Life's a Scream!

by cartuneslover17

Post-MU. A new semester at Monsters University, with the OK gang now back in the Scare Program and Mike and Sulley, despite expulsion, close by them every second of the way, it feels like it'll be a good year. Actually, it becomes interesting: the RENEWED Scare Games. That's not all, when a student transfers from Fear Tech, Squishy's life changes even more. PLEASE FOLLOW REVIEW!

3. Chapter 2

You're finally introduced to four other special OCs of mine, and yes, Laura returns in this chapter! As well as a very special, six-legged mascot. ;)

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! ;D
_

The early morning sky started to become much more vibrant, nearly resembling the mixed color in the eyes that gazed at it through the bus window.

Laura Sharp leaned back against her seat, one arm resting against the side of the window while the other hand idly grasped a cap. The bus was empty, save for the driver, and the 18-year-old couldnʼt help but feel relieved for the solitary space she had been given ever since leaving.

Her eyes lowered as she regarded the cap in her hands, the orange and black nearly saddening her.

She doubted one had ever requested to transfer out of Fear Tech.

But she did. And it took two weeks for her transfer to become valid before she could finally leave.

The draconic-like creature reflected back on her first year of Fear Tech, those two semesters merely filled with memories of studying, Scare class, and especially the Scare Games. Most monsters on campus admired her, not only according to her appearance and such eyes she inherited from her mother, but because of her famous Scarer father. The irritating praise not dependent on studies or knowledge but family and background alone was slightly infuriating to Laura, having dealt with it most of her growing childhood, high school being the most apparent in the mix.

But she had been determined to put the immediate favoritism under the bridge, spending most of her time in her dorm studying and practicing her scaring skills, determined to earn what most insisted she was already getting due to her obvious possession. She would have none of that. Hours upon hours pouring into books, making stops to the library almost every few days, followed by ʻbrain foodʼ stockage which she would make every moment or so at the cafeteria(though it was mainly an excuse since she loved food), and then giving it her all during Scaring class.

She didnʼt exactly have any real friends, with the exception of those gained as her ʻfansʼ and specially said for ʻsecret admirersʼ.

She especially didnʼt have a roommate, having occupied a whole dorm to herself during her first year. How was she, as most monsters claimed, so lucky? A month before the Fall semester began, there had been an online raffle, and every monster who had received his or her acceptance letter was also given a raffle ticket which they had to post the numbers through e-mail. And, at the end of summer, the winner would be announced.

Laura just entered for the fun of it, not really all that imbibed in the obsession about a whole dorm to oneʼs self meaning taking more room and more privacy.

Yet she had won. And the dorm was like no other.

The former Fear Tech student reflected back to her first semester, recalling those nights she spent in that special dorm room.

Laura squinted as she gazed down at the wall of text in her one of many Canister Design books. While it had only been required she needed only one for the General Education course, Laura went all out and borrowed every book in regards to canisters in the library, nearly flooding her dorm.

Though it wouldnʼt be close due to how big her dorm was.

She decided to take a small break from her studies and stood up from her seat, sliding a hand down her neck while stretching out her wings. She turned and analyzed the entire living space.

It was a large room, big enough to hold two beds or maybe even three; there was only one, obviously. There was the desk as well as the bookshelves, though not big enough to fit every book she had bought or borrowed or even brought from home, the mahogany floors that always brightened up the room, and the ceiling lamp; the mere essentials provided for any dorm.

Thankful for such luxuries, Laura was most grateful for one thing that the room provided. That one thing that no other dorm possessed other than space.

Her furry feet padded across the floor, arms behind her head as she resumed stretching. She made her way over to the dormʼs window.

Actually, it wasnʼt a window. It was a balcony.

She pushed the window-paned doors open before making her way out into the platform, the slight chill greeting her. Placing her paws on the rails, she gazed up at the clear full moon that shone over the campus.

No doubt it was getting late, as usual, she lost track of time due to studying. But what was there to miss?

Certainly not a frat party, thatʼs for sure. For Laura, she didnʼt exactly attend such occasions, save for those few times when she gave in due to the food that was provided.

She could hear music blaring in the background, no doubt another fraternity was throwing a party for the night. A member of that fraternity had asked her if she would like to attend and she politely declined, claiming she needed to study.

As well as do a little practice for the upcoming Scare Games. When Laura first learned about them as soon as she arrived at Fear Tech, she immediately knew she wanted to sign up. Her father had sign up for most of its events, having won a few while also being a good sport.

And thatʼs how he met her mother.

Remembering the story her parents told her about how they met and fell in love in Fear Tech, that was one of the biggest reasons Laura had decided to attend the alma mater other than receive a good education.

However, such a goal had been put aside. She needed to focus on her classes...and she hardly batted much as an eyelash at any guy, even the popular ones(and she certainly did her best to pay no mind when men were watching her).

Taking a deep breath, drinking in the nightʼs wind, Laura extended her wings, then immediately flew from the balcony and swiftly landed on campus ground.

Eyes of sky and grass focused on the path before her as she quietly made her way through the campus garden.

After nearly half an hour of so, Laura stopped at a nearby house that stood out from the rest of the university. It wasnʼt exactly a house; more like a modernized barn.

A small smile playing on her lips, Laura reached over and pushed through the wide doorway before entering.

The smell of hay and fresh fertilizer hit her immediately as she scanned the interior which was mostly filled of feed, Fear Tech memorabilia, and especially hay. She stopped in front of a nearby stall, then her smile deepened.

Laying on fresh hay was a monster pig bearing the universityʼs signature colors, sleeping soundly, slight gurgles emerging from its snout every so often as it snored.

It slowly awoke, sensing a familiar presence in its home. It opened its eyes to witness Lauraʼs presence before it. Immediately, its rectangular irises were filled with life as it hopped onto its six legs, squealing happily at the sight of the beautiful Freshman.

"Hi, Archie," Laura greeted softly before she opened the door of the stall.

She didnʼt have time to act before Archie launched himself at her feet, nearly toppling her as he nuzzled his snout against her chest, oinking and snorting. She merely laughed, stroking his fur with a paw as she rested her chin atop his.

As a student of the university, she was also Archieʼs chosen caretaker, in charge of preparing him to be shown off for upcoming events and being the good luck charm for their university.

Laura was actually the chosen caretaker due to the irresponsibility of the former, refusing to clean after the pig nor wait around on it hand and foot, thus being revoked of the task which Laura volunteered to have.

She loved Archie. He was the only real friend she had in this university.

Archie loved her as well. Despite that the university owned him, he knew in his heart he truly belonged to Laura Sharp. And he would usually try to be there for her wherever she went, even to class if could be granted out of his stall.

Laura placed him down, standing up and tucking in her wings.

"Shake," she ordered, holding out her paw to him.

Archie just beamed before placing his front leg in it, and proceeded a well-worked shake.

"Okay, now speak!" Laura giggled playfully.

Archie raised his chin high. He let out a few snorts and squeals.

Then he barked.

"Wonderful, sweetie!" Laura cooed. She had taught him that trick most of the semester.

After that, Laura opened the barnʼs door for her little friend to walk out.

"Letʼs go, boy!" She said before she and Archie high-tailed it out of there, racing each other through the night.

As the memory faded, a sad smile formed on Lauraʼs lips, resorting back to the reality that she was no longer a Fear Tech student.

Meaning she no longer was the caretaker of Archie.

The night before...

Her things had been packed, the wide dorm empty as the day she had first entered it. Laura made sure no one, save for the people in charge of her transfer, knew she was leaving Fear Tech. It was shocking enough she had actually requested to transfer as she recalled the expressions on the faculty membersʼ faces, the room being so silent one could hear a pin drop or the pigeons outside the closed windows; she really didnʼt want other students to know of her decision, especially when it involved their university rival.

As insensitive as it sounded, she couldnʼt help but think of the faculty members as stupid for giving her such a late approval.

Two weeks. Two weeks into the semester before she was finally valid. True, Fear Tech may have never undergone anyone wishing to transfer before, but that was no reason they couldnʼt be prepared for such.

Knowing she had already missed two weeks worth of new classes at the new university she would attend, Laura prayed her back-up studying would aid her. She had done well in her Scaring class during Freshman year, she hoped she would gain the same results in her second.

Despite the fury that she felt she was being played with, sadness overcame her. She was going to leave behind her friend.

Students who either praised her or admired her wouldnʼt exactly be missed, but for Archie the Scare-Pig, Laura couldnʼt stop the tears.

The draconic-like studentʼs tears glistened in the moonlight of her balcony as she sat against the rail. In her arms was Archie, pressing his body against her for everything heʼs worth, sensing the worse was yet to come for his friend.

"Shh, itʼs okay," Laura said soothingly as she continued stroking him, "Iʼll try and visit."

Most would consider her crazy for harboring such feelings for a mere pig, most Fear Tech students just seeing Archie as a mascot that reeked heavily. But to Laura, he was her little friend, her special pet.

In her heart, she owned him much more than the university could ever claim.

Archie just gurgled and squealed softly, burying his head deeper against her chest.

Another tear slid down Lauraʼs cheek as she continued petting him.

"I love you, Archie."

The memory faded once more and Laura fought away any tears that dared to fall from her face. She didnʼt want the bus driver to catch her crying from her mirror.

Laura put down the Fear Tech cap, knowing well that she no longer looked at it the same way again. She turned to her shoulder bag and reached inside, pulling out an old article she had saved from second semester.

The headline: Freshmen Expelled!

Of course, these werenʼt students from her university, they were from the rivalʼs. Despite that, Fear Tech had salvaged the information that leaked from there and used it for their own campus paper. Mainly to poke fun at their rival once more.

They could call it what they liked, but to Laura, all she could see was pure amazement in something so dangerous and deadly to the monster world.

Her eyes fell once more on the image that had been taken that night. Two students, one large with shaggy blue fur and the other short, green, and with a single eye, staring at the camera as the CDA took them away.

The darn paper wasnʼt exactly much into detail, but she could clearly make out most of what must have possibly happened.

