Three times in twenty-four hours?

(Sophia's POV)

"Hey!" Randell whines as I snatch the book from his hands.

"Rest!" I answer back, snatching up the paper off the desk "Do not read, watch TV, text, listen to music, play video games, or perform any other mental task. You need to rest! Both your body and your mind."

I place a bookmark in the book, shut it between my fingers, place it in the bookshelf, and give Mike a wicked slap on the head.

"Ow!" Mike whimpers like I'd beat him with a bag of grapefruit.

"Oh, come on. You knew what I meant when I asked you to watch him. And Mike, this was NOT what I meant."

I motion to the book that's in his hands. Mike was facing away from Randell, nose buried in a book and six others on his desk. Sometime in the five hours I was in there room Mike voiced his opinion and distaste about my bother and swore to prove both him and Johnny wrong. Devoting his time to studying and nothing else. I've tried to deter him. Stating that it takes more than knowledge to be a scarer and the brain can only hold so much information before it becomes a repetitive motion of wasting time but Mike was relentless.

"I didn't think one book would hurt." Mike groans, rubbing the spot again.

I sigh, throwing myself down beside Randell and pulling the smaller reptile to my body; Randell blushes but moves his head slightly to the left on my lap. Leaning over and pulling open the curtain, the shades sliding up and letting the light in.

"Ah it burns!" Mike hisses

"Turn it off!" Randall adds.

Mike shields his eyes with the book and Randell with my shirt. I chuckle, leaning back comfortably in the sun.

"It's a beautiful day out. We should go out for a walk."

"I'm just supposed to relax, not walk around in the hot sun." Randell sighs, completely comfy on my lap "and I'm pretty sure hell would freeze over before you could separate Mike from that book."

"Hey!" mike yells defensively but any amount of complaining is drowned out by our laughter and soon even Mike is chuckling as well.

"You guy really don't want to go outside?" I ask, leaning to look at the bright sun, it was early, a little before seven thirty and most students were still in bed but even now the day was practically calling me outside "it's beautiful out."

I left the room by myself, a promise that Randell would join me when he could and Mike; well I received a half assed possibility as he shoved his face back in his book. I went into the elevator quietly and made my way down stairs. I doubted any of the students would be up right now; the amount of drinking I witnessed last night could kill half the student body, if it hasn't already. Unlike last night the wind seemed to die down, warming up enough so the sun wasn't scalding to the touch and made this blessed morning even sweeter. I turned deciding to walk around campus, each of the booths from yesterday's festival were still out. Empty of course but would be used once again until freshman week was over. Still, for all the partying the campus felt peaceful.

..
..

It was so quiet at first I thought I'd imagined it. I came to a halt, just listening. I had wandered over to the more abandoned part of campus. An area set off for another building that had yet to be started. Most of the area was marked off, barred off by metal gates as the ground had holes in it for the base of the building. Most students stayed away from the area, focusing more on the school buildings and restaurants around campus but a few students sneaked off to have sex. A fact only proven as in the ten minutes I've went through this area I've seen about twenty condoms of all shapes and sizes littering the ground. I stood there weary, wondering if I'd unknowingly wandered into someone's love making but the sounds weren't moans of pleasure but rather pain.

"Ow." The voice came again.

This time I heard it clearly. It was defiantly female. I grab a Escrima stick and slide down the hill carefully and look around the bend. I sighed, mentally smacking myself for assuming the worst.

maybe I was more like Mike than I thought.

A female monster was sitting on the ground holding her two tentacles tenderly. Her clothes were dirty and her hair was a mess but I recognized a purple sorority sweater.

"Hello?" I ask, clicking the bar back into place and walking around the building.

She gasps in surprise. Clearly not expecting anyone out this early.

..
..

The female monster was a member of EEK, the president in fact. Carla Delgado. A pink octopus like monster, with two tentacles for arms and four tentacles for legs.

I had to split my mind in two, so I wouldn't step on her other tentacles. I wasn't sure how the skeleton of an octopus worked but I didn't want to put her out of commission for even longer. I doubted it was any more than a sprain but I figured we should get her checked out.

To distract the worried president I got her talking about all aspects of her life, and the ins and outs of campus.

"God I was so stupid. I wasn't watching where I was going and tripped over the stupid hole, and then I rolled down the hill and couldn't get back up!"

"Well I'm glad I found you" I chuckle "or you would have been stuck there till construction started."

