Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

gossipghoul.net

Disclaimer: All the names of places, monsters, and events have been altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent. Namely, me.

Hey monsters!

Calling all the monsters. Did you miss me? I know I missed you. It’s that time of the year when we hang up our towels from GB and head back to the DN. Drama Queen is back and deader than ever and she is ready to welcome all of you, her lowly peasants, back into her empire of MH.  What better way to kick off the school year than to party with the coolest ghouls in NS? Something tells me that tonight will be a night to remember. Hope you got your eek-vite.  Be there or be scared.

XOXO,               

Gossip Ghoul

Cleo De Nile grinned as Draculaura read the Gossip Ghoul blast out loud.

“This is perfect!” Cleo exclaimed. All her ghoulfriends surrounded her while her servants worked hastily to prepare her house for the party. Ghoulia Yelps, Frankie Stein, Abbey Bominable and Clawdeen Wolf, excitedly smiled as Lagoona Blue poured their pre-party shots; They all understood what a shoutout from Gossip Ghoul meant.

All of Monster High’s gossip used to be coordinated through a blog called Ghostly Gossip which was run by Spectra Vondergeist. The blog was quite scandalous at the time before Spectra decided to step down from the world of school gossip and enter the world of journalism, opting to write for Monster High’s Ghouls Gazette.

Ever since she stepped down, a new ghoul, fiercer and crueller, took the Ghostly Gossip spot: Gossip Ghoul. Gossip Ghoul reported on all monster schools in the region, not just Monster High, but the ghouls there seemed to be her favourite. It was bigger than what Ghostly Gossip ever could be. No one knew who Gossip Ghoul was, and secretly, no one cared; they all enjoyed the gossip and drama she brought. The blog had become Draculaura’s guilty pleasure.

Frankie couldn’t help but share the enthusiasm. Cleo’s parties were always the biggest and spooktacular events of the school year.

Cleo had come back from a family trip to Scaris and she wanted to commemorate her return with a party. Her father and Nefera decided to stay behind for an extra month so their father could bribe Nefera’s way back into many designers’ good graces again after having an almost career-ending meltdown the year before.

“Clawdeen, how are things between you and Romulus,” Cleo asked

“It’s alright,” Clawdeen replied passively.

“A little raven told me that something exciting is going to happen tonight,” Draculaura sang.

Clawdeen froze and lurked down at her. “What are you talking about?”

“Well…” Draculaura held onto her word, enjoying the suspense. “Romulus is going to ask you to be his ghoulfriend tonight.”

All the ghouls enthusiastically gasped.

“What…” Clawdeen gaped.

“Cranky! That’s good news!” Lagoona exclaimed.

Before Clawdeen could speak again, Draculaura took over. “They are so cute! Clawd and I went on a double date with them two weeks ago. He paid for all of Clawdeen’s stuff, held the doors for her, and everything!”

“You two need to go on a double date with Deuce and I next,” Cleo instructed.

“Uhhhhh,” Ghoulia added.

“And me and Gil,” Lagoona interjected.

Draculaura turned back to the werewolf. “Clawd told me that Romulus had the biggest crush on you since they were pups!”

“Really?” Clawdeen asked, rather awkwardly.

“Oh my ghoul, did I make you nervous? I shouldn’t have told you,” Draculaura scolded herself.

“No, it’s fine. I just wasn’t expecting this,” Clawdeen said. “I’m happy!”

“Ghouls, tonight will be a night to remember,” Cleo said, then raised her glass for a toast. “To my ghouls. May this year be as spooktacular as the last. Here’s to junior year!”

“Cheers!” Frankie exclaimed, causing her hand to fly off her wrist while her water spilled across the floor. She blushed as all her ghoulfriends laughed and took their shots.

Frankie could not recall a point in the night when the party was not absolutely packed. Cleo’s grand and spacious mansion was turned into a raging crowded club filled with the coolest monsters across town.

“Sending Gossip Ghoul a tip about Cleo’s party was a scary good idea,” Draculaura chirped when a vase crashed, releasing a small spirit and causing her to flinch. “Maybe a bit too scary.”

“Don’t worry ghouls, I got my father’s permission this time,” Cleo took a sip of her punch when she noticed something across the room. “But I will be grounded if Heath doesn’t get under control. Abbey, come with me, I’m going to need your help. Heath! Put that down right now!” Abbey and Cleo disappeared into the party.

Ghoulia went off to dance with SloMo while Lagoona was with Gil. The only ghouls that were left were Frankie, Clawdeen and Draculaura.

Everyone around them enthusiastically lost themselves to the music thanks to the work of DJ Holt Hyde. Frankie watched him from afar as he worked effortlessly at his DJ table.

Holt DJed the event at Cleo’s request. Frankie enjoyed seeing him in his element; when he was DJing, he was truly himself. It had been a while since they had spoken, but seeing him again reminded her of how cute he was and how she needed to get back in touch. He looked up and his eyes landed on her. She blushed and waved to him. He seemed to hesitate before waving back. Weird, she thought, it’s probably nothing.

“Clawd said he’ll be here soon with Romulus,” Draculaura squealed looking down at her iCoffin.

“Great…” Clawdeen took another sip of her punch.

“Okay, what’s wrong?” Draculaura pouted.

Frankie served herself punch when she noticed a familiar feline with black hair with white stripes standing strangely close to Holt on stage.

“Is that Meowlody?” she asked; she struggled to tell the difference between the twin werecats.

“Purrsephone,” Clawdeen corrected.

“What’s she doing up there?”

“I guess she’s one of Holt’s new groupies,” Clawdeen shrugged.

It had been a year since she had put her relationship with Jackson/Holt on pause. Jackson went on a few dates with a sweet normie girl named Claire, but nothing came from it, and Holt had his share fair of hookups that Frankie suspected but were just as successful as Jackson’s.

“Now, lemme hand over controls to my good friend Operetta. Be kind, she’s new at this but she knows how to keep the party HOT!” Holt announced as Operetta took his place. Selena Gloomez blasted throughout the room as Holt and Purrsephone linked arms then walked down from the stage.

“I read on Gossip Ghoul that they’ve been hanging out a lot this summer,” Draculaura said, maintaining the same unbothered composure as Clawdeen.

“Doing what?”

“Seriously Frankie, I wouldn’t take this seriously,” Clawdeen assured. Frankie was about to relax when Purrsephone pulled Holt in front of her and kissed him. “Oh?”

“OW!” A green monster who had been standing nearby and trying to pour himself some punch yelped as static sparked off his shoulder.

“Oops, sorry,” Frankie apologized. She quickly moved away before she could electrocute anyone else. Her eyes were glued on Holt. “I’ll be back!” she said to Draculaura and Clawdeen as she rushed toward the couple.

When Frankie got there, Holt and Purrsephone were deep in conversation while Meowlody appeared beside her sister. She awkwardly approached the trio.

“Um, Holt, can I talk to you?”

Holt hesitated again when he looked at Frankie then turned back to the feline. “Purrsephone, wait for me?” She nodded and then glared at Frankie.

The two walked to a corner where there were less monsters and less noise.  

“What’s up?” Holt asked.

“Really? Purrsephone?”

“What?”

“What are you doing with her when you know her, and her ghouls are not cool with me?” she interrogated.

“You don’t own me, Frankie.”

“I know… it’s just...” She glanced back at Purrsephone who was still watching them. She occasionally leaned toward Meowlody to whisper something. Both cats looked like they wanted to claw Frankie’s eyes out. There was a silence between them as music blared.

“Frankie, it’s been a year…” Holt stuttered. “I… I can see whoever I want just like you can. Purrsephone is cool.”

“I know…” Frankie scratched her arm. “What about Jackson, does he feel the same way?”

Holt shrugged. “You’re going to have to talk to him.”

“Okay…”

“I’ll see you later, okay?”

He joined Purrsephone and the two walked down the path leading away from Cleo’s house. Frankie couldn’t help but watch them as they hooked arms and disappeared into the party.

Electricity raced down Frankie’s body as she felt rage swell in her. Without thinking for another moment, she lifted her hand and threw her iCoffin to the floor. The phone shattered into three pieces, but it had taken several seconds of her deep breathing to realize what she had done.

“Should we have stopped Frankie?” Draculaura asked, gazing into the crowd. Before Clawdeen could respond, Draculaura’s phone buzzed. She looked at her screen then brightly grinned. “Clawd and Romulus are here!”

“Cool, cool, cool,” Clawdeen muttered. “I need to go to the bathroom.” I need to escape. She thought to herself as she squeezed into the crowd.

She pushed her way through the abyss of sweaty, drunk monsters when she finally managed to reach the far end of the room and took a deep breath. She didn’t know why she was acting like this. It wasn’t like she didn’t like Romulus. He was nice and everything, but she just didn’t like him in that way.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was fine. Whatever Romulus’ plans for tonight were, it didn’t matter, she was safe now.

“Clawdeen,” Romulus greeted, shining his charming smile.

“Hi Romulus.” She smiled back nervously remembering what Draculaura had told her. “How are you doing?”

“Much better now that you’re here.” He went in for a kiss but she moved her head so his lips would land on her cheek.

“Where’s Draculaura and Clawd?” she asked, trying to mask her subtle rejection.

He looked around. “I don’t know… listen, I can’t stay for long, but I would really like for us to talk.”

“I would love to but…” Clawdeen racked her brain for an out but couldn’t think of anything. “I gotta go.” She rushed away before Romulus could get another word in.

Why? Why? Why? Why tonight? And why did Draculaura have to warn her? She walked down the hall when claws shot out of the bathroom door and pulled her inside. She didn’t need to question who the ghoul was before she met her lips. The two kissed passionately.

Romulus… You are supposed to be seeing Romulus. Her brain echoed as she suddenly remembered the world she lived in. Clawdeen pulled away from the ghoul.

Clawdeen grabbed her hair and groaned. “Ugh, what are we doing?!”

“Having fun,” Toralei Stripe smirked. She tried to lean in for another kiss, but Clawdeen dodged.

Clawdeen’s stint with Toralei was not one of her best moments. It started weeks ago when she was at Gloom Beach celebrating Lagoona’s birthday. Toralei and the twins happened to show up at the beach that day and the two groups were instantly cold to one another. In an interesting twist of fate, Clawdeen and Toralei got locked in a supply closet for an hour and the rest was hisstory.

“What, you’re scared that Gossip Ghoul will find out about us,” Toralei mocked.

“Not funny.”

“Fine,” Toralei groaned. “What’s the problem?”

“This, us, it’s too complicated.”

“I didn’t take you for a ghoul who liked things boring.”

“It’s not that and you know that,” Clawdeen glared. “I’m supposed to get with Romulus,” she scolded herself. Toralei laughed.

“That loser?” she scoffed. “You don’t even like him, he’s not your type

Clawdeen glared at her. “What would you know about my type?”

“This.” The werecat planted a kiss on her lips which Clawdeen once again reciprocated with ease. Toralei was right, she barely liked Romulus. He was not her type at all.

“Clawdeen?” Draculaura suddenly stumbled into the bathroom. Toralei and Clawdeen froze when the vampire regained herself and took notice of them. Her eyes widened like never Clawdeen had seen before. “What is this?”

“I, u—” Clawdeen looked over to Toralei who merely smirked. “I can explain this.”

“I think I should go,” Toralei announced as she packed up her purse and left the room. Before she left, she made sure to not-so-subtly bump into Draculaura’s shoulder causing her to stumble back.

“Clawdeen…” Draculaura was at a loss for words. “Romulus?”

“He…He…” the werewolf sighed. “I’m not interested in him.”

“What happened?” she asked, looking very concerned.

“Romulus is cool but he’s making me realize that my ‘preference’ for girls might not so much be a preference…”

“I thought you said you were bi?”

