CHAPTER ONE

"Arthur," Mr. Brown began sternly, crossing his legs under his desk. "I assume that you know why you're here."

Arthur Read blankly stared back and shrugged. He knew why he was called to the office of Lakewood High School's new guidance counselor, but he didn't care enough to show remorse.

Mr. Brown replied with a strange look before speaking again. "Well, your English teacher Miss Jones has informed me that she overheard you saying an unpleasant comment to another student.

Arthur faked a puzzled expression. "I don't remember saying anything rude to anyone else, Mr. Brown. What exactly did I 'say?'"

"Well… you called Sue Ellen Armstrong a 'fucking carpet-eating dyke.'"

"It's not like I was lying when I said it."

"It's not about whether or not you meant it when you said it, it's about-!"

Arthur cut him off. "I don't care. I never have." About to stand, he froze, looking Mr. Brown dead in the eyes. "You seem hip, young, cool… You know, you're not the normal guy I'd fuck around with like this. But I don't appreciate being interrogated like a goddamn criminal."

Mr. Brown looked down at himself. Half-untucked shirt, loose tie, modern haircut, every piece of him.

After a few seconds of dead silence, the friendly guidance counselor spoke.

"I've heard things from your guidance counselor from last year-"

"Like what, that I'm in here all the time?" Arthur's voice shook.

Mr. Brown paused. "No, actually. He told me things about you that stunned me. Honor roll student… in all high level classes… nearly a prodigy on the piano…."

"What about it?" Arthur snapped?

Mr. Brown made an attempt to look into Arthur's mind, trying to find that kid beneath the harsh outer layers. "Arthur, what happened? What happened to the optimistic, approachable boy that I've heard so much about? This year, you've changed. Your grades have plummeted. You've lost complete interest in everything that you used to love. Not to mention the changes in your friends' behaviors."

"Leave me alone…." Arthur muttered.

"Just tell me, Arthur. What has been going on recently?"

"Leave me the fuck alone!" Arthur screamed, standing up.

"I'm trying to-"

"No!" His face reddened. "You have no idea what my friends and I have been through. Adults like you try to understand how we're feeling and wonder why you can't seem to get through to us. It's because you guys don't fucking get it!"

Mr. Brown looked purely frightened.

Panting, Arthur sat back down, closing his eyes to calm himself before he spoke again. Holding back sobs, his voice shook as he explained, "It all started when the town library was burnt down."

Mr. Brown solemnly nodded. "I heard about that."

"That was mine and my friends' favorite place in the world. Ever since we were six years old, we've hung out there almost ever day after school. It wasn't just about reading like faggy little school kids. It was safe to us. And then last summer, a group of lowlife pricks took it away from us."

"I believe that group includes Rattles Ciccone, Molly Macdonald, and Binky Barnes?" Mr. Brown asked.

Arthur nodded. "They got smashed one night and decided to trespass into the closed library to blaze somewhere they wouldn't get caught. Idiots dropped their joint on the way out. Next thing we know, fire trucks are heading across town at three o'clock in the morning to put out the fire. But they were too late. Every single book, DVD, magazine, CD… burnt to a crisp."

After what felt like a minute, Mr. Brown spoke. "And that changed you and your friends?"

Arthur raised his eyebrows in agreement. "Haven't been the same since."