2. Books and School

California, May 30, 1998

Louis is 14 years old.

"What the hell is that... this is the fourth time you've been kicked out of a different school"

"I didn't give birth to you to be a burden like this!" The loud voice of an old woman snapping at a child in front of her.

"I didn't do anything wrong, I just said a different opinion than the old teacher" Said the boy. That kid was louis when he was 14 years old.

* Ppakkk

A hard slap right on Louis' right cheek made his ears buzz.

"You dare to answer like that? I never raised you to be an insolent child like this" The woman took Louis' hand and entered Louis' room.

"Think about your mistake." The woman locked the bedroom door and let Louis inside.

Louis just kept silent, it wasn't because he was shocked or felt sick, but because he was used to it. Slap wasn't the only thing he ever received from his mother. When Louis makes a little mistake he will definitely get a punishment that refers to physical violence.

This is normal life for Louis. Physical violence is Louis's daily bread. Even so, Louis wasn't one to give up on just that. Louis is a person who has an above average mind and intelligence but also has an overly outspoken nature. Because of that, he gets into a lot of trouble while at school.

He was kicked out many times because of his habit of speaking frankly. He spreads his teacher's vices in front of all the students, and gets into fights with kids who differ from him though of course he didn't start it. And many other things that keep him out.

But his ability to identify a fact and find an answer is both a blessing and a curse for him.

His parents divorced when he was one year old, and his mother raised him alone. And that was the reason behind the treatment he received from his mother. Even if Louis did good things, his mother would not care because of her hatred for her ex-husband.

His mother was mentally unstable, and Louis understood that and never once complained about how his mother treated him.

Louis doesn't have someone who can be a support for him, that's also what makes Louis sometimes don't really care, and has a strong mentality.

...

"Hmm, what book should I read this time?.." Louis stood up and sorted out the books on the shelf in front of his bed.

"Shouldn't it be a novel?" Louis looked thoughtful even though the slap mark on his cheek still remained.

He grabbed a novel that was on the left side of his bookshelf.

"Sher...lock?" Louis stared at the book in his hand as he opened the pages one by one.

Louis lay down on the bed and started reading the novel he was holding.

A few moments later.

"Hmmm, weird... this is what I don't like about novels"

"Very much different from real life, even though the setting is the same, but the content is really ridiculous" Louis threw his book on the table to the left of his bed then took another book.

"Um now what?" Louis returned to sorting books on his bookshelf.

"I think biographies are the best..." Louis took the pink book on the shelf.

"Though I'm sure there's exaggerated information..."

A while later, it was getting dark and Louis was still reading a book in his bed.

Not long after, the sound of footsteps was heard and slowly the door to his room opened.

*Kreeeek

The sound of the door slowly opening. From outside, the light illuminates Louis' eyes and his mother slowly approaches him.

Louis stood up from his bed and put his book on the bed.

"I'm sorry, I overdid it earlier" His mother slowly hugged Louis and let out tears.

This was also a normal thing for Louis, whenever Louis got rough treatment from his mother, it would not be long before his mother would come and apologize to him.

Even after being kicked out of school three times previously, his mother still found him another school in the end.

"It's okay mom, I'm also sorry for everything" Louis said and showed a smile to his mother.

These words have been repeated by Louis many times when he found the same conditions. It was also caused by a mental disorder experienced by his mother.

"I've prepared dinner" His mother let go of her hug against Louis. And then looked at her lovingly.

"Yes, I'll catch up later, I'll tidy up my book first" Louis took the book on his bed then tidied up the books that looked messy.

After that, his home situation became more normal. Until a few days passed. With the efforts made by his mother, Louis was able to enter other schools in the New York area.

Because of that they had to move from California to New York.

...

New York, June 13, 1998.

"Mom, I'm leaving" Louis told his mother before leaving the apartment where he lived.

A few moments later.

Louis walked quite a distance before finally arriving at a shabby and old looking building.

