Chapter 15: Exchange Program

Once the exchange program between Casper High and Monster High was greenlit, Paulina eagerly tried to convince her parents to let her join. "Absolutely NOT!" Mr. Sanchez firmly said. "You will not go to a place full of monsters no matter how much that boy you're so unhealthily obsessed with reassures us that the monsters mean no harm."

"My ghost boy would never lie about that." Paulina argued.

"He's not yours and what if a zombie there eats your brain?" Mr. Sanchez asked.

"They ignored me that last time I've been there." Paulina replied.

"Paulina Sanchez, when have you ever been at Monster High?" Her father asked with a frown.

"Oops." Paulina gulped.

Meanwhile, Tucker Foley was also trying to go to Monster High. "Pleeeeease."

"No way, Tucker." Maurice Foley replied. "You are staying here where at least we have Danny Phantom to protect us from ghosts and other monsters."

"Mom." Tucker pleaded.

"Your father is right, Tucker." Angela Foley stated. "Those monsters might take advantage of the fact being half-ghost technically makes your friend one of them to lure us."

Meanwhile, at the Manson Mansion, Sam's parents approached her as soon as she arrived. "Young lady, no matter what you say, the answer is no." Sam's mother Pamela Manson stated.

"The answer to which question?" Sam asked.

"You were about to ask for our permission to go to that monster school, right?" Jeremy Manson asked.

"Wrong, Dad." Sam muttered.

For a brief moment, Sam's parents started hoping she was finally growing out of her gothic phase. "Sammykins, are you finally becoming normal?" Pamela asked.

"Is that because the Fenton boy is off-limits?" Jeremy asked.

"Perhaps now we can buy nice dresses together, Sammy." Pamela said. "And then you'll attract better boys. Perhaps Dash Baxter."

"I wouldn't date that jerk even if he's the last boy on Earth." Sam frowned. "I'd rather date a literal monster."

"I knew it was too good to be true." Jeremy commented.

"Then why don't you want to go to the monsters' school?" Pamela asked in confusion. "Do you plan to stick around to help the Fenton boy if there's a monster attack?"

"While that alone would be enough reason for me, I'm disappointed at the monsters I met." Sam answered. "They're too similar to humans to my taste. Danny's girlfriend and her friends are the monster equivalent of valley girls. Some of whom are even cheerleaders." She was disgusted at the last part.

"It was really too good to be true." Pamela muttered.

"At least she's staying where she's relatively safer." Jeremy commented.

Days later, the program started. Unsurprisingly, no humans went to Monster High. In spite of that, Principal Ishiyama still announced the new arrivals. "Please welcome Clawd Wolf, Clawdeen Wolf, they're brother and sister, by the way. Ghoulia Yelps and Draculaura."

Danny and Tucker were the only Casper High students to applaud since the others weren't sure how to react. "Remember, Tucker." Danny pointed out. "All three monster girls already have boyfriends."

Behind them, they could hear some students moaning. "Danny, I'm just wondering how Ghoulia will adapt." Tucker commented. "Humans can't understand zombies."

In spite of not having heard Tucker's comment, Principal Ishiyama announced an explanation. "Now, since you're not used to monsters who aren't ghosts, I must inform you that, like most zombies, Ms. Yelps' speech is garbled. While her fellow monsters have no problem understanding what she talks, she has developed a device that, for lack of a better word, translates it." She then noticed Dash Baxter raising his hand. "Yes, Mr. Baxter?"

"Does her device translate normal speech into zombie?" Dash mockingly asked.

"That's not necessary since zombies understand us just fine, Mr. Baxter." Principal Ishiyama answered.

"Moan." Ghoulia said and her device translated it as "It's nice to meet you all."

"Is that what you said?" Dash asked feigning skepticism. "I thought you meant to say "braaaaaiiiiiinnnnnn"."

"Stop it, Dash." Danny ordered.

"Zombies don't eat brains, you jerk." Clawdeen said in defense of her friend.

"Yeah, right." Dash sarcastically replied and produced a piece of paper with an F on it. "Either way, this test proves my brain isn't much of a meal."

"Moan." Ghoulia said and the translator said "You don't need that proof."

Everyone laughed at that comment. "I didn't come here to be mocked." Dash protested.

"Then where do you usually go to be insulted?" Clawd asked.

"I'm starting to like these monsters." Mikey commented and other students nodded.

"Now I know why Mr. Phantom was more concerned about the monster students than about the human ones." Principal Ishiyama commented.

Danny, Clawdeen and Draculaura went to a classroom where Mr. Lancer was waiting for them. "Students, I would introduce the two newest students but I trust you already remember the assembly where introductions were made. Do either of you want to make additional introductions?" He asked the ghouls.

Clawdeen raised her hand. "Ms. Wolf, you now have the word." Mr. Lancer said. "My name is Clawdeen Wolf, and I want to be a fashion designer when I grow up." She said.

"Fashion?" Sam asked in disgust.

"I'll remember that during Halloween." Paulina commented.

"Thank you." Clawdeen replied and Paulina was secretly upset her teasing didn't work.

Meanwhile, Clawd and Ghoulia were taken to a class taught by Mr. Falluca. "Please, students, try to ignore the fact there are monsters here and take notes." Mr. Falluca said.

To every human's amazement, Ghoulia had no problem keeping up. 'I thought zombies were slow.' Several of them thought.

