A/N: This chapter is a bit on the shorter side. This is because the next few chapters will be quite lengthy in terms of further development.
Disclaimer: Monster High and characters are owned by Garrett Sander and Mattel.
Ch. 9: Cold Shoulders
December 2013: Week One
No POV
Tuesday: Aba Kiss-Me Deadly
Robecca Steam was visiting the clubroom today to not only check on Frankie, but also have a chance to get to know her more as both a club member and a possible friend before the upcoming winter break. Her only other friend at this school was Venus, however she was more of a morning ghoul compared to her and this year with their respective club activities and different class schedules, the pair only really have time to see each other during lunch when Robecca wakes up early some days.
"So Robecca, I haven't seen you around school besides you coming in once every two weeks to do inspections and provide parts for the club after school. What exactly do you do at Monster High, being a robot and all?"
Frankie and Robecca were sitting on the large dark brown attic table, taking a break from reading blueprints she brought from home that she spent her free time mapping out for the new year.
"Oh, actually I'm quite an old fashioned ghoul compared to the other students. I usually keep to myself these days when I'm not with my best ghoulfriend Venus. I usually do my schoolwork at home as mostly during the day, I sleep to recharge my batteries."
Frankie finds that cool and wishes she could be at least part robot and have steam like Robecca to speed down the halls.
"Hey, want to hear about a time last year where I helped the school with their scaremester projects?" Asked Robecca.
"Yeah, of course! How did you do it besides using your robotic smarts?"
Replied Frankie as she wanted a little break from doing any sort of homework.
Robecca briefly looked around the attic, making sure it was just her and Frankie alone in the clubroom.
"Well, I may as well tell it since it's just the two of us here." Added Robecca winking at Frankie.
One year ago…
Heath is walking the halls and sees Robecca sitting on the steps doing her homework on an antique typewriter.
"Hey, Robecca. What's the deal with that old time junk?" Asked Heath.
"Heehee, it's not junk. It's my school supplies." Replied Robecca.
Clawd and Draculaura were nearby hearing what Robecca mentioned to Heath. Clawd proceeds to walk over and ask her how she manages to get her work done using a typewriter.
"How are you going to do your homework with that outdated stuff? Here, use my laptop."
"Or my tablet!" Draculaura added, holding up her iPad.
"Listen, I prefer to do things the old fashioned way." Said Robecca.
Though she appreciates the gestures provided to her from her club members and Draculaura.
"But isn't it like, way harder with that stuff?" Draculaura asked with confusion.
"I find that it's much more rewarding." Robecca replies while gently lifting up her typewriter.
"You all should try it." She added.
"Uh, thanks but no thanks." Said Heath.
"Yeah, see ya." Said Clawd as he goes off to class.
Robecca gets up from the steps, grabs her typewriter, and steams down the halls briefly stopping around the corner.
Meanwhile, Heath goes over to what his friend Ghoulia is working on for Mad Science class with Draculaura nearby, having already gotten over her since their relationship ended before the summer break when Clawd asked her to the Scream Team Rally.
"Hey, what is this crazy thing?"
Asked Heath, interested in Ghoulia's latest invention.
"It's Ghoulia's science project!" Replied Draculaura.
"What does it do?" Heath asked.
"Something electromagnetic pulse or whatever." Said Draculaura, slightly averting his gaze.
As Heath attempts to get a closer look, the petite vampire blocks him.
"And I'm not supposed to let anybody mess with it. Especially you!"
Said Draculaura, still a bit angry at him after the way Heath treated her throughout their on again off again romance during sophomore year.
"Hey, chill out! I was just curious." Replied Heath.
"Hmph, curious to touch it." Said Draculaura, not believing what he meant.
"Ugggh" (Alright Draculaura, you know what to do.)
Said Ghoulia instructing Draculaura to watch over her project as she heads off to her next class.
"Right! I know what to do. Don't worry."
As Ghoulia leaves, Draculaura hears her iCoffin ring and picks up the phone.
"Oh my god! Tell me everything."
