I've been meaning to update this story for a long time, but every time I attempted to start, I'd procrastinate or write a line and close word. With a recent review from Priestess Yuki-hime-sama, I got off my ass, finished this up and uploaded it! :)

Update 1: Chapter one has been re-edited and lengthened to give a better explanation on Clawd's side.

Update 2: The original chapter three (YJAUP - Clawd) has been removed.

For new and old readers, chapter 2 ended with Abbey looking for Lagoona, however I will be redoing that chapter and uploading the new version along with chapter 8 (It will keep the original idea). After that, chapter 3 and 4 will be tweeked when chapter 9 is up.

There is a saying that goes "Everything that is done in the dark, will eventually come to the light".

Twyla thought that was complete bull shit though. Darkness wasn't where things hid, it was in the shadows; the shadows - that followed all - knew all the secrets of time, of the light. The shadows trailed behind everything light shined through, never to be seen. While light could penetrate the dark, light could never get the shadows. The shadows were safe, and that's how Twyla liked it.

Because that meant she was safe; her thoughts, her dreams, her secrets. The shadows was a veil that kept everyone in it protected, that's why she never left it. In the shadows, her dark thoughts could come alive without anyone knowing, anyone judging. And that's how Twyla liked it.

X

After leaving gym class, Abbey had begun to wander through the halls; she opted to skip lunch to gather her thoughts and calm herself down. Her journey took her to the west wing of the school that was used for after school recreational clubs. In the middle of the day, it was quiet, peaceful, so she took the opportunity to ask herself some questions.

"I never dated a boy before, so how can I be completely sure that I don't like boys? I can't just assume."

"And it's not weird to think ghouls look good, ghoulfriends always compliment Abbey". So why did it feel different? When Abbey thought of how good another girl looked, it wasn't the causal up and down sweep, it was close to ogling. She never thought of how pretty someone's dress was, but how well it fitted their body. "But is that normal?" she said aloud, "Do other girls think like this?"

She thought of her friends and how they looked at each other, how they interacted. Never did their hugs linger, never did they unconsciously check each other out. She was also sure they never felt nervous when they changed together…

With every question, came an answer that Abbey didn't like. "No Abbey, you're thinking wrong questions. You're not attracted to same sex, right?" She thought about it, had she ever been attracted to another ghoul?

"No!" she answered loudly, not wanting to come to a conclusion she'd regret. But that didn't stop her mind from dwelling and the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach when she realized that while she was never attracted to her friends in that way, she was clearly turned on by them. Friends were to be friends, nothing more, Abbey knew, but they were the only ones she hung around with. What if she met someone who wasn't a friend, what would happen then? Would she start questioning herself?

Abbey gasped loudly, "Like I am now after being with Robecca! No, no, that's… That's impossible! I can't be, I can't be…"

Suddenly a voice spoke, "You know, you ghouls should really stop talking to yourselves. The walls have ears, and I'm the one that's listening".

Abbey jumped and without thinking, shot forth a blast of ice in the direction of the voice. Trying her best to calm down her racing heart, she listened to see if she had gotten her target, after hearing a groan, she shot another, more powerful blast.

"Show yourself!" She demanded. She was answered with the sounds of chains rattling. A silhouette of some kind of monster was seen on the walls. As it was forming itself into a figure, the chains began to get louder. Abbey took a defensive pose, allowing the snow around her to envelop her hands and forming it into a large icicle.

Stepping out of the shadows, the figure revealed itself – "Twyla! What, what are you doing?" Abbey dropped her arms, the icicle melting away.

"Just walking around. Sorry for the dramatic entrance, it happens sometimes. You know, Daughter of the Boogey man and all, but I didn't expect to be attacked because of it."

"I'm sorry, you spooked me."

"I get that a lot."

Remembering what Twyla had said, Abbey frowned and responded, "And so you know, I wasn't talking to the walls, so that just means you're an eavesdropper".

