The Golden Boy (Malcolm in the Middle)

5

A/N: I know this book says it's finished but a comment got me thinking that maybe an extra one (Or few) Chapters wouldn't hurt. So thank you to the amazing person that gave me some more motivation for this story. I know it probably won't be that good and there's a few time skips cause they're at the hotel and everything but this chapter should end up having a bit over 800 words. So please be nice if it's a little rough and enjoy :)

They meet Mr. Herkabe in the lobby of the hotel. He tells them to get breakfast and to eat quickly, the first thing Malcolm does is get a cup of coffee. The Krelboynes all sit together, silently looking around at the other kids who are obviously all there for the competition.

"You see that? All of them are in official school uniforms, do you know what that means?"

"No? What does that mean Malcolm?"

"It means they're from bigger and richer schools. We're fucked."

"Mr Wilkerson! Language huh?"

"Sorry Mr Herkabe..." Malcolm looks at the rest of the Krelboynes, "I forgot he was here."

"You've been cussing a lot more you know."

"Oh really Daphne? Sorry that was rude."

"Did you even sleep last night bro?"

"No, not at all in fact I'm going to get another coffee before we start exploring everything."

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The Krelboynes (and Mr. Herkabe) explore the hotel before going out and trying to explore the town a little. Mr. Herkabe was still spitting off questions, if the kids didn't know any better they'd say he wasn't even breathing in between them. It is very hot outside, everyone has a bottle of water except for Malcolm who ended up getting another coffee before officially leaving the hotel but since he's pushing Stevie, Stevie grabbed an extra bottle for him for when he needs it.

"Onto history now. What was the main cause for the Cold War?"

"Ideological conflict between the USSR and the USA." Cynthia answers faster than anyone else can.

"Correct. What was the original purpose of the Great Wall of China?"

This time Malcolm answers with, "To prevent invasion and raids from nomadic tribes."

"Excellent, let's continue."

After a while Malcolm stopped answering, letting the other Krelboynes answer instead. Honestly he was kind of over it and wished the competition was today that way he wouldn't have to deal with the heat and could just get it over with.

They'd been walking for a little over two and a half hours before they started heading back to the hotel. "Finally" Malcolm thought.

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Back at the hotel everyone goes to their rooms. The Krelboynes take turns showering, being respectful of the fact that Cynthia is the only girl there they all try extra hard to make her feel comfortable. After they all shower some of the kids leave the room leaving Malcolm, Lloyd and Cynthia alone.

"We should play a game." Cynthia says cutting the silence that everyone could feel.

"Please no more smart questions."

"I said game, Malcolm, not torture you."

Malcolm cracks a smile at that. "Okay then like what kind of game huh?"

"I don't know, there's a ton of things we could do, we could do truth or dare? Or never have I ever, or both?

"I'm down for either."

"Yeah me too. Anything to cure this boredom."

"Didn't know hanging out with us was so boring Lloyd." Malcolm smiles and raises his eyebrows.

"Hey! That-That's not what I meant and you know it dummy."

They all three start laughing. Malcolm definitely missed this, he hasn't been laughing as much but maybe this trip is helping him a little more than he thought. Not having to worry about being around too many people or his family and getting to laugh with two of the most genuine people he knows. What could be better?

"Okay, never have I ever been drunk?"

"Wait- should we get like some type of drink or something? Water or juice whatever, just something to drink if we've done it?"

"That's a good idea actually hold on!" Cynthia gets up and finds a few bottles of apple juice and water and brings them back.

"Okay, now to answer the question you asked..." Malcolm drinks, so does Cynthia. Lloyd doesn't.

"You guys have done so much more than me I feel like this might not go well for me."

"Here I got you buddy. Never have I ever built a robot with current friends."

Everyone takes a drink.

They continue playing this and truth or truth until Stevie opens the door to the room.

"Hey Stevie, where's everyone else?"

"Getting cornered..... by Mr.Herkabe, got out.... before he could turn... to me. You guys had the right........ idea staying up here, he said he... refuses to come into this room because.... 'there's a bunch of.. rat..... kids in here.' I don't know."

"Well come join us, you can have this apple juice, we're mostly just messing around."

"Thank.... You but I think... I'm just going to.... listen."

"Okay, here, you can still have the apple juice."

After a few turns back and forth Cynthia turns to Malcolm.

"You know Malcolm, this is the most I've seen you laugh in what feels like weeks. Do you want to talk about what's been going on?"

Malcolms' smile drops a little before trying to quickly recover. "I'm fine. Really."

"Did you know that it's okay to not be okay? Sometimes I'm not okay, hell you have witnessed me not being okay. Remember when I came back from that one summer?"

"The summer I called you a bitch?"

"Yeah, that one. You helped me through my issues then, you've helped all of us through issues and I doubt any of us would be as social without you here. Just know that we are here for you. I can't speak for everyone obviously but Stevie, Lloyd and I... We're not going anywhere."

Malcolm sits quietly for a second. "Can I be honest?"

"Of course."

"I don't know what's going on with me. It's just been extra hard I guess I don't know. I don't feel like me most of the time, my mom isn't really paying attention to it. If I'm being honest I feel like I'm not allowed to not be okay."

"It's always okay to not be okay, and we'll be here the entire time.

"I'm sorry for lashing out at you guys a lot lately."

"It's okay, come here, grouphug."

Malcolm gets up and they all hug. For one of the first times in forever, Malcolm finally feels like he won't be left to fend by himself.