Like a fraternity known as Oozma Kappa.

Merely mentioned in a few sentences without any real information about them, but from her better judgment, Laura could assume such a group was not the average ʻgo big or go homeʼ bunch.

She did keep in her possession another article that came earlier before her current one, which did show the fraternity, but identity was still unidentified.

It was a humiliation photo of them. Those poor boys covered in paint and other cutesy things, the name ʻCute-ma Kappaʼ in bold letters for their university to see. Such a photo had been leaked to Fear Tech, and every student mocked and laughed at the ʻsad pit of losers thinking they could be big dogsʼ.

It infuriated her, someone having the nerve to pull a stunt like that on a group of monsters who were different from any other. How extremely sorry she felt for the unknown group known as Oozma Kappa.

If her father had seen such an event, he would be just as angry. How unfair that specific monsters with all the horns and teeth would degrade those who appear much different.

Every monster has that special something.

Laura placed the article down, hoping deep in her heart she might meet the two expelled students. While what they had done was beyond dangerous, she had to admit much an act was above all fearless, especially for the small, green-eyed monster known as Mike Wazowski; she especially wanted to meet him.

She dug into one of her bags, taking out an old journal she had kept since childhood. Turning the the first page, written in crayon were the words her father had always told her growing up.

Every monster is special.

She exceeded in her English for such a young age, and she loved reading, and with that, she did her best in writing, and these were treasured words she needed to write and keep.

Under these words was a little something made by Laura herself:

No horns. No tail. No problem.

While Laura did gain wings as well as fur, she neither had horns like her mother nor a tail like her father. That was not a disadvantage at all. Every monster always had an advantage. Tentacles, claws, eyes, Lauraʼs dad always told her how each could aid a monster.

That there was a little scary in anyone, even to those monsters who were considered non-scary.

Always carrying words in her heart, Laura hoped that this transfer would help her open up a little more. Make some real friends, as her parents insisted she do; her father always said that studying could wait, that friendship was just as important.

She drew her eyes away from her journal when she realized the bus had stopped, and she was gazing at a beautiful open gate that was the entrance to her new university.

"Monsters University," the driver announced. Her eyes fell on Laura. "This your stop, hon?"

Laura gave a nervous smile before she immediately gathered all her belongings. She needed to register and fast.

Her first class would start in a few hours.
_

Laura mentally cursed Fear Tech once more, carrying all her belongings across the campus courtyard. Despite the slight hostility, she drank in the sight of her new surroundings.

Beautiful greenery and buildings made up the wide university, and students of every size, shape, and color was in sight.

She would enjoy her morning a little more if she was not in a hurry to make it to the registration hall, gain her new student ID, get the key to her new dorm, unpack, eat breakfast, then rush to Scaring 101.

Finally, she made it to the registration hall where she was greeted by an overly cheerful monster.

"Hey, there!" He greeted. "Iʼm Jay! How may I help you this fine early day?"

Slightly surprised by such amazing enthusiasm, Laura gave a sincere smile before handing in her registration form and note from her former alma mater.

Jay read it over, then he whistled in astonishment. "Former student at Fear Tech, huh?" He smiled at her. "Well, welcome to our MU family! Just go over to Kay and sheʼll get your registration in order!"

Laura looked relieved. "Thanks, Jay."

She finally found Kay, holding a toothy grin as she accessed her registration form. "Just leave your stuff here and and you can go meet Trey right away!"

After leaving her things with Kay at the registration table, Laura sat herself in a chair in front of a blue canvas background.

"Welcome on your first day!" Trey said excitedly. "Now say hooray!"

Laura couldnʼt help but laugh at the contagious enthusiasm as she gave her best smile. "Hooray!"

Laura gazed at her new I.D. card, the words ʻMonsters Universityʼ written above it. She smiled, nearly forgetting her former I.D. card from Fear Tech was somewhere in one of her bags. She turned just in time to see another happy face hand her dorm key. He mentioned his name was Ray.

"Here you go!" He said cheerfully. His expression drooped a bit, though he did show a sympathetic smile. "I apologize but it looks like youʼll be having a whole dorm to yourself."

Lauraʼs eyes slightly widened. "Really?" She did her best not to sound too disappointed.

"Well, pardon me for saying this but..." He gave another apologetic smile. "Youʼre two weeks late into the semester. Everyone had already been assigned a dorm buddy at the beginning."

Lauraʼs wings slightly drooped at the mention of the word ʻbuddyʼ. "I-itʼs alright," she managed to say as she gathered her things. "Thank you."
_

As soon as Laura found her dorm, she began unpacking. Books occupying the shelves she was provided, placing her new bed sheets, decorating the walls with posters and bits of Fear Tech memorabilia(just the smallest amount), and finally, she placed the framed photo of her and Archie atop her new desk.

Laura stood back and admired her work. Then she gazed out the window, the sun now fully bright and casting a nicer glow to the room.

She could see the School of Scaring.

She smiled, deeply admiring the crown jewel of the university. She was determined to give it her all as soon as she attended Scaring 101.

The former Fear Tech student quickly looked up at the clock. There was still some time to get breakfast before she needed to head to Scaring class.

She grabbed her shoulder bag and bolted out the door.
_

Laura looked around the wide open campus, mesmerized by such beauty. However, she stood there slightly confused.

Having just arrived, she didnʼt exactly know her way around just yet.

Sighing, she pulled out a campus directory one of the student workers at the registration hall by the name of Fay had given her. She extended her wings, hoping to get better aerial coverage of the campus as she read directions to the cafeteria.

She really needed to memorize the campus as it took an exceeding amount of time before she finally found the cafeteria. Tucking her wings in with a heavy sigh, she didnʼt realize how much of a sight she was as she entered the room.

Smooth skin the color of the darkest of midnight, eyes the color of sky and grass, a body that has, as innocently putting it, blossomed, she didnʼt notice she was turning a few heads as she waited in line to finally purchase her long-awaited breakfast.

Her tray was piled high with every recipe present in the serving area, not caring how completely unusual it appeared, especially for someone like her. She avoided the awkward glance the lunch lady gave her as she paid and took a seat at a nearby table.

Abandoning some of her table manners, Laura dug into her food, taking excessive bites but taking the time to chew, her stomach satisfied after having to leave Fear Tech so early to register at MU. She bit into a greasy muffin, not realizing some of the oil trickling down her neck as she licked her lips.

Before she knew it, her tray was as clean as if it had never been used.

"Wow, that Fay was right," she said, mildly impressed, "the cafeteria food really is made by the best chefs in the world." She took out her brochure and read it over once more.

Her eyes suddenly widened before they darted toward the clock.

"Iʼm going to be late!" She cried, standing up from her seat.

Unfurling her wings, she flew straight out the open window of the cafeteria, amazing onlookers as she left.

"Wow," one monster said, "that babe could eat more than even Big Red."
_

Johnny Worthington and his fraternity walked across the campus, having finished their earlier class together. The past two weeks had carried on its daily routine, and the classes were starting to become a slight drag-on for the ROR president.

While awaiting for the Scare Games, or any other MU event in particular, the future Scarer hoped for at least something interesting to happen as the semester was still new.

The flap of wings grasped his attention and the leader looked up, assuming it was another one of those flying monsters taking over the skies.

What he noticed was much more interesting.

A draconic-like monster had landed on the grass, a few feet from where he and his fraternity stood. Wings lowered and her blue and green eyes glistening with concern, Johnny was in complete awe by such an appearance.

Skin smooth and illuminating off the sunlight like silk...

Eyes vibrant and mysterious...

Amazing curves on an amazing well-built body...

The corners of Johnnyʼs mouth curved in a sly grin. Chet stood close by him, looking rather confused.

"What are you looking at?" The crab-like monster asked. Then his eyes fell on the creature in their direction. "Whoʼs that?"

"Not sure," Johnny responded smoothly as he made his way over, his frat brothers following behind him. "Though Iʼd definitely remember if we had met."

Laura cringed, knowing the seconds were ticking by and she was running late. Scratch that, she was already late.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no..." She rambled anxiously. "Oh! Itʼs bad enough I missed the first day of the semester and never got around to orientation! Now Iʼm late for my first day of my first class!" She began to hyperventilate.

"Hello there."

Laura sucked in her breath, chest held high as she tried to keep her apprehension under control. She turned around, nearly colliding into a bulky chest.

Taking a few steps back, she took a good look at her greeter. He was a tall monster, fur a slightly dark purple complete with the largest horns and fangs she had ever seen. He wore a red sweater with a yellow collar, the word ʻRORʻ displayed across his chest. Behind him were four other monsters, each displaying a jacket with the same colors, save for the crab-like monster that stood beside him wearing only a matching cap.

Johnny Worthington inspected the newcomer from head to toe, his grin deepening as he folded his arms.

"Youʼre new here?" He asked, adding even more charm as possible to his tone.

Laura let out a sigh. "Yes, yes, I am," she responded, her tone flailing from wanting to scream with distress to trying to manage a mature, courteous manner. "Iʼm sorry, but can you direct me to the School of Scaring? Iʼm already late."

Johnny raised an eyebrow. She certainly looked like pure scare material. Among other things.

"Well, miss," he turned and gestured behind him, "the Scaring School is just over those few buildings. Iʼd be gladly to take you there and-"

As soon as he turned around, Laura already took to the skies, her wings flapping furiously as she dashed off. Johnny stood from the ground, looking rather dumbstruck as he watched her become a mere speck in the distance.

"What just happened?" Johnny exclaimed, same expression on his face.

"Sheʼs, uh, going to Scare class?" Chet responded rather obviously.
_

An orange, gelatinous arm reached over and grabbed a different color pencil and tediously drawn across the sketchbook.

Dot Pressler blinked her green eyes in fascination as she regarded the fountain before her, hoping to draw the water spouting perfectly before her next class. As a Freshman majoring in Art, her best interests were usually sketching and coloring.

Sitting at the edge of the fountain, close enough to analyze the right kind of color the water possessed, she pushed an orange, teardrop-shaped lock of her ʻhairʼ as she furiously drew her object of interest.

