The scream echoes throughout the large house, though it was not one of fear or pain. Anguish, yes. But you were just being dramatic, really.
"How does she do this to me?" You moaned, and the camera pans out, to a view of a large, three-story brick house, surrounded by evergreen trees, with neighbors close enough to wave to through windows, yet far enough for the semblance of privacy.
The camera zooms back in, sliding up the open, wood stained, wide spiral staircase, down the hall, and up the wooden ladder, into a dusty attic, where the camera finally settles on the hero of this story.
"What the actual fuck, Grandma!" You screamed, throwing the petrified, stuffed blue jay out the small window as soon as you figured out what it was.
This hero is...
Special.
"H-Hey _, Look at this!" Alphys yelled, and you turned to look at whatever your best friend was holding.
"Holy shit, is that a camera?" You asked, standing up and stepping over a few boxes to reach the monster."I-I think so?" Alphys said, offering the contraption to you with a shaky claw, which you took with great interest.
The camera was a bulky affair, with a rectangular front, with the brand name in blocky letters along the bottom. The front was attached with an accoridon-esque-like canvas. It fit in your hands with a solid weight, and you pointed it at Alphys, at which the monster blushed and covered her face as you hit the capture button, with no real expectations.
Imagine your surprise when, poof, a flash of light, an electronical whirr, and suddenly the picture was printing!
You pulled the photo out, shaking it for a moment, before inspecting it critically, before a grin made its way onto your face.
"Well, this really captures your personality, Alphys!" You said, and your friend groaned at your joke good-naturedly. The photo really was cute, the way she was covering her face in embarrassment. You tucked it into the breast pocket of your flannel shirt, reminding yourself to put it in your scrapbook later.
You both continued to go through your late grandmothers' attic, in the house she had left to you in her will. She had passed away at the ripe old age of 83, and you had only now gotten around to cleaning out her house, a year later.
It was three years ago that Monsters had been released from the Underground, and two and a half years you had known Alphys. You had met while both interning at a research lab for genetic bioengineering. You, a fresh-faced 17-year-old straight out of high school, and her, a stuttering dino-monster with a love of all things anime and cute.
You both hit it off quite well, though your lives never really intermingled. You'd never met any of her friends, nor her girlfriend she frequently gushed about, and she'd only met some of your family, like your mother and late grandmother, briefly. You'd consider Alphys to be your best friend, despite all that.
You guys continued to clean out the attic, cleaning the house from the top down seemed like the best idea. You both laughed as you showed off the knickknacks and clothes you found, your favorites including: A hat with a brim approximately the circumference of mars, a sundress that was pale pink that fit Alphys like a dream, therefore you dubbed that it was meant for her, and refused to let her give it back, a night robe that was in pristine condition, it was made of a sheer, translucent burgundy fabric, with faux fur lining. It was gorgeous, and you put it on, feeling like a widow whose rich husband had died in an "accident."
You tucked it away for future pampering.
After the attic was done, it was nearing eight o'clock, and in the summer heat, the sun was starting to set. The both of you made your way down to the bottom floor of the house, coughing as dust made its way out of your lungs as you both came down for air, determining that the rest of the house can wait until next week, seeing as this was how you'd both decided to spend your Friday night.
You both plopped yourselves onto the ugly floral couch in the lounge, groaning as you pulled out your cell phone, calling for pizza before you tired out completely.
"Hey, _?" Alphys asked, for once her voice free of a stammer.
"Yes, Alphys m' dear?" You responded, lolling your head to the side, a friendly smirk upon your lips.
"M-M-My friend, Grillby... His b-bar is opening up, aboveground for the first time. H-he's a monster like me, y-you see..." Ah, there's the Alphys we all know and adore.
"Yeah?" You inquire, your eyes going to the ceiling, squinting at the small chandelier that hung there, mentally groaning at the thought of dusting it.
"I-I-I was w-wondering i-if you'd like to s-sing... I kinda told him that I had a friend who could help him open..." She practically whispered, and you shot up, looking at her in shock.
"Alphys, I told you that in confidence!" You moaned, your cheeks aflame.
Once upon a time, you had a little hobby of singing at local dive bars to make a quick buck, never anything serious though.
"I-I-I know, but they were all looking at me, and they all seemed so happy that I could help!" She said, clasping her claws together in pleading way, she got onto her knees, begging you; and after a good hour, which included you tipping the hot delivery girl far too much, and both of you consuming half an extra-large pizza, you gave in.
"Fine! But on one condition!" You said, pointing a finger at your best friend.
"Anything!" She yelled ecstatically, and you grinned wickedly.
"I get to meet your friends."
xxx
You both made your way to bed, Alphys staying in the guest bedroom, a moderately sized room with a queen bed furnished in dark browns and tans, with a four-poster bed frame with a light ivory mosquito net around it; while you made your way to the master bedroom, which was put together with your favorite colours, which complimented the Victorian furnishings and room structure.
You skipped into the master bathroom, which was just as old as the rest of the house, if a bit updated. The bath was a solid looking piece, with a marbled tub and golden clawed feet, easily big enough to hold two large adults if need be. You wouldn't know, though.
Brushing your teeth and washing your face, you looked at yourself in the large mirror, staring into your eyes, looking at your face, and wondering if anyone could ever love you. Or if you could ever love them.
"Wow, okay. That's deep." You said, snorting unattractively, before making your way out of the bathroom, hitting the lightswitch before climbing into your king-sized bed, pulling the (Your chosen color) mosquito net closed, before flopping back onto the plush pillows, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep to await the morning