>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.
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>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.