GORDON: I- I almost forgot. Sorry it’s not the- not the best, I’m still not used to...

BUBBY: YOU’RE OUTSIDE???

TOMMY: Holy shit!!

GORDON: Huh?..

GORDON: Oh my god!!!

BENREY: You should come over, then! Celebrate with us!

DARNOLD: Yeah! Definitely! It’ll be loads of fun!

GORDON: Really?

BUBBY: Fuck yeah!! Let’s go, then! Gotta make fun of all the dorks over yonder!

FORZEN: Can’t you be nice for once?

TOMMY: No, haven’t you- you met him?

HAROLD: You can’t make friends if you scare them all off, you know!

[The group heads towards Darnold’s house, but Harold looks back at Gordon’s. He smiles and waves at a window, a familiar shadow watching from within, before turning back to join his friends.]

[You feel at peace, suddenly, knowing things are taken care of, said and done. Gordon is safe; he has been this whole time, you know. Maybe you should stop hovering over him so much and find something else to do.]

[... They enjoy their party, and they’ll enjoy their time here. Together. Out of harm’s way. You should enjoy your time too. You feel yourself fading; is this it?... Are you going to a better place, or simply- just another? Whatever the case, we’ll keep an ear out for you. Thank you for visiting, and have a wonderful afterlife.]

GORDON: W-wait!!! I forgot!!

DARNOLD: Yeah!! I’ll tell you guys all about it when I come over tomorrow.

GORDON: You’re not coming back?

DARNOLD: Nah, some of the guys are staying kinda late...

BUBBY: Doin’ nerd shit. 

FORZEN: Shut up.

HAROLD: Darnold, isn’t the party starting at four?

DARNOLD: Huh? Yeah. 

DAROLD: OH, shoot! Okay, uh-

TOMMY: We’ll see you later, Gordon!!

BENREY: I’ll come over before I go home! See you, Gordon!!

FORZEN: I am not talking about it with you guys.

BUBBY: Lame-ass.

BUBBY: It’s a fox.

FORZEN: Shut up!

GORDON: ... Week or so..

FORZEN: ... Why don’t we worry about what to do after Darnold’s party? By then this will be- probably less sensitive of a wound, and we’ll be able to figure it out better.

FORZEN: If.. That’s okay. To wait a little bit.

GORDON: .. Yeah. I.. I am really tired, honestly... Even if I don’t need sleep, it’s.. Been kind of exhausting.

BUBBY: Then right now we should chill. Rest. I’m gonna head home; get snacks n shit. Be back in like an hour.

BENREY: See ya..!

TOMMY: ... Harold, didn’t you say you had old sports equipment at your place we could probably mess with on the back patio?

HAROLD: Oh! Yes! ... But I need some help with that, and... I’d rather stay here for now.

DARNOLD: I can probably get some stuff to do until then.

GORDON: .. Thank you guys.. So much..

TOMMY: Yeah! You’re our- you’re our friend. We wouldn’t want to leave you hanging.

DARNOLD: Of course.. We’re glad you’re okay. We were worried sick about you... Thought you might be... Gone..

DARNOLD: But you’re here! And- and you’ll be okay. You’ll adjust and things will get better. 

BENREY: And we’ll help you the whole time, as long as it takes.

BENREY: You’re not alone anymore, Gordon...

[Gordon hugs Benrey and Darnold tight, Tommy and Harold quick to pile on. Forzen chuckles and sits on the bed with them, pulling out his phone to send Bubby any special requests.]

BUBBY: mm.. Why’d we all have to come again?

DARNOLD: I wasn’t able to come as early as I wanted, then everyone offered to come, and... it took you all about as long to get here as I needed to wait.

BUBBY: Ugh...

FORZEN: What, tired?

BUBBY: Shut the hell up... Sore loser...

BENREY: Huh?

FORZEN: He lost a bet over who could stay up later.

BUBBY: Won. You went to sleep before I did.

FORZEN: And who’s paying for it now, hm?

BUBBY: You are. You owe me coffee.

DARNOLD: Good grief...

TOMMY: Are we- are we going to look for Gordon or.. Keep bickering about being tired?

HAROLD: We shouldn’t keep him waiting. It wouldn’t be fair.

BENREY: Yeah.. He usually doesn’t take this long, so.. He’s gotta be back by now, right?