This is called chapter 8 1/2 because I thought of this at last-minute because June 21st was the day the MU movie premiered, and I remember my date: June 21st on a Friday laster year at 7 PM. This is a little celebration and will hopefully hold you until I actually have chapter 9. Special thanks to friend and fellow MU fan victortky for collaborating on Deviantart. :)
Oh, Monsters University, alma mater hail to you! And happy one-year anniversary! :)
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
_
MU Campus, outside the Bohol Hall
Protected from the glaring rays of the shining sun under a huge and shady tree, two very different monsters from two very different sororities were having a picnic out on campus grounds. Sandwiches, sweets, and cold drinks littered the blanket as they were being consumed one by one. The two monsters looked vastly different from each other, aside from the fact one was a goth monster girl and the other shared the same look, hairstyle and fashion sense as the other five sisters in her own sorority. But now both of them were doing something they haven't done in quite some time, until the OK fraternity had encouraged their Greek community to know each other more.
Sonia Lewis and Heather Olsen conversed with each other as they sipped their drinks and indulged themselves in some sweets and tasty food, enjoying the sunny day in Monsters University which students around them were either engaged in their own activities or walking from building to building towards their destination of choice. There was even an enormo-monster who was running around the campus trying to catch a frisbee her fellow enormo-monster threw, carefully avoiding the smaller monsters as she ran across the quad in the distance.
The two monster girls talked about whatever that was on their minds at the moment, mostly girl talk while respecting each other's sorority, and they even laughed at a few funny anecdotes and jokes. Although Sonia was a goth girl, she did smile a little and chuckle politely, compared to Heather who laughed openly and even had to wipe tears of humor at some point when Sonia told her about a incredibly funny incident that happened when a student accidentally crashed his hallway cleaning machine into the scream canister storage room while engrossed in a study book.
"I have to admit, these chocolates are pretty good, so I say it looks like you have gotten your money's worth, Sonia," Heather quipped as she put another of the squid-like monster's delicious candies into her mouth and chewed, smiling at her fellow Greek neighbor.
While she may not be a chocolate nut like the HSS girl before her, she still enjoyed the delicacy like all the other monsters. Sonia allowed a small faint smile curl around her lips as she offered the small box of exotic chocolates she had brought along with her for the picnic.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you get these?" the PNK girl asked as she sipped from her own can of Blort.
Sonia blinked her eye-stalks. "Well, I managed to get them from Nadya. They're from Scaris and were a part of her payment for some commissioned tattoo designs."
Heather gave a nod. "Scaris? I thought candy there was expensive. You must have pretty good connections to get your hands on those."
Sonia gave a nod of acknowledgement in reply to Heather's words as the latter chewed on the tasty piece she took. The HSS girl curled her tentacle around her own Blort drink and brought it up to her lips, drinking a small amount to quench her thirst. She absorbed the sight of the peaceful campus punctuated by the soothing sounds of nature as well as the voices of students hanging out or discussing among themselves on anything on their minds. The university's marching band was showcasing their new orchestral piece with a small crowd gathering to watch them play, while the EKO sorority was tending to a booth which they were using to hold a recycling event with a couple of students giving them bags of recyclable items.
It seemed like every other peaceful day in Monsters University, or any other day that involves either Homecoming or another segment of the Scare Games. While life continued on, it seemed as though something important was missing from the university, and both Sonia and Heather only knew it too well to speak about who was currently absent from this proud alma mater.
Momentarily pushing those thoughts away in her mind, the HSS girl was about to drink from her own can of Blort when she noticed the striking design of the bracelet which the PNK sister wore on her right hand underneath her the sleeve of her sweater. The bracelet's design was pretty striking in terms of patterns and colors as with flowery stenciling. It was pretty eye-catching. And Sonia immediately felt she wanted one as well.
"If you don't mind me asking, where that piece of jewelry come from?" she asked while pointing a tentacle at Heather's wrist. "Sure looks nice. And I'd sure want one for myself.
She was rather surprised when Heather almost flinched, but remained calm once more as she offered the other girl a sweet yet nervous smile.
"Oh, this?" Heather responded almost anxiously. "I picked it up from some swap bazaar a week ago. It sure is cute, huh?"
Sonia gave a nod, eyeing to little jewels that glinted in the sun. "It sure is nice. How much was it? Maybe I can find it online and make a deal for it."
Again another expression of discomfort travelled across Heather's face. Sonia raised her eyes in questioning wondering if the food was getting to the PNK girl or the heat was too much for her.
Heather gulped, fiddling with her fingers as she glanced her trio of eyes toward Sonia's two stalk ones. No one but the girls in her own sorority knew about this, but she had gotten to know Sonia so well since last semester. She was just so sweet and caring, and so trustworthy...
"Um, I never really looked at the price."
Sonia raised one eye in confusion. "So you just blindly bought it?"
Heather swallowed harder, feeling the chocolate nearly lodge within her throat. "Um, something else with blindly..."
The HSS girl stared at her with an even more puzzling expression, However, realization dawned on her face as her eyes widened. She nearly gasped had she not slapped a tentacle over her glossy lips.
"Oh, glob, Heather..." she squeaked. "Please don't tell me you actually...stole it."
The somewhat guilty look on Heather's face told Sonia all she needed to know. The HSS girl wasn't sure what to think, regarding her with a mix of shock yet mild disappointment. Heather Olsen? A thief? While it took some time to accept that the PNK girls would rather work in a crematorium than in a fashion boutique, this was pushing it a little.
"Heather, you can't be serious!" Sonia nearly cried. "I can't believe it! You're a stealer?"
Heather motioned for her to hush, eyes glancing left and right before she let out a deep sigh.
"It's not stealing," she responded rather stubbornly. Then she fiddled with her fingers. "I just can't help it. When I usually look at something an no one's watching...I just want it. And I honestly have done it a couple of times." she added with a painful smile.
