Film Reels In Grayscale

Chapter 3: Fun Games

I gained my balance back and fixed my clothes as my gaze followed him on his way to the hall, “Are you okay?” Amy asked me.

“Yes, just lost my balance- I do not know if I’m the only one, but I feel a lot of eyes are watching us right now?” I asked her.

She laughed., “Oh no do not include me, my moment was done minutes ago, yours- just started,” what she told me made me feel so confuse.

“What do you mean? I did not do anything aside from tripping off?” I declared.

“Well, that man who you tripped off too is uh, how do I say this? Quite popular at this school, he’s Ash Remington,” Amy filled me in with his name, I mean I knew his name but that’s the only thing that I knew about him, as if I want to know more.

Just in time, Rob and Sammy came back with our locker keys and Rob waving mine, “Catch!” he said, I obediently catched my key.

“Now that you have now your keys already, let’s be quick an find our lockers and yeah, might as well proceed to the hall for the orientation. And what’s wrong with your face?” Rob asked me and I was still giving everyone a blank look on my face and was not able to answer Rob’s question.

So, in my behalf, Amy answered his brother’s question, “Well apparently, Mathilda fell into Ash’s arms,” both of the dudes face and eyes were in state of shock, “I am gobsmacked!” Sammy exclaimed. I then thought what something is to be so shocking about that?

“So, Mathilda, I want to tell you that a lot of monsters will be coming after you.” he stuttered but he said it in a way that he is teasing me. I mean, for what? I thought again.

“He’s the hottest guy here in the institute and you just fell on his arms, girl. Basically, girls who drool over him will come after you ‘cause I am pretty sure that someone took a photo of you and that will be posted on the school’s freedom wall social account. Now, while we are talking, let’s go find your locker aye? So that we can have more time enjoying booths later.” Rob inserted and the three of us followed.  After we found our lockers which fortunately is weirdly near each other but fascinating.

“So, I have a possibility to be a hot topic now just because I tripped off and obviously the captions and comments will be like how I faked my fall just for him to catch me,” I thought. “I’m done arranging my locker, how about you guys?”

“All set.” Rob answered.

“Just a minute, I’m still fixing something.” Sammy told us, “Alright. I’m done.”

So, went already inside the hall and looked for seats, as we look I can still feel eyes on us, and hearing murmurs, “Isn’t she the friend of the missing girl?”

”Do you think that Synthia is dead?” and many more whispers and it’s is making Amy feel uncomfortable and almost went out the room until Rob held her hand and I can hear his whisper, “Do not mind them, let’s just focus on ours okay?” with that, I can see that Amy has relaxed a bit. And then, we found a four vacant seat which is perfect for us, but I can’t believe that the odds made us seat beside Ash. he waved at us, Rob and Sammy waved back. Are they close the thought popped up my mind, “So, Rob, is your film already finished?” Ash him, I am stunned that he knew him and about the film.

“Yes, I’m done Ash how about you?” he said while we were making ourselves comfortable on the seats.

“Yeah, already am done. But not quite sure if it turned out pretty well though.” Ash answered.

Rob nodded, “Mine was a bit a headache because of this asshole beside you,” referring to Sammy, “He does not know how to skate, thankfully an angel arrived, this is Mathilda, she helped us and me with my film. She knows how to skate and is taking up the same major us ours also, so she helped me a lot. Pretty sure you met her a while ago at the hallway.” Rob turned his look on Ash.

“Yes, I have met her. Hi Mathilda, it is nice to see you again.” I was taken aback when he said the word ‘again’ I haven’t told them that I met him already outside the school and it was obvious that they were pretty puzzled by my reaction, “Uh, we met before the school started at a bookstore,” Ash added, I just gave him a smile and he waved a hand on someone who’s obviously far from us. “Anthony will give a speech again,” Ash said proudly.

“Well, he never fails to deliver it though,” Amy said happily, it is so obvious that she likes him.

“Looks like it is about to start.” Sammy said as he fixed his position on the chair.

“Ladies and gent. Welcome to another school year. It has been a tough and rough vacation for us since we are now facing a big problem, we have a one student whose whereabouts is unknown to us, and it has alarmed us, not only the community but the school also. Despite that we…” As he continues to talk, I heard Amy said, “Can people stop sound like she’s dead?” and she is undeniably annoyed. And we continued to listen about what the people on stage is talking about, and as time pass by, I am getting bored and sleepy.

After the two hours of sitting and listening to those wordings we were able to stand up, stretched our bodies and our faces lit up, “Let’s go to the booths!” Amy exclaimed, which made me revive the excitement I felt a while ago about it and grabbed on Amy’s arm.

“Yeah you two have fun first, we have works to do, we will now help with setting up and attend on the needs our department booth shall provide.” Sammy told us.