"Mmm..." Louis entered the building.

It was a school that Louis was currently attending.

"My name is Louis Scofield, nice to meet you guys" Louis introduced himself to his friends in front of him.

The other students didn't seem too concerned about Louis' presence in the class.

"Mmm, at least the people here aren't as bothersome as the previous school" Louis muttered.

*ting ding

The bell rang signaling the start of recess. The students there were seen starting to leave the classroom even before the teacher left.

Meanwhile, Louis took out a book and read it while walking outside.

From behind a child who looks much bigger than him takes his book.

"Ehhh, can't believe it... you read a book even after class is over" Said the chubby kid behind Louis who slowly walked in front of him.

"So what? Is that not normal in this place?" Louis asked in order to get used to the customs of his new place.

But it seemed those words were perceived as something different by the boy. The boy's name is Bryan, he is one of the school thugs.

"Huh? Are you insulting us?" Bryan said feeling annoyed. and took a razor from his pocket.

"Oi, teacher isn't out yet, don't make trouble now" A child wearing a square hat walked over and held Bryan's back.

Hearing that, Bryan left the room and threw Louis's book out the window and left.

"Mmm, I'm surprised he didn't rip it" Louis muttered.

"Ah whatever..." Louis walked out and looked for his book which was thrown by Bryan.

...

Louis searched for a while until he finally got his book back.

"Ugh, looks dirty" Louis took his book and continued reading it.

And from a distance seen a fight between fellow students. Even though Louis didn't want to get involved at first, in the end he was interested in watching the fight.

Several children gathered and just watched the fights that were being carried out by the students.

"Damn it, I know you cut my clothes while waiting in line at the bakery" Shouted one of the children who were fighting.

"I told you it wasn't me" replied the other student.

"Then who else? You're the only person with scissors in your bag."

Louis approached and watched them. The clothes of one of the students who were fighting were torn with cut marks.

After watching for a few moments, Louis walked over to Bryan who was also watching the fight. Louis stood beside Bryan then took hold of his sleeve.

"Why don't you confess?" Luois said looking at Bryan. Louis' voice made the gazes of the other students fall on the two of them.

The fight between the two students earlier also stopped because of his words.

"Huh, what are you talking about?" Bryan was confused by Louis' words.

"If you admit what you did, wouldn't they not need to fight..." Louis continued.

Bryan looked both panicked and annoyed.

"Are you saying I cut his clothes?" Bryan denied Louis and let go of Louis' grip on his shirt.

"Isn't it obvious..." Louis glanced at the two students who were fighting before.

"Bullshit" Bryan said.

"What is the proof that I did?" Bryan smiled with drops of sweat running down his cheeks.

"Mmmm, from the shape of the tear on that person's clothes, it's definitely not from the scissors".

"A tear that long will leave a jagged mark because it will be cut twice even with big scissors if it's a pair of scissors"

"But the rip looks smooth and bends a little"

"Th...then what if it's not scissors?" Bryan started to look more panicked.

"A razor blade... I suspect it is a razor mark" Louis said.

"And of all the students here, only you have a razor" Louis continued.

"After all, his clothes were torn while waiting in line at the canteen, and the torn marks are on the right"

"That means the culprit most likely used his right hand to rip it apart"

"And that person uses his left hand more when fighting, which indicates that he doesn't"

...

"J...if it's me, how do I do it, I'm in the queue far behind him" Bryan pointed at the student whose clothes were torn.

"That's easy, you must have come out of the queue after tearing his clothes" Louis also pointed at the student whose clothes were torn.

Stares began to fix on Bryan which made him impatient, he hit Louis's face so hard that Louis fell.

"You.. you dare to say such nonsense" Bryan looked irritated.

But suddenly a teacher came and dismissed them and separated Bryan and Louis.

"Teacher, he slandered me, I didn't do anything ..." Bryan complained to the teacher who came to intervene.

Louis just stared at the teacher and didn't say a word.