Clawdeen took a deep breath. “It’s looking more like lesbian.”

Draculaura blinked. “Oh! Well, you should tell Romulus the truth then.”

“I should, but that wasn’t the only thing. Romulus is… I don’t know… He gives me this weird vibe. He seems nice but…” Clawdeen struggled to find her words. “I don’t trust it. His actions don’t feel authentic. It’s like—"

“His actions have ulterior motives?” Draculaura finished her sentence. “Been there, done that, with Valentine.”

“Yeah… everything in my being is telling me to get out.”

“And you should,” Draculaura said, almost tumbling over before she gathered herself and gave her a confused look. “But Toralei?!”

“I can’t explain it.” Draculaura raised her eyebrow. “I have a lot to figure out…”

“I’m not going to question your choices, but you will tell me how this started later. Regardless, you have to end things with him. It's a good thing he already left the party but it's better that you tell him sooner than later, just leave the part of him giving you the ick out.”

“Will do,” Clawdeen nodded.

"Good." Draculaura grabbed her friend’s hand. “Come on, let’s go dance.”

Chapter Text

Jackson found a sticky note stuck on his bedside as he felt the ache of a mild hangover take over his head. He picked up the note and his glasses and read what it said.

Scare warning dude,

Frankie knows about me and Purrsephone.

Jackson groaned. He should expect an interrogation from Frankie the next time he sees her. He dreaded the fact that Holt had even gone to Cleo’s party with Purrsephone knowing that Frankie would be there. It was rash and stupid, but even Jackson had to admit that the truth would inevitably come out if Frankie didn't already know. 

He picked up his iCoffin and texted his best friend, Deuce Gorgon.

JACKSON: I’m so screwed

He rubbed his eyes and then stared at himself in the mirror. What was he going to say to Frankie? He had no control over Holt’s actions, but he still felt guilty for some reason. He splashed water onto his face when his phone beeped again with Deuce’s notification sprawled across the screen.

DEUCE: What’s wrong bro?

JACKSON: Apparently Holt went to Cleo’s party with Purrsephone and Frankie saw them.

He placed his glasses over his eyes as he watched the dots representing Deuce's typing float in and out of existence. Jackson groaned again; even Deuce of all mansters was struggling to figure out what to say.

DEUCE: Yah…

JACKSON: What do I do?

DEUCE: Come to the casketball court. I’m here with Clawd.

Jackson had finally come to terms with his Hyde side, and it provided some benefits. By being Holt’s alter ego, he was given somewhat of a boost in popularity, which mostly consisted of not being bullied by most mansters anymore… except for Manny Taur on his really bad days. He and Holt had figured out a system (mostly thanks to Jackson’s persistence) that allowed both of them to enjoy their lives while not impeding on each other.

He wasn’t sure how it exactly started, but he knew that Holt had been seeing her for around three months now. Purrsephone initially started off as one of Holt’s hookups turned friends with benefits. Jackson didn’t really see her often until one day last month when she randomly started to make an effort to get to know him. He had been taken by surprise but found himself quite enjoying her company. While there was no spark, he didn’t mind her as an acquaintance. They surprisingly could find a mutual understanding within each other as Purrsephone always hated how people treated her and Meowlody like they were the same ghoul while Jackson had to grip with the fact that he and Holt were the same manster.

Another thing he could appreciate from Purrsephone was her respect for his and Holt’s system. She would read Jackson’s calendar beside the board and figure out date nights with Holt that wouldn’t class with his schedule.

His dad sat on the living couch watching the New Salem Warlocks play against the Penn State Vampires on the TV while his mother, in her Jekyll form, sat at the dining table, drinking coffee while lurking down at her work laptop.

“Good afternoon sweetie,” his mother, in her Jekyll form, greeted. Jackson stared at the clock and realized that he had completely missed the entire morning. Thanks Holt.

“Good afternoon, mom,” he sighed, his mind still on the whole Frankie and Purrsephone situation.

“What is he doing?!” His father exclaimed as the top of his head started to smoke.

“Flame!” His mother warned. “I do not want to replace the chandelier again.” There were times where his father would sometimes accidentally light things on fire whenever he got a bit too passionate due to him being a fire elemental. He mostly had his reactions under control (mostly thanks to age and maturity) but there was something about sports that managed to push him slightly over the edge.

“Holt got home pretty late last night,” Janine Jekyll said.

“Yeah, I can feel it,” Jackson grumbled as he began eating when he slowly realized what his mother was getting at. “He’s grounded, isn’t he?”

“Yes, but only for the weekend. Don’t worry, this won’t affect you,” Janine gracefully explained. Jackson sighed in relief then grabbed a sandwich to quickly eat. “So, what are your plans for today?” 

“Probably going to the casketball court to hang out with Deuce.”

“Okay, be back by sunset so I can start Holt’s grounding.”

Jackson nodded as he popped in a Tylenol and put a pair of sunglasses over his eyes.

“Hey, cousin!” Heath yelled, yanking Jackson under his arm.

Ever since Jackson’s family had moved back to New Salem, he and Heath had been neighbours. The two usually would walk to places together since neither of their parents trusted Heath nor Holt to drive, much to Jackson’s dismay.

“Hi Heath, how was the party?” Jackson greeted as his cousin approached him.

“That party was scorchin’! I’m sorry you missed it,” Heath said.

“Thanks, Heath,” Jackson said annoyed. This was something he said after every party.

“Heading to the casketball court? Let’s go.”

They arrived at the court to see Deuce was already playing with Clawd Wolf, Gil Webber and Romulus were already playing a game. When Jackson and Heath entered the court gates, Clawd slowed down the game.

“Jackson!” he exclaimed. “How are you feeling?”

“Terrible?” Jackson grumbled, rubbing his forehead.

“Is that because of Holt’s hangover or Frankie?” Romulus asked.

“Both.”

The boys laughed.

“What do I do?”

“I’m not fully sure,” Deuce admitted. “It’s better that she found out this way than from Gossip Ghoul.”

“What happened?” Romulus asked.

“Frankie knows about Holt and Purrsephone,” Gil explained.

“Cleo gave me so much shit last night for not telling her the moment I found out,” Deuce said. Sometimes Jackson wasn’t sure if Deuce was trying to complain, and his relaxed composure hid that or if he genuinely never felt annoyed ever.

“I appreciate you not saying anything…” Jackson rubbed his neck. “Probably Holt as well.”

“Did Holt tell you more about what happened last night?”

“Nope, just told me that Frankie now knows.”

“You certainly got yourself in a predicament,” Gil chuckled.

“I didn’t, Holt did,” Jackson corrected.

“You know what Jackson?” Romulus said, tossing the ball to him. “You should get with Purrsephone. She’s hot.” Jackson uncomfortably squirmed. As much as he tried to think differently, he was Holt and Holt was him. A relationship would only work out if they could find a ghoul who was down to date a manster with split personalities and Purrsephone had already proven to be a ghoul like that. He had to admit that Purrsephone was pretty, but he couldn’t see him with her.

“Just talk to Frankie,” Deuce said, taking the casketball from Romulus. “She’s not going to bite your head off.”

“She might try to electrocute you,” Clawd joked.

“I gotta be honest Jackson,” Heath interjected. “I’m totally shocked that you did spill the beans to Frankie the moment you found out, considering everything.”

“What does that mean?” Jackson asked, already feeling offended.

“You’re completely whipped for Frankie, even now!” Heath laughed.

“And you aren’t for Abbey?” Gil teased.

“Hey, I’m not whipped for anyone.” Heath tried to roll the casketball off his arm but failed. “I wear the pants in the relationship.”

“Abbey carried you out of the party over her shoulders last night,” Gil chuckled causing bubbles to float within his helmet.

“That was because I… uh…” Heath stuttered. “Stubbed my toe.”

“ANYWAYS!” Jackson turned the conversation back to himself. “I’m not whipped for Frankie. I’ve moved on.”

“So, if Frankie asked you on a date right now, would you say yes?” Gil asked.

“Well sure, but…”

“Whipped!” Heath exclaimed.

“Cool it, Heath,” Deuce warned, shooting the fire elemental a disapproving look. “It’s okay if you still like Frankie. We need to ask Holt this question as well.”

“Do you want to tell Holt right now?” Jackson suggested.

“Nah dude, I saw him last night, I want to hang out with you,” Deuce said, throwing another casketball into the net. Jackson appreciated the comment; for most of his life, especially since joining Monster High, he always had the feeling that no one actually wanted to hang out with his lame normie self. He had gotten several unwarranted comments about how Holt was so much better to hang around (something he also had the displeasure of overhearing Toralei loudly whisper to Purrsephone). He was in a constant cycle of either feeling like a complete freak or a total loser; it was nice to be around monsters who found him equally entertaining as his more popular alter ego.

Frankie was the first ghoul that he thought he could click with, but everyone knew what happened.

“Do you know how it started?” Jackson asked. Deuce only shook his head.

“Nope, Holt is actually pretty secretive about the whole ordeal.”

“Really?” Jackson was surprised. Usually, he stayed out of Holt’s business but from what he gathered from Holt, he was an eccentric character who loved to keep his friends updated on every single move he did and planned to make.

“Yeah, it sort of just… happened! When Clawd and I tried to ask, he became super evasive, but I respect his privacy,” Deuce explained. His revelation somewhat shocked Jackson. He and Holt shared few friends but Deuce was one of the few monsters whom they both befriended. Deuce was closer to Jackson so he would secretly tell him things Holt was doing from time to time if it warranted any alarm, but he didn’t think Holt had ever caught on.

“C’mon, are we here to play or what?” Romulus said.

“Abbey says I should work on my form, but I think I am doing just fine,” Heath bragged as he threw the ball. The ball ricocheted off the net and hit him squarely back in the head. “I guess I could do some work.”

The mansters played casketball for several hours.

“Great game boys,” Gil exclaimed when they finished their last game.

"Deuce, do you want to hang out?" Jackson asked.

“Can't right now. I need to get home. My aunt’s coming over and my mom wants me to get the house together,” Deuce said.

"That's alright, I'll text you," he waved off.

“I don’t know what the deal is with Clawdeen,” Jackson overheard Romulus say to Clawd.

“Just give her time. Clawdeen never dated anyone before, she’s probably just nervous," Clawd reasoned.

Romulus tapped his chin, slightly unconvinced. “Do you think there might be someone else?”

“Doubt it,” Clawd chuckled. “C’mon, we’re going to be late picking up Howleen from cello practice.”

Jackson turned to his cousin. “Heath, are we walking back together?”

“Oh no, I gotta meet up with Abbey at the maul,” Heath rushed off.

Jackson waved off his friends and then grabbed his stuff when he heard the gate of the casketball court open.

“Hi Jackson,” Operetta greeted walking in.

“Hey Operetta,” Jackson said. “Need Holt?”

“If you don’t mind. He promised to help me record somethin’.”

“Uhhh I think Holt is about to get grounded for the weekend.”

Operetta chuckled. “I figured, that’s why I need to do this now. Do you mind?”

Jackson didn’t, it was Holt’s turn anyway. “Just make sure he gets home by sundown. I promised our mom I would be back by then.” On cue, she raised her iCoffin. Jackson braced himself when she pressed play on her Scaretunes as a Justin Biter and started to play music. His body heated up and everything turned black.

“I can’t believe you really showed up to Cleo’s parties of all places with Purrsephone,” Operetta laughed as she tuned her piano.

“Purrsephone really wanted to go, I was ready to check out that band,” Holt defended himself.

“Oh yeah?” Operetta smirked. “What’s their name?”

“Skela- Skeli-,” Holt struggled to recall the name as Operetta started to laugh hysterically. “Fine! But I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. This felt like a test.”

