Black and White

Killing him softly

Less than two days left to the fest, students are all pumped up and busy with the last minute preparations , the teachers are helping out the students as well . St. Stephens will conduct the football match as always so the football field is being prepared and thoroughly scrutinised so that nobody comes up with foul play .

Danny's busy consulting with the music teacher as the piano available in the school is not working properly at the last moment meanwhile Josh is busy improving his clearance and side kick while Zeus is busy improving his half-volley and bicycle kick . The atmosphere around St. Stephens is heavy . This year they have to win the trophy by hook or by crook , so everyone is giving their hundred percent to make the whole festival a huge success with St. Stephens winning the trophy .

Danny entered the cafeteria and got himself a plate of risotto , roasted chicken and a glass of mango juice . He stuffed his mouth with the risotto when he saw Josh coming his way . Josh pulled the chair beside Danny and made himself comfortable in it .

" I'm starving" , he said as he sipped some mango juice from Danny .

"Go get your food then"

"It's so exhausting, the coach is whipping our ass this time...if you don't give your whole heart to the game then don't play it at all , there's nothing more painful than to see players half-ass-ing the game" , Josh said mimicking the coach .

"Well I bet he didn't use 'half-ass' while explaining"

"Ahhh ! That's what he meant after all"

"Stop sulking and go get your lunch "

Josh made the pouty face again and went to get his lunch . Josh filled his plate with roasted chicken, vegetable sandwich , two servings of caramel custard and orange juice . Josh grinned his way back to the table because of the caramel custard, it's rare that they provide caramel custard at lunch , Danny nodded his head in desperation.

"What ? They rarely serve caramel custard here so I got myself two of them he he"

"Eat you fool we have to get back to class, Mr. Bose said he'll be giving out the assignments as there will be no classes from tomorrow"

"Tsk! I am damn sure that person is gonna give us the weirdest question to solve"

"Well to be honest the questions are tough but it doesn't mean you're unable to solve it !"

"Well then it's decided"

"What ?"

"I'm copying your physics assignment , what else !"

"In your dreams baby boy !"

"Ugh ! Stop being a total jerk Danny"

"Sorry can't help it ."

Josh rolled his eyes .

Danny finished his lunch and was about to get up from his table when Zeus arrived with his group . Danny couldn't get up , all of a sudden his body felt heavy and his skin burned at places while images of that day flashed in his mind . Josh's expression changed as well , he gave Danny a side glance , he could clearly feel something is wrong with Danny . Zeus and his group  entered the cafeteria , filled their plates and sat on a far off table from them .

Zeus saw Danny through the corner of the eye , Danny hung his head low , Josh was talking to Danny but one can clearly feel that words were unable to reach Danny . Zeus saw Josh pat Danny's back a few times which actually helped him to return to his reality . Danny got up , quickly cleared his plate and left the cafeteria followed by Josh ; not for single second did he even looked towards the direction of Zeus or his group , throughout this whole time Kenny observed Zeus with keen eyes . He knew something is going on between Danny and Zeus because after the football match between them , Zeus remains lost in his own world , it's not something new but compared to the old times the number has increased surely .