Eustace Strych had changed.
None of the other kids believed him.
Neutron just laughed at him. Brushing him off.
Saying, "Yeah, Strych. I'll believe that when pigs fly, which isn't scientifically proven, which means it will never happen, which means I don't believe you, and never will." Eustace didn't pout, he just walked away, his facial expression truly looking crestfallen.
Cynthia scowled at him. Shouting, "Back off Strych!"
The rich boy continued to walk away.
He made it home, the butler welcoming him with a soft smile. "Welcome Eustace," He said.
Eustace smiled. " Thank you, Patches." He replied softly, walking up the stairs.
He walked down the hallway, eventually making it to his favourite room. His sister Crystal's room.
He entered the room, his sister lying in bed, smiling a big smile as she saw him. "Euscie!" She cheered, coughing.
Eustace sits on the bed, smiling at her. "Hello, Crystala. How are you feeling today?" He asked softly.
"Yucky." The sick girl responds, coughing with a coughing fit.
Eustace gets up and leans her forward, patting her back as she coughed into the bowl, coughing up mucus and vomit as she cried. "It's alright, Crystala... it's alright... Just get it out." Eustace hushed her.
Eustace used to hate doing this, he would tell his sick sister that rich boys don't do this type of thing. His baby sister would just sob, her throat red and raw from coughing. But after spending time not have his luxuries in that police station for three months after Jimmy sent him there, he realised that he had to change.
When he was sent home, he got rid of most of his luxuries, by donating them to orphanages and other places that needed them more, he still had some though.
Crystal has finally stopped, and she was sobbing, her nightgown a mess. The rich boy called for the butler, who came with a freshly clean nightgown for her. Eustace gently got her changed, sitting on her bed with her on his lap. "How about I tell you a story, hmm?" Eustace suggested.
The sick girl nodded, burying her head in her brother's chest.
And so, Eustace made up a fictional story for his sister, adding princesses, princes, wicked witches that were under spells and so much more. His story was a mishmash of other stories, but the sick girl didn't care. She was just happy to be bonding with her brother. Eventually, she fell asleep, just managing to hear Eustace say, "And they all lived happily ever after. The end."
She mumbled his name, and the rich boy shushed her. "It's alright, Crystala... Eustace's here.. Rest now." He said softly.
And before Crystala tragically passed away, Eustace held her hand, trying to calm her down. "Hush, dear sister, you need to rest." Eustace said gently.
"But you won't be there, Euscie.." She whimpered, her voice getting tired.
Eustace squeezed her hand tighter. "Yes I will be.." Eustace soothed. "I'll always be with you. You won't be in pain anymore, you'll be able to walk again, have lots of fun." Eustace said softly.
Her eyes began to close, her body beginning to get weaker and weaker. "I see stars, Euscie..." She said tiredly. "You see them too?" She asked.
He nodded. "Yes, Euscie does." He said, sniffling.
"Don't cry, Euscie...I'm here."
Eustace wipes his eyes and smiles. "I'm not crying, little one, don't worry..." He lied.
"I...Love...You..." Was the last words Crystala ever said, and Eustace Strych was there to hear them.
The rich boy whispered his response to her, before he buried his head on her bed and sobbed. Their parents standing outside, sobbing too. His father came in the room, collecting the rich boy into a hug, Eustace welcoming his father's embrace without a second thought. They all cried in grieved, the butler, discreetly crying too.
A few months later, Eustace Strych sat at his sister's grave stone, which was littered with flowers and daisychains put there by the public. The rich boy cried, distraught without her. He saw Neutron kneel down next to him. "I'm sorry, Eustace..." Jimmy says quietly, looking at the rich boy who had done nothing but wear black since the death of his sister.
Eustace looked at him. " Thank you, James.. i'm surprised you came."
Jimmy frowned. "Of course I did, we may not get along, Eustace, But I'm not heartless... I do care about you." Jimmy said quietly.
"Thank you for caring, James." Eustace replied softly.
You're welcome." Jimmy said softly.