• The One Called Maruduk









    There was a boy called Maruduk, who loved to learn. He was an A student but got targeted by others for it. Maruduk also was an only child. He was 13 and considered a Geek by nature. His mother constantly moved from place to place because of her job, so there wasn't much time for friends and relationships. He decided, at age 10, to give up having friends and just be alone. This new city he was in was a beautiful one. But he had no time to smell the flowers. He unpacked his usual belongings and headed up to their new apartment. Maruduk Sighed and started toward his new room.
    "Another day, another life. Another new school to be ridiculed in." Maruduk hated this life. Sometimes he wished his mom would just get fired. But his mom was the best in the business, so, that was a long shot. Maruduk sighed again and placed his stuff in the usual spots...
    Day one at school was Maruduk's usual evaluatory day for Clique's and groups. The one's to avoid, (Almost all of them) and the ones to accept (The geeks). He was greeted with the usual tone at his first class. (Language arts/English) He was introduced, some gave cat calls behind the teachers back, and he took the farthest seated chair and desk. He sat next to a Brunette haired girl and a possibly Porte Rican Boy. The girl was a smart person at look one, and a survivor at look two. The boy looked smart but, stupid at the same time. Street stupid anyways. They greeted him they would a close friend. He greeted them with a short smile and a wave. Best not to have friends or it'll hurt in the end He reminded himself. Then he got his first assignment. The bulls-eye paint, he called it. He would always be the first to finish and people would target him for the rest of his stay. He sighed at went to work. It was about the Spanish inquisition. He didn't know the subject, so he researched it in their textbook and answered their questions. Now for the Coup De Gras.
    "Done."
    "Finished."
    What? He looked at the girl next to him. She was holding her paper high in the air, in the image of being finished. No way! Maruduk thought. He stared in awe at the girl. Usually he was the only one finished at this time. The deadline was two days later. The girl paid no attention to his gaze.
    "Well how do you like that. Meredith has competition." The teacher stated.
    The girl, who was obviously Meredith, looked at Maruduk at smiled. Well, at least I'm not the only smart person here. But nonetheless I can't have friends. He dismissed her smile and set his work down on his desk.
    Lunch hour was not as bad as Maruduk expected. It was worse. Because of the fact that word of mouth passed that he was as smart as Meredith, they called them every name in the book. Maruduk passed their gazes without noticing them. He was used to this treatment. And apparently, so was Mary. She had the same attitude as him. Weird, what next? She has all of my classes? And that was exactly the case. Every class he had so did she. And, every class, they finished their assignments first and at the same time. This was becoming interesting for Maruduk. He never had someone at his intellectual level. He wanted to test the extent of her knowledge. But he decided against it. It could create a friendship, at the least, and create problems for his departure. And yet ... he wanted to. What's one little question going to do? It couldn't hurt. So when school ended he decided to approach her and ask her one question. She had the same idea in mind.
    "Hi." She stated.
    "Hello." Maruduk answered.
    "I'm guessing you had the same idea?"
    "That depends. What was yours?"
    "I wanted to see if you were smart or just taking the same classes over and over again."
    "What do you mean?"
    "You just moved here, correct?"
    He nodded.
    "Then it could be multiple possibilities. One of which, you have a traveling parent and you have taken so many classes you know almost everything school below collage level has to offer."
    Maruduk couldn't believe it. She was telling his life in a few sentences.
    "I'm guessing you're going to go with that answer?" He asked.
    "Yes."
    "Then it's happened to you also?"
    "Happening, and yes."
    So she felt the same pain as him. But there was something about her choices that he didn't understand.
    "Then why do you try to make friends? Wouldn't that make leaving harder for you?"
    "Better than the alternative."
    "Which is...?"
    "Being alone all the time like you."
    This stung. "It seemed the best way."
    "Things are always better than they seem."
    "Yea. Right."
    "No seriously. If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten. I know that from experience."
    He took this into consideration.
    It doesn't sound like the smart thing to do. But then why does it sound like the better thing to do? Could I have bin wrong about this?
    "Why don't I be your first friend?"
    "Um. O... k..."
    "First you go with a formal greeting...."
    "I know how to make friends." He retorted.
    "Sorry. You didn't look like you did."
    "Well, I do."
    "Then, I'm sorry. Why don't you go first?"
    "Ok." He held out his hand.
    "My name is Maruduk Grayson, It's nice to meet you." He started.
    "Same here. My name Is Meredith Boviardy." She took his hand and shook it. Maruduk felt her soft grip. Not exactly one he was accustomed to, but nonetheless...
    At home he explained everything to his mother.
    "Well you sound happy. The first time in years." She said cooking at the Stainless-steel stove/oven.
    "But... I don't know if it's a good thing to do. This could hurt me in the end." He asked sitting on he bed, up one floor from the kitchen.
    "Well, it's a good thing to make friends anyway. Friends are good. But in this case, it's great! I got a promotion today! We're staying here for three more weeks!"
    "That's good news." He wasn't paying attention. All he could think about was Mary and her advice. Her handshake. Her voice...
    He sat up abruptly.
    "Oh no!" He had a crush on Mary!
    "What happened dear?" His mother called out to him.
    "Nothing Mar ... I mean mom!" His mom was suspicious but dismissed the fact of something being wrong. This isn't good! Maybe it's minor. Look for signs! That's a good start. Ok... What's her Name? To easy. Next... What's her IQ? 127.
    He groaned. That's one. Ok... next one. What's her hair color? White with a hint of blonde. Honey blond He didn't need anymore signs. This was major.
    Crud. This is going to affect me badly... and yet ... why does it not matter to me? Why do I not care? I could be crushed when I leave... but I still like her. Why am I not pushing her away? It would be better for the both of us not to get attached. He was about to decide to tell her about going with his initial plan when her words echoed in his mind.
    "If always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten.”
    She was right What's the point if don't try? Maybe this'll be different. I could always ask mom to stay here. He decided, that, for once, he was going to try. And the first step was to tell Mary his feelings.
    The first day after the first talk with Mary he told her everything. The first thing he told her was his feelings for her. She then stated that she felt the exact same way.
    "There's only one problem."
    "What is it?" Maruduk asked. Ready for anything...
    "I have to move today."
    Except this. Anything but this. Maruduk actually started crying.
    "What? But ... That's not fair..." He stammered.
    "I'm sorry. Maybe we'll see each other again. Good bye Maruduk." She then pecked him on the cheek and left toward her house. Leaving poor Maruduk with a Broken heart.
    Two weeks later...
    Maruduk always remembered Mary's words. After her departure, instead of going back into the dark loneliness of his previous life, he decided to try to make friends. And even when he was starting to pack his things, his friends came over and helped him pack. They were sad but they still helped. They even threw a goodbye party. Maruduk felt happy, not crushed. Mary was right. He then remembered the fact that he may never see her again. But he still had hope. And that wasn’t the only thing she gave him.
    Three days later...
    Maruduk went from number to number looking for his homeroom. His mom announced she had a partner for her work and said there was a surprise at his class. When he found it he was introduced and he took his usual seat. At the first assignment, when he finished, he saw his surprise.
    "Finished!"
    "Done!"
    Maruduk looked at the girl with her paper in the air. She had white hair with a hint of honey blonde…







