*Y'know I'm doing this mostly out of boredom, right?*

"It simple enough," Elliot admitted, Freddy hopping up and sitting lotus style at the foot of his bed. Then he thought it over, and added, "To me, anyway."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Freddy asked, starting to get defensive as he cocked a brow.

"I'm merely inquiring that the electronic components might be a bit to extravagant for your status or liking," Elliot answered simply.

Freddy paused. "If that's some smart guy way a sayin' I'm not 'intelligent' enough to use weldin' tools, think again, buddy boy."

Elliot shrugged. "So what's this brilliant plan a yours?" Freddy asked.

"A giant metal catapult," the pinned boy explained. "Shooting them into the lake. We'll lure them into the dip and pull the cord." He stifled a laugh. "They'll be soaked! Only problem is- how're we going to persuade them to the park?"

"Easy- there's a huge party every year the firs' Sunday after school starts," Freddy said. "Everyone goes." He scoffed for the third time, again rubbing his still ice packed neck. "'Course, I don' go anymore. Fuckers dunk me in the lake every single time. Its so gross!" He shivered.

Elliot grinned. "Perfect. We'll both get a laugh."

"Score," Freddy said, smiling much like the other. They high-fived, and began planning how to make 'the weapon' in their payback.

~The Next Day~

Elliot stepped onto the bus that Friday in a deep maroon sweatshirt designed with a brighter red snowboarder on the left side and black jeans that looked as though they went through the war. His hood, as always, was keeping his face hidden.

Sitting next to Freddy again he saw he had his still black- baseball- capped head resting on the cool window glass, eyes closed, quietly singing to a rhythm Elliot had never heard before. He was wearing a baggy blood red and pine green horizontally striped sweater frayed here and there showing part of his burned collarbone and dusty denim jeans with a patch on his left thigh.

Elliot listened a little closer to the lyrics, and he saw he had ear buds in his ears attached to a silver CD player clipped to his belt.

"Pain, without love; pain, I can't get enough; pain, I like it rough; 'cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all

"You're sick, of fellin' numb; you're not, the only one; I'll take, you by the hand; and I'll show you a world that you can understand

"This life, is filled with hurt; when happiness, doesn't work; trust me, and take my hand; when the lights go out, you'll understand

"Pain, without love; pain, I can't get enough; pain, I like it rough; 'cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all

"Anger, and agony; are better, than misery; trust me, I have a plan; when the lights go out, you'll understand

"Pain, without love; pain, I can't get enough; pain, I like it rough; 'cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all

"Pain, without love; pain, I can't get enough; pain, I like it rough; 'cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing; rather feel pain

"I know, I know, I know, I know, I know that your wounded; You know, you know, you know, you know that I'm here to save you

"You know, you know, you know, you know that I'll wait here for you; I know, I know, I know, I know that you'll thank me later

"Pain, without love; pain, I can't get enough; pain, I like it rough; 'cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all

"Pain, without love; pain, I can't get enough; pain, I like it rough; 'cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all; rather feel pain"

When it finished Freddy opened his eyes half- liddedly, lifting his head and rubbing it tiredly. He glanced Elliot's way, just noticing he was there, and said in a drowsy, close to yawning voice, "Hey."

"Tired?" Elliot asked knowingly. Freddy just nodded, putting his head in his hands as his elbows rested on his knees, eyes closed again.

"Very," he mumbled. "I couldn't get to sleep till one, and I had to get up for this shit hole school at six." He groaned in self pity. "My life sucks."

"Was the music and singing supposed to help you stay awake?" Elliot said curiously, and Freddy's eyes snapped open. He looked to the fourteen year old next to him, sitting upright and snatching the device from his belt, turning it off and wrapping the ear buds around it. After that he picked his bag up from the floor, shoving it in the front pocket.

Elliot sighed in annoyance, rolling his violet eyes behind the glass of his spectacles. "Oh come ON, Freddy. You don't honestly believe I'd purposely taunt you, do you? That, quite frankly, is preposterous."

"Your use of words I never knew existed makes me uncomfortable," Freddy admitted bluntly.

"I have an exceeding vocabulary, deal with it," Elliot told him flatly, crossing his arms across his chest.

"What if I don' feel like it?"

"Then grab a dictionary and start reading."

"I don't study."

"I didn't say study; I said read the dictionary and memorize every last word in it."

Freddy looked downright confused. "Why the Hell would I do that?"

"You're digressing," Elliot said.

"And that means... ?"

"Away from the topic. Were you singing to keep from falling asleep?"

Freddy sheepishly rubbed the back of his still bruised neck. "Uh... well, yeah. Sorta, I guess."

"There are no guesses in reality, Freddy."

"You're talkin' like Dr. Phil, El."

He sighed impatiently. "You're digressing again."

"Sorry," Freddy apologized with a slight smile. "I tend to do that." He rubbed his injured arm cautiously. "Yeah, I listen to music when I'm depressed and stuff. Helps calm my nerves."

Elliot nodded, and shot him a smug smile. "See, now was that so hard?"

"Dude, I swear, your gunna be a counselor when you get old enough," Freddy said with a bracey smile, just succeeding in having Elliot chuckle.

"Should I take that as a compliment or insult?"

"Both." That earned him a soft punch on the chest, courtesy of Elliot. Freddy just snickered.

*The song Freddy's singin' is 'Pain' by Three Days Grace. It doesn't belong to me.*