Gordie
Gordie couldn't help but agree when Teddy had asked him if he wanted to get back together as a group that saturday. Even though he wasn't particularly a fan of Teddy or Vern at that point, it sounded like a decent time. They still had enough in common and even if they weren't friends they still could be friend-ly. It would help him too.
Mr Daugherty had assigned a different project. That Friday when everyone had turned in their personal narratives he told them what they'd really be working on, something they had a month to accomplish. That Gordie needed to write about someone he loved. Someone important to him. Gordie immediately knew who he was going to write about. Chris, he thought, there was no doubt about it. Chris was the best choice. At first he considered writing about Denny but the memories hurt too much and he couldn't interview a dead man. Besides, Mr Daugherty already wanted him to write about that. Gordie didn't want to give him the satisfaction.
Gordie rapped his knuckles on the trap door of the treehouse, overwhelmed with nostalgia. It still smelled the same. Like cider, cigarettes, and bubblegum. When the door opened he was met with Chris. He grinned, reaching a hand out for Gordie to use for stability. Even though he didn't need it he grabbed Chris's hand anyway as he hauled himself up into the treehouse. Teddy sat there giggling himself, and Vern had yet to arrive.
"What?" Gordie said to Teddy, who seemed to be cracking himself up.
Chris glared at him, and Teddy composed himself, "Nothing."
Gordie shrugged, "Okay."
"Did you see Vern?" Chris asked, changing the subject.
"No, why?"
"He said he was getting snacks or something." Teddy said, "Probably ate them all."
Gordie gaped at him, "That's mean, Teddy."
"Sorry," He said, "I didn't think it would sound mean."
"You're right. You don't think at all." Chris said coldly. Gordie looked at him, inspecting his face as if that would give him the reason why Chris was suddenly so cold to Teddy. Has something happened?
Gordie figured it wouldn't hurt to ask so he said, "What is it with you two?"
"Well-" Teddy started.
"Shut up, Teddy." Chris warned.
"Chris is-"
"SHUT UP TEDDY GOD DAMN IT." Chris yelled at him.
Teddy swallowed hard and nibbled on his thumb-nail.
There was a knock at the door, Vern. Gordie was glad to see him because if he had to sit in between Chris and Teddy for any longer he figured he'd rather be hit by a train.
"That's not the secret knock." Chris cooed.
"Oh come on you guys didn't even tell me this time!" Vern whined, "Do you want food or not?"
Eventually Chris let him in, and he set two plastic bags on top of the makeshift table. The treehouse felt a lot smaller than it used to be. They'd all grown significantly since then so it made sense.
Teddy inspected the bag's contents, "Woah, sweet."
"You're welcome," Vern said, leaning against the wall. He was clearly proud of himself. Which amused Gordie more than it should.
"You guys wanna play something?" Vern asked, "Like truth or dare?"
"We're not twelve year old girls." Teddy groaned.
"Well have you got any better ideas?" Vern raised an eyebrow.
"...no," Teddy admitted.
Vern nodded, "Fine then, you first. Truth or Dare?"
"Dare." Teddy replied, as if it wasn't even a question.
Vern thought for a moment, "Sing the lyrics to Star Spangled Banner."
Teddy shrugged, and he did. They all clapped when he finished.
"Wow Teddy, that was beautiful," Chris teased.
"I know, right." Teddy said, "Gordie truth or dare."
"Truth." Gordie said, because he knew whatever Teddy would come up with would be insane. Vern's dares aren't very creative, and Chris wouldn't make Gordie do anything bad. But Teddy, there was no telling what he would do.
"Lame." Teddy said, "What's your favorite place to be kissed?"
Gordie gaped at him, he knew Teddy knew he hadn't kissed anyone before. It was an odd question to ask. "I've... never kissed before. So I dunno."
"Well, where do you want to be kissed, then." Teddy asked.
"Come on, Ted. He answered the question." Chris said,
Teddy said, "I wanna see him answer."
"The lips I guess." Gordie responded, because he knew they would keep fighting if he didn't. It felt like he was at his own dinner table. Teddy slapped his hands on his knees in satisfaction and leaned back, Vern was knuckles deep in a bag of kettle chips, and Chris was sliding a box of cigarettes from his pocket.
"Chris." Gordie said.
"What?" He looked up for a second, striking a match over and over until it lit aflame.
