Disclaimer: This is a complete work of fiction, there's no resemblance to any persons, places or events. If so it is utterly not intended. I do NOT own Monster High or anything to do with it. I do NOT claim to own artists' works, lyrics, copyrights, labels, etc. Their exposure in this story is completely non-profit and just for fun. I own nothing but my own plot idea, thank you!

Heartlessly Heartfelt

Chapter Twenty One

"What does it mean to sing a song..." Mrs. Shea addressed the whole entire camp early the next day, just before the ghouls were about to perform for the camp. She walked back and forth across the stage. "it all depends on what the actual lyrics mean to you. Whether you're telling a story, or describing a situation you're in... I realize that all of you are only here to do something with your summers, but if you can learn through out the vacation – it's not that bad. Keeps your brains..." she chuckled, "or lack there of, um... stimulated. So... the boys really got something going yester...night? Didn't they?!" There were cheers and hollars, the boys waving and enjoying how well their performance went.

Clawdeen glanced at her group of ghouls that would be joining her on stage. Toralei, Purrsephone and Meowlody were waiting. Howleen, Clawdeen, Robecca, Venus and Rochelle were all ready to go. Purrsephone and Toralei were on microphone stands on one side, Meowlody and Robecca on the other side, to play backup singers. Operetta wasn't going to be lead vocals. It was rather shocking Operetta couldn't do so, but she knew couldn't sing live and negotiated her position plenty of time with the ghouls. So out front were Venus, Howleen, Clawdeen, Robecca and Rochelle. They were ready to rock out with Operetta on lead guitar and Venus – quickly deciding she'd rather play the drums, they were now ready to go for it!

Plenty of excited hushed whispers were going about, especially with the guys. They were very curious to see what the ghouls would all come up with. Operetta beginning by shredding that electric guitar. Soon to follow was a smooth beat of drums as Howleen stepped up to the microphone and started it all off.

"You were my conscience, so solid now you're like water. And we started drowning, not like we'd sink any further."

Clawdeen chimed right in picking up where Howleen left off. "But I let my heart go, it's somewhere down at the bottom. But I'll get a new one and come back for the hope that you've stolen... I'll stop the whole world!"

Howleen echoing behind her big sister, "I'll stop the whole woorld."

Rochelle's delicate voice barged through surprisingly and nailed her time to shine, "From turning into a monster, eating us unlive. Don't you ever wonder how we survive?"

Robecca's voice came through, but just barely as she was experiencing a bit of fright. Not stage fright really, but more so a mixture of that as well as performing with a group – which she hadn't done yet. None of them had. "Well now that you're gone, the world is ours." She received a moment of encouragement from all the ghouls performing with her, she gripped the microphone and wanted to nail this for her good friends, she had a part coming up soon that she would deliver on.

Toralei jumped in, walking quickly up to the front of the stage and milking the spotlight for her brief part. "I'm just inhuman, but there's still a skeleton in me... but I'm not the villain, despite what you're always preachin'."

Robecca went for it as much as she could. "Call me a traitor, I'm just collectin' your victims. And they're getting stronger. I hear them calling, calling and calling! I'll stop the whole woorrld."

Rochelle now coming through, in secret hopes to impress Heath Burns enough that he couldn't resist working with her. "I'll stop the whole world, from turning into a monster eating us unlive!"

Clawdeen made her way more center stage and she sang out, "Don't you ever wonder, how we survive? Well now that you're gone, the world is ours."

Venus chimed in while still playing the drums, never missing a beat. "Well you find your strength in solutions, but I like the tension. And not always knowing the answers... but you're gonna lose it... you're gonna lose it!"

Howleen and the ghouls rocked out into the chorus, her voice being most prominent, but the other ghouls making wonderful harmonies. "I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world from turning into a monster, eating us unlive... don't you ever wonder how we'll survive? Well now that you're gone... the world..."

Clawdeen picked it right up from there in the last chorus, "I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world from turning into a monster and eating us unlive! Don't you ever wonder, how we survive... now that you're gone... the world is..."

All ghouls, with the exception of Operetta, harmonized the last word. "Ouurss." Their harmonies being the last thing heard before the guys clapped and cheered first, then a split second later so did everyone else.

Mrs. Shea was very impressed. For a group who didn't know scales from semitones, they seemed to rock out just fine. "Well, well! This was wonderful ghouls, and excellent job to the boys yesterday. Fang-tastic everyone, I couldn't be more proud of my entire group this year. Now come back to the cabin, we have much to discuss! Everyone else, go on about your day please!" And just like that, the music adrenaline was coming to an end, but there was one ghoul who wasn't 100% satisfied, and that ghoul... was Operetta.

The cabin wasn't as restless, going on about Critter and Facespook or anything to do with their technical gadgets. They were actually interested in today's class that Mrs. Shea was now sitting at the piano for. "I just want to tell all of you that I am truly proud, I have a wonderful group of voices this year and I want to teach you so much more that you can do on top of what you're already doing to make each and every one of you sound amazing. I'm just going to play and sing something for you quickly and I want us to analyze what I just did."

This was different, instead of them singing – their instructor was going to sing. They got comfortable and couldn't wait to hear the voice of the one who was teaching them. A sad sounding piano introduction began shortly after Mrs. Shea cracked her knuckled, wiggling her fingers before getting right to the melody. She took in a nice preparation breath and began her choice of song. "I'm not the type to get my heart broken. I'm not the type to get upset and cry. 'Cause I never leave my heart open... never hurts me to say goodbye. Relationships don't get deep to me, I never got that whole 'in love' thing. And someone can say they love me truly... but at the time it didn't mean a thing." No other sounds but Mrs. Shea's voice and piano playing could be heard. A pin could drop and that would be the only other noise. "My mind is gone, I'm spinning 'round and deep inside my tears I'll drown. I'm losing grip, what's happening? I stray from love, this is how I feel. This time was different, felt like I was just a victim. And it cut me like a knife, when you walked out of my life. Now I'm in this condition and I've, got all the symptoms of a ghoul with a broken heart but no matter what you'll never see me cry."