“Yes please,” Anthony showed up. It is the first time I saw him up close, he’s handsome and I head a while ago that Ash and he are best friends and they have the girls on the campus fantasized being dating them, and I can see why that is. Two good looking men are best friends and walks around the campus together and both excels on their class.

Amy and I tried many booths, the first one was  popping some balloons with a blind fold on we just need to pop the right one, which is the one that does not contain flour, the second one that we tried is the soda toss wherein we are to throw ping pong balls on the cups containing weird drinks, after a couple of games, Amy accompanied me to the booth of my department, and there I saw an exhibits about the different movies, the cameras we used to record films and the games is charade and there were a lot of students lining up to try the game because our booth has cool prizes, merchandise so who wouldn’t want to try it, for just 10 bucks you ca enjoy and win something out from us, a lot where buying snacks too, the snack bar is where I saw Ash and Sammy serving the customers looking good in their aprons, the one is quite girly worn by Sammy which made him looked even more appealing while Ash wears the one who’s design are spots of blood. As they were serving, Ash’s attention turned to us, he smiled, waved and started walking towards our direction leaving Sammy completely on the stall.

“Enjoying your first day here?” Ash talked to me, just to when I turned, I realized Amy came to help Rob on the film viewing station. I nodded, “Yes, this is quite a welcome, I never expected this,” while looking around.

“I am glad you are enjoying this one, I’m sure Rob and Sammy told you that this is a tradition right?” I nodded as a response because it still feels awkward.

“Hey, I can feel that you are feeling awkward but don’t be. I’m not someone who is gonna bite you.” Ash assured me.

“Oh no, it is not like that, it just that I’m a  bit shy around you,” shy? Gosh I did not know what happened why I have to be shy about.

“So, you finished reading your book?” he asked.

“Oh, that book? Nope,” I giggled, “It does not mean that when I buy it I have to read it right away, I just  love hoarding, and I have already read the book, I just bought a new copy to replace the lost one. I’m sure you too can relate with that hoarding habit of ours. By the way, I like your apron.” I complimented him, and he laughed.

“What? Why are you laughing? I mean it is cool, I would like if I have one, it is dope,” I told him and he smiled widely.

“You’re the first one who actually complimented my apron because they truly like it and not because I am handsome,” Ash said in a boastful manner.

I gave him a confuse look, “What you don’t believe I am handsome?” he uttered sadly, the atmosphere between us felt light already and I like it no more awkwardness. I only gave him a shrug for an answer.

“Hey Ash! Stop flirting with my new friend and come here! Customers are lining up,” Sammy called Ash. As he said those words I can already feel the gazes, if those can kill I’m probably dead, “Who said he was flirting Sammy?” I told him out loud to make those girls in line staring at me, “I’m gonna see and look if Rob needs more help, you two do your job,” then I walked in the film viewing area.

The show that was on screen is the one that Rob and I made, and I can’t lie that it turned out really good, his skills and I are on point, Sammy’s skateboarding improved too, and the viewers seems to like it. Which is good. I feel a vibration on my pocket so I took out my phone and viewed the message, it was from Lou, “Crap! I totally forgot about them, that they’re in LA, what a shame,” the text reads as:

“Hey b***h we’re here in the snack shack you told us last night, Anj and I just feels like grabbing some snack and hunt for a cutie in your city ?” I smiled when I read the text, I can’t wait to hang out with them, but it seems like we’ll be late since Rob and Sammy seems will be getting even more busier. I replied, “Okay, you too have fun, meet you there in the afternoon like 5pm, we’re still busy here,” I checked the time and it was still 12 noon and sent it. Lou immediately replied, “Okay b***h, love ya.”

The film was done and it was fire. I can hear the people who watched it appreciated the work, praised us because of it. The time keeps on running and as well as the people, they have fun in different booths and they come and go until the three of us, Rob and Sammy asked for permission to go home early to Anthony who’s presence is now visible after for 4 hours, “Gosh, this is why I sometimes hate being part of the board and the face of the school, the same duty like a while ago falls to me.” Anthony complained, it was obvious in his face that he is damn tired. Luckily, he is not in the bad mood and permitted us to go home early.

When we were about to go home, I felt someone grab my hand.

“Mathi!” I was like oh, how did this dude knew he could call me like this one? I wonder.

“Yes Ash?” I answered as I grabbed my arm away from his grip.

He realized it, “Oh sorry- but you’re going home already?” before I could answer I heard Rob said, “Yes we are going home already,” and smiled at him. I also felt Sammy’s arm wrapped on my shoulder.

“Yes, we have something to do, bye Ash. I guess see you tomorrow?” Ash nodded and smiled.

“The fun games are just about to begin, that’s sad you’re going to miss it. Anyway, have fun.” Ash told me before leaving.

I still answered as if he can hear, “Yes, I will,” and smiled awkwardly.

