Pt 8 Goodbyes

                                    

                                          
Ray's body was found, but neither our gang nor their gang got the credit, we decided that an anonymous phone call would be best. 
The trip back felt quicker, we had few stops and word exchange was minimal and only at the times it was necessary. We walked through the night and arrived back at castle rock at around 5 o'clock on Sunday morning. We'd only been gone two days but somehow the town felt smaller. 
We stopped at a crossing where Vern and Teddy would depart from us. 
"Well," Vern says "See you in school"
"Yeah" Chris says. 
"Yeah" Gordie says. 
"See you in junior high" Teddy says.
"Wow we are getting old" I joke but somehow it didn't seem funny we were getting older and something made me feel like we wouldn't be as close after this. 
Vern walks away but stops to pick something up. He turns back to us.
"A penny" he holds it up. I smile and the rest of us stand there for a while. 
"Well guys, I better get home before my mum puts me on the ten most wanted list" Teddy says. He starts to walk away but stops "Oh Andie?" He says.
"Yeah?" I say. 
"Well, you remember how that night by the tree I was going to say something but then stopped?" Teddy askes.
"Yeah" I answer.
"Well I was going to say that... well I like you, I really do and I have for ages, I just never had the balls to say it, I guess I am a pussy huh?" Teddy says.
"Teddy" I say. 
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said it-" Teddy says.  
"Teddy!" I say and he stops "I like you too" I kiss Teddy on the cheek and his face turns red. 
"We-well good" He stutters, smiling. "And Chris, no hard feelings okay?" 
"No way man" Chris replies. Then Teddy walks away too. 
The rest of us don't speak until we get to the top of the hill where our tree house is, and we look out over the town with a new perspective. 
"I'm never gonna get out of this town am I?" Chris says. 
"You can do anything you want man" Gordie says.            
"Yeah, sure" Chris says half scoffing. We look at each other "Give me some skin" Chris says. We do it three ways and then Chris walks away. After that me and Gordie go home we promise that we will always be friends no matter what even if we are miles apart.