stand by me

chapter nine

^^^listen to the music while you read^^^

When we got to the fence of the junkyard we stood there for a minute.
"Hey Vern, looks like your ma's been out driving again," Gordie said, referring to the sprawled our cars in the junkyard. "Oh that's so funny I forgot to laugh!" Vern said with a straight face.
I had only ever been in the car with Vern's mom once and I'd never do it again.
"Stand back men!" Teddy said as he yelled his bag over the fence and made an explosion sound. "Paratroops over side!" He told us.
No trespassing' was enforced by Milo Pressmen the junk man and his dog Chopper. The most feared and least seen dog in Castle Rock. Legend had it that Milo had taught him not just to sic, but to sic specific parts of the human anatomy. Thus a kid who had illegally scaled the junkyard fence might hear the dreaded cry, "Chopper! Sic balls!"
I never really believed all that bullshit about the dog. I know the guys did though. Even though I never saw the dog, I knew he wasn't a threat to anyone. That kinda stuff only happened in movies.
Well we didn't see the dog or the junk man so we jumped the fence. All except for me. I hated heights so much. None of the boys knew that until that day. I could handle the treehouse, but a huge fence? No thanks.
"Y/N, c'mon, hop over!" Gordie told me. "Uh uh."
I wasn't afraid of much but that was the one thing that just didn't sit right with me.
"Y/N! We don't have all day! Are you coming or what?" Teddy asked. "I hate heights.." I told them. Teddy started cackling. "Stop laughing Teddy!" Chris told him. "Here, I'll hop back over and you get on my back and I'll carry you over," Chris suggested. I agreed and Chris hopped over.
I was pretty small for my age.
Chris picked me up like it was nothing. I got butterflies in my stomach. That had never happened before.
"Are you okay?" He asked before he hopped back over. "Yeah," I said. I wasn't really thinking about the height anymore. All I was thinking about was him.
Before I knew it we were on the other side of the fence with the guys.
"Wow, you're stronger than you look," I teased at him. He chuckled. "And you're lighter than you look," He teased back. "God! Get a room! Are you guys done?" Teddy asked mockingly. I rolled my eyes. Teddy started screaming and running down the junkyard. Vern obviously followed after him. Me, Gordie, and Chris stood at the fence still.
"Teddy's crazy!" Gordie said. "Yeah, he won't live to be 20 I bet," Chris said. "Remember the time you saved him in the tree?" I asked Chris. "Yeah, I dream about that sometimes except in the dream I always miss, I just get a couple of his hairs and down he goes," Chris sighed. "It's weird," he said quietly as we started walking. "Yeah, that is weird," I said. "But you didn't miss him! Chris Chambers never misses!" Gordie reassured him. "Not even when the ladies leave the seat down!" He said, spitting into a circle he made with his fingers. I scoffed at him.
"Hey! Race you?" Chris asked. "No... I don't feel like it," Gordie said. "Ugh! How about you Y/N?" He sighed. "No...I'm a little tired," I said. He sighed. "C'mon guys! Just to the pump," he said, trying to convince us. We groaned and then me an Gordie made eye contact and he winked. "Go!" Gordie screamed.
Me and Gordie started running with Chris behind us. "Oh you guys are dead!" Chris yelled from behind us. "It looks like Y/L and Lachance have got him beat! But what's that? Chambers is making his move! They're fading on edge! Chambers at the take!" He yelled.
He beat me and Gordie but I didn't mind. It was still fun. I slowed down a bit and put my hands on my knees and leaned down trying to catch my breath. Chris and Gordie did the same. Me and Chris made eye contact and a grinned. He ruffled my curly hair and put his arm around me as we started walking toward Vern and Teddy who were pumping water. Gordie was was behind us tying his shoe. "I'll catch up!" He yelled to us.