The room was awash in colorful lights, filled with dance music while servants moved through the room with trays of food while Christina's many desserts were nicely displayed on a table in the back of the room.
Like something out of a movie, Crystal thought, taking it all in.
"Hey, Crystal," Shaggy greeted with a smile.
"Hi"
"Not sure what to do?"
"No"
"If you don't want to dance," he motioned to the dance floor, "You could like, always do what Christina does"
"What's that?"
"Stick to the wall and hope it's over soon," Shaggy laughed.
"HEY!" Christina popped out of thin air, causing Crystal to jump with shock, "I HEARD THAT!" she flicked his nose.
"Relax, I'm only joking, Christy"
"At my expense," the hybrid rolled her eyes but there was a smile on her face.
"Come with me," Shaggy dropped his arms across their shoulders, "Let's mingle"
"But, Babe..."
"No books tonight," Shaggy pulled the hardcover from Christina's hands, "It's a back-to-school party"
"But that's my new book," Christina pouted, "And I've spent the last four HOURS up to my elbows in ingredients, I just wanna find out what happens next"
"And they all lived Happily Ever After," Shaggy grinned, holding the book out of Christina's reach, "DUNCAN CATCH!"
Duncan caught the book without turning from his conversation with Heath. Shaggy meanwhile, grabbed onto Christina's wrist to keep her from pursuing her book.
"C'mon ladies," Shaggy guided the duo towards the back of the room where some of the ghouls and mansters were comparing their first-day experiences.
"I want my book back," Christina pouted.
"You can't spend your entire life stuck in a book, Christy," Shaggy laughed.
"Worked for Belle," Christina retorted.
"Calm down, Christina," Duncan turned, "I'll keep it safe"
"How did your first day go, Crystal?" Frankie asked eagerly.
"Oh," Crystal was surprised by the mint-skinned girl's cheerfulness, "It was interesting, is Mr. Hack always so intense?"
"He just gets way too into it," Lagoona explained.
"He made it a whole seven minutes before shrinking his head," Clawdeen laughed, "That has got ta be a record!"
"You think Mr. Hack is intense?" Christina laughed, "I'm in Advanced Dead languages! Mr. Rotter thrives on Homework assignments"
"I thought you said magic studies was hardest?"
"No, trust me, you haven't seen my homework binder, Cleo"
"I'll take your word for it"
"Can we quit talking about homework now?" Draculaura looked up from her Icoffin, "Race you to the dance floor"
…...
Crystal's feet were aching. Every step was agony but she couldn't keep the smile on her face as she climbed into the passenger seat of Christina's car. There had been so much dancing that steadily grew frantic as the night wore on. The only downside had been seeing Shaggy with Christina in his arms.
Just the thought of taking her place made Crystal flush.
It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair to her. It wasn't fair to Shaggy and it wasn't fair to Christina either. What could she do? What was there to do? "Hey, Shaggy, I came to earth to mate with you," she'd sound like a lunatic but the clock was ticking.
"You look light-years away," Christina observed, sliding into the driver seat.
"Just tired"
"Me too, luckily, we don't have school tomorrow,"
"Is it typical to only attend school one day a week?"
"No, but it is strangely normal for the school year to start on a Friday"
The ride back to Christina's house was quiet, with silence so thick you could cut it with a knife. The lights of the manor were a welcome sight to behold, the two girls tiredly trudging into the foyer.
"How was it, girls?" Alissa asked when they entered the living room.
"Same old, same old," Christina waved it off, dropping onto the couch, "Shaggy and Duncan held my book hostage all night, Laura dragged me to the dance floor and I feel like my legs could fall off"
"So it vas a good time then?" Radu laughed.
"Yes"
"Any plans for the weekend?"
"Apartment hunting," Christina declared, "What about you Crystal?"
"I uh, don't have plans," Crystal responded sheepishly, "Should I have made some?"
"No, you're welcome to hang around here for the day," Alissa assured her, "For now, you girls had better get to bed, you look ready to pass out"
"Good night,"
"Good night girls"
…...
Something is bothering Crystal, Christina wrote curled in bed, I'm not close enough with her that she'd outright tell me but I can see it, hear it in her voice. She looked on edge at the party tonight until Astronova coaxed her onto the dance floor. That girl can MOVE she was able to dance longer than Shaggy or I.
Speaking of Shaggy, tomorrow we continue apartment hunting, I'm eager to tour a few, maybe grab coffee afterward?
I just hope...
Christina's diary fell from her bed, pen lost in the sheets as sleep overtook her.
…...
Crystal sat on the bed, staring out the window at the twinkling stars.
Mom, I need you! Please hear me! I miss you!
It was only day one but she was so lost.
