***Fuller’s POV***

                “Fuller! Reverse!” “Shut up dad! I can turn around without shifting into reverse!” “No you can’t! Dammit Fuller; go in reverse!”

                He and I glared at each other, my foot violently pressed against the brake. My hands were tightly gripping the steering wheel and I forced them to stay there. If I took them off, I would surely let my palm fly across his sorry face.

                I didn’t want to go in reverse. I didn’t want to run over some poor animal or some stupid kid. I hated driving in reverse, no matter how short. It scared me. I didn’t want to run anyone, or anything, over with the car. I had had my license for a few short weeks and my dad still didn’t trust me driving the car by myself.

                I stayed in drive and pushed on the gas as I turned the car. Dad was glaring at me with hate. Good. Stupid cheese dick. I drove towards our house, eager to drop him off and head to Chris’s house. I couldn’t stand being around my dad any longer. I was so sick of him.

                I pulled into our driveway and unlocked the car. “Goodbye,” I said flatly. He glared. “No. Absolutely not. Out of the car right now.” I glared at him now. “No. I’m driving myself to Chris’s house.”

                “Fuller Alan Polivka! Get out of the friggin car right now!” he boomed. “God dammit shut up you ass!” I snapped and got out of the car. He stormed over to me and slapped me hard. I bit my cheek, trying not to gasp in pain.

                “You watch your mouth. And god help you if I ever hear you swearing at me, your mother, or your brother ever again Fuller,” he growled in my face. I wanted to slap his hands off me. He was grabbing my chin, forcing me to look at him. He was right in my face. I wanted to kick him and run far, far away. Never have to see him again. Take Skeet Skeet and run away. This didn’t feel like a home to me, and Skeet Skeet wasn’t safe here with all the animal killings.

                He released my chin and dragged me inside by my arm. “Charlie!” he called pleasantly. “Charles!” CharChar came running down the stairs, the sad look on his face. His friend from school, Kelly, had found her dog, Teddy, dead this morning. CharChar used to talk about how friendly Teddy was. We used to see Kelly’s dad walking him around the block with Kelly.

                “Yea daddy?” Charlie asked. “Let’s go for a ride little man. We can drop your brother off at Chris’s house and go for ice cream,” he said with an encouraging smile. Charlie nodded. “Okay daddy,” he said and came over.

                He wrapped his arms around dad and dad smiled down at him with such love in his eyes that it made me sick. He didn’t love me like that. Whatever. I didn’t care. I had Skeet Skeet, and that was good enough for me.

                We went out and got in the car. Charlie was sitting in the back with that sad look. Dad turned on the radio and Party Rock Anthem came on. Charlie perked up a little and dad smiled back at him.

                “Daddy, is Shay coming over tonight?” he asked hopefully. Dad shook his head. “Sorry little man. Your mom is working tonight so I’ll be watching you.” “Oh. Okay.”

                Dad pulled into Chris’s driveway and glanced at me. “Bye Fuller.” Bye Fuller? No “Bye big man, I love you!” If it were Charlie, we’d be hearing “Bye little man, I love you!” I glared at him and got out of the car. I slammed the door and walked up to the front door of the house and rang the doorbell.

                Chris opened it and let me in. “Hey Fuller,” he greeted. “My dad is such an ass!” I exploded. “It’s nice to see you too,” he said sarcastically. Chris bent the brim of his hat up and brushed his bangs to the side.

                “I haven’t seen you in a few days. What’s up?” he asked, walking away from me to his kitchen. I followed him and he tossed me a soda. “I don’t know. That hot girl I told you about is still babysitting CharChar. That’s always a lovely sight,” I said with a wink.

                “When do I get to meet this chick?” he asked, taking a swing of his own soda. I shrugged. “I think my rents are going out tomorrow. Come over after they leave and meet her.” I pointed an accusing finger at him. “But she’s mine. So back off Chris.” He shrugged. “Whatever you say Full. Whatever you say.” I rolled my eyes and sipped on my soda thoughtfully.

                “So, about the animal killings, I heard Teddy bit the dust last night,” Chris said. I nodded. “Yep. CharChar is all upset about it. Whose pet do you think will be next?” He shrugged, smart enough not to joke about it being Skeet Skeet. I swear to god if one person joked about him getting killed, I’d slit their throat and leave them on the side of the road. Skeet was my best friend. I didn’t love anyone or anything in the world more than I loved that him.

                “Hopefully not Skeet Skeet or Cujo.” Cujo was Chris’s dog, named after the ever famous Stephen King book. “We just have to be careful with them,” I said with a shrug, even though inside, I felt so much fear. What if my dad got annoyed with Skeet Skeet and threw him outside in the middle of the night? And then he’d get…No. No, I would lock my door to keep my dad away from him.

                “Dude. What if we try to figure out who the killer is?” I asked eagerly. Chris nodded. “Like a good ole game of detective!” We laughed and grinned. Damn straight we’d catch this killer.