Reviews:

Creaturemaster – Yes! I honestly have been so busy with work (I work nightshift regularly) and people are booking their vacations and I have to cover extra, XD good for the wallet but harshing on my update-time! But I never abandon a story and not tell the readers about it. So if there's a long period without update, it's just my busying schedule. XD But anyways! I thought it was appropriate for her to meet up with Heath first, just seemed fitting! Anyway, I thank you for still reading this despite the long dry-spell there. It truly means the world to me, thank you!


Beautiful Nightmares

Chapter Nine

"Where oh where, is this new student of mine?" The dramatic arts teacher paced the stage back and forth. He was dramatic in every sense of the word. His speech, his 'casual dress', he was the perfect image for teaching such subject. He adjusted his glasses and let out a sigh when the auditorium door opened and in strolled Heath Burns. "Ah, are you here to bring my attendance to the office?"

Heath narrowed his eyes, "Nah, I'm not feeling it."

"Not feeling – I beg your pardon?" Mr. Where questioned the fire elemental.

Heath smirked, "I'd better get going. Good luck! I'll see you around kitty-cat."

Catty giggled, replying with a whisper. "Thanks, I'll probably need it." He waved it off and left the auditorium. She soon cleared her throat and addressed her teacher properly. "My apologies sir," she spoke, pushing her glasses up on her nose again. "h-he was kind enough to show me where the auditorium was. This is my first class."

Mr. Where nodded, "You're my new student then?" She nodded and he continued. "Perfection! Come, come… Miss?"

"Scarrison, Dakota… sir." She rushed down the auditorium and sat down in one of the seats.

He waved her up, "No, no… don't sit right away. Stand up Miss Scarrison, tell us a bit about yourself, please."

Catty felt nervous all the sudden. It was nothing like Catty's pre-show jitters. This was a whole different kind of nervous. More like an 'If-I-screw-this-up-and-they-find-out-who-I-really-am-it-will-ruin-everything' sort of nervous. "Uhh, what can I say? I'm just an average ghoul, really." She giggled, rubbing the back of her neck.

Mr. Where walked over to where she stood, it was on the end of a row. "Tell me Miss Scarrison, do you know much about trying to be someone that you're not?"

Catty's eyes widened, "W-what?" She tried to hide her gasp. "What do you mean?"

He gave a smile, "Well Dakota, what I mean is this: today we are going to learn about taking on different personas. We're going to figure out each other's characteristics and traits… and directly opposite of the traits listed, to which then you can act the opposite and perfect it! I like to call this lesson, 'Alter Ego' if you will."

Catty shook her head, man that was close! Or so it felt like it. How ironic that they were doing an assignment on being the opposite of oneself. That seemed very strange indeed. She shook her head. 'I've gotta stop taking this so seriously! No one recognizes me so I'm good. Phew.' She was wondering how many times she had to think that before she truly started to believe it. She held her breath for a moment, sharply exhaled and focused on the lesson at hand. It was sure to be a positive experience.


It was lunch time at Monster High and it was controlled chaos for the most part. Monsters waited their turn in line; they were generally a happy bunch. Draculaura had a pair of pink binoculars that she was trying to look over the crowd with. Her boyfriend Clawd raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing?" he asked his ghoulfriend plainly. He often walked her to the table where she'd meet the ghouls and then he'd head over to his own table to chill with the guys.

She pouted slightly and put her binoculars in her purse. "I heard there's a new ghoul attending Monster High and I haven't even met her yet! That is so unheard of; I'm usually the first one to greet new students! I love making new friends."

Clawd smiled warmly. He admired how even when she pouted, she still sounded like the most optimistic little thing. "Hey, I know you do. You'll meet her soon, I'm sure of it." He went to turn around and knocked a lunch tray from a monster's hands. Ironically, it was the new ghoul's. "Oh man! I'm so sorry!"

Catty giggled. There wasn't much of a mess as she had sealed food items. "It's alright, I'm fine! No real damage."

Draculaura helped gather the ghoul's lunch back on the tray. "I'm Draculaura! I see you're new, welcome to Monster High!"

Catty blinked, but smiled hesitantly. "I'm C - uh, Dakota. Dakota Scarrison." She mentally cursed herself; she should have this down pat by now! "Nice to meet you Draculaura… and?"

"Clawd." He put his large paw out to shake her hand, which she accepted.

"Clawd, nice to meet you!" She beamed at the fact she seemed to be fitting in well.

Draculaura kissed Clawd's cheek, "You can go find the boys now, I think us ghouls will be just fine."

He chuckled and shook his head. One moment she was clung to him and the next she was shoving him off. As long as she was comfortable either way, he didn't mind. "Alright, you know where to find me if you need me." He started off, but turned back for a moment. "Dakota? Don't let any big brutes take your lunch out again."

She smirked, "I'll try!"

Draculaura almost bounced with excitement; she did truly enjoy meeting new students. "So… where are you from Dakota?"

"Uh, around… just the other city really. Not far." She answered quickly, it was half the truth.

Draculaura nodded eagerly, "Interesting! We have exchange students from all over the world attending Monster High. There was even this one time that I went and studied abroad. It's a very clawsome experience. Totes fun. You should try it next semester maybe? I think you'd like it."

Well, the ghoul wasn't wrong. Catty had been all around the world sure, but she was on tour. On tour, everything had to run smoothly and exactly on schedule. She was normally up by the crack of dawn, rehearsing, organizing her concert venue, her and her dance crew taking a well deserved break, another rehearsal and sound check and she only had an hour or so to rest before the concerts began. She had to do everything at every tour stop with jet-lag to boot. There was never any time for sight-seeing or stopping by souvenir shops or anything. She missed out on all of that, every time. She sighed.

"Hello? Earth to Dakota?"

Catty snapped out of her little daze, "Uh, yes?"

"Are you alright? I lost you for a moment there." She gave a concerned look.

"No, no – I mean yes I'm fine. My apologies. My life has been so on-the-go lately that I haven't had much time to stop and think." Her eyes widened slightly, she had to be careful not to give anything away while trying to make friends. Though part of her just didn't feel right about it, making friends when she wasn't telling the complete truth from the start.

"I get that," she nodded. "moving is tough, whether it's a big move or a little one. It's still stressful all the same." She pat the other ghoul's shoulder, "But I'm sure you'll be fine once you really get settled." She soon noticed her usual table with the other ghoul's at it. "Oh hey! There they are! C'mon Dakota, it's time for you to make some more friends."

Catty was both excited and anxious at the same time. She wanted to have friends and hang out like normal ghouls, but she wasn't sure if being exposed to them if they were possible fans of Catty's might get her recognized. Sadly, it was very possible. "Great, can't wait." She replied as her arm was being tugged in that direction. Here went nothing. . .


Alright! I've been doing my best to get this story rolling, I've got a few ideas here and there and I haven't really touched much on them! It's been hard for me to get an updating groove going on when I work so often, but it's okay – I'm doing my best to make it work! Don't forget to R & R, it's always appreciated!

~ CreativeWritingSoul