Squee lay in his bed and closed his eyes. He tired to relax every muscle in his body starting from his toes as he sank deeper into his mattress. But as much as he tried he still couldn't get comfortable. The sweet relief of sleep eluded him and instead he found himself playing over the scene from earlier today over and over in his head. He had been complaining to Pepito which was rather unusual for him as he was usually an optimist and preferred to look on the bright side of everything. But his Grandfather had been to visit him the weekend before and he couldn't help himself as he raged about the creepy old man. I mean the guy had actually tired to EAT him! If this wasn't a justification to use every curse he knew and some he made up on the spot he didn't know what was. Pepito had just stared at him as he spoke; his usually contemptuous expression melting into one that almost showed compassion. Only when Squee finally became silent did Pepito speak to him.

"Next time this happens call me. If I was there I wouldn't have let anything happen to you," his voice grew louder, "I would have killed the bastard if I had to; ripped his head off." He paused and bowed his head, his voice a barely audible whisper now.

"You mean too much to me, Squee. I want to protect you from everything. I'd do anything for you." He turned and walked away, a rosy strip marking his pale complexion. Squee watched him as he retreated and studied his lips. He could have swore he saw his lips move and it almost looked like he was saying something, but no, it must have been is imagination.

"I love you, Squee," Pepito thought to himself as he walked away. Maybe someday he would have the courage to actually speak these words out loud.