A/N: Here is the next chapter. The only character's POV told is Jackson/Holt's. I figured I would somehow incorporate Cleo's sister Nefera to this story as a possible antagonist for later.

Disclaimer: Monster High and characters are created by Garrett Sander and Mattel.

Ch. 7: Party Over DeNile

November 2013: Week Three

No POV

Monday: Hyde up the Party

The weekend following Homecoming, everything seemed all well at Monster High.

"Hey love, can you believe winter break is next month? My parents are allowing me to bring my friends over to Australia at the Great Scarrier Reef. I hope we get to keep in touch over the break." Said Lagoona talking to Gil by her locker.

"I sure hope my parents will come around once we graduate." Replied Gil

"A'ight, freshie." Said Lagoona elbowing him.

"Ha, salty." While Gil hugs Lagoona, a camera flashes nearby.

Both Gil and Lagoona look around wondering what that was.

At Frankie, Draculaura, and Clawdeen's lockers…

"Sigh, you know what the worst part is about waiting for winter break?" Draculaura asked to both Frankie and Clawdeen.

"The fact that my older brother left his old gym socks in your locker? Gross."

Said Clawdeen as she threw the socks away only to land on SloMo's head. But Draculaura did not have Clawd on her mind currently.

"No! Having to keep tabs on as much juicy gossip before the next scaremester rolls around. I signed up for auto updates on the Ghostly Gossip."

Draculaura shows her iCoffin to Clawdeen who rolls her eyes, having no interest in any gossip that is not fashion or boys. Frankie closed her locker after grabbing her books interested in what Draculaura was referring to.

"The Ghostly Gossip? What's that?"

"Oh, its like the foremost authority on the Monster High social scene. If it's happening, she blogs about it."

"Who is she?" Frankie asked.

"Nobody knows. She's like a mystery dipped in secret sauce." Joked Clawdeen.

Draculaura's iCoffin gets another ping. A picture of Gil and Lagoona hugging shows up on the Ghostly Gossip.

"Ooh! Can Gil and Lagoona survive the upcoming winter break?" Dramaaa!" Said Draculaura.

Jackson's POV

Well, so far so good. No bullies coming to slam me into lockers or garbage bins today. I'll just finish cleaning out my locker then head ho-

"Ugh, come on Manny. Can't you give me a break whenever I visit school?"

I asked Manny, I swear did he manage to bulk up over the summer while my cousin was in summer school?

"Sure normie. What do you want me to break, your glasses? Or your arms? Better yet, your balls, haaaaaahahaha."

"You know it's against the rules to bully…"

I said as I stepped to the side attempting to walk away. But he got his bull face up close and personal.

"Who you callin' a bull?"

Well, guess I'm gonna get shoved into something today. This was why I decided to be homeschooled sometime during my junior year. The bullying plus my diagnosed mental health condition leaving me unable to focus in classes when I hear sounds.

"Excuse me. Did I just walk into a disagreement here?"

I turn my head to the left and see a girl with lime green skin and stitches all over her body with white and black hair streaks. Hey, she's got glasses like me!

I saw Manny freeze up looking uncomfortable before turning away crossing his arms. Does he know her?

"Hmph, no."

What I saw from her was completely unexpected, she pulled down Manny's gold hoop earring so that he had no choice but to look down at her eye level.

"Then why are you acting like such a child? What would your sister think of this behaviour?"

Yup, sounds like they know each other alright. But why would Manny be around people who are like me in the nerd crowd?

"Y-you're not gonna tell her are you?"

What I saw next was shocking, literally. Sparks were coming out from her head, which managed to shock Manny.

"Leave him alone."

"Ouch! Damn, no wonder your a freak."

Wow, she managed to get Manny off my back! This girl is amazing.

"Hey thanks, um…"

"Oh, Francine, Frankie for short. I transferred here two months ago, so I know how hard it is being the new kid. Having to fit in…"

Tell me about it. I've fit into almost anything in this school by this point.

"Oh uh actually, I'm homeschooled. I have been enrolled at this school for over a couple years, my cousin Heath is mostly here. I can fit into lockers, trash cans…you know where those guys fit me in when they see me."