The reply nearly made Sonia's jaw hit the ground, but HSS girl breathed calmly before staring the PNK girl right in the three eyes.
"How many are we talking, Heather?" Sonia asked, her voice almost firm.
Heather tightened her grip own her own fingers, averting her gaze. "Not really sure...I've hoarded a bunch of other stuff in my room..." Her voice was timid, like a monster child who was caught stealing chocolate cookies from the jar. "I can't help it..."
Sonia nearly felt her eyebrows jump off her face, realizing now that Heather wasn't entirely a thief. She was a kleptomaniac. But Heather just seemed so innocent, not the type to steal things. No doubt she must have had this problem for a while, judging by the way her bottom lip quivered with mass guilt.
"Holy glop, Heather..." Sonia sighed, unsure what else to say about this newfound information about her friend, "you really need to quit. You might actually get caught! And this isn't like what Katy, Picca, and Naomi did, no! You could actually go to jail!"
Heather grimaced at that word, having told her conscious ever single time that would bound to occur the moment she snatched that one bracelet or stuffed a plush toy into her backpack when the vendor was snoozing. Carrie had warning her about this since last semester during one of their shopping trips, and Heather was honestly scared it might happen.
"I'm really trying here..." Heather almost whimpered. "It's just hard, you know?"
Sonia's face softened. "I get it. I mean, that bracelet was a heck lot expensive, huh?" she pointed at the PNK girl's wrist.
"More than Carrie's crummy car..." Heather muttered.
"Oh, okay..." Sonia winced.
Hoping to change the subject and rid this uncomfortable moment, Heather braved a different expression, choosing to shift their talk to something else.
"So, uh, have you heard anything about the Perry twins?" she asked steadily.
Sonia shook her head. "No, I haven't heard anything about them yet," she responded with a sigh. "What about you?"
Heather shook her head as well. "Nothing. I just hope they're okay."
Sonia gave a stiffer nod before eating another small piece of chocolate, hoping the exotic taste would placate.
"You have any idea how the Perry twins ended up hurt in the first place?" Heather couldn't help but ask with curiosity.
Heather stared at Sonia closely as she posed the question. Sonia thought for a few moments then spoke. "Well, Mike and Sulley mentioned that the twins had another fight."
"When do they not?" Heather rolled her eyes.
"And it was a hard biology experiment with chemicals and whatever," Sonia continued. "And you can pretty much figure out the rest."
She gave Heather a few minutes to absorb the information, which by the end the PNK girl was clearly shocked that she could not say anything else for the moment.
While Sonia knew that Terry Perry was one of the more reasonable monsters, she had to admit that when he finally lost his temper, it was a horrifying sight to behold. The normally quiet monster turning into a raging beast which would make even the larger monsters feel frightened. Considering how Johnny was so dangerously threatened by Terry when he had badmouthed Mike and Sulley, mostly the former, she couldn't be far from the truth. And she had to admit, that behavior was a little hot for her.
So hot...
Of course, Terry Perry had a right to be angry since he had his trust crushed mockery and insensitivity as well as his dreams of being a Scare student nearly ruined. And the way the OK Fraternity were treated since they were founded. Had their places swapped, Sonia would probably be upset too. But seeing him being so angry and hurt simply made her feel like she wanted to hide under her bed blankets and shudder, because his anger was definitely something terrible to be avoided. Glob help the monster who offended him in future, because Sonia just knew Terry would explode like he had last semester when he finally confronted Worthington.
Heather thought back about her youngest sorority sister Naomi, who was having such severe two-faced emotional troubles that she she would switch from crying her eyes out to smiling so hard her lips could rip off her face. While she would admit that Terry was a little too harsh, but then again it seemed just something had caused him to flare up like that. Right now Terry Perry was in the hospital with his brother, and Naomi's emotional problem was bound to worsen.
"You know, I just hope for their recovery," Sonia sighed, because I just want to see them again. And for OK to be happy again"
"You and me both, Sonia..." Heather murmured, gazing down at her drink.
Heather watched Sonia's face regard her for a few moments, before she smiled faintly and produced her tattoo artbook and opened to a specific page, before passing it to the PNK girl who felt her eyes widen as she saw the intricately drawn image of the Perry twins. The brushes and strokes were spot on, and the character expressions fitted both twins perfectly, as though it was a perfect portrait of them both. She regarded a masterpiece of tattoo artwork, of the Perry twins sitting on a bench in a garden of flowers and birds, with Terry playing a guitar while his younger brother holding out his hand to allow a dove to land on his out-stretched palm. They were dressed formally as though to perform for some expensive concert, and both twins possessed the same cheerful look that they always had while enjoying the comforts and fun in Frat Row ever since last semester. A halo of light shone around their heads, and Sonia had made it look as though the Perry twins were about to play a musical piece for a large group of monsters in an open-air stage. The picture simply took Heather's breath away.
She looked up and saw Sonia's gentle smile, a rare expression that any of the HSS sorority girls produced which can be compared to as rare as diamonds as she stared dreamily at the picture of the Perry twins she had drawn for a tattoo idea.
Heather already knew what Sonia was thinking, and she knew Naomi didn't appreciate this one bit.
~
"So how long has she been a thief, anyway?"
Carrie Williams grimaced at the word, casting her trio of eyes into the duo belonging to Rosie Levin. The sorority presidents decided to take a stroll through campus, enjoying a work-free day as well as each other's company. Having their conversation shift from outrageous homework to what the either is planning about the second event once the games resumed, Rosie had made a compliment regarding one of the accessories Heather Olsen had appeared to be sporting earlier at Frat Row. A dark brown necklace made entirely of leather with a midnight blue flower on it caught Rosie's interest, and she had asked the PNK president what store the aforementioned sorority girl had bought it from and how much it costed.
This was where Carrie began to stutter in her explanation. Trying to explain where exactly Heather found it...but didn't bother to check the price.
