And here is chapter five! Sorry that it takes me so long to post these chapters, but I have lots of school work and my dad turns the internet off at a certain time :(.
I put a bit of realistic twist in this chapter because my friend is being bullied at school. She's being bullied by someone like Johnny because she's not really popular and kind of a loner. But it doesn't mean she's allowed to be bullied.
After the class was finished, Paige stormed out of the class and made to shove past Johnny on her way. She was furious at herself and at the Hardscrabble with purposely setting her up to work with that arrogant jerk. She hated him; he tried to kick her out of the scare program! And Paige's anger increased when she could imagine the looks of absolute disappointment on her mother's face. Could imagine her father looking at her with the same expression as well. She clutched her books tight to her chest and shoved the door open allowing her to leave the classroom and Johnny. Paige grumbled angrily and ignored the curious looks from students moving into the class.
"Just my luck, "Paige murmured to herself as her flats stomped on the ground and to the door that she flung open with all her strength. She let them slam behind her even if it let out a very annoying boom, and trudged down the stairs. She massaged her forehead with thin fingers as she tried to calm her distressed mind with relaxing strokes. Ignoring the complaints and the curses, Paige was tempted to whack them all with her book. The urge didn't vanish, especially when she heard someone call her name, Bones, but she ignored it and continued muttering to no one.
"Bones wait!" She heard, and it froze Paige in her spot as she recognized the voice to be Javier. She turned around to face the bug who was running towards her. She scoffed as multitudes of She glanced behind him and wondered why the rest of the frat wasn't with him. In fact, they had walked off in another direction and chatted silently among each other occasionally looking back at her and Javier, "Excuse me, Miss Bones, I mean, Miss. Jordan."
Paige was surprised that the bug had addressed her in such a polite manner with a rich accent she had not heard before. She halted and whirled around to face the male monster who was slowing down his pace to stop in front of her. Paige crossed her arms across her binder and chest trying her best not to show her shock at his manners that his brothers seemed to lack. She wanted to snap back at him for calling her Bones, but she figured that Johnny had insisted that they bother her with that name and that name alone, "what do you want?"
His abnormally pink eyes blinked at the harshness in her voice, "ah, I must apologize for Johnny. And my behavior from earlier. I must put on a show for Johnny; he is quite the...oh, how should I say it?" As Paige stared at his grin she couldn't help but see him as quite the charmer. And it was apparent that he was quite the popular guy on campus, along with Johnny, judging by all the girls that called out to him from across the lawn.
Paige recovered from more shock yet again, "an arrogant jerk." The bug nodded with a pleased smile before gesturing for her to walk with him. She hesitated, how did she know she could trust the bug even if he had informed her that his earlier behavior was to impress Johnny? The bug continued to walk as if he expected her to follow, and Paige reluctantly followed knowing that he would do this again later until she agreed. She looked back one more time to the place where Johnny and his brothers were, but they were gone. Satisfied that they wouldn't see her walking with one of them as if they were friends, Paige followed after the older student.
She jogged up to Javier who was humming a tune and snapping his many fingers to the beat. Paige wasn't sure if this was an act or if the somewhat terrifying male was actually not as bad as she had painted him. His Roar Omega Roar sweater was unbuttoned at the top and revealed his light purple shell underneath. He looked vibrant, almost happy, his eyes that looked lidded and bored were wide open and looking around the campus in awe, "I am Javier, Javier Rios. I know that you have already decided that my brothers and me are bad people. But truly, we are not. We have pressure from our own families to succeed since they are all famous scarers. My father is Andres Rios, perhaps you have…"
"The Andres Rios?!" Paige interrupted unable to contain herself after hearing the name of his father. She grasped the male monster by his lower set of arm and shook him wildly with the eagerness of a child in a candy store. The monster nodded in confirmation (or it was just him shaking) and offered her a cheeky grin in return to her outburst of surprise.
Very few monsters had not heard the name Andres Rios, the infamous scarer that broke the scare record and held it for the longest time in monster history along with a fellow colleague; for seven whole years. It was unheard of, no, it was impossible. How could they have scared so many children in their young lives? But it had earned them much respect and power in the monster world that made them a household name, not a single monster didn't envy the Rios family. Even Paige envied them, with their high ranking and great wealth; something she didn't have at home.