I said looking to the side while scratching the back of my head.

"I'm uh…Jackson."

Did I say something wrong? She looks at me surprised. Oh crap, I'm not exactly suave with the ladies like my cousin is.

"Nice to meet you…uh, Jackson."

She smiles and stretches out her hand. Ok phew. I managed to shake her hand only to feel a slight shock.

"Oh, uh sorry."

Well, she is well mannered at least.

"It's okay."

Wow, I think I may consider coming back to Monster High next scaremester if there are people like her still around.

No POV

School entrance…

"We can't let my daddy find out that I accidentally dropped my iCoffin in the toilet. It's just one more thing he'll use to compare me to my older model of a sister, Nefera. Thank the rah she's in Europe right now."

"Uuu-" (What did she d-)

"She once threw a huge party, and she blamed it on me."

Cleo explained throwing both her hands up in annoyance.

"And that's why I'm never allowed to have a big party at my place even when I am not home in Egypt, sigh." Cleo said finishing her mini rant about her older sister as she and Ghoulia keep walking, a camera flashes nearby a statue. Ghoulia looks behind her but did not see anything and kept walking.

At the halls…

"Cleo's dad, out of town. Big party at her place tonight. Ooh, gotta text the ghouls in the group chat ASAP." Said Draculaura as she continues reading the Ghostly Gossip.

Meanwhile, Clawdeen finds Lagoona to let her know what Draculaura mentioned in the group chat.

"Hey, Draculaura posted in the group chat there's a big party at Cleo's place tonight."

"Yeah, it's all over the school." Replied Lagoona as she was informed of the party by her swim club teammates.

Jackson's POV

As I was about to turn around and head back home after I go see Heath, I hear her iCoffin ping. She proceeds to tap my shoulder.

"Um, so…do you wanna go to Cleo's party?"

A party? Is it a silent party?

"Uh, sure. I mean, it'd be nice for me to get out of the house more…"

I said the half truth. Parties usually have…music sounds.

"Heehee, I bet you're nervous around monsters. But don't worry, I'll be there."

It's not that, exactly…

"Okay."

I should have said no, but this girl offered me a free invitation.

"Awesome!…uh, I mean cool, whatevs. Heehee, see you there."

She said while flipping her hair back then leaving walking down the hall.

'If I can be there without my personality disorder kicking in…'

Crap. This is gonna be bad…

No POV

At Cleo's house…

As Clawdeen drives Frankie, Lagoona, Melody, and Draculaura to meet up at Cleo's miniature Egyptian manor on the outskirts of New Salem, Frankie looks at the pyramid-like palace in amazement. She proceeds to look in the fountain outside.

"Whoa…"

"Careful, ghoulfriend."

Clawdeen cautioned Frankie as she took a steak from her purse she kept in her locker for a while tossing the meat into the fountain where three baby alligators came up devouring the steak into pieces leaving only the bone. As the ghouls enter inside stopping in front of a closed stone door, Frankie asks how to get inside.

"So, h-how do we get in?"

"Like this."

Replied Clawdeen, pressing the lower scarab button, which causes the scarab to form and disappear, opening the front door leading to the main room. One of Cleo's Anubis servants comes to the front greeting Clawdeen and her guests as the servant knows they are Mistress Cleo's friends. Clawdeen instructs the servant to get everything set up for a party starting in an hour.

One hour later…

An old vase is knocked to the ground by one of the students dancing, releasing wisp like souls into the house.

"Oh crap! Cleo's gonna freak out when she sees that." Said Draculaura as she looks around for any of Cleo's servants nearby.

"Yeah, for sure." Replied Lagoona.

"Where is Cleo, anyway?" Asked Frankie.

"Oh, she's out getting her new phone. She dumped her old one in the toilet accidentally." Melody added snickering.

"But, didn't she mention the party?" Asked Clawdeen, knowing that it was posted on the Ghostly Gossip.

Upon the girls asking questions, the stone door opens revealing Cleo and Ghoulia who just came back from the maul.

"Oh my rah." Said Cleo with a shocked look on her face.

"Hey, um we can explain…" Replied Clawdeen.

But Cleo was more happy than shocked.

