[ Chapter 10 ]
My heart had been throbbing like crazy in my chest. It was Tuesday and I had finally returned to the underground infamous school known as Monster High. As I stood in front of the school on the faraway sidewalk, my legs fidgeting ever so slightly and swallowing down the lump in my throat, I kept thinking to myself: Why did I decide to pick out my whole clothes again?
You see, I had been wearing these baggy jeans that were wrinkled and faded. On top of that I wore this dress with a split in it that stopped all the way at my navel and the dress itself ended a little above my knees, but under that was my white short-sleeved t-shirt. And on top of all of that was my oversized zip-up hoodie that was swamp green with black dots. And then there was the faded orange (although it looked brown-ish) scarf that was tied around my neck. As for my shoes, they were just my worn black converse that I'd had since ancient times.
My hair was an absolute wreck. I'd taken the liberty of braiding my hair into pigtails – the only problem? The pigtails were sloppy and out of place, not to mention messy.
"Why me?" I mumble as my trembling hands pulled out my schedule. For the umpteenth time I read it in my head, hoping it'd give me some kind of hope or confidence.
First period Dead Languages, second Clawculus A.P. with Mr. Mummy, third period was History of the Undead, then came lunch, next was forth with Creative Writing, then fifth period which was Monster Lit. A.P. and following lastly is sixth period Mad Science with Mr. Hackington.
I sighed. Re-reading didn't help, it only twisted around my insides more.
For some strange reason I had been more nervous than on the first day. Had it been because of what would await me inside? Because of that picture that was gnawing at me?
Did it really matter since that was last week and this was now? Did it affect me now even though I have a boyfriend?
I blush a little, feeling my face heat just a bit. "And so I have a boyfriend now…" I tell myself, trying to find some confidence it that. I shake my head, trying to escape the memory of my first kiss with Dakota, it was only making me more on edge.
I pull my hood over my head and bite my lip. What was this anyway?
"Morning," a voice sparked into my ears energetically. "Why are you just standing here, Mia?"
I look over to find Kim mimicking my nervous pose. She giggles happily.
"Hey Kim." I attempt to return her cheerful smile.
"Want some sugar cubes? I still have some left." She says, offering a hand full of sugar cubes.
I blink at her. "You and your sugar cubes. "I giggle, taking a few. "Thanks."
"I hear its gonna rain." She puts her index finger to her bottom lip. "I hope not, rain's not good for goat legs."
My head tilts as I blink, eyes flickering innocently. "You know what, you're right about that. I hope it doesn't rain either. That wouldn't be very fun."
Kim smiles turns bright suddenly. She attaches herself to me, hugging me very tightly and slightly swaying from side to side. "Awe, you're so cute, Mia! Now come on, let's go inside before it pours."
I nod, finding some sort of confidence as I follow her into the building. I drop a sugar cube in my mouth, watching as she half-skips half-walks.
"So, have you spoken to Azreal lately?"
I shake my head, my pigtails shaking too. "Not really, we don't have any classes since I'm a freshman and all. I kind of miss that one time we all hung out in Home Ick." I admit shyly with a smile.
"Yeah, me too, it was fun." She agrees, smiling brightly at the memory.
I finish off the sugar cubes, swallowing the last one. Tiny bursts of energy finds my brain waves and coats them in sweet sugar. I blink, suddenly feeling my bloodline intensify with sugar fueling me. Now I feel more awake. "So, hey, guess what?"
"What?" Kim asks, removing her skull shaped earplug from her ear.
"I…um…well…um…" I try to say, watching as she puts away her iCoffin.
"Well, um,what?" she mocks with a playful smile.
I look away. "Well, I, um, I now have a…well…boyfriend." I answer, my voice shy.
Kim stops suddenly, causing me to slam into her. I fall back, causing an ump sound. She turns around, excitement gracing her face. "A boyfriend? Who, who? Do I know him?"
"Probably not," I bite my lip for a second. "In fact, I doubt it."
"What's his name? Does he go here? What team does he play for? And, oh my sugar cubes, does he think goat legs are attractive? If he doesn't, he should. I mean really, I have great goat legs, don't you think?" she ask, holding out her well-shaved goat legs for me to see.
I tilt my head at her mocha colored ugg boots. "Yeah you do actually." I glance at my pants covered leg, thinking of my own goat legs that still need shaving.