"That one," Javier assured, "and that's why Johnny doesn't like you." Paige cocked an eyebrow in confusion, why did males try to make everything complicated?
Paige stopped abruptly and the senior gave her a puzzled glance over his shoulder, "what does your father have to do with me?" The bug's happy mood turned sour as a look of sorrow appearance on his light purple countenance. He grasped her by the sweater and tugged her gently over to a lone tree before lowering his voice to a whisper.
Javier sighed. "He despises those who compare themselves to him. He's the son of an infamous scarer as well and he believes that allowing people like you. People who have no…pride in being a scarer are scum." Paige opened her mouth to retort, but shut it quickly. She understood Johnny's twisted prejudice since she was sure that he had seen her helping Mike, a monster with no scaring blood in his veins. But, it didn't excuse his actions and he couldn't despise someone just because of their blood. It was silly and cruel that Johnny bullied people who were different.
"It doesn't excuse the fact that he's an arrogant, annoying and cruel buffoon!" Paige snapped back at the bug who backed up in surprise at her sudden outburst, "and now I have to work with him of all people! I would rather get anyone, anyone at all besides him!" Paige had never been so angry in her life and she was present when Fear Tech lost their first game to the Horror Academy.
Javier waved his many hands frantically in front of his face, "calm down, Miss. Jordan. That is the reason I wanted to speak with you. Johnny wants you to come to the scare party later on tonight." Paige's mouth hung open like a fish out of water and she blinked in shock. Where they talking about the same Johnny who evidently thought she had no pride and was a shame to her own bloodline? Javier let out a relieved sigh and placed his top set of arms on either one of her shoulders. Paige wanted to back away from his hold, but his grip was firm yet not hard enough to make her uncomfortable, "he wants to speak with you about the project, and he wouldn't spe—
"I know!" Paige growled back and slammed his hands away, "he didn't want to speak to someone who associates with 'low lives' right?! He's sick! How can you pretend to be his friend?! How can you not be disgusted by him? Don't tell me that this is how you want your life to be; do you want to be the bully?" Javier's eyes returned to their usual state and she turned around to see Johnny approaching with Chet beside him chatting away, but as soon as the crab saw her he frowned. Paige guessed he was still upset about her threatening to make him into sushi. Johnny's cocky grin was present and accounted for the entire time as he walked with enough swagger to put a celebrity to shame and halted in front of her. By then they had gathered attention from students who had even paused to see what was happening between the new girl and the most popular fraternity on campus. Paige wanted so ask them, with a loud voice, if they had anything better to do then follow Johnny's posy around like love sick girls.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Bones. I guess I should be telling you what an honor it must be to work with me, but," he sighed while fixing his visible arm fur, "I'm sure that you already know that." She managed to not strike out at him, but the snickering of the students irked her. "I guess you're moving up from that beach ball to the top scarer on campus, eh?
Paige wanted to grab him by his stupid horns and shake him until he collapsed, but kept her composure around the students. The last thing she needed was another meeting with Hardscrabble and another opportunity to put Molly's college life in danger, "if I remember correctly the dean said that you should be honored to work with me, not the other way around."
Paige prepared to walk away from the frat and just walk back to the dorm, maybe catch some lunch with Molly, but Johnny insisted on bothering her. Javier snickered, but a hard glare from Johnny shut him up quickly and he was back to glaring at Paige with cold uninterested eyes, "whatever, Bones. I want you to come to the party later so we can discuss the project, but only that. As soon as it's over, I want you out of my frat house and preferably off campus. Any monster with scaring blood should know better than to associate with lower class monsters. It's too bad no one taught you the difference between us and them."
Paige turned around and walked right up to Johnny with more confidence than he could muster. She jabbed an angry finger into his chest and her eyes brimmed with rage. He made fun of Molly and Mike, he mocked them! He mocked what they went through, he called them scum," you are vain and self-centered! You judge people without knowing them! You don't deserve to be here, Mike does because he's smart and kind! He's a better scarer than you will ever be. And Molly is more dedicated and more thoughtful than you are to your frat. I would rather be one of 'them' then to be compared to you!" Paige's eyes glared defiantly back at Johnny and an emotion flared in his eyes that she couldn't put her finger on. By then a crowd of people had formed a large ring around the action and snapped pictures before shouting to their friends to come and see what was occurring. Paige adjusted her jacket before strutting away from them and ignoring the gazes of the frat and the monsters. She shoved through the crowd to the dorms.