"You threw a party? For me? Awesome!" She said clenching both fists before telling Ghoulia to go and put her new phone to her royal chambers.

She claps, calling for her Anubis servants.

"Servants! Get me a milkshake."

The servants show up and bow to their future queen before going to the kitchen.

"This party is epic!" Shouted Frankie.

At the food table…

"Jawke, Jawke, Jawke, whoooo!"

The group of mansters cheered as Jawke beat a giant serpent at a meat eating contest.

"Yeah, total pizza jawkenation."

Jawke exclaimed upon giving a large burp afterward before turning to where Heath is.

"Yo Heath, did you see that?"

But Heath was not paying attention, playing a random guitar he found in the home by SloMo with broken notes.

"Hah, I am sizzling!" Said Heath as the flames light up on his head before SloMo punches through the guitar annoyed before walking away and a camera flashes nearby.

Jawke facepalmed before feeling his stomach bringing back up the food and making a break for the restroom.

Meanwhile, Draculaura was by herself texting Clawd and reading the Ghostly Gossip again.

"Cleo endangers guests with busted party favours. Hmph, Heath Burns. Moved on."

She said not wanting to think about her ex boyfriend and put her iCoffin back into her skirt pocket.

By the living room…

Clawdeen finds Lagoona sitting on one of the royal sofas, looking downcast.

"So, any plans for winter break next month with Gil?"

Lagoona looked up at Clawdeen before looking right back at the coffee table.

"Sigh, he hasn't been returning any of my texts since this morning. He sounded pretty upset about what was posted about us on the Ghostly Gossip. Plus, his parents still haven't yet approved our relationship."

"Aw come on! I'm sure he'll come around. Its probably senioritis. He's probably just busy."

Said Clawdeen, knowing the complexity of their relationship and that Gil's parents are not too keen on them being together.

"Right after midterms just ended? Yeah, sure…"

Replied Lagoona, sad while not buying the whole 'he's busy' excuse.

Near the DJ booth…

Frankie, wondering where and when Jackson is supposed to meet her, sees Heath. Much to her annoyance that he got her in detention again last week during Mr. Hackett's Mad Science extra credit lessons, she approached him to ask where his human-like cousin is.

"Hey Heath. Have you seen your cousin, Jackson? He's supposed to be here…" she said, crossing her arms confused and annoyed that she has not seen the spectacled nerd.

"Heh, you got stood up by Jackson? Awesome, heard from Manny that you saw him at school today."

Said Heath, smiling at her enjoying seeing the frown on even her face without her round spectacles.

"Oh, but don't feel too bad about it Four Eyes, what do you expect? Compared to his other half, he's a normie."

Frankie, still with her slight frown and arms crossed raised an eyebrow, curious about what he meant when describing Jackson's other half.

"Other half? What do you mean by that?"

Heath answered back her question while teasing her.

"Oh, when he hears music, he gets freaky on the dance floor if you know what I mean."

He smirks at her, and she proceeds rolling her eyes thinking that it was a waste of time asking him about the whereabouts of his cousin.

"Ugh, I don't even know why I bothered asking you about your cousin."

Said Frankie as she turned around getting angry at him knowing his cocky attitude.

"Then why did you? Oh, don't tell me, you feelin' the heat?"

She was about to reach her breaking point and turned around approaching Heath no longer caring that his flames were lit on his head.

"You know, I was going to be cordial with you and take back calling you an asshole, but on second thought you did say yourself you are one."

Heath proceeds to inch a bit closer to her face, now feeling flirtatious.

"Comes with the territory, baby."

As Frankie now wanted to take her left hand to slap him charged with her electricity, Deuce walks up to both of them.

"Hey, Heath. Jawke just went to the washroom and-oh, hey Frankie."

Frankie, upon hearing Deuce, puts her electric charged palm down and turns to face him, greeting back.

"Hey Deuce. I actually was just about to go back where Cleo is to check on her."

She replied before walking back up to the DJ Booth near where Cleo is perched up on her throne, annoyed with Heath's antics in her presence.

"Bro, did you see the picture posted on the Ghostly Gossip of Jawke puking his fins out? And, did I miss something?" Deuce asked Heath as he witnessed the pair having some sort of argument.

