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Most monsters aren’t naturally excited for summer, night creatures tend to dislike the days getting longer. However summer means summer break, two words which will inevitably make any high schooler’s excitement levels go through the roof - human or monster.
This is why most of the classrooms and hallways of Monster High were empty on this sunny June afternoon when classes were over for the day.
Daytime monsters basking in the sun in the yard and garden, chatting, eating snacks, studying for finals while enjoying the nice weather. Nighttime monsters hanging out in the Creepeteria, the gym, clubs rooms, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere indoors.
Classrooms are usually off-limits to students when they aren’t in use, but the approaching summer break seemed to distract teachers as well, and someone had forgotten to lock the mad science lab on the top floor.
At least they forgot to lock it from the outside, now the door was blocked from the inside with a chair slid under the handle, preventing any outside disturbance who might overhear the unusual sounds inside.
Here, with the curtains pulled to only leave a sliver of sunlight in, pressed against the teacher’s desk, Draculaura was running her hands in Clawdeen’s hair, their lips and tongues locked together.
Hidden from everyone, they were kissing messily, like the teenagers they were, loving for the first time; desperately, like a drowning person gasping for air. The air being these rare moments alone together, where they didn’t have to pretend, to hide anything from anyone. It was just them and a secret that would most likely shatter their friend group if it got out.
Their lipstick smeared and mixed together, dark red and purple taking a pinkish hue.
Clawd and Draculaura had been dating for a while, though their relationship was controversial at first, everyone had accepted them as one of Monster High’s cutest couples.
Everyone loved seeing them together now, and why wouldn’t they? Draculaura was part of the fearleading squad, the newspaper and the drama club, she was a close friend of the self proclaimed queen of the school Cleo; Clawd was the captain of multiple sports teams, dating a fearleader and related to another… Both were well respected as some of the most popular monsters at school, living a perfect romance many were envious of.
Draculaura’s back was resting against the cold desk surface, her untied hair spread around her head in a dark halo. Clawdeen leaned down to kiss her again.
Also part of the fearleading squad, Clawdeen was also popular for designing outfits for school events, and generally being one of the most fashionable students. Admired by both ghouls and monsters, it wasn’t unusual for her to find love letters or flowers in her locker.
Yet she was never seen going out with anyone.
She always claimed she was better single, liked the lack of drama, preferred being independent…
In truth Clawdeen was a strong and confident ghoul, except when it came to love. Catching feelings for someone made her feel awkward and vulnerable. Especially when that someone was her best and closest friend.
Draculaura covered her mouth to muffle a gasp as Clawdeen’s kisses trailed down her neck.
It had taken Clawdeen months of mentally torturing herself, grieving a relationship she never had in the first place, to finally gather the strength to sit Draculaura down and tell her everything.
How she had been in love with her for so long.
How she had kept it to herself as to not ruin their friendship.
How painful it was when her brother started dating her crush.
How hard she had tried to ignore her feelings.
How she couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine.
Draculaura’s arms wrapped around Clawdeen’s back, pulling her closer.
That day the vampire went very quiet for a moment, before confessing she felt the same.
When Draculaura started dating Clawd she really believed she liked him. Or at least she wanted to.
Always a romantic, she dreamed of someone kind and strong. Frankie had been the one to point out these qualities in Clawd. But those also existed in Clawdeen, who she’d always been closer to.
She’d chosen Clawd almost on a whim. But as time went on and their relationship became more serious, Draculaura found herself having second thoughts. The time she was spending with her boyfriend was great, but something was missing, something she couldn’t describe.
Something she only felt when she was hanging out with her best friend.
With their chests pressed against the other, Draculaura could feel Clawdeen’s heartbeat echoing in her ribcage, making her wish her own heart was still beating to harmonize together.
It had been so long since Clawd and Draculaura started dating. Their relationship felt serious, to themselves and everyone else. Clawd was already making plans to find time to visit her when he would move for college next year.
If she were to break up with him now and go date his sister instead… How would he feel?
Clawd was a good person, he was so kind to Draculaura, so obviously truly in love with her.
She thought of telling him. Multiple times. But the way he always looked at her, like a cute puppy full of adoration for its owner…
The same way the ghoul on top of her was looking at her as her manicured hand started sliding under her shirt.
“Stop.”
Clawdeen stood back up immediately, hands up like she was being held at gunpoint.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay? Was it too much?” Worry was painted all over her face, a rare expression on the usually confident werewolf.
Draculaura sat up on the desk, reaching for her hair ties and wiping the smeared lipstick on her chin. “We can’t keep doing this. People are gonna find out some day, and… I can’t do this to Clawd.”
Clawdeen opened her mouth to say something but Draculaura cut her off. “It’s too cruel. I can’t do this to him. I really like him, Clawdeen. I care a lot about him. And you should too, he’s your brother. And… and–“ her eyes filled with tears. “And I don’t want to cheat on him! It just feels wrong, especially with his sister, and it just makes me feel horrible!” She started sobbing as she tied her hair, her hands trembling nervously. “I just…”
She sat silently for a moment, looking at the floor to avoid Clawdeen’s eyes.
“I love you Clawdeen. And I wish I had chosen you before him. But now it’s too late. If we keep this a secret I’m being a horrible girlfriend, but if I break up with him to be with you… I will break his heart. I’ve had my heart nearly broken once, and it was already so painful. I don’t want to subject him to that much pain. And your parents already met me, and Frankie was always rooting for him and me to be together, and Cleo feels better knowing her ex has found someone… It’s just– I’m sorry.”
Clawdeen stayed silent. Draculaura slowly stood up and walked to the door, pushing the chair blocking it out of the way.
“It’s better for everyone if we just forget this ever happened.” She said without facing her. “Go back to how things were before and just stay as friends.”
Clawdeen waited to hear the door close to cry.
She sat on the floor, curled up with her back against the desk, sobbing violently.
She’d never been someone who crushed easily. This was her first, and so far only love, the one that hurt the most.
Why? Draculaura was her best friend, so why was she okay with breaking her heart like this when she felt the same? If she really loved her, as a friend and a lover, why would she prioritize Clawd’s feelings over hers? Draculaura’s words didn’t make sense, Clawdeen couldn’t understand them.
From crying she started screaming, throwing down chairs and tearing the curtains with her claws.
After taking out her frustration on the class furniture she left the room with mascara trails down her cheeks. Who cares if anyone saw her, she’d just tell them it’s a new look. Or bark and growl at them until they left her alone.
She locked herself in her room when she got home that day, and did not open the door no matter how much Howleen banged on it to get in because ‘hey that’s also my room, I need my stuff you can’t lock me out like this’. She ignored her mother gently knocking afterwards to ask if she was alright.
She needed to process this alone. She had to. She couldn’t tell any of this to anyone in her family, or friend group. They would inevitably blame her, for making a move on a taken ghoul.
And they would be right. But she couldn’t handle hearing this at that moment.
All she could do was suffer alone. She should be used to it by now.