A/N: This one's a little shorter and a lot angstier. Sorry about that.

Clyde and I both collapse on the bed as soon as we enter the room. It's kind of small for two people, but we've shared close quarters before. I have Stripe III's cage set up on the dresser and all our bags strewn on the floor. I'm too tired to care where my stuff ends up. Clyde's asleep again before his head even hits the pillow.

I turn the tv on before curling up under the covers. The background noise was always a source of comfort at night. I've never been able to sleep in rooms that are dead silent, although I think Clyde's snoring is enough background noise for everyone.

The sheets are scratchy and the pillowcase is rough as I turn to face Clyde, but sleep still beckons. I don't think I've ever been so tired in my life. I'm asleep before my thoughts are able to drift anywhere else.

"Dad, I'm fine. I already told you where I am... I left that note for you. It's on the kitchen counter!"

I groan and rub my eyes, rolling over to look at the clock. A big, red 6:34 stares back at me. I can hear Clyde in the bathroom arguing with his dad, so I turn the tv up louder. I'm sure he doesn't want me hearing that.

I flip through channels for a long while but there's nothing interesting. Reality shows, more reality shows, and news. I finally find a channel that's playing an old animated flick and settle on that, crossing my feet at the ankles and settling back on the pillows. Clyde's still going at it with his dad, but I can't make out what he's saying anymore.

I knew from the beginning that something like this would happen. I never thought that stealing my best friend and driving across the country would go off without a hitch. I'm not that naive. Hell, I still don't know if this will even work out when we get to wherever we're going. We have money, sure, but no solid plans.

I fiddle with my shirt sleeve, staring at the bathroom door. Clyde is quiet now. I mute the tv. I don't think having the soundtrack for a kids movie playing in the background is all that appropriate.

Clyde steps out of the bathroom a moment later, and I know right away something is wrong. I hear a loud crash on the other side of the room. Clyde's phone lies in pieces on the floor. Clyde's never been an angry person. He's never been violent. He would sooner catch a spider and put it outside than kill it. That's another way we're opposite.

In school, I thought I was a big shot. I thought I could take on anyone to get my way. I was always in and out of the principal's office. I always had detention. I was an asshole, to say the least. I thought I could bring anyone down to their knees. I wanted to be the king. I wanted to make it so no one would dare mess with me.

Clyde's never been that way. He's always been a sweet guy. He used to get picked on in elementary school for crying too much, but in high school he was top dog. He didn't even have to try. Everyone respected him, and he didn't even have to fight for it. He walked the halls like he owned them, but he never once mistreated anyone. To say I envied him would be an understatement. To see him acting like this now is a shock, to say the least.

Clyde's shoulders are hunched, and he's breathing heavily, staring down at the broken pieces of his phone as if he's daring it to get back up. But all at once, the spell is broken. His shoulders loosen. His face crumples. He lets loose a sob, and I swear I feel my heart crack in two.

I crawl my way off the bed and cross the room before I can think of what to do next. Comforting has never been my strong suit, but Clyde's my best friend. I care about him more than I've ever cared about anyone. Normally that thought scares me, but now it only serves to calm my inner turmoil.

My arms are open, and I have Clyde pulled into my chest. He clings to me and I to him. A wetness is seeping into my shirt. I can feel it on my chest. Clyde cries openly. My heart breaks more and more.

I don't know how long we stand there. I watch the sun set behind the trees and the light in our shitty motel room fade. I watch the floral patterns on the walls dance around in the darkness. I feel the wetness on my chest and the scratchy carpet under my toes, and most of all, I feel my best friend in my arms. I hear his cries slowly taper to nothing. I feel the tremor in his shoulders fade. I feel his hair under my chin and his hands on my back. I feel the spears in my heart from seeing him so hurt. I want to say something, but my brain can't grip onto any semblance of a complete sentence.

Clyde pulls away slightly. His eyes are dark and red-rimmed. He rubs his eyes with the back of his hand and aims a watery smile at me and all at once I'm floored.

"Let's go get some dinner. I'm starving."

He takes my hand. I fall in love.