A/N: Here is the next chapter uploaded alongside the previous one. The ending of this chapter is a bit bittersweet but the outcome was inevitable. Abbey is Heath's past while Frankie could possibly be Heath's future? This is high school we are talking about here.
Don't own Monster High, Garrett Sander is the creator, Mattel is the seller.
Ch. 16: Love, Seduction, and Heartbreak
February 2014: Week One
Saturday: Nefera Again
No POV
At the coffin bean…
Frankie, Ghoulia, and Lagoona are out shopping while Clawdeen, Draculaura and the other girls are sitting at the table near the Coffin Bean.
"You know the only good thing before a new scaremester?" Clawdeen asked with a grin.
"Back to school shopping!" All the ghouls said in unison.
"Mel, let's see what you got!" Clawdeen said to the siren ghoul.
Draculaura pulled out round gold studs. "Oooh! Cute earrings ghoul."
"Check it, Burberry!"
Clawdeen pulled out a dark purple bag with gold circles lined around it.
"Whoa, cute bag! Oooh, is that the new Bark Jacobs?"
"The Jean Maul Ghostier. Sick." Melody replied.
"Bouille Vousbeaux." Draculaura held out blue striped tights.
"Gerbana." Melody held a dark red purse with a gold lock on it.
"Sasquatchy." Clawdeen pulled out a red and white ripped dress.
"Cadaver." Melody held a blue perfume bottle with a fake diamond on top.
Cleo walked in with Abbey holding a mountain of shopping bags. All the girls gasp at the amount of items the wealthy De Nile purchased.
"Whoa, bows to your claw, some shopping skills." Melody added as a compliment to Cleo.
Cleo, however, looked defeated as Abbey set her bags down on the table, now completely full of bags.
"Sigh, as much as I'd love people showering me with compliments, none of this is for me."
"What!?" Clawdeen, Draculaura, and Melody shouted in unison.
"This for Cleo's sister." Abbey added.
"Nefera…" Cleo sat down with her arms crossed, upset that she was unable to partake in even buying at least a phone case for her iCoffin.
Clawdeen clenched both of her clawed fists, knowing full well of the aftermath that happened after that big party. "I can't believe she's still blackmailing you for the party."
Cleo closed her eyes and let out another sigh while waving her bandaged manicured hands.
"Believe it. She makes me wait on her hand and foot."
"Your sister's sure a real piece of work." Melody said as she rolled her eyes.
"Sound like you are baby yak being pulled on sled by her." Abbey said in her own words, which Cleo nodded.
As the ghouls consoled Cleo, Nefera walked toward their table. All of them except Melody and Abbey who glared, gasped at her presence.
There was the oldest sister of the De Nile family, Nefera, who stood in a model pose with a right hand on her hip, confident yet self absorbed while she fanned herself due to the maul's heat system working. Cleo had expressed great distaste toward her sister whenever she was brought up as the conversation subject, even having picked up her sour and narcissistic attitude. However, unlike Nefera, Cleo did show that she actually cared for others besides herself and willing to put others above herself…once in a while.
"My gorgeous perfectly shaped ears are burning. I don't care when people talk about me. It's when they stop talking about you that you have to worry."
"Yeah right." Melody crossed her arms, knowing how full of shit Nefera was.
The shopping bags on the table caught Nefera's attention. With a devious grin she had a plan to further gain what she considered hers.
"Well, well, well! Very nice." The eldest sister clasped both hands in awe at the wide selection of goods before she stood back up, closed her eyes and crossed her arms.
"I want them."
All the ghouls' eyes widen and gasp. Abbey however, tilted her head and quirked an eyebrow.
"What?" Draculaura asked, in shock, that her monthly allowance spent toward the clothes she bought would fly away like a bat.
"Hehe. I want all this." Nefera gestured.
"No way!" Clawdeen said, as she took a defensive stance and guarded hers, Draculaura's, and Melody's shopping bags.
"Fine, then I'll just tell my father about Cleo's huge party when he was out of town."
Nefera took out her iCoffin, the latest model while Cleo's iCoffin was the previous version.
"He may only ground her for a year."
Abbey, who felt sympathy toward Cleo, walked over to Nefera and gave her fake money equivalent to $2000 USD that she found at Monster High's student council, courtesy of Toralei. Thankfully, Nefera was not the type to comprehend the value of a dollar other than being spent toward designer goods and spa treatments.
"Here, take money. This how much stuff bought worth." Abbey said as Nefera gladly took the stack of cash.
"Oh, my. I see that you're going for the winter look of me. Alright, deal, but I will still take the goods that Cleo bought for me." Nefera agreed to the bargained trade.
"That's it. According to your watch, I mean my watch. I'm going to be late for the salon. I'll be back, miss me!"
As Nefera waved off to be gone for a few hours, Melody turned toward Abbey and questioned the tall blue skinned ghoul on the bribe.
"You sure that was a good idea giving her money? I mean, she already has enough."
Abbey let out a small laugh and grinned.
"Heh, oh that is fake money Abbey gave. Working in Student Council, Abbey learned tip and tricks from Toralei."
"Impressive as always, Bominable." Cleo replied with a smirk.
'Thank the rah Abbey here saved my ghoulfriend's behinds. Glad to have gotten my BFF back.' Cleo thought.
"Speaking of Toralei, look who's prowling around the maul."
Clawdeen alerted the ghouls as her wolf eyes glanced over to see the orange striped werecat with her twin followers, flipping her long orange haired side ponytail to attract attention toward her.
'Ugh, even outside school that bitch always wants to be the centre of attention.'
Clawdeen let out a light growl at the thought. It did not help that wolves and werecats do not get along that much for territory reasons.
"She's gonna be gunning for us this scaremester as always."
Cleo turned toward her wolf friend and added, "Sigh, we still have bigger problems to deal with, like stopping my sister before she suspects that the money we gave her is counterfeit."
Cleo knew that after Nefera would be finished at the salon in a few hours, that that money would not cover her mani pedi, facial, and wax treatment package.
"Yeah, I got more shopping to do, but forget it if your sister is gonna want it when she finds out about the fake coin."
As Clawdeen stood up to leave, she turned to Cleo to ask if she would come along, however her wolf ears picked up a secret conversation.
"So, did you both hear that Nefera's still back in town? She's always wearing the new trends weeks before anybody else. Let's go see what the bitch buys, so we can steal her look."
Clawdeen smirked, knowing that was Toralei up to her usual schemes. She signaled to the ghouls an idea.
"Ghouls, let's go shopping."
"Abbey senses Clawdeen has plan."
Draculaura giggled and clenched her fists in excitement. "Oooh yes! More shopping!"
As the ghouls spread out across the maul to find junk, Cleo puts toilet plungers on her feet she took from the maintenance room, Clawdeen went to the nearest restroom and grabbed a couple of toilet paper rolls as earrings, Melody took apart and wore a trashcan, and Draculaura picked up a dead rat she found in a corner of the food court. On the outside with the snow still on the ground, Abbey took a hibernating wasp nest on her head. She froze the inside of the nest, effectively killing the sleeping insects inside to avoid getting stung.
