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 "Hotrods and Jinxes."
This is the sequel to "Hotrods and Jinxes"
Please no flames.
This "one shot" has mutated into a series. If you have any suggestions about titling the series, please tell me, I can title stories but collective works? Can't name them for the life of me.
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-Chris' POV-
"Chris man, what's with you?" Gordie asked as we sat in the tree house waiting for Teddy and Vern.
"What are you talking about Gord-o?" I asked.
"You've been acting weird all day. Out with it man."
I looked up at him, feeling a brick of lead drop into my stomach. Written across that brick was the word Fear. I was so afraid to tell Gordie about what'd happened recently. Normally we told each other everything, no holds barred but lately, because it was about my sexuality and feelings for him (and Ace) I couldn't bring myself to talk to him about it.
"Chris?" Gordie asked, a look of concern on his face. Oh God, please Gordie don't hate me after I explain, I need those looks of concern and caring to get through the day.
"Okay, swear on your mother's good name you won't freak out and that you won't tell anyone," I began.
Without being asked Gordie pinky swore and I took a deep breath, trying to think of a way to put this.
"You know how Ace called me a faggot back a the train tracks?" I said, deciding to play the word association game.
"Yeah, screw Ace. What about it?"
"I think he…" I choked on my words. I wanted to say he was right. But couldn't do it.
"He what?" Gordie prompted coming to sit closer to me.
"Remember you swore not to tell anyone Gordie."
Gordie nodded. "I know," he said, holding my gaze with his eyes for a moment longer. I closed my eyes, trying to remember the deep color found in his eyes, the concern and emotion in there in case I never saw it again.
"He was right," I said slowly.
"Right about what?"
"Gordie, I," I looked up at him, begging with my eyes to understand. He did, and his eyes widened in shock and he scooted back from me a bit.
"No way," he said. "You're fucking with me."
"I wish I was," I said staring at the wooden planks.
"Who is it?"
"Who is who?" I asked.
"The guy. The one you like," Gordie prompted. Oh damn, here we go.
I looked up at him. "Gordie, I'm sorry man, I never wanted to…I mean…"
"Oh shit," he said, backing up more. "Chris, I can't…I can't be, I mean, you're my best friend man, you always will be but, oh fuck…."
He looked scared and I didn't blame him. "Chris we can't ever do that. I don't think like that. I might one day but,"
"Don't you fucking dare," I yelled cutting him off. He stared at me in shock. I knew I was going to cry soon. I hated crying. "Don't you dare try and give me any hope about this Gordie, okay? Don't pity me and do things like that out of pity. You asked, I told. It's never going to happen between us, okay? I know that. Don't fucking say it might when you know goddamn well it-" I choked on my words, cursed and through open the door to the tree house.
Without looking at Gordie I climbed down the ladder, more like jumped down it, and ran away from the tree house. I could hear him yelling and I saw Teddy and Vern ahead. I ducked my head and ran past, them yelling after me.
I didn't know where the hell I was running to but it was away from Gordie. Away from the rejection and pain.
I had to get away.
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-Ace's POV-
I heard the front door of the Chamber's house slam open and thought it was Eyeball who'd gone out to get us a few more Cokes while I searched for something other than breakfast food.
I poked my head out of the kitchen in time to see Chris charge up the stairs and to hear a sob escape his throat. Without a thought I ran to the front door, closed it and locked it before facing the stairs, wondering what I should do.
Eyeball left his house key on the table. I could talk to Chris then come down and claim I was in the bathroom and say sorry for keeping him waiting. Chris could have been "sleeping" when Eyeball knocked to get in. It'd work; I had to figure out what was wrong.
I took a deep breath before climbing the stairs two at a time and going to Chris' room and knocking.
"Go away!" he yelled out.
"Screw you if you think I'm walking away," I said opening the door and walking into his room, invited or not I was coming in.
Chris looked up from his bed; his eyes red and face streaked with tear stains. I could tell he'd tried to make it look like he hadn't been crying but he failed.
"What do you want, Ace?" he asked, a pitiful choking sound escaping his throat again.
I closed the door and looked at him, taking a few steps closer. "What happened, kid?"
"I told him."
"Told who what?" I asked, sitting on the bed next to him, not caring if this was improper or weird that I was so concerned. Ever since the day at the train tracks when I realized I envied him I felt I had to protect him, so that something good came out of Castle Rock.
"I told Gordie. Everything," he said, his eyes falling to the floor beneath his sneakers.
"Oh." Oh? That's all you can say Ace? Some smooth talker you are. "I take it the news didn't work out?"
"Does it look like it?" Chris snapped. Normally I'd beat his brains in for being disrespectful but now things were different. "He stared at me like I was a freak. The he tried to say that maybe one day he'd feel the same and it'd work out but I knew he was only doing that cause he pitied me. I don't need anyone fucking pity, least of all Gordie's."
He sniffled, trying not to cry again. Without thinking I put my arm around him and tugged him into my side, much like Chris had done to Lachance at the train tracks. Except this time Chris needed the comfort and Lachance was nowhere to be found.
I imagined how weird this must have looked and had to keep myself from laughing. I knew Chris was an affectionate kid to the right people, I could see it in him, but that knowledge didn't prepare me for feeling his arms around my stomach and his head buried in my side.
I could feel a tear drop on my shirt and I swore in spite of myself. That no good, scrawny ass Lachance has no idea what he's done to Chris. I promised myself that I'd scare the shit out of that kid real soon but for now I let Chris stay where he was, content with the idea that he felt safe around me now.
It was sort of nice knowing this kid, who'd been my enemy a few months back, now found comfort in me like no one else before. I just had to keep reminding myself that he was thirteen years old, my best friend's kid brother, and that he was NOT Eyeball.
I prayed that Eyeball would get delayed long enough so that I could stay with Chris a bit longer before I needed to go get the door.
For once I was praying that Eyeball find a girl to flirt with.
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AN: Good? Bad? Any comments are appreciated but no flames as the rule has always been. Thanks for reading.