A/N: Hi, this is my first story I am publishing on this site after lurking on here for years. This is a quick reupload since the file for the story did not properly format the text upon publishing. I love the Monster High franchise. This fanfic is more of an alternate, slightly darker continuation of the series. I accept criticism as long as it is constructive.
Disclaimer: Monster High and the characters belong to Garrett Sander and Mattel.
Ch. 1: Welcome, New Ghoul!
September 2013: Week One
Frankie's POV
Monday
What do you want to know? First week at Monster High? Loved it…and hated it at the same time. Everything was new, including me. Physically, I am 17 years old, which would roughly make me around 6205 days old if you put that in accurate numerical terms. Not sure if that is fully accurate as my father, Frankenstein created me three years ago. All I knew about American high schools was what I read in books and magazines back in the UK. I was dying to belong, all charged up but on the inside I felt like I was about to deal with an angry mob. According to the magazines, I am talking about SevenTween, Issue 7, pg. 3, it was vital to make an awesome first impression walking in with my old red and white prep school uniform rocking the plaid since I did not exactly have a stellar first impressions wardrobe.
Upon entering the school, I was tempted to shout a greeting, but my shy prep school self was screaming "No! Don't make a fool out of yourself". Ya, well at least I have avoided myself a potential failure. Sigh, fucking Issue 7, As If that I can just walk in and make them drop dead for me. This was going to be harder than I thought. It was like I had death breath, a disembodied spirit cursed to spend the rest of high school at the start of my senior year, as a loner prep transfer student.
A girl with dark black hair approached me,
"Hey, you must be new here. Welcome to Monster High, I am Melody. I am part of the school's welcoming committee. Do you need some help finding your first class?"
I simply could only nod yes as I was shook with anxiety, ugh stupid social anxiety. I could not even say a single word.
"Alright! Let me help you out, can I see your schedule for a quick sec?"
I handed her my class schedule, then she guided me to follow her. After that, rest of the day was a blur but hey at least I now know where my classes are.
Tuesday
Upon walking into class my second day, I heard a tall guy with rocking green hair, muscles, striped sleeveless vest, and shades saying "Whats up?" As I lifted my hand to greet back, I was lightly shoved causing my books to fall on the floor. I sighed, before a couple footsteps approached behind me hearing a female student speaking with a voice like royalty.
"Ugh, 2 o' clock? That is Type O Negative."
"Ugggh" (Well Cleo, you could always-)
"No no no I could not possible-Ah!"
As I picked up my books the girl with dark brown hair topped with golden streaks and Egyptian royal clothing spoke to me after she walked into me.
"New Girl, are you among the living?"
I proceeded to apologize, "I'm sorry." She then approached close to my face and put her finger under my chin while I slightly averted her gaze, nervous.
"Why yes, yes you are. Ghoulia, enter…uh, name?"
I replied back to her question introducing myself, "Francine, uh, Francine Stein. My friends call me Frankie back home as a nickname."
"Hmm "Frankie" Stein huh? Well, I guess your style mirrors Ghoulias but you are lowest in the popularity database."
Well, so much for making a first impression on the second day, never reading SevenTween again and sticking to reading books and comics like the preppy nerd I am.
"Ugggh" (Come on Cleo, it was an accident. She didn't mean anything by it)
I proceeded to start a conversation with her blue haired friend who seems to be into the nerdy fashion like me even though I could not understand what she was telling me.
"Pardon me. You are…?" But Ms. Royalty here interrupted her.
"Hah! Obviously out of your league" She then walked to her seat.
"Uggggh" (Sorry about her, my name is…")
"Ghoulia! I need you to come and help me take notes."
Her friend I now know named Ghoulia responded looking slightly annoyed "Urrrrrgh" (Yes Cleo, I am coming).
As senior level math class was going on, the substitute teacher, Mr. Lou-something was going through a brief review of the material. Some students were falling asleep, I was slightly bored putting my elbows up on my seat with my textbook in front of me making sure my glasses were set on straight. School was turning into a torture chamber without any science classes. I needed the advice from my besties…if only they were here with me from prep school back home. So since I did not have any, I turned to something almost…better. I took my old copy of my SevenTween magazine and flipped toward the end of the issue to the horoscope section, the Oracle.
Finding friends can be a challenge. Yeah, you think? Want to expand your social circle? Be a joiner, to have a group? Be in a group to find others with common interests.
"Hmm, easier said than-" My out loud thoughts were cut off by a petite, female dressed in pink, Lolita clothing coming from above the ceiling startling me a bit. She dropped down sitting next to me.
"Wah, that bites. Vampires are so misunderstood."
She continues talking while flipping through my magazine.
"Look, I love SevenTween. But, come on. Not all of us drink b-bl-"
She slightly coughed before continuing.