Once the green haired monster decided she was a fair amount of distance from the crowd and Johnny, she plopped herself down underneath a tree, dumped her stuff down on the fresh grass and growled in frustration. The horns of her mask were sheathing from their usual form to a pointy dagger that told others she was one unhappy camper. She couldn't believe that Johnny's hate for Mike, and her, was because he believed that the pure scarers were better than the other monsters an idea that was unfathomable to her.
"Paige?" A feminine voice questioned and Molly glanced over her shoulder to see Molly with two cups of tea and a puzzled look on her face, "you want some tea?"
Paige nodded wordlessly and Molly walked slowly over to her friend before resting on the ground next to the tree trunk with her friend. She handed Paige the brew and watched with amusement as the latter gulped down the liquid as if her life depended on it. Passing students chattering away and the familiar dropping of binders accompanied with the cool breeze and crunch of leaves underfoot was a calming tune for the two females to enjoy. "So want to tell me why your horns are doing that?"
Paige looked up at her skull and indeed they were still retracting even though she mentally assured herself that she was fine. She put down the warm drink to confine in Molly, "Johnny doesn't like you or Mike because…because he thinks your inferior."
Molly spit back up the tea and gazed at Paige with an upset and shaken expression. She was grasping the cup of tea until it was crushed in her grip and she shook her head with distress," th-that's not fair! H-He doesn't even know me. H-He doesn't have the right to h-hate me without knowing me."
Paige reached for the hurt monster, but she was on her feet and pacing before Paige could say scarer. She bit her lip and quickened her pacing. Paige couldn't understand Molly's pain; she hadn't ever been treated poorly because of her blood line. She always figured that she was treated nicely because people liked her…hopefully, "don't tell me you honestly care about what eggplant has to say. And I have a favor to ask."
Molly stopped pacing, and looked at her friend with an apologetic look. She scratched her head nervously and her wings wrapped around her comfortably, "sorry about that. It's not the first time someone has made fun of me because of my family. And I thought it would be done once I got into college, but I guess some things will never change."
"Would you mind coming with me to the Roar Omega Roar frat party?"
Silence.
More silence.
"ARE YOU CRAZY!?" Came the loud reply from the winged monster.
Paige covered her ears, and tried to calm her anger friend. But Molly looked livid and beyond calming down. "Please come with me! I don't want to be the only person I know who isn't those jerks at the frat! I mean, I don't have to but…" Paige understood that it was asking a lot; she would too be stepping out of her comfort zone. She never considered herself popular back at Fear Tech and apparently so did everyone else because she was never invited to a party.
Molly shook her head, "No way! I would rather learn under Hardscrabble herself than spend a couple hours with them! How could you even consider that…I thought you hated them." Molly's eyes held a deep hurt, similar to Alex when she said no to him, and it pained her to see her friend looking so betrayed. "Why would you even consider it?"
"I do hate them," Paige snapped back, "but I have to work with him…were partners in class."
Silence.
Molly bit her lip, but still exploded with laughter. Paige rolled her eyes secretly glad that Molly didn't seem so angry anymore. Molly gripped her stomach as a wave of pain that came with laughing too much appeared and Paige soon found herself laughing as well. The two females laughed manically on the cool grass and both decided it was best to ignore the questioning glances of onlookers. Molly whipped away the tears threatening to spill from her eyes, "that is too precious. Let me guess, Hardscrabble's idea?"
"What gave it away?" Paige retorted sarcastically back, "so are you in or are you out?" Molly stopped laughing suddenly and sat up to clasp her arms around her legs. Paige reassured her only friend that it honestly didn't matter and that she wouldn't mind going alone. She knew that with or without Molly she would still be uncomfortable around the frat president.
Molly's hesitation was clear in her eyes, and Paige was afraid she would decline the offer to go with her, "fine! But you have to buy lunch for the next week, got it?"