"Itʼs almost perfect," she smiled happily as she grabbed another colored pencil and drew in the lines.

Unperceived by her, the next thing Dot knew, a strong force pushed her back, causing her to fall head-first into the fountain along with her sketchbook. The orange, gelatinous student quickly emerged from the water, spatting and sputtering, the black bandana tied around her ʻhairʼ drooped over one of her eyes and her light blue shirt was completely soaked.

"What the...?" Dot cried, head turning left to right.

Beside her floated her sketchbook.

"Oh, great..." She muttered.
_

"Sorry!" Laura called behind her, not even taking a glimpse at who exactly she knocked over by accident.

She had been so busy looking over her campus directory that she hadnʼt realized how low she had dipped in her flight, nearly crashing into a few students.

She would have gone back to give the victim a more sincere apology, but she was already late than ever.
_

A salmon-pink aquatic monster idly danced on her toes as she murmured a favorite song of hers. Katy McCrea loved to sing, which was why the Freshman had chosen Vocal Music as her major.

"Iʼll be the next Sla$ha in no time!" She said rather confidently as she moved to her own beat, dreams of one day meeting her favorite singer and rapper feeling closer than ever.

As she continued singing to herself, she failed to realize someone dashing in her direction. Before she knew it, she had fallen backwards and into a trash can.

"Yo, hey!" Katy shouted, her blue eyes blazing furiously as she tried to get her bottom out of the garbage. "Whatʼs the big idea?"

The one who had shoved her was a mere dark speck in her sight.
_

"Oh, thatʼs not good..." Laura cringed, having knocked over yet another unknown monster in her path as she dipped lower, wings extended further as she tried to find her location.

Much like the one earlier, she didnʼt even take the time to see who exactly it was. She hoped it wasnʼt a professor.
_

A violet blue monster checked over her slightly dark purplish hair in front of her carry-on mirror as she sat on the steps in front of one of the universityʼs buildings.

"Gorgeous," she murmured proudly as she batted her brown eyes at her reflection.

She smoothed down her dark blue blouse, her perfectly filed nails tracing the silk. She really needed to make the same outfit in a different color if any occasion were to occur in her first year. That specially being said for a Fashion Design major.

Colette Creouture stroked the top of her horns, studying herself in the mirror once more before she reached over to her makeup kit and took out a lipstick tube of the darkest shade.

Carefully opening the cosmetic tool, she leaned closer to her mirror, just about to apply some to her lips-

CRASH!

She fell face-first against her mirror, the contents of her makeup kit scattered beneath her pink heels.

"Hey!" The fashionista shouted angrily, wondering who in the world had ruined her beautician moment.

She gazed at her reflection once more. The lipstick she was to apply had left a long, red mark from her lips straight across her cheek.

Colette let out a shrill shriek of horror so loud it could break glass, better yet, give enough scream energy if she were a human child.
_

"Oh, I am a moron..." Laura cringed, placing a paw to her face in exasperation.

Though she hadnʼt seen who exactly she had crashed into once again, the horrific cry in the distance told her that she made a very big mistake.
_

Fingers snapped as Monnie Monstre rested atop one of the lower branches of the tree she was lying on, her favorite tunes playing in her big headphones.

A sophomore having transferred from community college, the dinosaur-like monster of yellow skin bobbed her red-haired head while making sure her glasses didnʼt fall off. As an Audio Music major, she couldnʼt wait to take this music to the best of her ability and, hopefully, make it into something worth playing at any university party that would be present tonight.

Monnie closed her eyes, drinking in the cool air the morning provided as she leaned back, the soft wood pressing against her skin through her shirt and shorts.

"Look out!" She didnʼt even hear her incomer as her music was brought up to high volume.

"Whoa!" Monnie cried as she was suddenly pushed off the branch, landing on the grass with a hard thud.

The wannabe DJ let out a painful groan as she turned on her back, arching as she clutched herself while her headphones laid beside her.
_

Laura mentally slapped herself for causing yet another poor soul to suffer because she was running late.

"Oh, my goodness. I hope she doesnʼt need to go to the hospital..."
_

All five Oozma Kappa members sat quietly in the front row of their Scaring class as Professor Knight resumed his lecture. Although it had already been two weeks, they were still blown away by the fact that they were back in the program.

And doing incredibly well for that matter.

As disheartening as it was that Mike and Sulley wouldnʼt be joining them, the remaining OK members looked on the bright side, later to see them back at Mrs. Calrtonʼs house after the former students finished mailroom work. Most nights, and especially on day offs, Mike Wazowski would tutor each of them on their studies, never having put his expert training to rest as he wanted his friends to succeed beyond what was expected of them.

Such work pulled off as each OK member impressed Professor Knight, and answering questions proved no difficulty.

"You think Hardscrabble might stop by?" Art asked his friends. "Eh, Terry?" His mischievous eyes fell on the older Perry twin who shared a desk with his brother.

"Not funny, Art," Terry growled under his breath. The wedding was two weeks ago! He had hoped the hype about him dancing with the Dean had died down by now!

Both immediately silenced as their professor turned away from his chalkboard, clutching his clipboard.

"Alright," he said aloud, "who here can tell me the principles of an effective roar?"
_

Laura dipped lower, nearly touching the ground as she zoomed past passerby students, throwing a quick apology as many jumped out of her way.

A well-distinguished building neared in her direction and her eyes brightened.

"The School of Scaring!" She cried happily.

Regardless of how late she was, pushing pass how extremely late she was in the semester overall, Laura was overjoyed.

And overly fast as she found herself taking a misstep in her flight, suddenly losing control of her aerial speed as she began faltering as the school neared.
_

A small, chubby hand raised.

"Yes, Mr. Squibbles-I mean, Carlton?" Professor Knight called.

Don and his frat brothers smiled as Squishy slowly slipped out from his seat.

"Well, um..." He scratched the back of his head, recalling one of the study sessions he had with Mike. "There are five principles, sir." He searched his mind. "Which, um, are the roarʼs resonance, the duration of the roar, and-"

CRASH!

Students were startled when the doors suddenly flew open, followed by the thud of feet that firmly skidded against the upper floor of the classroom. Squishy turned, wondering who or what had interrupted him when he was just on a roll giving a good answer to his professor.

As soon as his five eyes stared up at the one responsible, they couldnʼt blink.

Standing just above the front row was the most beautiful monster he had ever seen.

The mysterious arrival lowered her wings, raising her head slightly as she brushed a hand down her neck, exhaling. Her eyes sparkled even in the dim lights of the classroom, which complimented greatly with her dark midnight appearance.

His jaw fell in utter fascination and a slight color invaded his usually pale cheeks. Even in high school had Scott ʻSquishyʼ Squibbles-now-Carlton never seen such beauty before.

He watched as she idly turned her head, looking rather lost, which just enhanced her gorgeous appearance further as she scanned the room.

Such eyes...glittering like jade and sapphire...every blink of those amazing lashes made the small studentʼs chest about pound right out of his round chest.

Just...so...pretty...

He was immediately brought back to reality when he heard his professor speak.

"Uh, may I help you?" Professor Knight asked.

Laura Sharp counted her blessings, grateful she had managed to land on her feet despite her abrupt entrance through the doorway. She gave the professor an apologetic smile.

"Iʼm sorry," she said in her most polite manner, "Iʼm one of your students."

The professor lifted an eyebrow in confusion. Then he checked his clipboard.

"And you are?"

"Sharp," Laura answered, "Laura Sharp."

Professor Knightʼs mind immediately racked at such a familiar last name. "Wait a minute..."

He adjusted his glasses and regarded Laura more closely, her features paying a striking resemblance to-

"Sharp? As in Fillmore Sharp?"

Lauraʼs eyes momentarily widened as she flinched at the mention of her dadʼs name.

Oh, no, not this. Not at my new university...she thought bitterly.

"Is that Scarer your father?" Professor Knight asked eagerly.

There was no escaping his question as Laura fought hard to smile.

"Um, yes," she responded rather reluctantly, "h-he is."

Gasps and murmurs merged through the classroom as all eyes turned to her. Laura shrank a little, feeling mildly embarrassed.

"Whoa, this girlʼs a Sharp?" Art murmured to his OK brothers. "Thatʼs totally righteous!"

As the excitement buzzed through each member of Oozma Kappa, Squishy hardly heard them. Standing in the same position since being called up by his professor, he just stared aimlessly at Laura, jaw appearing much lower than before.

"I should have realized you were a Sharp," he stated sincerely, not noticing the slight discomfort in the young student. "Funny..." Professor Knight scratched his head. "Wasnʼt he a Fear Tech student?"

Laura chuckled. "He was," she explained, "and I used to be. But I had applied for transfer to be here during the summer."

The dinosaur-like creature loomed over his clipboard, then stared back at her.

"Youʼre awfully late, Ms. Sharp," he pointed out, "two weeks, actually."

She winced, smiling painfully. "I apologize for my former alma mater had some, er, difficulty in processing me for validation."

"Of course," the professor nodded. "Fear Tech dummies..." He muttered under his breath.

Laura eased her way through the second to top row.

"Excuse me...sorry...coming through..." she said politely as she smiled back at the admirable faces as she tried to find an empty seat.

"Well, regardless of being former FT and extremely late arrival," Professor Knight said solemnly, "welcome to Scaring 101. I expect great things from you, Ms. Sharp. Iʼm sure youʼll make your father very proud."

Lauraʼs ears lowered, feeling flushed once more. "Uh, thank you..." She squeaked. "Uh, pardon me, but before my intervention, was there not a lesson going on just now?" She asked, hoping to put her famous family background under the bridge for the sake of her learning.

"What?" He blinked. "Oh, yes." His eyes fell on Squishy. "Mr. Squibbles/Carlton, you may resume the five principles of an effective roar, please."

Squishy didnʼt even hear him, his eyes gazing up at the second to top row where Laura was busy searching through her bag. He felt his cheeks flush just looking at her.

