Solving a Cube

When Interrogating a Cube

Naomi: And it isn't?

Rubix: I'm trying to write it as a satire, among other things.

Jordan: What things are you talking about? What hidden messages and meanings?

Rubix: Did you know all of the main characters have the letter "N" in common? Ironically N for Naomi or Nerd? This, I didn't know until I was halfway into the book.

Declan: You can't be- (Stops and thinks about it.) Naomi, JordaN, DeclaN, BeNNett, RaymoNd...

Rubix: After realizing this, I wanted to keep up this little tradition and named characters with an N in their name, though there are some characters who escaped it as I didn't realize the pattern until I already created them such as Harvey Fisher (Starbucks barista) and Abby Baker (mean girl #1).

Bennett: How about another one?

Rubix: Okay, just one or two to really show the readers they are missing a lot of metaphors-

Jordan: It's a metaphor. You put the killing thing right-

Rubix: Don't you dare finish that quote or else readers will have more reason to fall in love with you.

Jordan: But-

Rubix: No.

Jordan: Not-

Rubix: No.

Declan: Can I say it?

Rubix: (Ignores him) Now let's see... There are a lot of symbols, too many to list right here and now, but here's an important one. Naomi is the personification of the bullied. No one can possibly be bullied that much to such an extent. She is just the representation of every bullied person, although even I can't describe how much worse it can be. But showing one person bullied to such an extent shows readers how big bullying is, especially when many have said they never witnessed someone being bullied. She is the manifestation of every bullied person rolled into one and should make decisions and think as a bullied person would in the situation, but at the same time she tries to be a role model of what the bullied should do as well as what they shouldn't do. In the end, it's a person's choice on how they will take in Naomi's actions. This is only a small portion of the character analysis of Naomi I'm working on.

(Everyone looks at Naomi)

Rubix: I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said all of that. I just wanted to start with a major example critical to the-

Naomi: (Clears throat) No, it's okay. What else is there to know?

Rubix: (Thinks for a moment) Did you know the boys each represent a different type of bad boy?

Bennett: (Raises eyebrow) How is this important to the book in any-

Naomi: (Pushes him away) It's important to the readers! Now, how?

Rubix: Bennett is the quiet cool bad boy, a guy of few words and many hearts (mostly lovestruck readers). Declan is the bad boy with a short temper but can be protective of those he finds worth fighting for. Jordan is more of the mischievous prankster side of bad boys who hides behind his jokes to disguise his insecurity. Then Domi-

Naomi: What?

Rubix: Dominic is the classic bad boy who is arrogant and cocky, but readers just can't help but love to hate and hate to love.