Roger was drawn to people who were just as fucked up as he was.

Jack seemed to fit the criteria. He liked hurting people, and he could do it and get away with it.

Maybe that was the most appealing part. Getting away with anything.

Anything and everything.

That's what Roger could do when he was with Jack: anything and everything.

Yeah, he could steal Simon's juice box and smash Robert's sandcastle. And Jack would sweet talk the teacher out of giving him too much punishment. Well, at least his parents never got a call.

And Roger never felt bad for any of it. He didn't care too much when he made littler kids cry, or bigger kids. He didn't feel much remorse for anything.

Piggy stuck his tongue out at him and he made Piggy fall on his face. He was banned from snack and forced to sit in the corner, but Jack snuck him pieces of cookies so it was okay.

And somewhere, deep in his mind, Roger realized that he had met his match.

When they mere in fifth grade and Jack shot up to be nearly a foot taller than Roger- who hadn't had a growth spurt yet- the shorter boy climbed on Jack's shoulders and stole Piggy's glasses while Roger laughed into Jack's red hair and held the glasses just out of reach.

They spent those years carefree, picking on just about anyone, and laughing at just about everything.

And they didn't know where they were heading. They didn't know that in a few years Jack would cry every night and Roger would go to sleep in a bed that was not his own.

Because what kids ever think they'll turn out as murderers?