    Ten Years later…

    Maruduk Pulled his Volkswagen into the driveway and parked it into the garage. Merry was already there to greet him.
    “Dom still working you to the bone I see.” She proclaimed.
    “Yea…and it’s hurting my back more and more. Imagine having to try to fix a mother comp. with a tooth pick. That’s easy compared to this.” He smiled as he always had for the past 5 years.
    “So…who had the Emergency this time?” She asked. White hair swinging in the soft breeze.
    “It was the Gov. Apparently some idiot tried to hack his comp system so they wouldn’t have to pay their taxes. Doesn’t anyone have an honest life anymore?” He asked as he walked up to her.
    “I think not. People are always desperate to make a quick buck anyway they can.” She answered.
    “Yea…I know.” He added a nod at the end for emphasis. “What’re you watching now?” He asked, noting the Japanese language coming from the 50 inch TV set.
    “Some anime show on 18.2. Uh…I think It’s called The Third?”
    “Good choice. I missed the last few episodes though, so I don’t know anything from the point of Blue breaker trying to kill Honoka in that weird nano-system room.”
    “AW! Great! Now you ruined it for me!” She said with too much drama in her voice. She sat down on the couch and patted his usual seat next to her. He sat close to her on the couch and pulled his hand around her waist. She leaned up against him and watched the show. “Maruduk?”
    “Yes Merry?”
    “What do you think the future holds for us? For all of Mankind?”
    He chuckled at the answer. “Truthfully? No one will know. Some say we live on other planets. Other’s say we die in the apocalypse…”
    “What do you say?” She asked, looking at his eyes directly.
    “Me?” He thought for a moment. “I think…” He dropped to one knee in front of her and held a ring box in his hand. Marry couldn’t believe her eyes. “That the future has a lot in store for human kind. Meredith Boviardy, will you Marry me?” He popped open the ring box to show a small one inch blue diamond. Merry hesitated…not knowing what to do. She looked at the ring, then the man holding the box to her.
    “Maruduk?”
    “Yes?”
    “I’d have to be insane to say no.” She then jumped on him and rapped her arms around his neck…
    Maruduk and Meredith had a long and happy relationship with plenty of ups and downs. Even when they were still at school they had a bumpy start. But they are a different story… For now, lets just seize their moment and be happy…