Twyla chuckled as she walked closer to Abbey, "If that's what you want to think, then go ahead. Either way, I heard it all."

Giving her a weary look, Abbey asked, "And just how much did you hear?"

"Enough."

Abbey took in a sharp breathe, "Just what did that mean? That she heard everything or just some of it? Did she know or did she just think she knew?"

"You want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Abbey answered hastily.

Twyla walked over to her, "You like girls". It wasn't a question.

"Damn", Abbey thought, "She does know…" forcing a loud laugh, she answered, "You must be sick with the yack infection, you speak nonsense!"

"I won't tell anyone, I promise you that".

Abbey bit her lip, she didn't know what to say. Just like that, Twyla had already figured out her secret and now, could do whatever she wanted with that information. Okay, so Abbey knew that Twyla wasn't the type to expose another ghoul but she still didn't know how to feel with someone knowing something that could destroy her life, especially when she didn't tell that person yourself.

"It's not that I think you will tell anyone but rather, you will not understand."

"Then why don't you explain it to me?

Abbey thought about it for a moment. She was just coming to terms that she wasn't like other ghouls. She wasn't even sure if she accepted herself, how was she to tell others of her problem? How would they react?

"You're not the only one Abbey", Twyla whispered then.

"What?"

Twyla fidgeted around for a moment before looking at Abbey and repeating herself, "You're not the only one".

Abbey jerked back in surprise, was she serious? Well, of course she was. This wasn't something a ghoul would joke about, but still, this was shocking news. She only just discovered this fact about herself and now here she was, with someone who was just like her! She frowned then, "Someone just like me…"

"… Great, so now we're both outsiders."

"What do you mean?"

"This, what we're thinking, how we're thinking... It's not normal."

Twyla scoffed, "Look around you, Ghoul, nothing about us is exactly normal. I accept who I am, and the person I care about most does too. That's all that matters."

Abbey perked up, "You're father knows?"

Twyla paused for a minute, "Umm, no, no. My dad doesn't know and as long as I'm staying under his roof, he never will. He'd spook out and have an ectoplasm attack".

Seeing Abbey's reaction, Twyla quickly added, "But not everyone is like that". Abbey gave a loud a 'Ha!', "Is that so? If family cannot accept, then who are we to expect anyone else to know?"

"Well, the only other person who knows about me is Catty. She figured it out on her own and not-so-subtlety brought it up. I'm not the kind to lie, so I just told the truth. I doubt she would have dropped the subject anyway, if I didn't. But it's been months, and she still treats me as good as she did before."

Abbey raised an eyebrow, "How come Howleen doesn't know? She's your best ghoul, no?"

Twyla shifted around on her feet, forcing herself not to jump into the shadows. The shadows that have always kept me safe, never having to face the emotional turmoil of the real world.

This was the first time she had ever really spoken about her sexuality. Sure, Catty knew, but she was thoughtful enough to not press any further than a confirmation. And Twyla hadn't even spoken aloud about how who she was in like, with. If she kept in all in, then there was nothing to worry about. Right?

"But there's no point in hiding it now. And they say, acknowledgment is the first step… Maybe admitting it will make it easier to accept it all… Maybe… It won't hurt as much if I just let it out…"

"The person I care about most… It is Howleen." Her voice came out small, timid. "She doesn't know about me and I know she doesn't feel the same way in the slightest. In fact, I don't think she even notices… Which is great, actually. I can be with her as a friend and…and…" Twyla covered her face as tears ran down her face. "Fuck, Twyla… This was supposed to make it easier…"

Abbey was shocked, she had never seen this side of Twyla before. She only ever had two expressions, annoyed and 'whatever'. There was a saying back at home, "The strongest are the ones who break down the hardest", Abbey could only imagine the amount of turmoil the poor ghoul was finally unleashing to the surface.

Walking over to her, Abbey threw her arms around her, embracing her into a tight hug. Twyla cried even harder, returning the hug and tightening the hold. Abbey rocked her side to side, rubbing her back and telling her that sheep's cry, not shepherds.