At some point, Mr. Falluca wrote an equation at the blackboard and asked for volunteers to solve it. Noticing Ghoulia among the volunteers made him curious. "Ms. Yelps, if you please." He said. "And don't just write the result."

Ghoulia slowly walked towards the board and picked up a chalk. She then quickly wrote the solution to the equation. Some boys were now hoping that talk about her already having a boyfriend was just a lie to get Tucker out of the way.

During P.E., however, things weren't so nice for Ghoulia. No matter how smart she was, physical activities still were too much for her. The Wolf siblings, on the other hand, were excelling. "I thought werewolves looked like normal humans outside the full moon." Kwan commented.

"No, the full moon just makes us more powerful." Clawdeen explained.

Kwan then approached Draculaura. "Draculaura, how can you withstand sunlight?" He asked. "I thought vampires had to avoid it."

"That's why I use sun cream factor 500 and this parasol." Draculaura explained.

"And, is it truth that humans bitten by vampires become vampires?" Kwan asked.

Draculaura felt the urge to gag. "Yes but the idea of sucking anyone's... blood makes me feel sick."

"Can you turn me into a vampire?" Paulina asked. "My ghost boy seems to prefer monsters so I need this to have an edge on that Wolf girl."

"Clawdeen Wolf is one of my friends." Draculaura firmly replied. "And I doubt becoming a monster would increase your chances."

"It definitely wouldn't make a difference." Sam said, still thinking on how Paulina was already a metaphorical monster.

Casper High's cheer squad then started practicing their cheer routine. "Still as bland as seen in that video." Clawdeen commented.

"I know that's not fearleading but I don't find it cheerful enough to be cheerleading either." Draculaura added.

"Do you monsters think you can do better?" Paulina defiantly asked.

"Challenge accepted." Clawdeen replied.

Five minutes later, everyone was impressed. "These monsters might call it 'fearleading' but I still feel cheered." Nathan commented.

"And they did it on high heels." Mikey added.

"Doing it during gym practice is one thing but I want to see it done at a tournament." Paulina said, refusing to acknowledge defeat.

"That might be arranged." Mr. Lancer said, surprising everyone.

"Mr. Lancer?" Star asked in shock.

"Must I remind you that I used to be a cheerleader back when I was in High School?" Mr. Lancer asked.

"That mental image scares me more than any monster ever did." Tucker commented.

"I heard that, Mr. Foley." Mr. Lancer stated. "Anyway, we may contact Headmistress Bloodgood and issue a formal challenge."

"You won't regret it, Mr. Lancer." Draculaura happily commented. "We are the best fear squad in all Scaremerica."

"True." Danny agreed, remembering the Monster Mashionals.

That comment made Paulina furious. "Do it, Mr. Lancer!" She pleaded. "The honor of Casper High is at stake."

"More like Paulina's stupid pride in my opinion." Sam muttered.

"I heard that, Manson." Paulina stated.

"Good, that means I don't have to repeat myself." Sam commented.

"Honestly, Paulina, don't you think we already have too many monsters here?" Star asked.

"I have to show my ghost boy I'm a better cheerleader than that Wolf girl or any other monster that wants to steal him from me, Star." Paulina explained.

"Then it's time we come up with a new cheer routine." Star said.

"No need." Paulina arrogantly said. "Just do as I say." She ordered and walked away.

Another cheerleader approached Star. "If you do have a new routine, I'm willing to try it." She said. "The rest of us didn't mind Paulina's obsession with Phantom back when we didn't know he attends school with the rest of us but now that we know he's Danny Fenton and already has a girlfriend..."

"I know what you mean." Star replied.

After the school day ended, the visiting monsters went to the cheap hotel their families arranged and Danny went back home. "Welcome home, son." Jack said.

"Did the monsters cause any trouble?" Maddie asked.

"No, Mom." Danny answered. "The biggest concern were the students fearing for the worst and teasing Ghoulia about the idea of zombies being brain eaters."

"Danny, you make it seem like monsters were more afraid of the students than the students were afraid of the monsters." Jack commented.

"One more thing." Danny said. "Monster High might send its fear squad for a cheer off against Casper High's cheerleaders."

"Are the cheer squad's parents okay with that, son?" Jack asked.

"Good question, Dad." Danny answered.

Meanwhile, Paulina was trying (and failing) to convince her parents to allow her to enter the cheerleading competition. "But, Dad." She pleaded.

"No buts, Paulina." Mr. Sanchez declared. "We already took too much of a risk as it is."

"The monsters will think we're afraid they're better cheerleaders than me." Paulina moaned.

"Young lady, that should be the least of your worries." Mrs. Sanchez replied.

"Those monsters could eat you." Paulina's Dad added.

"No, they're more likely to go after fat students, Dad." Paulina argued.

"It disgusts me that you're not concerned about them." Paulina's Dad commented and her mother nodded.

Meanwhile, at Principal Ishiyama's office, she and Mr. Lancer were discussing the latter's idea. "Mr. Lancer, do you really think the parents will agree to that idea?" She asked him. "I'm surprised we made it this far."

"It seemed a good idea at the time." Mr. Lancer replied.

"You said the same about wearing a dress to play the role of your fictional sister to encourage the students." Principal Ishiyama stated. "That it actually works says more about the students than about you."

"True." Mr. Lancer conceded.

End chapter

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