"Yes and no hehe."

Heath replied, grinning as his flames lit out.

"Whatever man. Where's Abbey?"

Deuce asked, but Heath looked to the side slightly frowning that his girlfriend did not want to come tonight.

"She ain't coming cuz it's Cleo's party."

"Right, forgot those two had a falling out."

Deuce replied back remembering that Cleo and Abbey used to be friends before separating toward different social circles.

Holt's POV

Man, I don't know how the hell I wound up here, but this party's bumpin' and requires a DJ. Never to fear, Holt Hyde is here!

"Yo, this ain't a party, this is a partaaaaaay, yeah!"

I rushed on over to the DJ booth, fiddling around with the controls.

"Let's do this, your boy Holt Hyde on the wheels of steel. Yeah yeah!"

Before I could get the booth going, the fucking power goes out. Not cool! As I look over to my right, I see a fine electrifyin' ghoul approaching the booth.

"Yo, high powered hottie."

She took one of her hands pointin' to herself lookin' all confused while cute as hell.

"W-who, me?"

Oh, yes you fine ghoul.

"Yeah, you're the only one electric enough to save me!"

I quickly took two pliers attached to electric cords and attached them to this cutie's bolts on her neck. What do you know, the power's back on and this party's back to bumpin'!

"Yeah, Frankie fine Stein saved the daaaaaaaay, yeah!"

Now this party's officially rockin'!

No POV

At the dance floor…

"This party got real out of hand." Said Lagoona.

"I know right? The DJ that showed up is a real hunk, too."

Said Melody, before looking back at Holt who was up at the booth, dancing.

"Every monster who's any monster showed up." Said Cleo before going back toward Deuce.

"Oh my god! There's already a dozen pictures posted up on the Ghostly Gossip."

Said Draculaura while looking at her phone again. Lagoona then mentions to the girls about what happened the last time when Cleo's older sibling threw a party two years prior.

"Hey, remember the time when Cleo's sister Nefera threw that bash and blamed it on her? I'm worried she's gonna get in trouble."

"Yeah, she was grounded for a month."

Replied Clawdeen, glancing back over at her ghoulfriend worried that her father will punish her for throwing an unauthorized party while out of town despite being the one responsible for wanting to throw a party.

"Big shoutout to Cleo for throwin' the bash of the century! Whoo!" Shouted Holt, with the crowd cheering, including Melody shouting "We love you DJ!"

Cleo comes back to where Clawdeen, Draculaura, and Lagoona are at.

"Even when I don't know about it. I still throw the best parties!"

Draculaura looks up from her phone to caution Cleo after hearing what Lagoona and Clawdeen said about what happened at the last party.

"Yeah, but if your dad finds out-"

But Cleo interrupts her, showing no concern at all.

"My father is in Egypt, out of town. He won't find out until somebody tells him. And who would do that?"

"That would be me."

Said a voice that sent shivers down Cleo's spine. Shocked, Cleo quickly turns around looking up from the doors leading to the royal bedrooms seeing her older, more vile and vindictive sister, Nefera de Nile, back from Europe early.

"Nefera!? What are you doing back?"

Nefera, smirking, throws her right arm up looking at her nails before back down at her naive, younger sister.

"Don't worry your needy, ogle looking head about that. You've got bigger things to worry about. Like how to keep me from telling daddy about this party."

Cleo proceeds to get down on her knees, begging and pleading to Nefera to not tell their strict, more controlling father.

"Pleeeease don't tell him. I'll do anything you ask!"

Nefera replies back snickering at her and her friend's faces.

"That's what I'm counting on. Prepare yourself, little sister. This is going to be the worst winter of your life. Hahahahaha."

She laughs before heading back to where the royal chambers are, leaving Cleo and the girls, including Melody who came up to her and comforted her with an arm around Cleo's wrapped shoulder, propping Cleo to stand back up.

"So, the wicked bitch has returned." Said Melody.

No POV

Thursday: Graveball Grates

As Frankie and Heath finish cleaning up the attic to have it ready for the next year, Heath stretches both his arms upon putting down the broom and dustpan.

"Well, looks like that's the last of the stuff Robecca asked us to clean up."

