Bruce wasn't popular, but he didn't think he was unpopular. Bruce didn't think anyone even paid attention to him. Bruce was never in anyone's thoughts or opinions, at least that's what he had believed. Clint changed all of that. They became something of a scandal, the talk of the whole school.

They both got notes in their lockers on the same day, the Tuesday after the football game. It was the same message for both of them: Stay away from each other. "What are you thinking?" that's how Bruce's note started. It was handwritten on lined notebook paper. It was sloppy, as if written by a child, or someone using the wrong hand. "Stay away from that faggot. You don't know what trouble you are in for. What do you know about him? He will fuck you up. Take it from someone who knows."

"This is for your own good. Stay away from that geek. You can't trust him. He's a liar. He will hurt you." That's what Clint's note said. It was typed on plain white paper.

Bruce had an idea who had written both of them, but he wanted to find out for sure.

"Don't worry about it," Clint said. "I get notes all the time. Just ignore it, and it will take care of itself."

He didn't wait for Bruce after school. Bruce was walking home when he saw him in the passenger seat of Wade's car.

At school the next morning all the talk was about Wade Wilson. He had been in a serious accident the night before, slamming his Intrigue into the side of the northern bridge and spun down the bank, and almost went into the river. Wade was taken to the hospital. Luckily he had only a broken leg. Bruce didn't particularly care about Wade before, but Bruce wouldn't have wished that on him, not then anyway.

Clint was having a hard time maintaining his usually calm, almost trembling when Bruce saw him.

"What was he doing?"

"I don't know," he said. "Somebody said he'd been drinking, but I don't know what he was doing over here. He hardly ever comes over here at night."

"He's going to be alright. That's what they say, that he's going to be all right."

"That's what they say."

Bruce noticed that a bruise was visible on Clint's left cheek. "What happened there?"

His hand sprang to hide the spot. "I got punched," he said.

"Who did that?"

"Never mind. I took care of it. I told you I would take care of it."

"You said it would take care of itself. Was it Wade?"

"Why would you say that?"

"I saw you with him after school yesterday."

"It wasn't Wade," he said. "He gave me a rider home after. He was helping me. You won't get any more of those notes."

"Who was it?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Do they have a bruise they're hiding this morning?"

"I didn't punch anyone," he said. "But they got the message. Don't worry, I can take care of myself." He gave Bruce a hug and quick kiss on the cheek and hurried off to class.