After a moment of hesitation, she decided to go on with the second verse. It would serve the purpose of the lesson she was trying to teach.

"Did it happen when we first kissed? 'Cause it's hurting me to let it go. Maybe 'cause we spent so much time, and I know that it's no more? I should've never let you hold me baby, maybe why I'm sad to see us apart? I didn't give it to you on purpose, can't figure out how you stole my heart." She paused right there and before saying anything, the whole cabin applauded for her. It made Mrs. Shea's cheeks blush heavily, she hadn't received applause in a long time. "Oh, you guys are too sweet." She giggled lightly, but she turned away from the piano keys and glanced out at the eager faces. "Clawd, what was something you noticed from that song?"

Clawdeen smirked, "Yeah big bro, what'd ya notice?"

He glared at her, not only was it a bit awkward to be in a class setting with both his younger sisters... but he still wasn't a 100% sold on this whole music thing either. He'd rather 'perform' in the shower and the shower only. "Well... it was sad."

"Good! Great actually. What made it sad? ... Heath."

Heath snapped his attention up from doodling on his notebook. He thought about it for a minute. He was no musical expert like Mrs. Shea, but he knew his way around his guitar and that was enough for the Heathster. "What made it sad huh? I guess it could've been a couple things."

"Just name one," she reminded him, wanting the others to participate as much as she could get them to.

Heath tapped his chin with his pen. "Music. The key the song was in, was different."

She nodded, "It is a minor key, and minor keys, compared to other keys – use plenty of semitones. From the note F," she found the appropriate key on the piano, playing it for them. "to an F# - for example would make it 'sound sad'." playing the other key and letting them listen to the slight raise in sound between the keys. "What else... Howleen?"

Howleen was waiting to be called upon, but she wasn't really sure what to say. "I... uh, I'm not too sure. I mean, it was sad sounding, what else is there?"

Rochelle cleared her throat and gave a soft smile. "If I may interrupt, mon ami?"

"Oui," Mrs. Shea answered back.

Rochelle confidently spoke her thoughts. "The real feeling of le musique, is in the lyrics... the words of the song. If the song... means something to your heart, it is meaningful... to sing."

Operetta agreed right away, "Tha's right. Y'all can sing whatever ya like, but when you write or sing a song because it describes th' pain you feel, there's a special connection 'tween you and the words of th' song. It's singin' what you're feelin'."

Mrs. Shea grinned, "That's right! Now, your assignment for today is to find a song that's very emotional and the lyrics have deep meaning. Doesn't have to describe you or your situation... just as long as you can sing it and make us believe that you have experienced it and you're telling the story – it's success." She glanced at the clock and sadly it was time to let her music pupils go. "Think about your song, rehearse it to yourself and we'll have a good run at it tomorrow... evening. See you all later!" She dismissed the students on their way to lunch, where they would have much to discuss and talk about amongst themselves.

Lunch wasn't as packed as some would think, but there was hardly any sitting room. Heath ended up sitting at a table with the ghouls, instead of his usual guy clan. "Heath, how nice of you to join us!" Frankie greeted him with a big warm smile. Across the table, Abbey smacked her screamcheese toast.

"Now is edible. Proceed."

Clawdeen sighed, "Ghouls," she then glanced at Heath, smirking. "and Heath... what are we gonna do? We gotta present a song in front of our cabin tomorrow that's got meaning and deep lyrics. And then we have to perform it like we're going through it! I'm so lost on what to do... I don't know where to turn..."

Heath shrugged, "It's all about doing your research. Shuffle through your iCoffin to figure out what songs have meaning to you and then see what one you sing well. That's all I'm gonna do when we're done here. Find something and then bam, work on it and bam again – perform it. Don't worry about nailing it as much as... y'know, feelin' it. You gotta feel it, to believe it."

Abbey didn't smile, but she felt like doing so. "Heath is now music expert?"

He chuckled, "Not really, I'm just your average set of fireballs, but I mean... whatever you feel, whatever makes sense – just do it up. You got this."

Clawdeen smiled warmly at Heath's advice. "I never thought I'd be taking advice from you of all monsters Heath, but thanks. I'll really think it over. Can't wait to see what you choose."

There were ghouly screams from within the main cabin, ghouls had been doing that lately at the mentioning of Heath singing. He didn't really get why, but ghouls were just crazy like that. "I can't wait for your song choice either." He finished up his food quickly, having been so hungry and not realizing it he downed his plate. "Now I just have to go figure it out. Smell ya's later!" The ghouls waved after Heath, who took the opposite way around them as to not have the ghouls screams deafen him.

Abbey smirked, "Strange, is loser at school... but hot at summer music camp?"

Ghoulia finally sat down and smiled, "N'yuueahh. Uhh, nuuhh, uh."

Miss Bominable nodded her head, "Totally." Leaving everyone else who didn't speak or understand zombie, in utter confusion.

Frankie rubbed Clawdeen's shoulder, "Don't worry about it too much ghoul, have lots of fun with it. You'll be great, you always are." She hugged her best friend and meant every single word, but Clawdeen Wolf wasn't so sure of herself this time.

Yes! I am still here, no worries guys! XD I was wondering where to go with this update for awhile but I'm happy with how it turned out, I would just love to read some reviews from you guys! If you have song suggestions, feel free to share them with me, I would be more than happy to take a look at them. If you also have a character suggestion for that song, write it down and let me know. :)

~ CreativeWritingSoul