Monochrome Stories

Black's POV

It kinda became a routine of mine. Everytime the bell for dismissal rang, I would immediately head to the music room to visit my friend, Crimson. He says he's part of the music club, but he's the only member. Nobody wanted to join since he doesn't have the best reputation, so this place became a hang out for the two of us. He'd play some songs on his guitar while I drew, and this day was no different. 

I opened the door to the music room and saq Crimson by the window playing his guitar again. He turned and smiled at me. "Hey there." He said. 

"Sorry I took a bit long. I needed to clean the classroom." I replied. 

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

I took a seat at the corner of the room and took my sketchbook out. I haven't really drawn anything new since I've always been here, and there's never anything new. 

"Hey, you okay?" Crimson asked. He must've noticed me fidgeting.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just a bit stumped on what to draw." I replied. 

"Why? What have you been drawing anyway whenever you're here?" He asked as he put his guitar down and moved closer to me. 

"Here." I replied as I handed him my sketchbook. 

He took a seat on the floor beside me and started flipping through the pages. "Wow. You've drawn the sunset too many times. Is this really all you've been drawing?"

"Well, yeah. It's not like I have anything new to draw."

"What about drawing this room? There's a lot of things you can draw here."

I looked around and just saw some chairs and a few stuff covered in sheets. It honestly looked more like a stock room than a club room. 

"Alright, maybe there isn't much to draw, but it's worth a try." He said. 

I looked around more and saw a huge object covered by a white sheet. "Crimson, what's that?" I asked as I pointed at it. 

He stood up and walked towards it. "This?" He asked as he placed his hand on it. 

"Yeah."

He removed the sheet and revealed a piano underneath it. "Woah!" He eexclaimed. "I never knew there was a piano inside here."

"Really, dude? You use this room everyday. Don't you even bother to clean it up?"

"Not really. I wonder what kind of other stuff is in here?"

"Wait!" I stopped him before he started exploring more. "Do you know how to play it?" I asked. 

"A little. I haven't played it in a long time. Do you wanna hear it?"

"Yeah. It might give me some inspiration."

"Alright then." He said as he took a seat. He touched the keys and wiped the dust off it. I guess it must've been there for a while. "You ready?" He asked. 

"Yeah." I replied. 

He played one key, followed by another, and then soon enough, he started playing seriously. 

~It's a little cold in paradise tonight~

~Love fading~

~I'm finding new forms, I'll ride it out~

~It's fine for now~

And just like that, it was like my hand started to move on its own. I continued to sketch while listening to Crimson singing. Even though I've heard it so many times, his voice was still amazing to listen to. 

~Can you feel my, can you feel my~

~Can you feel my tears? They won't dry~

~Can you feel my, can you feel my~

~Can you feel my teardrops of the loneliest girl?~

~The loneliest girl~

He continued playing even though there was nothing else to sing anymore. He started humming the melody, and it was perfect. It's like the song was made to be sung by him. It's amazing how a person shunned by everyone else can create something so beautiful. 

He finished playing and looked at me. "Did that inspire you?" He asked. 

"Y-yeah. I think so." I replied. 

"Can I see it?" He asked as he stood up and walked towards me. 

"Sure." I replied as I handed my sketchbook over to him. 

He took a look at it, and then faced me with a shocked face. "Dude, this is amazing!" He exclaimed. 

I took the sketchbook back and looked at it. "Wow. I guess it is." I commented. 

I didn't even notice what I was drawing, but the end product was amazing. It was Crimson playing the piano, with the sunset over him.

"It would be better as a painting." He said. "A sketch is just a pencil and paper. If it were a painting, I'm sure all of the colors would make it look more amazing."

"I-I wanna paint it." I replied. 

He looked at me. "Really? You don't have to feel obligated to paint it just because I said so, okay?"

"No, really. I wanna paint it. You're right. Adding colors would make it more beautiful than it already is."

"You really are something, aren't you?"

"What?"

"Woah, look at the time!" He exclaimed while looking at his watch. "We should get going."

I looked at my watch and saw that it was already 5:30pm. "Oh, you're right. We should go." I said as I put my sketchbook back in my bag.

Crimson headed towards his guitar. He placed it in its case and picked up his bag. We both walked towards the door and proceeded to head downstairs. The moment we reached the gate, Crimson grabbed my shoulder to stop me. 

"Do you hear that?" He asked, shushing me. 

"Hear what?" I replied. 

"Shhh!" He shushed me again. I listened closely to what he might be hearing and there it was. 

*meow*

"A cat?" I asked. 

"Yeah, but where is it?" He replied. 

We listened closely and tried to find the source of the sound. 

"Hey, I found it!" Crimson exclaimed while pointing at the pillar beside the gate. 

"Where?" I asked. 

A kitten's head suddenly popped into my field of vision. 

*meow*

"Oh my God! It's adorable!" I exclaimed. "Wait here. I'm gonna find a stick or something it can walk on." I said as I sprinted away. 

Now where can I find a stick? I didn't really think this through. I guess I'l just go around until I find one. 

I continued to look around, but then I saw a familiar light brown shade in the distance, lying down underneath a tree. 

I wonder where I could've seen this shade? Since people are normally grey to me, I can't possibly forget anyone with colors. 

I walked closer towards the student and he suddenly jolted up and looked at me. "Who are you? What do you want?" He asked. He had medium length, messy, blonde hair, with some of his bangs covering his eyes. He had a black piercing on his right ear, and had dark yellow eyes. He was wearing a khaki sweater, almost the same as what Crimson was wearing back then. He looked like he had just woken up from a nap. 

"I-I didn't mean to wake you up. I'm just looking for a stick." I replied. 

"A stick?" He asked as he stood up and went behind the tree. 

"Yeah. I need one because of... Reasons..."

He emerged from behind the tree, but with a stick this time. "Here you go." He said as he handed it to me. 

I took it from his hand. "Thanks so much." I said as I sprinted away. 

I'm sure I've seen his color before... I just can't figure out where... Well, no matter. I'm sure I'll remember it some other time. 

I got to the school gate and saw Crimson sitting down by the gate. "Crimson!" I exclaimed as I ran and waved the stick at him. 

"Shhh!" He said as he cradled something in his arms. "He's sleeping."

I looked over to see what he was holding, and there was the cat, sleeping soundly in his arms. 

"You got it?" I asked. 

"Yeah. It jumped down on me." He replied. "I'm heading in the other direction today. Are you okay with walking home alone?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine. See you tomorrow then?"

'Yeah. See you tomorrow."

He stood up with the cat still in his arms and proceeded to walk in the opposite direction as me. I wonder where he could be going? Well, no matter. He looked really happy today. I'm glad that he seemed to be back to his old happy self. Ever since the day of the fight, he's been so off. It's reassuring to see him genuinely being happy this time. There's no need to worry about him anymore...

Is what I really wanted to say... That day... I thought everything would be fine, but little did I know, this was only the start of a day that will never seem to end.