After a little trial and error we found a good rythem.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" she asks after a minute "My sorority is known for good body health and even my sisters were too hungover to join me." She rolls her eyes as I chuckle, her annoyance was cute "did you not go to the party."

I thought about explaining the whole situation but chose against it.

"Um..." I trail off "No, the whole party scene just isn't my cup of tea."

"Well that's good, alcohol does nothing but destroy brain cells and make you fat." She chuckles "The girls and I only go to a few parties, the first one every year and the ones that only involve the Greek system that makes it pretty much mandatory that we attend." The annoyance is back once more and I find myself chuckling again.

"If the parties are that annoying than don't go, it's not like the frat members will come knocking on your door."

Now it was Carla's turn to chuckle

"No, not the boys but the PNK's would." She sighs "their practically ROR's groupies."

The annoyance was back and was it just me or did I catch a little venomous undertone as well?

"Do you not get along with the PNK's?"

The look in her eyes said it all but I let her speak if she wanted, it took a moment but Carla finally sighed.

"It's not that I have anything against the sorority, like ROR it's just a name but the girls in it aren't that nice." She pauses and I stop so she can rest, we sit on the bench outside of The Growl, the restaurant just starting to open "Taylor, the sorority president is a jerk." Carla says, her eyes watering up from painful memories "she'll do anything and everything to make your life a living hell and she revels in it." She wipes away a tear "the other girls aren't too bad but they'll follow Taylor to the grave and often participate in the problems."

"Have you talked to the dean?"

"We've tried." Carla sighs "she wants to help but the Greek System has kind of gotten out of her control," Carla wipes away a tear "Dean Hardscrabble has talked to them but the other PNK's Taylor and then it's my word against her's."

(Javier's POV)

Despite the amount of alcohol I drank last night I found myself wide awake at seven. My eyed turning to stare at the clock, the bright red numbers staring back at me. I wasn't sure what it was, maybe my running mind? Maybe the million questions?Maybe the weird reaction of Johnny's last night or the utter guilt that came with it.

I thought that this funk of mine would be over after the party. Drink a few drinks, or a lot, dance the night away and forget about my problems but come the end of the party I was even worse. Johnny, still lost in his own problems saw my dilemma and jumped in, scooping the girl from my arms and whisking her upstairs.

"I got it." He says casually, like he's picking up the check for breakfast.

And for some reason, the five year friendship we had built let me stand there, watching them go upstairs. Johnny turns, stopping at the top of the stairs, not to yell, but to smile and tell me to 'head to bed before a drunken couple takes my room for the night.

And just like before I stood there quietly, nodding like an idiot.

The logical part of my brain wanted to justify my actions. Stating that whatever funk Johnny was in would be pushed to the side and ignored in the carnal pleasures of the night. But the other part of me, the part that was Johnny's best friend wanted nothing more than to bang my head against the wall a thousand times and jump out a window. There were many things people called Johnny, some out of love and lust, others out of anger and jealousy but when you got down to it there was nothing Johnny wouldn't do for his friends.

There were many times, MANY times that Johnny should have cracked under the pressure of his role and even then, when it was perfectly okay and even logical to cry, to show emotion he didn't, keeping on the mask till the public eye was gone. So for him to break like that, in the open, for her, with little more than a look, meant something was seriously up.

What the hell did they have between them? And why the hell hasn't Johnny told me about it?

(Sophia's POV)

"Okay, I'm supposed to what?"

Carla rolls her eyes "Go to my house and ask my sisters for the wheelchair."

"You guys have a wheelchair on hand?"

Th dark flush that spreads across Clara face as nurse xxxx laughs "Yes, Carlais quite accident prone."

It was a simple plan, go to frat row, find Carla's house and get the wheel chair. Yep, simple for anyone but me. The fact came all the more apparent as I stepped onto Frat row, eyeing the twenty houses.

I had no idea which house was Carla's.

(Javier's POV)

I wanted to ask Johnny about last night but one peek showed him still asleep, the two females draped along his sides. I couldn't bring myself to wake him and decide to start my day before the commotion started. I stepped out onto the porch for some peace, taking in a sip of the heavenly brew, black, just like my soul -almost dropping it down my sweater as my mouth fell open.

There she was. The freshman from last down Frat Row like she owned the place. My curiosity peaks as she finally slows half way down the road, her body spinning in a slow circle as she eyes each house. Whatever confidence she had leaves as realization hits her and I watch her head spin again, eyeing each of the signs.

"You know," she jumps, spinning to look at me "theres a fine line between observing and stalking princess."