"Uh, I know right. There's this one guy in my Physical Deaduction class who absolutely refuses to believe me all because I always wear my black sweats instead of my black shorts. I mean really, what does it matter? If I say I have great goat legs then he should believe me, right?" she says, rolling her eyes as she helps me up.
"Um, right." I respond, a little confused.
"So yeah, anyway, what's his name?"
I blink, remembering what we were talking about. We continue walking. "His name's Dakota. I think I told you about his boyfriend…"
"Hmmm, let me see!" she stops again, shutting her eyes tightly and squeezing her fists to the sides of her forehead while shaking her head, trying to remember. I cough up a small laugh. "Oh! I remember – he's that one guy! He was…um…wait, there was something about…okay, never mind, I don't actually remember."
I smile up at her, just now realizing how short I am compared to her. Funny since I'm one of the tallest freshman at Monster High. "It's okay. Well, um, I guess if I'm gonna explain Dakota to you I would say that he's nice. He doesn't really like talking because it takes too much effort and…um…he's a bit shy I guess, he doesn't know it, but he's really funny…and cute."
"Awe." She looks over at me. "I remember my first crush! I thought the same thing – that is until he told me that my goat legs aren't sexy. I know for a fact that they are, otherwise I wouldn't be so confident in them. I mean, hello, they're the sexiest legs I ever seen so why wouldn't they be sexy to everyone else? Duh."
I begin to giggle again, starting to feel light. "You do make a point."
"I thought so," she lets out a shout lived sigh. "Anyway," she clasps her hands together into a prayer-like position and closes one of her eyes. "I've got to jet and bolt to History of the Undead if I don't want an F – teach says he'll so not pass me if I'm late again – how rude, right? Right, so I better go before the bell rings."
"I understand." I nod. "Have fun in first period."
"Will do, but mind eating the rest of these for me? Teach says if he catches me with yet another sugar cube then he'll put a Z on my report card." She says, offering the rest of her sugar cubes, minus one to help her run up the stairs.
"Sure," I take them happily. "See you later."
"Yeah, duh, later." She smiles, flashing a peace sign before clicking away at her iCoffin and tuning into KBLOOD. "Oh, Katy Scary is playing! Totally awesome, anyway, bye, Mia!"
"Bye – again!" I call as I watch her jog off down the hall filled with people.
"Oh, hey Kim. What are you listening to?" I ask, grabbing my pink-purple lunch tray.
She blinks absent-mindedly at me. She unplugs, taking out one of her ear plugs. "Sorry, was jamming out to Selena Gorez. What'd you say?"
"Never mind, it was nothing." I grab one of the cartons of milk. "What are you gonna get?"
Kim grabs a try too, taking a step further in line behind me. "Furry nuggets – hate the fur, but they go great with soy sauce. Oh! And is that Kelp I see? Definitely getting some of that with extra sea salt and honey. But you know, I don't really now, you know? What about you?"
"Well," I look over at the displayed food. Nothing really catches my eye. "I guess maybe the Scallop Stew, or maybe an eyeball sub with not so much mayo – they always put too much mayo."
Kim gasps. "Yeah, I know what you mean! I totally hate that, it's like they're not even listening."
"They probably aren't." I say, grabbing one of the bowls of Scallop Stew. The bowl is hot against the flesh of my hand. "Hey, Kim, did you hear me?" I ask, turning around.
She glances back my way when she sees me staring after I've paid for my food.
"Say what?" she unplugs, blinking at me.
I giggle. "Nothing, come on, let's find a table."
"Yeah, sure! But first…" Kim smiles playfully and slyly.
"First?" Mia asks, following where Kim's glance leads. She notices Kim looking at one of the tables filled with girls. Mia follows her as she stalks closer to them.
"Lagoona Blue?" she points to one of the few sea-creator students at MH. A girl with webbed hands, blonde hair with blue highlights, and blue skin turns to us.
"That's me, mate." She smiles friendly.
"You, Lagoona Blue, are my arch enemy! I challenge you to a sugar cube eating race!" Kim says, her eyes sparkling.
My head falls to the side. What was she doing?
"Sorry, mate," the girl replies. "I'm not fond of sugar cubes."
"Oh," Kim blinks at her, lowering her arm. "Never mind then."
"Ah, wait, Kim – what was that about?" I say as she grabs my wrist and we walk off.
"She's our biggest enemy!"
"Does she know that?" I feel my brow lift.
"Nope," Kim winks. "But she does now."
I start laugh, suddenly feeling bubbly. Kim laughs to, joining in the fun.