"Da svidaniya, osy. You now frozen candy for Shiver." Abbey remarked.
At the food court…
Frankie, Ghoulia, and Lagoona walked the maul and headed to the food court near the Coffin Bean upon having viewed the large stack of shopping bags with a note from Clawdeen that said "BRB, don't touch unless your one of my ghouls".
"Thanks for taking me swimsuit shopping, Lagoona. I really appreciate it." Frankie said as she put her shopping bag on top of the large pile.
"Hey, no worries. Anything to help out my best mate." Lagoona nudged her.
"Um, can I ask you ghouls something?" Frankie said as she looked around and put two of her fingers together.
Lagoona, Ghoulia, and Frankie sit down at the table as they set down their shopping bags.
"Of course. What's up, friend?" Lagoona asked.
"I'm kind of…caught up in something." Frankie looked down at her lap, now tugging her plaid mesh skirt.
"Uggggh" (Is it school?) Ghoulia asked, as she knew Frankie was stressed during the scaremester finals.
"Is it a boy?" Lagoona smiled as she saw the light pink that dusted Frankie's cheeks.
Frankie nodded while feeling her cheeks flushed a darker shade of pink.
"Yeah, I think I like him."
Frankie had to acknowledge that she was crushing on Heath Burns. After that Justin Biter concert, she could no longer deny it.
"Is it Heath?" Lagoona smiled, as she saw how much time she spent with the fire elemental during winter break in Australia.
"H-how did you know?"
Frankie's eyes widened at Lagoon's direction. Lagoona could not help but giggle at her exchange student ghoulfriend.
"Come on Frankie. I noticed you both lately have been quite chummy with one another."
Ghoulia smiled, having agreed with Lagoona. Overtime, the zombie ghoul noticed that the arguments between the two have lessened and turned to more of a banter.
The two despite being in different circles, shared a strong connection. Frankie was like the sun that Heath gravitated toward.
"Well, I would not exactly call it that. More like it's…treading muddy waters."
The mint skinned ghoul put both palms on her face, feeling guilt and shame upon herself.
"What do you mean?" Lagoona asked.
Frankie then put both her hands on the side of the table while she stared at the shopping bags.
"Well, he has a girlfriend. And there are others at school like his cousin that suspect we're together. And lately it's started to become more than just club teammates or a rumor."
"Did he try to make any sorta move on you?"
Upon Lagoon's follow up question, Frankie's cheeks flushed more as she recalled the times Heath texted her cute, protected her, the closet game, the arguments becoming more flirtatious, then the almost kiss up in the school's attic.
Oh god the almost kiss.
"Yes. Right before finals over a week ago in Robotics Club…I think we almost kissed."
Lagoona gasped, she knew of Heath's prior reputation of him being a womanizer but not to the extent of the tension between the two.
"Oh my ghoul. Does his girlfriend know?"
"To my knowledge, not really. All I know from her was that their relationship was on the rocks."
Frankie added, not directly saying who she was. Because she was both a friend and classmate.
Lagoona took out a webbed hand and covered Frankie's to comfort her as she was inexperienced with boys and dating and needed to let out what she felt for what seemed like a while.
"I say wait it out. Let the ticking time plan things out between you both."
"I can't believe I got caught up in this." Frankie said.
All she wanted was to come to Monster High and experience what life would be like living in a different continent. Her father back home would disapprove of what she had been doing, though granted some of the time she got coerced into doing courtesy of being influenced in some way, shape, or form. In more ways than one.
Ghoulia stood up and put a comforting hand on Frankie's shoulder, and consoled her as Lagoona continued to cheer her up.
"Look, mate. If it makes you feel any better, we won't tell a soul. This will be kept just between us."
Lagoona knew Frankie well enough that she did not want something like this to get around and put her reputation she worked hard toward at risk. She learned back home at her previous school to not commit sins.
"Thanks Lagoona. I'm so glad that I can count on two of my best ghoul friends."
"No worries mate. Hey, wanna go to Scarebucks before we meet back up with the other girls? Since they're still out shopping."
"Sure. I could use a latte to recharge my bolts."
"Uggggh" (I'll get myself a decaf)
Back at the coffin bean…
After a few hours, Nefera returned back from the salon. Thankfully she brought her wallet otherwise she would have been banned from the salon for having given them counterfeit money.
'Of course they'd try to pull one of their juvenile tricks on me. What do they take me for? A dumb model?'
As she approached the table with the shopping bags now gone from the table. She found the ghouls look and smell foul.
"Um, what's going on? You all look ridiculous." Nefera stated in confusion.
"Hottest trends of the season." Melody said.
"Saw in magazines." Abbey gestured.
"We're the first to wear them. They haven't even seen them here yet." Clawdeen added as the wolf ghoul nearly bit her tongue to not give away her sarcasm.
Cleo gestured her left hand with a sly smile as she sweetly added, "But being a world famous model, dear sister, You already knew that."
Nefera's eyes widened in panic as she turned her head to the side, with her long teal hair swayed to the side.
'I-I cannot for the rah be behind on trends!'
"O-of course I knew that. I was merely, um, testing you."
Melody held the trashcan. "Please don't take these from us."
Draculaura held the dead rat like a handbag. "They can't be replaced." As she said in a deadpan tone while she tried not to vomit.
"Hand them over."
Each of the ghouls gave Nefera the garbage attire.
"I can pull off this look. You guys, not so much." Nefera shifted her eyes in order to maintain her confident, model persona.
"You are correct." Abbey nodded with a small smirk plastered on her sparkling pretty blue face.
"Now, I think I'll walk around the maul and bask in all the jealous looks I get. Tata."
Nefera left for the closest girls washroom located across from the Coffin Bean.
Several minutes later…
Curiosity killed the werecat. Each of the girls snuck over toward the front as Nefera clumsily walked around the mall with strangers filming on their iCoffins to post this on social media.
"Nefera's never going to be able to show her face in the maul again." Draculaura giggled.
"Oh my rah! This is the best day of my life." Cleo added in a melodic tone, finally able to have gotten back at her older sister for being treated like a personal servant.
"Cleo, look. Abbey see Toralei copy this new look your sister wear." Abbey smirked.
"If you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go film that. Hahaha." Melody laughed as she walked toward the circle where Toralei and her werecat posse were.
Frankie, Lagoona, and Ghoulia return back from Scarebucks as they overheard the commotion that came from the maul food court.
"Hey mates, we're back. I see you got our shopping bags put in Cleo's limo?" Lagoona said.
Frankie saw the group of people and monsters both film and laugh at Toralei and her entourage. She could not help but stifle a laugh of her own.
"Pfft, hehehe. Did we miss something here?"
"Only that Toralei and her crew won't be back at the maul for a while." Clawdeen smirked.
