My kind of Grey

Chapter 6

Founder's day aka love fest was a three week programme marking the hundredth anniversary of Escala High. It was on this day some hundred and one years ago that Peter Mason had found his one true pairing in the face of Elizabeth Mason and birthed the school a year later to commemorate his eternal love for his wife who was a kindergarten teacher in Seattle when he first found her. And that's how our school came into being, born out of love and affection rather than a strategic business decision (which made infinite more sense, might I add). 

Love isn't always blind you see. Sometimes it proves quite insightful and financially rewarding.

Anyways, the Esacalians were all well versed with the indelible history of the school, hence the love fest. For fifty years our school stood high, abiding by its inaugural and very original (please note the sarcasm) motto- service before self. To say that it has prospered would be self explanatory as can be easily concluded after observing the veritable sea of student bodies in all shapes and size hosted in three different school buildings. It boasted a total tally of 18,000 give or take a few hundred, and was the highest pillar of our pompous, pretentious two-bit community.

Meh

The carnival was the only event that held the slightest interest for me, and having done with that, I had no plans to expose myself to the 'high school experience' and had no qualms in admitting it clearly and loudly to anyone within hearing distance who'd bothered to question me. Nor was I going to waste one New York minute pouring over the itinerary created by the social butterflies. At least thats what I thought first. Before my friends got wind of it and launched their 'Ana the party pooper' initiative, a meticulous three step programme consisting of                                                                                         a) persuasion     b) emotional blackmail    c) expert manipulation

The third one was more Kate's forte.

So that's how I end up outside the school auditorium amidst the hawing and hooting teenagers, currently staring at my best friend like a gaping fish. And yes it's a mark of my inebriated state that I couldn't come up with a better metaphor.

"Are you fracking kidding me?"

Jose starts at the sound of my voice and the band slips from his fingers as he whirls around to face me. Judging by the red hue of his ears, he wasn't expecting me to catch him red handed in the act.

"Oh, uhm, hey. I thought you were gonna come after tennis practice", he mutters embarrassed, his gaze fixed on his not so shiny shoes.

"Forget tennis. What the hell are you doing, tying the band to the stupid bull? Honestly, who are you and where have you stashed my smarter and sane friend Jose?"

He lets out yet another squeaky laugh before rubbing his neck absently. Not that the blood pooled up there would disappear any time soon.

"It's our last year in the school, you know. I just thought,,,, just wanted to maybe give it a try. It's good omen", he finishes, flashing a grin.                                                                                                                                            The bull was another one of Escala's tradition. It was also the craziest. A large wooden block of black craft remotely resembling a taurine with horns painted an angry red graced the entry to our school auditorium. Unlike other traditions, the story behind this one was a little vague. Some say it was constructed by Welch Mason, Peter's grandson, in this very school before he plummeted to his death by jumping from the roof. Yet others believe that it started as a foolish prank but the then art teacher decided to overlook the foolishness and honour the creativity by placing it strategically at the entrance. I myself was in support of the former, nothing except a gory story could justify the burning of our retinas with the hideous piece of bull crap. Pun intended.

Despite its misleading looks, the bull was quite the symbol of love. It was said to have been blessed by the God of horny teenagers and possessed mystical powers quipped to solve all love related queries. Every years several love sick teenagers tied love bands to the bull's fore limbs, hind limbs, horns, any part left unadorned really, to communicate their true feelings to their special someone. One had even managed to encompass it's enormous belly within the bounds of love. The only part which remained band free was the bull's fake balls. At least they spared the poor beast's dignity. For now. Looking at the charmingly decorated specimen, I simply couldn't fathom a world where Jose could fall victim to the bull's charm.

"I cannot believe this. I mean, I expect this from the barbie squad, the giggling freshman and the league of 50 desperate men, even the official nerd again when no one's watching. But never in a million years did I expect this from you. What gives Jose? who's the lucky girl that has driven my friend to such desperate measures", I grin unabashedly as he gets more self conscious. And then a sudden thought pops up,

"Hey it someone I kno..."

"Not a friend of the bull, I see", I get interrupted, and sigh in exasperation without bothering to turn. Poor Jose looks about ready to burst, but that's not something I can help with given the shiny new band lying on his shoes. Still, even If I couldn't empathize, I'd do my best to defend his honour.

"And where's yours", I ask sweetly.

"I can't really say. In there somewhere. It's been a while", he shrugs and a tiny bomb explodes in my grey matter.

"Are you serious?" I ask incredulously, all animosity forgotten. Apart from Jose and I, Christian was easily the most logical guy in the brigade. To have him admit his belief in the bull's prowess so casually makes me want to pinch myself.

"Sure, why not. The bull's reputation is well earned you know. So i figured I'd give it a try. In any case, he's a great buddy", he returns with a smile.

"Would've fathered a cow by now, if he were that great a friend", I mutter surprised and oddly uncomfortable. He lets out a rusty laugh and I find myself unwittingly following the sound, falling for it. For all the things the guy has going for himself, his laugh factored pretty high in the list, right below his grey eyes, and above the killer body. I missed his laughter. 

Something in my face must have alerted him as his eyes turn a darker shade of grey, his lips gaping slightly, losing the grin and parting with something infinitely more dangerous. I quickly avert my gaze fixing it at the unassuming harmless bull.

"You say the weirdest things", he murmurs softy, almost to himself. To me he addressed loudly, "I'd figured you'd skip today, since they are showing a scary movie and not. Not that I'm not happy with your new found courage".

********

To be continued