Bein’ Friends

	Loid inhaled deeply, as he took two small steps toward his sleeping friend.  He bit his lip, wondering if this was really the right thing to do. He could help stop an alien invasion, but could he murder a friend in cold blood? His heart raced as he took another small step toward Ninten. Cruel, harsh words flew back into memory.

	On the rooftop of a school in the village of Thanksgiving, Loid sat, brooding silently in a trash can, hiding from those who wanted to hurt him. He heard two girls walk up to the rooftop, and sit down near him.

	“Hey, what do you think of that Loid kid?” one asked.

	“Him? Ew. What a moron. I heard he got caught with explosives.”

	“I know. The teachers called him a danger to himself and others before they expelled him.” Loid shifted around in his can. The expulsion had been a rough time for him, and he still hadn’t quite recovered. A silent tear dripped down his face.

	A man wearing dark, leather clothing ran forward, then, and said to the two girls, “Don’t worry, I’ll get rid of him.” He then glanced toward Loid, and shoved the can off of the roof. Loid could barely hear the girls thanking the man, and more insults toward himself, before he fell unconscious.

	Loid gritted his teeth in rage, and took another step toward Ninten. He was almost directly above him. Still, he thought, Is killing Ninten really guilty of anything? His memory seemed to answer this question by flooding him with more pain.

Ninten chuckled, not knowing Loid was behind the tents they were camping in. He turned toward Ana. “Hey, Ana, what do you think of the other kid?”

	“Loid, you mean? He’s not too bad. Kinda creepy, though. Does he always carry around bombs?”

	“Yeah. When I found him, he was hiding in a trash can. Turns out, he got kicked out of school for stealing explosives. What a loser.”

	“I see what you mean. Why’d you bring him, then? Who would want to live with somebody like that?”

	“I needed the bombs, and I couldn’t work them. He could be a useful partner, but nobody like that would ever be my friend.”

	“I know, right? Who’d like a creep like him?” Loid couldn’t take any more. He ran off, not crying until he was sure they couldn’t hear him. He expected this from Ninten, he expected him to be as cruel as everyone else in his life, but Ana? He loved her, and he thought at least she would be kind to him. Evidently, he was wrong.

	Loid screamed, and let the bottle rocket in his hands loose toward Ninten. He awoke a split second before his death, but it was already too late. The explosion shattered Ninten’s remains across the room. He turned around, wiping the blood off of his shoes, as he stepped over an arm toward the doorway.

	Sweet relief flew through Loid’s mind. The deed was done; there was no turning back now, no more inconsistence. If he strayed from his new path at all, he would find himself dead. His feelings flew about his mind as he looked down again at the remains of his so-called friend. Is this what being friends is about, Ninten? You called me your friend, yet you lied and insulted me behind my back. Good riddance.

	Loid began to ponder what he had done, then. Was killing people really so wrong? It was so easy, and painless, for him to kill Ninten. How could something so wrong feel so right? If killing people felt this good, he could keep on killing. He might get some respect, then, and fear. The geeky loser everyone hated was gone. He was a man of action, a man of power. He would kill, and keep killing, until he was revered as the greatest man in the world! But first, he would have to kill Ana. She would be a thorn in his side if he didn’t.

	As he drew out another bottle rocket, Ana ran toward him. “Are you two okay? I heard a scream, and-OH GOD, NINTEN!” Ana let out a scream, full of anger and sorrow. She shouted, “What happened, Loid? Who did this to him?” 

This is the moment, Loid thought, Do or die, all or nothing. I have to kill the girl now, or she’ll kill me. I have to do it now; before she loses trust in me, before she finds out I killed her beloved Ninten.

	Loid lit the rocket’s fuse, pointing toward Ana this time. He smirked, until he caught a glimpse of Ana’s expression. Full remorse caught up with him, as he recalled happier memories with both of them. Though they held contempt, they were always kind, and never openly insulted or hurt him. He loved Ana, and he knew now that that would never change, and that she would forever hate him. 

	He now knew he couldn’t kill her, and that she would soon kill him. He knew what he had to do. He turned the rocket toward himself, seconds before it exploded. “I’m sorry...Ana...” he muttered, before his body flew across the room, his remains scattered among Ninten’s.

	“Loid, why?” she muttered to herself, and then screamed, for anyone to hear, “WHY?” She turned around, and left the room, never to return. A single tear dropped to the ground. “I always loved you...Loid...”