"So, did you ghouls get some shopping done?" Draculaura asked.
"Yep, helped Frankie buy a few swimsuits that fit her style. We'd show you but all the shopping bags are now put away." Lagoona said, as she looked around the maul.
"Oh, sorry. Abbey did that so Cleo sister not take. In Cleo limo." Abbey said.
"I could not have done it without Lagoona and Ghoulia's help." Frankie smiled.
Each of the ghouls laughed and enjoyed the rest of their fangout day at the maul.
Monday: New Scaremester
First: AP English (Heath and Frankie. Along with Manny, Draculaura, and Neighthan) Teacher: Mr. Rotter, you know, teacher who never gives As.
It was a new scaremester back at Monster High. The seniors were especially excited as this was their last scaremester before graduation.
Both Heath and Frankie found out that they had most classes together again as they saw each other before first period AP English. Both briefly smiled at one another from a distance.
Manny saw the brief exchange and asked his best friend a question.
"Hey, uh, are you going out with her?"
Heath turned around to look up at his best friend.
"Me? With her?" The fire elemental cocked his head to the side.
"Bro don't lie to me. Besides, aren't you with Abbey?" Manny replied.
While the minotaur was not the brightest bulb in the tool shed, he saw how both Heath and the social freak ghoul interacted here and there. He could tell as Heath stopped bullying her.
"Nah, Manster. We're just classmates, besides she's a social freak and I'm a jock." Heath replied with a sad smile.
The minotaur did not further question his best friend as both knew they had to get to class.
"Hmph, alright bro. Let's get to class. We got English first period?" Manny asked.
"Yeah, think so." Heath shrugged, as he pretended that he had not looked at his timetable.
As Frankie walked in, she saw Draculaura and sat beside her as she was reading a book.
"Hey Drac."
Draculaura looked up and saw one of her ghoulfriends, relieved that she would have a class bestie to work with.
"Hey Frankie. Thank ghoul there is someone I know who is also in this class with me. Sigh…"
"Well, glad I am here."
Frankie replied as she sat down on the desk beside Draculaura's.
"Hey. Mind if I sit here beside you ghouls?"
A familiar voice that Frankie recognized. She glanced up and saw Neighthan Rot, whom she had not spoken with in a while since the grave ball game.
"Oh Neighthan. Of course!"
The zombie unicorn sat down behind Frankie and Draculaura. The petite vampire sparked up a conversation with him.
"Hey Neighthan. Does the Comic Club need additional publicity?"
"Hey Draculaura. Nah Ghoulia seems to have everything covered. It's amazing how she manages to keep the club running with everything else on her plate." Neighthan replied.
Scene switch…
In the halls…
Heath and Manny walked to AP English class. The comedic duo were relieved that this scaremester they had another class together that was not just Physical Deaducation.
"Ugh, can't belieeeeve I have to take this class. Least I get to be with my smarter pal here." The tall minotaur said as he lightly nudged his much shorter friend.
"Yeah, I was surprised. You're not even aiming for a top school."
Heath replied, given that Manny was not taking any AP classes as the minotaur had no plans after graduation. At least that he knew of.
"My family made me. They said that if I don't take at least one AP class this year that they'll put me in an Escape Room with no lights."
The minotaur shuddered, as he recalled his anxiety that surrounded anything that resembled a maze of any sort.
"At least this scaremester we can hang out more. You know, like old times." Heath chuckled.
"Yeah. Hey, sorry about having to bail on the mansters last scaremester. Besides Iris, my family has been putting a lot of pressure on me hoping that I graduate. They want me to at least go to a community college. Man fuck school, except casketball season. I don't wanna go to college."
Manny huffed as he crossed his large, muscular arms.
"I hear ya, Manster. Shit, only a few months left then we're home free." Heath added, as he too was looking forward to graduating.
"I'm surprised you passed your AP Science classes and did not lose your casketball scholarship. Big jump in your grades from what you told me. How's that possible?" Manny asked.
Heath did not want to directly admit to his best manster that he had a little help. Well, more like a lot of help.
"Well, you could say I picked up on some valuable study tips." Heath grinned.
"Oh figures. Forgot Abbey was helping you."
Well, that was partially true.
"Alright, this it?" Heath asked, seeing the class number above the door.
"Huh, whaddya know? Rotter's not here yet." Heath and Manny both peeked into the classroom.
"Hey, let's draw him on a dick." Grahaha!"
Manny began drawing on the chalkboard a cartoonish drawing of Mr. Rotter and a male reproductive organ to give one of Monster High's strictest teachers quite an unexpected welcome.
Draculaura looked toward the front as she heard a couple of rowdy voices.
"Huh, looks like Heath is in this class too."
"Yo Heath. Over here!" Neighthan called out to the fire elemental.
"Hey dude. Save me a seat why don't ya?" Heath walked over to the trio.
"You know it." The zombie unicorn nodded.
As Heath walked over, Frankie pretended to not notice in order to hide the light blush that formed on her face. "Oh god…"
"You okay ghoul?" Draculaura asked as she saw her mint skinned friend look away with her arms crossed.
"Yeah, I'm-"
Heath saw that Frankie shook a bit at her seat. He looked at her with a smile and attempted to start up a brief conversation.
"Hey."
She looked up at him from her seat, and could not help but stare into his ruby red eyes.
"Hi…looks like we will be seeing each other again this scaremester." Frankie said.
She felt calm now. Her heart soared in delight that even in the mornings she could spend time with the fire elemental.
Technically Heath was a part of the friend group.
"Yeah."
Heath looked away as he knew that look gave him this feeling. And he was not sure if it was a good or bad kind of feeling. Before those cute large eyes gave him sinful thoughts, he proceeded to sit down behind Neighthan and immediately changed the conversation subject.
"So, anyone got AP Algebra and Clawculus on their schedule?"
"I do. AP Algebra after this class and Clawculus fourth." Draculaura replied.
Upon Heath's question, Frankie looked at her timetable. And turned out she did.
"Yeah. Me too."
Heath took the opportunity to lightly flirt with her while he gave her his signature wink.
"Well, then you can sit next to me in case you need my notes again."
Frankie looked away with her blush coming back. Not only did he knew how to push her stitches but also flirt on top of that. And overtime she began to reciprocate Heath's advances against her sense of judgment.
"I think I can manage thanks, math wizard." Frankie replied back with a sarcastic undertone in an attempt to deflect.
Neighthan, having noticed the conversation the pair both had, leaned over to Draculaura's desk and whispered to her.
"Hey, do you know what's happening with them?"
"Well, duh." Draculaura giggled. Of course she knew that both were having a flirtatious exchange.
As the first period bell rang and Mr. Rotter walked in with a cup of coffee in one hand and a textbook in another, Manny made a bolt toward the empty seat next to Heath toward the back of the classroom.
"Good morning students. Welcome to senior AP English. My name is-"
As the strict teacher turned toward the chalkboard and saw the "artistic" interpretation of him riding a sausage, the class started laughing.
