This is the first fan fiction I've ever posted here so I'm a little nervous. Anyway this is about the characters from my favourite film STAND BY ME when they are in probably their junior or senior year of high school. Of course I don't own Gordie Lachance or Chris Chambers or the others, although I wish I did. I've written about twenty chapters but have just uploaded a couple so far. Please R + R and then if there are certain aspects you don't like I can change it before uploading the rest J Also thanks to my sister who sorted out my grammar and punctuation for me, you rock the Casbah!

Human Rights.

Usually Gordie Lachance paid little or no attention during oral reports, especially if they fell during last period English class, but today was different. Today was Chris Chambers's speech. Chris had been Gordie's best friend since birth or thereabouts. They did everything together and Gordie couldn't imagine life without his friend. Chris's speech was important for another reason too. Gordie knew how much Chris was struggling in the college courses and he knew how much this speech meant to Chris. It was important to both of them that this went well.

Sadly, it seemed like Chris was really struggling. He was talking about human rights, something Gordie knew Chris felt strongly about. Usually Chris was a pretty articulate guy, especially when talking about something he felt passionately about, but right now Chris was fumbling for words. Gordie noticed with distress that a fine layer of sweat had broken out on Chris's forehead as he scanned his cue cards with growing panic.

"So, um, basically there's a lot of um confl- conflict going on and, um..." Chris cleared his throat nervously.

Some of the other kids were beginning to snigger amongst themselves, no doubt whispering more about the ridiculousness of a Chambers kid being in the college courses. With rising frustration, Gordie noticed that the teacher wasn't even pretending to shush the students; instead, he was leaning forwards with a malevolent smile. Mr Stanley hated the Chambers family ever since Chris's older brother Richard (Eyeball to his friends) had glued a whole bunch of push pins to Mr Stanley's chair a couple of years back. Like most of the faculty Mr Stanley was just looking for reasons to kick Chris out of his class and back to the shop courses where he 'belonged'.

"C'mon Chambers we haven't got all day," Eric Clarkson said drumming his fingers loudly on his desk.

Gordie glanced back at Mr Stanley; surely he had to say something now. He didn't, of course; Gordie even swore that Mr Stanley's grin widened.

"Stick to shit you know about Chambers," another guy hissed.

The noise in the classroom was steadily increasing. Chris was growing more and more nervous, clearing his throat almost every other second and pulling uncomfortably on the neck of his t-shirt, stretching the thin material out of shape. Gordie was scared; he had never seen Chris Chambers really nervous. He tried to catch Chris's eye to reassure him that someone in there was supporting him. Chris's eyes were glued to the pieces of paper in his hand and his words had become an almost inaudible mumble. Gordie felt all the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, his heart pounding. More than anything he wanted to save Chris from pain. Only Gordie knew how hard Chris was working to even keep afloat in these classes, all those nights reviewing and memorising. This could not go on any longer.

"Shut the fuck up," Gordie found himself saying.

En masse, the class seemed to turn to face him; even Mr Stanley and Chris looked at him. Mr Stanley's piglike eyes were wide in shock. Chris was shaking his head slightly, willing Gordie not to do anything stupid.

"What did you say Mr Lachance?" Stanley asked.

"I said that, um, people should listen to Chris," Gordie said hating the shakiness of his voice.

"No, that's not what I heard," Stanley said coldly standing up.

Gordie bit his lip "I couldn't hear what Chris was saying sir, I just wanted everyone to, um, be quieter."

Stanley walked over and stopped in front of Gordie's desk.

"Don't lie to me, we all heard what you said."

"Well, if you heard then why did you even ask?" Gordie asked defiantly.

Stanley's eyes narrowed. "Leave now, go see Mr Bonds. I'm sure he'll have some words to share with you"

"Wait, Mr Stanley! Gordie didn't do anything," Chris protested, coming to stand besides Gordie's chair.

"Well, Mr Chambers, perhaps you can join Mr Lachance in the principal's office and you two can sort out this little…. Misunderstanding." Stanley smiled, revealing crooked teeth.

Several of their classmates were openly laughing now. Gordie climbed sullenly to his feet besides Chris. As Mr Stanley turned to walk back to his chair both Gordie and Chris shot him the finger behind his back. Then they turned and hurried from the classroom before one of the other kids could tell on them.

"Bastard," Chris muttered under his breath as the door shut behind them.