Disclaimer:This is a complete work of fiction, there's no resemblance to actual persons or events or places. If so, it is utterly not intended. I do NOT own Monster High, or anything to do with it. Thank you.

Full Summary: Manny Taur is at the age where "finding himself" is an absolute must. What if the person he's supposed to be is utterly different than who he truly wants to be? He wants nothing more than to have a normal family, but is that too much to ask? Rated T.

A / n: Bonjour! So, I know I have a few stories on the go. Heartlessly Heartfelt that's being co-written with Anonymous Chica, Tattered and Torn which is a co-written Teen Titans AU fic with the lovely Treskttn, also Catch My Tears which is a High School Musical fic XD however I have so many great ideas that I want to share with you guys and so here I am, sharing just one of 10+ Monster High ideas alone. I hope you enjoy it and I would love to receive some feedback :D

Conflicting The Conflicted

Chapter One

"What'cha doing, Taur?" Heath Burns questioned the half male, half bull curiously. They weren't the absolute closest of best friends, but Heath was all Manny had that even came remotely close to a best friend what so ever. Heath was a good guy who tried to be friends with everyone, staying neutral whenever it was possible he could.

The blond haired, built male turned around suddenly. Heavy blush rushed to his cheeks as he looked around the halls of the high school in seeming panic. "Uh, well… I just, uh…"

"Flowers?" Heath pointed to the sweet bouquet of flowers in the minotaur's hands.

"Right, yeah… they're… I know it's stupid, but they're for a crush. I guess. Dumb, ain't it?" He shrugged his big, muscular shoulders.

Heath shook his head, "Nah, it's not dumb. It's nice. I don't think you're used to being 'nice' – but that's a nice gesture leaving flowers for someone you like. Carry on."

Manny also had a little note in his hand too, which he tried to shove in the school locker but it wouldn't fit. He got a bit angry and just decided it was quicker to shove his fist through it. After the smash and the denting of the locker, he opened it gently and put the flowers and note in her locker, shutting the mangled door. "That works." Heath chuckled, backing up a little bit from how close he was standing beside Manny.

"Sure it does, why wouldn't it work?"

"No, no – it's good! It's okay, it's okay. It's cool, it's cool man." He said a little panicky himself, not wanting Manny to swing around and take him out. "Let's walk away now and pretend that you didn't smash shit to smithereens alright?"

Manny shrugged as he walked away from the locker with Heath Burns. He wasn't very socially graceful and not blessed with charisma, so he often found it hard to communicate and have legitimate conversations with others. For as long as he could remember, every time he brought home a report card, his father would often punish him for receiving many 'Needs Improvement' options checked off in accordance to his levels of socialization.

It wasn't his fault that he couldn't have a silky smooth charismatic side to him that even Heath Burns had. Heath could talk to anyone like they'd been long time best friends. Manny had no idea how he did it without feeling nervous or scared.

Deep down Manny would feel nervous and scared, but his father had always told him that feeling afraid was weak. Being scared was weak. Crying was something that should never happen. His father was a very intimidating being. Very scary and not in the good way at all. "So, what'cha up to after school today Manny?" Heath wasn't really asking to hang out or anything, he was just making small general conversation.

The big male sighed heavily. "Same as everyday. Go to school, fail, go home, fail, come back again, fail worse." He shrugged it off, his backpack slung over his shoulder. "What about you, Burns? What do you do after school?"

Heath knew that Manny wasn't making fun of him, or mocking him. He was genuinely curious about what his life was like. "Well, my life isn't all that exciting either Manny. It really depends on day to day. I usually end up hanging out with Jackson, he's a really cool guy once y'get to know him. One day the other week Deuce texted me to hang out at the maul for awhile to catch up on life and stuff. My parents sometimes take me and Jackson out just for the hell of it. It depends from day to day. Jackson lives with us now, he's doing much better being around his family and what not."