Purrsephone was no stranger to his previous fling with Frankie. While he didn’t need to declare it, many still (rightfully) assumed that his attraction to her was still there

“You probably succeeded.” Operetta slammed the top of the piano shut. “Are you serious about this ghoul?”

 “I don’t know…” he scratched his head.

Operetta grinned. “You like her.”

Holt couldn’t deny it. He really did enjoy hanging out with Purrsephone. Their collision was something completely unexpected. It was Lagoona’s birthday party at Gloom Beach and Holt had been invited to DJ at the event. After the party was over, he decided to stay at the beach for an extra few hours (much to his mother’s dismay) and watch the waves. Purrsephone came by and introduced herself. Holt already knew her from his drama class last semester and vaguely recalled her and the other ghouls in her werecat trio not getting along with Frankie and her friends.

They spent the rest of the night together, talking about random topics but mostly relating to their love of music. Eventually, the night ended with them hooking up and her asking him for his number. He didn’t expect to text her back the next day, but he did. He sat anxiously next to his phone for the next three hours when she finally did respond.

They spent the rest of the summer occasionally hooking up and hanging out. Gossip Ghoul picked up the story multiple times, and his exposure slowly made him a regular on the blog. Part of him waited for Frankie to text him questioning him about the Gossip Ghoul blasts, however, that day never came. He wondered if it was because she didn’t follow Gossip Ghoul, or if she simply did not care about what she was reading. He hated the fact that he cared so much about the answer to that question.

“But knowing you, that isn’t the full reason why you did that,” Operetta said, immediately calling him out on his bs like she usually did.

Holt sighed. “Truthfully Etta, I partially wanted to do it to make Frankie know what was going on and to see her reaction.”

He and Frankie didn’t talk enough to really be classified as friends anymore if he was really honest with himself. He had many monsters checking up and greeting him on the streets from time to time because of him being a popular DJ, so he knew better than to view anyone who occasionally said hi to him as an actual friend. He didn’t see Frankie as much these days, even before Purrsephone. From what he knew, Jackson didn’t hold any resentment against Frankie either, but was in a similar situation; on good terms but barely talking.

“Love is a dangerous game, my friend. Don’t enter if you aren’t ready.”

“Woah, woah, woah. I’m not in love with Purrsephone,” he said defensively. Did he like Purrsephone? Yes, but did he like her more than Frankie when he was getting with her? The jury was still out.

“I know, but don’t let a situation like this fester if you don’t have the means to put it out. It’s very easy for monsters to become obsessed with someone. Trust me, my dad definitely knows,” Operetta sighed.

“Do you know where he is?”

“Not at all.” Operetta’s father had the nasty habit of disappearing at week's end to pursue the love of random opera singers he had only known for a short amount of time. She liked to pretend that her father’s absence didn’t bother her, though Holt knew better.

Operetta sat in front of her piano and adjusted her microphone. “So are we going to record something or what?!”

Holt and Operetta walked home together.

“How are things with Johnny?” Holt asked.

“It’s good, but we’re keeping it casual so I can focus on my music,” Operetta replied. “But let’s not change the topic. Purrsephone is also a monster with feelings, not an instrument to get on Frankie’s nerves. Don’t use her as a tool to get to Frankie, 'cause that wouldn’t really be cool, now would it?”

“Don’t worry, I promise not to be the worst manster ever,” he joked as they reached his house.

Operetta stared at Holt then smiled. “I know this is hard for you to do but don’t be stupid Holt.” He opened his mouth to retort when his front door opened.

“Hi mom,” Holt greeted his mother, but she ignored his gaze and smiled at Operetta. He instantly frowned; he knew he was in trouble for last night.

“Operetta, so lovely to see you.” Mrs Jekyll smiled.

“Hi, Mrs Jekyll,” Operetta greeted in her sweetest voice to try to minimize any trouble Holt may be in at the moment.  “Holt was just helping me finish a recording.”

“That’s good because he’s not going out again this week,” Mrs Jekyll said in a sweet voice. “Holt, you’re grounded. Come inside.”

Holt spent the rest of his day in his room attending to his biteology homework. Don’t you think about turning back to Jackson! Keep that music on! His mother had scolded him as he was banished to his punishment. He didn’t bother to fight it; if he did what she wanted for tonight then she would forget her punishment by Monday.

His speaker played Monster Jackson and The Graveyard 5 as he got into the zone. While Jackson and Holt had complete opposite personalities, they shared the same intelligence, Jackson just applied himself more. Jackson expressed annoyance at the prospect of his grades dropping due to his Hyde side so they made an agreement; Jackson took the brunt of their academic workload, taking most of their AP science and math classes but their mother thought it was only fair that Holt took at least one difficult class alongside his light elective course load. 

Holt reached the last line of his textbook when he started to hear scratching noises behind him. He lowered his headphones and realized that the scratching was coming from his window. He went over and opened it when a werecat slipped inside.

“Purrsephone, what are you doing?” Holt whispered frantically, grateful that his speaker was masking their sounds.

“I needed to talk to you, and you weren’t answering your phone,” she replied.

“That’s because I’m grounded.” His revelation didn’t seem to have much of an impact on her as she made herself comfortable in his room. “Purrsephone, my mom might come in. You need to go.” He tried to rush her back out the window but she didn't budge.

"Not before you answer this," Purrsephone cleared her throat. “What are we?” Holt’s heart dropped. It was a sentence he was not expecting to hear from her anytime soon. He gazed at her then back at the window, then back at her again.

“You climbed through my window to ask that question?”

Purrsephone glared. “Answer.” She was cute when she was annoyed.

“I guess… you are..." he stared into her wide eyes. "...my ghoulfriend."

Purrsephone’s eyebrow raised. “You guess?”

Don’t be stupid Holt – Operetta’s voice echoed in his head.

“You are, you are,” Holt said to recover his mistake.

"Maybe we should try to make that a bit more romantic," Purrsephone playfully said.

Holt smirked and cleared his throat. "Purrsephone, will you be my ghoulfriend?"

"Hmm that depends," she pretended to be in deep thought. “Do I need to be worried about Frankie?”

“No. Like I told her last night, I’m only interested in you,” he lied.

“Then yes,” she smiled even wider. He pulled Purrsephone in for a kiss. When they broke apart, Purrsephone pulled out her iCoffin, took a picture of them and swiftly posted it on her Monstagram. Holt refrained from showing his slight discomfort. Things are really official now...

There was no stopping what was about to happen next.

Chapter Text

Back-to-skull came way too soon for Clawdeen’s liking when her alarm rang loudly in her ears. She slammed her alarm clock off and tried to pull her pillow over her ears when her mother’s voice rang throughout the house.

“CLAWD! CLAWDEEN! HOWLEEN! I BETTER HEAR YOUR FEET START SCRAMBLING IN THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES!” Their mother yelled from elsewhere in the house.

“Please kill me,” Clawdeen muttered under her breath as she got up and got ready for school. She followed her regular routine: wash her face, brush her fangs, unfrizz her hair then wear a scary cool outfit. When she was ready, she picked up her schoolbag and left her room.

Howleen passed her, wearing a shirt that she had obviously stolen from her closet. Ever since Clawdia had moved out, Clawdeen had taken her room while Howleen remained in their shoebox. While the sisters enjoyed their new personal space, Howleen kept up her habit of stealing Clawdeen’s stuff.

Usually, Clawdeen would freak out on her sister, but her mind was still spinning about the Toralei and Romulus situation. It was simple: she liked Toralei and didn’t like Romulus, but she didn’t want to hurt Romulus’ feelings (especially since they had been friends for so long and he was beast buds with Clawd). She knew she couldn’t keep pretending with Romulus. Moreover, she had spent the entire weekend not replying to any of Toralei's texts due to stress and her not knowing how to respond.

TORALEI: It was nice seeing you at the party

TORALEI: let’s see each other this weekend

TORALEI: I found this purrfect spot where no one can see us

TORALEI: How r u?

TORALEI: Are you ignoring me?

TORALEI: Are you still scared that Gossip Ghoul might post about us?

TORALEI: Gossip Ghoul hasn’t picked us up, we’re in the clear

Clawdeen stood over her kitchen counter as she scarfed down a bowl of meat, rereading Toralei’s messages when she flipped over to her last convo with Romulus.

ROMULUS: You free this weekend?

DEENIE: Can’t sorry

It was a bold lie, especially considering how Clawd lived under her roof. She spent her weekend hanging out at Draculaura’s house to avoid any suspicion but now her cover was over and she had to deal with the Romulus situation head-on.

“Romulus was telling me how you—” Clawd said appearing over her shoulder.

Clawdeen raised her hand to cut him off. “Nope, you are not getting in my business.”

Clawd looked at her, slightly defeated and walked ahead of her.

Her phone dinged with a new notification from Toralei.

TORALEI: If you don’t want to hang out anymore, just tell me

“C’mon, let’s go!” their mother shouted. The Wolf siblings ran out of their house and caught their school bus.

Howleen sat beside her friends Gigi and Twyla while Clawd sat beside Gil and Deuce. Romulus lived closer to Monster High so he didn’t take the bus (in the words of Cleo De Nile, thank Ra). Clawdeen sat by herself like she usually did on the bus whenever Frankie and Ghoulia either missed the bus or got a ride. 

The bus ride was long as each stop carried more monsters, all of them excited about the new school year. Eventually, Toralei stepped on the bus and sat beside Purrsephone and Meowlody as she usually did. She didn’t acknowledge Clawdeen, which was to be expected.

As the bus got closer to school, she noticed Gil subtly glance over at her followed by scorns from Deuce and Clawd. They were talking about her, great.

Clawdeen opened her phone again and reread Toralei’s last text. She was being unfair. Just because she was in a tough spot and needed to end things with Romulus, didn’t mean it was cool for her to blow Toralei off. She sighed and started typing.

DEENIE: I do want to hang out with you

The bus rolled to the front of Monster High and all the monsters shuffled out the bus. As Clawdeen got off, she noticed that Toralei didn’t glance over at her. It could be nothing, but she still felt anxious.

“Hey cuz… Did Frankie try to text you this weekend?” Heath immediately asked as they met up to walk to school together.

Jackson rubbed his forehead in annoyance. “Holt was grounded, remember?”

“Oh, right…” Heath said. Like Jackson, he was still somewhat reeling from the fact that his cousin had a Hyde side who happened to be one of the coolest mansters in town. He occasionally forgot about the fact that Holt and Jackson didn't exist at the same time, which still annoyed Jackson greatly.  "Okay, but do you know if she's angry?"

“Why are you asking me? Aren’t Frankie and Abbey best friends?”

“Yeah but Abbey doesn’t like to gossip as much as other ghouls."

“When you say other ghouls, are you including yourself?”

“Hey!” Heath protested then softened his tone. “Yeah…”

“Of course.” Jackson rolled his eyes.  

“In case you missed it, Purrsephone posted her and Holt on her Monstagram story a few days ago. I took a scream-shot.”

“Wait, you had this scream-shot this entire time and you didn’t send it to me before?”

“I wanted to see your reaction if you didn’t already know.” Heath shot him a mischievous grin. “Guess you’re interested in gossip too?”

Jackson glared at his cousin as he took his scorching phone.

There she was, her and Holt standing in Jackson’s room smiling into the camera… well, Holt was sort of smiling. He made that weird smile that Jackson made when he was unsure of what he was doing. What was she doing in their room? Holt was supposed to be grounded.

 “What do you think it means?” Heath asked eagerly.

“I don’t know!” Jackson passed Heath’s phone back and shook his hand to relieve himself of the pain.

“C’mon, you gotta!”

