Scars

“Snyder and Scott”, I heard Mr. Coulson’s gruff voice say. Great! I have just been paired up with the
‘nicest’ guy in the school. I hit my head on the table out of frustration. Out of the corner of my eyes, I
saw Snyder rolling his eyes dramatically and running a hand through his messy hair in an arrogant way.
“So, you and I,” he paused to glare menacingly, but didn’t continue. I groaned.

~Flashback~

In the middle of the second semester, I got transferred to Redwood high, after a load of pestering from
my aunt. Embarrassing moment #1: getting introduced. I hid my badly trembling hands in the pockets of
my jeans. All the kids were giving me criticizing death stares. Or else it’s just the way I felt. I waited
impatiently for Mr. Coulson to introduce me.

“Alright class! This is a new, transfer kid, fresh from LA. He would be learning with you all from today
onwards. Welcome, Nathan Scott…”, finished Mr. Coulson with a clap. I heard a chewing gum pop.

The awkward silence continued until it was unbearable.

Everyone was staring at me in a bored way. The cringy silence was broken by a snort from the back of
the class and I spotted and an arrogant looking boy, with his legs up on the table. Backbenchers, better
not lurk around them. I thought with a gulp. A loud clap to my back brought me back to reality.

“You can go sit now, kiddo. Everyone! Take out your history books and turn to chapter 15”, announced
Mr. Coulson. I heard annoyed grumbles and silent curses from the students along with the sounds of
bags opening and closing. I went to the back and slumped down relaxedly on a chair. I am usually the
best in studies with straight A’s, but I had no other choice. Either be safe in the back or get stared by the
weirdos. Just my luck…

As I took out the books from my bag, I heard a voice from beside me, “So a new kid, eh. How
interesting!”. There was that obnoxious guy, smirking, but not looking in my direction at all. He, was
apparently, making a rocket out of a page torn from his history textbook. “Sure”, I remarked, taking out
my book. “How creative of yo-”, before I could finish my sarcastic punchline, Mr. Coulson started
speaking.

“So, students, today you all will be paired up together and will get a topic on page number 86 to
research about. Don’t be downed, because I am going to divide the pairs”, he said half-smiling at the
unsatisfactory glances from the students.
~End of Flashback~

So yeah, that’s how it began. But soon it’s going to be my end. The class split into duos with Mr. Coulson
calling out their names. “Listen all, you may find all the related information in the library. Now, off you
go!”, With that, Mr. Coulson slumped down on his chair, making it creak and started marking our
previous assignment. With that, I headed towards library with my narcissistic partner, Hugo Snyder.
Since the library wasn’t faraway, we didn’t talk much. Even if we did, I was sure that it won’t have ended
up well.

* * * * * *

I dumped the large pile of books I found useful for us, on the table with a loud thump. Hugo exaggerated
a groan of pure irritation. I gave a side way glance at him but he chose to ignore. Not a minute has
passed before Hugo asked,

“Are you going to read that book the whole day?”

“Well, are you going to sit there the whole day?” I snapped back at him. He snorted.

“Here,” I said pushing a stack of books towards him. “Help me find the time period of this dynasty. We
are supposed to do this together, so sitting there won’t do anything.”, I blurted out. “So now, you are
ordering me?”, Hugo questioned, cocking an eyebrow.

“Not at all”, I stated calmly.

He grabbed the nearest book with a snarl on his face and started flipping the pages impatiently. I went
back to my reading with a satisfied hum. Soon enough, we, or more specifically I, started taking notes
down, an abstract from the information we, or more specifically I, had found (Again). All of a sudden,
Hugo interrupted.

“It wasn’t Buddhism actually, which the majority of the ancient dynasty followed. Confucianism was the
dominant and officially sanctioned religion”, he dropped casually. I stared at him for a fraction of
seconds dumbfounded. “How can you be sure?”

“Well, according to the literacy sources found by archaeologists in 2013, it’s a myth. Don’t be so full of
yourself, Scott” He stated arrogantly with a smirk.

I quickly grabbed the book he was just reading and checked it out. He was right after all. I didn’t look up
as I could feel overly smug expression in my bones, at the moment.

“Whatever”, I said writing it down and being amused at his intellect at the same time. Maybe he was
smart. Though his arrogance overshadows it all. I am the nicer version of himself it seems. “Besides,
Scott, why would you come to this school, in the first place, if you are so bright? You sure would have
given a free scholarship at Harvard or something right?”, he asked in a mocking tone.
Suddenly, the sounds of overwhelming sirens mixed with anonymous voices stormed into my mind and
all I could remember was blood. The accident, which took the lives of my family away broke out of
nowhere, clouding my senses. I clenched my fists, trying to control the emotional burst out which would
happen soon, if it got out of control all the while being aware of the fact that Hugo was gaping at me as
well. I spotted a strike of genuine concern in his cold face, but it flashed away as soon as it came.

