I-Like-Sulley: You're welcome! :D I hope that helped. Have you started writing your story? Oh my god, I am that exact same way about MU Randall. He seems so strange and out of character. *shudders* That's actually why I wrote this story. I was trying to put the Randall we all know and love into the university setting. I have a feeling that I'm going to love MI way more than MU. How about you? Also, that's a really good theory. I bet that'll happen in the movie!

Mentalguru: Sorry about the cliffie! You'll figure out what's going to happen in this chapter! Thanks for continuing to read this, I figured that I had lost you on the story. :P

xBearingSecretsx: Thanks again! I can't even begin to tell you how nice that is to hear! Are you a fan of long stories? This one is a bit on the long side. I hope you don't mind! Of course you can ask about the trailer. :) Randy speaks in the newest one. It's about 30 seconds long. I'd link you, but I have a problem posting links on this site for some reason. Let me know if you're able to watch it though! Also...random question, but do you have a favorite part of MI? Thanks so much for reading this!

a fan: Wow, that's a really great compliment! I'm really glad that you think that I have Randall's character down. I had a hard time writing him at first, but now it's pretty natural. There are lots more chapters to come, so I really hope that you keep reading this. :) Is Randall your favorite MI character?

Energy witch: That's very true! Do you think that Randall will have a hard time getting his camouflaging ability under control? I agree with you about true friends. So far, Fungus seems to be his only true friend. What do you think?

InsertUnoriginalPenNameHere: It's okay! Sometimes FF is a bitch when it comes to alerting us about updates and all that. I couldn't even get on the website earlier. I guess we both have a love/hate relationship with it, huh? I'm so glad that you liked the last chapter and I agree, Funk is pretty cute! :) He didn't do a lot for me in the movie, but I'm trying to expand on his character in this story a bit, you know? I think that his parents were extremely strict because he calls Randall "Sir" a lot in the movie, lol. Funk definitely sounds better than Fungus imo, I mean, who names a kid Fungus? xD Mike can be sassy and extremely random! I'm shipping him with one of the characters from the new film because they both share the randomness trait. xP Wow...it's just like fate wanted us to meet up again on here or something! *hugs you* I'm glad that you're a fellow Randall obsesser! I actually wrote a story about him a few years back, but deleted it because I thought that it was crappy. Oops, sorry, I explained that wrong. Basically, I ended up getting involved with an online predator who wanted me to meet up with him and then model for him...my mom got me out of the situation before things got too out of hand. In a way, I'm thankful about it, but I'm NOT happy that she took the money I was planning on moving out with. I'm still at home right now, but my birthday is in twelve days and I want out of here so badly, but I've got no place to go. *sighs* Aw man, that sucks about school! I bet you can't wait for it to end, right? Well...my summer's been sort of crappy so far, but at least I'm back from the clinic and I don't have the stomach flu anymore. I do have Amber Eyes saved actually! I suppose that I could post it again maybe? Why not, right? Omg, I saw that trailer, btw! Randall looks totally goofy with the glasses. xD Did you see any of the other members from his fraternity? I like the whole gang. No problem again about the not reviewing thing. I'm just so happy to be talking to a friend again! :D

Chapter IX

Scott and I exit the locker room to find ourselves in the gym. The gym looks pretty ordinary as far as gyms go. This particular gym has incredibly high ceilings like the rest of the rooms at Monsters University. The flooring consists of a green carpet-like material with white markings on it. I notice posters promoting working out and eating right plastered on all of the shiny wooden walls. The only thing that is not normal about the gym is the fact that a large black curtain has been drawn across it, separating the gym into two equal-sized portions. A long line of students waits for permission from one of the university teachers before crossing to the other side of the curtain where Dean Hardscrabble waits for them.

I suppose that the curtain isn't all that intimidating, but my pulse picks up and my palms grow sweaty as I join the end of the line and wait for the tryout. Scott, unlike me, seems completely unfazed as he looks around the room and remarks, "This looks like a nice gym, doesn't it? I don't like working out much, but as far as gyms go, this is a nice place."

I nod stiffly, not wanting to talk right now. I need to concentrate. Pushing my glasses up higher on my sweaty scales, I force myself to take slow, even breaths. The last thing I need to do is start hyperventilating and pass out before I even get a chance to try out for the scare program. Luckily, I'm saved from further chat with Scott because his friends, Terry and Terri Perry, enter the room and immediately start talking to him. I drone out their babble and take another step forward as the line before me grows shorter and shorter.

Suddenly, while I'm trying to focus on breathing normally, raised voices from somewhere in front of me break out. I raise myself onto my tiptoes and crane my neck to see over the shoulder of the purple monster in front of me, wanting to know what the ruckus is all about. Two very different figures are facing each other with clenched fists and slitted eyes. Surprisingly enough, I recognize both figures. The first is the circular shape of one-eyed Wazowski. Can't say I'm that too shocked to find that he's part of the fray. When is that little cretin not causing chaos?