"But you know, have you seen the movie, it bites, hashtag over it!"
I was expecting the teacher to interrupt us from her talking until I took another glance in the class, everyone else including the substitute was asleep!
She was not even fazed about it and continued our conversation?
"So you like this magazine? I think that Justin Biter is so, totally my type, sigh. Teehee, don't you think? I mean look at those amber eyes, sigh. I wonder if he is still bitable…"
She gazes dreamily to the ceiling while still holding my magazine. Well, my father did resurrect his career.
"I used to be into the Jaundice Brothers, but I don't know, you know?"
As I was about to respond, the bell rings with everyone in the class now wide awake and walking out the door. As I was walking out, the petite girl followed me asking me all sorts of questions.
"So, you got a boyfriend?" That question was what woke me out of my trance.
"A what!? No, um….I-I never even talked to a guy."
It was true. Even back in prep school, I could not even muster up the courage to say "hi" to a guy I had a tiny crush on, a human guy. His name was Brett, but he did have a girlfriend which was why I could not even make small talk and avoid rejection.
She continued shifting back to herself again.
"My parents said I can't even date, even though I am a senior. My dad goes 'Wait till your 1700 years old' or something ancient, but-"
She greeted a student while walking before finishing her thought. Wait, did she just say 1700 years!? In days wouldn't that be-
"Hi! See you at lunch! Smooches". Wow, she must be popular if she recognized them from a mile away.
"Those rides are totally tope."
I responded back "Rides? Tope? Um, I'm confused…"
She elaborated, "Oh rides, shoes! Cuz you ride them, topes. It's a combo of type, and rope. Made it up myself. Could you uh, oh!"
Sounds like she seems to have one thought then another before finishing a sentence sometimes, but then I heard it.
"Urrrghhhhh!"
"Oh! Did you hear that?" She asked me.
"The pause between your words?" I replied.
Then there were more moaning sounds, before she turned back to me saying, "Zombie flesh mob! Let's bolt, haha! See I just did that right now"
That's something to laugh about, a zombie mob!? Wow, she at least does have optimism. I'll give her that.
I smirked at her before she said to take no offence then we bolted as the zombie mob approached near us to the bathroom. Me and her both held ourselves against the door.
I stated in disgust "Ewwww, brains. Revolting."
I got interrupted when the door opened behind us knocking us both down on the bathroom floor.
I looked up. She was a tall, slender tan skinned girl with brown curly brown hair, purple animal print style fashion, and…wolf ears? She turned back and faced the mirror saying to herself while fixing her hair, "Drop, dead, gorgeous."
The Lolita girl perked up and said "Clawdeen, thanks! We almost bit the dust." Ah so that's her name.
"Hey Draculaura, who's the fresh blood?"
Her light yellow eyes turned to me before the petite girl who Clawdeen referred to as Draculaura almost passed out.
Clawdeen caught her before she could, "Whoops, sorry. Forgot about the relationship between you and bl-. Uh, never mind. Spray some water on her face".
She gently pushed her back up towards the sink.
She then turned to me again. Before I could reply, I saw Draculaura washing up and she had no reflection in the mirror! So is she-?
"Oh, don't worry about it. It's a vampire thing." Clawdeen assured me.
"This is, um, uh-" I decided to fill in for Draculaura as I haven't formally introduced myself to her yet.
"Francine, um newbie." As I put newbie loosely in air quotes.
"Oh hi! Um, how you doing?" Clawdeen asked me.
I nervously replied back stuttering, "Oh um how are you doing?"
Really? That's the best you can do, Francine?
"Good, um cute shoes!" As she pointed out to my red basic heels with golden yellow ribbon straps.
"Oh, thanks! I like yours too." I said as I pointed to her knee high black buckled boots.
"Oh, thanks." She sheepishly replied back to me.
Our conversation was interrupted by the groaning zombies banging outside the bathroom door.
Clawdeen sniffed before sarcastically stating "Sounds like those zombies, passed on. Haha, we're out."
She and Draculaura walked out of the washroom, I followed them, sparking up the courage saying "So, you guys wanna hang out?"
Much to my relief, both girls said yes and for me to text them.
"Okay, except I don't…have your numbers."
Mmm, awkward, yeah. Okay not too bad. So far I made one enemy and two possible friends? Could be worse…and it would be.
But for now I was gonna find a crew. I had to get busy. Time to join up or shut up.
Wednesday
Chess Club: Unfortunately, nothing in SevenTween about how to actually play. Maybe I should have gotten lessons back in prep school first. I really should have learned the rules.
Community Service: What could go wrong?
"Volunteers needed, pledge your support. Support a good cause."