Frankie finishes up dusting the machines, before taking a misstep.

"W-whoa!"

As Heath heard her, he quickly ran over and caught her before she could land on the hard attic floor.

Frankie, anticipating the impact felt warmth on her with a scent of cinder. She slowly opened her eyes to find herself on top of Heath staring into his red eyes. She felt a light blush dusting her cheeks.

"S-sorry. Um, are you okay?" She asked, confused and embarrassed.

'Why would he catch me?' She thought.

"I should be the one asking you that. Except I'm an asshole, remember?"

He grins while teasing and being slightly flirtatious with her upon noticing the look on her face.

Frankie got up and turned around taking her hands and quickly fixed up her red vest and black and blue plaid skirt while feeling her blush grow on her face out of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry I said you are one. That was a bit out of line on my part."

"I'm outta here."

As Heath proceeds to leave, Frankie looks up and asks him where the grave ball field is.

"Hey wait! Um, do you know the quickest way to get to the Graveball Field?"

She said looking up at Heath a metre away.

"You mean you're going to watch the game?"

Frankie replied back to his question, ignoring his smirk.

"Yeah, Neightan offered me to come see him and the team play."

Heath raised an eyebrow, but decided not to ask her anymore questions as he was tired and needed some air.

"Alright. I'm actually heading down there myself to see Manster and the bros anyway. Follow me."

"O-okay. Thank you."

Frankie smiled putting both of her hands behind her back and followed Heath down to the outdoor grave ball stadium.

At the grave ball stadium…

Gil, Manny, and Neighthan were sitting on the bench watching Deuce and the other players struggling against their opponents.

"There's only two minutes left of the most important Graveball game of the year." Said Gil.

"Yeah, and we've actually got a chance to beat Centaur Tech. So don't bloooooow it!"

Upon Manny's anticipation to get Monster High's grave ball team to the championships, Heath and Frankie walk over to them.

"Hey, Manster. What's sizzlin' at tonight's game?" Said Heath as he sat between Gil and Manny.

"Well, we are so clooooose to winning and getting to the championships." Exclaimed Manny as he still watches the game.

"Hey, Neightan. I am here as you suggested, just wanted to wish you luck." Said Frankie

"Thanks Frankie." Replied Neightan.

"You must be the first zombie unicorn in the history of graveball. What's your position?"

Frankie asked, curious to learn more about Neightan that is not just comics.

"Well, mostly sitting down. I am just backup in case there's no other players left."

The whistle blows as Deuce gets knocked down, landing helmet first in front of the bench.

"Dude!"

Neighthan proceeds to crouch down near Deuce and emanates a purple glow around his body, allowing him to get right back up and out on the field. He turns back to Frankie.

"I only play for the team when called. My zombie side makes me too clumsy. When one of our guys gets hurt, I use my unicorn power and heal them."

He says smiling knowing that he is a valuable asset to the team. Frankie asked with some concern, thinking if he felt left out.

"Oh, but don't you want to play?"

"Totally. But usually when I ask if I can get in the game, well-"

"Hey, look Neighthan, your like a brother to us but-"

As Gil replied, Manny interrupted, annoyed at having to listen to the conversation while watching the game.

"You're hoooorible! No way."

Heath snickered at Manny's comment to Neightan.

"You think that's funny, smartass?"

Said Frankie, annoyed that Heath was being inconsiderate of Neighthan's capabilities.

"Well, haha yeah. Back when I was receiver for the grave ball team last year, whenever Zombie Corn here holds the ball, he either falls flat on his ass or just manages to clench the ball so tightly like a baby he bolts straight for the goal."

He added while proceeding to tease her again upon seeing her annoyed.

"By the way, thanks for complimenting me on my smarts, Four Eyes."

Frankie glares at him with a light blush, while hearing a whistle blow taking her attention back to the game.

"Oh, crap. We got 30 seconds left on the clock to score." Said Gil.

"Well, guess I'm uuuuuuuup!"

Manny shouted as he high fives Heath while putting his helmet back on heading out to the field.

"He's got the ball." Said Gil

"Yeah, go Manster!" Cheered Heath.