“I know just as much as you do,” Jackson reminded, getting a bit annoyed. Purrsephone never posted her and Holt together before, why did she start now

“You’re going to have to if you’re going to survive this year,” Heath joked.

The two walked up to Monster High. Jackson could feel himself get more anxious as he walked up the steps. Mondays were meant for Jackson. Holt hated them and all their hard classes were on that day. Usually, Jackson enjoyed Mondays since he got to have the whole day and do his favourite courses, but today he wished he could let Holt be in control for the entire week until everything with Frankie blew over.

He stared at the school. He never fully felt welcomed at the school until he met Frankie. She made everything better, and now Holt had to go ruin things.

“Are you coming?” Heath asked standing ahead of him.

Jackson snapped out of his internal monologue. He stared at the school and then gulped. Here goes nothing… He walked up the front steps.

Clawdeen was at her locker when Draculaura, her locker neighbour for another year, skipped to her side.

“Hello Clawdeen,” Draculaura said, opening her locker beside her. “Long time no see?”

“Okay, funny joke,” Clawdeen playfully rolled her eyes.

“While I do enjoy our creepovers, you can’t stay at my house forever… well at least under these circumstances,” Draculaura giggled.

“I know.”

“When do you plan on talking to him?” she asked. Clawdeen didn’t say anything when Draculaura gave her a stern look. “Clawdeen…”

“Fine! Next time I see him.”

“Good. Just rip off the band-aid,” she advised as she closed her locker. “I got to get to class, see you at lunch.” the vampire walked off.

She gazed down at her text to Toralei again. This wasn’t enough.

DEENIE: Things are just complicated right now. I will fix it.

“Hey there pretty lady,” Romulus said as he leaned against her locker.

“Hi, Romulus,” Clawdeen awkwardly said, switching her phone off. “How are you?”

“I’m good, I’m good. I could’ve been better if I got to see you this weekend,” he said. He subtly reached for her hand but she firmly placed them around her textbooks. “I wasn’t able to talk to you at Cleo’s party and you haven’t been answering my texts.

“Yeah… about that…” Just rip the band-aid off. “We need to talk.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“I’m sorry but I just don’t think it’s working out

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No, you didn’t, it’s just that…” Clawdeen gulped. Rip off the band-aid. “It’s not you, it’s me.”

“Ahh…” Romulus tried to chuckle in a playful manner as he scratched the side of her locker. “The cliché?”

“Sorry, but I just don’t see you like that. You’re a clawesome guy but I just don’t think I have the same feelings.”

“I have to admit… this is my first time getting dumped…” Romulus said as he gazed at the ground. “Is there someone else?”

“Truth be told Rom…” Clawdeen took a deep breath. “I’m a lesbian. This summer really showed me that. I’m sorry for leading you on.”

“Oh, I see… this isn’t some ploy to get me to leave you alone, right?

“No, it’s not. I genuinely don’t want to hurt your feelings.” She held out her hand. “Friends?”

He looked down at her hands. There was an awkward silence between them before he finally spoke again

“Friends.” He shook her hand. Clawdeen smiled at him as he started to turn away when he stopped. “I know this is awkward, but could I get my baseskull  jersey back?”

Clawdeen blinked. She had never worn the thing. “Of course. I’ll get it back to you this week.”

Romulus bitterly smiled then nodded off. As she watched him walk away, she could finally breathe again.

It’s over…She subtly grinned as she walked to class with a heavy weight off her shoulders; she was free. She walked to her Mad Science class and sat beside Ghoulia.

“Uhhhh,” Ghoulia said.

“Hey Ghoulia,” she greeted. “How are you?”

“Uhhhh,

“Woah, sounds stressful.”

“Uhhhhh…” Ghoulia continued. “Uhhh.”

“Good luck ghoul,” Clawdeen said. She didn’t know how Ghoulia could do it.

Class started as Mr Hackington went about his unhinged lessons. Clawdeen quickly zoned out, occasionally doodling in her notebook when Draculaura texted her.  

LALA: Bored in hisstory

DEENIE: Same

DEENIE: I saw R after you left

LALA: Did you do it?

DEENIE: Yes

DEENIE: You were right, I feel so much better now

LALA: When am I ever wrong?

LALA: Have you spoken to Toralei

DEENIE: Looks like she might be ghosting me

“Clawdeen Wolf, are you texting during class?” Mr Hackington

“No, I…” she slipped her phone back into her pocket.

“Detention!”

“Jackson, get any static shocks today?” Gil chuckled as Jackson reached his locker.

“No, haven’t seen her today,” Jackson said, looking over his shoulder to make sure the coast was clear.

The entire day went by without Jackson seeing Frankie. Out of all his times getting bullied by other monsters, Jackson still found this Holt/Frankie/Purrsephone situation more stressful. He’d rather deal with Manny Taur than this. He knew what to expect with Manny, but everything was still up in the air with her. He felt immense relief as the school bell rang.

Frankie isn’t in any of my classes on Mondays.

He walked down the hall

“Hi Jackson,” Frankie

“Uhhh, hi Frankie,” Jackson said in his typical nervous tone.

“Can we talk?”

“Uh…” He looked over to Heath for an out.

“Gotta go!” Heath exclaimed before rushing off.

“Heath!” Jackson angrily pleaded but had to recollect himself as Frankie’s gaze fell back on him. He awkwardly smiled at her; he had not expected to see her so soon. He had been hoping that he would get the entire weekend to figure out what to say to her before their inevitable confrontation.

“So, Jackson…” Frankie began.

“Holt warned me about this…”

“You know?”

“Uh well… yes, I know. Purrsephone actually happens to be a pretty cool ghoul…”

“You’re also seeing her?!” Frankie asked in shock.

“No, no…” Jackson became more nervous. “I mean, we talked a few times but we’re just casual friends. It’s Holt who’s actually seeing her. I...I don’t know if anything is going to lead anywhere."

“Well, why didn’t you tell me?”

“It…” Jackson struggled to find the answer to that question. Why did he not tell her? It wasn’t like he was dating Purrsephone himself. Part of the reason why he and Frankie had broken apart was because of his Hyde side, but with Holt with Purrsephone, everything should be perfect now.

No… He knew that was unlikely. Part of him secretly wanted to see her reaction, to see if she actually cared, without him forcing the situation, but now it didn’t seem worth it at all.

“It wasn’t something I thought I had to tell you,” He lied.

“I don’t really go on that blog that much,” Frankie admitted. “But why didn't Holt tell me?”

“You’d have to ask him that…”

“Oh,” Frankie nodded. “Okay, well… what’s your schedule?”

“I can send it to you over text,” he suggested.

“I actually broke my phone the night of the party.”

“Oh… then here.” He pulled out a sheet of paper detailing his schedule for the semester.

“We have a few classes together, just not on Mondays.” She passed him back his schedule. “We should sit together.”

“Uh, yeah. We should.”

“I’ll see you around,” Frankie waved off and

“See you.” Jackson walked out of the school when Heath appeared from the side and slung his arm around Jackson’s shoulders.

“So how was it?” he asked. Jackson tossed his cousin's arm off his shoulder and scowled.

“Don’t want to talk about it Gossip Ghoul.”

“Clawdeen Wolf…” Mr Hackington greeted her. “Sit down!”

She scanned her prisoner for the afternoon to see four other monsters from lower years scattered across the class. Toralei sat alone in the far corner of the room scribbling away in her notebook, occasionally lurking at her textbook. Clawdeen cautiously walked over to her. She knew she had ghosted Toralei the entire weekend, but she hoped that her text this morning smoothed over any hard feelings Toralei had.  

Clawdeen looked down at her paper and saw that Toralei was completing math problems at an exceptional speed; one of the consequences of that time the ghouls had sent the werecat trio to math camp.

She took a seat beside Toralei and waited for her to acknowledge her. Nothing. Clawdeen opened her notebook and got started on her biteology homework when the sound of snoring filled the room. She glanced at the front to see that Mr Hackington had, predictably, fallen asleep.

“Hey,” Clawdeen quietly whispered to Toralei as she took the seat beside her. “It shouldn’t surprise me that you’ve already gotten detention this year.” Once again, no response. “Really? You’re ignoring me now?”

“You’re no stranger to doing that are you?” Toralei finally hissed back at her. “Surprised that you remember that I exist.”

“I wasn’t not ignoring you… well… not fully. I had a lot to think about this weekend.”

“I figured.” Toralei bitterly muttered under her breath.

“Toralei, listen—”

“No talking!” Mr Hackington yelled, tossing one of his knives to the other side of the classroom. The entire class was silent until the teacher fell asleep again. His loud snoring filled the room allowing Clawdeen some cover.

“But If it makes you happy…” she whispered. “I broke things off with Romulus.”

Toralei said nothing, but Clawdeen could see the side of her mouth slowly curl up in satisfaction. Detention flew by as Toralei’s demeanour softened. The two slyly shared doodles with each other until it was time for them to go home.

“Did you hear that?” Clawdeen asked. Toralei nodded and the two glanced past the corner to see no one.

“Coast is clear,” Toralei smiled.

Clawdeen stopped her. “Not here, someone can see us.”

“Really? Ugh, how long should we wait then?”

“Honestly…” Clawdeen traced her finger around Toralei’s knuckles. “A month?”

“Max. And until then, you have to respond to all my texts. Deal?”

“Deal,” Clawdeen smiled. The two ghouls walked in opposite directions, excited for whatever came next.

Clawdeen was in her room scrolling through Monstagram when a knock came on her door.

“Who is it?” She called.

“It’s me,” Clawd’s voice came from the other end.

“Come in,” she answered, liking one of Cleo’s new posts on her feed. Her older brother walked inside awkwardly, no doubt to talk about what had happened that day. “Out with it,” she commanded.

“Why did you break things off with Romulus?” Clawd immediately asked.

“I already told him, I’m just not interested.”

“But why? I thought you liked him?”

Before she could answer, a figure passed her room. “Is that Howleen? Howleen!”

“What?!” The Wolf family’s youngest whined.

“Give me back the shirt you stole from me this morning!” Clawdeen yelled. She could hear Howleen groan from the hallway then return to her room.

“It’s just that…” Clawd continued their conversation. “He has been interested in you for so long and he has never been dumped before. He just wants to know why.”

“I’m a lesbian.”

“Oh!” Clawd said surprised, but quickly digested the information. “I thought you were bi?”

“Yeah, I realized that I’m not.”

“Okay. Romulus is convinced that there’s someone else and that you’re lying

“Is me not being a lesbian not enough for him?”

Clawd shrugged. Clawdeen tapped her finger on her desk as her rage filled her.

“That reminds me.” She stood up and pulled out a basket from underneath her bed. She went around her room picking up all the stuff that Romulus had given her throughout the summer. She swiftly moved across her room, rapidly picking up the items that held no significant value to her and tossing them into the basket like trash with ease.

“Really?” Clawd said sounding offended.

“What? He asked for his stuff back so I’m getting it for him.” A plushie he had gotten her went into the basket.

“Are you serious?”

“Romulus needs to learn that not everything is going to go his way and he doesn’t need to send my brother to get him deeper answers than what was given to him,” Clawdeen complained, tossing a jersey into the basket.

“C’mon ‘Deen, don’t be like that?”

“Trust me Clawd, stay out of this. I don’t get involved with you and Draculaura,” she lectured. “But if you want to get involved, I would appreciate you getting this back to him.” Clawd reluctantly took the basket from her. He made his way out of her room when Howleen walked in beside him holding Clawdeen’s shirt.

“What’s that?” Howleen said, lurking into the basket.

“Romulus’ stuff,” Clawd answered.

“Isn’t this what he gave to Clawdeen?”

“Yup,” Clawd nodded.

“Why are you taking it?”

