulb went off in front of his eyes. Blinking away purple stains on his irises, he peered over to look at the owner of the shiny black mechanism. Gavin stood behind it, smiling a bright smile, his eyes lustrous and full of excitement.

"I want to hear everything. What happened?" He asked right off the bat, shoving the camera away and pulling out a black notepad and pen. Gordie, still in shock from the sudden picture, processed what his friend was saying, thinking about what Headmaster Anderson had just said to him. Was it true, or was it teacherly bullshit? He might never know, but the words were now stuck in his head, revolving around his thoughts like a mobile over a child's crib.

"Huh?" Gordie muttered dumbly.

"What happened? I heard about the fight. This is big news. I'm doing a story on it ASAP."

Gordie tilted his head at him.

"Why?" He asked without much more knowledge than before. Gavin rolled his eyes.

"Because, I need answers, and so does the school! Who is this new Gordon Lachance and what has be done with that shy, timid new kid."

"What…?" Gordie asked again. He was beginning to feel like a broken record. Huh, why, what, all in a circle. If only Gavin would slow down and give him some time to think.

"You just gave Arthur Kastler a black eye. No one gives Arthur Kastler an anything unless it's your out of class pass when you're pinned up against the lockers by your collar." Gavin grinned at his quick storytelling. "So tell me. How'd you do it?" He readied his pen. "Uh…" Gordie thought for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know, I mean, it was pretty easy…I kind of just swung and then…" He punched his palm.

Gavin laughed.

"Candid answer. Good. I'll take that." He scribbled something down in his notebook. "What else? Did he cry? Did he beg for mercy? What about Caspar? What happened to him?"

Gordie shook his head.

"I don't know, he kind of got hurt and then I got mad and punched Kastler. Nothing big, I think…" Gavin looked agog.

"Nothing big is like saying that the first battle into a war is just a little play fighting amongst siblings. This is huge, man! Nobody has ever stood up to him like that before!"

"…And?" Gordie asked. He knew he was being rude, but he was beginning to highly regret shying away from the truth in his meeting with Anderson. Gordie pushed past the reporter, beginning to exit the main office and into the first floor hallway.

"And!? You even have to ask?" Gavin laughed, shaking his head, galloping to catch up with Gordie. "You're a legend, Lachance! A goddamn 8th grade hero! Now spill."

Gordie stopped short, thinking about the word. Hero. It sounded so fresh, so new. Gordie had never been called that before. More like special, creative and different. Sweet, caring or nice. But hero? Never.

Gordie smiled.

"I don't know…" He said, still smiling, looking forwards and out at the big blue stained glass window in front of him. "Kastler is kind of like a big fat baby who thinks he can get everything he wants because his parents were too scared to tell him no since they were afraid he'd throw a tantrum. I'm guessing that if someone came in and told that baby no every time, and ignored him, he'd kind of…right himself. So I think, if people like Kastler are like big spoiled babies, maybe one of us has to say no to him and not be afraid of his tantrums."

Gavin smiled, which grew into a grin as he dotted the end of the sentence, word-for-word copying what Gordie was saying.

"Woah…" Gavin shook his head, impressed and astonished with Gordie's words. "…That was…fantastic. You're a genius. This is gold. Can I get your consent that this can go in the paper?"

Gordie shrugged.

"Sure, why not?" He said, although his heart knew why not.

"Great. Thank you so much." Gavin grinned again before setting off, adjusting his cap and heading towards the infirmary to question Caspar.

8th Grade Hero Gordie Lachance Brings Justice to the Halls of Huntington Prep

A few days ago, you wouldn't know his name. Gordon Lachance. The only new kid in the entire 8th grade. But on only the second day of the school year, he made himself known to many, and by the third he was known to all. Gordie. The boy who brought justice to the social hierarchy system of Huntington Prep. Names will remain unsaid, but after a fight went down with said savior and another unlikely opponent, Gordie came out on top. With great power comes great responsibility, it was said, and Gordie wields it well. When asked for words of wisdom, the dreamy fourteen-year-old replies simply; "I don't know…Eric* is kind of like a big fat baby who thinks he can get everything he wants because his parents were too scared to tell him no since they were afraid he'd throw a tantrum. I'm guessing that if someone came in and told that baby no every time, and ignored him, he'd kind of…right himself. So I think, if people like Eric are like big spoiled babies, maybe one of us has to say no to him and not be afraid of his tantrums."

So who is this small-town boy? We may never know. The young, dow-eyed student wouldn't spill much. Other than stating that throwing the punch easier than you would think, he stays firm on not speaking too badly of the boy he fought against. A good philosophy; the mark of a caring person, even if he just fist fought with another. And how did this bookish writer come to have his name known all around Huntington Prep in less than a week? It appears that Gordie himself didn't even know his secret, but the determination to find out is strong.

However, our great hero is not without marring. His past is a jumble, his noble heart not without scars. Among the death of his mother and brother, and leaving his friends behind in the tiny town of Castle Rock to come to New York, there seem to be other kinds of hardships in his life that remain unspoken of. Mysterious? Yes. Intriguing? Absolutely.

We have only questions for the great Gordon Lachance, but know that he will continue on to do great things in the years to come. For the Huntington Press, this is Gavin Maccaffer, giving our new student a hefty HP welcome! We know you will love it here.

*Name has been changed.

Gordie looked over the top of the magazine and out at Gavin sitting across the lunch table. His radiant smile was flashing, his eyes buzzing with delight.

"Well?" He asked eagerly as Gordie set down the newspaper and sipped at his water.

"Well…" Gordie said through the clear plastic straw between his teeth, examining the lengthy story with a critical eye. "You described me as a hero, dreamy, doe-eyed, a caring person, a bookish writer, intriguing and mysterious, as well as other things…" He laughed.

"What!?" Gavin exclaimed. "It's the truth!"

"I'm dreamy?" Gordie raised an eyebrow. Gavin went red.

"I write for the paper, not for myself…" He half muttered, hiding his blushing face under the brim of his cap.

"Well, I think it's brilliant." Gordie slapped the table to confirm the statement. Gavin looked up.

"Really?" He asked sincerely, grinning.

"Well, yeah!" Gordie shrugged, pointing at the article. "I mean, you made me sound like freaking Superman, but yeah! You're a great writer, man! Really great, actually."

Gavin blushed, more in his cheeks than a hot flame over his whole face his time.

"Thanks." He said softly, adjusting his collar and making to get up. He whipped the paper out from under Gordie's arm. "I've gotta get to class. See you later!" And he was off.

'Not if I see you first…' Gordie almost said back as he watched his friend go, but caught himself, a wave of something like hot nausea coming over him. What was he doing?

Yay! Did you guys like the touch of the article in it? It took me a while to write it because it was really tedious for me, but eh. I got it done. Review plz, yay!