Paige scrunched her nose in an annoyed manner, "whatever." Paige stood up from the ground and walked away with Molly in tow. The two friends skipped away from their previous resting place and began to chat about their classes, especially scare studies. Molly told Paige about her class with Mikey and Randy where she saw the two getting along quite well. Paige was glad that Mike had found a friend that appreciated him for him and wasn't like Johnny with his prejudice personality. But she was still curious on how she had picked up Mike's hat when the latter didn't have any memory of bringing it with him. When Paige explained her reasoning with the winged monster, she frowned at the idea.
"No way! Randy is such the gentlemen," Molly defended, "he would never do such a thing!" Paige smirked in reply and the other female looked at her questioningly.
Paige smirked in reply, "sounds like you have a crush. Hitting on younger men? That's bold. Take a bow, my friend. "
Molly's cheeks turned a bright red, but she managed to come back with a snappy retort, "what about you and Johnny? You didn't seem that upset that you had to be his partner." Paige turned an even darker shade of red—if that was possible—and looked the opposite direction while trying to calm her flushed cheeks. Molly giggled at the result of her teasing, but Paige assured her that she was wrong and that she would kill her if she ever suggested such a thing again.
"You liiiiike him," Molly purred and Paige's cheeks flared up again.
"Shut up, Molly."
The party at the Roar Omega Roar house was in thirty minutes and Paige was pacing the floor of the dorm room while biting her sharp nails. Molly was lying on the bed with homework she had received on her first day of class, and trying to stop the other female from pacing. Paige didn't understand why she was so nervous; it was just a party at the house of the biggest jerk on campus. She was wearing a golden shirt with the words Beach Bust across the chest and a pair of cutoff jeans that were apparently popular in the human world.
"Why are you so nervous?"
Paige stopped and glared at Molly. "What if this is some kind of trick so that Johnny can humiliate in front of the entire monster population?" She punched her small palm with her fist and began to think of all the ways she would kill Johnny if the thought of doing such a thing crossed his ugly little mind. It wasn't uncommon at Fear Tech for upper classmen to play pranks on the younger generation, but Paige knew when a line was crossed. And she was sure that Johnny fell into the group of 'line crossers.' "Are you absolutely sure you want to go?"
Molly slammed the thin book closed before setting the book on her wooden nightstand and waltzed over to the masked girl. She gripped her hands in a tight hold and offered her a comforting smile. "Don't panic. It's just a stupid party held by an even stupider person, no bigge. Besides, we can leave if the party gets to lame. I really want to introduce you to my brothers, you'll love them!" Molly smiled, but Paige still frowned in thought. "Okay, you won't love them as much as Johnny, but they'll be a close second slash third."
Paige blushed again before slapping the other girl's hands away, but she too smiled at the remark. Molly flipped through her clothes to find something she considered suitable for an event such as a party and began to express her wishes that they would play some music. Suddenly she gasped and Paige whirled around to see why her friend had decided to scare the shit out of her. "W-will there be other people at the party?"
Paige looked shocked. "Um, yes that's of what parties do. Bring people together, ya know?" Paige hoped her friend was pulling her leg, but she enclosed her friend in a hug when she began to shake. "Molly, what's wrong?" The green haired monster's voice was full of concern for she had never seen the winged roommate seem so afraid.
Molly stood frozen in place, but the small shaking of her frame informed Paige that she was indeed having a panic attack. She grasped Paige's arm with startling strength, and held her forehead with the other. It took all of Paige's strength to stop the girl from collapsing in her arms. "I-I get nervous around crowds. I…I…I don't really want to go anymore." Paige nodded in her head in understanding while calming and soothing the sophomore's hiccups and shaking. She wondered why the female was so afraid of crowds. "When I was a freshman here, at Monsters University, the older kids thought it would be funny to pull a prank on me. S-so when I went to the party th-they sprayed me with paint."
Paige was shocked upon hearing the confession of her friend. They probably picked on her because she's another one of those 'impure' bloodlines. "Molly, it's alright." She tried to lull her friend and distract her from the fear of the party. "We don't have to go if it bothers you." Molly's head shot up and she looked at Paige with wide yet hopeful eyes.