“I broke things off with Romulus,” Clawdeen explained.

“Really?” Howleen’s eyes widened. “Why?”

“Not you too.” Clawdeen rolled her eyes. “We just weren’t compatible.”

“Oh… okay,” Howleen didn’t say anything more and quietly left her room. Clawdeen shrugged. Howleen had always been a bit weird about Romulus but she didn’t bother to look into it.

When her siblings had finally left her room, Clawdeen returned to her desk and continued to (passively) do her homework. She listened to Booyoncé as she worked through her equations when she got a text from Toralei.

TORALEI: let’s facetime.

Before Clawdeen could reply to her text, her phone started to ring. She accepted the call as Toralei’s face took up her entire screen.

“I have homework to do,” Clawdeen playfully scorned.

“So does everyone, what’s new?” Toralei brushed off. “So run me through how you broke things off with him.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“I like hearing about how I won the prize,” Toralei boastfully explained. “Did he cry?”

“Of course not!” Clawdeen laughed.

“Uh… did he at least whimper?”

“No,” Clawdeen continued to chuckle. “Why do you want to see him suffer so much?”

“Romulus is an asshole.”

“No, he’s not.”

“Yes, he is.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Him and Meowlody used to hook up and he had this weird influence over her… He didn’t like Purrsephone and me and would bad mouth us to her all the time. Meowlody thought he was going to ask her out when he suddenly ghosted her. Several months later, we saw you and him on Gossip Ghoul.”

“Oh…” Clawdeen muttered as she processed the entire. “I didn’t know Romulus and Meowlody had a thing. I’m sorry he treated her like that.”

“It’s cool. Meowlody was bitter but I think she’s over it now. You won’t believe how much convincing it took to stop her from reporting us to Romulus in hopes of breaking you two up.”

“Why didn’t you?” Clawdeen asked. It was completely out of character for the werecat.

“I contemplated it… Almost sent a tip into Gossip Ghoul a few times, but I figured that you wouldn’t want that,” she admitted. “And if you are going to get with me, it has to be because you actually like me, and dumped that loser, not that he dumped you and I was your last resort.”

“That was… pretty sweet,” Clawdeen smiled.

“I can soften my claws when I want to, but you already know that,” Toralei said. “So how do you think Romulus will react when he finds out about us?”

“I don’t think he will be too mad about it. I told him that he was a lesbian—”

“Yes.”

“—And that I still wanted to be friends. He’s levelheaded so it won’t be too much of an issue. We just need to keep it secret for now, so it doesn’t seem like I was ‘cheating’ or whatever.”

Toralei sighed. “Fair enough.” Clawdeen nodded when Draculaura’s number rang but she immediately dismissed the call. “How many of your friends know about us?”

“Only Draculaura knows, you?”

“Purrsephone is too obsessed with Holt right now to notice anything, but Meowlody knows.”

Dracualaura called again but Clawdeen dismissed once more.

“Speaking of, what the deal between those two?”

“Purrsephone asked Holt to put a label on their relationship last night and they’re officially dating. She posted another picture of them together on her story.”

“Really?” Clawdeen went on Purrsephone’s Monstagram profile but saw nothing. “I’m still blocked.”

“I’ll tell her to unblock you then.”

Draculaura’s caller ID popped up again.

“Ugh, what does this ghoul want?” Clawdeen exclaimed, declining it once more.

“Who is it?”

DEENIE: sorry, I’m busy right now

“Draculaura,” Clawdeen answered.

“Clingy?” Toralei joked.

She the read notification pop up under her text. “No, she isn’t usually like this,” Clawdeen said as she closed her messages. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t apologize, Meowlody just tried to call me as well.”

“What are her thoughts about us?”

LALA: Doing what???

DEENIE: homework!

“Hold on, Purrsephone just texted me,” Toralei said, disappearing from her screen.

LALA: Clawdeen!

“Draculaura as well,” Clawdeen said as she swiped down from the call and then checked her messages.

LALA: Where are you?

DEENIE: Home, why?

LALA: Pick up your phone!

DEENIE: What’s wrong?

LALA: Are you free to Facetime?

“Uh, Toralei, I gotta go. Draculaura wants to Facetime me.”

“Weird, the twins just asked me to do the same,” Toralei said. “We’ll talk later.” Their call cut out when Clawdeen called Draculaura through facetime. Only a second had passed when Draculaura’s face filled her screen with an extremely worried look.

“Are you okay?” Draculaura immediately asked.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Okay, so remember how I told you that it was better to break things off with Romulus sooner rather than later?”

“Yeah…”

“Well,” Draculaura nervously laughed.

“Lala, you’re scaring me. What happened?”

“I think it’s better if you read it yourself.”

A notification popped up from one of Draculaura with a link to Gossip Ghoul’s recent weekly blasts followed by a new message from Toralei.

LALA: gossipghoul.net/blasts/new

TORALEI: Call me, pls

Clawdeen’s heart raced as she pressed the Gossip Ghoul link and scrolled through the blog’s recent page. Her eyes scanned the screen in anticipation when she found what Draculaura had been referring to. Her heart instantly dropped.

“Oh crude.”

Chapter Text

gossipghoul.net

Disclaimer: All the names of places, monsters, and events have been altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent. Namely, me.

Hey monsters!

I like to keep my biggest bombshells for the 13^th of each month but today I decided to celebrate the 4^th instead. Why four? I always thought that the number is deeply unappreciated in Western cultures. In Eastern cultures, they fear the 4 rather than the 13, something about it sounding a lot like the word “death” in their languages. So what do I want to gift you on this very special day? A juicy update with four unlucky monsters.

Our unlucky 4

It’s no secret that MH’s infamous T in Tortitude is a kitty with sharp claws, but has she found a reason to soften them? While out on the prowl, this cat got close to a wolf she had sworn to hate and spent the entire summer secretly locking lips in places they had assumed no one could see them. I guess everyone loves a good “enemies to lovers”, don’t they? The romance was so good that the wolf stopped calling herself bisexual and announced that she was actually a lesbian. Things were already complicated with the bad blood between their ghouls, but these ghouls couldn’t keep their paws off each other… and other monsters.

While the Lycan Lesbian was busy going on dates with MH’s Almost Alpha, T in Tortitude was busy making out with a certain gargoyle from France. It’s not surprising to find out that another female athlete plays for the other team, but when that team is already cheating, you might have to wonder if the game is even worth playing.

Sightings

How do ghouls show their faces again? That’s the question I asked myself after seeing the manster caught lurking around at NS station. Looks like our sweet ol’ Predatory Fangs, is coming back for another year of schooling here.

All the good looks and charm in the world couldn't make him likable again after the stunt he pulled last year, but who knows? More shocking things have happened. If I were him, I would strongly advise against being anywhere near MH and any ghoul being near him...

Your E-gore

Q: What’s up GG?

Did you see Kitty Dee’s Monstagram story of her and DJ? It was cute, but I don’t see any pictures of her on his account; major ick. I seriously doubt DJ and Kitty Dee will ever amount to anything. I know this ghoul who hooked up with him months back and I can say for sure that that’s a manster who is unable to make any sort of commitment. I wonder if that’s the actual reason why he and a certain ghoul never worked out.

– BatsRUs39

A: Dear BatsRUs39,

I see your point. DJ has certainly been teasing not only us the entire summer. What do you call a hookup that lasts more than a month? Getting played. A few Monstagram stories won’t change anything. We need some serious proof that DJ has plans on getting serious or else Kitty Dee will end up looking like Kitty Dum.

–GG

____

Q: Hey GG, 

Loving the content. I was just curious, why do you spend so much time focusing on MH? I go to VA, a bit far from MH but there is always something happening.

-VampChick49

A: Dear VampChick49,

I have to be honest, I have a soft spot for MH. There are few monster schools out there meant for all monsters. Most would see MH as progressive, but I see it as the absolute purrfect breeding ground for delicious drama. Other monster schools just can’t compare. But if you have any delicious gossip, make sure to send it through my tip line. Pictures for confirmation are much appreciated.

–GG

____

Q: Dear GG,

You are sooo much better than that Ghostly Gossip. You know what I like about you? You have edge. You’re not afraid to report on the most scandalous drama across all monster schools. You give life to my undead life.

-FreakedFusion14

A: Dear FreakedFusion14,

Why thank you FreakedFusion14. I try my best. I used to read Ghostly Gossip and think “Is this supposed to be for kids?” C’mon, we’re all grown monsters here. If you want your gossip to have an impact, you have to have edge, and I promise to deliver.

-GG

----

Q: Hi GG,

I was wondering, what school do you go to? I would love for us to fangout. Maybe do a creepover?

-FangsALot

A: Dear FangsALot.

I've received a few requests for my personal details and I would like to ask all of you to stop! I am not telling any of my secrets, don't need anyone trying to figure out who I really am. Don't expect me to tell you who I am or wait for anyone to figure it out, you'd be wasting your time. Besides, isn't it more fun when you don't know?

-GG

Love you all to death,            

Gossip Ghoul

Chapter Text

Howleen watched Clawd through her tiny window as he walked out of their house holding the basket filled with all the stuff Clawdeen wanted to give back to Romulus. He reached Romulus' car, which had been parked outside, and handed the basket inside before spending the next ten minutes with his head in the car, no doubt talking about Clawdeen.

How is he feeling? She asked herself. He must be confused and hurt, which made her curiosity drift to another target. What was *Clawdeen* thinking? She couldn’t understand her sister. It was Romulus; the cutest manster at Monster High. She had the biggest crush on him since she was a pup and would do anything to get him to notice her, and as usual, Clawdeen had to take it all for granted.

The odds were stacked against her: Romulus was in grade 13, alongside Clawd, with an early birthday while she was in grade 10 with a late birthday. They were almost four years apart and their height difference made it glaringly obvious. She looked like a kid beside him, which further ruined her chances of him ever seeing her as an actual option.  

Howleen passively watched as Clawd and Romulus spoke for another ten minutes. She continued to wonder what they were talking about and how he was feeling. She wanted to know every detail of what happened, why it happened, and what everything now meant.

Clawd eventually pulled his head out of Romulus' car window and tapped the frame. He waved before walking back to the house and Romulus drove away. She turned back to her homework when she looked out the window again. From the angle of her window, she could see his car was parked again, but farther from the house where he was not completely visible.

Should she ask Clawd? No, he will either be passive with his answer or tell her nothing because it’s not her business. If she wanted to know what he was thinking, she had to ask him herself.

She rushed over to her closet and changed out of her pyjamas. She coordinated an outfit that was casual, but not too casual, and made her out to be a cool ghoul without being tryhard. She flung her clothes throughout the room as she quickly got ready.

Despite its small size, she was grateful to finally have a room for herself. It was her first step in finally being seen as an adult by her family. She was starting scaremore year, she was no longer a baby. She rid herself of anything that would associate her with childishness except for her stuffed wolf named Sir Chews a Lot.

She wanted to talk to him, but she knew that her mother would never let her out of the house alone at this hour. I need to sneak out. She opened her window and gazed down below to make sure that the coast was clear. Her short stature and high voice made her family members baby her, which always drove her crazy but there were moments when she was grateful for it all; it made it easier for her to sneak out her window. She landed beside her house and quietly snuck down the street.

She could faintly see Romulus in the car. He sat in front of the wheel with Clawdeen’s basket in his lap while he picked through the items slowly.

Should I talk to him? What do I say? She took a deep breath and knocked on his window.

“Romulus?” Howleen called. Several seconds passed when his car window rolled down.

“Howleen?” Romulus said, staring at her.

“Can I come in?”

“Uh, sure,” he unlocked the car door. “Come on in.” Howleen climbed into his passenger seat and closed the door beside her. “What’s wrong?”

