Disclaimer: I do not own anything! I merely borrow the wonderful characters Chris and Gordie , ( other less worthy ones as well) , from the glorious film directed by Rob Reiner. A film that was based off the novella , The Body , written by the great Stephen King! He whose fame shall never fade from this earth!


Perfect

The clock read " 8:15" , " Can't time go any faster!" , Gordie thought to himself as he sat on his bed staring at the wall. He always hated being " home" , if you could call the house in which he ate and slept a " home", he always felt like a stranger , an intruder. So his "home" life consisted of him being as quiet and as out of the way as possible , the only time he ever really got to be himself was around Chris.

Finally he decided to go ahead to the tree house , even though Chris wouldn't be there for another half hour at the earliest. He'd already packed . A thick blanket to be used as a mattress , a pillow , a flashlight , some matches and cigarettes ( in case Chris was out) , and of course a pencil and some paper , and all the food he thought he could take without it being missed , ( which , given his parents mental state , was quite a lot ) , made up the contents of his bag. He didn't care if Chris had some ego hang-up that kept him from accepting help , even from his best friend ,

" I'll sit there an make him take it if I have to." , he thought to himself.

Just then he remembered what Chris had said about showing his story to his dad , " This was your idea Chambers." , he sighed heavily as he picked up the paper and his bag and went down stairs. He knew his dad wouldn't care , but Chris wanted him to try any way ,

" And I'd do anything for him." , if Gordie had paused to consider this thought he might have found it strange , but he didn't.

He stood awkwardly in the living room , his parents didn't look up at him , his mom was knitting and his dad was reading a sports magazine.

" Um… , Dad?" , his dad looked up with a tired expression , he looked much older than he was,

" Yes?" , he said. "

I, um… , got a story in the paper." , his dad actually looked what might pass for interested ,

" What did you do?" , he said as Gordie handed him the folded paper.

" Not that kind of story , a story I wrote."

"Oh , .. One of those." his dad sighed as he put the paper down on the table next to his chair , he didn't even glance at it ,

" You know , Denny got in the paper all the time , most touchdowns for a senior , fastest mile in his class , most wins in Castle Rock history…." his father trailed off with an expression of sadness and a sigh.

As Gordie was turning to walk out the door he yelled in his head " I knew this would happen!" , but he kept silent , like he always did.

" Why can't you be a normal boy and go out for sports instead of thinking up all those fairytales with that criminal friend of yours?" , his dad said to him , this was the first time he'd spoken a complete sentence to his son in weeks.

" Chris isn't a criminal! He's a good kid!" , Gordie all but yelled , the volume and intensity of his voice surprised him , but Chris was a good kid and he was sick of everyone labeling him with the rest of family.

Before his dad could say anything he ran out the door , fighting back tears. His parents didn't seem to realize the he had loved Denny just as much as they did , maybe more because his love wasn't founded on athletic achievements. As he walked through the summer twilight to the tree house he managed to keep the warm tears inside his eyes , he really hoped Chris wouldn't ask him about what happened , he hated crying in front of Chris. It's not that Chris ever made him feel weak for crying , quite the opposite , Chris was always there to make him feel better , he just felt guilty. He felt weak and guilty , because he couldn't help crying about his parent's not loving him , and yet Chris's dad beat him on a regular basis , as everyone in Castle Rock knew, and Chris hardly ever cried , he certainly never cried from the physical pain , he was tough.

He climbed up into the empty tree house , sat down and began , very quietly to cry. He cried because Denny was gone , he cried because his parent's wished he was in Denny's place, and he cried because he hated himself for not being tough like Chris. He didn't hear Chris come in and he wouldn't have known he was there had it not been for that familiar one armed hug that pulled him close to his best friend. Chris had guessed what happened. He didn't say anything , he was too wise to try to use words to comfort his friend. He just sat there , hugging his best friend close , letting him know in ways words couldn't fully express , (his word's anyway , Gordie's probably could) , that he was there , that he cared , and that somehow , someway things would be okay. After a few minuets Gordie raised his head and looked at Chris ,

" Why can't I be like Denny? Why am I so small , and weak , and useless?" , and he meant it too , he hated that he wasn't athletic like his brother or tough like Chris , he did feel useless.

Chris's comforting demeanor suddenly was gone ,

" Don't say that man, don't you believe that load of crap!" , Chris said quietly , but with a stern fierceness that surprised even himself.

" Denny got trophies, and awards , and girls , I just do good in school and scribble down stupid little stories." ,Gordie said tears streaming in two rivers down his thin face.

Chris put his hands on Gordie's shoulders and turned him so they were face to face ,

" That's a load of shit and you know it!" , just what he'd said last summer ,

" Your brother was great , but anyone can throw a ball and run , hell , Vern could do that! But your stories are amazing , not everyone can write like you , and no one can think up the stories you do. And if your dad's too much of an asshole to realize how amazing you are that's his fault. No matter what he says brilliant , and you're too good for this town , and way too good to be his son. No matter what he says ,you're … , your'e , perfect."

This threw Gordie for a loop , he'd always considered Chris to be the perfect one , the one who always did what he knew was right in spite of his family , the one who never cried no matter how hurt he was , the one who could get beaten by his old man and still listen to his family issues , the one who could always pick him up. For the first time Gordie realized how close the were , their faces were inches apart. Chris took his hands off Gordie's shoulders and lean forward. Before either of them knew what was happening their lips were centimeters apart. Chris leaned in and kissed Gordie with incredible gentleness , Gordie didn't think that Chris , the school tough guy was capable of such tenderness. Before Gordie could think how good it felt Chris pulled back and looked into his eyes , he looked scared and ashamed , worried that he'd ruined the only friendship he ever had , the only thing he was living for. Before he could worry much more , Gordie leaned in and kissed him back with the same gentleness. Gordie leaned forward more , put his lips to Chris's ears and whispered ,

" You're the perfect one."

P.S

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