>be Evan, earlier that year.

>nondescript late winter afternoon.

>Jason has some poker buddies over, parents are out for the day.

>Maddie comes into the kitchen, goes to the fridge.

>One of Jason's buddies notices her, begins asking questions.

>Hey Maddie, he says.

>Maddie looks at him with disinterest.

>What?

>What's going on, Maddie?

>The guy's name is Logan.

>Logan's an asshole and has been winning all day.

>Evan's watching Futurama in the living room and has been listening to Jason get more and more vexed with Logan as the game has gone on.

>Jason wasn't happy when his friend Rafael brought Logan with him, but it was more money in the pot, so whatever.

>Jason is now looking across the table at Logan suspiciously, cards in hand.

>Logan is smirking at the sixth grader over by the fridge.

>Can you tell me if you like carrots, Maddie?

>Maddie stares at Logan, knowing she's getting fucked with but unsure of why.

>Um... no.

>Everyone at the table but Jason chortles.

>Do you like... popsicles, Maddie?

>Um... no.

>The chortling continues.

>Maddie's glaring at the table now, her hand on the fridge door handle.

>Careful now, Meeks, Jason says to Logan.

>Do you like... corndogs, Maddie?

>There is max chortling, the game is forgotten for the moment. Half the table is laughing with Logan and half is chuckling nervously and looking between him and Jason.

>Tension is rising, Evan's attention is now solely on the kitchen.

>Do you like...cucumbers, Maddie?

>One more warning, Meeks, then I have to do something about this, Jason growls into his cards.

>Um... no... says Maddie.

>She's noticed the darkness on Jason's face, tries to lighten the mood.

>I like pickles, she proclaims.

>The table dissolves into gales of laughter.

>Jason calmly puts his cards down and walks out of the room.

>I'm proud of you, girl, I'm proud of ya, Logan roars.

>Jason appears with his Glock 19, the same gun he'll use on himself less than two months later, and shoves it in Logan Meeks' face.

>Get outta here, you redneck sack of shit. I've had it with you. Ten-

>Jesus Christ, Barker—

>Nine- Maddie go to your room.

>Really?

>EIGHT

>Maddie scurries off.

>SEVEN

>You're not gonna shoot me, Barker.

>SIX

>Jason loads the chamber.

>FIVE

>You're not gonna fuckin' shoot me in your fuckin' parents' house.

>FOUR

>Logan looks worried, Rafael grabs his shoulder, he's been on his feet since the gun came out, telling Logan, "I told you not to be a dickwad, I TOLD YOU, let's go-"

>THREE

>The gun's barrel is a foot away from Logan's face. Jason has it trained right between his eyes.

>TWO

>The defiance fades from Logan's face.

>ONE

>ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, I'm outta here, you fuckin crazy motherfucker.

>He stands up abruptly, the gun stays trained between his eyes.

>Go, says Jason. Go. Go.

>I'm going, I'm going-

>Logan reaches for his money.

>No, no, Jason snaps. You leave that. You leave that. That's mine now.

>Logan's face contorts with snotty insolence, Glock be damned. He points a finger at Jason.

>Careful now, Barker. You be careful now.

>Rafael pulls Logan away from the table.

>Don't bring him again, Raf, said Jason. How many fuckin times I have to tell you?

>They're out the sliding door in a few seconds.

>Jason calmly walks out of the room again. The gun is gone when he comes back out.

>Jason sits down, picks up his cards again.

>Evan realizes his been gripping the arm of the couch so hard his hand is sore.

>He's not gonna forget that, says one of Jason's friends. Was it even loaded?

>The fuck you think? says Jason.