Molly loosened her grip on the other female's arm. "B-but you have to go, right?"
Paige released her friend from her comforting embrace and waved her hand in a forgetful manner. "Please as if. I don't have to go, that arrogant ass Johnny just wants me to go. Besides, you're much cooler than Johnny will ever be." And she meant it. Even if Molly wasn't scary, she had heart that Johnny couldn't get; not even with all of his fame and skill. Molly grinned sheepishly in response before suddenly wrapping Paige in a tight hug. Although Paige wasn't one to receive hugs, she couldn't push the obviously hurt monster because of her own personal feelings. She patted her slowly on the back, awkwardly, and waited until Molly had her fill of security and relief. When the hug finished, both sophomore's sat on Paige's bed and chatted away about life before university.
"So you have to brothers? That's tough; I love my brother to death, but he drives me crazy most of the time," Paige told the sophomore who nodded in response. "And there Siamese twins too?"
Molly nodded her head in conformation, "yep that's Terri and Terry. Terri with an I is the shorter one and he's a dance major. Oh, but Terry with a y is…quite the opposite. He's well-mannered and more down to earth. But he's sweet as can be, both of them are but Terry takes the cake as the gentlemen of the two."
"Alex is my little troublemaker; he's always getting into trouble. But he's brilliant; he makes me feel stupid sometimes, "Paige admitted to the roommate, "but—
Suddenly a loud rumbling sound echoed through the close quarters of the dorm room and both girls pointed a finger at another saying the other did it. "By Waternooses's claw, I'm hungry…say would you like to buy me something to eat?" Paige glared at Molly, who only laughed in response to the somewhat intimidating glower. But Paige couldn't say no to Molly; of course they hadn't gone to the part as planned, but that didn't mean that she didn't owe her for trying to get out of her shell. Paige assured herself that Molly's anxiety would fade with time and the right amount of trust from the right person. Paige stood from the comfort of her bed and pulled on the old senior sweater over her blue MU shirt that was ripped at the sleeves. She threw some money in her jean pockets that had been lazily stuffed into her purse from her mother who insisted she take it.
Paige waved back to her friend from the doorway to her winged friend, "I'll be back in just a minute, alright. Molly? Do you like monster munchies?"
Molly's eyes visibly widened, "do I?! What kind of question is that!?" Paige shrugged her shoulders, who didn't love monster munchies? She shut the door behind her and didn't go until a satisfying click signaled the door had been locked. She walked down the blue carpet flooring with ease and enjoyed the silence that came from everyone either studying or being present at the ROR party. Suddenly Molly wasn't so bummed that she decided not to go and just spend time with Molly talking about her strange brothers, Terri and Terry. They sounded interesting enough, interesting to the point she was considering meeting the twins and their frat, Oozma Kappa. Paige hoped it was nothing like Roar Omega Roar.
She traveled down the dimly lit stairwell and covered her eyes as she passed various monsters licking each other's faces off in what could never be considered kissing. Their hands trailing up and down their partners bodies, hugging them in a suffocating embrace and breathing hot air on their skin or fur. She was glad when she finally reached the final floor and the moans of pleasure disappeared from her mind as she opened the door. Other students conversed in the lounge and acted more civil then their fellow monsters in the stairs; quietly chatting amongst one another, taking pictures and reminiscing about old times. Paige waved as a few of them offered her kind smiles and glared at the ones who stared at her with lecherous eyes.
She swung the door open to the outside and breathed in the fresh air as the night breeze ruffled her green hair. Paige mad her way down the stairs, gripping the cool side bar for support, and listening to the rustle of leaves. She shivered; summer in Monstropolis was a strange thing. Hugging her small form, Paige made her way through the lawn and through the crowds of monsters that were headed to Johnny's party.
"I can't wait to see Johnny," one girl squealed inside the crowd and Paige looked at the female who said her wishes aloud. She was almost as tall as she was with pink hair and had three eyes that looked to each of her identical friends who nodded in agreement. Each girl had leg warmers and fur skirts that looked soft to the touch, and each wore a pink shirt with the initials PNK on them that formed around their curved bodies.
"I bet he's waiting for us, right now, "another giggled and the girl's sighed adoringly while Paige made vomiting notions.