"Squishy!" Terri whispered to him.

"Huh?" The smaller OK member shook back to reality, turning back to his professor.

"The five principles, if you please?"

"Oh, uh, right!" Squishy nodded. "Uh, thereʼs the roarʼs resonance...the, uh, duration of the roar...the, um..."

He shifted his eyes back to where Laura sat, who didnʼt even stare down at the lower section as she was deep in her binder preparing her notes.

"The, uh..." He searched his mind for the next principle, but thoughts of the beautiful new monster kept clouding it. "The, um...the beauty of the roar..."

"Wait, beauty?" Professor Knight repeated, looking rather confused. "Mr. Carlton, I highly doubt ʻbeautyʼ has anything to due with an effective roar."

"Wait, what?" Squishyʼs eyes widened in realization at what he just said. "Oh, uh, my bad, um..."

"Beauty really has nothing to do with a good roar," the professor explained, "you could sound like a jackal whose foot got caught in a blender and the child will still scream."

Squishy bit his lip, feeling his face becoming slightly red in his pale pink cheeks.

"The five principles of an effective roar," the professor announced aloud to his class, "are-"

He ceased in mid-sentence when a shadow casted over him. Nearly caught off guard, he looked up to witness Dean Hardscrabble having entered through her personal doorway, staring down at his Scare class.

In one swift motion, the Dean swooped down, bearing her large wings before she gracefully landed beside the professor, bringing all students to attention.

Laura immediately stopped her writing, her eyes widening in astonishment as she gazed down at the figure.

"Abigail Hardscrabble..." She murmured with tremendous surprise.

The Dean herself casted her gaze among the many faces that were attending her Scaring Program. Claws clasped as her centipede legs clicked against the tile floor, her eyes fell on Oozma Kappa, each member slightly shuddering when she glanced at them. Terry bit his lip, hoping she wasnʼt still thinking about what had happened between them at the wedding.

She turned her attention back to the small array of busts representing Scarers of the past that had broken the all-time Scaring records, especially hers. Amber eyes fell on the scream canister, a new one actually, which replaced the old one that was destroyed due to the carelessness of two former students last year.

"I donʼt mean to intrude, Mr. Knight," she said as she removed a speck of dust from her canister, "I thought Iʼd drop by and see how the class is doing after only two weeks into the semester."

"Oh, yes, of course," Professor Knight gave a slight bow. "Well, we did receive a new student just now."

The color immediately drained from Lauraʼs face as all eyes fell on her. She nearly flinched when he pointed her out among the students, and Hardscrabbleʼs gaze lifted solely in her direction.

"Daughter of Fillmore Sharp," the professor said rather proudly, "a former Fear Tech student. Can you believe it?"

The expression on Hardscrabbleʼs face did not change, though, for a moment, Laura could have sworn she saw some interest or whatever sparked in that usually apathetic expression of the Deanʼs.

While she refused to be immediately favored because of her family background, Laura couldnʼt help but feel just the teensy bit happy for the Dean taking notice of her.

Abigail Hardscrabble was one of few monsters Laura looked incredibly up to, like her father and even Frank McCay. A legendary Scarer who had become the next in line to break the all-time Scaring record, Laura truly admired her. She was a monster who worked hard to be where she was today, nothing gained so easily regardless of background. And deep down, despite how near impossible such a goal was, the Dean was admittedly the reason why Laura often dreamed of one day breaking the record herself.

The Dean broke her gaze from Laura before turning back to Professor Knight.

"I can see sheʼs not like Sullivan, thatʼs for sure," she mentioned broadly.

"No, Iʼm sure sheʼs not," the professor assured her to the best of his ability.

Laura raised an eyebrow in confusion. Sullivan? That name sounded familiar...

"Well, since youʼre here," professor said cheerfully, "why not give another one of your monologues? You know, properly inspire them?"

He could clearly see some humor in his bossʼ eyes before the Dean turned back toward the students. She cleared her throat.

"The concept of Scaring is a work of art itself," she spoke aloud, "and it is the true essence of a monster."

Laura listened closely, pencil at hand.

"If a monster cannot scare others, he or she wouldnʼt be called a monster at all."

The pencil nearly dropped from her paw as Lauraʼs eyes widened.

That wasnʼt true! Every monster may not become a Scarer, but that didnʼt mean there wasnʼt a little scary in each one of them! A monster didnʼt have to be scary overall to be a monster.

A monster was a monster, just like human children were human children!

Her fatherʼs words flooding in, Laura resumed listening.

"When you have made your choice to become a Scarer, you have taken a step towards becoming a great student in the School of Scaring," the Dean continued, "and I do not tolerate those who did not produce the results required of them. However, every monster's mettle will be sorely tested in the final exam at the end of the semester."

Her eyes fell on Oozma Kappa, though Laura was unable to notice from where she sat.

"I am particularly looking out for students with certain specialties, especially those with special talents."

The OK members paid witness to actually seeing the Deanʼs face soften as she regarded them respectively.

"I also hope to see some surprises this semester," she said confidently.

Then her expression resumed stern once more.

"But be warned, I will always be watching," she added. "Everyone clear?"

The room remained silent.

"Good. I hope my words of inspiration have inspired you to take a serious attitude towards your Scaring majors," she turned back to her colleague. "Professor Knight, you may continue with your lesson."

"Ah, yes, thank you, Miss Hardscrabble," the professor nodded.

Laura re-focused on her note-taking, however her eyes fell on the Dean once more. Either it was the dim lights in the room...or the Dean appeared to be watching her.

Blinking, Laura glanced once more, only to see the Dean fly back up the balcony in which she had just come from.

She is such a good flier...Laura thought admiringly.

"Alright, class," her new professor called to attention, "please turn to page 53 of your guidebooks..."

As the lecture resumed, Laura took the time to regard her new classroom. It looked much more authentic than her other Scaring class last year, and a nice beam of sunlight poured through the open, Victorian-style windows. Her gaze fell on the row of legendary scream canisters to the side of where the front row stood.

Dean Hardscrabbleʼs bust looked perfectly positioned with an exact likeness of the real thing as her scream canister stood beside it. Gazing at that canister, Laura felt slightly conflicted yet even more determined that one day she could possibly break the all-time Scaring record.

She heard an inaudible sneeze and quietly turned her head. The first top row behind her was empty, no one was there. But then her eyes suddenly fell on the desk inches behind her.

A pencil was being scribbled on a piece of paper. Yet no one was holding it.

Eyes widening, Laura took a moment to regain herself, trying to be convinced that maybe she was seeing things or the dim lights were that much worse.

But no, as Laura watched the pencil resume writing, she took notice that a pair of glasses stood right next to the paper that was being written on. Someone was definitely in that seat.

Suddenly, the writing stopped, the pencil pointed downward on the paper. Laura held her breathe, wondering what had just occurred.

After a few moments, she received her answer.

A face suddenly materialized before her, emerald eyes looking at her in both confusion and uneasiness. Though the head was semi-noticeable, Laura could still see the wall right through.

It immediately hit Laura that there was, indeed, a lone monster sitting right behind her. Even further realization that the monster possessed the skill of invisibility.

Of course! Laura thought as-a-matter-of-factly.

Such monsters sustaining such talent was extremely rare, but her father always told her that those existed, another special skill used for an advantage.

The semi-invisible face stared at her rather shyly. Laura managed a smile, trying to appear friendly.

The face said nothing, and slowly de-materialized, his green eyes the last thing Laura saw before the pencil was picked up as if out of nowhere and resumed its task.

Disappointed and feeling herself at fault for appearing rude at first impression, Laura quietly turned away and continued listening to the lecture.
_

Night had fallen on the campus, but students remained abuzz as they enjoyed the evening. Voices, music, and partying blared through streets of the Greek row, every fraternity and sorority house lively as the booming sounds of the dance floor took over the atmosphere.

Naomi Jackson cautiously made her way over to one fraternity house in particular.

The Oozma Kappa house.

Despite having been avoided during the first night of the new semester back at the wedding, and for the past two weeks so far, the PNK girl would not give up.

She didnʼt care how much damage it would cause her, she needed to see Terry Perry.

The OK house stood out from any other frat residence. Having been built across from both ROR and JOX over the summer, the house displayed the teamʼs trademark colors of vivid green with closely-resembled yellow cementing that fit the entire structure into place. There was a wide patio that protruded from the side of the house, and a balcony on one of the upper floors. The size of it was so close to that of RORʼs, but with the OK touch as Naomi saw the fraternityʼs initials gleaming across the front of the house in bright, bold yellow lettering.

The mauve-haired girl took a deep breath, feeling a slight chill in the air before she strolled over to the frat house. Just as she was about to take to the steps, a voice called out.

"Theyʼre not there."

Confused, Naomi turned to see no other than HSS member Nadya Petrov, not bothering to look up from her book as she sat beside one of the Greek row lamps. The dark beautyʼs smooth, purple, batwing-like hair trailed over one eye as she resumed her reading from one of her many macabre-centered books.

"What?" Naomi asked quietly.

Finally, Nadya turned to her, dark purple eyes staring at blue ones as she gave a cocky smirk with those gleaming lips of hers.

"Theyʼre with mom, again," she answered simply.

Realization fell on the PNK girlʼs face as she remembered Mrs. Squibbles-now-Carlton. The charming woman was a regular at Monsters University, usually there to dote on her son and the rest of Oozma Kappa, especially the president. Some days she would come over with a nice picnic for them to have at lunch, other times she would stroll into the campus to drop off a book her son or any member had forgotten back at her house, other times she was especially part of the campus night life; despite age, much like Don Carlton, she was a hoot to be around.

And OK loved her very much, as well as the roof she provided over their heads long before they had been given their fraternity house.

They loved living with Squishyʼs mother, a family so close that it could make a Jaws Theta Chi member cry.

For the past two weeks since they had first arrived at their new frat house, Oozma Kappa had been harboring homesickness, not at all used to each being given his own room, wide space that was large enough for new stuff, and the fact that Squishyʼs mother was not there.