On account of she stole it.
"That's kind of a strong word, don't you think?" the PNK leader asked uneasily.
Rosie just shrugged before flexing her arms and stretching. "Hey, crook, plunderer, swiper, however you want to slap on it, they're all the same." Her gaze loomed over Carrie more carefully. "How long?"
The redhead gulped. "Since last semester."
"Oy, it feels like a lot of things happened last semester," Rosie sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Where and what did she steal?"
The other monster sighed, before she glanced around her to make sure no campus officer was listening in on their conversation. While Heather's "crimes" had been committed outside MU, she still didn't want to take any chances.
"Remember that swap meet a few miles from here?" she asked. After Rosie nodded, Carrie spoke much quieter. "Okay, while Taylor and I were checking out the sports equipment, we left Heather by one of the jewelry stands. They cost way more than what our car could ever be worth." She took another deep breath, the incident fresh in her mind.
Rosie nodded. "And that was her first heist, huh?"
"Oh, my glob," Carrie moaned, "later when we were sitting around scarfing down taquitos, Heather shows us a glop-load of jewelry inside her bag. And, FYI, it was a duffel."
The HSS leader winced, unable to believe that someone like Heather Olsen would steal. Of course, Carrie explanation it was a case of kleptomania, and what Heather wants and can't afford, she just wants to grab it to placate the desire of "shiny things". Like a monkey to a glass doorknob...In addition to this information, she also revealed Heather's hoarding problem. Not the kind of hoarding that would make walking through her bedroom a complete nightmare, but the considerable junk was overflowing and later guilt would emerge within her conscious.
"Don't tell her I told you this!" Carrie begged the other sorority president. "She only does this at swap-meets or places where there are no cameras or the security is lousy. She does try ad fight it...but usually loses in the end." she added bitterly.
"Yeah, I hear you, Williams," Rosie muttered. "Glob, and I thought Naomi was going to end up in prison for breaking into a hospital. But this is bigger."
"Just watch your wallet..."
Rosie's eyes widened in horror. "Wait, she'll steal credit cards?"
"No..." Carrie murmured, "but you never know..."
The HSS girl turned away and winced at the thought. "Got it, Carrie. I keep my wallet under my shirt, anyway..."
They continued walking, regressed to silence as both allowed the confession to sink in. Students around them roamed the campus to either get to class, play some hacky-sack out on the grass, or simply enjoy the view of MU. They had spotted the discussed PNK girl herself having a picnic with Sonia Lewis, and Rosie didn't need to ask anything the moment something glittered around the former's dull claws. It appeared to be worth a lot more than Heather could even hope to afford...
A thought came to mind, and the HSS leader turned to Carrie.
"So she had the kleptomania during the egg hunt?" she inquired steadily. "You know, when she kept stealing everyone's eggs?"
The shorter girl couldn't help but chuckle, recalling how desperate yet slightly devious Heather Olsen was while everyone was clamoring to grab as many candy-filled eggs as Oozma Kappa had hidden.
"Exactly," Carrie responded, unable to stifle the giggles emerging from her lips.
It was Rosie's turn to laugh, the fond memory forever buried within her skull. Moments birthed by Oozma Kappa were always the most fun and exciting ever given to Monsters University, and since that apology party the monsters in yellow and green had been more open in sharing the things they enjoyed freely and without regret. Things they had been meaning to share with their community since their fraternity had been founded.
One of those special events was around April, which occurred after many frat parties as the semester wore on, reaching much closer to summer vacation.
Friday, April 18, early morning
The sun rose over the campus, yet not one eye opened as light cracked through students' windows as everyone desired to snooze a decent amount more before having to surrender to classes. Rosie Levin wrapped herself tighter within the black and white satin sheets of her bed, glasses resting on the night table beside her. No doubt there was going to be another class demonstration today, and afterwards another "exciting" pop quiz that would make her classmates foam at the mouth with "excitement".
Big, flipping deal her-
Rosie's eyes strained to unveil when she heard something. Grunting as she deepened against her queen-sized bed, she fought to ignore it. She assumed it was probably one of the EEK girls out on a morning jog, or one of the Campus Roar members tossing their newest article at everyone's door with as much force as a cannonball.
"Careful! Don't wake them up! These HSS girls need their beauty sleep!"
"Squish-meister, relax!" another voice spoke. "If we got to worry about anything, it's cheesing Johnny and his boys off if we woke them up!"
"Don't put it on the bush! We have to put it in their mailbox!"
"Where do they even keep their mailboxes?"
The HSS leader's eyes widened, those familiar voices ringing in her ears. Lifting herself from the sheets, she looked out her window, seeing the sun peek out from her midnight blue curtains and the noise evident outside her sorority house. Tossing the covers off her body, wearing a HSS nightgown that fell to her knees, she then grabbed her glasses before bolting out her door.
Being on the second floor, the HSS president raced down the steps while gripping cautiously onto the banister, wondering what in glob's name was Oozma Kappa doing. Especially this early in the morning. How early did they even wake up if they had arrived at Frat Row by this time of the day?
She finally made it toward the door, unsure whether or not her sorority sisters had heard the noise as well as she reached toward the knob. Carefully twisting it, she slowly opened the door.
At that very moment Squishy Squibbles was about to slide a colorful piece of paper under the door. His eyes widened in shock as he stared up at the taller monster. He nearly stumbled as he took a step back, gripping the paper he had intended to leave in her house.
"Uh..." the little OK monster gulped nervously, trying to smile, "...hi?"
Rosie raised an eyebrow in confusion, then her gaze fell on the paper in his tiny hand. Before she could say anything, Squishy handed it to her, and she hardly had a word before he quickly dashed off down the steps of her house. She watched as he nearly collided behind Don Carlton, who had a few papers rolled under a tentacle arm. The moment the mature student turned in Rosie's direction, he gave a friendly.