As Manny catches the ball, running toward the goal, two of the Centaur Tech opponents crashed into him, leaving his unconscious, large body on the field.

"Oh, shit." Heath winced upon seeing his bigger best friend get smushed.

"Well…almost. Neighthan, it's all up to you."

Gil exclaimed, turning to Neighthan and tossing him a spare helmet.

"Well, guess I'm up." Said Neightan as he put on the helmet.

"You can do this Neighthan. Everyone's counting on you to help the team make the winning play." Frankie said, giving a fist bump.

"I'm on it."

Replied Neightan as he does a fist bump in return getting up off the ben before tripping on the grass.

"Whoa! Uh whoops."

He gets up correcting his balance while Heath laughs at him.

"Now I'm on it!"

As Neighthan heads out onto the centre of the field, he sees Manny trying to wave him over to heal him with one of the players passing the graveball.

"I got it! No this is the, uh, ball."

Neighthan frantically looked back and forth before starting to run straight for the goal.

"H-hey Neighthan go! Go, Neighthan!" Said Frankie cheering him on.

As Neighthan runs and dodges the other layers while clenching the ball close to his body, he trips and slides toward the goal scoring the win as soon as the clock hit zero. The crowd pauses until the referee blows the whistle declaring Monster High winning the graveball game.

"Wow, dude actually did it."

Said Heath who is both shocked and impressed that his comic book club trade partner actually had some athleticism in his hybrid zombie unicorn blood. The football players on the field all gathered and celebrated their victory with Neighthan.

"Yeah, he's really gotten better since football camp last summer." Said Gil replying back to Heath.

"Aw man! I missed out on a fuck ton while I was in summer school."

Neighthan, Manny, and Deuce return back to the bench.

"Wow, I can't believe I somehow managed to score the winning goal." Said Neightan.

"Yeah, and healed me back up to booooot!" Shouted Manny.

Frankie went over to the group complimenting Neightan.

"Yeah, it's all thanks to you. You know you're the team's underdog."

Neightan smiled at Frankie.

'She's a nice ghoul. No wonder Heath spends more time in Robotics Club lately since Clawd graduated.'

"Thanks, you know I would not have been able to have scored the win without your encouragement. Surprised you aren't a fear leader, you could be great at it."

Frankie lightly blushes at the fearleading compliment.

"Yo dudes, let's go and change before we pass on our odor to the ladies nearby." Said Deuce.

As the graveball team was getting ready to leave, a high pitched female voice was heard.

"Oh, Mannykins!"

"Oh great." Muttered Heath, knowing that all too familiar voice.

A petite green skinned fear leader sporting two low braided pigtails and one eye went up to Manny, hugging him.

"Oh I'm so glad you're okay! Are you hurt?" She asked him.

"Uh, no? Neighthan brought me back up." Stated Manny.

"Yo, Manny! Let's go" said Gil with Deuce.

"I'll call you tomorrow night!" Said the fear leader before letting Manny go to where the locker rooms are before spotting Frankie.

"Hey, I remember you. You were at the fear leading tryouts right?"

Frankie recognized that this was the girl who went to Melody's Halloween party in the group photo.

"Oh, yeah haha. Are you Manny's girlfriend?"

Before the petite fear leader could reply back to Frankie's question, Heath approaches standing next to them.

"More or less."

Said Heath, annoyed that Manny's girlfriend showed up now out of all places despite the game having been over already.

"Heath. Nice to see you. Anyway, I should be going now, bye!"

She said waving off to Frankie with her fear leading pom poms. Frankie looks over to Heath confused at what was happening given Heath's reputation with hitting on every pretty girl in the school.

"What was that for? She seems nice."

Heath replied with light venom in his tone.

"Nice? Four Eyes, girls like her may seem all 'nice' on the outside, but real snobs on the inside."

Heath said leaving the graveball field to head back to the student parking lot.

"Hey, where are you going? Ugh, such a hothead."

Frankie noticed that it had been a long day and decided to head back to her apartment. She receives a text on her iCoffin from the mystery student.

'Hey, just wanted to say be careful on your way home.'

She did not pay much attention to who this person messaging her was, just smiled that she felt welcomed and included in a way.