"Too bad he got paired with some loser in our class," the girl she recognized to be Heather Olson, the winner of the miss know it all contest in Paige's book. "The same girl who had the guts to say such awful things to Johnny. I hope he embarrasses her at the party tonight." Paige scowled deeply while making sure to shove the frat girl as hard as she could as she made her way into the town.
Ignoring the various people who called her Bones, Paige managed to make her way into the university residence where other monsters, grouped together to keep out strangers, pointed at her bone mask before going back to whispering. Paige honestly didn't know what they found so strange about her; did they own mirrors?
Paige wasn't sure where she was going and regretted not asking for directions from one of the posy's that had settled in spots around the street. She soon found herself in the one place she had been trying to avoid on her shopping trip for monster munchies; the fraternity block. In a circle, or a cul-de-sac, the houses were set side by side with little space between them. It was obvious which ones were more popular judging by the design and splendor of each one. The ROR home was an impressive sight to behold by any standard; large red windows with white drapes, a white finish that sculpted the beauty of the home perfectly; a large stone chimney with a simple build, and it couldn't have been a monster's home without fangs hanging from the top of the windows. It was large, larger than house on her street, and was doubled floored which was a shock for her. She was curious how a home for college students was better than her own since she was a young monster.
And next to it was the JEX home, which looked mundane in comparison with its grand neighbor. The color looked faded and uncared for, but a simple porch set up in front was impressive her. But knowing Johnny he probably had a pool in the back with a hot tub and a barbecue to boot. She scoffed when drunken laughter emerged from each of the houses on the block followed by a crash of expensive merchandise.
Paige could have jumped with happiness as the sight of Heat Fist talking to a group of his friends, each with a sweater that read MUM which she guessed stood for Monsters University Martial Arts. He had a large grin on his face as he waved his hands around wildly as if trying to exaggerate a point. She walked up to him and was about to tap him on the shoulder, when she heard a loud squeal coming from the street.
…Archie?
Paige backed away from the martial arts leader and listened carefully for the squeal of her long lost friend. Archie the scare pig, her beloved pet and companion, and the mascot of Fear Tech rival of the Horror Academy Wolves. She raced towards the street and was stunned to see a familiar green shaped monster riding her little buddy who was squealing with annoyance with Mike's hat in his jaws. She raced towards her little pet who seemed to run faster once she came into view and Mike screeched like a Archie when a football knocked him off Archie.
"Archie!" Paige cried out with glee and the little pig squeaked again in response to his old friend's call of affection, but he was going so fast that he didn't slow down and rushed past her. Another monster ran up from behind Mike, a large monster with shaggy blue fur and purple dots decorating his body in different sizes and shapes. He had two small horns attached to his head and a large spiked tail that swung like a pendulum as he ran to her with a ridiculous smile on his face. She watched as he sped past her to try and corral Archie while Mike grasped a football and sent it flying at a line of bikes .The bikes fell which hit the trash can that rolled in front of Archie ensnaring him in a trash can cage. Mike grinned while running towards the can before spotting her.
"Hey, Paige," Mike called with a grin similar to the spotted monsters and he lifted the pig out of the trash can then took his cap back. "I wonder why he ran here…." Paige knew why her beloved Archie had run to the fraternity party; because of her. She had touched the hat and, being the smart pig he was, Archie picked up her scent and went to find his master. Suddenly the other monster lifted Mikey into the air and declared the honest fact; MU rules. Archie was handed to one of the monsters who slapped a MU sticker on Archie's fear tech coat and paraded him around.
"Archie!" She repeated and Archie wriggled out of the grasp of the greedy students, practically jumping into her arms in the process. She snuggled the pig to her face and giggled as his sand paper tongue stroked her maroon cheek flesh. She missed the warmth of his fur and the tap of his feet as he patted her arms and stomach. "My poor little baby, did that mean monster scare you?" Archie squeaked in response and she took it as an 'of course, all monsters university students are indecent.'
Paige sauntered over to Mike and the dotted monster and smiled down in greeting to Mike. "And who might you be, lovely lady?" The purple monster questioned as he took her hand and kissed it softly with a charming smile on his furry features. Paige was unsure if she should blush and stammer or yank her hand and scoff at his attempt of flattery.