I am shocked, however, to find that I recognize Wazowski's adversary. Blue and purple spotted fur on end, Sullivan has his muscular arms folded over his chest and is giving Wazowski a death glare. I can't help but silently cheer Sullivan on in my mind. Someone really ought to take that green cyclops' arrogance down a couple of notches. Still, I have to admit that I'm surprised to find that Sullivan is gonna be the one to do it. From what I've seen of the shaggy blue monster so far, he seems laid back and relatively friendly. Unable to sate my curiosity, I lean forward slightly and try to eavesdrop on the argument. It's not any of my business, but since when has listening in ever hurt anyone that badly?

"Mike, I've already told you that there's no way you're going to end up as the school's top scarer at the end of the year if all you're going to do are those moves you showed me last night," Sullivan is saying in a relatively even voice although I manage to detect a strain in it. He's trying really hard to keep himself under control.

"I care to see things differently. Unlike you, I am physically fit and have one eye. See this?" Wazowski says, pointing to the single eye on his spherical figure. "Uno ojo. Kids get real scared of one-eyed monsters. You just look like a colorful, cuddly teddy bear."

My eyes widen at Wazowski's comment. The little cyclops certainly thinks that he's all that. Challenging Sullivan, likely one of the best scarers in this monstrous-sized building, ain't a smart thing to do. Wazowski is going to learn this somehow or the other. I only hope that I'm around to watch him learn his lesson.

"Did you just say that I look like a cuddly teddy bear?" Sullivan asks Wazowski, his normally friendly blue eyes tightening and getting a steely look to them.

"Yeah, I did. And do you know what else?" Wazowski continues on like the dumb buffoon he is, not noticing the warning look in Sullivan's eyes. "I'm going to be the best scarer ever! I'm going to wipe all of the records off of the boards and fill them with my name. I'll be Mike Wazowski, the best scarer in all of history! I can just see that written all over the walls. My name is going to be a name to remember, pal. You should be grateful that you're even allowed to share a room with someone like me."

Wazowski's voice gets louder and louder as he talks and now he has the attention of everyone standing in the gym. If the cyclops wasn't being serious, he might actually be kind of funny. His pride is getting on everyone's nerves though, and if Sullivan doesn't slap him, I certainly will.

Seeing that he's gotten everyone's attention, Sullivan rolls his eyes dramatically and says, "I'm going to wipe the floor with you little slime ball on the scare floor."

Wazowski's dreamy smile suddenly fades and is replaced by a tight-lipped scowl. He takes two steps forward and points an accusatory finger at Sullivan's chest, asking in halting words, "What. Was. That?"

"You heard me right, kid," Sullivan says, not looking at all fazed by the abrupt chance in Wazowski's demeanor. "I'm going to wipe the floor with you."

"How dare you?!" Wazowski asks in a horrified voice before he runs forward with a determined look in his eye and starts pummeling Sullivan on the chest with his tiny green fists. This doesn't affect Sullivan in the least and is actually comical to watch...until the black curtain is thrown back and Dean Hardscrabble comes into view.

All eyes drop to the floor and all movement stops as the Dean comes into view. I freeze where I am, glad that I wasn't part of the fray between Sullivan and Wazowski. The green eyeball quickly lowers his fists, probably recalling the rule the headmistress explained to us yesterday. Any sort of violence whatsoever will result in dismissal from the school. My heart leaps and I wonder for a moment if Wazowski will be banished from the university! Not having to deal with that little pea brain would make life a little bit easier.

A very long, intense silence stretches out and forms a thick tension in the room. Seconds stretch into minutes. Wazowski starts fiddling with his hands and Sullivan intentionally keeps his eyes on the floor, both of them looking very guilty. At this point, even the silence is making me, an innocent bystander, feel uncomfortable.

Finally, after what seems like an hour even though it could only have been a couple of minutes, Dean Hardscrabble speaks in an icy cold voice, "Monsters University is a school that builds one another up and does not degrade one another. Insulting another monster is like insulting yourself. It proves to me just how insecure you are and that it is more than likely that you should not even be here at Monsters University." Wazowski opens his mouth to speak, but Dean Hardscrabble holds up her hand to keep him quiet and continues on, "I will not dismiss either of you from the school today, but if this happens again, I will have no other choice. Both of you are free to go. I do not want to see you insulting another student again. Is that clear?"

Wazowski nods, but doesn't make a move toward the locker room door. Instead, he hesitates and dares a look up at the Dean's hard expression before he asks, "But what about our scaring tryouts? I still want to be a scarer! I've wanted to be a scarer for my entire life."

"Neither of you will be attending the after school scare program," Dean Hardscrabble says firmly in a voice that warns Wazowski not to question her further. I have to bite back a chuckle at Wazowski's expression. His eye looks like it is going to bulge out of his head and his jaw is dropped.

"I didn't do anything, Dean Hardscrabble," Sullivan points out, looking just as shocked as Wazowski.

