“I’m sure you know why you’re here, Mr. Axelrod.”
“I’m sure I don’t. I’ve been in the hospital the last two days.”
“Your brother is saying you hit him first.”
“I didn’t. He pushed me. I didn’t do anything until he hit Marissa. I’m sure she can tell you exactly what happened.” Bas crossed his legs at the ankle and sat back. He wondered if he was going to be suspended or expelled. O’Brien just needed a reason, and fighting in the halls was a very strong reason, even if it had been provoked.
“Your brother claims you’re the one who struck her, and that he was defending her.”
“And what did Marissa say?” Bas didn’t believe for a second that she would lie for Eddy. Not about this.
“I know she’s a friend of yours. Sticking up for friends is what high school kids do.”
“And she’s Eddy’s ex-girlfriend, so she’s trying to get him in trouble, even if I’m the one who hit her? What the hell logic are you working from? ’Cause I got an A in logic, and that doesn’t account for any of the theories in the text.”
“I’ve overlooked the trouble you’ve caused over the past two years because you’re a good student. But I really can’t keep letting you get away with things.”
“What have I gotten away with? Did you forget that I’m the one who’s always attacked? I fight back this one time, and every other incident is somehow my fault? Unbelievable.”
“Have you considered that you’re provoking these attacks? That the things you’re doing are making you a target?”
Bas narrowed his eyes at the man. “So you’re saying, what? Conform? Be like the rest of the lifeless herd passing through here? And what exactly is that going to do for me? What is it going to do for the world, to send everyone out there exactly the same as everyone else?”
“Sebastian. Everyone your age wants to be an individual. It takes years for them to realize getting ahead is done by working hard to be like everyone else. I had hoped you would realize this before you graduated.”
“And what about those of us who want to change the world? Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Gandhi? Hell, even Jesus was a nonconformist. Why do I have to conform so you feel more comfortable around me? It’s not going to make me straighter.”
O’Brien stifled a laugh. “You are not Gandhi.”
“And do you really thinkGandhiwas Gandhi at eighteen? We all start somewhere, right? And if you decide any kid who tries to stand out or make a difference needs to be knocked down, there will never be another Gandhi.” Bas sighed. It was like talking to a wall. “Are you punishing me for defending myself or can I go? I’m supposed to help someone study before first hour.”
“You’re on probation, Axelrod. One more wrong move, and I’ll suspend you. And because you’re on probation, you’ll be stripped of the valedictorian title.”
Bas felt his jaw drop. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“A matter of cause and effect, Mr. Axelrod. I’m sure you learned all aboutthatin logic. You may go.”
Bas got up and left, feeling like he’d been hit in the gut. He’d earned that valedictorian title. Hell, he needed it to get a scholarship. He made his way to the library, wondering if the day could get any worse. Adam appeared at his side before he could sit down at an empty table and contemplate how bad his morning had already been.
“Okay, I can totally see those waves of gloom and doom around you like in cartoons. Spill.” Adam sat down and shoved his bag into an empty chair. “Chem review can wait.”
“O’Brien has me on probation, and he’s stripped me of the valedictorian title.”
“That’s not fair! You’re the best student at this school. You even got a 32 on your ACT. I only got a 29. Jeez, that’s brutal. Can he even do that? Doesn’t it have to go to the student with the best grades?”
“Iwasfighting in the hall.”
“You were defending Marissa and yourself. Why is that wrong? You’re supposed to let someone wale on you?”
“He said Eddy accused me of hitting Marissa. That he was defending her.”
“We all know that’s not true. Marissa would have told O’Brien the truth.”
“And he accused her of lying because I’m her friend.”
“What? Is he nuts? Does herememberthat you’re the guy who’s been abused for the past two years?”
“He told me to conform and maybe people wouldn’t pick on me so much.”