"Ha ha. Very funny. I see you senior students here like to strike the what you call it the sexual-"
"Boner!" Heath shouted.
The class laughed. Mr. Rotter grabbed the eraser to remove the drawing from the chalkboard.
"Okay class. Open your books on your desk to page 10. And Mr. Burns, I expect to see you graduate on time and not again in summer school."
The class now laughed at Heath who frowned at the remark made back at him to deflate his ego a bit.
Second: AP Algebra (Heath and Frankie. All ghouls except Melody, Abbey, and Lagoona. Jackson and Gil only for dudes.) Teacher: Headmistress Bloodgood
The class bell rang to conclude the first period.
"Okay class dismissed. I will email each of you all this week's assignment tonight that will be due next Tuesday." Mr. Rotter reminded the students.
Draculaura got up and grabbed her books. "Well, thank god! I swear I could barely stay awake in that class."
Manny high five his best friend. "Well, see ya at lunch bro."
"Later." Heath said to Manny before he turned to both Frankie and Draculaura.
"Well, shall I escort you ladies to our next class?" Heath said with a cocky smirk.
The petite vampire rolled her eyes at his gesture.
"Haha, very funny Heath. I can escort myself, thank you."
Frankie on the other hand, wanted to take Heath's offer as she still was figuring out where everything still was at Monster High.
"Well, I actually could use the directions. I'm still navigating my way around this school even after one scaremester."
Draculaura, Frankie, and Heath walked the route to AP Algebra. Heath put an arm around Frankie's shoulder up until they approached the class with Draculaura gone ahead to secure a seat with her ghoul friends.
"Well, looks like most of the crew is here." Heath remarked.
"Where's Abbey?" Frankie asked the fire elemental. You know, Heath's actual girlfriend.
"Oh, she took AP Algebra last summer. I have a copy of her notes she lent me as reference for when I need to take this class." Heath added.
"Well, that's helpful of her to you." Frankie nodded.
"Hey Frankie! We saved you a seat." Draculaura called out to Frankie's direction. The mint skinned ghoul sat on the empty seat next to Clawdeen, Ghoulia, and Draculaura with Cleo behind them.
"So, guess we will see each other fourth period?" Frankie asked the group.
"And after school." Heath responded back to her question with a wink as he walked to his empty seat next to Jackson and Gil, which caused Frankie to blush.
"R-right."
The fire elemental took his seat next to his cousin.
"Sup cousin." Heath greeted his much smarter cousin.
"Hey Heath." Jackson nodded.
"Hey bro. Abbey not taking this class?" Gil raised an eyebrow, as he did not see Heath's blue yeti girlfriend.
"She took it last summer. How you gonna handle AP Trig last period?" Heath asked Gil, as math was not the freshwater manster's best subject.
"Thank fin Jackson is in that class. I have Lagoona's notes she took from last scaremester but no study partner til I got this guy."
He smiled as he nudged Jackson, who has the top math grades next to Ghoulia in the senior class.
"Sigh, I hope to god that was not sarcasm."
Jackson rolled his eyes, as he already had to deal with helping his cousin to get his stuff together on weekends thanks to his shorter attention span in class sometimes.
"Not at all, bro." Gil chuckled.
As the second period class bell rang, Headmistress Bloodgood walked in.
"Good morning class. Welcome to senior AP Algebra. I am expecting exceptional effort from you students. Also please give our returning student, Jackson Jekyll a warm welcome back to Monster High."
The class clapped with some students that shifted their glances toward the introverted half human.
"Um, h-hi guys."
Jackson nervously smiled before he put his opened math textbook toward his face and hid his embarrassment.
"Alright class. Open your books to Chapter 1 for our review lesson."
Third: Manster Physical Deaducation (Heath, Manny, Deuce, Neighthan, and Jackson) Teacher:
After lunch
In the manster locker room…
Heath, Manny, Deuce, Neighthan, and Jackson were in the manster locker room discussing topics that guys normally do, a combination of bodybuilding and girls.
"Maaaaan, finally! A class that does not involve reading a stupid textbook." Manny sighed in relief as he quickly took off his bright red shirt and chucked it inside his locker.
"Think I'm getting too buff?" The minotaur asked the group.
"Too buff and I'd get thrown out the school building again." Jackson replied as he put on his gym uniform.
"Hmph, you're lucky that if Heath was not with me, you would be." Manny glared.
Deuce and Heath were both in front of the mirror, comparing each other's upper body physique.
"Damn, am I ever gonna get as buff as you man?" Heat asked with a slight pout on his face.
"Hey man, you're fine the way you are. You already attract women, like Abbey." Deuce replied.
"Yeah, if I ever see her these days. Last we had an actual date was at a concert."
Heath said, not directly giving away which concert. And that ended up being an unplanned date since Abbey never told him that she attended. Frankie asked him to come along.
'If the guys found out I went to a Justin Biter concert, I'd be ridiculed for weeks…' The fire elemental thought, he would not be able to live with the jokes his peer group would throw at him.
"Which concert?" Neighthan asked as he walked by the pair and overheard their conversation.
Heath turned around with a light blush on his face. "Not important."
"Alright man. By the way, you wanna look like Arnold Scareznagger?" Neighthan chuckled, in an attempt to humor the fire elemental.
Heath perked up in excitement. "M-maybe."
"Dude, you don't wanna resort to taking steroids." Deuce said as he gently patted Heath's shoulder as the Gorgon put on his gym shirt with his shades on.
"Hey, let's get to the gym or I'm gonna throw Jackson here into a trash can!" Manny shouted.
"Oh not again…" Jackson remarked. The half human prayed that he would not get picked last on his official first day back at Monster High.
Fourth: Clawculus (Most of the main group taking this class) Mr. Mummy
Frankie ran to class, careful not to trip over her stitches.
'Oh no! I took too long to shower and change after Ghoul Fitness! I'm gonna be late for Clawculus!'
As she jogged in her low heels, she had not noticed that she bumped into Heath who walked to Clawculus.
And Frankie ended up colliding onto the fire elemental.
"Wah!?" Heath yelped as he felt a weight hit, which caused him to lose his balance and trip.
Frankie accidentally kissed Heath's cheek upon the pair landing on the floor.
"Ow…"
'Felt that my volts sparked again.' Frankie thought.
"Ouch…Hey, watch where you're going. Knowing you're a klutz and all that." Heath retorted as he turned toward Frankie.
Her eyes widened in embarrassment given that she landed right on top of her crush.
"Oh Heath! I'm so sorry! I was running so that I could make it to Clawculus…"
The fire elemental got up with a light blush on his face.
'I noticed she never stinks for an undead ghoul. She smells nice.'
"If you wanted to kiss me you could have just asked." Heath muttered that part. Being a gentleman, the fire elemental offered his hand to help the plaid dressed clumsy ghoul back up.
