"I'm not a nerd, babe. Maybe next year. This time I'll just be the eye candy on your arm."

"You're more of a nerd than I am. I've seen your bookshelf."

"It's all for show. I'm illiterate."

"You don't have to pretend to be dumb, you know. You're allowed to win. No one would even envy you, they're too busy loving you."

He sighs, pulling back slightly.

"Do you think popularity happens by accident? I built my life the way I like it. It's not the easiest edifice to hold up, but it's worth it to me. I like to be liked. Is that a crime?"

It's unstated, but Matt can hear the 'It's never bothered you before.'

"Sorry."

Danny goes in for a hug, somewhat pensively.

"Tweedledum, Tweedledee, focus on what's really important. My homework won't do itself."

"Fuck off," he says, as he slowly disentangles himself and goes to help.

It's going well.

That's what he reminds himself, as his anger flares, watching Danny fawn over Jackson. It's an unhealthy dynamic; the besotted gay guy insisting he's no such thing, while his straight best friend engages in the kind of homoerotic horseplay that every high school athlete is prone to.

It's not Matt's business. Everything he wants, he has. Or at least, he's on the right track.

He's found one of them. He's a mechanic, at a local shop. Owns it, apparently. Very good reviews.

Matt has the inklings of a plan.

Killing someone without getting caught is not easy.

Easier when you have magic powers, though. The thing is, figuring out someone's greatest weaknesses is easy when you can rewrite reality to get closer to them. Matt wonders whether this skill will generalize; social engineering probably works in a lot of fields. He doesn't think he can list this experience on his resume, though.

The mechanic has some debts he doesn't need his lenders to get antsy about. All Matt needs to do is wait for him to make a bad bet, and the man has poker nights every week. It's easy, ultimately, to lay the trap. It does mean he's a bit too distracted to plan out the convention details in advance, but he has a lovely, nerdy boyfriend who makes a spreadsheet to track all the logistics.

It's satisfying, in the end, even though he can't be there to witness it, when he reads about it in the news a few days later.

"It's just weird, alright. I didn't think Half Moon Bay was home to a lot of mob activity."

"Please. It was some asshole who got too drunk. Nothing as exciting as a hit would happen out here."

(As usual, Danny and Jackson have elected to have this conversation in fourth period economics, a class where they know the teacher will let them get away with ignoring his entire lesson.)

"Your parents aren't worried? My mom won't stop watching the news, now."

"Unlike some people I know, I've never found myself on the wrong side of the law. Are you worried you're going to get caught again, Danny boy?"

"Don't joke about that, dickwad. I'm being serious- Matt, what about your parents?"