"Truth or Dare."
Chris shrugged, lighting the cigarette in his lips, "Truth I guess."
Gordie hadn't expected him to pick that, and panicked for a second. Searching for an answer. He looked at Teddy or Vern who were patiently waiting for him, "Uh... do you like anyone?"
"...Yeah." Chris said, eyeing them.
Gordie wanted to ask who it was, but that would go against the game. One question per person, everyone knew that. Besides Teddy it seemed. But rules never applied to Teddy. He didn't seem to care enough to follow them.
"Verno truth or dare." Chris asked.
"Dare."
"Do the chicken dance." Chris smirked.
"Oh come on." Vern whined.
"Do it." Teddy urged.
"Fine." Vern said, standing up. Gordie couldn't help but watch as he danced. They all clapped to the beat and when Vern sat down it felt like they were kids again. Even Vern was grinning when he sat back down. For a moment it was normal. Until it wasn't.
"Teddy truth or dare." Vern asked.
"Truth." Teddy said, to all their surprise.
"What's the biggest secret anyone's ever told you?"
Teddy sat there, in silence. He looked at Chris, then at Vern, Gordie, and back at Chris. Chris shook his head violently, as if they both knew what he was going to say. Gordie pressed his lips together in curiosity. He wished he knew what Chris was thinking.
"Well," Teddy said, "Chris-"
"I don't wanna play no more." Chris interrupted.
"What?" Gordie asked, silently annoyed that he didn't get to find out whatever secret he was keeping.
"Come on, Chris, isn't that bad?" Teddy said.
"I said I don't wanna play no more." Chris glared at him, standing up.
"Chris?" Gordie asked. But Chris didn't turn. He hauled open the trap door which lightly crushed vern behind it.
"Ow." Vern said, but Chris didn't apologize. He didn't say anything. He jumped out and waded through the long grass.
Gordie looked at Teddy and Vern which were just as confused as he was. Gordie stood up too, wiping saw dust off of his pants and climbed down the ladder.
"Chris?" Gordie called out.
"Go away, Gordie." Chris said.
"Come on," Gordie said, walking up to him. The sun was setting around them and in any other situation it would have been beautiful, "It's okay."
Chris turned to face him, he was crying. Gordie walked up to him and slowly put a hand on his shoulder. Chris tried to pull away but eventually accepted his fate in Gordie's arms, "I don't want to hang out with Teddy anymore."
"What happened?" Gordie asked, genuinely concerned, "Did you two fight?"
Chris shook his head, "No."
"Then what?"
Chris looked at the ground, his words quivered, "I told him that I-"
Gordie leaned in in anticipation, "That you?"
"That I- I-" Chris took a shaky breath, wiping the tears from his face. "I love you."
"What?" Gordie said, his mouth going dry. The words sounded strange, unnatural even. For a moment he wondered if it was all a dream, or a sick joke.
"I love you, Gordie. Okay? There I said it." Chris said.
"Chris I-" Gordie started. "I don't know what to say."
"We don't need to be friends anymore. I understand." Chris began to wade through the tall grass.
"No-" Gordie said, reaching out.
"What?"
Gordie looked back to see if Teddy and Vern were watching through the treehouse window, which they were. But the moment seemed to matter more, so he continued, "Chris I care about you more than anyone else in the entire world and I never really thought about it but... I think I love you too."
Chris approached him slowly, moving a piece of hair out of his face, his eyes still glistened but he was smiling, "You think?"
Gordie nodded.
"You've never kissed anyone, Gordo?" Chris asked.
Gordie shook his head, his heart racing, "You know that."
"Can I?" Chris asked.
Gordie couldn't even get the words out, "Yeah."
Chris's face was so close to him. He could feel his breath on his cheeks and he no longer cared that Teddy and Vern were watching through the window. Nothing mattered. It was only Chris.
It was only for an instant. Short, and sweet. Chris knew at least some of what he was doing and braced Gordie's head as he melted. Gordie felt like he no longer had bones. He couldn't move. His whole body shook with warmth and energy. He'd never felt anything like this before. The world felt new, reborn somehow. Chris tasted like cigarettes and peppermint. Chris had thirteen freckles on his face. Chris was...Chris was... Gordie felt like he was seeing him for the first time.
Silently back in the treehouse, Vern slid Teddy two quarters.