"Good morning, Rosie!" he called out cheerfully. "Sorry, we didn't mean to wake you up! Just passing something around here before we head back to campus!"
The HSS leader could only wave back, smiling awkwardly as Don led his soon-to-be stepson away, intending to pass more of whatever was written on those papers. Rosie peered down at the one in her hand, and she blinked in surprise by what it said:
OOZMA KAPPA'S SPECIAL EGG HUNT AND BRUNCH. MEET IN FRONT OF SCHOOL OF SCARING IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. FREE CANDY AND FOOD!
"What did that little guy give you, Rosie?"
She looked over her shoulder just time to see see Rhonda waltz beside her, her set of whip-like hairs draping to one side of her head. Dressed in a royal blue robe, she glanced at the paper in her president's hand.
"An egg hunt?" she stated in confusion, before noticing that the other HSS girls had been woken up by the mild noise outside.
Rosie said nothing before she caught sight of no other than the Perry twins bickering over who was going to put the flyer under the ROR's door. It seemed to be a pointless argument, honestly. It wasn't like one twin would remain at distance while the other was daring enough to approach the steps of the fraternity that was, undoubtedly, their rival. She knew Terry would hate it just as much.
"Oh, Art," said a voice, "I didn't expect you this early in the morning."
She stared across the cul-de-sac to witness the crazy pair of legs stand before the JOX president, the latter wearing a robe that was almost as flashy as his fraternity jacket. Big Red read over the flyer, his expression evenly matched with Rosie's before he turned back to Art.
"An egg hunt?" he asked in surprise.
"May the best monster win!" the purple monster winked before he hurried off, laughing almost maniacally.
One by the one their Greek neighbors emerged from their houses, fully-woken by the noise of laughter and talking that cut into the quiet morning in which they had hoped to sleep through. Carrie stood on the front porch of her sorority house with her sisters as she read over the flyer. Their skirts and leggings natural, the only thing they could wear for sleeping attire were basically PNK shirts much similar to their trademark sweaters. Except for Taylor Holbrook, the tomboy who defied the color and chose to wear a loose grayish violet shirt with its sleeves torn off Carla was sitting on the patio of her sorority house with the other EEK girls gathering around and listening as she read the flyer in her tentacles. Unlike the PNKs, each of them wore something different, and it didn't match their Greek colors, much like Taylor. Even Big Red and his JOX brothers sleepily looked over the flyer once more, and Rosie could see a stuff animal of some kind wrapped snugly under the strong bicep of George Sanderson as he tried to rub the grogginess from his eyes.
Finally, she spotted the twins finally giving in as they cautiously approached the ROR house that towered over the other Greek houses. After what had occurred between Terry Perry and Johnny Worthington that fateful day, Rosie could only hope nothing bloody would occur. Much to her relief, in the depths of their quiet bickering, it was Terri who forced the paper under the door, crumpling it a bit. But his brother hardly cared. He would have crumpled it and toss it right against the front door. She watched as the two quickly scurried off, their noodle legs flailing about as they rejoined their OK brothers. Rosie noticed that Mike and Sulley were not among them, supposedly back at Squishy's mother's house sleeping. Unlike them.
"Sorry if we woke you all up, everyone!" Don hollered at the top of his lungs, all of Frat Row's eyes on him. "Just handing you this before we have to get things ready! Have another few minutes' sleep, fellas! It's Friday, anyway!"
He laughed as he led his frat brothers away, all waving and bidding goodbye to their Greek neighbors as they left the cul-de-sac. Just as they were off, the door of the ROR house swung open. There stood the Worthington heir himself decked in an expensive-looking red robe that bore the ROR insignia on the side.
Johnny yawned, holding the flyer between his fingers while Chet stood beside him, blinking in utter confusion as Oozma Kappa left their premises.
"An egg hunt?" Johnny snorted. "Seriously? How old do they think we are? We're adults!"
Rosie rolled her eyes before she glanced over to see Big Red glare at the ROR leader across from his frat house.
"Hey, shove it up your tail, Worthington!" the JOX president barked. "It's Easter, ain't it?"
"That's not until Sunday," Johnny called out, scoffed. "And besides, why should we care about Easter? It's for little kids, anyway!"
"Oh, you're a bore, Johnny!" Brynn spat, smoothing down her bubblegum blue sleeping gown as she stood at the steps of her EEK house. "This is going to be fun! OK's hosting it!"
"I haven't egg-hunted since..." Taylor began, smiling to herself, "well, since I was a kid!"
Murmurs of agreement echoed through Frat Row followed by chatter of excitement, knowing that Oozma Kappa had a surprise planned for them. An Easter surprise, with candy and everything! It was like a frat party taken place in the morning!
Johnny only seethed, wondering what the heck happened to the "dignity" of Frat Row, who were now stepping so low into the interests of what MU has declared as "the happiest fraternity on campus". That was a complete piece of-
"I wonder what's going to be inside the eggs," Heather wondered, looking over the flyer once more. "I hope we get a lot of chocolate!"
"Oh, I love chocolate!" Sonia nearly squealed, something almost unusual for a HSS girl yet she appeared to be an exception. "I hope we get those little bite-size pieces with nuts in them! Or the ones wrapped in foil! The ones wrapped in foil always taste the best!"
"Says here there's going to be a brunch," George added.
"Yes!" Dirk hooted, raising a fist in the hair as if in victory. "That means Mrs. Squibbles is cooking!"
"Oh, seriously?" Percy chuckled. "If that's the case, I'll definitely skip breakfast to have eights on her food!"
"This egg hunt sounds like a really good workout," Brynn commented to the others as she twirled her fins with her fingers, "I am so going to get the most eggs! I was a star egg-hunter when I was a kid!"
"One egg hunt my parents added hard-boiled eggs to the mix," Britney detailed, "but not all of them had been hard-boiled..."