First day at their new house, OK had left in the middle of the night, in their sleeping attire, to return back to the house they officially called home. Most nights they did that.

Naomi Jackson could remember that special night, it was a near equivalent to the one right now, and OK was officially moving into their new house after finishing paperwork and approval with the Greek council earlier afternoon.

Mike and Sulley smiled proudly at the new house their OK brothers were being provided. Finally, Oozma Kappa was living among the rest of the Greek row.

Well, not just them. The two former students were welcomed as well, special guests as they were called.

As the evening seemed young, both turned to witness the president of the Greek Council hand Don Carlton the keys to the house.

"Congratulations, Oozma Kappa," Claire Wheeler said in her usual droning tone.

"Isnʼt it amazing?" Brock Pearson boomed, startling everyone minus Claire, who rolled her eyes.

Don smiled proudly at the keys in his suction cups, then turned back toward the house that stood before them.

"Hey, wait to go, guys!" Sulley said happily, placing a strong, affectionate paw on Terryʼs shoulder. "Youʼre finally in Greek row!"

"The house looks almost as big as RORʼs..." Squishy said in awe.

Art hopped on one foot to the other, feeling ecstatic by the second.

"Oh, man! Oh, man! Oh, man!" He squealed excitedly.

"Alright, alright, listen it up," Mike spoke out, all eyes falling on him. "Now I know itʼs a proud moment in any fraternityʼs life when they finally receive their long-awaited frat house. But please, letʼs keep ourselves under control. Last thing we want is to draw attention for looking crazier than usual."

"Alright," Art said reluctantly, followed by murmurs of agreement.

After a few moments of silence, a wide grin slowly spread across Mikeʼs face.

"WE GOT A HOUSE!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

The quiet mold finally broken, every member of Oozma Kappa began shouting and laughing as they ran toward their new house, drawing attention to other students present and even the fraternities and sororities that had just stepped out of their houses to see what the commotion was about.

OK was loud enough to wake up Monstropolis, that was for sure.

Each member did his own insane thing while praising the new structure:

Art had managed to climb up to the roof, laughing maniacally before he took a giant leap and did a 360ʼ onto the patio before deciding to do it once more.

Terri and Terry where dancing like noodles in boiling soup as they stood upon a table next to the house, the younger Perry providing the ʻbeat musicʼ that spurted from his lips.

Squishy shouted at the top of his lungs, laughing heartily as he ran around the house, through the yard, not even coming close to being tired out.

The excitement had especially rubbed off of Don as he used his suction cups to climb the front of the house before he finally attached himself to the letters that sponsored their fraternity. He let out a glorious laugh as he pointed to the giant ʻOKʼ that represented their home.

Out of all, Mike and Sulley were the least disruptive as they merely just scanned every corner of the household, amazed by what their OK brothers had been granted.

Johnny Worthington and his fraternity watched the insanity from the steps of their house. The ROR president merely chuckled and shook his head while Chet watched with amusement.

PNK leader Carrie Williams and her sorority stood outside their doorway, giggling at the sight of OK. It wasnʼt insulting, more like ʻhappy for themʼ laughter. Even Naomi Jackson smiled, watching as Terry became as loose as his younger brother as they danced through the street, not paying any mind to who was watching them.

The members of JOX watched and merely shared the enthusiasm, though minus the craziness, as they rooted for the newest house on their row. One of its members, a furry, orange monster with a single horn on his head, raised his cup to OK.

HSS looked out from their sorority houseʼs windows.

"Got to admit," Nadya Petrov smiled with approval as she watched the boys let themselves loose. "I like wild men."

The girls of EEK watched, amazed by how much energy the OK boys possessed.

"We really should work out with them sometime," furry orange EEK member with long red hair Maria Garcia admitted rather adoringly. "Especially with the Y-Perry guy..."

After finally concluding their astonishing outbursts and every house on the row was heading off for sleep, OK, as well as Mike and Sulley, made themselves comfortable in their new rooms.

"This sure feels different..." Squishy admitted quietly as he lifted himself onto his new bed.

Back at his motherʼs house, he shared a double-decker bed with Terri and Terry in his old room. But here, in their new house, the twins finally got a room to themselves, every member did; before, each of them were roomies.

"I know itʼs a sudden change, kid," Mike assured him, "but look at all this space! You could add more Captain Slugger posters and it still wouldnʼt take up the whole wall!"

Squishy gazed down at his new bed. "Yeah, I guess."

Mike smiled softly. "Hey, itʼs been a long night. Iʼm sure one sleep in your new room, youʼll start getting used to the fact that itʼs not the one at your momʼs house." The green- eyed monster made his way out the door. "Night, Squishy."

"Yeah, goodnight..." The smaller monster responded rather sadly.

The hours passed late into the night and Squishy still couldnʼt sleep. Deep within the covers, it felt truly different with no upper bed to look up at that would hold two special friends he could always talk to when he couldnʼt drift off.

A quiet knock racked on his door and the pale monster looked up to see said twins slowly ease it open.

"Hey," Terri greeted rather shyly as he and his brother walked into the room, dressed in their single pajama sweater which was blue with cloud printing.

"Terri? Terry?" Squishy rubbed his eyes. "Why are you awake?"

"Couldnʼt sleep," his brother answered.

The five-eyed monster smiled understandingly. "Me neither."

The twins gazed around the wide room, pressing their hands against a nearby wall and admiring it.

"Sure isnʼt the same," Terri admitted.

"Yeah, it must be a lot quieter here without my brother snoring," Terry joked, earning himself a glare from his twin.

"I do like the snoring," Squishy couldnʼt help but chuckle.

They heard the sound of footsteps and turned to see Don and Art, just as awake as they were.

"Everything alright?" Don asked. "We couldnʼt get Mr. Sandman to sprinkle us with his powder, so we decided to see how you fellas were doing."

"In all honesty," Squishy confessed, "it feels rather empty in here."

"No kidding," Art added, "I have to think twice before realizing the Donster isnʼt with me to read another one of his old business manuals."

Each member looked at one another. The feeling was mutual. Mike merely smiled as he had Sulley slowly ease the front door open.

"I just knew you guys couldnʼt stand to be away from home," he chuckled as they quietly exited out the front porch.

"You and Sulley could just stay here, you know," Don told him as they tiptoed down the steps, "you donʼt have to go back to the cramp quarter that is your bedroom."

"Nah, thatʼs okay, Don," Sulley assured him. "Wherever you guys go, weʼll go."

CREAK!

All eyes glared at Art, who gave a sheepish smile as he slowly removed his leg from one of the looser wooden steps.

"Quiet, will you?" Mike whispered. "You want to wake up the whole campus?"

"Itʼll be just like the ʻAvoid the Parentʼ event, right?" Squishy asked rather enthusiastically. He was immediately shushed.

They all finally made it down the steps and onto the cement.

"I canʼt wait to come back to our old bed," Terri whispered.

"I canʼt wait to wake up to the morning knowing Sherry will have hot, steaming ʻjacks waiting for us," Don said happily.

"Can you guys even see out here?" Terry asked.

True, all the lights were off in the campus, and even the moonlight did nothing much to aid them in finding their way around Greek row.

"Which way is out of here, again?" Art asked rather loudly.

"Hush!" Mike growled.

"Relax, Mikey," Sulley chuckled, broadly walking past them. "Everyoneʼs dead asleep. You could haul a truck through here and nobody would wake up."

SQUEAK!

He immediately lifted his foot, realizing he had stepped on a handball someone must have left behind. He turned to see Mike glare at him.

"Look, guys," Terry spoke as he and his brother leaned against a nearby tree. "Itʼs the middle of the night. I doubt weʼll wake anyone up."

Suddenly, something croaked deep within the hollow interior of the tree, making the twins flinch. Before they knew it, a two-headed pigeon flocked straight out past them.

Forgetting to remain silent, both Terri and Terry screamed with fright.

"Guys!" Mike cried, he himself forgetting the need to be quiet.

"Whoa, that was freaky!" Art exclaimed, taking a few steps back.

Right into a row of bikes.

He immediately fell backward as the bikes toppled over, resulting in knocking over a trash can that landed on the ground with a loud bang.

The can resumed rolling, causing a loud erupted noise as it did so in Squishyʼs direction. Frightened, the smallest monster cried out fearfully before making a dash for it...straight into Sulleyʼs chest.

Despite how little the monster was, the impact had startled Sulley, who faltered in his stance before his paw crashed right into a nearby table, knocking it over along with the leftover cups and cans it contained. The clatter was enough to wake the dead.

"Will you guys keep it down?" Mike cried.

"Whoa, easy there, Mike," Don spoke. "Donʼt get your horns in a knot. Looks like we still havenʼt-"

Before he could finish his sentence, he accidentally stepped on a rolling can, causing him to slip and fall right on his back.

He let out an excruciating howl of pain.

By now, every house in the Greek row had turned on its lights and every fraternity and sorority emerged from his or her house to see what in the world was going on in the middle of the night.

Johnny and the rest of ROR looked over at them from the steps of their house, looking rather annoyed.

Big Red and his JOX brothers looked extremely tired and confused at the sight of their Greek neighbors.

Carrie and her PNK members stood at the steps of their house, regarding the OK members with raised eyes. Naomi stifled a giggle at the sight of Terry Perry sharing adorable-looking PJs with his brother.

Rosie Levin and her HSS sisters glared down at them rather threateningly for having been woken up.

And the EEKs had come out in their usual workout attire, always having slept in it in case any of them thought of taking a quick jog in the early morning. Even they wouldnʼt be up this early to workout.

Oozma Kappa looked incredibly embarrassed, standing in the middle of the cul-de-sac in their sleeping wear as all eyes stared at them in confusion.

"Oh, my back!" Don cried, clutching it as Sulley helped him up. "Come on, fellas, we should be probably getting home. Sherry might have some of that special ointment that can fix this!"

Trying to ignore the stares, Oozma Kappa, along with Mike and Sulley, dashed off down the street, throwing out quick apologies for disturbance.

