When Misshapen Hearts Collide

एक

All eyes were on him.

Even though it had been a mere 2 months since they last saw him, the student body felt it was their God-given right to openly gawk at him as if he were Brad Pitt, rather than just a regular teenager.

Slowly, he made his way out of his rusty, beat-up car. Hushed whispers filled the school parking lot as girls began to sneak subtle glimpses at him. 'Subtle'. Yeah right. But try as they might, he would not spare any one of them even a glance.

While the girls internally swooned, guys nudged their friends and pointed towards him in fear. It was a well-known fact that Archer West had just returned from a summer vacation in jail. Nobody knew how or why he had landed himself behind bars, but the rumors said it all. One stated that he had killed the school's History teacher - Mr. Henderson, ahhhh.... one could only hope.

But, murderer or not, Archer still remained the hottest topic of the school. And he knew it.

He strode through the parking lot as if he owned it. He was well aware of the ridiculous rumors that were currently circulating through the school, and planned to use it to his full advantage. As he approached the wooden doors that many of us feared, he stopped dead in his tracks, for there was something... or rather someone blocking his way. Directly in front of him stood Scott Turner. Unaware of the fact that Archer was slowly coming his way, Scott idly conversed with his friends, laughing every now and then.

But his laughter was soon halted by a sharp jolt as Archer raised him by the collar, and into the air.

"You're in my way." came Archer's deep voice, as it penetrated the parking lot. Scott flinched, scared for the sake of his future children. He was now trembling mid-air. His fingers were visibly shaking and if one looked closely, they would find a faint sheen of tears that covered Scott's eyes.

"I-I'm s-sor-sorry?" came Scott's nervous voice. He didn't dare look Archer in the eyes, in the fear that he would turn to stone. Throughout the encounter, Scott's gaze remained downcast, not bothering to meet the man whom he was addressing.

"GET. OUT. OF. MY. WAY!" screamed Archer. Flecks of his spit had flown on to Scott's face. By now, Scott knew he was done for. He scanned the parking lot in hopes of finding someone that could possibly help him. A teacher perhaps. As his eyes reached the far end of the parking lot, they were met by the joyous sight of the his Junior year Math teacher - Mr. José. Scott's eyes slightly widened, as he prayed that Mr. José would do something to help a student in need.

He was disappointed to find that instead of rebuking Archer, Mr. José simply backed away from the crowd and into the school building. Scott huffed a sigh of helplessness. Everybody in sight was petrified of the man standing directly in front of him, and none would ever have the guts to stand up to him. At least, that's what he thought.

"Hey!" came a shrill cry from the opposite end of the parking lot. Hastily, Diana Walker jostled her way through the crowd. At last, after a whole lot of nudging and elbowing, Diana finally made her way to the scene. Her eyes met Scott's. No longer did they hold the familiar green specks that she was so used to seeing. Instead, they were replaced by intense malice that was directed at none other than herself.

She took a step back, suddenly regretting her choice to stand up for the man who once broke her heart. She was reminded of the pain that he once inflicted upon her, and flinched slightly, by just the memory itself.

'No!' she chided herself, 'You will not let your petty issues get in the way of doing what's right!'

'But he deserves it!' her inner devil retorted, fully prepared for Scott to get the beating of his life.