Shards of a Heart

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 - Now

    On Thursday, I'm engaging in conversation when movement a few tables down catches my eye. I'm not the only one who notices it;  Brianna's eyebrows bend down and she turns her head towards to scene too. At first everything seems normal, but I feel this weird tension. I look around and everyone is quiet, their eyes fixed on two people, standing up with fists clenched. I strain to hear the hushed conversation, but can't make out more than a few basic sounds.
    Out of nowhere, the shorter kid punches the other in the face. I hear Brianna gasp, startled myself. I expect a full on fight to start, but the taller kid, now holding his face while leaning against the table, just spits at his assaulter. The assaulter turns away and starts walking towards the door, which in order to get to he has to go past us.
    I notice three things about him as he walks past. The first is that his scowl takes up his whole face, and it doesn't falter. The second is that his eyes are dark, but not colorwise. Though I can't see then very well, they seemed to be more of a hazel, but they looked pained. Like he had his own secrets. They remind me of myself.
    The third thing I notice is that he's left handed.
    After he leaves the room, I turn back to Brianna. Her lips are pursed and eyes simpatic. I open my mouth slightly, not sure exactly what I'm going to say.
    Brianna knows though. "His name's Alec." she shakes her head and whispers something that sounds like 'poor guy'
    "What was that about?" I ask no one in particular.
    "The other kid must've said something to get on his nerves," One of Brianna's friends answers with a shrug. I glance around the room, and a peculiar thought is brought to the surface.
    "Why didn't any of the teachers do anything? They didn't follow him out or anything. Only one actually cared about that other kid and even she didn't look sincere." I take a bite of my sandwich and meet the eyes of my newly acquainted lunch buddies. They all look away or at their food.
    Brianna finally clears her throat. "Alec isn't... normal. This happened a lot last year, and it always ended the same. The kid who got hit probably said something very personal, so he's just as much at fault. Everyone knows not to cross a certain line with Alec"
    "So why does he get extra privileges?" Again Brianna looks away then takes a deep breath.
    "We aren't really supposed to talk about it, but since you're the only one who doesn't know, I guess we can tell you." She takes a sip of her water. "Two years ago, Alec was actually really well liked. He was like Francis - you know him right?" I shiver at his name but nod. "Anyway, he had a girlfriend, good grades, tons of friends and people who looked up to him. Everything was going fine until something happened with his little sister, a freshman. Kit was one of the most innocent and kind people I have ever met. That was her downfall. Alec tolerated people, he didn't fight back when they bothered him, but didn't let it stick with him. Kit didn't understand how people could be so mean. She was often found crying in bathrooms, and barely had any friends. 
    "She was encouraged by many to go to this party, and when she refused they threatened her. So she went, and overdosed on some drug that was placed in her drink. Alec was at the party, so was I. I used to be friends with Alec so I was standing near him when he found out that she had collapsed. I'm not sure how to describe it, Alec was always such a caring person, but he completely changed when someone ran over to him. He pushed them to the floor and walked the other way. I followed him, and it wasn't until the ambulance came that he snapped out of this... faze of not caring."
"So since then he's been like this?" I interupt, still unable to connect the dots. It was horrible what had happened, but I didn't understand how someone like what Brianna described could change so much, and people be completely okay with it.
"No," She shakes her head for emphasis. "He didn't come back to school for a week or so, and when he did, everyone was all touchy touchy on the subject of the party. All they keep saying was that they were sorry that it happened. He was sad, but started to seem himself for a few days, so we thought everything was good. Then he didn't show up at school again for three days in a row. When he came back, I could've sworn he was a different person." She finishes with a soft smile. I feel my eyebrows sink in confusion, but then remember my dad. When I was in the hospital and for a few days after I got out, he was normal, like nothing happened. It wasn't until a few weeks later he started being... well... not like the father I used to know.
I look across the table to Brianna. She smiles "Can we talk about something different maybe?" I nod.