Sora and Ari Hauntington

Tash had just finished the first half of her concert and now they're on intermission.

She sits at her vanity in her dressing room, looking very nervous. Why is the Mega Popstar Tash nervous?

Her manager convinced her to do a one-on-one meet 'n greet with a lucky fan. Don't get her wrong. Tash adores all her fans. But there's a secret and sometimes she slips. The star actually finds it easier being among lots of people. The bigger the group, the better.

Tash takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. The popstar rises from her seat and walks to her door. She was looking down at her feet as she opens and closes her door. Tash hadn't taken two steps when she bumps into someone.

"Sorry," the voice of boy reaches her ears.

"No, no. It was my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going," Tash looks up at the boy. He couldn't be no older than herself. He had some unusually spiked brown hair, wearing strange clothes, and some rather large shoes. "Are you the lucky fan?"

The boy smiles. "I am," he holds up a stage pass. "Name's Sora."

"And I'm Tash," she couldn't help but laugh. "Of course, you already know that." Something about this boy's smile is quite contagious.

"Oh, man. My friend is going to be so jealous."

"Is your friend a fan as well?"

"Oh, definitely," Sora beams. "In fact, I'd say she's your biggest fan. She actually introduced me to your music."

"That sounds nice," Tash smiles at his enthusiasm. "Is your friend here? I could invite her as well. I would love to meet her."

The boy's smile fades as he takes out his ticket. "This winning ticket was actually hers. She won it online but sadly, was not able to make it here today," he looks back up at the popstar. "My friend didn't want it to go to waste, so she gave it to me. I promised to get a picture with you and an autograph," he takes out a CD case.

Tash smiles and takes the CD. "I'd love to. I just need a pen," she grabs his hand. "Here! Let's go," she walks into her dressing room without thinking. It wasn't until the popstar heard the loud thump does she fully register what happened. Turning, she finds the door still closed. She jumps a little once the door slowly opens and sees Sora rubbing his forehead.

Sora looks up at her with wide eyes.

Tash is fearful for what she knows is coming next, the screaming and shouting and before she knows it, she'll be on the run and never be able to perform again. Instead, the boy peeks outside the room, looking both ways before closing the door.

"You're a ghost?"

"Y-yes."

"Cool!"

That catches the Mega Star off guard. "I was not expecting that."

The boy tilts his head, "What were you expecting?"

"The natural human reaction usually is 'A g-g-ghost! Ahhh!' followed by running away and occasionally returning with a mob."

"Well, I'm not like most humans."

Tash lets out a chuckle. "I guess not," then, she gets curious. "Are you a Monster?"

"Nope. I'm a fully flesh and blood, living human being."

Tash's eyes raise up a bit. "A-and you're not scared?"

"Should I be?" he asks and receives a headshake. "Then, no. I'm not. So, why the secret?"

"You are an abnormality," Tash explains. "I love those people out there. But if they figure out I'm a ghost, I'll never be able to live a normal life," she looks down in sadness.

"Normal is relative," Sora tells her.

"Huh?"

"Or at least that's what my friend tells me," the boy smiles at her. "It must be hard, Tash. Doing something you like but unable to be yourself."

Tash looks down. He's not wrong. "Ari."

"Huh? Ari?" Sora tilts his head.

"I-it's my real name," she smiles up at the boy, as her skin turns white, blonde hair becomes purple, and her pink dress shifts into a dark purple almost black. "It's been so long since I've told anybody that," her feet rise above the ground.

The boy holds out a hand to her. "Well then. It's nice to meet the real you, Ari."

Ari accepts the offer with a smile. "Thank you, Sora."

"There it is," Sora states and the ghoul just stares at him in confusion. "A smile. A real one," he flashes her a goofy smile causing the ghost to giggle. "You know? It is possible to just be yourself out there. One day, we can all live together and there will be no need to hide."

The ghost looks down. "I wish I could believe that, Sora. But there are too many Normies afraid of us. It will never happen."

"You don't know that for sure. Perhaps one day you can believe."

"Maybe," she looks down again.

Just then, a knock comes at the door. "Tash! You're on in five."

"I-I'll be out in a minute!" Ari response and she changes back into a blonde. "Well, best get out there for my adoring fans," Tash takes the boy's hand. "Come on, You get to be on stage with me. Remember?" and they head for the door. Then, she stops and turn to Sora. "Will you promise me something. Please don't tell anybody about this. Not even your friend."

Sora just smiles and says, "Even though I know for a fact my friends would accept you for who you really are, I promise none of them will hear it from me."

.oOo.

As soon as Sora arrived back at Monster High, he is meet by a certain petite vampire.

"Did you get it? Please tell me you got it?" Draculaura begs.

The Normie smiles as he pulls out the signed album. "Like I'd forget."

The ghoul quickly snatches it. "Thanks, Sora!" she hugs her new prized possession.

Sora then waves his iCoffin. "I also got the picture," he taps on the device a couple of time. "There!"

Draculaura's iCoffin goes off and checks to see that a picture of the Normie and Super Mega Star Tash has been sent to her phone. "Yes! Oh, how I wish I could have been there."

"Who know?" he starts to head up the staircase. "Maybe someday you will." As he was heading towards the dorm he shares with Deuce and Raythe, he swipes from the photo on his iCoffin from the one of him and Tash to the one with him and the real Ari. He can tell that her smile is brighter as her true self rather than as Tash.

Sora actually told Ari that the second photo was unnecessary. But she insisted that he has something genuine of the real her. He puts the device away before entering his room.

Deuce looks up from his bed. "Hey, dude. How was the concert?"

"It was fun. Wished you guys could have gone to."

"Yeah," Raythe walks in. "It would have been awesome to have met Tash. How is she anyway? Was she cooler than we thought? Or is she one of those stars who are only cool on stage but are jerks in real life?"

"Actually," Sora lays on his bed with a smile. "deep down, the real Tash is just like everybody else."

End