AN: Minor slash so if you don't like, don't read. Stephen King owns them. I just bow down to him and Rob Reiner. Will switch POVs. Second Stand By Me fanfic in response to the support I received for "Damn Emotions."
This is the sequel to "Damn Emotions"
Please no flames.
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-Ace's POV-
The following day I found myself sitting next to Eyeball Chambers in his living room, his parents out and only he and I were home. We'd been in this position before, with no one around and it being the two of us, which is where the trouble in my life really began.
I can remember everything perfectly, which is a shock because we'd been drinking that night. Eyeball and I had left the others at Billy's house an hour ago and taken our sweet time making it back to my house. He would be crashing in my place because his Dad was drinking earlier and Eyeball didn't need another beating that night.
As surprising as it may seem Eyeball and I actually talk about more than how far we've gone with what girls and our cars. He and I have actual conversations, deep ones about where we want to go in life, about our lives in general, and even about how fucked up the idea of love is. So when Eyeball asked if he could stay at my place I agreed knowing what going home that night would be like.
Tonight however I said something no one would ever hear again and that if it were ever repeated to me from someone else, I'd drive my car off a cliff.
"Hey Eyeball," I said as we stumbled into my house, my parents gone off to God only knows where. How convenient.
"Yeah Ace?" He responded, collapsing onto the couch there in my living room.
"Have you ever thought the girls around here aren't as exciting as they should be?"
"No shit man," he said laughing. "None of them put out."
"No I mean, at all. Like maybe…maybe the guys are more interesting?"
Eyeball sat upright and stared at me and I was afraid he'd laugh in my face. "Only one guy who I could spend time with and not bitch about what girl I could have in the backseat at that time."
I looked at the space on the wall above his head. "Who's that?" I asked casually.
"You. Christ man, I thought you knew that. We're best friends you shit. You beat any girl any day of the weak, unless she'll put out, then we've got a problem. Unless," he began, raising an eyebrow suggestively, "you'll put out for me Ace."
I stared at him, trying to tell myself it was the alcohol talking but I knew there was no amount of alcohol that could turn Eyeball Chambers gay for one night. When he stood up and came closer to me I stayed still, reminding myself not to touch him.
"Ace, come on, man," Eyeball said, bringing his face a centimeter away from mine. "You know you need to get some. I'm willing if you're in and it stays between us."
That night I'm pretty sure I fell in love with my best friend but to him it was simply sex.
I hated and loved him for that night.
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-Chris's POV-
When I walked into my house the next afternoon I immediately clenched my fists, ready to start a fight with Ace if he said anything about the body. He didn't, all he did was look up at me with that indifference on his face as he took a swig of soda and leaned back into the couch cushions further.
Eyeball ignored me as well and stood up, heading into the kitchen.
I tried to escape upstairs before either of them said my name but I wasn't fast enough.
"Chris, get back here," I hear Ace grunt. Every time I heard his voice I couldn't suppress that shiver down my spine. Whether he knew it or not Ace had a very seductive voice, but it was harsh and demanding as well which is why when he called my name I returned knowing if I didn't I'd catch hell. I turned and walked back downstairs to find Ace waiting for me at the bottom of them.
"On second thought," he said. "Your room, go."
Nervously I turned and walked up the stairs knowing Ace was right behind me, wondering why he wanted to talk and why it couldn't be done in front of Eyeball.
I didn't like where this was headed.
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-Ace's POV-
Way to go Ace. Scare the shit out of the kid and order him to go somewhere private, not where you need to be with another member of the Chamber's family.
I sighed and kicked at the rug as Chris sat on his bed watching me.
"Listen Ace if this is about yesterday I-"
"It's not about the fucking body," I said cutting him off.
"Then what is it about?" he asked.
I grabbed the desk chair and sat in front of him, trying to appear relaxed. "It's about you."
"What about me Ace?"
Christ I hated the way he said my name, long and drawn out when we weren't about to fight.
"About you and me and Lachance."
"What about Gordie?" Chris said, immediately defensive.
"Don't worry about Lachance. It's more about you and me."