Johnny could only groan in frustration, wondering if their souls had been sucked into childish stupidity created by the incredibly childish fraternity known as Oozma Kappa. Egg hunting was stupid, and he grew out of it before he even turned thirteen! During the Easter holiday his family would go to the next city to enjoy the luxuries of a one-day cruise with massages and sushi. Not plastic eggs filled with candy! When Johnny ate candy on Easter, it was the expensive kind, such as Mudiva!
"I...I think our opinion won't matter, Johnny."
He looked down at Chet who rubbed his claws together, the larger one gently gripping his smaller one. The expression in his single eye could have hinted he might be trying to conceal his desire for eggs and candy as well.
The Worthington heir scoffed. "You and other guys can join them if you want," he said unenthusiastically as he looked at the flyer once more. "There is no way I am joining in this dumb egg hunt..."
~
"Why am I joining in this dumb egg hunt?"
Carla rolled her eyes and shook her head as her tentacle remained on Johnny's shoulder, walking beside him along with other students who saw the flyer and wanted to join in the event. She had pleaded with Johnny to enjoy what OK had to offer. To live a little and realize that just because one was over eighteen didn't mean they couldn't stop acting like kids. For Johnny, he needed to cut loose like one every once in a while. That arrogant pride of his was nearly unbearable, with very few of the Greek Life willing to give him the time of day for it. She was one of them, and had ultimately refused to allow Johnny to stay by himself at home and miss the chance of a lifetime to feel like a kid again as OK could live and breath like children all they wanted.
"You are going to have a good Easter!" Carla insisted firmly. "Even if I have to staple your feet to the ground!"
"Glob, you're starting to sound like a parent, Delgado," Johnny grumbled as they reached the jewel of university.
The moment they spotted Oozma Kappa, Mike and Sulley as well as Mrs. Squibbles were present as well as they prepared the tables occupied by surplus of food. Mouths drooled at the sight of well-whipped eggs, greasy bacon, seasoned chicken legs and thighs, and even biscuits and gravy as Ms. Squibbles stirred a bowl full of the brown, gooey goodness. There was even a cake stand where lemon squares, coconut bars, and various other delicious and colorful treats were present. Many tables were set up, and more than enough food that could possible feed the entire campus.
Crystal Dubois's eyes widened in joy as she raced toward the tables, officially the first to be so close to so much wonderful and well-prepared food. Dirk caught up beside her, both of them nearly running a waterfall at the mouth as the scents wafted through their nostrils. Other students who were not of the Greek Life chattered with even more excitement, and it was evident people had skipped both breakfast and lunch just to eat consume the wonderful cooking of the OK mom. Rosie smiled as she neared one of the other tables, watching as no other than Mike Wazowski placed down a bowl of what appeared to be punch with strawberries and grapes in the pool of it all.
"Wow, this is awesome," the HSS leader complimented as she watched the smaller green monster adjust the spoon at the right angle. "Mrs. Squibbles made all this?"
"Well, we all pitched in," the former college student informed. "Some of this was actually prepared the night before and-SULLEY, DON'T EAT THE MUFFINS YET!"
Rosie was nearly blown away by the hurricane of a voice that had erupted from the little monster. She looked over her shoulder just in time to see the blue behemoth himself reluctantly place down a buttery-looking muffin back on the tray right next to the egg salad. She turned back to Mike, who huffed for a few moments before breathed calmly once more.
"Anyway," he continued, "we spent half the night getting all this food ready, and even spent hours figuring out the hardest places to hide the eggs."
"That hard?" Rosie chuckled. "This'll be just like pre-school!"
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch," Mike smirked, "even Art hid them in places you might think twice before going into."
The way he said nearly sent a chill down Rosie's spine. She kept up her usual tough-as-nails expression, with the exception of a decent smile. But she honestly never felt this particular anticipation since...the Scare Games. But what would an egg hunt and those events have in, common, anyway?
"Hello, Red, sweetheart!" Mrs. Squibbles greeted the massive JOX monster as she placed down her gravy. "Oh, this is wonderful! Now all my son's friends are here! What a great early Easter this is going to be!"
Big Red grinned from ear to ear before he regarded the heavenly display. "Wow, cooking all this must have worn you out."
"Well, I will admit, I'm a little pooped after all the baking and stirring and extra grocery shopping," the woman admitted, wiping a hint of perspiration off her face, "but it was all worth it."
"We appreciate, ma'am," the JOX leader stated sincerely, "while this was all a surprise, we love it, really!"
"Oh, that's good to hear!" she cooed. "Now why don't you join the other Greek kids over there by the sign Donnie and Sulley are hanging up? The game is about to begin!"
Big Red nodded, thinking wisely as to not grab anything with his own fingers as he politely departed from the delicious sight. He stood beside the Worthington heir himself who was next to Carla as they watched the sign that was hanging between two wooden poles unfold before them.
"Welcome to the Eggs Games?" Johnny read in disbelief. He turned to Carla. "The heck is that?"
"THE EGG GAMES!"
Everyone was nearly startled off their skin before all eyes fell on a flat table where sat no other than the president and vice president of the Greek Council. Claire merely rolled her eyes while Brock appeared as pumped as ever, pounding his fists against the fragile table.
"A super intense holiday competition!" Brock bellowed.
"You could totally die..." Claire droned. "...of frustration." she added with a smirk.
Johnny's eyes widened in realization before he let out a frustrated groan.
"Oh, come on!" he cried, throwing his hands in the air. "Are these guys serious? Parodying the Scare Games?"
"I think it's clever!" Carla insisted, followed by a few murmurs in agreement. "And it's adorable!"
"Adorable is not good!" Johnny remarked. "Right, Chet?"
However, he received no response as he peered over the crowd of Greek monsters and spotted his ROR brothers scattered amongst the array. While the other three were merely nonchalant and showed rarely any enthusiasm, Chet was like a kid in a candy store as he looked up at the sign.