"You didn't engage in any physical violence, but you did egg Mr. Wazowski on. I hope that this dismissal from the scare program will be enough for you both to rethink your attitudes," Dean Hardscrabble says in a clipped tone of voice, raising a thin finger and pointing to the door in a gesture that tells Sullivan and Wazowski to get out.

Wazowski, who has finally found his voice again, blurts out in horror, "But I'm his roommate, Mrs. Hardscrabble! I can't stay there with him all year!"

"Yes, you can and you will if you want to remain here at Monsters University," Dean Hardscrabble says coldly. "I expect you two to come to some sort of understanding. After that, I expect to hear no more arguing. I think that I have made myself more than clear regarding this situation. Both of you are dismissed. If I have to ask you to leave again, I will find another teacher to personally escort you back up to your room."

Still looking extremely displeased and like they still have a lot more to say about the matter, Sullivan and Wazowski turn away from Dean Hardscrabble, both with slumped shoulders and somber expressions. By dismissing them from the scare program, the Dean basically just dismissed their future careers as scarers for Monsters Inc. Sure, they can try all they want in the two basic, free-for-all scaring classes, but it's less than likely that they'll manage to graduate with only those. Wazowski deserves this plain and simple. Sullivan, on the other hand, well, I'm not really sure. Part of me is relieved. At least I won't have to worry about him rivaling me at the end of the year. On the other hand, having someone challenge me might have helped me work harder though...

The Dean's breaks through my internal thoughts. I feel her light hand on my shoulder and listen to her speak in a quieter, gentler tone as she says, "You're next, Mr. Boggs."

I jerk my head up in surprise. After all of the pandemonium between Sullivan and Wazowski, I've completely forgotten what I'm here for! I really need to get it together before I blow my chances for becoming the school's top scarer like Sullivan and Wazowski just did. Nodding once, I follow the Dean behind the black curtain, expecting to find a strange obstacle course or some sort of peculiar demonstration or the other on this side of the curtain. Instead, all I see are two wooden chairs facing one another and several fans lining the curtain.

My dubious expression must show through because the Dean smiles a very small smile at me as she says, "The fans are to muffle our words so we can have a bit of privacy. Please sit."

Still surprised and relieved not to see an obstacle course, I scuttle across the floor and perch on the edge of the wooden chair facing the Dean. I run a webbed hand through the fronds on the top of my head nervously. If this isn't a physical test, is it a mental test? Is the Dean gonna quiz me on scaring history or on scaring techniques?

Dean Hardscrabble takes a seat opposite me and speaks in a kind voice, "Tell me why you want to become a scarer, Mr. Boggs. You needn't worry about anyone overhearing you. I tested out the efficiency of the fans earlier myself."

I know exactly why I want to be a scarer, but I don't start talking right away. Nothing is worse than stuttering like Fungus or blabbing like Wazowski. I arrange what I want to say into cohesive sentences before explaining, "I've wanted to be a scarer ever since I was old enough to know what a scarer was. Everyone knows that becoming a scarer is the greatest accomplishment that any monster can achieve here at the university. I've always wanted this for myself and for my mother. She works real hard, but we've always lived in a shack in a shabby part of town. I want to work at Monsters Inc., prove to myself that I have what it takes to become a scarer, and get my mother a nicer place away from the slums."

I also want to do all of this in Wazowski's face, but Dean Hardscrabble obviously doesn't need to know that. She looks pleased and asks me in a curious voice, "Do you have any particular talents or skills that make you think that you have what it takes to be a scarer?"

"I can blend in with my surroundings. Most chameleons can, I believe," I say, trying not to sound ostentatious like Wazowski. He got on the Dean's bad side without trying too hard. I'm gonna learn from his mistake and not repeat it.

"Actually, it is a rare trait. Only certain chameleons possess it. Camouflaging oneself is rather difficult though and takes lots of self control and concentration," the Dean informs me, looking impressed. "Have you learned how to control your ability yet?"

"No, not yet," I admit guiltily, looking at the floor. I had thought that I had mastered my talent until I failed to blend in with my surroundings on the bus only yesterday.

"Hm, well, we'll just have to work on that then. Welcome to the scare program, Mr. Boggs. We meet after school at six pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays here in the gym," Dean Hardscrabble informs me before noticing the frozen look on my face. I can't quite seem to believe what I'm hearing. I've actually been accepted into the scaring program?! The Dean smiles once again, a slightly bigger smile this time as she says, "That's all for now. I look forwards to seeing you on Tuesday. You are dismissed."

Feeling pleasantly surprised, I stand up and scuttle back out of the room before the Dean can change her mind about me. Once I'm on the other side of the black curtain, a wave of relief washes over me. My scuttle turns into a proud strut as I toss my head in the air and start slowly toward the locker room, seeing no need to hurry now.

As I cross the room, a hand makes contact with my wrist and Scott Squibbles whispers to me anxiously, "How did it go? Are tryouts hard?"

"Nah, not hard at all," I reassure Scott, flashing him a smile that reveals my seventy-four teeth. "Just act normal and be yourself."

Review please! :)