Life became a play. Everyone knew their role, and everyone wanted to be the "main one." But even the "main one" didn't want it. Arthur was a smart student. He could solve problems with a blink of an eye. But he had to play the fool.

  It worked, for a good time. Until one of the teachers said a wrong answer. And Arthur... Arthur had to correct him, hadn't he? Then the play was over.

  It was war. Every day, he had quizzes and equations sent to him. Triple the homework. He knew it was over. So, he had to win. He kept solving them, until it was confirmed: he is a genius. One that doesn't want to be.

  Arthur became what he didn't want: the "Starboy." He was called "The Chief" in the cooking club. In the classroom, he was stared at. The teachers were amazed. He was given different quizzes, harder than the usual ones, but nothing worked. The "full mark" was a signature he didn't want.

  And the greatness brought attention. Attention he didn't want. Attention from boys and girls. He was invited to parties he didn't want to hear the names of, or even know where they were.

  But he had to adapt. And he did. Maybe the wall didn't answer him, but it taught him what he asked. He was able to say "no" now. But it was a polite "no."

  But then, girls confessed. This, he had no answer for. The first time, he just walked past them. The next, they tried to "trap" him in a place. He just jumped out of the window.

  And so, the roof was the next "trap." A girl was blocking his way. He just pushed her aside... and went straight.

  You can't stop a train, can you.

  "You know," Sean said, "they say the famous figure maker is coming tomorrow.”

  “Here." Arthur looked up. "A figure maker?"

  "Yes. He's coming here to deliver the new statue for the school fountain."

  "So... he isn't a figure maker."

  "He is," Sean said, "but he's just so talented, you know? He makes his statues with glass." Arthur's breath hitched. "Glass."

  "...Are you okay?"

  "Yes. I'm fine. So... do you know his name?"

  "I think it's... 'DP'? Or something."

  "That isn't a name. It's a nickname."

  "Yeah, something like that. Anywa—"

  "Arthur Angel." The speaker announced his name.

  It continued, but Arthur didn't hear it anymore. He knew what was going on.

  He went to the Principal's office.

  The Principal told him the famous figure maker was coming. That he was the Starboy. That he had to be there tomorrow. So, had to "wear something nice."

  That he was going to meet the man. and the "media" would be there.

  The next day came.

  The suit was on. The Starboy play was on.

  For more than six minutes, the media asked the Starboy of the school a lot of questions. He had to act. He had to smile.

  But then... he came. It had to be him. Daniel got out of his car. He was 20 now, but his face was the same. He smiled for the cameras.

  "It's him," Arthur thought, his "void" eyes shattering. "It's him. ...Father." Tears filled Arthur's eyes. But they evaporated in a second. He had to continue the act.

  Daniel got the statue installed. "Perfect," he announced. Arthur was pushed by the Principal toward Daniel. "No... not now..." Arthur thought. "Sorry," the Principal whispered, "but there isn't much time."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Mr. DP?" the Principal said. Daniel looked at the 16-year-old. "This is the Starboy you were talking about." Daniel put his hand on Arthur's shoulder. "So. The Principal has talked a lot about you. I hope what he said was correct."

  "I hope that, too," Arthur said.

  Daniel's smile wavered, just a fraction. "So humble."

  "I am just stating a fact," Arthur said.

  "Well," Daniel said, "with that way of talk... I think the Principal didn't lie.”

  “I want to play a chess game with you."

  "Sure."

  "You aren't afraid of losing?"

  "No," Arthur said, meeting his eyes. "I don't care."

  Daniel smiled. "Then after school... go to this address. And let's have a game of chess." He gave him a paper. An address. A house... right next to the school.

  The Prince turned back and went to the media. He talked with them for about 30 minutes—" And then he was gone.

  Then, the vultures attacked the kid. And that was the Principal's opportunity.

  He kept saying things to promote the school. How the school "made geniuses" and such things.

  Arthur looked at the Principal, disgusted. And the boy had to finish the act, hadn't he?

  He got a smoke from his pocket. He lit it. The sounds—the cameras clicking, the questions, the Principal's speech—all of it just... stopped. There wasn't a sound. Except for Arthur, slowly, getting the smoke out from his lungs.

  He finished the cigarette. He dropped it on the school's pristine lawn. He walked past the cameras, past the Principal, and to the inside of the school. The stares and the gazes were there. But he wasn't.

  He was already playing the chess game. His body was just... walking.

  He walked to one of the classes, took his normal clothes from his bag, and changed out of the Starboy suit. He took his headphones out. The music started.

  He walked back into the hallway. The Principal was there. He stared as Arthur, now in his street clothes, walked right past him.

  He got to the backdoor, but he had one last thing. He didn't need the suit anymore. Its new home... was the trash. And he went out.

  He got a smoke out, lit it, and started walking.

  The streets became gray. The colors were gone. And for the first time in so long, Arthur played a song by Mozart. And the colors leaked. It leaked out of his shoes.

  Every step was a color, and the smoke was the light in this dark world. The people were walking... the normal New York thing. But he wasn't. He was flying. Maybe they didn't see it, but today, the festival came to him. He didn't have to be a watcher anymore.

