What Wade saw when he arrived for Watson’s walk was the end of anything that could have been. A dog’s shrieks of pain were not quite so human as a raccoon’s, but there was at least as much feeling to them. Watson looked to Wade, and his eyes pled for release. He was dying, and slowly.

There was only one thing to do. Leo offered a knife. Numb, Wade took it. He killed quickly. Behind them, a scream of the purest anguish split the air, like a raccoon. Wade looked back.

“I’m sorry.” He fled, tears streaming.

“Bullseye.” Leo smiled.

“Drop her.”

“What?? Aw! Is somebody getting jealous? Want a little cuddle?”

“No. Drop her or something bad will happen.” Leo’s voice on the other end of the line was even, calm, and in that perpetual state of amused yet cold.

“What? Now you sound like Derrick. Ass.”

“You’ve gone soft. You’re better than this.”

“Shut up. I have not. Just because I’m not spending as many hours in detention-”

“What are you doing later? Want to hang out? The K-Mart wall needs tagging again.”

“Can I do it tomorrow? We’re walking Watson.”

Leo hung up. Wade felt no guilt.

Wade found escape in being the class clown. Leo found pleasure in other people’s pain. Wade craved attention. Leo craved anonymity. The friendship that followed was that of a fool and his patsy, but despite that it thrived. Under Leo’s influence, Wade’s pranks, ever outlandish, took a violent turn every now and then. Under Wade’s influence, Leo learned to make things entertaining. Both were loved and hated, as most class clowns are.

They would meet the one to change their dynamic in the seventh grade. Her name was Jennie, with an “ie”, and she would be Wade’s very first love.