"Where are they going?" EEK member Brynn Larson couldnʼt help ask aloud as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Theyʼre going back to momʼs, what else?" Nadya Petrov called out to her before she and her sorority went back into their house to, hopefully, get some sleep again.

A small smile entered Naomiʼs lips as the memory faded. Such an incident had been so funny!

And Terry...cloud pajamas never looked so cute before.

She gazed sadly once more at the OK house, only realizing now its lights were off. There were times the fraternity actually did stay at their house, only because Mrs. Carlton was living under their roof as well. Most of the time they would return to her house when homesickness really struck hard.

Nadya smirked, putting down her book. "You like that Y-Perry guy, donʼt you?"

Naomi stiffened, her three eyes widening.

The HSS girl chuckled. "Well, hate to break it to you, sweetie, but you might find yourself in some serious competition."

The PNK girl looked at her in confusion.

"My own Sonia Lewis seems to have some interest in him," Nadya explained, "and donʼt think the EEK girl Garcia ainʼt thinking of ʻworking him outʼ for a change."

She smirked as the color slightly drained from Naomiʼs face.

"Amazing how much has changed after one semester, huh?" Nadya couldnʼt help but ask.

You have no idea...Naomi thought sadly.
_

Archie squealed and wriggled in Terri and Terryʼs arms as the OK members, as well as Mike and Sulley, sat in the mini-van as Sherry continued driving.

"Thanks for catching the pig again, Sulley," Terri told the big, blue monster.

"Hey, I couldnʼt have done if Don hadnʼt distracted those Fear Tech morons," Sulley chuckled, gesturing to the mature student.

"Well, hey, it was fun," the OK president beamed. "Not even in my day had we ever done such a prank on our rival."

"I canʼt believe we stole the pig," Mike chuckled. "Again."

"Next time we should steal Fear Techʼs flag!" Art suggested brightly.

"Now, boys," Sherry spoke as she drove around the corner nearing Greek row. "Remember to wash your hands after victoriously showing your little frat friends you stole the pig. Iʼm not sure when was the last time those Fear Tech people gave him a bath."

"Yes, mom," Squishy answered, looking out the window. His head clearly wasnʼt fully- focused on his fraternityʼs prank on FT as it was clouded with thoughts of earlier today at Scaring 101.

Laura Sharp...

Those beautiful irises had been on his mind since after class was over. Even during the prank at their rival university, FT reminded him even further of the girl who formerly attended the alma mater.

She was just so pretty...

"So, Laura Sharp, huh?"

His thoughts were interrupted and he turned his attention on Mike, although the green monster wasnʼt speaking to him in particular but to all the OK members attending Scaring 101.

"Former Fear Tech student?" Sulley added with surprise. "Boy, good thing sheʼs at MU now or she would probably try to kill us like those other FT students that chased us earlier."

"Oh, well, she seems like a nice gal," Don mentioned. "A bit of a misfortune she had to miss two weeks of the first semester just because her old university didnʼt exactly have the know-how to make her transfer request any faster."

"Oh, the poor dear," Sherry cooed. "She would have had fun at our wedding."

Thinking about his parentsʼ wedding, Squishy wondered if that Sharp girl had managed to make it to the first semester on time. Would he have been able to see her at the wedding party? Would they have danced together?

True, Squishy had danced with a number of girls at the huge celebration, but if he had been toe-to-toe with said girl, he would be a nervous wreck.

At least if she found out Oozma Kappa stole the pig, she couldnʼt get angry or anything, seeing as she no longer attended the university it represented. She probably had no interest with university mascots, anyway.

Fear Techʼs mascot continued writhing and squealing loudly as Sherryʼs van parked beside their fraternity house.

"Whoa, easy there, little guy!" Don chuckled as Terry placed Archie in his tentacles.

Suddenly, Archie began to snort, and before Don knew it, the pig let out a huge sneeze right in his face.

"Gah!" Don cried, immediately dropping the pig as he furiously rubbed his mustache. "That was in my mouth!"

Archie quickly made a dash for it, squealing loudly for all of Monsters University to hear as surroundings became familiar to him once more.

"After him!" Mike cried as he and the rest of the boys followed.
_

Laura was deeply imbibed in one of her Scaring books. Despite Professor Knight having insured her with a packet of every lesson taken for the two weeks she had missed, Laura decided to take it overboard, hopefully making better aim with her class tomorrow.

She immediately broke away from her concentration when she heard noise from her dorm window. It sounded like shouting...and squealing?

She opened her window and spotted six figures in the distance chasing something down the campus courtyard. Squinting, she made out the object of their pursuit very small and running on six legs.

As soon as she heard its snorts echo throughout the university, Lauraʼs eyes widened in disbelief.

"Archie!" She gasped with excitement before swooping down from her window, following after her little friend and his six pursuers, which appeared to lead toward what must be where the fraternity and sorority houses stood.
_

A yellow-colored slug monster with brown, determined eyes huffed heavily as he ʻranʼ under the campus bridge, hoping to make it to a party taking place at JOX.

Despite the fact he had missed both semesters of his classes last year(which he was slowly making up for), he did not want to miss his first-ever fraternity and sorority party.

He temporarily ceased his pace, panting.

"Alright..." He told himself tiredly. "Just...just 10 more blocks to go."

However, before he could continue, something had crashed into him from behind. Next thing he knew, he was riding a pig that was dragging him toward the Greek row.

"Whoa!" He cried as students immediately got out of his path as he neared the cul-de- sac.

Finally, the pig bumped a nearby EEK member from behind, throwing the slug monster off his back. The student let out another terrified scream, but before he could fall face- first into the cement, two strong hands had reached out and grabbed him by the clump of his jelly-like body.

It was no other than his roommate Marbus, the larger monster smiling down at him.

"Thanks, man," the slug monster sighed with relief. "What the heck just happened?"

His friend smiled knowingly. "Oozma Kappa, Theo."

The yellow monster rolled his protruding eyes. "I should have guessed."

They quickly stepped aside as said fraternity bolted right past them, cheers erupting from behind. Both roommates watched as the pack of Scarers, as well as Mike and Sulley, disappeared amongst the crowd, particularly heading in the ROR houseʼs direction.

"Would have been cooler if they stole the flag," Theo commented.

Both he and Marbus suddenly flinched when the loud sound of wings beat close by them. They slowly turned their eyes up toward the night sky, catching sight of a nearing figure as it descended upon the cul-de-sac.

Laura Sharp lowered herself, hoping not to repeat the incident she had made in Scare class. She landed swiftly to her feet, not realizing she had caught a bit of attention before she bolted off, hearing her little friendʼs squeals in the direction of a rather large and quite fancy hotel-like house.

Theo and Marbus watched as she took to the steps of the ROR residence.

"Whoa..." Theo muttered. "Would you look at the wingspan on that beauty..."
_

Music blared through the house of Roar Omega Roar as monsters occupied the dance floor. The president himself danced alongside his fellow frat brothers as the DJ scratched on his rotating disks.

Monnie Monstre watched with enjoyment as the DJ flailed one hand in the air while continuously scratching a record. One day she would be doing the same thing in front of hundreds of people at parties, night clubs, maybe even celebrity-based events.

After sneaking into the ROR house unnoticed, the DJ-majoring student was determined that some of her music would be played for all these ecstatic monsters to dance to, and maybe she would be further noticed for her work.

Passing by the confectionary table, glancing at a nice-looking cake with excessive cream, the redheaded monster adjusted her glasses as she neared the DJʼs booth. She cautiously reached into the pocket of her shorts, pulling out a disk of her custom tunes.

"Hey, DJ!" She called, her voice nearly drowned out by the loud music. "I got some beats I just know you canʼt-"

Before she could finish her sentence, something shoved right behind her legs, making her lose balance. Monnie fell backwards, colliding face-first into the confectionary table. Straight into the cake.

A few onlookers witnessed this and couldnʼt help but laugh as Monnie wiped the frosting from her glasses, her disk just as ruined.

"Excuse me!"

She hardly had time to notice a tall, dark-skinned monster with wings before she was accidentally shoved into the cake once again.

"Iʼm so sorry!" Laura Sharp shouted over her shoulder, eyes knitted with mortification before they turned back to pursue her pig and the six guys that were chasing it.

Johnny Worthington turned from his frat brothers just in time to see her race across the dance floor. He hardly noticed the pig, but he did spot Oozma Kappa.

His rivals were the least of his attention before they fell back on the beautiful, draconic- like beast whose furry legs sprinted past other students. She seemed to be nearing in his direction.

"Archie!" Laura cried. She suddenly lost a step before she fell forward.

Straight into the arms of the ROR president himself.

Laura didnʼt even bother to look him in the eye, her irises flashing with anxiety as she nearly lost sight of Archie.

"Sorry!" She said quickly, not even glancing at Johnny before she immediately left him where he stood.

Johnny merely watched, a broad grin spreading on his face.

"What material..." He couldnʼt help but say.
_

Colette Creoutureʼs heels clicked against the cement as she briskly strolled through the crowded cul-de-sac.

Changing her attire for the evening in hopes of drawing some attention(and hopefully meeting some really cute guy), she had traded her dark blue blouse for a reddish orange one that glittered under the university lamps. Another one of her designs. Slung over her shoulder was a white purse that had been bedazzled with glitter and sequin jewelry, custom-made by her as well.

Eyes curved in a model-like expression as she idly swayed her hips, the designer made her way over to one of the nearby houses in hopes of maybe drawing some attention. She decided to head for the one with the word ʻJOXʼ on it.

Making her way up the stairs, she noticed two girls with matching purple jackets staring at her curiously.

"Thatʼs right, girls," Colette said proudly as she gave a twirl. "One of my designs."

Before she could resume her strut, a pig suddenly passed between her legs. She let out a shriek, backing away, clutching her purse.

Someone accidentally bumped behind her as well, making her lose balance on her heels. She fell forward straight into a nearby inflatable pool, the water now soaking her outfit, her purse, even the slight mascara she had applied to her eyes just for the evening.

