Page 3 of The Gargoyle in the College

A statue doesn’t have feelings and surely can’t be upset about what’s growing on it. It probably has been standing there for decades. What’s there to stare at anyway?

Someone taps my shoulder, and I jump at that, spinning around to see...

I clear my throat. “Sorry, I don’t mean to stand in your way.”

I take a step back from the group of other students. I hate this... College should be a time for me to start fresh, but I still don’t want to make myself to get to know new people, even though I probably should.

One of the guys says, “You’re in the same class as us, right? In cultural studies.”

I nod. “Yeah, I think so.” I think those of us are the only ones around the lecture hall at this time of the day.

He asks, “We’re trying to arrange for a dinner for everyone in the class. Will you join?”

No, thank you, I’d rather be on my own and spend my evenings reading instead of attempting and failing at small talk. “Sure, that sounds like a lot of fun.”

Fuck my life... Why do I feel the need to agree to that stupidity? I’m going to be the odd one and it just won’t work...

He grins. “That’s great. We’ll meet at the restaurant at the school at six. Look forward to seeing you!”

He leaves with the group, looking like they already know each other.

How did that even happen?

I don’t understand people with a lot of friends, maybe I’m too introverted for my own good.

Now that I’ve agreed to go, maybe I should take my time and enjoy solitude while I still have it.

Chapter 3

Gisett

Well... I stare at the other side of the road like I’ve been doing for more days than I can remember.

But peace is better than...

Fuck... Is this the time of the year again?

A group of students, drunk ones, come from across the streets.

I am the guardian, the gargoyle of the college!

But they soon arrive, not even caring about the history of the campus and what I’ve done for this place. They spray cream on my face as if that’s funny or something...

These silly humans...

I hate them. But I’m supposed to remain in my place, which is boring already, yet...

They laugh, and a few kick me. I don’t know what’s going on in their heads. They can’t hurt me with their silly kicks. All they can hurt is their own feet.

One of the women, the one with golden hair who tried to move into the dorm yesterday, stands to the side, clearly not joining in with the rest of the group.

I remember her. She was the one with broken luggage who fell on her ass.

She seems nice. At least she doesn’t seem to enjoy making me look silly.

I can growl and scare away all these humans, but I’m not allowed to. It’s my job to protect humans, even when they don’t care to leave me alone.

I resist the urge to wince when a few of them climb onto me. I’m going to be the shame of my kind, geez...

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