As the petite vampire walks off to the corner, Heath comes back and walks over to the machine, feeling his ego bruised a little that his ex-girlfriend insults his interest toward machines.
"Hmph, tells me I can't mess with stuff. I mean what am I gonna do? Hah!"
On impulse, he pulls down the lever, causing a strange light to emanate from the machine which caused the student's devices to shut down all over the school.
"Oh crap." Cursed Heath, slightly panicking.
Draculaura comes back angry at Heath for touching Ghoulia's project.
"Heath! Ugh, you're so impulsive."
Clawdeen and Lagoona heard the commotion nearby and pointed out their electronic devices stopped working.
"My phone ain't working." Said Clawdeen.
"My Biteology paper…" Added Lagoona.
Robecca, hearing the commotion steams over and has an idea on how everyone can get their scaremester projects finished before the winter break.
"I might be able to help."
"And that was a time where I helped Heath and the other students get their projects done while Ghoulia was finishing up her Mad Science project." Smiled Robecca.
"I don't know how you put up with him being in this club, Robecca. No offence, but he is an impulsive, cocky, hotheaded flirt who hardly does anything here besides read comics and not take classes seriously. I swear, it's like he acts this way because deep down he seems insecure. Not to mention that he got me in detention twice…"
Robecca smiles at her green stitched partner who crossed her arms slightly pouting, knowing another reason why Frankie comes up here after school besides her enthusiasm toward robotics.
"You fancy him?" Asked Robecca grinning at how Frankie describes him.
Frankie looked back up at Robecca, her eyes wide with a light blush forming around her cheeks alongside her volts slightly sparking.
"What? No way! He is so not my type. Besides, he has a girlfriend."
Frankie replied, looking off to the side. She wanted to respect boundaries, after all. Plus she values Abbey as a good friend despite her questionable taste in boys.
Abbey's POV
Friday: A Perfect Match
Several months ago…
February 2013: Thursday
I remember that week like was yak milk that expired fast. I sat with Cleo and girls in Creepateria.
"Oh my god. I can't believe the Valentine's Dead dance is this Frightday! Just only one day over."
Melody said while holding American magazine.
"I have to figure out what I'm going to wear and what Clawd's going to wear that matches in case I change my mind and pick something else to wear. And of course change Clawd's outfit then get upset that I have nothing to wear. Then at the last minute change my mind to what I picked out first. Phew"
Draculaura talks two things: Clawd and clothes. She talk too fast for Abbey to process due to still learning English. Clawdeen turn to me ask if I have date to dance.
"So Abbey, who are you taking to the Valentine's Dead dance?"
I was honest, nobody.
"Not going, nobody ask."
All ghouls are in shock. Why they care? Is just school dance.
"Is mystery. Boys find me cold. Is no big deal."
Out of corner of my eye, I see Burns walk over to our table.
"Hey ladies, Abbey. Check it!"
He juggles three spheres, after few tries he fails. Abbey could not help but laugh at his humor.
"Excuse me. We're having a serious convo Heath."
Why Draculaura so rude to Burns? I understand history they had but she see Clawdeen's brother now.
"If guys knew how amazing and sweet Abbey was, they would all have monster crushes on her."
Clawdeen point out holding her hands together. Melody then mention something about hurry up dating.
"Oh! I read in Monsterbeat magazine that the hot new trend is speed dating."
"You mean line up a bunch of guys and spend like a minute with each one?"
A minute? Huh, never had this back in home country. Even in Russia school this was unheard of.
"Exactly, mmhmm. And whoever fancies you, you can see them again."
"I not knowing of this hurry up dating, under this modern exterior still sort of old fashioned ghoul."
I replied to Melody holding palm to bosom. Cleo sitting next to me insist I try this.
"Oh come on! What have you got to lose?"
In the halls…
While I sit on table waiting for girls to finish set up, I hear Cleo call girls.
"Oh ghouls!"
"Heath, quit messing around! This is serious!"
"But I'm not messin' around. Hey!"
Burns waiting in line? Why they shoo away customer like they don't value them?