Thankfully I was involved in my prep school's Environmental Science club back home and I brought the sustainability part.
Then Ms. Royalty and her friend Ghoulia showed up. Ms. Royalty asked "What is it for?"
I hesitantly twiddled my thumbs replying "Um…a good cause?"
She did not buy it. "Duh don't Cleo-patronize me." Cleo-patronize, does she mean patronize?
I apologized to her again, "Oh, I didn't mean to. Um sign please?" If my volts cooperated-
"Aaaah! Ugh!" Damn, I fried her hair into a satellite afro. She scowled at me in front of other students that witnessed it. Strike two.
Swim Team: Yeah, that was a good idea. Except the part where my 200 000 volts in the water did not feel the chemistry. Plus I was kinda afraid of water. Upon jumping in the water, I ended up shocking everyone in the pool.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" I said as I was about to run into the girl's change room fighting tears to change my swimsuit before I bumped into a girl.
She gazed at me with concern. Strike three, oh this is social annihilation.
"Hey, poor dear. Are you new here?" She handed me a yellow handkerchief I guess to wipe my tears.
As I stammered to her sobbing while saying how hard it is being the new girl especially coming from a different country.
"Aw, it will get better. I'm Lagoona. By the way, where are you from? I am an exchange student from Down Under, under the sea. I came to Monster High a year ago. I know what it is like, being the new fish out of the pond."
Sobbing a bit I replied, "I-I am from the UK. I am putting in as much energy as I can trying to fit in, but I feel like I am totally falling apart. Sigh, I wish I could take back these last few days and start over. I try so hard!"
Lagoona reassured me by giving me advice. "Maybe, that's your problem dear. Could it be trying too hard?"
I gasped in surprise. I thought trying hard meant getting results? Least that's what I was taught back home in prep school where all my friends were just like that.
She continued. "That's what's messing you up. Be natural, be yourself, and you'll be spot on."
She was about to leave for class before saying "Hey, since you said your from the UK, you must be an exchange student too. Let's trade numbers. Since I don't have a pen on me at the moment, I'll have to tell you so try to remember okay?"
At least one good thing came from this week, I met a friend who gave me her phone number!
Good advice, really good advice. If only I fully followed it. As I opened my locker I saw my old SevenTween Magazine again. Hmm, so much for good advice. I began to fantasize and got carried away with my thoughts.
"Excuse me, um excuse me…" I heard a male voice.
"Yes, you may have my autograph." I unconsciously said out loud.
"Okay, thanks." I quickly snapped out of my thoughts. Oh crap, I am doing this again! I am not even home yet.
"Uh, your locker door is blocking mine." He said as I was still reprocessing my brain.
"You're sorry-uh, I'm sorry. I'm welcome." At least I managed to close my locker door.
Then the best day of my first week quickly turned to my worst day. A guy with red-orange hair sticking out like fire, yellow skin like the sun, piercing red eyes, wearing a varsity letterman jacket and denim blue jeans stopped by and turned to me.
"Hey Deuce, my man what's going-Ha ha wow! Am I seeing things or is it just me?"
"U-um I beg your pardon? Hi…"
I was still processing my thoughts so as not to keep blurting out broken sentences from my social awkwardness.
Green haired muscle guy who's name he said is Deuce interrupted.
"Hey, bro. Look, stop creeping, you have a girlfriend remember?"
"Creeping! Haha, dude look at her! If I had four eyes like her I would not pick her first even if she was a booger. Hahaha!"
Ugh, of course he's an asshole. I shouldn't have expected everyone in Monster High to be friendly, take Ms. Royalty for example.
I saw that he was about to take off his shades, but the flame headed jerk face quickly yelped "Hey, hey! I was kidding around, man. Geez, come on man. I am not like how I used to be two years ago."
My frown soured, until Deuce defended me by saying "Look, sorry about that. Don't worry about him. Let's bounce, dude."
"Ya, cool! I was just about to visit the comic club before heading up to the Robotics club."
Then he turned to me with a teasing smirk before leaving with his friend, Deuce.
"Later Four Eyes, hahaha."
I heard him laugh before turning back to talking to his friend, who at least is a gentleman compared to his ass!
I was called that nickname back when I was in the UK, because I was a nerd who wore glasses during class. Wow, gut wrenching that my past teasing experiences have now followed me to this school. Sigh, there are complications after another. Things were sort of looking up.
The rest of my first week went by in the blink of a lonely eye for the most part. I have not seen Lagoona since that day so I have been texting her letting her know that I am "the girl you bumped into by the change rooms". I said to myself that I got to pull it together. This is my senior year! My last chance at having a social life. In a new school and new continent. So far I have one friend. One friend! I spent the rest of the weekend chatting and texting Lagoona here and there.
