He always seemed to be seeking Eric's approval in every way. Dylan would try to outdo Eric in many ways in order to gain Eric's approval. Dylan seemed to constantly look towards Eric in hopes of some type of reinforcement. To me, this is Dylan seeking to form an attachment that he lacked his entire life as a shy, easily embarrassed boy. Unfortunately, Dylan lacked the insight to understand that even then, when he felt an attachment to another person, he still felt a sense of insecurity, still seeking that approval from Eric. I see a boy who has developed another insecure attachment with another unhealthy and deviant personality like him. Because of this other unhealthy and insecure attachment and lack of healthy attachment from family, they began to isolate themselves and reinforce their worldviews from each other. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy in a sense. They both considered themselves isolated and part of the out-group. However, this has no consequences for those around them. They isolated themselves and made themselves the excluded people they thus proclaimed victims.