Manny gave a nod, truly listening to every word Heath was saying. He just wanted to know what happened in other people's houses. He knew what happened in his own, he had much curiosity in the lives of others. "That sounds… really cool actually. You spend time with friends, your family… and they all enjoy spending time together? There's never any yelling and throwing stuff?"

Heath raised an eyebrow, "Unless it's tossing food around attempting to get it in the other's mouth – nope." It made him think and ponder about what Manny's home life was like. Why on earth would he ask about yelling and throwing things?

The Minotaur slowly nodded, "Huh. Okay. I was just wondering. I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, I just wanted to talk to someone a little bit."

Heath smiled warmly, "Hey, that's okay. Listen… here's my number. Text or call me if you want to talk whenever. I mean it. Right now I gotta go before Jackson smacks me with a beaker from the Mad Science classroom."

Manny's gaze shifted downward to the ground, but he had a very faint smile. "Okay, sounds good. Smell ya later Heath."

"You'd best hope not, it's chili night!"

Hesitantly stepping off the bus at the right stop, Manny shuddered when the breeze came whipping past him. "Brrr." He shuddered lightly. He noticed that the car was in the driveway. His dad always picked up Minnie but left Manny to take the bus, even in the worst of weathers. And when the bus was cancelled, he wasn't allowed to come back home – he had to walk there. If school was cancelled, he just couldn't go home period – if his father was there.

Everything was just so complicated right now, it was hard to really have friendships or relationships even. Although Manny was so positive he knew that no one ever looked his way. "Well if it wasn't your fault, who's damn fault is it?!" Manny's father roared at his mother, who cowered away from the loud booming voice of her husband.

"But, I… if you'd just let me explain, you don't understand..." she tried to get a word in edgewise, but his temper was flaring too badly to do so.

"No you listen to me, I work all damn day and it's stressful. What the hell do you do around here other than nothing? Looking after the kids my ass, they're damn well grown." Manny was so incredibly sick and tired of listening to his parents have heated arguments for the past few months now, but the last thing he wanted was to see his mother hurt even more tonight.

He tossed his backpack off and shoved his father. His own temper igniting. "How dare you talk to mum that way!" He growled, getting angrier by the second. "She does lots when you're not home. She feeds us, cleans the house and keeps it clean, she goes out to get groceries -"

His father took no time in cutting his son off in mid – statement. "With the money that I earn, she does. But that's my point, what does your mother even do around here? What's the good of her?"

"A lot more than's the good of you!" Manny argued back plainly, sadly earning himself a backhand in the face from none other than his father.

"Don't you disrespect me boy, or your mother will get the same fate." He boomed, not seeming to back down.

Manny pulled away from the radius which his father was in. His mother hugged him as he let a couple tears slide out by accident.

"I ought to really hurt you again, you're such a disgrace Manny – crying? We don't cry here, do we?" Ignoring his father only got him more in trouble. "Manny… I'm talking to you, you insignificant piece of -"

"That's it!" Manny hugged his mother tighter, trying to remind her not to say anything or else she'd get in trouble. "Don't dare talk to our boy like that. He didn't do anything, this is between you and I, stop involving everyone and anyone else."

Smashing a vase that his wife's mother had bought her, he fled the house almost immediately, being confronted by someone so soft spoken upset him greatly. She was just glad that he didn't take out anything more than that vase. "I'm sorry mum." Manny told his mother suddenly, wiping his eyes to rid the evidence he'd let some tears slip.

"It's okay sweet pea, don't worry about it. I'm okay, you're okay… we're all okay for now."

Manny sighed, parting the hug from his mother. "Can we just go out and do something, you, Minnie and I?"

The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like a decent idea. "Y'know what? Let's do it. One moment your father is growling at me to spend the money he earns in things to show for it, the next he's telling me it's his money. Whatever, let's spend on you guys today. How's that sound?"

Manny gave a nod; he didn't care what they did at all. He just wanted to spend some time with his family like normal families did. It was the only thing he ever wanted, but would it ever happen? He truly doubted it.

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It's always appreciated. :)