Carla smirked at Johnny. "You'll take that as a no."
Claire had to smile, tapping her fingers upon the table while Brock was shaking in his seat. When OK has first invited them over for this early Easter celebration, both had been incredibly surprised of their request that they resume their announce jobs. Relive the Scare Games spirit in this egg hunt that was about to occur. While neither had witnessed an egg hunt in years since they were little kids, they would give it their best shot. And Brock had to admit this was more fun than watching the teams try to grab the flag without getting caught by the librarian!
This was a more light-hearted competition, and it still amazed her that OK had thought of all this just for their Greek community and alma mater. And Claire was honored she and Brock could provide their roles in this special event...as well as delighted to have first dibs on the food as she glanced over at the plate of lemon squares between them.
"I thought Wheeler would hate this stuff..." Johnny glowered, shaking his head.
"Oh, that's being judgmental!" Carla snapped.
"Seriously, what next?" Johnny scoffed, claws on his hips. "What, the Dean's going to come over here and announce just like she did at the kick-off eve-"
He was immediately cut off when something casted a shadow over him. He blinked, stunned as a familiar pair of wings glided over them before landing before Don Carlton and his OK brothers right beside the sign they just finished hanging. All voices automatically hushed in her presence, the stern eyes of the Scaring program regarding all that had decided to join in the festivities.
However, a faint smile played on her lips as she held her head high. Hands not behind her back as they laid to her sides.
"Oh, goody, Abigail, you made it!" Ms. Squibbles squealed happily as she joined beside her.
"Yes, thank you," the Dean coughed lightly, her cheeks almost flushing with embarrassment.
"Something tells me that Dean's going to coming to a lot of our parties in the future..." Big Red muttered to Dirk.
"My fellow students," the Dean began as her multitude of legs squirmed through the grass, "I will make this very brief on account of I am well-aware of how anticipated you are to get this egg-hunting started. Before we do, I ask that we give our thanks to our dear Greek fraternity Oozma Kappa for preparing this special treat for us."
And with that she delicately clapped her hands as she smiled over at Don and his frat brothers, especially former students Mike and Sulley. The rest of their guests applauded with enthusiasm and cheer as the hands erupted against their palms for the proud and kind-hearted fraternity. Don blushed while the rest of his monsters waved and nodded in gratitude.
"As you may have noticed," the Dean continued, "this is quite similar to our recent Scare Games event. Let me assure you that this may seem like a competitive sport to some of you, but it is all in good-natured fun and to celebrate the joy that is Easter."
Johnny turned away from her direction, still feeling bitter over having his prized trophy confiscated from him.
"However..."
He merely paid a glance before his eyes nearly bugged right out of their sockets when Squishy trudged over to the Dean with what appeared to be a football-shaped trophy. Made of gold. Hardscrabble smiled before carrying the item in her long claws, almost without need for any amount of strength as she held it high for all the see. Monsters gazed in awe as it glittered in the sunlight, and as Johnny analyzed, it was a large egg made of golden plastic.
"Why this is called the Egg Games does identify one certain priority," she added, "and that is to take home the trophy-er, I mean, golden egg."
She averted her gaze for a moment, feeling even more embarrassed over the words that just escaped from her own mouth. She looked over at Ms. Squibbles, who beckoned her encouragingly.
"Scaring is not necessary in this game we call an egg-hunt," she explained thoroughly, "but requires a good amount of teamwork. Without teamwork, a monster may as well be lost in his or her own victories. I ask that while you work together, please have fun doing so." She smiled, seeing the murmurs echo from the Greek monsters before her. "I wish you all luck, and may the best monsters win."
Heather Olsen's trio of eyes sparkled in awe as she gazed at the golden egg that was like a giant chunk of bling worth thousands of dollars. She knew it was plastic, but still, the appearance of it was just so tempting.
"Oh, glob, I want it!" Heather cried.
"Scarers!" Claire hollered as if they were back in sewer 14 where the very first Scare Games event occurred. "Grab your baskets and get to the starting line!"
Glaring glumly at the yellow basket slid into his hands by Carla, Johnny found his other ROR brothers as they stood beside the JOX group, the latter team hooting and chanting about grabbing all the eggs. The Worthington heir himself felt like he was enduring a humiliating punishment of some sort, as of OK had intended to put him in an awkward situation that would make him jeer with aggravation. But at least as he looked to his ROR brothers, the feeling was quite mutual...with the exception of Chet who was only in it for the candy.
Johnny had to admit that maybe that golden egg would work great in the trophy case. Whatever was inside, he'll let Chet have it instead.
Don smiled toward his Greek neighbors as Terri and Terry held flags which would indicate when it was time to proceed. The twins smiling, they stood right beside the starting fence where the monsters of their community huddled in one section while in their teams.
"Whoever has the most eggs wins the egg-hunting challenge," Claire announced. "Other teams can just bite it."
"And whatever they got in the eggs they found!" Brock added.
Terry beamed as he waved his flag a few times. "On your mark...get set..."
"I thought we were going to say it one sentence after the other!" Terri gripped, glaring at his brother.
"I said we were going to say it together, genius!" Terry remarked, having completely forgotten what they were suppose to do. "We say it at the same time!"
"Are you kidding? You're going scream over my voice!" Terri whined.
"Not my fault my voice sounds more mature!" Terry argued.
"Oh, geez..." Nadya sighed, rolling her trio of eyes, "here they go again..."
"Boys!" Ms. Squibbles called out toward the twins, snapping them out of their bickering.
The twins returning to their job, both twirly their flags toward their teams once more.
"On your mark..." Terry began.
"Get set..." Terri added.
"GO!" Brock hollered, his voice echoing throughout the campus that it could be heard from Fear Tech.
OK and student spectators cheered as their Greek friends bolted past the sign, scattering amongst the grass and buildings in search of the promised eggs. There was no limit to where they were hidden, they would practically have to turn the campus upside down in order to find them!
