Lost In Purple
Chapter 12: So Much For A Boring Day
It has been about six hours since I left Johnny at the scaring school. I do hope he does well on his midterms, because I would like for him to keep the goal of having a flawless report card while being the top scarer on campus. I guess that's why everyone idolizes him and believes that they aren't worthy being around him, because he's living the dream every monster has. As for me, I haven't really been feeling like staying inside at all recently so I decided to take another long walk around campus while obviously avoiding everyone. Over the past few days, I've been hearing rumors that the JOX will be having a party tonight, so I figured it would be best not to associate with anyone or anything. Many girls have been talking about them and how 'strong and muscular' they are. Gross. I'm a little conflicted about them since Faust is a part of them, but everything is pointing towards them being the stuck up, glory seeking dummies. So for now, all I can say is that I'm on the fence when it comes to considering them worthy of my attention.
I shake my head once again while watching each of my steps connect with the cold cement beneath me, attempting to forget about all the drama filled thoughts occupying my mind. There's the party from last month, Faust, the fight with Percy and Baboso, the Homecoming football game. There's just so much that's happened in a matter of a month and it freaks me out when I think about that in class. When it comes to out scaring, Bruiser and I have been sitting next to each other since we first met officially and he one hundred percent makes class more fun. Some jokes here and there, along with passing notes to talk about random things. It's been really cathartic talking with someone who doesn't care about who I am, unlike Faust. It's just hard to not remember that he's at odds with the JOX, so yeah, everything is reminding me of the fraternity drama I've found myself in.
I sigh and shake my head. I was supposed to be walking to clear my head, not thinking about the stuff that's stressing me out. I look forward to see many monsters pass by me and see two boys who are getting a little too kinesthetic by pushing each other over some trivial argument. There were also some girls who are gossiping about their boyfriends and how amazing they are. I just hope they're not referring to the JOX cause then they might be in for a rude awakening once they realize that they aren't the sharpest or nicest tools in the shed. Finally, there's me walking around campus for the sake of keeping myself from going insane.
I eventually find myself standing before the almighty clocktower located behind the Scaring School that daunts every freshman upon their first day of school. The sidewalks bring me through an intricate gateway that reveals a little pond with some benches wrapped all around it. The evening glow shines brightly against the towers bricks, and a few tolerable reflections glare off the smooth surface of the water. I'm impressed that I've found two really peaceful spots on campus. I mean I'm actually allowed to be here unlike the riverside behind Frat Row so that's on the positive side of things. I choose to sit on one of the benches furthest away from the entrance to ensure the most amount of peace and quiet I possibly can. I breathe slowly and close my eyes. I feel good. I feel like nothing could destroy the comforting feeling I have just sitting here. But of course, that tranquility is then interrupted by my phone vibrating and blaring a little jingle. I fish it out of my pocket and read what's on the screen. Great, it's my dad. I press the green button and answer it.
"Hey dad," I say.
"Hey there moondrop, how are you?" Dad greets.
"Dad don't call me thaaaaat. It's embarrassing," I whimper.
I hear him and my mom laugh. He must have put me on speaker for her to listen in. "Come on Melody, it's really beautiful," my Mom chimes in, "You know your father loves you as much as you love moon."
"I get it, I was a weird kid," I groan, remembering that I used to stare up at the moon every knight in first grade.
"You're wolven Melody! Just like me! It's normal," Dad playfully berates.
"Yeah, I know," I sigh.
My dad immediately picked up on my sadness. "What's wrong Mel? You're not upset with me are you?"
"No... I just miss you," I say looking down at the pond and watching some fish swim idly by. The fish were really pretty by the way. Their iridescent scales shimmer with the evening suns rays.
"Aww, we miss you too Mel. Are you feeling a little homesick? We can come visit you later this week if we have to," Dad offers.
"No that's Ok. I ended up thinking about you earlier today and remembered everything you've been through. I just feel like I should be there for you if something goes awry," I explain.
"I see. There's no reason to worry though, we're doing fine and so are you," Dad reassures.
"Ok, I'll take your word for it," I respond. I really do wish I could make things easier for them. My Mom has had to look for new jobs almost every month because she ends up getting laid off, or her managers think she's not a good enough candidate for them. As for my Dad, he's left to basically grovel at everyone's feet on the Scream Industries scare floors. He has said before that most of the scarers there act like they're superior to him which is just unforgivable.
"Are you at least having a little bit of fun on campus?" My dad questions with some enthusiasm behind his words.
I snap back into reality and forget about what I just thought. "Um, yeah... I guess," I respond disinterested in this subject.
"Are you not enjoying yourself? Are the classes unbearable, or are you maybe not socializing enough again?" Dad guesses.
I hate how he knows me so well. However, that's not quite the case.
"No, the classes are fine and most people are fine. I've just come into the crossfires of some conflict between people. I just feel stressed out about everything because I'm pre-determinately the mediator of it all even though I don't want to be. In general, I never know what to say to people except for a select few, and I feel like I'm being a bad friend when I find myself unable to help. I guess I should've expected that though considering I'm not an engaging person in general," I explain.
"Don't say that about yourself Mel. I raised you better than that, the degrading comments about yourself will only make things feel worse than they actually are. You know you're not a bad person," Dad lectures.
"Did I hear that you made some friends?" I hear my Mom sing at the end of that sentence trying to relieve my unhappiness.
I hesitate to say anything, but I have no reason not to tell them. "I haven't really met too many people, but I did get to know someone in my Scaring class. I also met a couple guys from a scaring fraternity, and a couple from a scaring sorority," I admit.
