MONSTER HIGH, SECOND FLOOR

HEADMISTRESS'S OFFICE

2:03 PM

MOANDAY, OCTOBER 10th

Cleo de Nile was far from pleased. And, being an ancient Egyptian princess, that sat with her about as well as spilt grape juice at the maul mere inches away from her golden platforms (in short, it was a disaster waiting to happen). She had been called out of her eighth period Scary Hall-out of her fifty-five minutes of giving and getting love notes to her hotter than the Sahara boyfriend of two years Deuce Gorgon and passing ones of a more gossipy variety to her fellow fearleaders and best ghoulfriends about the monster they thought would take the Scream Queen crown at the hauntcoming dance-to Headless Headmistress Bloodgood's office. Cleo was just about to examine her royal (of course!) purple manicure for what she had to guess was the fifth time when the doors opened.

"Ah, Miss de Nile! You're here just in time." Headmistress B, who popped off her head and allowed a sigh to escape her purple lips, walked to her desk and sat down. She placed her head on the desk, and, which always creeped Cleo out since disembodiment was just a few misguided snips during the mummification dealio if you really thought about it, smiled.

"Of course, Headmistress. Now, what is it you needed me for?"

"It's actually a very serious matter, concerning your fearleaders and their latest placement at the Monster Mashionals."

Cleo felt as if someone had just cut out her heart-if the slaves hadn't already done that 5,827 years ago.

The Monster High fearleading squad had won the Spirit Staff, even though ex-member Toralei and her duo of dumb werecats had given a rival school that went on right before her own squad the routine, the one her BFF Ghoulia Yelps had calculated so they were sure to win. If not for the training of Scary Murphy, the MH fearleaders, even though it pained Cleo to admit it, would've had to deal with the gawking of their loser peers when the tables were turned. The thought of almost losing had kept Cleo awake the night after they had returned home, tossing and turning in her sarcophagus.

If Headmistress B wasn't impressed with her ghouls barely winning a cutthroat competition, was Monster High cutting its fearleading funding? Was the squad being dismembered? Would she lose all that hard-earned popularity she'd spent all of four weeks her freshman year securing?

"You see, I'm fully aware of all that went on behind the screams. I'm also very impressed with how your squad turned out. Winning a Spirit Staff is never easy, especially when you have to make up a routine in the few minutes before you go onstage. However, that's not the reason as to why I asked for you to come here."

Cleo felt like her jeweled headdress was squeezing her head about as tightly as Hisette did when she got surprised. Would Bloodgood disband the squad or just compliment it to death? She couldn't be sure with the way Bloodgood was smiling.

"I brought you here because we have a new student at Monster High that'll be arriving any day now."

So... Bloodgood wanted her to be a one-womummy welcome committee. That sure as the Underworld wasn't going to happen. If some fresh meat walked into the school and expected Cleo to treat her or him like another friend, Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator de Nile had no qualms about telling her or him to kiss her asp.

"She'll be attending Monster High on a fearleading scholarship. I must say, she's quite good at what she does."

A shiver ran across Cleo's deeply-tanned arms. A monster with any talent in the athletic department knew fearleading and casketball scholarships were the hardest scholarships to secure. Cleo didn't even have one; they were that hard to get, and she got everything she wanted and more!

"And how will she affect the future of the fearleading squad?" It was a dumb question. This ghoul would probably wear the uniform a monster of any variety or gender would kill to wear that Cleo had designed herself by Friday. This ghoul would probably be ushered, like she was the freaking queen of freaking Sheba, onto the team. This ghoul wouldn't have to undergo the new ghoul interviews Cleo conducted during Wednesday lunch. This ghoul, if she really had a fearleading scholarship, might just ruin Cleo's reign as the head fearleader!

Headmistress Bloodgood's body reached over and retrieved a file a few feet away. Her hands held it before her face as she read. The Egyptian princess tried to discreetly peer through the file, but, unfortunately, she couldn't see anything. It was as unreadable as her hieroglyphs had been when she was three BWIWSBC (Back When It Was Still B.C.).

"As much as I'd like to provide her a guaranteed spot," Bloodgood began as she carefully moved the file away from her face. "I know you fearleaders have your own way of doing things around here. As long as the school's reputation and ancient relics remain in tact for the time being, you may deal with her as you please. In other words, no hazing but do as you always do."

"Of course, Headmistress Bloodgood. I'll conduct the interview on Wednesday." Cleo stood from her chair and bowed her head. She may have been a true princess, but she wasn't about to fight with her headmistress and risk having it end up on her permanent Nile. The mummy girl began walking away until she was stopped.

"And Cleo, before you go?"

"Yes, Headmistress Bloodgood?"

"We may be at Monster High, but don't scare the ghoul to life."