One day, Mordecai brought in a slingshot and he and Lilith took great delight in hiding and flinging small rocks at the other children during recess.

At one point, Mordecai aimed a shot at a rather large boy named Brock, who was intently digging a series of holes in the rust-colored sand. The shot hit him square in the middle of his forehead and he didn't even notice as he kept on digging. Mordecai aimed another shot at the larger boy's left ear while Lilith laughed out loud next to him. The pebble grazed Brock's earlobe and he swatted his head, smacking the side of his face as though he were trying to kill an insect. Mordecai was grinning like an idiot as he grabbed another rock and aimed, Lilith laughing and wiping the tears from her bright gold eyes. Just as the pebble began a fast track to Brock's face, a trash can lid was raised in its path, knocking the rock harmlessly to the ground.

The lid lowered to reveal a dark-skinned kid named Roland, who was one of the usual class leaders. He was smart and forthcoming, always honest and one of the first to raise his hand during lessons. He was frowning at Mordecai, who ducked down behind the rusted out runner he was hiding in. Lilith was still laughing so he put a hand over her mouth. She bit him and he pulled away.

"What?! Why'd you do that?"

"He saw me."

"Who?"

"Roland."

She frowned. "That's not good."

"No shit." Lilith's eyes went wide. Mordecai was the only kid she knew who cussed and she liked it.

"Shit, shit, shit!" She muttered, glancing to her buddy for approval as she peeked over the edge of the runner.

Mordecai and Lilith watched with bated breath as Roland turned and headed toward where their teacher was smoking a cigarillo and chatting with another teacher. All of a sudden Roland stopped, turned to the runner and smiled widely in Lilith and Mordecai's direction. He turned back around and headed over to Brock, who was now dropping ants into the holes in the dirt.

When he got to the large blond boy, Roland started talking and crouched down next to Brock. Mordecai ducked when Roland pointed in his direction. Lilith couldn't look away as Brock furrowed his brows and got up. He headed in their direction with Roland in tow.

Lilith ducked down beside Mordecai, who was calmly readying another pebble for launch as he sat on the old runner's floorboard.

"They're coming over here."

Mordecai nodded, rock at the ready in his slingshot.

BAM. "Why'd you do that?" It was Brock, banging his fist on the runner's roll cage.

"Do what?" asked Lilith, sitting next to Mordecai. She smiled up at Brock.
He didn't smile back.

"You hit me. With that." He jabbed a finger at Mordecai's slingshot.

Mordecai smiled, still looking at his slingshot. "Nope."

Brock looked back at Roland and Roland nodded.

"Yes you did."

"Nope."

BAM. He slammed his fist down again. "YES you did!" Brock was getting angry.

Roland stepped up to the runner and leaned down. "I saw you, Mordecai. Don't lie."

Mordecai stood up, his head sticking up through the roll cage. Lilith scrambled to stand next to him.

"I'm not," Mordecai said.

"The rock didn't hit his ear. It just went past it. So there." Lilith put her hands on her hips and stuck out her tongue.

Roland thought for a second while Brock brought his fist down on the runner again. BAM.

"You coulda hurt me!" growled Brock.

Roland reached up to tap the big kid's shoulder. "Hang on, Brock, I…"

Mordecai hopped quickly up onto the frame of the runner and Brock reacted, slamming his fist into the center of Mordecai's chest, knocking the boy down hard onto the ground on the other side of the runner.

Lilith hopped out and dashed around the car to Mordecai. Roland did the same. Brock slammed his fist on the car again and started to calm down, breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth, like his doctor told him to.

Mordecai was down and out for the count. Roland looked up to see that the teachers were talking with their backs to the students. "He's gonna need a medic."

Lilith poked Mordecai's arm. "He's dead." Her gold eyes were wide and it looked like she was going to cry; Roland definitely didn't want that. He kneeled next to Mordecai, grabbed the boy's wrist and started to chafe it.

Lilith hadn't started crying but she sniffled. "What're you doing?"

"Imma make him wake up. Saw my daddy do it once."

With a cleared head, Brock headed around the car to see his victim.

"Did I kill him?" he asked quietly.

"Yes!" Lilith stood up and punched Brock's arm. "You're awful! You killed him!"

Brock looked down at her. "You have pretty eyes."

"Shut up! I hate you!" She punched him again.

"That doesn't hurt," said Brock. Lilith hit him harder.

"Stop it," said Roland. "He's alright."

Lilith stopped mid-punch to look down at Mordecai, who stirred and groaned, tried to cough and wheezed. Lilith sniffled, followed through with the punch and sat down next to her friend.

"If you woulda killed him, I woulda killed you. He's my only friend." The little red haired girl sniffled again and wiped her nose on her wrist as she watched over Mordecai, who was still wheezing from his prone position on the ground.

Roland sat back and looked at the little girl across from him. "You don't have no other friends?"

Lilith watched as Mordecai opened his eyes, winced and continued wheezing. "No," she said. "Don't need 'em."

Roland considered this for a second. "Tell you what, he's still gonna need help." He looked earnestly at Lilith. "You don't say nothing about why he's down and I won't say nothing about what y'all did. Deal?" He looked down at Mordecai, who hadn't moved, though his eyes were open and he was still having trouble getting a full breath.

A tear hung at the corner of the little girl's gold eye and she sniffled again, sending it sliding down her cheek. She wiped it away. "What about stupid skag brain?"

Roland looked back up at Brock, who was watching Lilith.
"He won't say nothing. He doesn't wanna get in trouble again."

Brock nodded. "Right."

Another tear slid down Lilith's dirty cheek and she nodded. "Ok."

Roland hopped up and grabbed Mordecai's slingshot, stuffing it in his pocket as he ran over to the teachers, yelling to get their attention.

It was a few days before Mordecai was back in class, but when he returned, he found the other two boys waiting for him with Lilith. He was a little jealous of sharing Lilith's attention, but he soon grew to accept their new places in the little group. It was the start of a fast friendship. Within a week, the children were inseparable, playing, fighting, laughing and scheming together.

Always together, thought Lilith with an internal smile.