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.

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Conflicting The Conflicted

Chapter Two

Manny didn't have his full driver's license as of yet, but he could drive with another licensed driver in the vehicle. They were going to head over to the Maul now, only they were waiting on Minnie to change her outfit and accessorize. He chuckled to himself, but slowly realizing that his sister wasn't just his sister anymore, but a young woman now. Where did the time go? "Alright so, do you have any idea of what you want to do at the Maul when we get there?" His mother asked him sheepishly. She wasn't used to going for a leisure visit to the maul.

Snapping out of his thoughts, he shook his head. "Not really Ma, I just thought we could take our time checkin' stuff out. Is it a bad idea?"

She shook her head, "No, no dear. I was just wondering what you wanted to do, your father normally has me hurry to get what we need and get out again, taking our time will be a bit of a different process for me but I think it'll be fun."

"Okay, ready!" Minnie shouted happily as she got into the car eagerly. "I've been waiting and itching to start Howliday shopping for my friends."

That's right! Manny had completely forgotten that the Howlidays were fast approaching. It'd only be a couple weeks until the break from school would start. "Howliday shopping, for friends…" Manny mumbled to himself, thinking about maybe doing the same thing. He wanted to gain some friends for real, but he wasn't sure how to in the least.

"Well, we're all here – let's go the the Maul!" Minnie grinned, restlessly putting her seat belt on, "I want to arrive there in one piece of course, as we all do."

Rolling his eyes, Manny stuck the key in the ignition and after giving the vehicle a few minutes to warm up; they were soon off down the residential street, ready to scope out the Maul top to bottom.

"Skyler, don't you even think about it."

"But Issac!" Heath's mother began her reasoning, narrowing her eyes at her husband. "Can't I just sample some of the wine? It was offered to me!"

"You don't need alcohol; you're a handful as is. Now let's get a move on." He reminded her gently, "We're Howliday shopping too y'know."

Her eyes widened with the sudden realization, "This is true! What will our boys want this year, hmm?"

Jackson and Heath lagged behind a few steps. They were taking in the sights of the hustle and bustle of people going this way and that way. They were busy trying to get to a certain store to purchase whatever it was they needed to. People in the Maul would ring these bells and wish those they meet 'Happy Howlidays' every now and then. "This is such a magical time of year," Jackson spoke softly, "it's also my personal favorite."

Heath nodded in much agreement, "Oh yeah, if a miracle's gonna happen, it'll be no doubt on Christmas. What'cha getting me?"

Jackson chuckled, "Yeah, right. More like what are you getting me? Jerk."

Shrugging his shoulders, the fire elemental actually had Jackson's gift pretty much in mind, as he did Holt's. He was easy – he'd broken a vital piece of DJ'ing equipment and had to put that on hold, so it needed to be replaced and would be exactly what Holt would hope for during the Howliday season. Both Jackson and Holt were practical people when it came to gifting for them; they were usually so hard to buy for. "Well, whatever you want if you'd just tell me."

Jackson shrugged his shoulders, "Remember that book I got myself a few weeks ago?" Heath nodded, making eye contact with his cousin. "Well I'm still in the middle of it, but there's another three books by the same author. Wouldn't mind checking those out. Just saying."

Perfect! Heath, his mother and father could each get Jackson those books he's been anticipating reading. There, he was done. Who else next? Before the boys could go any further, they saw what seemed to be Manny and his family only things weren't going very smooth at all.

Heath noticed Manny's mother wiping tears from her eyes. He ushered Jackson to a spot where they wouldn't be seen to wait this out. "Awww, mum I'm sorry." Manny told her softly. It was the softest they'd ever heard him speak before.

"No, it's not you… it's just I remember a few years ago when you were all little… and the Howlidays were something your father and I both looked forward to." She wiped tears away and sniffled lightly. "Now he won't even be home and I know he's happy it's going to be that way but it doesn't stop hurting not just me but all of us inside. You know?"

Manny nodded solemnly, "Yeah. I know what'cha mean. But he never was the same person since. I think it's my fault."

Jackson adjusted his glasses, his eyes wide as he looked to Heath who shrugged in response, what could anyone say to that? It only made them wonder what was going on in Manny's life, especially so close to the Howlidays. This was never a good time for bad things to happen. Any time of the year wasn't good but especially this one. "Well, your father's sons are coming to spend the Howlidays with us. He informed me of that this morning."