“Because I had no other choice”, I muttered.

“Tell me.”, he said, unexpectedly, placing his hands on the table in a diplomatic way. He really was
curious, it seemed. I stared at him for a moment unsure whether I could actually speak out or even if I
had a voice for myself, before answering.

“No”, I grumbled, “It’s complicated than you think. Besides, it’s none of your business.”

He leaned back in the chair, reaching his original position. There was a hint of understanding in his eyes
now.

“I didn’t have a choice either”, he began, as if he were a fictional character trying to tell his tragic life
story, shrugging nonchalantly. “When I was five or so years old, my mom left us. You know, my parents
just couldn’t keep up with each other without getting under their skin. They always argued and argued
and that was the consequence. Then my parents went to custody and my dad was the one who got me.
Of course, the court would have favored him. He could either bribe them or threaten them to do
whatever he wants. Mom has no power against a rich businessman anyway.” he laughed humorlessly
before continuing.

“After that, my life wasn’t the same. I only had my father with me, but he’s always busy with his work
and considered it a nuisance to at least acknowledge his own son’s existence. Then God sent me another
gift”, he scoffed coldly. “A step-mother. She would have been so annoyingly nice but it was all my
father’s fault. He just cannot understand me. How much I need her back. If he thought a mere person
could replace her so easily, then he’s wrong.” He sneered, but stopped abruptly and blinked a few times
as if waking from a trance. He stared at his hands for a few seconds, as if realizing that I was here the
whole time and when he looked up again, his softened eyes turned harsh again.“I think I have told too
much.”, he stated with a sharp look from those cold eyes, forcefully. “But may be that’s enough for you
to be convinced that I can keep up with whatever you have to tell”.

I gulped. Whoa! That was totally unexpected, especially coming from an arrogant and spoilt bully.
Besides that, was a lot to take in within a small ten minutes. So that’s why he’s a so cold towards others.
That’s why he has shut all his feelings down. But still, he covers all those weaknesses and insecurities
with his arrogant façade. I had judged him too quickly and been totally wrong about him all the same.
He was another depressed kid, bullying others, not for fun, but to gain control of himself. It won’t do
anything good to him. It would just help him escape his conscience, holding out bitter truth in its bare
hands,.

I swallowed back the lump in my throat which would come whenever my memory drifted back to the
past. The truth. “Well, uh…I... umm…am really sorry for your lo-”, before I could complete the apology,
which was sincere, Hugo shut me down.

“I don’t want your pity”, he almost growled.

Typical of him. I just should have kept my mouth shut. Though I was grateful that he had opened up
about him, understanding my state. Then, I hesitated without knowing how to start my story. He waited
patiently, looking out of the nearby window, to either collect himself after the big confession or as if to
support me to gain some confidence.

“Actually, I lost both my parents, last month from a car accident. So, after staying in the hospital for
some time, I came here, to my aunt because she was the only blood relative I had, after my parents. But
I hate being such a trouble to her by stuffing into her apartment. You know, financial problems.”, I
stopped, embarrassed a bit and to see if he was laughing at me or something. Nothing. He was staring
like a statue with some kind of a sympathizing emotion in his eyes.

No. I didn’t want anyone’s pity either.

“And now all I want to do is keep up well with my studies. I cannot depend on her for the rest of my life.
So, yeah. Hope you are happy now.”, I finished, tightening my lips. He had a critical look on his face.

Ad then it was silence between us. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as the atmosphere full of tension I had
when I got introduced to the class. It was like we suddenly discovered that we were the polar opposites
of the people we knew each other as. Now here I was, sharing my most painful and darkest secret with
the kid, who would have obviously been the last on my list, when it came to situations like these. Maybe
he was a cold bully outside but not fake and unwelcoming from the inside, like people I just met in the
class, who I thought would be understanding but ended up being hostile.

Just then I heard the ear-splitting sound of the bell ringing, piercing the plush silence. The period was
over. So were our lives. We have been talking all this while instead of working on our assignment. And
for shame, it only had two paragraphs on it. Both of us were staring at the piece of paper.

Then Hugo stood up rubbing his hands and straightening his sleeves. Then he shot the same arrogant
look my way and actually smiled. He then offered a hand.

“Ready for detention, Scott?”

Smiling, I took it.

-Sometimes, the nicest person you meet are covered in tattoos and sometimes the
most judgmental people you meet go to the church on Sundays. Never judge a
book by it’s cover-