"Huh?" Frankie asked him as she cocked her head to the side, as she had not heard what Heath said.
"You got lucky that you didn't end up tripping on the floor running in those heels."
She took his yellow hand. "T-thanks…"
"Don't worry about it. I'll walk ya to class." Heath replied, still held Frankie's hand.
Toralei filmed the whole thing behind the lockers with a cat-like smirk.
'I knew it! That new ghoul and Burns clearly have something going on. This is my one and only chance to get Abbey back on my side. In due time…reowr!'
The orange werecat chuckled and walked off as the last period bell rang.
The pair were the last two students to have entered the classroom and Mr. Mummy had already started the lesson.
Frankie whispered, "What do we do? We're late…"
"We sneak in, I'll open the door quietly. Follow my lead." Heath whispered back.
With both their hands still held together, the pair crouched down and quietly opened the classroom door as Mr. Mummy faced the chalkboard to get to the back of the class.
"…Okay class. Now that the introductions are out of the way, please open your textbooks to the Functions Review chapter which will be our main focus for this week before we begin the course next week on Limits…"
Both Frankie and Heath managed to get to the back of the class undetected and sighed in relief.
Or so they thought.
"Oh, and any latecomers to this class will be assigned extra homework toward the next topic that will be covered next week. I am sure that won't be a problem for you, Ms. Stein and Mr. Burns?"
The whole class turned toward the pair in the back where Mr. Mummy pointed his bandaged finger that held the chalk.
"Crap…" Both muttered under their breath while they still held hands.
Tuesday: Playing the Boos
In the halls…
As Jackson got his books from his lockers with Frankie, Clawdeen, Melody, and Operetta, Spectra appeared beside them out of his locker which startled the spectacled teen, and caused his books to fall on the floor.
"Wah! Oh, crap." Jackson muttered as he bent down to pick up his books.
"Hey did you hear!? Johnny Spirit finally gets out today!"
As Spectra floated out of Jackson's locker, the ghost ghoul clasped her pale hands in excitement, "Monster High's notorious rebel!"
Clawdeen looked at Spectra while she held up 3 clawed fingers and replied, "Are you talkin' about the kid that was sentenced to 3000 years of detention?"
Operetta's eyes widened.
"Hmm, he doesn't seem like a kid anymore being locked up for that long." Melody replied, arms crossed curious as to what type of monster he'd be.
"The catacombs used to be his old haunt." Spectra explained.
The lavender skinned music ghoul put both hands on her hips, pissed.
"Excuse me, you mean MY catacombs?"
Clawdeen eyed Operetta while Melody smirked and teased her a bit.
"Uh oh, seems like there's some tension in the air."
Manny and Heath walked by. The fire elemental smirked before he mimicked karate poses.
"Heh, if I saw Johnny Spirit, I'd be all wa-pow, heeyah! Wah!"
As Heath lost his balance and fell, Frankie let out a giggle. Clawdeen and Melody both looked at their socially awkward ghoul friend in confusion.
The large minotaur shook his head.
"Dude, I thought you quit martial arts years ago." Manny pointed out.
Heath got up while he rubbed his head and walked with his best friend to the creepateria. "Yeah, heh. Guess I'm a little rusty."
"Um, is there anything else we need to know about, Spectra?" Clawdeen turned toward Spectra with a raised eyebrow.
The purple haired ghost ghoul saw Frankie's reaction, aware of her crush on Heath, pretended to act dumb and unaware. "No, nothing else…" She replied.
Several minutes later…
By the infinite deadtention room
Jackson, Frankie, Clawdeen, and Melody peered nearby the door where Headmistress unlocked and other students also looked in both curiosity and fear. The busty headless principal held the key before she placed her head back onto her body. As she clicked the key to the right, the steel cage barred door unlocked with chains.
Out flew out a muscular ghostly figure that sported a black leather jacket that came from the 80s, a striped shirt, and dark gray pants. He did not look like he was kept in there for 3000 years so that rumor immediately got debunked.
The students gasped.
"Okay, Johnny. Times up, you're free to return to class. But I'm watching you."
Johnny did not pay attention to the last part as he immediately floated toward his old locker.
Scene switch…
Operetta chatted with both Draculaura and Iris.
"Whoa, he's on a whole new level of intimidation compared to my Mannykins." The green pigtailed cyclops ghoul exclaimed.
"I-Is it just me or does anyone here felt a chill run down their spines?" The petite vampire shivered as she tightly held her books.
Operetta crossed her arms, disinterested in both ghoul's opinions. "Mmhmm, I've seen worse."
'Locked up 3000 years my tootin' behind.'
Johnny floated over to his old locker next to Heath's who was about to open his locker. As soon as Johnny hovered over to the unoccupied locker, Manny felt his knees buckle.
"Um, I'm gonna go see what Iris wants. Wrooah!"
The large minotaur ran as fast as his tall physique could take him.
Heath felt a cold chill next to his side as he held his book and turned to his left. His red eyes widened at now the infamous rebel, Johnny Spirit, up close. The fire elemental had difficulty forming a comprehensible sentence.
"Huh, Johnny Spirit. Heh, um well…Manster, wait up!"
The fire elemental sprinted down the hall, having felt ghastly chills down his spine. The dark jacket clad ghost just shrugged, having gotten used to his so-called 'reputation'.
'May as well get used to it and try to graduate already.'
Johnny opened his locker that was covered with cobwebs and yellow caution tape, and took his black and white skull flamed violin case then his now moldy lunch. He smelt his sandwich before tossing it back into his locker then closing it. He was already considered dead anyway so he could stomach it.
Lunchtime
At the creepateria…
As Johnny grabbed his lunch and floated over with his tray to a nearby table, a group of students ran off except a skeleton with a green striped beanie that covered his red hair left his head on his plate before his body snuck off to grab it. Johnny swiped his fresh sandwich and grinned. 'Too easy.'
Meanwhile at another nearby table, sat Operetta with Clawdeen, Melody, Draculaura, and Frankie. As the other ghouls ate their lunches, Operetta barely touched hers.
"I'm tellin' y'all, that monster's all bad, no vampire."
Draculaura coughed in response.
"Um, hello? Vampire here."
Operetta turned around, and gave a quick apology to Draculaura.
"Oh, my bad, hun."
"I mean, he's rockin' that scary cool retro 80s look."
Frankie added as each of the ghouls stared at her like a deer caught in headlights. She was confused if she had commented on something that was not appropriate.
"What?"
Toralei and her werecats walked over to Johnny. The Student Disembody President held up a poster of him she made as she confidently put her left clawed hand to her bosom, smirking.
"Heehee." The orange werecat leaned down toward Johnny's personal space, which made the ghost uncomfortable as he wanted to eat his lunch. "Toralei."
The ghost slurped his drink before he told her off.
"Beat it, I'm not autographing your crap poster."
The werecat gasped before she put the poster down with her left hand on her hip before her brows furrowed, then scoffed and walked off with Persephone and Meowlody right behind her. "Ugh, reowww…jerk."
