Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 20

We stood at the statue; Walton was barely taller than me when I was on my knees.

"This was not what I thought you had in mind when you said you wanted to hang out for your birthday."

"I told you I wanted to get a drink in an abandoned chapel."

"Right, but the frozen student is... killing the vibe."

"You clearly haven't drunk enough then."

"You got a point." He fluttered over to refill his wine.

"What do you think it's like to be frozen? Do you think she can see us?"

Walton guzzled down his newly refilled glass before pouring another. "She can't. Once you turned your stone forever. Especially if you're turned by children. Adults can learn to control it."

"Then why does Ophis wear her blindfold? Oh." She either had no control or didn't want to risk it. When you can't control your powers or your emotions, you run the risk of slipping, which would be terrible around students. Perhaps that's why her being with someone already made of stone was perfect. You can't turn stone into stone.

"She was a couple of years above me. I think she was the school captain." He looked at the statue of the girl.

On a closer inspection, I noticed the slip of a badge poking out from under her blazer on the lapel of the button-down. It explained the uniform. All the prefects decided to wear the uniform during school hours as a sign of respect, solidarity and devotion to the school and its growth. None of this was required by school rules. The uniform was the only thing the school provided to students. Those who couldn't afford clothes were gifted with the uniform and two sets of pyjamas. Most of those students customised it to their liking. One of the current children in my Monster History class, had patches of bands all over, custom made and at least three of them were from the bands created within the school. Another student exclusively wore a cheerleading uniform from another school with a makeshift logo from the first kid sewn on. Walton had told me in a guitar lesson that her sister went to one of the elite schools and all her parent's money was going towards the sister going there. She was gifted the ones the sister outgrew, which was sad until she talked about how much she loved how bouncy the skirt was with as much joy as a child who was allowed to open one gift before Christmas morning.

"And no one cared she was missing? What about her family?" I asked. Walton shrugged. "Does the staff not care?"

"You'd have to ask someone else on that one. Your boyfriend might tell you."

"Clay worked here then? Wait- he's not my boyfriend."

"You knew who I was talking about."

"Shut up."

"You know I have a point. You are the closest to him. He even got you that gift."

"How do you-"

"Harro told me. He was so excited when Mors told him about the present, he rushed straight to me. It is gorgeous. Didn't think you were a flower girly though."

"... I'm not. I don't know their meanings."

"You know what roses mean, though."

I listed off the ones I knew, racking my brain for their meanings. Red was love and admiration, everyone knew that one. White, like most things of that colour, was used as a symbol of innocence but also used as new love, yellow was friendship, the best one to gift someone your friend-zoning, and cream was charm and thoughtfulness. There was more than that, but the shades blended, making it hard to decipher. Is it salmon for desire, or orange for fascination? Then there was black for morning and my old favourite the dyed rainbow one for hope, uniqueness, and pride.