12 Years Young

Chapter 17

We walked along the tracks for about an hour before we got to the train bridge. Surprisingly we didn't have any run ins with trains. If we did I probably would have pushed Gordie in front of it.

After we got past the bridge we stopped in a little clearing for a break. We were eating and Gordie shot me a glare.

"What the hell are you looking at?" I snapped at Gordie.

"I hope you choke." He said throwing his apple at my feet.
"That's it. Look you two need to stop this shit. You're acting like complete ass holes to each other!" Chris said angrily.

"That's kind of the point." I said crossing my arms. Gordie was staring at me. For once I couldn't tell what he was feeling. He looked upset, mad, but also it looked like he was worrying again.

"Well it shouldn't be the point Jo. You guys are making everything between everyone just plain awkward. When we get off this train the two of you are going to go straight to the three house and talk it out. Got it?" Chris said looking between the two of us.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. There was no way of getting out of this. We both looked up to Chris. I looked up to him as an actual brother, so did Gordie I guess too. Gordie nodded and sat down with his back against a tree opposite of me.

I say against the tree behind me and stared at the ground. After a while Chris, Ben, and Teddy started up a card game. I reached for the necklace Gordie gave me and smiled to myself.

It brought me back to that first day we met. I was 4 and he was 5. He and Chris were playing in the dirt in the front yard. I ran outside wanting to join. Chris yelled at me to leave and Gordie helped him by picking up a worm and chasing me with it. I smiled even more at the memory.

I looked up after and made eye contact with Gordie. We held it for a second before he held up a hand that held up his index finger as in "one second." Then he started digging in his pocket.

I watched him confused until he pulled none other than his middle finger out of his pocket. I suppressed a smile and put my fist up to my mouth. I blew into my fist and slowly raised my middle finger at him with every breath.

He smiled at me and I felt butterflies. I knew my face was red but I tried to ignore it.

I nodded to the right and his smile faded a little. He nodded though. We both stood up and walked out deeper into the woods.

We found a fallen log and sat on it with an awkward space in between.

"Gordie, I'm really sorry about what I said. You know I don't hate you right?" I said turning to look at him.

"I know. We both said things we don't mean. I do trust you though. It's just that in the heat of the moment things don't process in my mind quick enough and I make assumptions. I'm sorry Jo." He said looking at the ground.

"Could you just try to act friendlier to Ben? He might not  be here much longer." I said making him look up at me.

"He won't?" He said. His tone was mixed. It was a sad tone but it had a little twinge of happiness.

"Please don't tell the guys. Ben might be moving but he doesn't know if it's for sure or not. I know you don't exactly like him, but let's try just in case he is moving." I said reaching out and taking his hand.

"We're cool now right?" He asked after. Brief moment of silence. I looked at Gordie and smiled.

"Of course we're cool." I said smiling and scanning his face.

Before we knew it we were both leaning in. Our lips met and all the worries of he fight, Ben moving, and getting home in time just slipped away. It was just me and him. Well, until the boys found us.

"Oh la la!" Yelled Teddy from the trees making Ben and Chris laugh. Gordie and I quickly parted and blushed.

"Go screw!" Gordie and I both yelled back and standing up.

"Let's get moving! I wanna get back so my parents don't strangle me." Ben said with a chuckle as we slowly made our way back to the clearing.

We packed up our stuff and continued on the railroad. Everyone was in a lot better mood now. Gordie and Chris were skipping around behind us, Teddy was off in his own little world in the front, and Ben and I were playing I Spy in the middle.

We didn't make any pit stops. We just kept walking. We didn't want to waste anymore time.

We got back to Castle Rock at about 7:00 pm.

"I like Castle Rock way better than Harlow." I said to Gordie as we were crossing the bridge back into town.

"Yeah, there's too many people in Harlow for me." Gordie said with a smile.

That's how I will always remember that year. Gordie and I smiling together on that bridge. In the summer a lot of things happened. My dad was back, my mom showed up, Gordie and I got together,Ben moved here.

It was a year of change. I would say it was all good change though. The rest of the guys went on ahead of us.

Ben did move away at the holiday break. He left on good terms with Gordie.

Gordie's parents never changed. I always had hoped in the back of my mind that they would.

We took our time walking to my house that evening. When we finally got there, he pulled me into a hug.

"I hope we never fight like that again." Gordie said squeezing me.

"We never will." I said smiling to myself and closing my eyes.

"You promise?" He asked pulling away and staring at me.

"Pinkie promise." I said crossing my heart then kissing my pinkie.

Gordie smiled and so did I. We didn't need words right now. It was the moment that is still burned to he back of my mind.

I kissed Gordie on the cheek and we parted ways.

That little trip was the end to our childhood. We had all grown up since then, hell, we grew up even before the summer was over.

Walking into my house wasn't bad anymore. I actually smelled soup on the stove. I got inside and everyone was sitting around the table digging in to their bowls.

My dad smiled at me and nodded to the bowl. I smiled and sat down.

Yeah, change is good.

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Ta Daaa!!! I hope that was a good ending. I honestly really liked this story. I hope other people do to! Thanks for reading (and voting for those who voted)! Okay. Time to try and find an idea for a new story. Again, thanks everyone!