"And yet I'm not the one watching people creeper." She snaps back

I smirk, leaning against a column "I live here chica, whats your excuse?"

"I'm here for a reason."

"Really?" I smirk "you want to try that with an ounce of confidence princess?"

"Don't call me princess creeper."

"Javier," I take a sip "Javier Rios."

"Great," she sighs, turning to look at the houses.

"Need a hand princess?" I tease, her eyes snapping back to me.

"No."

"You sure?"

I was thoroughly enjoying the blush on her cheeks.

"I'm trying to find…" her hands wave in the air "Slugma Slugma kappa."

"Slugma Slugma Kappa?" my eyes flicker to the house on the right.

"Yes."

"What are you-" My eyes widen in glee "Oh my god, you don't know the abbreviations do you?"

That blush darkens, hands balling into fists "don't mock me! I haven't had four years to learn it."

I couldn't stop the deep laughter that rips from my throat. A true deep laugh that has my whole body bending.

"It's not funny!" she cries, punching me in the arm.

Stronger than I was expecting as my cup slips, shattering on the ground.

"Woah! Easy Chica." I grin, my hands holding her arms.

That earlier tingles flood my senses, a feeling of longing sinking into my bones. I couldn't explain it but it felt… familiar.

I watch her blink, smacking my chest back "I don't have time for this." I blink, shaking my head "Are you going to help me or not?"

I clear my throat, trying to find my footing "On one condition."

"Whats that?"

"Tell me your name."

Her face shifts, genuine confusion "What?"

"You never told me your name princess."

"that's all you want?"

"Yep." I smirk, placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles

Her eyebrow raises, ripping her hand back "Wow, way to aim high Charming…" she rubs her hands on her jacket with a sigh "My name is Sophia."

"Sophia?" I prompt

She grins, waving a finger in my face "You didn't say my whole name Rios. Now which house does Carla live in?"

This little minx…My finger lifts "Purple house down the street."

(Sophia's POV)

"I think you have to knock harder than that." Javier whispers in my ear.

I jump, spinning to find the male behind me "When did you-"

"Scaring major Chica, I'm quiet when I want to be." He winks, hand firmly pounding against the wood.

It takes about fifteen hits before we hear a small crash and footsteps from upstairs.

"Alright alright!" A tired voice sighs "Carla I swear to god, if you forgot your keys again-."

The door opens to a large slug like monster, her fuzzy orange hair was sticking up in odd angles.

"Javier?" she blinks, rubbing her eyes a few times "What are you doing here?"

"Morning Maria, I'm just escorting the princess here." His head tips to me.

I clear my throat awkwardly "Sorry to interrupt your sleep but I need the wheel chair from the basement."

"How do you know we have a wheelchair in the basement?"

I feel my cheeks burn "because I kinda pulled your president out of a ten-foot hole this morning…"

Maria slaps a hand on her face "Please don't tell me she was running through the construction site again…" I smile awkwardly "What did she break?"

"She twisted two ankles and sprained her wrist, so she can't use the school crutches…"

Maria groans, heading falling back "GIRLS GET UP! CARLA FELL IN A DITCH AGAIN!"

The sounds of thuds and cries of pain echoed upstairs and soon four more females are stumbling down the stairs.

"Again?!"

"Seriously?"

"Who let her go out alone?!"

(Javier's POV)

Considering how this morning was going I bow out, sending Sophia a wink before heading back to the house. I knelt down, carefully picking up pieces of broken glass, my eyes flickered across the street as the girls chatted.

I almost miss the sound of the door opening but Johnny fur cream tickled my senses "You know, there's a fine line between watching and stalking."

My eyes flicker through the open door, my brothers were walking down the steps, Chet the usual ball of energy but thankfully a bit quieter as he too was mildly hung over. Chip was the worst, holding his head on the kitchen table.

"Hey about last night-" I try but Johnny raises his hand, stopping my protest then and there, maybe the thought was enough of a headache.

"Don't mention it." He says and turns, looking at the freshman walking down the block with the EEK sisters. That look, that fear flashed over his features before its gone and the smiles back "Hey you should come in the house before Chet eats all the bacon."

"Sure, as long as Chet's not cooking."

"Hey!" Chet whines from the table "I'm not that bad!"

"No" Johnny chuckles, wrapping an arm around his shoulder "that bad would imply a few days of food poisoning, what you made sent us to the hospital to have our stomach pumped."

