Mental State by M Gardner

Author:M Gardner [Gardner, M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Article94
Published: 2021-08-16T16:00:00+00:00

Part 2

/Alive/

11 Changes/Truth

Ruby

The day at school started as usual. Everyone arrived in class, their chattering showing that they were happy—well as happy as anyone could be in school, Ruby thought and smiled to herself. When the teacher walked in and the class started, there was the usual murmur of acknowledgment at Steven’s absence. The chatter just reinforced the aura of happiness. Ruby sighed, surprised to find a little part of her upset that Steven hadn’t arrived.

The knock on the door was unexpected. Everyone in the class jumped slightly, including the teacher. She approached quickly and opened the door so no one in the class can see who was there.

There were several words exchanged, and both Robert and Ruby raised their eyebrows at each other. The teacher went from angry to defeated as she moved back, and there followed a furious uproar.

Ruby knew that Steven wouldn’t expect a warm welcome. The teacher insisted that he leave, not for his protection but simply because she did not want him here, and the cries of anger merely confirmed this even more.

Everyone jumped up from their seats, yelling and shaking their fists. David and Leonard began to charge forward, obviously intent on beating Steven again. Robert cried out angrily. The cacophony of voices overlapped, but there was an element of continuity.

Murderer! Freak! Killer!

Ruby sat there in shock.

Why did he come back?

Even after everything that had happened, even with the knowledge, he would be beaten, severely, Steven had returned to school. Everyone pushed their way toward Steven, only refusing to attack him at the repeated warnings of the teacher that anyone who did would be expelled. It didn’t look as if her warnings mattered, but then the school security guard walked in after them and leaned against the back wall. He made eye contact with several students as if to say, “Try it, punk.”

Steven walked past everyone, not looking or speaking, and took a seat at his desk. He pulled out his laptop and turned it on—possibly for the first time in months. Everyone reluctantly returned to their seats but didn’t stop hurling insults and comments toward Steven.

Robert sat down with a scowl and turned to Ruby. “Can you believe he bothered to come back here?” Ruby didn’t feel the same way, but she knew what he expected of her. She frowned and nodded. Seemingly satisfied, Robert turned back angrily at Steven, who was surprisingly doing work.

The stories she heard didn’t fit with what she saw Steven do earlier. And what about his emotional outburst? Ruby felt excitement welling up inside her. Steven was here now at school. She could ask him everything she wanted to know and find out what she suspected was the unfortunate truth. Then she found a flaw in her plan. There was no way she could ask with Robert around; he would flip out at the sight of her talking to Steven.

Ruby looked at her laptop screen but couldn’t concentrate on it. How was she going to get Steven alone?

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