Beyond the Boundaries

4

4 - A Diamond Amongst Pebbles, The Golden Boy

"You're back?" Mr. Sarden switched his usual, cheerful voice, to a rather serious tone. "I heard about what you did. Your friends were all around town, looking for you. Even left me—the most unserious and old person in the world of Utopia, probably— worried."

"You know I didn't mean that for you. For anybody. And Liam and Jayden didn't have to come looking for me. They didn't have to risk their own lives for me. I know I'm not that important." Maxwell sighed, putting all of the fighting books he had checked out on the counter.

Mr. Sarden grabbed them, and stuffed them under his desk so he could put them back later.

"The worst thing you can do in this world—especially on the Penurious side—is make somebody think they're lower than you, or more than they already think of themselves. It's bad for your emotional health if you do that to yourself. I already know the situation with your life, and your family right now is really tough, Maxwell." Mr. Sarden consoled. "I know what you're going to say. "Don't worry about it!" or "I'm fine!" when all that's hiding behind that smile is despair."

"I'm not looking down at myself, I'm saying what's true. I only look straight of myself, I don't put myself any higher or lower than I already am. And an old man like you can't just talk me out of that. Nobody can, not even my closest friends or family." Maxwell sniveled. "This is all so stupid. Having people worry about me because of things now in the past! Oh, geez. "What could've happened," this and that! Well, too bad it didn't! I'm here and well, isn't that what you guys wanted? So just leave me alone!"

Maxwell stormed out of the library, standing as the last time he would ever visit the place. Mr. Sarden knew this well, saddened by the realization that his only friend was a fourteen-year-old boy. He felt old again. That was the day the library was shut down—for good.

People around town have been calling Charlie the golden boy, since he still wears his tuxedo around. He wasn't able to bring anything, I assume, so that's his only piece of clothing. I've tried to approach him a few times, but he's just ran away, scared that I'm like those other kids. I just want to talk to him, and not just to get secrets out of him. Because I know that's what Liam is literally drooling for.

Yeah—I can admit—when me and Liam became friends, we were only friends because I knew a lot of things about all of the subjects in school. You actually may be wondering why I don't go to school. Or why a bunch of kids don't. I don't know, maybe none do.

A sickening, the worst one yet—fatal, even—began in the school cafeteria, specifically in the kitchen. One kid got it, and he was luckily treated at the hospital, but never left it. And after the hospital fell apart, I can only imagine the pain he succumbed to.

From there on, school has become optional, and for the last few years now, no kids have been going, from what I've seen. Education has advanced poorly, and I fear that my dumb self might be the smartest person on the Penurious side.

I've been worrying less and less about Charlie. I know how it feels to not belong, but that's not my problem he's over here, is it?

I've been trying to worry less and less about what Kyrell said, but the more I think about it, the more I think it's true. Like he knows something.

That's why I hate him. Always lingering in my mind, for only bad reasons.

Finally, Maxwell arrived at our usual meeting spot with Liam. I hadn't seen him in a few days, which left me worried—was he out bargaining again? No. To be honest, I think everybody learned their lesson.