Back To You ?River Phoenix?

(Markus Rammel and the Summer Of Senior Year is a completely made up film. However, the actors I've placed in it are completely real and I do not own them.)

It seemed like the filming for Stand By Me ended minutes after if began. Even though I had staying in the same hotel room for months, I wasn't quite ready to leave. Madras seemed more like a home.

I wasn't ready to leave the boys either. I was going to miss Jerry's humor, and the fact that he was probably the funniest eleven year old I'd ever met. Corey was alright too. I certainly wasn't going to miss his tendency to pick fights, and get the other boys- mostly River- drunk or high.

I knew that I was supposed to be stopping River from doing drugs, but I had obligations that night and there was no way that I was going to be able to stop him.

 I still had eight years left, though. Eight whole years.

Then Wil. I was going to miss him as well. Ever since that day behind the truck, he and I were closer. We often ranted to each other about Corey's bad habits, and the things that made us mad about members of the cast and crew.

But River... he was the one tugging at my heartstrings as I smoothed out my green corduroy skirt. River and I were practically inseparable by the time Stand By Me was over.

We had been through the most hellish things on that set. I remember laughing with him after Rob shouted at them to scare them (for the train scene, of course), hugging him when he couldn't stop crying after the milk money scene, not talking to him for three days after he did drugs with Corey and then solving that problem by going to a vegan ice cream place.

I felt myself tearing up at the though of separation, but I had sworn to myself that I wasn't going to cry over it. The only person that had seen me cry was Wil, and I planned to keep it that way.

Once my black t-shirt with thin rainbow stripes was tucked in and smoothed out, I slipped on some black flats.

My hair was in a simple style, the two pieces near my face twisted and met at the back. It wasn't too fancy, perfect for the dinner.

A loud knock at my door threw me out of my trance. I walked over and opened it to see my uncle.

"Ready for a last hoorah?"

"Yeah. It'll suck to go back to Michigan."

"Funny. You know you're not going back." He laughed, as if we had talked about this many times.

"Wait, what?" I stopped in my tracks.

"Remember, Lyd? I got you that role in that new movie... what's it called?" He snapped his fingers.

Suddenly I remembered. "I think it was Markus Rammel and the Summer Of Senior Year?"

"Ah, yes! With Anthony Hopkins and some other woman, and then a little boy called Jonathan Brandy or something that'll be playing your little brother. Ah, and Matt Dillon."

I nod, and we continue to the parking lot.

"Where are we filming again?"

"Maine."

"Ah."

As we rode in the car, I remember having an idea. What if River could come with me to Maine? We could spend some more time together, certainly.

"I know you're nervous," Uncle Rob began, "but you'll be fine. I've got you a room, and Anthony -he's a good friend of mine- he's promised to take good care of you."

I nodded, really, I wasn't that anxious. I'd seen Matt Dillon on the cover of a TigerBeat and man... he was hot. And too old for me.

We pulled up at the restaurant and I hopped out of the front, smoothing out my clothes. Immediately I rushed in, thinking of River. When we got inside, Uncle rob placed a hand on my shoulder.