We didn't jump back into him sleeping in my bed. I couldn't do that just yet. Not after what had happened when he was seeing Marlene. There was apart of me that didn't want to fully trust him not to run off with other girls. After a couple weeks my popularity faded quickly and died silently. Girls stopped giving me the eyes and flocking around my locker.

Teddy and Vern missed the cookies and cakes Marlene would bring by the lunch table, she had moved on to some jock that was excelling in his spring sport. "You just can't get a guy used to something so wonderful and then stop." Vern pouted, Teddy jabbed him in the arm a good one.

"Quit your complaining. If you want to date that vulture do something bold." He hooted. Vern waved him away.

"I just might." He answered puffing out his chest.

"Take a pointer from Gordo hear and deck that guy in the face. That might get her attention." Chris winked at me. I just shook my head.

"Vern if you want cake that bad ask that girl that's always leaving hickeys on you." I pointed out. Vern flushed red and focused on the table.

"Not the baking type." He mumbled. Chris slapped him on the back as he was getting up to throw his trash away.

"Speak up, Vern." Chambers cooed.

"She doesn't bake." He huffed turning an even deeper shade of red.

"Why so embarrassed Tessio?" I teased, heading to dump my tray and get ready to head to class. Vern simply shrugged and hurried to clear away his garbage.

Chris and I chuckled all the way to math; Vern was still incredibly awkward and easy to poke fun at. It didn't hit me until have way through learning a new formula that Teddy didn't join us in the taunting efforts. I shook it off and turned back to my work.

After class Chris followed me out of school, looking bewildered. "I hope you understood that because I'm completely lost." He gripped his algebra book.

"So we'll be working on math tonight?" I smirked. He nodded looking at me wide eyed as we headed down the street. I was tempted to turn the other way and steer him toward his house. Just to ensure we'd work. His dad didn't particularly like guests over unless it was for a good reason, and Chris's grades were a good reason.

We continued for my house, however. "Do you think the Teddy has something for that girl Vern is fooling around with?" I asked. Usually I didn't want to get involved in whatever those two were doing because we rarely hung out outside of school but Teddy was usually number one to bust Vern's balls over something. It's how they always were, ever since we were kids.

"Maybe, why do you think?" Chris shuffled next to me. Spring was in full bloom, the trees were already green, and I sneezed from pollen.

"When we were ripping on him about her not making him baked goods, Teddy didn't join in like usual." I said wiping my nose.

"Damn, Gordie."

"What?"

"Think you're a little over observant? Maybe he was distracted he doesn't have the long attention span."

I shrugged and was quiet for a while, Chris could be right. "Don't know, it just seemed odd, that's all."

"Besides what girl would go for Teddy over Vern? The kid is bat shit insane." He laughed. I flashed a smile it was true. He was out there and loud. Most girls would steer clear for their own sake.

"One day we should go camping, to catch up." I suggested.

"Yeah, we should." He nodded.

When we got to the house I made sure we took up post at the kitchen table, it was my way to guarantee we'd get work done, and he wouldn't persuade me into another activity. My mom offered us a snack, and headed off to do some housework. After working through a few problems and their solutions together, I let him finish the homework on his own. I check it later with my own.

"We got the same answers." I smiled.

"If writing doesn't work out, you should teach." He laughed. I had helped Chris throughout high school with his classes. It's not that he wasn't smart; he just struggled with the pace of them. There were plenty of nights we'd sit on my bed studying and working on projects, where his brow would crease and his nose would scrunch up in concentration. He never gave up, even if it took us three hours to finish.

Mom entered asking, "Chris, are you staying for dinner? I can call you mom if you are." My mom had insisted after Chris and mines fight to always let Chris's mom know when he was stay, just as a precaution. I wasn't really sure why.

"If you don't mind." He responded with a flash of his toothy smile.

"Of course not." She gave a laugh and disappeared into the hall.

When it was just dad, mom, and I at dinner, dad would talk about his day and mom would nod and ask all the right questions as I push mash potatoes or carrots around my plate. When Chris was over dad would only answer questions with short sentences and then mumble about how we were such good studiers and let my mom navigate conversation. He still didn't like Chris too much, based on his dad and brother it wasn't fair, but none of us said anything about it.

Chris headed home after helping mom and I clean up. We were standing on the porch. It was cool the sun was going down and the wind had picked up. Spring hadn't warmed up enough. I wanted a jacket but I didn't want to go back inside.

We stood there talking for a few minutes the wind cutting through my back, I shivered. He laughed at me my arms crossed tightly and the sour expression on my face. "Come on Lachance, it isn't that bad." He snickered. I huffed and rubbed my arms. "Well I'll let you be a wuss and go inside." He stepped closer. Closer than he should've been.

We were on my porch; my parents could easily walk out and see, in daylight someone could drive by. My heart thudded loud. He reached out and hugged me close. My arms trapped between us, so I stood there a little awkward. Ever so quickly a kiss was planted on the corner of my jaw and then he let me go and was already on the second step. "See ya tomorrow." He flashed me a grin and headed off into the hazy evening. I went from being so cold, to a flush spreading over my face, heat traveling down my back and pooling in my stomach. I had to make myself breath. Damn that Chambers.

A/N: So I figured I incorporate Vern and Teddy in, because they're so lovable and fun. And I'm so terribly sorry for such long breaks between posts. Senior year is busy, busy, busy all the time. I hope you enjoy.