After school
Near the catacombs…
Jackson talked to Clawdeen who walked beside him, interested in what the half human teen had to say about Johnny Spirit.
"So, upon researching his background with Spectra, he's like the baddest dude he ever lived."
"Uh huh, totally!" The wolf ghoul gestured her right hand and smiled in agreement.
Melody, Frankie, and Operetta walked behind them down the stairs toward the catacombs.
"Well, he is kinda cute." Operetta glances at Frankie with the skunk striped haired ghoul quickly corrected herself and held up a right hand defensively at Operetta,
"Um, In a scary sort of way…not as cute as um…hehe."
Operetta rolled her eyes and laughed as she crossed her arms. "Haha! He floats around like he owns the place. He's just a jerk."
"By how you put it, it sounds like you wanna screw-" Before Melody could finish her reply to Operetta's denial surrounding the ghost rebel, they all stopped and heard music coming from underground. Jackson panicked as he covered his ears and shook his head.
"Oh no, music!? No, n-"
As usual, his attempts were thwarted as Holt popped out and slid down the stair railing before he stepped on top of a gargoyle statue.
"Whoyeaaaahheeeah!"
Operetta panicked, as she put both of her lavender purple hands on her cheeks and dashed toward the catacombs.
"My rehearsal space!?"
"Well, damn." Clawdeen remarked.
Frankie, showed concern toward Operetta, said, "I better go check on her."
As Frankie followed, Clawdeen leaned against the stair railing and sighed.
"Well guess I'll just stand guard."
As the wolf ghoul stood by the stairs, Clawdeen saw Melody flirt with Holt, who clearly was both oblivious and uninterested in her.
'Sorry Mel, but I don't think he likes you that way, ghoulfriend.'
Clawdeen thought, however, she had nothing better to do than see how Melody's advances would crash and burn.
Heath walked by upon having heard the rock music he liked before he stopped around a corner to not be spotted. He saw his cousin Holt and Clawdeen not paying attention to the door as Frankie ran down to the catacombs. He snuck inside and secretly followed her.
In the catacombs…
As the phonographer played with Operetta's rock record, Johnny floated up and tore down any poster that was not to his liking.
"Hey, asshole!" Operetta panted, with her cheeks puffed out in anger, had both hands on her hips.
Johnny floated down to meet her at more eye level.
"This place is my stompin' grounds."
Frankie heard Operetta's voice coming from her underground studio. She hid behind a corner in order to not interrupt what was considered a conflict.
Johnny floated down and mirrored Operetta's posture, to show his dominance.
"This was my home, way before it was yours."
Operetta smirked while she took her right hand and poked his ghost chest before she maintained her own dominance.
"Well why don't you get your pasty transparent hands off my stuff and skedaddle on outta here?"
Johnny could not help but smirk. "Heheh, cute."
He floated to the side and popped open his violin case to take out his now polished violin and placed a wager with her.
"Tell ya what, hun. I'll play ya for it. Winner gets the spot?" He said while he gave Operetta a wink.
The southern belle walked over to her organ and sat down, and accepted his challenge as she positioned her fingers toward the keys. "Bring it."
'Um, so they're going to settle their differences with…music?' Frankie thought as she peeked out of a corner.
Little did she knew, she was followed. A familiar figure snuck up behind her with a hug while a left hand covered her mouth.
"Hey, cutie."
Her muffled cries could not be heard as the music started between Johnny and Operetta.
"Mmmph." She attempted to push him off, only to hear his voice, which was smooth yet flirtatious at the same time.
"Shhhh, relax. It's me."
It was Heath. She continued to squirm out of his hold but the fire elemental was a bit stronger than her physically. It did not help that his warm breath was close to her ear which made her shiver. He chuckled before he kept teasing her.
"If you start fussin', we'll have to continue where we left off back Down Under."
Frankie stopped while she felt her volts spark slightly, that aroused feeling resurfaced. As Heath lifted his hand from her face, she tilted her head, now annoyed at Heath's presence.
"What are you doing here?" She whispered.
Knowing full well she could shock him at any moment, Heath backed away from her slightly. He now held both hands in his pockets and shrugged, casually replied back to her question.
"I got bored."
Frankie raised an eyebrow, not with a frown however skeptical with his response given his body language.
"You expect me to believe that?"
As the music battle was still ongoing, the fire elemental had a devilish idea that he knew would make her succumb to his advances. First lay out the truth on why he followed her down here, then continue the flirting.
"Well, seems the dark is the best meeting place for us. I heard rock music playing from the catacombs. Figured it was Operetta, but then saw you running down here spyin' on her." Heath added.
"Well, Johnny was invading her private space. I wanted to make sure she was okay and didn't end up doing something she would regret. But then they talked and she started poking his chest-"
"Ahhhh, so sorta like what you do to me."
He walked a few steps back toward her. Frankie took a couple of steps back till she felt her back hit the cold wall. Heath leaned back in and put his left hand against the wall, and looked down at her. The fire elemental did not want to admit it, but he fell for the socially awkward, preppy, intelligent ghoul in front of him. As she accepted him for who he was, more than just his playboy attitude and devilish good looks.
Not even Abbey could put up with his playful side much more due to different maturity levels. There was something about Frankie Stein that kept him stuck to her. Plus she was cute without those stupid large round glasses she used to wear, according to him.
"What do you mean?" He saw her cheeks flush pink at his close proximity.
"You poke my chest occasionally. Can't help the Heathster, can ya?"
He raised an eyebrow as he leaned in closer to her to sneak in a kiss.
"I can't." Frankie replied without thinking.
She knew she was head over heels for Heath Burns, and she was willing to reciprocate his advances toward her as she felt comfortable around his presence.
Frankie closed her eyes and expected a kiss, only to have felt a hand snake up underneath her gray plaid mesh skirt.
"Heath…"
"Frankie…"
Behind the door…
Clawdeen, Holt, and Melody were listening in on the music as it stopped. Holt still had his headphones on listening to his own music tracks.
"So, what do you think they're doing?" Melody asked.
Clawdeen felt her wolf ears and nose perk up. "It's a jam session! Also…I smell cinder."
"Cinder? What are they gonna have some hot sex down there?" Melody chuckled.
In the catacombs…
As Heath was a centimeter away from her lips, the music stopped, and interrupted the intimate moment. Frankie indirectly bit her bottom lip in pleasure and let out a small moan as Heath's right hand carefully stroked her upper thigh.
"Um, Heath?" Frankie opened her eyes to gaze at his.
Heath took her left hand in his and proceeded to leave a kiss there instead.
"Well, I guess I better go check on-"
As Frankie was about to go check if Operetta was alright, Heath took her hand in his.
"I'll come with you so that I can escort you back after."
Frankie nodded as she tucked back a stray strand of hair behind her ear with a smile.
"Okay."
"Whoo! You ain't half bad." Operetta exclaimed, and let out a heavy pant.
