Monster University - Begin Again

A Monster High Fanfic

After graduation from Monster High, Moanica D'Kay had plenty of time to herself to reflect on the past few years and the ghouls who'd sincerely tried to show her friendship and a better way to be. It was just that...she'd spent so long being so lonely. And now she'd undoubtedly alienated everyone from school for good. It was just as well, she thought. Nothing short of what she deserved, even as she felt the will to do better.

Until one day while attending Monster U, when a shadowy figure across campus nearly slipped by her unnoticed. Moanica's quick eyes, however, were drawn to Twyla Bogeyman in a nearly electric way that she couldn't describe; she couldn't have missed her presence if she'd tried. As if she felt the penetrating gaze on her, Twyla glanced up and her eyes met Moanica's, which glowed with excitement. She didn't miss the little flash within Twyla's eyes as well, nor the delicate coloring of her cheeks as she turned quickly away and slipped back into the shadows.

The other monsters passing by in every direction around Moanica may as well have not even existed, for all the zombie noticed or cared. Twyla had to hate her after what she'd done to her back in high school...didn't she? But - Moanica had not imagined that spark, the magnetic pull she'd felt to the ghoul. Twyla had to have felt it also, hadn't she?

It was days before Twyla crossed Moanica's path again, days of restless nights and thoughts that wouldn't focus where they were needed; always, always they returned to Twyla, lovely Twyla, and lingered there, each time on something different about her: did she smell the same as she did when Moanica had held her last? Was her hair so soft and wispy that it nearly floated on an ethereal breeze? Did her eyes still widen and her lashes flutter just so? Did she blurt out random related facts during conversation simply because she enjoyed knowledge? Was she still wont to get so lost in a book that she would forget to phase and simply bump right into things?

But then one day, there she was, just across campus. Moanica's heart would skip a beat, if it beat at all, and she was sure that though she'd never really needed to breathe, she now knew what it would be like, for she felt just a moment as though vital breath were snatched from her. But the ghoul was...fumbling with the books in her arms? Moanica couldn't say why she began to move as quickly as she did toward Twyla, but the realization did come over her exactly how excited she was to be near her again.

Twyla let out a small, forlorn gasp when her grip failed her and one of her books began to slide from beneath her arm. Just before it dropped to the ground, Moanica reached out for it and delicately pushed it back up into Twyla's arms.

She'd been looking down at her books when Moanica approached, but now Twyla flicked her hair from her eyes and looked up to offer gratitude to the other monster - but she froze, her eyes widening when she recognized Moanica.

The zombie smiled; it felt natural to do. Her eyes warmed in a familiar way, and she knew they were glowing. She understood Twyla's nervousness, but she had no interest in making her feel so. Not anymore. She felt compelled now, in fact, to make the ghoul feel...other things. Softer things. Nicer things. She didn't know how she'd do it, but by the way Twyla didn't move from where she stood nor take her gaze from Moanica, not to speak of the flush that began to take her cheeks once more, Moanica realized that she might truly have a chance. A slim chance, but a chance to prove herself. She swallowed. Had she been right? Had Twyla really felt the same electric connection even from across campus?

Twyla looked quickly down but...was that her own glow returning to them? Moanica would apologize to her every morning for the rest of her life if it meant that every night, Twyla would fall asleep in her arms, her breaths soft and her long lashes casting shadows across her cheeks, and wake with her the next day to hear her do so. But - baby steps.

Twyla finally found her voice a peeped a soft thank you, adding after a beat that it was good to see Moanica. Moanica acknowledged that it was mutual before her eyes flicked to the books in Twyla's arms, then met her gaze again, both of their eyes alight and seeming to bore into one another. Her grin widened.

"So you gonna let me carry those for you, or what?"