Johnny watched as Brynn bolted past him and his ROR brothers, EEK member Donna Soohoo slithering quickly behind her.
"Where do we go first?" Chet asked.
Grip tightening on the basket, Johnny looked down at him and was about to speak when a voice rang out.
"Found them!"
They turned to Brynn Larson herself, who had just hopped off a nearby tree. A white egg with pink flowers on it glistened in her fingertips. She smiled happily before dropping into her basket and high-fived Donna's bushy front.
Johnny glowered, unable to believe he was getting his rear kicked in a stupid childish game.
~
"Aha!" Dirk declared happily, snatching an egg that had barely been noticed atop a stack of the Campus Roar out on the quad.
His basket jingled, evident that he was getting a lot of candy out of his find. He found about a dozen eggs in total right now, and he wasn't going to stop there. His JOX brothers had scattered around the university, praying to glob to find more than him and hopefully win that golden egg.
Whistling to himself, he glanced at his surroundings, hoping to spot his thirteenth. What luck when he found one near the troll bridge!
Floating on the water atop of a paper sailboat...
Dirk raised his eyes in astonishment by the display, and had to admit that OK sure was creative in hiding these eggs. He watched as the egg's raft drifted under the bridge, still floating on open water. The orange monster felt he would have to go for a little swim if he wanted that egg. He hurriedly descended the hill and kept up with the floating prize. Grunting, he placed back down his basket before quickly removing his jacket. With a shout, he splashed into the stream, and he immediately shivered, not realizing how cold it was.
Still, that didn't stop him as he swam toward the egg, its plastic blue shell enticing to his eyes.
While he was doing that, he failed to notice a certain someone tiptoeing toward his basket. Furry legwarmers bristled in anticipation as a claw reached toward one of the eggs that was mesmerizing to the eyes.
"What are you doing, Heather?"
The PNK girl gasped before she turned just in time to see Carla regard her firmly, unable to believe the actions she was witnessing.
"Oh, come on!" Heather whined, stamping her feet. "Dirk won't notice! It's just one egg! I promise!"
Before the EEK leader could say anything, she swiped one from the basket and rushed off, cheering happily and screaming inaudible words of joy. Carla could only watch in disappointment, then she turned around just in time to see Dirk make it to dry land. He sighed in content, water dripping from his fur and egg in his hand.
"I got it!" he said happily before dropping it into his basket.
He then peered closely at it, one eyebrow raising in confusion.
"Funny, I thought I'd have thirteen already..." he said.
Carla only bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder every now and then.
~
Maria's eyes sparkled as she spotted a green egg just sitting atop a lone flower in one of the gardens on campus. Luckily, it wasn't near the cacti, so her opportunity was easy.
Giggling to herself she rushed toward. However, she was not alone as Britney Davis and George Sanderson had seen it as well. It was a race agains the clock right now as they all rushed toward the same item. However, Maria Garcia had one advantage.
With a low grunt she stopped in her tracks, the immediate halt earning her the strength to lunge forward much faster. Before either George or Britney could grab at the egg, the EEK girl did a flip in the air before scooping the egg into her hands.
Having not seen that coming, Britney tripped onto the grass and was flat on her stomach. George, however, was not so lucky...
He tripped forward, nearly gliding in the air before he fell straight into the garden.
Into the blooming cacti.
His screams nearly left both Britney and Maria deaf as they echoed throughout the campus.
~
"I can't believe this!" Johnny growled as his ROR brothers followed behind him. "We haven't found one egg since this game started!"
"Yeah, everyone's pretty much beating the slime out of us," Chet commented. He flinched when his leader shot him a glare.
"There's got to be a freebie here..." the ROR leader muttered as they walked across the courtyard, approaching the library.
"Hey, what about that?" Chip Goff asked, pointing toward the library's entrance.
Johnny looked in his direction and his eyes widened when he spotted a single yellow egg that laid on one of the tables inside the library.
On the desk of the librarian herself who was squinting at her book.
And to wound more of this discovery, a round bell was attached to it by a ribbon.
The Worthington heir seethed, wondering if OK knew he would eventually take this stupid game so seriously that they decided to screw with his abilities and make his part of the game that difficult. Bet it was that Art guy's idea, or maybe even the older Perry twin's since he was the one who humiliated Johnny before.
The other RORs stood outside the entrance. For once fear shone on each of their faces. While the library challenge during the Scare Games had been easy to them, this was not something they had been training for. They could untie the ribbon as quietly as they could, but that single jingle bell would give them away in a heartbeat. And none of them had ever been thrown out of the library before.
"Maybe we can look somewhere else," Javier grunted under his breath, his four eyes blinking at the death wish before them.
"Guys, come on!" Johnny snapped. "If we let it go, then OK really has got the upperhand over us! Let's just take our time and go over there-"
"Before Levin and Steslicki get it!" Chet cried, pointing his larger claw.
Johnny looked over his shoulder and his eyes widened in horror to see Rosie and EEK girl Violet crawl toward the librarian's desk. Silent as they were, both girls grimaced with fear as they neared the massive beast. Violet was especially scared, recalling too well how she and her girls suffered in the second event. Rosie was determined, but still was was wincing and hoping the soft clunk of her knees against the wooden floors wouldn't attract the perfect hearing of the librarian.
"Glob, they're brave..." Chet muttered.
The ROR leader just growled before he beckoned for his brothers to follow. All fell on their knees, with the exception of Chet who merely scurried quietly behind Reggie as they trailed across the lengthened floor. They would hurry if they have to, fighting their hardest to win the egg over the sorority girls.
Violet held her breath as she and Rosie pressed their backs agains the front of the librarian's desk. Both glanced at each other, then Violet motioned for the latter to hush before she slowly lifted herself to her feet. Rosie bit over her lips as she watched Violet slowly slide her hand toward the egg, keeping her fingers away from the bell. Sweat began to pour down from the EEK girl's head as she gently fingered the plastic, before clamping it on two claws.
