80s Imagines

Chris Chambers • Stand by Me Part 1

[Modern, high school romance story.]

"I don't get it," your friend, Samantha, says. "It's not you."

"What do you mean, 'It's not me'?" You ask.

"You've always been a part of the popular crowd. Now, you're hanging out with some lowlife like Chris Chambers? Rumor is that someone saw you making out in a treehouse."

At that comment, anger boils inside you as people start whispering. "What?! No, we didn't! I was helping him with his homework since Gordie couldn't do it! Why does it even matter!"

"They're bad news, Y/N. I'm just looking out for you!"

"No, you're just trying to keep me from doing what I want." You slam your locker shut, furious. First of all, the fact that she called Chris a lowlife pissed you off. Second, she did not control you. No one did. So, what if you were in the popular crowd? Why couldn't you branch out?

You're done with people like Samantha. She isn't Queen Bee, but she is high on the charts and pulled you up with her. She makes you go to all the parties and tells you to drink, but you never do. She says you should go out with the biggest jerk on the football team, Kevin Clarkson.

Just as you are making your way to Chris's locker, you hear the devil himself shouting, "Why don't you just go walk off a cliff?!"

You begin to do a small jog towards Chris, whose books are sprawled on the floor. Kevin is walking away with his friends, laughing. You help Chris pick up his books and then start after him. "That stupid jerk!"

Chris grabs your wrist. "Y/N, just forget about it."

"What? No, he told you to kill yourself!" You don't care about the stares you are getting. You hate when people mess with Chris. He's a good guy.

"You realize that Kevin towers over you, right?" Chris asks.

"So?"

Chris just smirks. It's that same smirk that always makes you melt inside. "He's just a shithead. You don't have to worry about me so much. I'm good."

You lean against the locker beside his. "Are you good?"

He nods, but you have a hard time believing him. If you were in Chris's position, you probably would kill yourself. Chris's life is a nightmare to you. His father is an abusive drunk. His brother still lives at home, even though he is in his twenties. All Eyeball does is hang out with the meanest guys in Castle Rock, picking on Chris. Eyeball can sometimes beat Chris up as bad as his dad. Not only that, but school is a battlefield. The kids and the teachers think he is nothing and won't be anything, even though his grades have been rapidly improving with Gordie's help. Kids make fun of him for coming in with bruises, thinking he starts fights. Kids make fun of him for being in college courses. Kids make fun of him for wearing cheap clothes. Kids make fun of Chris for being Chris. Especially Kevin.

Gordie meets you at Chris's locker. "Everything okay?" He asks. "Word has it that Kevin gave Chris a swirly."

Chris actually laughs. "That's a new one." You don't get how Chris can be so positive. The only thing Chris has is Gordie and you, basically. Sometimes they talk to two boys, Teddy and Vern, but that's rare since you don't have any classes with them.

All three of you walk to your first period, English. This is where you first met Chris and Gordie. In the back three seats where you were given your permanent spot for the year. At first, you were upset to sit with them. You had heard Chris beat up kids and smoked weed while Gordie did the same as his side kick. God, you learned never to listen to rumors again. They were two of the best guys you'd ever met. They weren't fake. They didn't try to impress anyone. They did things because they wanted to.