“I uh…” she nervously scratched her thigh. “I heard what happened between you and Clawdeen.”

“Oh…”

“I’m sorry

“I just…” Romulus rubbed his temples “Truthfully, I just need to get my mind off it.”

“It’s a good thing that I’m here then!”

“Anything you’d like. I can’t think of anything.”

“Okay…” her brain racked through all the topics she knew that could interest him as well. “Did you watch the new Martin Scarsese movie?” The duo talked about random topics for thirty minutes. She found herself enamoured with his words. He was so mature, so knowledgeable, and always seemed to teach her something she didn’t know before.

The duo were deep in conversation when her phone dinged the special Gossip Ghoul notification sound she had set up for her iCoffin whenever she posted. She quickly pulled out her phone and checked her messages.

GOSSIPGHOUL: Anyone else fear the number 4? gossipghoul.net/updates/new

Howleen squealed as she pressed the link.

Romulus raised his eyebrow. “Who’s that?”

“Gossip Ghoul posted!” Howleen said excitedly.

“You really read that crap?” Romulus chuckled. Howleen’s cheeks burned. Clawdeen reads it too! She wanted to protest.

“Uh, only sometimes, it’s kind of lame,” she tried to mask her embarrassment.

“Ghouls love drama,” he continued to chuckle. Her cheeks burned as she lowered her phone. “No, don’t let me stop you. Get your fix.”

She obliged. Even if he judged her, she couldn’t resist Gossip Ghoul. She passively scrolled through the update when she suddenly landed on a blurry picture of Clawdeen kissing Toralei followed by Toralei kissing a pink-haired gargoyle. Her eyes widened as she read the blast.

“Uh…”

“Howleen?” Romulus asked, becoming concerned. “What’s wrong?'

“Uh… nothing, nothing.” She tried to put her phone away when he stopped her hand.

“Show me,” he demanded.

“I, uh…” Howleen gripped her phone in hesitation. “I don’t think you’d like it.” He took her phone out of her claws without another word. “Romulus!”

He read the blast when his expression dropped. “What is this? What even is all of this supposed to mean?”

“MH is Monster High,” she began. “Toralei is T in Tortitude, Clawdeen is the wolf she hates and Lycan Lesbian, Almost Alpha is… well, you and one only can only assume that the gargoyle from France is Rochelle Goyle.”

“Toralei…” he muttered.

“I had no idea,” she said to quickly defend herself.

“I knew there was someone else!” He hit his hand on his wheel, causing a small dent. Howleen watched him as he took a deep breath then straightened his spine. He handed her phone back. “Thank you.”

“We can talk about it if you’d like?”

“No… it’s fine… You’re her sister,” he sighed.

“It doesn’t matter that she’s my sister, what she did was wrong. She shouldn’t have led you on, especially if she knew she couldn’t give you her all. You’re smart, funny, athletic, charismatic kind, tall, amazing fur, and have this great smile. You’re the dream manster. Any ghoul would be lucky to have you.”

“I didn’t know you felt that way,” he said. Did I say too much? “I appreciate that Howleen.” Something shifted in the way he looked at her. She couldn’t tell what it was, but it was there.

“It’s the truth,” she added.

“You’re pretty great yourself.”

“No, I’m not,” she replied insecurely.

“It’s the truth,” he smiled. She blushed.

“Thank you.”

“It’s getting late, we should be getting ready for bed, we have school tomorrow.”

“If you ever need someone to talk to, you have my number.”

“I’m not sure I do,” he admitted.

“Oh don’t worry, I already have your number!” she blurted before realizing her mistake. Why would you say that? You sound like a stalker! “Uhh, Clawd gave me yours in case I couldn’t reach him."

“Is that so?"

“Here, let me text you so you have mine.” She pulled out her phone, desperate to change the topic.

HOWLEEN: Hi!

“There,” she said.

Romulus’ phone buzzed and he instantly picked up his phone. “Hi with an exclamation mark,” he read out her text. “Didn’t realize you were so excited to text me.”

Howleen’s cheeks burned. “I just do that sometimes-”

“No, no, don’t worry, it’s cute,” he chuckled. She hated hearing that word, but from his lips, they didn’t sound as jarring. “Seriously though, you should get back home. Need me to walk you back?”

“No, it’s okay. I snuck out my window,” Howleen said, slowly opening the car door. In a moment that she couldn’t have predicted herself, she sat up in her seat then kissed him on the cheek.

“Oh,” Romulus said, touching his cheek. “What was that for?”

“To make you feel better,” Howleen blushed. She hopped out of his car and proceeded to close his door when he spoke again.

“Hey Howleen, would you like to hang out sometime?”

“Ugh, yes. I would like that.” She grinned.

“Great, I’ll text you then.”

Howleen walked back to her house and then discreetly climbed back into her window without alerting any members of her family. She flopped on her bed and held onto Sir Chews A Lot.

“You should’ve seen it…” she whispered to her stuffed wolf. “What did it mean?”

She replayed the conversation over and over in her head when her phone beeped from a text notification. She rolled to her side and opened her phone.

ROMULUS: Can’t wait to see you again

“Clawdeen is secretly dating Toralei?” Cleo said as Ghoulia held up her phone to read the recent Gossip Ghoul update.

“Uhhhh!” Ghoulia exclaimed.

“I can’t believe you were right,” Deuce said.

“Clawdeen is many things, but into mansters she is not,” Cleo explained. She had correctly predicted Clawdeen's sexuality a year before and had emphasized her beliefs to Ghoulia and Deuce when Romulus had first asked her out. They thought she was crazy but she stood her ground and now she got to pride herself on being right, again. “Her picking Toralei is a surprise though.” Cleo took her phone from Ghoulia and messaged the group chat with all her ghouls.

CLEO: Toralei? Really?

DEENIE: I can explain

LAGOONA: When did it start?

“Uhhh,” Ghoulia said, holding up a bottle of water.

Cleo sighed passing her phone for the water bottle. “You’re right.” She had to stay focused. She turned her attention back to the photoshoot happening in her house.

Tonight could potentially be the most important night of her life. She was being photographed by Fang Gogh for Thirteen Magazine for her profile on how she took her by-the-bones fear squad into Monster Mashionals champions.  He was the best vampire photographer in all of America with many connections who took a personal interest in fearleading last year.

There was no other day for him to be available and while Cleo enjoyed being a diva, she knew better than to pass up an opportunity like this. If Cleo could get a good shot in Thirteen magazine, fashion designers and model agents looking to make her their next client would fill up her E-gore.

She couldn’t count on her sister’s dying connections to help her in the future so she had to start making her own. She had the looks and charm of Nefera and none of the attitude… well, maybe half.

Hair and makeup did their finishing touches on Cleo when Deuce looked down at his phone and sighed.

“I have to get back home. My mom needs me to help her get ready for my aunt coming,” he said.

“Really? Now?” Cleo complained.

He wrapped his fingers around hers. “You’re going to be great.

“I already know that.”

“You’re going to steal the show.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll text you.”

While he didn’t really understand these things, his presence always seemed to calm her. Usually, she would try to find a way to guilt trip him into staying but she knew that if he got grounded by his mother, she wouldn’t get to see or talk to him outside of school. It didn’t matter, he knew he would have to make up for it later.

Deuce left when the finishing touches for the shoot were made.

“Is our Cleo ready?!”

Cleo took one last glance at herself in the mirror. She looked like an Egyptian fearleading goddess.

“Yes, I am,” she answered firmly.

Several workers guided Cleo to the set that mimicked the fearleading nationals. She picked up the pair of pom-poms and positioned herself at the centre of the set. She did her fiercest poses as cameras flashed in her eyes. She adored the attention, and this was only her first step. Ghoulia gave her an encouraging smile when the photographer loudly made an exasperated sigh.

“Cleo, you're a natural... This lighting is no good!” the photographer exclaimed. “Fix it, please? Before I collapse.” He rubbed his temple then turned back to the mummy. “Sorry Cleo, the problem isn’t you.”

The crew rushed to brighten the lights then dispersed to allow the shoot to continue. Everything went fine for five minutes when Fang Gogh set his camera down and began to yell.

“This isn’t enough. I need something more… I need something to bring me back to life!” he yelled to the crew.

“Uhhhh,” Ghoulia said, offering another bottle to Cleo. Ghoulia always knew what she wanted. Cleo reached for the bottle when the photographer turned back and his eyes widened.

“Wait!” Fang Gogh shrieked. Everyone in the house froze and stared at him, waiting for his next word. “You! Zombie girl!” The entire room turned to Ghoulia  “Hold that pose!” He moved closer to Ghoulia, holding his fingers up to make a makeshift camera lens.

“Uh?” Ghoulia moaned, extremely confused.

“What’s your name?”

The zombie nervously glanced around. “Uhhh."

“Ghoulia?” he gaped. “Sounds exotic.”

“Uhhh?”

“Exquisite!” he exclaimed. “Ghoulia… Have you done fearleading before?”

“She hasn’t,” Cleo immediately found her way into the conversation. “It’s hard for zombies to be fearleaders due to the complex moves.”

“Is that true Ghoulia?”

“Uhhhhh,” Ghoulia agreed with her.

“So, in a way, she’s your second in command?”

“Yes, but-”

“Uhhhhhhh,” Ghoulia continued her response.

What is this ghoul doing? Cleo glanced over at Ghoulia, trying her hardest to not lose her cool.

“Ghoulia has never done modelling before,” Cleo quickly interjected. What was he doing? It was extremely unprofessional.

“There’s a first time for everything,” Fang Gogh exclaimed before pulling up his camera. “I can already see it right now… ‘Dedication! Even in death’.”

The workers around him dropped their things and began to nod and applaud while exclaiming various praises. “That’s a great idea sir” “Iconic!” “Creeperific” “You’ve done it again”.

“Ghoulia, while this photoshoot isn’t for you, would you please be part of a few shots? Just so I can get a feel for your energy,” the photographer said, expressing himself greatly with his hands.

Ghoulia looked awkwardly at Cleo and then back at the photographer. “Uhh?”

“Get this ghoul to hair and makeup!” Fang Gogh demanded. Within seconds, all the attention that was meant to be on Cleo had been shifted to Ghoulia.

This shoot was supposed to be about me! Cleo wanted to protest, but her better (or worse) sense told her to shut up. She swallowed then grinned.

“Cleo if you don’t mind, we will continue with your shots then end off with you and Ghoulia,” the photographer explained.

Play nice Cleo, you don’t want to be Nefera 2.0. “That sounds like an hexcellent idea,” she swallowed her pride.

The makeup and costume department dragged Ghoulia away. Cleo did her solo shots for thirty minutes when commotion started again. Ghoulia came out wearing a fangtastic fearleading coach uniform that perfectly matched Cleo’s fearleading uniform. Under regular circumstances, Cleo would be ecstatic, but she said nothing.

Ghoulia blinked at her. “Uhh?”

Cleo looked up and turned her head toward Fang Gogh. “Be sure to stay on my good side.”

“How long before my phone will be ready again?” Frankie impatiently asked as her father hunched over the back of her iCoffin with a pair of tweezers and a giant magnifying glass.

“Please Frankie, these things take time,” her father lectured.

“It’s a phone, not an entire ghoul.

“Can’t we just take it into the shop to get fixed?

Mr Stein stopped and turned to her.  “Now why would I do that?”

She went through Jackson’s then Holt’s Monstagrams on her laptop trying to find signs of Purrsephone. Purrsephone has me blocked. Frankie remembered as she facepalmed. She would not be able to see any comments or likes from her. Even without Purrsephone’s account not appearing, both their profiles seemed clear of any sign that they were involved with any ghouls.