  He got to the address. He knocked on the door. He could hear... chaotic sounds. People arguing. About... a banana?

  "I TOLD YOU, DANIEL!"

  "HE TOOK THE BANANA! NOT ME! I SWEAR!"

  "HOW CAN I TAKE IT? I WASN'T EVEN HERE!"

  "I DON'T KNOW!" "He caught you, to be honest,"

  "YOU TOO, SALLY?!"

  "Sorry, sis, but they're right,"

  “NAH! AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE ALL GANGING UP ON ME!"

  Maryal ripped the door open. She looked at the kid on the doorway, who was confused, to say the least. "What do you want?"

  "I... I want to meet Daniel." Maryal stared at him. "He isn't here." She slammed the door in his face.

  He stood there in the cold hallway, listening to the laughter. It sounded like a language he used to speak but had forgotten.

  "Who was it, Maryal?" Daniel asked.

  "It was... a kid," Maryal said, flopping on the couch.

  "He was trying to sell cookies," Sally added.

  "No," Maryal said, "but it would have been great for that to happen." She looked at Daniel.

  "Fine," Daniel sighed. "Sam." "Yes, Daniel?" Sam said

  "Go and get them some cookies."

  "Go get it yourself."

  "Bro," Daniel said, "I am literally your father's 'second half.' Like... I am the closest person to him."

  "And that's why I'm talking to you like this," Sam sneered.

  "Stupid. You're doing it wrong. Just tell him I said it." The Prince said.

  Daniel sighed. "Shut up... Also, it's your father who told me to tell you to get Maryal cookies."

  "...Why didn't you say that?" He opened the door...

  ...and found Arthur sitting on the stairs, smoking. Arthur looked up, "So... Sam, right?"

  "Yeah. What do you want?"

  "I want to speak to Daniel."

  "DANIEL!" Sam yelled back into the apartment. "SOMEONE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!" Sam walked to the elevator. "Oh, it's cold in here," he muttered, leaving.

  Daniel came out. He saw Arthur, who was stepping on his cigarette. "So," Arthur said. "The game?" "Yeah," Daniel said. "Yeah. Come in."

  Daniel led Arthur into the apartment. Frank was in the kitchen, making coffee. The Glass family were all watching.

  "One sec," Daniel said to Arthur. He blinked. And the Prince woke up.

  "So," the Prince said. "Should we start, Arthur?"

  "Of course," Arthur said.

  "But can I ask you something?"

  "Ask."

  "What made you so interested in me?"

  The Prince smiled. “I have played against your brother, Peter, last year.”

  "I played your brother, Peter. He told me you were better. I had to see if he was lying."

  "So, that's it?" Arthur asked.

  "That's it."

  "So," Arthur said, nodding toward the kitchen. "Should we wait for the cookies? Or should we start now?"

  The Prince looked around. "No," the Prince said. "Let's wait for the cookies. So, Sam can watch, too."

  Arthur smirked. "I think he wouldn't like to see his 'brother'... or roommate... lose."

  "Nah," the Prince said. "He won't see that."

  "What makes you so confident?"

  "I know my capabilities."

  Arthur took a step closer. "And do you know mine?"

  The Prince smiled. "You are a really interesting boy."

  "Arthur. My name is Arthur."

  "Oh, right," the Prince said. "Mind my manners."

  Frank, stirring his coffee in the background. "Man," he thought. “What the heck is going on. I thought this was a vacation."

  Sophie was confused. "Are they fighting? Or is this... normal?" She looked at Frank. "From two minutes ago, they were arguing about boiled eggs or fried ones."

  Sam came back with the cookies and a cup of tea for the Prince "One sec," Arthur said. He put his headphones on. Mozart started. And the musical stair began to change into moves on the chessboard.

  They began. "Nice move," Frank whispered to Arthur. Sam nodded, his eyes wide. Sally was cheering for her Dad.

  The Prince, on the other hand, was watching Arthur's moves, "Strange," the Prince said. "I didn't see that move before."

  Arthur didn't answer. "The Prince... he's losing," Frank said, his eyes missing nothing. "I know," Sam said, his voice angry. Sally was confused, trying to solve this puzzle that Arthur was making….

  But the game ended. With a stalemate.

  Arthur stood up. "Good game," he said. "And thanks for the cookies." He walked to the door and he was gone.

  He went to the streets. Lighting a smoke and started walking. But the smoke didn't heal him this time. He put his headphones on, playing Mozart. Neither did Mozart.

  Maybe, at that moment, he lost the war he was fighting for so long. And now he couldn't push back.

  He lost.

  He didn't win his father's emotions.

  He was given a chance... and he failed it.

  And so, finally, he cried. But with no sound As if the world was on mute.

  No one looked at him. Maybe his school did make him feel special. Maybe Jasmine did make him feel wanted. Maybe his family did make him feel warmth.

  But at that moment... that bubble finally broke.

  No one cares, Arthur. Not even your own father.

  No one will wait for you to get back on your feet. No one will come and rescue you. No one will put the effort in to know who you are.

  “They only look at the mask you wear, and they clap. They never see the tears flowing underneath."

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