INVICTUS

IV

Mortal deities raised

On a grimy pulpit

As gilded icons

I walk across the school halls during my free period. It's eerily quiet since everyone is in class. How interesting the place becomes when the most quintessential element is taken away from it. Call me minimalist but I like it.

Have you ever heard the sound of your own feet against wooden floor boards. There's a certain calmness to it, the gentle tap-tap, resounding against the hall making you feel as if you are alone and there is nothing else left in this world. Some people find it maddening, I could never understand why. It always sounded so calming and somehow vibrant. I can't explain it. It's almost like music stripped of its melodies revealing its core, the rhythm.

Every once I while I peer through the classroom doors to see if there are teachers inside.

I've been looking for teacher volunteers, to help supervise the Social. So far I have Mr. Scott from English, Ms. Coope from maths, Mr. McGovern from tech and Ms. Eliot from English. I could understand most teacher's unwillingness to this role. I personally wouldn't want to watch a bunch of teens dancing either.

I make my way to the social sciences area. I haven't ask any teacher from there yet. I might as well do so now. I knock on the first door, the one to room 13.

It opens to reveal a flustered Mrs. Wilkins and her noisy class of what I assume to be year 7s.

"Hello Rhys" She says.

"Hi miss I was-"

I was cut off as she put a hand on my shoulder, pushed me slightly and closed the door behind her.

"Sorry." She says. "I couldn't hear you over the din they were making."

"Yeah." I agree. "Year 7s are annoying. You just have to look at my brother."

"Aaron is a lovely boy." She says almost as if she was reprimanding me. "I'm sure it's because he has such a wonderful brother."

I feel myself smiling at the compliment.

"So what exactly did you need to see me?" She asked.

"I was wondering if you'd like to be a teacher supervisor for the social, we're kind of short and..."

"Of course." She says a coy smile playing at her lips she takes the pen from my hand and the clipboard, writing her name down in neat fancy running writing.

"Do you have a date?" She asks handing me back the clipboard and the pen.

"No." I answer. "My best mate Salih and I usually go together, but he's not here this year. So I'm going stag."

"That's saddening. A handsome young man like you. I would have gladly gone with you if I was younger."

"Well that's unfortunate Miss." I say politely. "I'm sure you would make lovely companion."

As soon as I said that, I immediately regretted it. She gave me a look that seemed to strip me of everything I am.

"I would have given you a night you wouldn't regret." She said.

I was reminded of the sly, scalding innuendoes made by femme fatales in film noir movies. Except this one was a cheap rip-off.

By now I was pretty sure this wasn't how teachers usually talked to students. But maybe she was just being nice and had taken it too far. Teachers and students tend to do that, its alway hard to stay professional, eventually you crack. Heck, Salih is the master of dropping accidental innuendoes in the middle of class. I merely smile at her.

"Thanks for signing up." I tell her. "I'll see you then."

"Yes, see you then." She said. It sounded like a promise.

~~~

I know I'm updating a lot today.

- Alekos P.