"WHO DID THAT?" She screeched, so loud it could be heard from the city.

"Oh, dear..." Laura gulped, having run through the back door in which Archie had gone through along with his pursuers. "She is not happy!"

She sprinted through what appeared to be the main living room of the fraternity house. She caught sight of Archie running under a nearby ping pong table, ceasing the game as both players watched in confusion. Laura didnʼt have time to think before she hopped right over the table, thankful she didnʼt crash and break it.

Landing on her feet, she accidentally bumped into a nearby monster, making him drop his pizza right into her paw. But that didnʼt stop her as she made a quick apology, shoving the slice into her mouth, and resumed her chase.
_

"Just like the world is ours, ours, ou-ou-ou-ours," Katy McCrea sang as she stood just in front of the JOX house by a radio playing one of her favorite songs by her favorite artist Sla$ha.

She managed to get a little attention as few monsters watched her sing with interest. The semi-aquatic monster bobbed her brown, fin-like hair as she pumped a fist into the air.

"Weʼre tearing it apart, part, pa-pa-pa-part," she continued.

However, before she could sing the next set of lyrics, a sudden squeal interrupted. Confused, Katy turned around just in time to see a pig run past her table.

Next thing she knew, she was shoved right into the table, knocking over the radio. Which fell right on her foot.

"Ow!" She cried in agony before clutching her foot, hopping on the other.

"Sorry!" Shouted a voice.

Katy turned around, just in time to only make out a pair of wings disappearing amongst a group of monsters.
_

A marker traced over one of the lamps that lit the Greek row, its holder smiling as her green eyes sparkled with enjoyment.

"There we go," Dot Pressler beamed as she was nearly finished with the little message she hoped would provide more attention for her work in the future.

Dot Pressler: Art Major=a 1,000 words.

Though the message wasnʼt seemingly ʻhardcoreʼ, the Art student was sure it would gain some interest. Things in the university were much different than when she attended high school, greatly admired for her artistic pieces that contributed well to school spirit.

Before she could reach into the pack around her narrow, jiggly waist, she heard sudden squealing.

Suddenly, she was pushed face-first right into the lamp pole. Groaning, Dot pulled away, realizing the marker was still wet.

The message no longer lay on the lamp, but on her face.
_

Laura bit her lip, eyes widening in horror and hoped she hadnʼt knocked that one girl into unconsciousness as she continued pursuing Archie. Losing hope with her legs, she quickly extended her wings and took off to the sky once more.

She gazed down at the large cul-de-sac and immediately spotted the six who had been chasing the pig the whole time as well. If it was for Archie, then Laura would definitely help them.

"Terry!" The younger brother exclaimed as he pointed at Archie, who was heading straight for where the PNK sorority stood.

The older Perry groaned. "Oh, great..." He muttered, catching sight of a certain mauve- colored member who stood with her sisters.

"Whoa, hey!" One of the PNK girls cried as Archie zig-zagged around them.

"Uh, excuse me!" Squishy apologized as he and his friends bolted past them.

Naomi blinked in utter confusion, right before she nearly toppled over when someone bumped right into her.

Nearly having fallen, her blunted claws grasped the arms of a sweater. Her three eyes lifted up in surprise when they gazed into a single, just-as-surprised one.

Terry winced, his two arms having accidentally clutched around the PNK girlʼs waist when he crashed right into her. And she just had to take ahold part of his and Terriʼs sweater.

Blue eye staring at three brighter ones, the older Perry immediately looked away and released Naomi before she could even speak.

"Uh, sorry about that!" His brother apologized quickly before he and his twin went after their fraternity.

Naomi just stood there, slightly overwhelmed from the sudden contact as she slowly hugged herself. She hadnʼt been that close to Terry since last semester at the ROR party...

Lauraʼs wings flapped furiously as she watched Archie continue running amok through the cul-de-sac, his pursuers not giving up. Worriedly, the former Fear Tech studentʼs eyes gazed at the surroundings of Greek row.

Her eyes suddenly fell on a nearby trash can that was just in Archieʼs direction. A thought came to her before she quickly looked around. She spotted a lone football on the grass and swooped down toward it.

Grabbing it, Laura took the air once more. Then she spotted the six boys who were tirelessly after Archie. She was able to make out one of them, a rather small monster with five eyes, a single horn on his head, as well as a green sweater and matching cap.

"Hey!" Laura called out, hoping he could hear her.

Squishy momentarily stopped in his tracks, whipping his head in all directions, wondering if someone was calling him.

"Run to the trash can!" Shouted the voice once more.

"Wha...?" The smallest OK member was even more confused as he tried to spot who the speaker was.

However, he immediately took the tip as he caught sight of the trash can in his path, Archie unwittingly in its direction.

Laura gulped, squinting one eye as she held the football in the best way possible, angling at the trash can from where she was high above.

She quickly threw the football, hoping her plan would work.

It did, the football soared downward before it clanged against the trash can, causing it to fall and spilling its contents onto the ground.

And Archie ran straight into the trap.

"Well, how about that?" Don Carlton laughed with relief as he and his friends came to a stop right in front of the bin holding their pig.

Squishy reached in and grabbed Archie, the pig trying his best to escape his grasp.

By now, a huge crowd had witnessed the sight of the victorious Oozma Kappa as the members, especially Mike and Sulley, gestured to Squishy with their rivalʼs mascot.

"Fear Techʼs mascot!" Squishy exclaimed joyfully, holding Archie up for all to see. "MU rules!"

The crowd of students, followed by the other fraternities and sororities, erupted in cheers for yet another victory honoring their university. Roar Omega Roar stood by, merely watching them with some interest. A little envious to say the least...

Suddenly, Archie began to writhe violently before finally escaping from Squishyʼs hold and began to make another dash for it.

"Grab it!" Mike cried.

However, before anyone could tackle the pig, a figure landed right in front of it with a loud thud.

Staring down at the pig, the figure stood in an intimidating position. Wings extended, paws held up with claws extracting, and teeth bared for all to see, the monster let out a powerful roar that erupted through the entire campus.

All eyes watched in disbelief as such a roar emerged from such a monster. Squishy stared, but he barely even heard the roar.

It was her.

Archieʼs legs began to buckle as he let out a small whimper before cowering.

Laura Sharpʼs eyes widened in shock, not at all intending to strike fear into her little friend as she thought she was just surprising him with an amateur roar.

"Archie...Archie..." Laura spoke soothingly as she fell on one knee, reaching out to him. "Hey, hey, itʼs okay...Itʼs alright...Itʼs me! Itʼs me, remember? Itʼs me Laurie!"

Getting over his scare, Archie immediately recognized her before running straight into her arms, squealing with joy as he nuzzled against her chest.

"Oh, I missed you, too!" Laura exclaimed happily.

She realized that everyone was staring at her before she quickly cleared her throat, standing up properly while clutching the pig.

"Uh, hello..." She said shyly.

"Whoa!" Art walked over with excitement. "You caught the pig! Them Fear Tech dummies wonʼt know what hit them!"

"Art!" Don barked before gently nudging him. "You do realize who that is, right?"

"Uh, no..." The pair of legs shrugged.

"Thatʼs Laura Sharp from our Scaring class!" Terry hissed. "The former Fear Tech student?"

Artʼs eyes widened before he turned back to Laura, watching them in confusion while Archie moved closer to her.

"Whoops..." He smiled apologetically.

"Hey, you caught the pig!" Sulley said as he walked over to her. "For former Fear Tech, you sure got a lot of MU in you to do that!"

"Oh, well, thanks," Laura chuckled. "Especially for a former Fear Tech student who was both the caretaker and friend of Archie who loves him with all her heart."

Oozma Kappa stared at her in disbelief, the color draining from Squishyʼs pale face before he shyly backed away, just behind Mike.

"Oh, dude..." Art muttered.

Weʼre dead...Sulley gulped.

"He did it!" Art exclaimed immediately shoving Squishy right in front of him just to save his skin.

The smallest OK member stood still, his eyes staring nervously into those sparkling ones he had only seen from the lowest section of Scare class earlier.

How they glimmered even in the lights of Greek row...

"Um, uh..." Squishyʼs mouth began to feel dry. "Uh, hi..." He gave a nervous smile, doing his best to wave.

"Please donʼt kill us!" Terri exclaimed, moving closer to his brotherʼs head.

"Now why would I do that?" Laura laughed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, I get it. Because Iʼm former FT, isnʼt it?"

Without another word, still clutching Archie, Laura reached over to a nearby student and ripped the MU sticker right off his chest.

And slapped it right on Archieʼs side where the FT insignia was.

"Monsters University is number one!" She declared to everyone.

Her declaration emitted cheers and applause as she held Archie high, the MU sticker for all to see. Oozma Kappa watched in disbelief, feeling just as relieved now to realize the former Fear Tech student had fully-abandoned her old alma mater for theirs.

As the cheers died down and students returned to their other interests, Laura held Archie close, the pigʼs breath nearly tickling her chest.

"Wow, that pigʼs really crazy about you," Don complimented. "You two must have been really good to each other back in Fear Tech."

Laura turned back to him and his friends. "Thank you," she said, "and you are?"

However, before the OK president could reply, a voice called out.

"Did you see her roar?" One exclaimed as she and her team neared where Laura stood. "That was really something."

Before Laura stood a group of girls that seemed to hold a rather terrifying and creepy air about them. They all wore black and various other Goth-ly accessories that added well to their appearance. The tallest one, looking like a grayish brick wall with black glasses, folded her arms and stared at Laura with some approval in her eyes.

Laura noticed the word ʻHSSʼ sewn across her black shirt.

"You seem like Eta Hiss Hiss material," Rosie Levin said, nodding.

"Oh, boy, is she going to ask her to join their sorority?" Terry whispered to his brother with a roll of his eye.

Before Laura could speak, another voice spoke out.

"No way, Rosie!" A tall, cephalopod-like monster with pink skin and a purple jacket immediately walked over, her group behind her. "This girl is total Slugma Slugma Kappa material!"