“Frankie!” Her mother called. “Your friend is on the phone!”

Frankie reached for her landline phone sitting on her desk. “Hello?”

“Hi Frankie,” Lagoona’s voice came from the other end. “Cranky, I almost forgot how landlines worked,” she joked. “I remembered that your phone is broken.”

“Yeah, my dad is still fixing it,” Frankie sighed.

“How you holding up?

“Truthfully,” she sighed again. “I feel so stupid…

“About what?”

“Jackson and Holt.”

“Why do you feel stupid? You ended things with them.”

“I didn’t end thing, I just put us on pause.”

“I’m going to be honest with you Frankie, that’s basically the same thing, especially given the amount of time that had passed.”

Frankie facepalmed. “UGH! Why didn’t Jackson say anything to me… he tells me everything!”

“He might’ve assumed that you saw everything on Gossip Ghoul?” Lagoona suggested. The irony couldn’t have been greater. Despite Draculaura’s pleading, Frankie had abstained from Gossip Ghoul, remembering all the havoc that had been caused by Spectra’s much tamer Ghostly Gossip. She assumed that by now Gossip Ghoul would either get exposed and shut down or everyone would get bored of the nasty gossip she posted. She should’ve known better; monsters really do love drama.

“He assumed wrong,” Frankie pouted. “You read Gossip Ghoul too?”

“She pulled me into the deep end.” The sea monster chuckled. “But now you know and it’s not like you were completely clueless. You knew that he was sometimes seeing other girls.”

“Yeah, but they were never serious nor lasted more than a week,” Frankie defended herself. “Also, it’s Purrsephone! He picked the one ghoul he knew hated me to… to, I don’t know, get back at me!”

“Do you really think Holt is that spiteful?”

‘No,” Frankie admitted. Holt was certainly more likely to start things with monsters who’ve wronged him, but he wasn’t sneaky. If Holt had a problem with you, he would let you know about it at that moment. He couldn’t stand being around monsters who pissed him off so if he was hanging around Purrsephone, there was a good chance that he actually did somewhat like her. “What’s happening in the group chat?”

“Well Gossip Ghoul just exposed Clawdeen for secretly dating Toralei while going out with Romulus… that’s actually why I called you.”

“Wait what?” She must’ve heard that wrong.

“You heard that right. Check Gossip Ghoul.”

Frankie opened up a new browser and typed in gossipghoul.net. She searched the landing page to find the updates and read the recent post.

“Hold on, I’m gonna add Abbey to the call,” Lagoona said. After several beeps, Abbey's voice came on through the line.

“Hello friends,” Abbey said in her thick Russian accent.

“Hello Abbey,” Frankie greeted as she read the last lines of the update. “Woah…”

“Crazy, right?” Lagoona said. “We’re all shocked. Apparently, Draculaura knew.”

“Why is everyone getting with the werecat trio? I thought we all established how those ghouls suck,” Frankie complained.

“Meowlody still single,” Abbey said.

“Are you going to date her now too?” Lagoona asked.

“Maybe,” Abbey quipped. The three laughed

“Wait…” Frankie scrolled through the Gossip Ghoul blog and searched Holt’s name. When her results loaded, only three popped up, all dedicated to promoting his old events. “Ugh, nothing?”

“What is it?” Lagoona asked concerned.

“I tried to search up Holt’s name on Gossip Ghoul but found nothing,” Frankie complained. She typed Jackson’s name and was met with zero results. Why must everything be so hard?

“That’s because sometimes Gossip Ghoul doesn’t use actual names, she mostly comes up with nicknames for all the monsters,” Lagoona explained. “Holt is DJ I think.”

Frankie searched up the word “DJ” when suddenly dozens of posts of him appeared, varying in different degrees of gossip, several consisting of other ghouls but most pertaining to incidents at events or parties where he got caught in a fight with some manster and details about his gigs.

“I found it! Thanks ghoul,” Frankie said, scrolling through the blasts.

“No problem… Cleo is Drama Queen, Deuce is Stone-Cold Hotty, Purrsephone and Meowlody are Kitty Dee and Kitty Dum,”-she paused for a second –“some of these names are a bit mean.”

“Names mean but sometime make me laugh,” Abbey added.

Frankie looked over the bolded names again. “Okay I think I figured out who’s who but how are we supposed to know for sure it’s a certain ghoul?”

“Subtext, really,” Lagoona clarified.

“Is Predatory Fangs supposed to be Valentine?” Frankie asked.

“Think so. The gull of some mansters,” Lagoona spat.

“What’s Jackson’s?”

“Lonely Normie.”

Frankie searched the name but nothing noteworthy came up. It was obvious that Gossip Ghoul had a preference for the more extravagant Holt.

“Abbey, has Heath mentioned anything about Jackson?” Frankie said.

“He said that Jackson been big baby. No talking about anything to Heath. Thinks Heath will just tell me and I tell Frankie,” Abbey elaborated.

“Looks like he was right about that,” Lagoona said.

“Why does Gossip Ghoul come up with these nicknames?” Frankie continued her questioning.

“Gives her plausible deniability if any monster tries to come at her. It’s also more fun trying to decipher who she’s talking about.”

“What’s your nickname?”

“Believe it or not, Gossip Ghoul has never really mentioned me,” she chuckled. “I guess Gil and I are too boring for her. Abbey, is there anything you would like to add?”

“I like to listen,” Abbey said flatly.

Lagoona softly chuckled. “Abbey and Heath are sometimes passively called Hot and Cold.”

“What about me?” Frankie said, feeling nervous. She didn't get involved in drama nor did she start problems with ghouls, she couldn't see a reason why she was posted but even then her curiosity was still there.

There was a silence on the other end of the line. “I think it might be Failed Spark…” Lagoona finally answered.

Frankie searched up her alias and saw it mentioned twice, only in reference to Holt.

Spotted!

Our favourite DJ was out getting HackDonalds with a new vampire from Boolin. I wonder how Failed Spark feels about it.

A: Failed Spark is the ghoul DJ and Lonely Normie used to see before they realized that they were the same manster. She put their relationship on “pause” and their relationship has been in purgatory ever since. I believe in "right person, wrong time", but it’s time for them to give it to Ra. --GG

Frankie read the blast out loud in shock.

“Don’t mind Gossip Ghoul. She’s a more bitter ghoul than Toralei or Nefera,” Lagoona quickly said.

"Exactly. Can't take these things to heart," Abbey said,

Frankie returned to her search of Holt's mentions and scrolled through them all. She reached the latter half of the summer. Every other post was about him and Purrsephone hanging out, but she seemed like more like a groupie than an actual ghoulfriend.

“The signs were all there… and I missed it because I wasn’t on Gossip Ghoul throughout the summer,” Frankie complained.

“Would you have done something if you had known?” Lagoona asked.

“Probably! Maybe… I don’t know…”

“Frankie, is this because you expected them to be at your beck and call? And now that Holt is with Purrsephone, your relationship with him and Jackson is ending on terms you didn’t want it to end on?”

She sighed. “Ugh, what am I going to do ghouls?”

“You need to decide,” Abbey said bluntly. “Tell Jackson and Holt how you feel or leave them be.”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit—"

“Abbey’s right,” Lagoona interjected. “You need to decide, and if Jackson and Holt are what you want, you need to tell them before it’s too late.”

Chapter Text

“Have you talked to Romulus since the Gossip Ghoul blast?” Draculaura asked as the two pulled up to the baseskull game. It had been a week since Gossip Ghoul had posted that humiliating blast about Clawdeen, Toralei, Romulus and some ghoul who she could only assume was Rochelle Goyle. The rest of her week at Monster High was torturous as any monster who shared her gaze made sure to either snicker, whisper or glare.

“Nope,” Clawdeen said. “But everyone made sure to let me know that they think I’m a cheater. This is totally unfair. Romulus and I never even actually dated! We just went out on a few dates!”

“What about Toralei?”

“Screw her! When we had called before the blast, she was getting all mushy talking about how she didn’t want to tell me about Romulus and Meowlody because she didn’t want to force my hand or whateva when in actuality she wanted to keep kissing Rochelle in secret!” Clawdeen ranted. “She’s been texting me all night and tried to talk to me on the bus, but I ignored her. By the way, the bus ride this morning was terrible. Everyone kept lurking at me. Thank Ra Ghoulia was there to distract me.”

“Thank Ra? You sound like Cleo,” Draculaura laughed.

“I know,” Clawdeen sighed. “Enough about me, how did you feel reading the blast about Valentine?” While Gossip Ghoul didn’t flat out say his name, it didn’t take much to realize that Predatory Fangs was him.

“Valentine being back in town is a surprise but thankfully he’s going to Vampire Academy and not here. I don’t want to and will ever see his face ever again!”

“Me neither ghoul.”

They walked side by side when a familiar chirp came from her iCoffin. The little vampire signalled to Clawdeen that it was likely another Gossip Ghoul blast. She wanted to open her phone too, but she was still annoyed at the last thing she read.

“Oh no…” Draculaura muttered.

“What?” Clawdeen asked, already feeling a bit panicked. Did Gossip Ghoul post a new embarrassing blast about her? She couldn’t handle any more humiliation. Draculaura showed her friend the gossip post when she shared the same reaction.

gossipghoul.net

Spotted!

It seems some monsters don’t feel the need to hyde their hearts anymore. Who’s that locking lips in front of MH yesterday? No other than our favourite DJ and his new ghoul, Kitty Dee. Our ghoul has graduated from summer fling to actual ghoulfriend since the back-to-skull blowout, looks like she doesn’t need to worry about looking like Kitty Dum anymore. Has our DJ with two forms finally found his one ghoul? And where does that leave Failed Spark? Guess things are officially dead, but were they on her terms? Don’t worry ghoul, I can lend you a playlist.

The image featured Holt and Purrsephone sharing a rather romantic kiss outside the school with Toralei and Meowlody looking rather bored beside them.

“This isn’t good,” Clawdeen muttered.

The two left Draculaura’s car, ignoring the atrocious parking she did and walked to the baseskull bleachers. They walked up the bleachers lurking for their friends while Clawdeen ignored all the glares and whispers as she passed by.

Romulus was on the baseskull team alongside Gil and Clawd (she seriously wondered how her brother was able to be on every sports team). She couldn’t remember what position he played, nor did she share any interest in the sport anyway. She had to fake her happiness when he lent her his jersey. She didn’t want to come but all her ghouls were going to be there and Clawd was playing.

“Hey ghouls!” Draculaura chirped when they approached their friend group. Without needing a segway, all the ghouls immediately went into Gossip Ghoul’s new blast.

“What do we do?” Lagoona asked.

“We have to tell her!” Clawdeen said.

“No, cause she will have a breakdown just like she did when she thought Jackson had a crush on Rochelle,” Cleo said. Clawdeen rolled her eyes hearing Rochelle’s name.

“Uhhhhhh,” Ghoulia groaned.

“Exactly, it’s better for us to rip the bandaid off now, so she can find a new boytoy,” Abbey said.

“Hey ghouls,” Frankie greeted. All the ghouls froze and turned to their friend. “What’s up?”

“We’re talking about Gossip Ghoul’s… recent blast,” Cleo said.
“About Clawdeen?” Frankie sat down beside Draculaura.

“Uhhh… yeah! Clawdeen was complaining about it.” Draculaura nudged her.

“Uh, yeah. It’s sooo embarrassing, People keep staring,” Clawdeen pretended to complain.

“It’s weird, people were staring at me as well

“Oh really?” Cleo said.

“Yeah, do you think it has to do with us being friends?” Frankie asked.

“Who knows!” Lagoona nervously laughed.

Clawdeen and Draculaura shared a look; Frankie’s phone was still broken.