The three of us walked to the gate and talked about our experiences, especially mine, they can’t stop asking me since I am the new one here. “So, over all? how are you going to rate your first step in LA Art Institute?” Sammy asked me then cackled that the people we pass to are looking at us.

“Do you expect me to rate every step I took earlier?” I clarified while laughing.

“Yes! Exactly!” Sammy answered.

The three of us were laughing so hard that tears started coming out from our tear ducts and I answered them okay.

“For the first step, it left quite an impression, I liked it, so nine- I can’t give you a perfect though. The second, it is very convenient since there is this what you call the voice of the students to connect to the higher-ups, that’s an eight. Third, I never thought you have bullies here” I told the third one with my eyes balled out, “I mean it’s pretty childish you have students like that here, and it was you sister and the missing girl they were talking about so that was not on the just, that’s a three and nine: three for the bullies, nine for meeting Rob’s sister. Then, the fourth one, is a 5. I met again Ash, but in an awkward instance that can have me my own bullies just because I tripped, the fifth one, orientation, hmmm,” the two of them are still listening, f**k I can’t believe we’re doing this, but I don’t care it seems fun.

We reached the streets and just in time we got a cab, Rob and I seated in the backseat and Sammy on the driver’s side, “Now continue on rating,” Sammy exclaimed, I can’t believe we’re still on this, I rolled my eyes, the two just laughed.

“So, for the fifth one which is the orientation, it’s a seven, I learned things, but I got bored. The only perfect is the booths obviously especially ours, it’s hella good, you guys did so good, so that’s a 10.” I ended.

“You were a part of that too, remember you helped us with one of the films and a lot of people loved it, I was even able to improve my skateboarding skills,” Sammy told me.

“Dude there was nothing to improve in the first place,” Rob said to Sammy, that was rude, “Mathi did taught you how, she made you learn it,” Sammy just turned to look at Rob and did an action like he was about to punch Rob and laugh. Speaking of hearing Rob call me Mathi, I remembered Ash calling me Mathi, may be he heard it from Rob which I did not notice. After a talk a dead silence came in and lasted until we reached Kaia’s Snack Shack I immediately saw my girls Anj and Lou dressing casually and comfortable, looking like persons who are definitely ready for fun. They saw us coming in and waved their hands, I san in front of them with rob beside me and Sammy on the center.

“Hi! How was your first day b***h?” Lou greeted me. The boys were seemed surprised with how she approached me, may be they never thought these two are those bratty brilliant bitches.

I had to repeat my story to them, and both of my girls are listening attentively. Later on we decided to order, we ordered pizzas and lasagna’s with drinks of course. I then texted my mom that I am already with Anj and Lou for her not to worry about these two.

“And Math, Casper messaged us to tell you to at least read his messages.” Anj told me, “Are you seriously ignoring him?” I got confused.

“What do you mean, I did not receive any messages from him,” I told Anj so I message Casper, sent him a screenshot that I haven’t received a single message from him.

“Casp, I was not able to received any messages. What is it by the way, are you okay?” and sent the message.

“Who was Casper again anyway?” Rob asked, “Mathilda’s ex-boyfriend,” Lou answered Rob which made him blush obviously, for the rest of the night, while waiting for the order, we talked about a lot of things especially the four of them, I was literally like a fifth wheel. When our ordered was served, “Yes finally food, I am famished.” I cried out. The phone of Rob started to light up, it was Amy calling him, when the phone call dropped, he opened it, “Shoot, why is my phone on silent like really silent no vibration mode?” Rob said. He called his sister back, the phone was ringing and Amy answered, “Hey sis, what is it?” the phone was on speaker we were about to say hi to her when talked and sounded serious, so we stared at each other.

“Have you seen the link I sent you?” Amy asked.

“Yes, I saw the message, I’m going to forward it to Sam- done already, Sam can you view the link please, she sounds like it is urgent.” Rob ordered to Sam and he followed so.

“It is urgent, thank you, uh I- can you forward it to like the middle of the video,” they followed her instructions and we started to get confuse about what the video is about. Amy sounds like she’s in shock and someone who is scared.

Sammy’s expression changed and keep on forwarding, rewinding the video, “Amy what is this?!” he sounded angry.

Amy started crying, “It’s Synthia… She’s dead.” we were all shocked.

“Who was Synthia again, it sounds familiar,” Anj asked.

I answered, “Remember the girl on the news this morning the one who went missing? That’s Synthia, the best friend of Rob’s sister, Amy.”

We can still hear Amy’s wail on the other line, which made Rob stood up, “I’m sorry let’s hang out next time, my sister needs me,” and rushed out the snack bar. Before we could say we’ll go with him he’s already outside. The four of us left stared at each other for a minute with a horrified look especially Sammy, then little did we knew we were all walking towards the door to exit and come after Rob.