Minnie sighed impatiently, approaching the conversation just now. "Not those three, but momma why?"

She sighed, "They are still your siblings."

"They're half siblings." She encountered back, getting a stern glare from her mother.

"Family is family Minnie, and this Christmas we are going to spend together and happily, is that understood?"

Manny and Minnie nodded, they weren't keen on their triplet half brothers, but none of them wanted their poor mother to stress anymore than she currently was. "Of course mom - can't wait." Manny agreed in a slight solemn manner. He didn't want them to come around just as much as Minnie didn't want them to, but all he wanted was a calm family Christmas. Any time of the year would be great, but especially this time of year more so.

"Alright, let's move along." She reassured them with a light smile and the wiping of her left over tears. "We have much to do in preparation. And tonight, Manny – you pick dinner."

Manny wasn't all that hungry in all honesty, but he knew Minnie's favorite dish. His mother's also. "How about some of your nachos mum?"

Minnie jumped up and down, "YES! Yes please!"

"Is that your choice, really?"

He chuckled, "Yeah, that's my choice."

She shrugged her shoulders, "Alright then. Minnie and I get our favorite dinner."

"Awesome-sauce!" Minnie exclaimed happily, doing her own little happy dance right there in the Maul. She skipped along, leaving her mother and brother behind a little.

"You sure you're okay mum?" He asked her sincerely, he wanted her to tell him the truth. If she was upset, he'd give her a hug. If she was happy, he'd feel accomplished. But just by looking at her overall demeanor, the latter didn't seem likely.

"Yes, I'm alright. Still angered by the things your father said, but I'm fine. Let's go darling, we'll shop for a bit longer then we'll get our groceries. Sound good?" She ruffled his blond hair with a weak smile.

"Sounds good." He repeated in such a sad manner, it broke the hearts of those listening. They walked away, the whole lot of them, Minnie, Manny and their mother.

"I… uh, I can't believe we just saw that." Jackson relayed in the softest voice audible. "I never thought… now I feel like the biggest jerk alive. Poor Manny."

Heath shared his cousin's gaze, "What, you thought that someone like Manny didn't have issues too?" He watched Jackson shrug shyly. "Well I mean, we all have issues. And there's no excuse for Manny to bully, but I guess we now know that maybe he's hurting inside too. It might not be in the same way that you and maybe I hurt… but y'know."

"You hurt?"

"Sure I do, I hurt very deeply when there's no more cake left on a platter." He wiped a fake tear from his eye dramatically.

Jackson playfully smacked Heath's arm but laughed. "You're something else Heath, you really are."

It may have been closing time at the Maul, but Manny had all his friends – or soon to be friends – bought for this year. He saved up that money for a long time and now it was able to go to good use. His sister had bought for her friends and even their mother did her own Christmas shopping right under their noses. After stopping at the grocery store, they had everything they now needed to make some seriously awesome nachos.

Manny had been lucky enough to steal a nacho chip with dressing before the entire tray went into the oven and it tasted so good. Minnie had also helped her bake a couple loaves of banana bread with Manny's favorite twist in it, peanut butter. 'Finally,' Manny thought to himself. 'we're being a real, normal family.'

The front door opened quickly and smashed into the wall behind it.

Manny's father was home. He stormed through the kitchen purposely knocking the entire tray of freshly heated nachos to the floor. He slammed a few cupboards here and there, trying to look for something. "That really… that wasn't nice at all." Manny mumbled as he knelt down to pick up the food – trying to salvage what was left, if there was any able to eat after being on the kitchen floor and all.

"Not nice?" His father repeated his voice very low. "I'll tell you what's not nice. Going to work and slaving all day and to come home to what, that pathetic dish? The hell's this? So you wasted money on crap."

"The only money that was wasted was what mum got for you, for the Howlidays!"

In that same day, he earned himself another hard hit to the face only now this side matched the other. "Don't you dare disrespect me boy, I've told you this time and time again but I guess you just aren't very smart now are you? Either way you'll learn, trust me." He stepped right on the nachos, purposely walking through them before leaving the kitchen.

Manny bit back tears as he heaved a sigh reaching for the broom and dustpan. 'Why can't we all just get along for once?'

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