However, she silently gasped when she gave a light tug, making the bell almost roll on itself. Turning to Rosie, the HSS girl desperately thought for something.
An idea suddenly came to mind before she glanced over at the mug that was full of pencils, pens, and other assortment atop the desk. Carefully reaching toward it, she slipped out a pair of scissors before handing it to Violet. The purple monster turned back to the egg, cautiously inching the blades toward the ribbon.
Opening the tool, she carefully snipped little by little, perspiration nearly blinding her eye as she prayed her hand wouldn't tremble. Rosie nearly chewed her lip off, before peering across from them to see an infuriated Johnny who just realized he was far too late to do anything.
"Got it..."
She looked up and breathed a sigh of relief as Violet held the egg to her, half the ribbon attached to it. The girls beamed at each other, grateful that not one hint of noise had occurred since they got here.
However, before either could stop it from happening, the little bell Violet had separated from the egg somehow just rolled off the side of the desk.
And fell onto the floor with a musical clink.
Both gasped before they looked up, seeing the terrifying face of the librarian immediately rip away from her book as she glared down at them. Her teeth bared as her massive body emerged from behind her desk.
"QUIET!" she screeched.
The girls just ran off down the library, screaming and grunting with ROR not too far behind them. All barreling through the exit and tumbling in a heap on the grass as tentacles nearly shot out to grab them.
Violet spat out some grass from her lips before she looked at the egg that laid beside her.
"Here's the stupid egg," she muttered, shoving it toward Rosie who laid on her back.
~
Johnny opened another plastic egg which was filled with coins and jelly beans. He popped a red one into his mouth, allowing to flavor to sink into his system as he chewed.
So much for trying to win the golden egg. His fraternity only managed to gather a couple dozen, most of it out of generosity by the Greek neighbors including Carla. Said EEK leader sauntered over to him, chewing on some nougats she found in her plastic eggs.
"Well, this was an awesome egg hunt, am I right?" she asked, her tone hoping to lift his brooding spirits.
"Yeah, I guess this was pretty okay," Johnny murmured, tossing the plastic egg back into the basket before grabbing another one and shaking it a bit.
"And I love jelly beans!" she exclaimed. "Ooh, if you have any black ones, give them to me!"
Johnny chuckled. "Sure, Delgado. What's mine is yours."
"Attention, everyone," Brock hollered as he and Claire stood beside the OK fraternity with Squishy holding the golden egg in his tiny hands, "it is time to announce which team has won the egg hunting challenge."
By now monsters were already stuffing their faces with Mrs. Squibbles cooking that they only served half their attention to the vice president. But they still were able to listen, anticipating which frat or sorority had won the ultimate prize. Johnny sighed once more, spreading his legs across the grass while his ROR brothers were busy indulging the buffet tables around them. Still, he smiled a bit, having to admit he did have some fun in this ridiculous little game OK created for the Easter holiday. He watched as Carrie scarfed down the remaining black jelly beans he offered her, chuckling a bit.
"But a first, a quick announcement," Brock stated. "Python Nu Kappa has been disqualified!"
Carrie winced and averted her gaze to the ground, feeling utterly embarrassed as her sorority sisters while Heather's knees buckled.
"Apparently one of them has been stealing from the other competitors's baskets which is cause for elimination," Brock pointed out, smirking a little.
Heather clutched her basket of eggs tighter against her chest. While she was honestly ashamed of her actions, she just couldn't part with the eggs she wasn't forced to give up. Carrie had chided her a bit on this, so did Carla who had been one of many witnesses to her theft. Fortunately, Brock already moved on the section portion of his announcement, leaving her to cherish her remaining eggs like diamonds picked out of rare mountain stone.
"The winner of the egg hunting challenge," Brock announced excitedly, "for a 113 eggs total...Slugma Kappa Kappa!"
The princesses in purple waved to their adoring fans, nodding in gratitude to Oozma Kappa who applauded for their victory. It was Squishy who approached the strong yet bubbly sorority and presented them with the golden egg. It was Brynn who accepted it. After all, she had found the most eggs out of not just her team, but of all the other monsters.
"Yes!" she cried out happily. "I am still the Goddess of the Egg Hunt!"
She quickly opened the golden egg, and she gasped in amazement to find not only larger chocolate eggs wrapped in foil as well a five-dollar bill inside it, but a coupon!
"For The Growl!" Don laughed heartily as he motioned to Brynn. "Fifty percent off your next order!"
"That's it?" Johnny rolled his eyes, rubbing his cheek.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" the aquatic squealed, racing over to embrace Don with joy.
Rosie laughed as she dabbed some butter onto her biscuits, more grateful to finally be finished with the egg hunt so she could chow down on Mrs. Squibbles cooking. She turned just in time to see Carrie stand beside her glum as she piled her plate with eggs, bacon, and a few drumsticks.
"Lighten up, maybe they'll have something planned before summer," Rosie comforted.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Carrie sighed. "It was still Heather's fault though."
"She must have a die-hard obsession with eggs," Rosie chuckled.
"Yeah..." Carrie's voice trailed off. "Eggs..."
Rosie blinked, flashback finished as she regarded the PNK leader once more.
"Man, she cost you big time," the HSS leader pointed out.
"We forgave her anyway," Carrie muttered. "But glob only knows she doesn't try something during the Scare Games."
"Now what could she possible steal during that?" Rosie laughed.
"The shinier, the worser," the other pointed out, "which is why you might want to hold those earrings of yours a little tighter to your horns."
Rosie ceased her chuckles, eyes widening at the suggestion.
"Glob, don't troll me, Williams," Rosie almost growled. "Last thing I want is my piercing collection stolen. Klepto-freak or not."
"Oh, I don't think you're the only one who might get trolled..." Carrie murmured, that one term sinking in.
_