Johnny turned around and gave her a smirk.
"And you're not completely terrible. Call that one a draw?"
Operetta returned back his smirk, enjoying his company as she wanted to resume their heated music session.
"Hmm, best two out of three?"
As the pair were about to play their instruments, they got interrupted.
"Hey, what's with all the racket in here?"
Heath and Frankie walked in holding hands with Frankie's face still flushed a light pink.. Frankie noticed Heath shook a bit.
"That your ghoul, man?" Johnny pointed directly to Frankie.
Frankie's eyes widened as she gestured out her free hand.
"Operetta, I swear this is not what it looks-"
"You could say that."
Heath shrugged as he still shivered a bit. Granted, Frankie with him helped him relax.
"Well, guess we better call it a draw for now. Wasn't expecting listeners." Operetta chuckled.
"Yeah, neither did I."
Frankie looked at Heath, now with a glare. She was initially worried that he could have done something forbidden during school hours, and what would have gone against everything she was taught back home.
"Hey, I may be a future rock star." The fire elemental pointed to himself with a smirk.
"Hey, Heath. Heard you needed a new acoustic?" Operetta asked as she got up from her organ,
"Yeah, betcha saw the post on how Mo smashed my other one at Cleo's party nearly a few months ago." Heath replied.
"That guitar was not yours." Frankie remarked.
"Ouch, that's cold. You play too?" Johnny asked the fire elemental.
"Oh boy do I ever! A hot blooded stud like me has his electric guitar. Just can't bring it to school though." Heath muttered that last part as his eyes shifted toward a nearby lit torch, that fire and electricity can combust.
"You gotta at least play one song at the dance next Frightday." Operetta suggested.
"Maybe." Heath glanced back at Frankie who returned back his glance with her frown now turned to a smile.
"I would listen to it." Frankie nodded.
"Okay, I'll consider it." Heath said, now taking up on Operetta's offer.
Thursday: So You Think You Can Date?
Heath and Manny both sat together in the creepateria. The minotaur noticed the past couple of days his best friend was a bit quiet. Whenever Manny asked Heath if something bothered him, the fire elemental would either change the subject or just not say anything.
Manny instead was about to ask Heath if he was upset with him being in a relationship with Iris, given that the fire elemental disliked her whenever she was around. That was the only other time Heath was quiet.
"Hey Heath."
"Mmm?" Heath muttered as he picked at his lunch with one hand and scrolled through his iCoffin on the other hand.
The minotaur swiped Heath's iCoffin and looked at the image he stared at for the past several minutes.
"Hey!" Heath shouted.
The fire elemental attempted to reach for his iCoffin. But his height did not compare to his much taller best friend. Manny saw the pictures Heath looked at. One had his friend with Abbey, that was taken during Homecoming last scaremester by a third party after Abbey won Homecoming Queen.
But as he swiped to the next image. Manny squinted and saw an image that Heath took himself. It was a selfie of Heath and the ghoul that the fire elemental used to pick on. Heath had a softer smile on his face as she slept on his shoulder.
Manny handed back his friend's iCoffin to him and sat back down.
"Want me to tell you how I met Iris and why we are still together?"
"…Fine. Since now you know the skeleton I kept in my closet. This around the time I became basketball team captain?" Heath sighed as he put his iCoffin back in his jacket pocket.
"Well, you know when it started. but here is the full story I got from Iris."
"And I'll tell you my side." Heath crossed his arms.
"Okay, man." The minotaur nodded.
Flashback
One year ago…
April 2013
Iris and Draculaura both cheered by the stands.
"M-O-N-S-T-E-R. Monster Monster's so bizarre. M-O-N-S-T-E-R. Monster Monsters yes we are!"
"Yay Clawd! Iris, did you see that?
"Sigh…"
"Uh, Iris?"
Draculaura turned toward the court and saw Manny confidently score a point then high five both Deuce and Heath. The petite vampire got excited and shook her pom poms together.
"Oh my ghoul! You have a crush on Manny Taur?"
"What? No I don't."
"You can't fool meeee! I see that look in your eye."
Scarah walked over after she returned back from the restroom.
"Come now Draculaura. Don't tease her too much. I can read her mind from here."
"Oh well that's just silly. I'm a woman of science." Iris shrugged.
Manny dunked the opposing team's octopus player that held the ball over the net scoring another point to end the game before he popped the basketball over his right horn, which caused another ball to be put on the court from the cart.
"And Manny, well…he's Manny."
"Whooooo!" Manny shouted
Draculaura took Iris' arm.
"Come on." Draculaura turned to Sarah and asked for a small break.
"Hey Scarah, tell Cleo we'll be BrB."
"Alright lasses." Scarah left with the other fearleaders.
"W-wait! What if it's too weird?"
The cyclops ghoul clasped her hands and held a nervous smile then continued.
"Our families are old friends and I-hi Manny." Iris waved.
Manny looked down at her with their stark height difference.
"Oh, hey Iris. You cheered good for us yeah?"
Iris shook her pom poms to mask her anxiety when around the tall minotaur.
"Uh yeah! Go team." She giggled with a blush as Draculaura snuck off to meet with Clawd who had a talk with Heath.
"So, Heath. Since I'll be graduating soon, the casketball team needs a new captain. And…I want you to take my place."
"What!? You serious bro? I don't think I'm exactly cut out for it…I just got kicked out of the grave ball team remember? I'm barely staying alive in casketball to keep my grades up…"
"Dude, I've noticed how hard you've been working on your grades since you started going out with Abbey two weeks after the Valentine's dance. Especially when you scored one of the top in the SAT Math section. Plus you're my best friend. Who else can I ask?"
"Oh Clawd!"
Draculaura approached her masculine wolf boyfriend in a sing-song voice while she ignored Heath.
"Hey, well what's got you showing all fang?" Clawd put both hands on his hips while he kicked the ball toward Heath who picked it up.
The petite vampire pointed toward both Iris and Manny. "I just set up Manny and Iris."
Heath bursted out in laughter then realized Draculaura was serious and frowned at his rudeness before the fire elemental realized that it was not a joke.
"Oh, you're actually serious?"
"Well, duh." The petite vampire replied as she rolled her eyes.
A Red Plankton mascot walked by behind Manny.
Iris trailed one green finger down Manny's left bicep, and attempted to flirt with the minotaur.
"I really liked it when you did that-"
However, the conversation ended up being short lived as Manny turned around upon having viewed the red mascot and let his bull-like instincts roll out, huffing.
"Reeeeed!"
"Ahhhhhh!"
The mascot ran away as Manny chased him with Heath laughing in the background.
Iris, felt embarrassment, dropped her pompoms and held her right hand to her head.
"Ugh I knew this was a mistake."
Draculaura walked back over and held her friend's left shoulder, and comforted her.
"Don't worry He likes you." The vegan vampire held both hands behind her back as Manny chased the mascot around in circles.