"I'm Paige, Paige Jordan," she answered in a hard tone as she took her hand back from his own, "and you are?" Paige heard Mike whisper something along the lines of 'here we go again' and 'more bragging, yeah.'
"The name's James P. Sullivan, but you may call me Sulley," he greeted as he fixed his fur coat and waiting to see her reaction. Paige's smile enlarged on her face as she hugged Archie tighter to her chest and looked at the taller monster with adoration evident in her eyes.
"It's such an honor to meet you," Paige stammered over her own words, and he smiled in return. "I can't believe I'm meeting someone of your status." Mike was muttering angrily to himself and Archie squeaked in agreement with whatever the one eyed monster was mumbling below.
"Hey toots, move over, I'm trying to recruit a new member," a voice ordered and Paige swore she heard a vessel pop inside of her at the new yet still demeaning nickname. She protested with a hard voice, but was still shoved aside along with Mike who wasn't happy about going unnoticed by the recruiter, no recruiters, another one joined. The two argued over which one would receive the Sullivan heir and said heir just stood amused but egging them on with an innocent look and a bemused look in his eyes.
"I'll take it from here, gentlemen, and lady, "a voice drawled and Paige's mood dropped when she recognized the voice to be Johnny's. Behind him were Javier, Chip and Chet, who still glared at her from his spot next to his adoring 'teacher.' "Johnny Worthington, president of Roar Omega Roar. What's your name, Big Blue?"
Johnny draped a friendly arm around one of Sulley' s much taller shoulders as he steered him away from two bummed recruiters , a lady and a small and very disappointed monster. "The nerve on that guy," Mike whispered under his breath as he followed behind the fraternity and Sulley.
"Did you see me ride the pig? That took guts." Mike's voice held desperation to fit in that surprised her because it didn't go unnoticed how she remembered feeling that way. Like an outcast. Like a freak, like a stranger. And Mike was feeling the exact same. Johnny whirled around to look down the stairs at Mike, the monster he considered scum and inferior, and scoffed.
"Slow down, squirt, this is a party for scare students only," Chet interjected so that his beloved Johnny wouldn't have to, "and that witch. If you were going to be late, the least you can do is call a head and tell us you're busy tonight with your 'night job." The other brothers snickered, Javier excluded, and Paige felt her cheeks burn brighter than fire. Chet smirked; relishing his victory over the green haired female and turned to ask Johnny how he liked his comeback.
"Oh, sorry, killer," Johnny said in a tone of mock remorse as he walked down the stairs to her and Mike, "you might want to hang out with someone more your speed. They look fun." Mike and Paige looked back at a table of fairly pitiful monsters that didn't look scarier than Archie but Paige recognized the Siamese twins from afar as Molly's brothers. "Go crazy." With a pat on the shoulder and a wink to Paige who mimicked a vomiting notion, he jogged up the stairs to join his brothers and Sulley.
"Is that a joke?" Mike and Paige asked at the same time, and Johnny sighed.
"Paige you're welcome to come in, but only so we can discuss our project, but," Johnny continued, "Sulley talk to your friend, will ya?" Paige wanted to shout that she would rather lick the library floor than work with him, but she settled with a scornful glare as Sulley talked to Mike.
"But I am a scare student!" Mike insisted and Paige, along with Archie, nodded their heads in agreement.
"I mean for scare students, that you know, have a chance," Sulley candidly said, and Paige felt a pang of hurt shoot through her heart. Before Mike could reply, she shot her arm out in front of him and a wild smirk appeared on her face.
"How about a little wager then?"
The ROR brothers and Sulley turned and face the maroon skinned monster. Johnny grinned, "oh and what are the details of this wager?"
"If Mike can out scare Sulley, than you have to do my laundry for two months, buy my food for two months and apologize to Mike." Paige informed and she heard the small monster gasp next to her.
"And if Sulley wins," Johnny informed as he walked down the stairs once more to stand a stair above Paige, "you have to admit I was right, do my laundry for two months, and cook my meals every day for, hmm let's see, two months? Do we have a deal, Bones?"
Paige's smirk widened and Johnny hesitated when she took her hand out to shake his larger purple one, "you're on, hot shot."