Lost In Purple

Chapter 1 - An Unlucky Encounter

The lights of frat row shine vividly and the music booms violently as I walk nervously down the street crowded with Monster University's scariest. Having never been to a party in my life I couldn't confidently say I knew what to expect. There's monsters simply mingling with each other, monsters absolutely inhaling alcohol like its oxygen, monsters drunkenly dancing and... well grinding on each other. Gross. I could never find myself ever doing any of those things since I've always been a paranoid little monster who never really found a place to feel comfortable socially. I've always been more of a recluse, a wallflower of sorts. People tend to make me vexed or simply aren't relatable enough for me to be able to keep a conversation with them. While it may sound sad, I've become accustomed to it. I have been this way for nearly 20 years so this 'Rush Week' party is a little overwhelming for me. I attempt to straighten out my casual getup but pretty much nothing changes. I'm still quite a mess and I'm terrified that I'm going to stand out. I have the body of a wolf but instead of fur I have scales (both of which are bright magenta), I have small horns that curl around my head almost like a crown, and a long mane that goes down my shoulders. I could look scarier if I had taken a shower beforehand and made sure my scales were shinier and my hair was a little more regal.

I saunter down past the fraternities and sororities for the first time and I get different vibes from each. There are some that are more laid back and chill like Omega Howl and Slugma Slugma Kappa, some that seem kind of nerdy like Gamma Roar Roar and Chi Phi Argma, and then finally some that are just blatantly for those who have superiority complexes like Jaws Theta Chi, Python Nu Kappa, and Roar Omega Roar. I know I'm in the right place though since the whole reason I'm here is because of one of the very few friends I had since middle school had just joined JOX this semester. However, I can't help but be drawn to the ROR house since it's basically a mansion compared to the others and the JOX house looks kind of like a place where meth heads live.

"Well if it isn't little miss Melody!" screams a tall figure walking out of the JOX house.

I nervously smile at who I know to be Faust. Just by looking at him, you could tell he belongs with the JOX. He's a monster who comes from an ursa (bear) lineage so he's one of the larger monsters on campus and he played football in high school so he's pretty ripped in terms of fitness. He has large antlers reminiscent of a stags that reach high and a mountain of spikes that pierce out of his back. He also has razor sharp teeth that tend to stick out in random places along his maw. Usually he doesn't need to wear anything, but right now he's wearing a yellow and orange jersey with his name on the back and a small JOX logo where he heart is located.

His low voice resonates towards me once again, "I figured you had gotten cold feet and bailed on us kiddo."

"Well to be honest, these parties aren't really my thing. I feel like a lost animal on the highway right now," I respond trying to hide my nervous shaking.

Faust chuckles lightly as he wraps his left arm around my shoulder to guide me towards the JOX porch where monsters are chugging alcohol out a large metal container and nearly passing out.

"Please don't tell me we're going to be doing that," I sigh.

Faust looks over to see the monsters now actually passed out and the monsters surrounding them cheering and throwing their fists in the air. That was fast.

"Not if you don't want to. I can say though, it's actually a lot more fun than you're making it out to be," Faust says reassuring me, "However, we can always go and party outside the house. In fact, I can introduce you to some of the sororities if you want to. I would wager that the EEK girls would love you, or maybe even the HSS girls since you do have that goth vibe."

I scoff and give Faust a swift punch to his left side.

Faust grunts. "Ow. That hurt soooooo much."

"Are you crazy? The moment they see me their going to rip me apart both physically and mentally. Walking over here it felt like they were going to shank me because I was too much of a 'pretty girl' to them," I rebuttal.

Faust turns toward the HSS house to see them all dead-faced. Even though I have extremely good hearing, I can't hear them from across the street. I swore I see one of them say that they 'envy people who can love partying like this' or something along those lines. Now that I think about it, maybe Faust isn't completely wrong. I do feel nihilistic and hopelessness every now and again.

"Well regardless, I think it's about time for you to actually have a social life. Like seriously Mel you should have learned how to talk to people years ago. Not to mention the only reason you can consider me a friend is because I kept talking to you until I drove you absolutely crazy."

I exhale and look down to the ground embarrassed. I knew I wasn't the most socially competent person in Monstropolis, but that kind of hurt me. I think Faust picked up on that too.