The clocktower then rings. It's a nice calming tone that echoes across the campus indicating that it's eight at night. The suns afterglow changed from an orange to more of a sherbet pink and the fish in the pond are starting to show some of their bioluminescence which subtly makes the water glow.
"Yay! Our little girl is making some friends!" My moms cheers. I wouldn't be surprised if she was hugging my dad and jumping up and down in place. I seriously wonder how I'm even related to them considering their both really extroverted people.
"Well kind of. The one in my class is the only one I'd consider a friend. All the rest might just consider me as an acquaintance," I reveal.
"Aww, that's too bad. Well, keep talking to them and maybe that will change Mel," Mom adds.
I hear my dad take a quick breathe before taking his turn to talk. "Speaking of, you said that you met a couple guys in a fraternity?"
His protective mode must have activated when I mentioned that. Me and my big dumb mouth.
"Oh, yeah, um," I utter nervously, "I've hung out with them a couple of times. I actually met them because of Faust, he invited me to the Rush Week party and it just sort of happened over the course of a few weeks," I explain.
"Hmmm. Ok. Just be careful Mel. College boys can be a little creepy," Dad mentions making me feel a little nervous when thinking about Johnny.
"By the way moondrop, how is Faust doing? I saw his parents at the grocery store the other day and they asked me to get some intel from you," Dad inquires.
I think about how I've only really talked to him a hand full of times since the beginning of the semester. "From what I know he's fine. I haven't seen a lot of him recently so I can't go into too much detail."
"Just doing fraternity things?" my dad questions.
"Yep." I respond vaguely.
We then talk about some of the few things I've learned in class the past month. The basics of Scaring was fun to talk about with him, and I made sure to review a little information with him about a variety of scares since that's the big part of Scaring 101. Bruiser and I both have A's so it's not like I don't know what I'm talking about or what Dad knows. I talk about the dorms with him, which aren't anything amazing. I was lucky to get one all to myself so it's really only one bedroom and a bathroom. The housing conditions are pretty normal so there's nothing to worry about there. I also talk to him about the campus in general. I tell him about the spot I found behind Frat Row while omitting the details with Johnny, and the spot I'm at now which is the Clocktower.
The sun finally sets and the moon shines bright above me. The pond now glows in all sorts of neon colors.
"Good...good. Well I'll let you go Mel." Dad says with an obvious yawn.
I feel a wave of sadness rush over me. "Ok."
"We'll talk again moondrop don't worry. Your mother and I are just old and need some sleep. Be safe alright," Dad sympathizes while my Mom likely punches him for calling her old. She's literally not even in her 40s yet so I can only imagine the rage that coursing through her body.
I just assure them that I'll be safe and say goodbye. He finishes the call by saying he loves me and I say I that I love him back. I hit the red end button and look at the pond once again. The fish are idly swimming by like earlier, which brings me a feeling of loneliness. That call lasted for two hours. I can't believe I can only have a conversation like that with my parents and nobody else. I decide it's time to go back to my dorm and slowly stand up. My knees pop as a soft autumn breeze blows against my left side. I move around the pond towards the gateway and find my way back to the Scaring School.
The walk back is boring and uneventful. Nobody passes by me, and the only thing noticeable was the street lamps fading in and out as I move beneath them. I finally make it to the front of the Scaring School to see a couple of students mingling in front of the dorms and library. I take a moment to stand in front of the fountain that elegantly sits before the 'crown jewel' of the campus and stare at my reflection within the fountain, wishing things were a little different. Before I continue that depressing thought I hear someone call out my name. I guess it's one of those days where I can't just be alone.
"Melanie! Over Here!"
I look to the library where Faust is waving at me and telling me to go talk to him and Omar who's just flying by him with a toothy grin. As much as I don't want to get involved I still lightly jog over to see what he could possibly want. I hope it's nothing too overwhelming as I'm not in the mood for it.
Omar lightly buzzes at Faust, making it seem like they're talking in a completely different language. Or maybe it's just that Omar is partially mute and has developed his own way to express himself.
"Like I've told you before, this is Melanie, an old friend of mine. Like seriously man, do you even listen to me?" Faust responds annoyed.
The orange monster laughs maniacally showing his pearly whites. He shakes his head no.
Faust growls, "You were drunk at the game weren't you?"
Omar nods and lets out a couples rhythmic buzzes. He's obviously laughing and finds this argument amusing.
"Figures. Maybe I should just throw away all the alcohol in the house so that you'll start listening me more," Faust challenges.
The orange monster then begins using his ability of flight to smash himself into Faust's chest which causes him to lose balance after the fourth hit.
"Yeah ok, point taken," Faust replies while putting his hands up. He then shakes his head in disapproval and speaks. "Well Melody, this is Omar, as you might remember."
I wave with a nervous smile and watch as he waves his tiny tarantula-like arm. I really didn't think any monsters were actually creepy, but literally all of the ones that are creepy go here... at this school... that I chose to go to.
"Like I said at the Homecoming Game, I would like to take you to the JOX party so that you can meet some of the guys," Faust declares while putting his arm around my shoulder and walking forward with Omar towards the direction of Frat Row.
I panic, my tail goes between my legs and a sting develops in my frontal lobe like the many times before. "Y-you knoooooow, I'm not really feeling all that w-well tonight so I think I should just go back to my dorm."
I try to escape Faust's grip but he locks me in. "Nope, you're coming with me. I know that you're trying to get out of meeting my friends again and I'm not letting that happen," Faust exposes. Why is it that everyone knows me this well? I then let out a distressing groan. I really don't feel motivated enough to meet any more people.
Faust scoffs as his steps make loud thumps. "Oh don't be like that. Just like last time it won't be that bad."
To Be Continued...