Laura watched, finding herself suddenly between two bickering sorority leaders.

"We saw her first, Delgado!" Rosie hissed, her fork tongue visible. "So why donʼt you purple sugar plums back off?"

"Okay, okay, hold it!" Laura held up one hand, hopefully grabbing their attention.

As both sororities turned to look at her, she sighed, pinching the ridge between her eyes.

"I am so sorry," she apologized, "but I honestly am not really the sorority kind of person." She gave a nervous shrug.

Both groups looked at her in disbelief. Before either Rosie Levin or Carla Delgado could speak, another voice spoke out.

"Pardon me, ladies," Johnny Worthington spoke smoothly before he and his fraternity made their way past the two female groups.

Laura noticed it was the same guy from earlier. She wasnʼt sure why, but she suddenly stiffened at the sight of him. And that smirk he had on his face.

"Oh, great!" Terri rolled his eye, shaking his head. "Looks like sheʼs going to be seeing the ʻdark side of the moonʼ on her first night..."

"Johnny Worthington," the ROR president introduced, gesturing to himself. "President of Roar Omega Roar. I do believe we had met earlier, correct?"

Laura raised an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, I think so..." She responded slowly.

"Whatʼs your name?" Johnny asked smoothly as he continuously eyed her. "Angel wings?"

The draconic-like monster was slightly taken aback by the name. Squishy just stood there with his friends, feeling himself deflate a little as he could do nothing but merely watch the beautiful beast speak with the big-shot future Scarer.

"Uh, itʼs Sharp," Laura responded quietly. "Laura Sharp."

She was nearly startled when a crab-like monster suddenly appeared beside the president, looking overly excited.

"This girlʼs a Sharp?" He cried. "As in the famous Sharp?" He gazed at her eagerly. "Youʼre daughter of Fillmore Sharp?"

Johnny frowned, looking rather annoyed at his frat brotherʼs interruption.

"Chet, calm down," he muttered.

"Sorry..." Chet apologized.

"Laura Sharp," Johnny began with a tender smile as he continued gazing at her. "I must say you have quite the image of a true Scarer, and might I add you got quite the fiery charisma. Such a roar coming from you says so."

Laura just stared at him. For some reason, he cheeks slightly warmed, but she still kept her distance from him.

"I guess what Iʼm trying to say," he smoothed the back of his head, eyes lowering with a hint of desire. "You are true Roar Omega Roar material."

She stared at him in confusion, then looked over to his fraternity.

"Iʼm sorry, but..." She took a moment to collect her words. "Isnʼt R-O-R a fraternity? Meaning for boys only?" She looked rather unimpressed.

Johnny merely chuckled. "Let me rephrase this, gorgeous," he said. "By ROR material, I mean..."

Laura took a step back when he leaned in, smirk growing as his purple eyes stared into her sky/forest ones.

"My material."

"Oh, no, heʼs definitely not coming on strong..." Terry said sarcastically, rolling his one eye.

Laura stood speechless, not sure what to make of the compliment. Or the offer.

Archie leaned closer to her, giving Johnny a rather threatening look as a growl seeped at the back of his throat. Laura held him closer, stroking his fur in hopes of shushing him.

"Hey, Johnny," both turned to a small green monster with one large eye, looking displeased. "Back off, will you? Youʼre making her uncomfortable."

The ROR president merely rolled his eyes.

"Sure, play knights, why donʼt you, Oozma Kappa?" He muttered.

Lauraʼs eyes widened when she heard the name.

"Oozma Kappa?" She gasped.

Eyes turned to her once more, her expression brightening in an instant.

"Youʼre Oozma Kappa!" She cried, passing Johnny and his group as she made her way closer to said fraternity.

Don regarded her with surprise. "You heard of us?"

"Heard of you?" Laura laughed. "I read about you! In my former universityʼs paper. Actually, they didnʼt exactly show a good picture of you if you know what Iʼm talking about." She added rather shyly. "Nice to know you were able to get the paint off, though..."

"Of course..." Terry groaned, placing a hand to his shaking head. "Iʼll never forget that night..."

"Regardless," Laura spoke admiringly, "you guys are unlike any fraternity Iʼve ever heard of."

"Well, I know weʼre quite an odd bunch but-" Don began timidly.

"You monsters are amazing."

Oozma Kappa, Mike and Sulley, and even Roar Omega Roar all stared at her in disbelief. Especially Johnny, whose eyes were larger than his horns.

But Laura wasnʼt finished as she gave OK a sincere smile.

"Each of you is different, possessing something that benefits greatly to the team," she said passionately, "Iʼve always stood by the firm belief that diversity is what makes a team stronger and..." Her eyes softened. "You guys are just that."

Squishyʼs five blue eyes stared at her in utter amazement while Mike stood beside him, quite touched by the former Fear Tech studentʼs words.

"I am proud to be attending the same university as the fellow members of Oozma Kappa," Laura stated happily. "My heroes."

That final sentence was enough to drag Johnny to the deep end as he wheeled from Laura to Oozma Kappa. What exactly did this Grade-A Scaring beauty see in these bunch of wannabes?

"Well, uh..." Don chuckled, giving her a warming smile. "I donʼt know about heroes-"

"Well, the representation of what true monsters are," Laura added with growing confidence. "Because such monsters as yourself prove that scariness is, indeed, a universal term."

The fraternity continued staring at her, astounded by such honest praise and words given to that from the daughter of a famous Scarer.

Laura smiled. "Thatʼs what my dad taught me."

The OK president stood rather pleased, feeling his self-esteem rise even higher.

"Well, thanks a dandy, then!" He laughed. "Iʼm Don Carlton, by the way."

He whipped a small card out of his front pocket and handed it to her.

"Mature student and president of Oozma Kappa," he announced proudly.

Laura took the card and looked at it. The word ʻSalesʼ under his name had been crossed out and replaced with ʻScarerʼ. She smiled, accepting it like it was a holiday gift.

"And over here is the rest of my rowdy crew!" He gestured to the other members of OK, even Mike and Sulley. "Art, Terri and Terry, and this little guy-"

Before Squishy knew it, he was gently pushed in front of his stepfather, nearing Laura who gazed down at him curiously.

"Is Squishy," Don said proudly, "my stepson."

The youngest member stared up at Laura, wide-eyed and heart beating rapidly. His blue eyes gazed into the mix of sky and forest once more and he felt the hair atop his head stick up on end with so much anxiety.

"Um..." He had a hard time swallowing that lump in his throat as he tried to smile. "H- hello..."

Laura gave him a tender smile, the sight of it making him just want to faint on the spot.

"Father and son," Laura mused, "Scaring majors together. Never seen that before." She eyed the group curiously. "Hey, weʼre in the same class together, right?"

"You know it!" Art laughed. "Dude, that was one sick entrance you made in Knightʼs class this morning!"

Laura shuddered, recalling how completely foolish she looked having barged through those doors and nearly falling on her face with her wings crooked.

Someone cleared his throat and Lauraʼs eyes fell on a certain green-skinned monster with one huge eye. She could have sworn she had seen him before somewhere...

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot," Don chuckled as he leaned toward Mike and Sulley. "Laura Sharp, these are our good friends: James P. Sullivan and-"

"Mike Wazowski," Laura finished with even more praise in her eyes as she quickly reached down and shook said monsterʼs hand.

"Oh, well, this is a surprise," Mike laughed as his entire frame nearly toppled from the shake. "How do you know my name?"

"I read you in the paper!" Laura admitted. "Freshmen Expelled, it said on the cover."

The color slowly drained from Mikeʼs face and Sulley looked just as mortified, followed by the slight discomfort Oozma Kappa possessed.

Laura took notice and her smile immediately vanished before she held her hands up apologetically.

"Not that I want to say anything bad about it," she said sincerely, "I mean, yes, venturing into the human world was dangerous and your lives could have possibly ended there with the tiniest possibility the monster world could have been endangered..."

She winced, knowing she was rambling. She managed a small smile, finding the right words not only in her head but in her heart as well.

"But that was so fearless," she admitted quietly. She eyed Mike. "Youʼre a brave monster, Michael Wazowski."

The words sank in, and Mike himself couldnʼt help but smile, feeling quite that, despite being expelled, fellow students still looked up to him. And what more one who formerly attended Fear Tech!

Archie began to stir in Lauraʼs arms and she held him closer, smiling sheepishly at her new friends.

"I...I got to go," she said in an apologetic tone as she turned to leave. "Two weeks late into the semester, got to study!"

After a few steps, she turned back to Oozma Kappa.

"Thanks for making my first night here incredible," she added softly.

Squishy stared up at her, unable to cease the goofy, awestruck smile from forming on his face.

Johnny, he and his fraternity still perplexed and stunned, watched as Laura, Archie still in her arms, walked off. Squishy took a few steps forward, unintentionally stopping beside the ROR president as he continued watching her leave until the last thing he saw was her wings that disappeared behind a few students.

He sighed dreamily, feeling his heart flutter ever more.

Johnny took notice of his expression, then smirked.

"Easy, putty man," he said rather arrogantly, "You might want to re-think yourself before assuming you can actually get a girl like that."

Johnnyʼs comment slowly sank in, and Squishyʼs head fell, feeling discouraged. Mike glared at the ROR president as he stood beside the smaller monster protectively.

"Ease off, Worthington," he warned.

"Hey, Iʼm just saying," Johnny spoke with confidence, "a girl such as Sharp herself seems worthy of only the best."

He was quite surprised when he saw the smirk on Mikeʼs face.

"Youʼre right, Johnny," he said briskly, "which was why she spoke with us first. Completely ignoring you like, ʻROR whatʼ?"

His victorious smile deepened as the realization dawned on the ROR president, Johnny looking more stunned than ever. It took Chet a moment to fully grasp what the former OK member meant.

"Oh..." He said. "Boy, heʼs right."

He flinched when Johnny gave him a deathly glare before he stormed off, his fraternity following behind him, leaving Mike with his knowing smirk and Oozma Kappa cheering him.
_