"Sorry Melody, but there's no way I'm letting you quietly sweep through college like this," Faust says while grabbing me by the shoulders and cautiously turning me back towards the street.

Before Faust is able to say anything further, a very ecstatic girl with pastel blue skin, bright pink hair, and... PNK clothes grabs our attention.

"Oh my gosh, Faust, who's thiiiiis? You never told me you had a girlfriend!"

Faust laughs.

"Just childhood friends Britney!"

"Well regardless, it's like GREAT to have some more friends. Argma Slugma Argma, Chi Phi Argma, and Slugma Kappa Theta don't even talk to us. Slugma Slugma Kappa, and Eta Hiss Hiss literally like want us to die, so seeing someone like you is a breath of fresh air," Britney exclaims.

I look to Faust. I wasn't joking when I said I was a wallflower, because I have no idea how to talk to people who belong to certain cliques.

Faust smiles and crosses his arms. "Melody's a little antisocial, so take baby steps with her."

Britney giggles while putting one of her hands over her mouth the other behind her back.

"Oh, you're not the only one, I get it. It'll totally get easier with time. I'll just let you get used to the atmosphere then. Be sure to say hi every now and again, I'm almost certain the rest of the PNK girls would LOVE to meet you as well."

Britney waves goodbye and innocently skips back over towards the PNK house to continue conversing with the partygoers. Faust walks up behind me once again and places his hands atop my shoulders.

"See that wasn't so bad. Very easy if you think about it."

I can't believe to this day he still doesn't understand what it's like to be socially inept. Sometimes I feel like he's the biggest hypocrite ever since he's a monster, who you know does the scaring, but doesn't know what it's like to be scared.

"Yeah I think I'd rather just stay in the dorms," I reply making my annoyance obvious.

"Can you just try? For me? I've hated seeing you miss out on all the normal, fun, young adult stuff these past few years," Faust pouts.

"Ok I get it! Just give me more time," I shout back.

Faust cheers and throws his hands up in the air for finally getting through to me after a couple of years.

"Good! Now how about we-"

"Hey Faust!"

A large red monster walks towards us from the JOX house.

"Come on, the Slugma Oozma Python boys want to rematch you at beer pong and they won't leave me alone."

I've heard about this monster from around campus, I think his name is Red. He awkwardly leaves us in annoyance.

"Ah, it's time to defend my title as the best beer pong player on campus. I'll be there in a second Red," Faust says putting his hands over his head and smirking at me.

It doesn't surprise me that Faust became such a huge stereotypical college kid. In just 4 years Faust went to every single high school party and every school sponsored event, along with having at least 10 plus relationships. I really don't know why I even still talk to him considering that he's such a different person than I am.

"Keep socializing Melody, I believe in you! You can go over and meet the rest of the PNK's, that is if you need a suggestion," Faust recommends while beginning to walk backwards.

I think about it, but my eyes trail over to the Roar Omega Roar house. I notice the very detailed wood trim supports, the grand marble archway adorning the front door, and the beautiful dark red paint characterizing the mansion.

"What about them?" I ask.

Faust narrows his eyes while looking all around for something.

"If you know what's good for you, don't."

I freeze up after hearing his threatening tone. "Wwwwhy?"

Faust eyes keep darting around the street as if something bad is going to happen.

"They're the nastiest on campus," Faust says pointing his finger at me, "They might be the best fraternity on campus but they're vain, ruthless, and grotesquely confident. If it also helps you stay away from them, they all come from the most elite scaring families who believe someone like you should be serving or working for them. Their president is the worst of them all. Stay away."

I quietly just nod in agreement. He then smiles, gives me a thumbs up, and waves goodbye as he turns to go play his party games.

"Nice seeing you again... I guess," I say to myself faintly as I turn to study the expensive looking ROR house.

The house is probably the most popular at this party considering the lights in the house are flashing, the music is blaring, and the shadows of the monsters inside look like they're going insane. Must be fun. A part of me wants to join, not because of Faust's pressuring, but because I truly am tired of being antisocial. I decide against it though since that would be too big of a step for me. I notice that there is a large bug-like monster staring at me with uncertainty, and I quickly look away and tell myself to not look back.