"I'm sorry" Twyla choked out, "I'm so sorry."

Abbey broke from the hug and brushed away her tears, "You have no reason to apologize. But why do you cry?" Twyla wrapped her arms wound herself, forcing herself to not wish it was someone else's.

"She was the first person to ever notice me here at Monster High. The first person to ever want to be my friend. She was an outcast just like me, but she always made sure I never felt like one. How could I not end up liking her? And…and it makes me so mad and upset that, you know, I can never be with her the way I want too. That I have to put on a smile whenever she starts chasing down guys, and break away from her hugs that feel so damn good, Abbey. I just…" She let out a bitter laugh then.

"Lesbian 101: Never fall for a straight girl. Don't worry, everyone ends up breaking that rule. I thought I'd get over it but I don't know… It seems to get stronger the more I hang out with her. It's like she pulls me in more and more every time I find something new about her."

Abbey pressed her lips together, she felt so overwhelmed by it all. A small part of her was relieved, happy even, at finding someone who was going through the same thing, someone she could talk too but another part, a bigger part, was filled with doubt, sadness and frustration at this whole thing. And with Twyla Boogie pouring her heart out right now Abbey couldn't help but feel guilty at her lack of support.

"Twyla, can I be honest?" Twyla nodded a yes and Abbey took a deep breathe, "I don't… I'm not sure if this is okay".

"I come from a place that is heavy on traditions and is, how would I say it? Closed on the many thinking. Everything from sexuality, to the way you dress must be the way of the village. I had hard time fitting in at Monster High myself because I did not know how to interact with people who thought differently, who dressed how they wanted, spoke their opinions and even fought for their rights."

"I do not have anything against homosexuality, personally, but my mindset... The upbringing with hatred for those that were different and the stoning of monsters who were considered 'wrong'. I cannot shake off the mild disgust I hold for myself right now, or the fear of rejection I know to come from my own people."

Abbey felt tears of her own threatening to fall down her cheeks, "How can I even begin to love another when I'm afraid to even love myself? How did this even happen?"

Twyla covered her mouth and pinched her eyes shut to stop the fresh batch of tears and hiccups. To hear her inner thoughts coming out from someone else, finally someone who could relate to her.
She took a couple deep breaths to steady her breathing and wiped the tears off her face, "Ugh, this pity party needs to end".

"Listen Abbey," Twyla said, "I have heard of the saying that you don't choose to be gay, you just are. And I don't think a truer statement has ever been spoken. I thought it was just a momentary thing, or maybe a phase but it's not. When I realized how I felt about Howleen and my overall attraction to girls, I tried to 'fix' myself. Hex, spells, rituals… I even stood in the shadows of a church for a few weeks. But it is what it is and I am what I am. There's no getting rid of it, just accepting it."

"And", she continued, "I don't think we should hate ourselves for it. You're still you, no more and no less. You're just learning about yourself; you like the color purple, action movies are clawsome, you like ghouls. Trust me, none of your friends or family will treat you any less for it."

Abbey leaned back against the tree, what boogey girl speaks is truth. But that didn't make any of this any less scary.

Sensing her hesitation, Twyla offered a plan, "How about this? Sometime, you come with me to my house to 'come out of the shadows' to my father, and I'll be there for you when you decide to come out to… whoever. Deal?

Abbey didn't have the slightest clue who in the hell she would ever confess this secret too, if she even bothered too. But looking at Twyla, she could see the fear, the uncertainty and the need for understanding. She was sure if she looked in a mirror, she'd be seeing the same expressions on her own face.

Smiling, she nodded and shook hands. "Deal!"

I've been watching my Monster High DVD's to get some inspiration (Finally got 13 Wishes!). I had no idea how to continue with Abbey but after seeing Twyla, I thought she would be the perfect buddy for Abbey and a good way to move on with the side stories.

All in all, I think this chapter turned out pretty well.