All of us groan at the awful memories, even I pull my cup away from my lips in disgust, my appetite now slightly diminished. Chip groans the loudest, holding his stomach. Seconds after Johnny finished that sentence Chip bolts from the table, up the stairs to empty his stomach. I shake my head at Johnny, an innocent smile on his face as he motions to the now empty seat.

(Unknown POV)

I was making my way to class when a pair of strong arms rips me from the hallway, slamming me into the door. I wince, my head spinning as he slams the choir room door.

"What the-"

I squeak as a strong hand grabs my throat, cutting off any words. I glare, trying to scare my attacker with my demon eyes.

A deep laugh echoed through the room "Oh drop the eyes bitch, your glare doesn't scare me."

Grandpa Frank.

My stomach twisting in disgust. My eyes fall back to normal as he drops his grip. I cough a few times, wiping my mouth off in disgust.

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

"You were taking too long." He hisses back, he reaches into his pocket and takes out a pocket sized black case and holds it out to me. I pause, my hand frozen just in front of it "I don't have to remind you how the master deals with failures do I?"

"No!" I gasp, grasping the case and opening it slowly "What's in this?"

I look down and see the inside is padded with black squishy foam and in the center holds a vile of blue liquid. Tipping it forward I notice that the liquid is thicker than water but not by much and even from here it was slightly warm. Almost sparkling in the light.

"Nothing that you need to concern your pretty head about." I look back at him, the smile was sickening on his face and it brought tears to my eyes. I wanted no part of this but my brothers life was on the line "just do your part and everything will proceed as planned."

"People are going to get hurt aren't they?" I whisper, my voice now broken.

He smiles. Looking out into the quad, the area already bustling with monsters as the world tries to catch up from last night's partying.

"Maybe some," He whispers like he's talking to a child "but sometimes you must sacrifice a few for the greater good." He hands me a photo of a male monster "Get it done, tonight."

(Sophia's POV)

After a few hours talking with the EEK's I was allowed to leave. Okay, allowed isn't the right word. For all my hesitance I found great company in the athletic sisters of Slugma Slugma Kappa and only left when I realized it was close to lunch and I still hadn't checked on a certain reptile, I only hoped the smack on the head had Mike a little more sensitive to the time. I stepped down the steps, saying goodbye for the fifteenth time and finally after Carla tells the girls to shut up and go do some reps do I find myself at peace. I exchange a smile with the EEK president and quietly walk down the road.

flashback

After a five minute argument about where to go we were on our way to the nurses office, the president wasn't happy, stating that all the girls know just as much as the school nurse, studying under her on weekends and getting books of their own and a sprained ankle wasn't enough to wake the school nurse. I fought back, stating the nurse would be up and in her office considering it was almost eight in the morning and brought a complaining Clara to her anyway. I knock on the door and within seconds the door flies open and I'm face to face with the school nurse. Her hair is slightly messier than yesterday, still in a neat bun but I'd assume she's been up since 6, ready from any monsters with alcohol poisoning or excessive nausea. She takes in the scene for a moment before he smile turns to me, her eyebrow raised.

"Sophia, what a surprise." Her tone completely contradicting her words but she moves aside and scribbles something on her clip board "three times in twenty-four hours, I hope you're not making a habit out of this."

I chuckle once

"As long as I'm not the one injured I could walk into this office another hundred times Ms. Swift."

The nurse nods once, the smile a bit softer as she motions us into the room.

"Carla Delgado." She states, not even pulling her folder out for information "what did we do today?"

Her voice wasn't mean or judgmental in anyway but that couldn't stop Carla's blush from forming. I guess this really was a daily routine for the EEK girls and Carla goes into the same story she told me earlier. The nurse says nothing more than a few small 'okays' and head nods before she proceeds accordingly. A few minutes had gone by when Ms. Swift decided to speak, turning to look at me not Carla.

"Well, not that I mind you assisting injured students but if you feel the need to help why not try a safer alternative?"

I look at her oddly as she gently touches Carla's tentacle, the other monster whimpers slightly. The doctor writes down a few notes and looks up at me, a bright smile on her face.

"Study buddies."

"Oh yeah! That would be prefect for you." Carla chuckles "Study buddies! Why didn't I think of that- ow!"

"Study buddies?" I lean against the door frame

"It's a tutoring gig." Carla chuckles.

"The school takes students with high GPA's and puts them with monsters that have troubles with the upcoming classes." Ms. Swifts adds "You choose the time, the place and the subjects your comfortable teaching."

"Plus they pay you!" Carla chuckles like a little kid "Maria was a study buddy when she was low on cash; it pays very well for what it is- ow!."