The walk out of frat row is still a little overwhelming considering the sheer amount of energy being poured out all around me. It is made a little less scary when Britney calls out to me and all of the PNK members are waving at me which causes heads to turn.

"Melody! Come see us later ok?"

I bring out old reliable which is to nod in agreement, smile, and wave at her along with the rest of the PNK members who quite literally look almost the same. Not going to lie, that in itself is kind of creepy, but I just shrug it off.

I finally make it to the front of frat row where monsters along the pathway above are jumping up and down drunkenly. I get to the far side of the entrance where the scaring school can easily be seen. I look up to see one of the drunk monsters almost fall over the railing along with some crazy monster flying in on a bike in front of me causing me to fall backwards. I yelp and I brace myself until a strong set of arms catches me just before the back of my head would smash to the pavement. The monster above catches himself luckily, the monster on the bike screeches to a halt, and the monster who caught me looks me dead in the eyes with a colossal amount of concern.

It feels like there is a long silence when staring at the person who saved me from certain death.

He has bright purple eyes, an underbite with tusks sticking out from his lower jaw, and an almost satanic looking set of horns. He angrily bares his teeth at the monster on the bike. He responds immediately begins pedaling away from us in hopes that this behemoth doesn't shove him six feet in the ground right then and there. He looks back to me.

"You alright there princess?" He asks calmly.

I nod and nervously laugh, "Nice catch."

He smirks and carries me back up to my feet. Only then do I realize he's super buff, and about 2 feet taller than me. Oh god.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention," I say looking away and hoping he'll just forget about what just happened.

"I could tell. I also haven't seen you around here before, are you by chance a freshie?" He asks.

Great. Awesome. Totally wanted to talk to one of the most intimidating monsters I've every seen.

"U-uh, yeah. One of my friends invited me even though parties aren't necessarily my thing," I say putting my hand to the back of my neck.

"Your friend," he says with another smirk, "Invited you to a scaring party?"

"Oh, sorry, he's one of the JOX and I didn't make it clear that I'm in the scaring program too," I respond thinking I probably shouldn't of said that considering this monster is WEARING A COLLARED ROR FRATERNITY SWEATER AFTER BEING TOLD NOT TO TALK TO THEM!

He gives me a wicked smile, "Really? What is a monster as fragile as yourself doing in the scaring program?"

I don't know why but I suddenly feel a rush of anger and confidence. I felt like a new person in that instance.

"Well if you must know I have been interested in scaring since I was a kid, I've studied and gotten good grades in scaring since high school, and I wish to someday scare with my dad," I reply snidely and hoisting my snout up towards the sky.

"Huh, wasn't really expecting such a blunt rebuttal from someone so small," the purple monster says crossing his arms and keeping that creepy smile upon his face, "Should I be scared of you?"

Why am I still talking? What happened to being antisocial?

My emotions take over again, "Hey! I'm not small!"

"Heh, keep telling yourself that killer," He leans down closer to my face, "That might get you places."

I groan. This must be why I never made very many friends, I'm easy to pick on and take things too seriously. I look away from him and apologize once more.

He chuckles. "Don't take it to heart princess, I just don't believe what I'm seeing."

I exhale in defeat and continue wishing I could just be in bed at the moment.

"Anyways, your friend," He raises his eyebrow and his smartass smile disappears, "Who is he? I might have to have a word with him about leaving you all alone during such a fun night."

"I can take care of myself. I don't need some sort of secret service like you do ok," I snarl.

"If you say so freshman," he responds with slight amusement.

The purple monster then seems to remember something. He reaches his hand out, "Johnny Worthington."

Oh he's introducing himself. I look down at his hand unsure. Then Faust's words replay in my head. He definitely implied that my college experience will be nothing short of miserable if I don't start making myself known to someone other than him. I reach out and shake his hand which I can barely even grasp.

"Melody Everett, but you can call me Melanie if you like."

Johnny shows me a genuine smile.

Johnny bows to me slightly, "Unfortunately I have to get back to hosting the ROR party. I'll see you around princess."

I blush slightly and try to hide my embarrassment as he begins walking into Frat Row.

"W-wait, you have to run a party?" I ask.

Johnny shifts his head back towards me as he walks forward "Yes ma'am. I'm the president of RORs after all."