Chris stared at me, a look of uncertainty on his face. Note to self, curse God for making the Chambers men attractive. Before Eyeball had gotten out of his scrawny stage I thought I was straight, then seeing the Chambers men around the house shirtless made me question if it was just them or if they were the only ones I allowed myself to look at.
"Yesterday," I began, looking for the right words. "I realized something, other than the fact that you're as fucking stubborn as your brother." Chris looked at me, waiting for me to continue. "You love Lachance."
"What? No I don't, Gordie and I-"
"Are best friends right? You'd do anything for each other, right? Fight, hate, kill for each other, right?"
Chris nodded and I took a deep breath. "Hate to tell you this cause it might make you miserable but you and I, ain't so different."
"Sure thing Ace," he began but when I held up my hand to shut him up he did.
"You and I are in the same fucking boat," I said. "You love Lachance but he's too fucking innocent to know what he wants other than the fact that you're his best friend who takes care of him. And if you fucking repeat this to anyone I'll rip your throat out," I threatened before continuing. Without being asked Chris crossed his heart and pinky swore not to tell. It touched me to see that he at least had some respect.
"Who I care about isn't the point of this. I'm just saying, you've got a shot to get out of this shit hole with Lachance helping you in school and you've got someone who may one day care about you too. The person I want won't ever care more for me than a fuck when neither of us can get some elsewhere. The whole point of this is I may be your brother's best friend, I'm always going to push you around, but don't ever for a minute think I don't know how you feel. When you get older shit gets harder. Trust me."
I stood and turned to leave when his soft question stopped me dead in my tracks.
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-Chris' POV-
I knew I was risking my neck right here but I had to ask.
"Is it Eyeball?"
"What'd you say?" Ace asked, turning around to face me.
"Is it Eyeball you care about?"
I stared at him, hoping he'd see I wasn't judging him and hoping he'd give me an answer. He should know by now that Eyeball is his best friend and would do everything he said Gordie and I would do for each other for him as well.
"What makes you say that?"
"Ace I'm not fucking stupid. Besides, I had the…displeasure although I'm sure it was your pleasure, on coming home and hearing one of you many meetings."
I forced myself not to blush. "And what the fuck does it matter if it is?"
"Nothing, except don't think because Eyeball acts like he doesn't care about more than sex that it doesn't mean more. He acts like I could die and he'd party but why would he try to stop you from cutting me open yesterday if he didn't care?"
"You're a fucking smart ass," Ace said, a small smirk coming to his lips.
"And now I know that when I think you're checking out my ass you may very well be," I shot back.
Ace's eyes darkened and I thought I was going to have the shit beat out of me as he walked over and hauled me up, holding me close to him. "And if I am what are you going to do about it?"
I smirked a little. "Walk slower," I responded.
"Fucking punk," he said.
"Yeah but we're in the same boat Ace, get used to the idea. I'm not going to disrespect you or anything after this but now that I know, and if you call me a pussy for this I still have the damn gun, it's nice talking to someone who won't call me mental and a faggot."
Ace nodded. In that moment I think we understood each other and I couldn't help but smile. He let me down and fixed my shirt a bit. "Ya know what Chambers?" he said.
"Yeah Ace?"
"If you were a few years older it may have been your ass I was after. You're going to break a good amount of hearts sometime soon, remember to keep track so we can compare."
I couldn't help but laugh, feeling almost comfortable here with Ace. The thought of Ace being interested in me made me heat up inside and think of things I'd only previously imagined involving Gordie.
"You got it Ace."
With that he nodded and walked back downstairs and I could hear him telling Eyeball he was taking a piss. Slowly I closed my door and leaned against it, my eyes falling shut.
Ace and Eyeball had done it, Ace and I were…dare I say it…getting along, and I was falling for my best friend more each day. Could this life get any more confusing?
I knew the answer before I even asked myself the question- damn straight it could.
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-THE END-
So what did everyone think? Please be nice. Criticism and new ideas are welcome.
And I know Ace seemed REALLY out of character but I want to make these stories (possibly a series if people like it enough) about how different people can be when they're alone together and I really want to take Ace away from the tough SOB persona and show he's still a human underneath the hair gel and beyond the cigarette smoke.