Despite my effort I couldn't stop the small snort of amusement as they glare at each other.

"It's two hours a day, three to five times a week depending on your preference and you get paid every two weeks."

"Okay, how do I get in?" I ask, still calmer than my two counterparts.

"The forms at the registrations hall."Ms. Swift finished wrapping Carla's ankle and looks over at me with a smile.

"What classes are there?"

"Any classes!" Carla's happiness dies as quickly as it came "Well, except for scaring..."

I noted the odd bitter tone in her voice and look over to Ms. Swift for explanation. Mr. Swift wasn't any happier about sharing the news, but with another look from me and the clear fact that Carla wasn't adding anything else to her previous statement Ms. Swift exhales tiredly, setting down the extra roll of gauze.

"The class is available" Ms. Swift sighs "but it's practically impossible to get into that no one tries anymore." She rips off a paper and hands it to Carla "the testing for that subject is different than the other classes and you have to go to the dean directly... And I know from personal experience, that's not always fun. The dean rules that class with an iron fist so many of the candidates don't make it past the first step. They get turned away upon first glance and unless you're in the Greek system you can forget it."

"The only ones ever allowed in are the senior scare students" Carla sighs after my confused look "And they usually drop out because there's too many students needing or wanting help that they get overwhelmed."

"Just seniors?"

I paused slightly, was the dean picking favorites?

"The final test is participating the scare games." Carla looks at the wall "Each test is handpicked by the dean. Many groups are eliminated in days and only one group can win."

I push open the door and walk towards the front office. A few students were here, glancing over pamphlets about every type of subject and freeze.

"Woah..."

'The wall' was introduced by a large gold plaque, going from the floor to the ceiling, a ladder was on one side for the smaller monsters as thousands of different pamphlets looked back at me. I take a moment to appreciate the sheer volume of paper and made my way to the front desk. The monster there looked friendlier than the one at our dorm, she sent me a kind smile and lifted up a clawed finger.

"Monsters university, please hold." The phone in her hand as she finishes her conversations on the line and online "monsters university, I'll transfer you." her fingers typing responses just as fast as her mouth. "Monsters university, how can I help you. Yes. Alright, yes." She chuckles "I will let Mr. Mason know about the changes and have him call you." She nods once, scribbles something down and hangs up the phone "Thank you for waiting, how may I help you my dear?"

"Um, I told to come here for study buddies?"

"Oh yes" she swirls on her chair and slides over to a meet cabinet "Are you in need assistance or are you tutoring?"

"Tutoring... possibly?" I chuckled unsure; the lady smiles softly and pulls out a sheet of blue paper.

"Oh relax dear, the teachers like to blow it out of proportion but if you have grades over seventy percent you have the job, no need to worry." She adds and places the sheet of paper in front of me "Fill out the form completely and add you signature, this allows us to pull your public school records and send them to the teachers." I nod once and grab a pen; the lady clips it to a wooden board and hands it to me "No rush, I'm here all day, so take your time filling it out."

I nod once and walk over to the few rows of chairs. I look at the sheet, half in shock and half in impressment. For one sheet it was extremely full. Each side had pretty detailed questions. I filled my name out on the top, first, middle and last name. The date, the courses I wanted to tutor in, that had over thirty options. I scanned down the list, crossing off some boxes. Pausing to think of my personal strengths and weaknesses before erasing one box. The next question was the days I could work and the times underneath it. I pulled out my phone, looking at my schedule, even without classes it was still pretty full.

Then it went even more into my personal strengths and weaknesses, what I was comfortable teaching and how I would do it? Leaning towards books, movies, was I a visual learner or something else? Was I comfortable teaching someone in a higher grade than me? Was I okay teaching someone of the opposite sex or did I need a female or male partner? Was I okay teaching someone who needed a push and would challenge me or was I more comfortable teaching someone who just wants a second option on the subject?

The list went on and on but I answered the questions as truthfully as I could, finally finishing the paper a half an hour later. My fingers slid over the paper, making sure there weren't any obvious mistakes. I signed my signature on the bottom of the paper and click my pen. The secretary was typing on her computer quietly as I place the board on the table.

"Great. Thank you." She sets the board down and slides the sheet into a folder to her left "If all goes well, you should receive a call in the next week or so with further instructions. Have a nice day."

I smile, nodding once and head out the door, finding for the first time in half an hour I could breathe. God if that's the questions for other subjects I could only wonder what the scare class was like. I took in a steady breathe and set out to check on Randell.

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Peace.