"He just got-"
"Waaaaaaah!" The mascot yelled as Manny created a large hole on the gym roof.
Clawd, Heath, Draculaura, and Iris heard water splashed.
"Well, that's gonna leave a mark." Clawd remarked.
"Yo Manster! Let's hit the showers already." Heath called for his minotaur best friend.
"Huh? Oh shit!" The minotaur sniffed his underarms.
"Uh yeah coming!"
The next day…
Manny was by himself alone as he stuffed his face with a bowl of chill. Iris walked over.
"Hi Manny. Um, is this seat taken?"
"Oh, hey Iris."
"Red Devil's Food Ice Cream cake coming through!"
The cafeteria lady yelled as a cake on a trolley passed by. As Manny saw the moving cart, the minotaurs instincts acted up again. Iris looked back before Manny charged head first into the cake.
After lunch…
Manny closed his locker, Iris approached him.
"Hey Manny. Um, would you carry my books to class?"
Manny looked around and hoped that his best friend Heath or any other manster in his peer group was not around.
"Um, uh, sure…"
A small group of Ex Belfry Prep vampires was nearby. The lead vampire showed off his red cape.
"And I was all, is that really Transylvanian leather?"
Manny saw the red cape and proceeded to huff and fume.
"Red!" All the vampires turned to bats and fled.
Draculaura with Sarah approached Iris, confused.
"I don't understand. He clearly likes you."
Iris looked down at her books and replied with some doubt.
"I don't know. He keeps getting distracted."
"Minotaurs like bulls get aggressive when they see anything red in front of them." Sarah replied.
"Oh that's it! Minotaurs are just like bulls. Scarah's right."
The petite vampire grabbed Iris' red book and dangled it. Which attracted Manny to charge over.
"They can't help chasing things that are redddd. Watch."
Manny charged through and destroyed one of the green cyclops books.
Iris handed her books to Scarah and gestured her arms in frustration.
"Great. So all I have to do to keep Manny's attention is to get rid of every red thing in the entire school."
The one eyed ghoul sighed and looked down before she replied, "That's easy to say, not to do…"
Draculaura grinned as a light bulb formed inside her head.
"Hmm, I think I got a better idea."
"I just read your mind." Sarah smiled and nodded in agreement toward this idea.
Few minutes later…
As Manny chased the red devil boy, he stopped in his tracks upon Iris who sported a red sweater.
"Hey, uh that's a nice color on you." The minotaur complimented.
Iris giggled. "Will you walk me to Mad Science class?"
Manny's nose huffed and took his arm out, which the shorter one eyed ghoul kindly accepted.
"Sure."
Heath noticed Manny and called out to him.
"Hey Manster. Wanna walk to-"
However the minotaur ignored Heath as he walked Iris to Mad Science.
"…class together…?" The now sad fire elemental sulked before he walked to class by himself.
Two weeks later…
After school…
Iris walked to meet up with Cleo, Ghoulia, Clawdeen, Scarah, and Draculaura.
"Hey Iris." Clawdeen waved.
"Oh, uh hey ghouls." The one eyed ghoul sat down on the front stair steps with them.
"So Draculaura and Scarah's been telling us you've been dating Manny Tour for the last two weeks. We need details.
Go!" Cleo stated.
"Come now Cleo. Don't pressure the lass now." Scarah replied.
"Manny's…nice." Iris muttered.
"Ugh?" (Have you two been on dates?) Ghoul questioned.
"Dates? Kinda…we went to the movies for our last date."
Present…
"Damn, I did not know I've made you feel that way."
Manny replied as the fire elemental crossed his arms.
"Yeah, up until this scaremester, you've begun shutting me out a lot. I'm fine with you and Iris…you know…going out but once in a while, can we still hang out?" Heath asked.
"Alright, but on one condition." The minotaur crossed his arms, indirectly mimicking Heath's sitting position.
"What's that?" The fire elemental replied.
"Ask her out already after you got things settled." Manny nodded.
"Who?"
"Hmph, you know the answer, not me."
The minotaur stated as he knew that Heath knew. The last thing Manny wanted was for Heath to end up getting burnt and end up single.
Friday: Break Ups, No Make Ups
After school…
Abbey's POV
Heath received Abbey's text to come and meet behind school.
"Hey, Abbey. I'm here, I got your text. You said you wanted to talk."
Abbey this time not happy.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Abbey looked down sad then up at Heath.
"Heath, we can't go out no more."
Heath looked around seeing snow then looked at his red leather jacket.
"Well, I mean for you it's fine but I can understand bein' the middle of winter and all-"
It was just too much. Abbey and Heath not spending enough time together. I had to be honest.
"Abbey means we can't see each other anymore."
Abbey saw Heath's eyes grew wide like dinner plate.
"W-wait. You ain't serious are you Abbey?"
I lifts his hand and put my other hand on top.
"We have own priorities. No time to go out and do the ritual of the dating."
Abbey could no longer keep up relationship, since after graduation Abbey go back to Russia.
"You're breaking up with ME!? One week before Valentines Day?"
Well, Abbey spent more time with student council activity, classes, and now ghoul friends. Abbey no longer have time for dating right now. Put Abbey under lot of stress.
"Abbey see there is someone else for Heath. Abbey and Heath busy with club activities outside school alongside studies. Plus Abbey going back to Russia after graduation."
Abbey let go of Heath's hand.
"Look, if it's about me not calling you during the break, I tried before I left for Australia but I got no answer so I could only text ya."
"Abbey understand but aside from classes, Abbey could not find right time to say."
Heath looked down and put both hands in his pockets, both due to cold and when he try to "play it cool" according to English slang.
"Well, we'll still see each other in class."
Abbey smile, okay to be friends.
"Da, but Abbey no longer help Heath with studying due to council activities this scaremester taking up lot of time. Abbey knows Heath can do math."
"So that's it, then?"
I not get what he meant at first, but Abbey assume he meant the dating.
"We're still druznya. Friends."
"Alright, I guess. Just take it easy this weekend, don't work too hard ya know?"
Abbey let Heath down as gently as Abbey could. I turned around to leave and glanced back at him, and nodded.
"Harasho. Text Abbey for anything that's not dating related."
"Alright, sure. See ya around."
Heath's POV
As my baby Abbey left…well now she ain't my baby anymore. I could not help but cry as I fucked up. I should have put more of an effort in our relationship and handled my schedule better. But she was right, we both had our own priorities and goals set in life. I hoped that we could have lasted till graduation.
I punched a fist against a tree. Out of both anger and heartbreak, I accidentally caused a mildly burnt scar mark on it with the tree frozen to counteract the flames.
I took both hands and gripped the side of my head.
"Shit, shit, shit!"
Knowing it's a Friday, I did not care and went up to the attic not caring that I'll be alone till I left school later. Frankie won't be there so I could relax and be alone for a bit.
Frankie…Argh, damnit!
I texted Jackson and told him I'll be coming over to his house later.