I hated the way he looked at her. I saw them in the hall, and I saw him smile. I saw her smile too. And I hated it.

There was no way anything was going well. Nothing even made sense and there was nothing to help me.

On the bus I saw them sit together. Louis used to sit with me. I don't get it. She's supposed to be evil and awful and mean and he's not.

He put her arm around her and I could sense her relax. It was that obvious.

We got off at our stop and sauntered inside.

"I'm going to go shower." Louis said.

"Shower?" I asked. "But you showered this morning."

He shrugged and bounded upstairs. I waited a while and quietly crept up after him. Silently opening the door to our room, I slipped inside. Locking the door I strode to the bunk bed and crouched in the floor. I pulled out a large, heavy brown box. I carefully unhooked the gold latches and swinger the hinged lid open.

Inside was a layer of that black cushy foam stuff. Sitting in their perfect cut outs were my two guns and rounds. A black Calacar sat on the left, just above its 9mm bullets. On the right was the silver Kahr PM9, which also used 9mm.

I sat them in front of me. I stared at them for what seemed like hours. I picked up my Calacar and ran my finger over the dent from where it fell last night. I had only had it for a few weeks, a major upgrade from my older Ruger model.

I stuck it in my waist band and pulled a hoodie over myself to conceal the bulge. I grabbed two rounds and shoved them in my pocket. I quickly replaced the bow under the bed and yanked the bed sheet over the edge to conceal it better.

The doorbell rang a while later and I swung downstairs. Pulling it open, Julie smiled.

"Hey Mark. Ready to get to work?" she said through a smirk.

"Sure." I said stiffly.

She came inside and we sat in the living room.

"Do you want some water?" I asked, earning an eye roll.

"Just open the computer and let's get this over with."

I complied and sat on the ground, my back against the couch. I typed away while Julie lied on the couch telling me what to type and correcting my grammar. To be honest she was good at literature for a murderer. After a few thousands words, we finally reached three pages.

"Mark I've been wondering..." she started.

"Yeah?" I asked, nervously.

"What kind of gun is that?" she lifting my shirt and hoodie just enough to see the handle.

"Calacar." I responded, trying to keep my breath steady. How long had she known? Probably from the start.

"I would recommend it, but your file says you're gun shy."

"No I'm not." There's that easy baiting again.

"Yeah you are."

"Prove it."

I pulled out my gun. Louis was still up stairs and my parents were at dinner. No harm there.

"Shoot me." I handed her my gun.

Yes, I know how dangerous that was. But I knew her well enough to know she wouldn't. She told me she wouldn't kill me until I begged for mercy, and I hadn't even come close. It was too early. And I was the only person in the world who knew the list of witnesses and people who knew about Julie. In order to keep going, she had to eliminate people in her way.

"Are you crazy? Louis will hear!" she stammered.

"You sure do talk about my brother a lot. You know he's a senior right? Three years older than you." I watched her face redden, a mix of anger and embaressment. "Is that a thing murderers like? Older guys? Because if you ask me that sure is-" my words were cut off when both hands flew into my neck. My legs flew off the ground and smashed up into the coffee table. I hit my head on the corner going down, and be fire I knew it we were both on the ground.

"Mark? You okay down there?" Louis' voice carried down the stairs.

"Everything's fine!" I yelled up to him.
"Don't say anything and follow my lead." I hissed under my breath, Julie's elbow still in my stomach.

We got up and I replaced my gun, just in time for Louis to come down.

"You sure everything's okay?" he checked.

"Yeah. I tripped then Julie tripped and she fell on top of me, trying to help..." I trailed off, completing my perfect lie. "But we're good now."

Julie nodded. "Just a little fall."

Everyone kind of just stood there for a moment, nodding their heads.

"Well then. We finished our paper so..." I hinted at Julie leaving.

"You want to stay and watch a movie Julie?" Louis asked. Curse his abnormally good skills at leading conversations.

"That would be great." she responded.

"I am going to go upstairs and do some homework and yes. Yes I'll do that." I strode towards the stairs, throwing my head over my shoulder. "No kissing."

Neither responded so I flew upstairs. I took a rushed shower and put my gun back. I actually did sit down and do a little homework. After an hour of working at watching the window, I fell asleep.

My eyes opened when I heard a thud. I glanced at my watch, which read 9:17. Peering out the window, I saw two figures. Julie and Louis, standing right outside. They were sitting on our tree swing. The wooden slat freaked under them as They gently rocked back and forth.

They were talking quietly, listening to the crickets. It was a perfect paitning, the stars whinging under the half moon. I could see their sillouts against the light from houses across the street. And I watched them turn towards each other. But he didn't kiss her. She kissed him.