A few mins later…
"Why you wink at me? Just met you."
I see tall friend of Clawd wink at Abbey like he lost or flirt. Pick one or other.
"Uh I-I'm not! I only have-"
"Too fresh, sir. Next!" I shoo him.
Next is another of Clawd's friends, Romul think his name. Draculaura bring all her boyfriend druz'ya to Abbey? Not to mention one who fidget.
"So, hey. I was wondering if you, um…"
"No, too timid. You are sheep in wolf's clothing. Next."
I turn my head to left, Abbey may as well not go to dance at all at this point.
"Wah, waaaaah!"
I open my eyes and heard yelping. What is going on out door? I see Burns walk in holding both his arms on hips like strong yak.
"Hey hot stuff. Why don't you let me take you to the dance and I'll melt your heart."
I uncross my arms and look at his face while he gives me flirt look.
"Heath!"
All ghouls walk in. I don't see what problem is, he is customer to see Abbey.
"Out."
I hear Cleo say Ponting bandaged finger for Burns to leave. He proceed to trip and fall flat on face.
"Whoa! Ow…"
"Hehe…" Abbey could not help but laugh.
As he gets up, he looks back at Abbey with sad look on face. He seems like good yak.
"Wait."
I said, Abbey made her choice. Plus Abbey tired of this hurry up dating nonsense.
At the dance…
"Get down with my bad self. You like?"
As I was seeing Burns, I guess Americans call it "boogie", Cleo taps my shoulder. I turn and she look like she stepped in yak shit.
"Out of all those guys you met at speed dating, why did you decide to go to the dance with Heath?"
I look back at Burns, I see him happy. I replied back to Cleo honestly.
"He make me laugh."
"Thats it. Awoo!"
As fire lights up on his hands and head, the sprinkler goes off soaking his body. I go to him putting hand on his shoulder to cheer him up. Chorte, I accidentally froze him.
Cleo walks up to me with both hands on hips, pointing finger at me like Abbey did something wrong.
"Well, then. If that's what you want, then don't bother sitting with me and my ghouls at lunch or slumber parties anymore. He hurt Draculaura you know?"
Abbey's eyes widen, not knowing full story of past experience Draculaura had with Burns. I felt frozen tears form up in eyes.
"I sorry, but I-"
"Hmph, save it. You're nothing but a cold, heartless bitch."
I see Cleo then turn around to leave the gym. Melody, Clawdeen, and Draculaura all look at me with evil eyes.
I sat morning before class alone in student council clubroom finishing up fall scaremester 2013 budget report. Everyone else in council not come for morning being last Frightday before winter break as next Frightday only half day due to afternoon dance. Abbey next week won't be at Monster High, let Headmistress know I go week early to Macchu Picchu and see cousin Marisol. Abbey will miss school but family also important. I take iCoffin and send Heath text to meet Abbey at lunch by locker.
No POV
At lunch…
Abbey puts away her books in her locker. Heath walks up to her.
"Hey, Abbey. I got your text. You said you needed to tell me something?"
Abbey closes her locker and turns to where Heath is standing.
"Yes. Abbey won't be in school next week before holiday. I go to Macchu Picchu and spend time with cousin Marisol."
"When will you be back?" Heath asked.
"Be back for Boo Year's Eve."
Heath looks at her, sad that his girlfriend won't be in New Salem for a few weeks but understands given that Abbey hardly gets to stay in touch with her family members due to student council activities and preparing for college at the same time.
Abbey goes up to him and kisses his cheek.
"No need to be sad. Abbey will call. Harasho?"
Abbey assured him, looking back at Heath with a light smile.
"Well, you have been working hard since the school year started. I know how much work you put in and stuff. I was kinda hoping that we could spend more time together during the break as we have both been doing our own thing."
Instinctively, Heath goes up to Abbey and hugs her. She felt a warm tear falling on her shoulder as he rested his head on her for a brief moment before pulling away.
"Abbey will let you call."
Said Abbey, assuring that they will see each other for the New Year.