The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the junkyard as you and Chris sat on an old, rusted-out car, waiting for the others to come back with food. The metal beneath you was warm from the summer heat, but the breeze that drifted through made it almost comfortable.

Chris leaned back on his hands, stretching his legs out in front of him, his boots kicking up little clouds of dust. He had that easy grin on his face-the one that always made it hard to tell if he was actually relaxed or just pretending to be. "You think they'll bring back anything edible? Or are we gonna be stuck with stale bread and melted chocolate again?"

You laughed, shaking your head. "Knowing Vern, we're lucky if he doesn't eat half of it before they get back."

Chris chuckled, but then fell quiet for a moment, his fingers absently picking at a loose thread on his jeans. He looks more serious now. "You ever think about what's gonna happen after this?"

You furrowed your brows. “After we find the body?"

He shook his head, eyes flickering away like he was trying to find the right words. "No, I mean... after everything. After summer, after we go back to school, after we're not just running around like this anymore."

You knew what he meant. Knew that Chris worried about what the world had planned for him. About what people expected from a Chambers kid. You sighed softly. “You don't have to be what they say you are, Chris."

He let out a breath, smiling just a little, but there was something sad in it. “Yeah? Tell that to everyone else."

You reached over, nudging his shoulder, making him look at you again. "I mean it. You're not them. You're not your dad, or your brother, or whatever those teachers think. You're you, and that's enough."

For a second, he didn't say anything. Just stared at you like he wasn't sure if he believed you or not. Then, finally, he sighed and bumped your shoulder back, a real smile breaking through. "Damn, you really know how to make a guy all mushy, huh?"

You laugh. “Shut up."