STREET KING: ASHLEY LOCKWOOD

In the bustling cafeteria of Williams college, Archie found himself standing alone at the counter. His friends had already settled down at their usual table, their laughter mingling with the clatter of trays and utensils. He fumbled through his worn wallet, counting out the meager coins with a sinking feeling in his stomach.The cafeteria attendant, a woman with a perpetually bored expression, glanced at Archie with thinly veiled disdain. “Running short again, Archie?”Archie’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as he tried to summon a response. “Uh, yeah, just a bit short today,” he muttered.“I’ll get you the rest later,” he began, his voice trailing off as he tried to meet the attendant’s eyes. But before he could finish his sentence, her expression darkened.“You think you can just waltz in here and expect a free meal?” she snapped, her voice laced with venom. “We’re not a charity!”Archie’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, his heart pounding in his chest as the attendant raised h

The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting eerie shadows that danced against the cold, concrete walls of the room. Archie sat slumped in a metal chair, his face bruised and his uniform bloodied, his body ached with every movement.The police officers circled around him like vultures, their eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. “Thought you were tough?” one officer sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Why don’t you show us the way you bullied the mayor’s son, huh?”Archie opened his mouth to say something but he was silenced with a blow to the stomach. He winced as the sharp pain shot through his battered body like lightning.The officer was about to land him another blow when his pocket vibrated. He hesitated mid-swing, a look of annoyance flashing across his face as his phone rang. With a muttered curse, he stepped aside to answer it, leaving Archie sprawled on the cold, hard floor, his body trembling with pain.As the officer conversed in hushed tones, the rest of the

Archie arrived home to the familiar sounds of his mother bustling about in the kitchen, the clinking of utensils and the rhythmic chopping of vegetables filling the air. Grace was in the midst of a phone call, her voice animated as she multitasked, whipping up a meal with practiced ease. But as soon as she caught sight of Archie, her phone slipped from her grasp, forgotten, as she stood frozen in shock.“Hey, mom”Hurrying over to him, her hands reached out to cup his face, her touch gentle yet urgent. “Archie, what happened to your face?” she exclaimed, her eyes scanning his bruises with concern. Archie watched as his mother enveloped him in a warm embrace, her worry palpable in the way she held him close. Despite everything he had been through, all he needed in that moment was the comforting presence of his mother.A small smile tugged at his split lips as he soaked in the warmth of her embrace. Grace might not be his biological mother, but she had filled the role of a mother with

Bae’s eyes twinkled with amusement as she watched Archie approach their table, his focus solely on balancing the two steaming cups of coffee. There was a certain charm in his concentration, a kind of authenticity that drew her to him.He wasn’t like the rest. He was more...normal.“He’s hot,” A girl remarked, her eyes lingering on Archie with obvious interest.Her moment of quiet observation was interrupted by the sudden intrusion of a redhead from across the booth. Bae’s attention snapped to the girl, her initial admiration for Archie melted away as she quickly composed herself, her voice taking on a casual tone. “Maybe, I don’t know.” she replied with a slight shrug.The redhead pressed on, undeterred by Bae’s nonchalant response. “Does he have a girlfriend?” “I don’t know...” Bailey’s voice trailed, she had just realized that she knew nothing about his personal life. It had been a week already and she was the least proud to admit that she still called him ‘newbie.’“Incoming.”

“Ow,” Archie winced. They were both seated in an empty classroom, his chair mere inches away from Bailey’s.“Stop overreacting, it isn’t that serious.” Bailey dipped a cotton swab in ointment before applying it on the wound.He narrowed his eyes at her, but she giggled. “You were amazing, though.” She added, wrapping a bandage around his knee. “I’ve never sat that long for a match in my entire life.”“You’re welcome” he nodded in acknowledgement as he watched her carefully tend to his wound. “You’re good at this, who knows, maybe med school is your calling.”“Well, I did apply,” she shrugged. “But my parents were against it.”“Why?”She forced a fake smile. “I’m the only child. There’s no one else to take over the family business other than me. I bet they just can’t wait to marry me off.” She rolled her eyes dramatically.“Then why don’t you simply say no.” Archie suggested.“It’s complicated.” Their eyes locked, her hands gently massaging the bandage. “You can’t just say no to famil