Author's Note: Roger likes to hit people.

Chapter Two

"You hit me!"

Mark sat in the tutoring class room shaking his foot and pulling on his fingers. Roger Davis was the meanest kid he'd ever meet, at least that's what Tom said after Roger hit his nose the other day.

Mark was very nervous and had reorganized his binder and his books about six times while waiting for the lunch bell to ring. Mark had art before lunch, so the teacher always let him leave early for lunch so that he could tutor. The blonde bit his lip hard as he waited for Roger to come.

The ringing of the school bell echoed throughout the halls, and students began to rush from their classrooms. Then he heard the door open, and in the entranceway stood Roger, his hair a mess and his eyes a bit red. Mark stood up, he wasn't going to be rude to Roger, no matter how much he didn't want to tutor this troublemaker; his parents had taught him to be nice to everyone and introduce himself.

He held out his hand to Roger. "I'm Mark." He said affably.

Roger glared at the short boy's hand but didn't take it. "Let's just get this over with."

Mark swallowed thickly. Roger had a daunting presence about him, and Mark thought it wise not to get on his bad side. He sat down and turned in the book and began to teach Roger some math.

It was fine for a while until Roger decided that this entire tutoring thing bored him.

"I'm going to lunch. There's only thirty minutes left."

"You can't. You have to learn this stuff."

"I can do whatever the hell I want." Roger said sourly as he turned to leave.

Mark grabbed his arm trying to stop him. When he saw Roger's expression his blood ran cold and his cheeks reddened. "Y-you have to sta-stay here." He stammered.

"Let me go Cohen." Roger said hotly.

"No, I don't want to get in trouble." Mark said quietly. He was trying as hard as he could to be brave.

"Fag."

There was a tense moment between the two. Mark's grip tightened on Roger's arm and Roger's eyes were full of anger.

Before Mark could respond to what was happening, Roger's fist hit his face, his glasses fell to the floor and his nose began to throb terribly.

Mark let go of Roger and grabbed his nose. Then to Roger's surprise Mark began to sob in pain, and the hot tears streamed down his cheeks. "You hit me! You hit me!" Mark wailed.

"Please! Please don't cry!" Roger said desperately trying to calm the blonde. He could feel himself becoming emotional. Normally boys didn't cry when he hit them, save for Tom. But when he saw Mark's pale skin turn red, it began to tear him apart. "Please stop crying." Roger begged as he put his hands on Mark's shoulders.

"Why'd you hit me?" Mark questioned through his tears, the pain in his nose was beginning to subside.

"I don't know." Roger said uneasily. "I wanted to go… and you wouldn't listen. I didn't know what else to do." The tears were in Roger's eyes and one rolled down his cheek, but he quickly wiped it away.

"Why are you crying?" Mark asked as he slowly lowered his hands from his face. His nose was still throbbing slightly, but it didn't hurt that much.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Roger's slumped over and began to cry openly, the tears rolling down his cheeks freely. "It's just, I'm not a good people person. My dad always hits me, so I just think that's how I'm supposed to get what I want…" He said quietly.

Mark wrapped his arms around Roger who cried for a while longer. "I'll make a deal with you." He said quietly.

Roger looked at him. "What kind of deal?"

Mark smiled a bit knowing that Roger wasn't going to try to push him away. "You be my friend, and I'll be yours."

"Why would you want to do that?"

"I like you. You're a snazzy kid. So, I'll be your friend, and help you with school and people, and you'll be my friend and help me with being braver. Deal?"

Roger smiled. "Deal." He shook Mark's hand.

The boys sat laughing and suddenly Roger stopped.

"Hey, Mark."

"Yes, Roger?"

"Don't ever say snazzy again." Roger said with a laugh.