“I’m going to get some popcorn. Be right back!” Frankie sang walking off when all the ghouls huddled together.

“Frankie doesn’t know?!?!” Draculaura exclaimed.

“Clearly,” Cleo muttered.

“Cranky… I forgot that her phone is still broken,” Lagoona said.

“What do we do?” Draculaura asked.

“We tell her,” Abbey said.

“We can’t do that,” Draculaura protested.

“She seemed torn up about them potentially dating last night,” Lagoona said.

“I thought her phone broken?” Abbey asked.

“Landline.”

Cleo cleared her throat. “We should tell her.”

“No, we can’t do that. She’s going to freak out,” Draculaura said.

“Weren’t you the one telling me to rip off the band-aid with Romulus?” Clawdeen asked.

“Uhhhh!” Ghoulia loudly whispered. The ghouls turned to see Frankie approaching again with a bag of popcorn.

“Frankie, welcome back,” Cleo said.

“Good to be back…” Frankie said, finally noticing the shift in energy. The girls greeted her back but the discomfort was still in the air.

“So, when are you getting your iCoffin fixed?” Draculaura nervously asked.

“It’s taking forever… I knew I should’ve taken my phone to the shop, but my dad swore he could do it himself… he said he should have it done by tomorrow.”

“Well, that’s good,” Draculaura squeaked.

“Ugh everyone is still staring at me.” Frankie looked uncomfortably around

“Frankie, we think you should look at this,” Abbey said boldly. She passed over her iCoffin before any of the ghouls could try to protest. “Purrsephone and Holt are official.”

“Wha… I…” Frankie began to stutter as a spark raced across her bolts.

“Sorry ghoul,” Lagoona said apologetically.

“I don’t see problem. Frankie did not want Holt nor Jackson so now they move on,” Abbey said.

“They should’ve respected Frankie and not dated again before her,” Cleo argued.

“That’s stupid,” Clawdeen said.

“Uhhhhhhh,” Ghoulia pointed out.

“See? Ghoulia gets it.” Cleo said.

“Speaking of which, how was the photo shoot at your house, Cleo?” Clawdeen asked. An annoyed look immediately flicked onto Cleo’s face.

“Uhhhh. Uhhhhhhhhhhhh. Uhhhhh. Uhhhh,” Ghoulia recounted the entire story. The ghouls gasped in excitement.

“Oh my ghoul, that’s so exciting,” Draculaura squealed.

“Very,” Cleo said, shortly. “Let’s go back to Frankie… I think it’s time we set her up on a date.”

Frankie shook her head. “Thanks ghouls, but I don’t think that would work

“Don’t be ridiculous. Last time we tried to find someone a date, Abbey got with Heath, and they have been strong ever since.”

“It’s true. Heath and I are like boulder; very hard to break apart,” Abbey proudly said.

“Maybe this is for the best Frankie, you haven’t been together for over a year,” Draculaura said gently.

“I don’t know…” Frankie sighed gazing over the baseskull pentagon. “I just need to not think about him or Purrsephone for the rest of the day.”

“Looks like that will be hard,” Cleo announced.

As if their luck couldn’t keep running out, the happy couple arrived.

Purrsephone tugged on Holt’s sleeve as she and Meowlody gossiped to each other while they entered the baseskull field and went up the bleachers.

“Who do you think ratted Toralei out?” Purrsephone asked Meowlody as she suspiciously looked toward the crowd.

“Who knows but if we find out, that ghoul is so dead,” Meowlody growled.

“Why do you think Gossip Ghoul waited to post?” Purrsephone kept her grip on Holt tight.

“I don’t know but Gossip Ghoul is such an ass,” Meowlody complained. “Still calling me Kitty Dum? Really? Just because I kissed Invisibilly one time!”

“Oh, you did more than kiss,” Purrsephone joked.

“Shut up before anyone hears you,” Meowlody scolded.

He listened to his headphones which played Sexyy Dead as the twins guided them to their spot on the bleachers. The game began as the crowd cheered for Monster High’s team running into the baseskull pentagon.

Clawd went up to the bat as the gargoyle from the opposing team held up a miniature skull. The werewolf positioned himself when the gargoyle launched the skull toward Clawd. The werewolf swung his bat causing the skull to be launched into the air. Clawd dropped his bat and then ran across the pentagon as the other team scrambled to try to catch the skull.

“Do you know the rules of baseskull?” Meowlody asked.

“Nope,” Purrsephone answered.

“I don’t get it. None of us like baseskull, why are we here?” Holt complained. None of the mansters on the field were his friends, nor theirs.

“We’re here to make a statement,” Purrsephone explained as she squeezed his arm.

“About what?”

“That we’re really a couple,” she said as she ran her claws through his hair. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. Of course, this is because of Gossip Ghoul’s last update. “Also, Meowlody really wanted to come for some reason.”

Holt sighed as he looked onto the field. Purrsephone and Meowlody continued their gossip session, talking bad and good about the monsters they could see from their spots when Holt became aware that other ghouls were glancing over to him and whispering as well. He didn’t mind monsters talking about him but this time felt eerily weird.

He looked around for refuge when he saw Operetta standing beside the popcorn machine.

“I’m going to say hi to Operetta,” Holt said, standing up.

“Okay, bring us back popcorn,” Purrsephone instructed. Holt ignored the gossiping around him and felt relief when he got to his friend.

“Surprised to see you here,” Operetta greeted.

“It was last minute. Already feel like I’m in hell,” he complained. “What are you doing?”

“Well Holt, some of us have to pick up jobs that aren’t just going to parties and playing mixes,” Operetta flaunted her Monster High apron. “My dad forgot to pay the water bill again, so I had to pick up an extra job just to make sure all ends meet."

“Shit, Operetta. You know I can give you money if you ever need it." He immediately felt bad for her. It wasn't out of the ordinary for her father to become so wrapped up in his obsession that he forgot about attending to Operetta's needs, but he usually left money in her bank account in case moments like that ever happened. His DJing gigs gave him a lot of extra cash that he enjoyed spending on himself (and Purrsephone) that he wouldn't mind also giving to Operetta.

“No, it’s fine. I prefer to earn things myself. Don’t worry. My shift is almost over.”

“You can come sit with me,  Purrsephone, and Meowlody if you want.”

“Don’t worry again, I’m here for Johnny… if he decides to show up. If not, I’ll head home.” Operetta looked around and then filled up a bag of popcorn for herself. “I don’t have many customers right now so out with it, tell me all your drama.”

“I have none.”

“Sure you don’t…” she ate a kernel. “How does it feel to have your relationship officiated by Gossip Ghoul?"

Holt rolled his eyes. “Why is that ghoul so obsessed with my love life?”

“You’re an exciting monster,” she shrugged. “Even I’m intrigued.”

“I pretty much have to do paparazzi walks with Purrsephone for the next few weeks to rub into GG’s face that she was wrong.”

“She posted you again today. It was a pic of you and Purrsephone kissing outside of Monster High

“Of course.”

Operetta laughed. “Don’t worry, it’ll blow over soon.” She filled up two bags of popcorn for him and then handed them over. “Here you go.”

“Thank you. Seriously, Operetta. If you ever need cash, don’t be afraid to ask.”

Operetta glanced behind them. “Like I said, you don’t need to worry about me, you need to worry about yourself.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember how you said you wanted to see Frankie’s reaction to the whole Purrsephone thing?”

“Yeah.”

“Looks like you got your wish… again.”

Before he could question what she meant, he got his answer.

“Hi, Holt.” He turned around to see Frankie standing awkwardly ahead of him.

“Hey, Frankie.” For a few days, he had actually forgotten about Frankie. He had been so consumed with hanging out with Purrsephone and all that came with it. “What’s up?”

“Can we talk… again?”

“Uh, sure. Why not?” They stepped aside. He really did not want to talk to her right now, and be questioned about his relationship again, especially when he knew she had no plans of being with him either. “Listen, Frankie, I already told you, Purrsephone is a cool gh-”

“I just wanted to tell you that I still like you,” she began.

“Wha-”

“And I know that you’re with Purrsephone, but I can’t stop thinking about you,” she continued. “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner, and leaving you hanging for over a year. The last couple of weeks gave me the clarity I needed and now I know what I want.” She stepped closer. “I’m willing to start again if you are. I don’t care about what everyone says or what’s posted on Gossip Ghoul. I just want to be with you. Things can be different this time… I… I promise.”

“I…” He blinked. How was he supposed to respond to that? What did she want? Another shot with Frankie? Months, hell even weeks ago, that would’ve been something he would jump on. He didn’t care about all the adoration and attention he got from other girls. He didn’t care about Gossip Ghoul… but he cared about Purrsephone. I need to get out of here, he urgently thought to himself when he saw his cousin from afar. “I’m going to go.”

He quickly walked past Frankie and approached Heath.

“Hey Heath,” Holt greeted.

“H-Holt,” Heath replied, wide-eyed. “Hi!” It had only been a year since Holt and Heath found out that they were cousins, and the novelty of the revelation was still somewhat wearing off.

What was annoying about Heath was that he could never talk to Holt like he was a normal manster, he always acted like a fan around him. Despite him barely knowing Heath outside of his annoying nature, Holt had grown a soft spot for Heath since he could recall few memories of them hanging out and his annoying self actually did provide a source of comfort and entertainment for him, even if he didn’t want to fully admit it. Most of the memories happened during the day, back when Jackson and his transformation were triggered by the day and night, so he knew none of it could have been possible; Guess some of Jackson’s memories and sentiments were leaking into his.

“What are you doing here?” Heath asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

“Watching the game. I’m sitting with Purrsephone and Meowlody up there if you’d like to join,” Holt offered. He could see in Heath’s eyes that he desperately wanted to accept but had to decline.

“Sorry c-cuz,” he said rather awkwardly, struggling to appropriately call the manster he knew was his cousin the same label he had given Jackson. “I’m sitting with Deuce and a few other mansters if you want to join.”

“Probably not Purrsephone and Meowlody need their popcorn.” Holt held up his popcorn.

“I gotta ask…” Heath leaned in. “I get that they’re scorchin’, but why date her? Those ghouls are rotten.” There was Heath’s inappropriate edge whenever he got comfortable… maybe even too comfortable.

“They’re not bad,” Holt brushed off, holding off his annoyance. “Besides, I got with Purrsephone-”

“To get back at Frankie?”

“No not to get back at Frankie,” he scoffed. “I got with Purrsephone because I like her… My world doesn’t revolve around Frankie.”

“Sorry, my bad, my bad,” Heath profusely apologized.

“But speaking of… don’t tell anyone this but…” He looked around to make sure no one was listening in. He wasn't close to Heath, but he needed to get this off his chest. “She just told me that she still has feelings and that she wants to get back together.”

“Seriously?” Heath’s eyes widened. “What are you going to do?”

“I…” Holt’s mind continued to spin. “I…”

“If you want to be with Frankie then you should do that,” Heath pressured excitedly. Was he really into gossip?

“Heath!” a monster called out from the bleachers.

“Oh I gotta head back… if that’s okay with you?!” Heath asked cautiously.

“It’s cool... I gotta make my delivery.” Holt started to walk away then paused. “Wait, Heath.”

“Yeah?” the manster looked back.

“Don’t tell anyone what I told you.”

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me,” Heath grinned.

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later,” Holt nodded off before taking his popcorn back to his seat. “Here you go.” He handed the twins the popcorn he got for them.

“What took you so long?” Purrsephone asked.

“I told you, I was talking to Operetta then Hea—"

“Wrong, we saw sit down five minutes ago,” Meowlody interrupted.

“Really Meowlody?” Holt asked, increasingly getting annoyed.

“What? I’m just keeping you honest,” she said, popping one of the kernels into her mouth.

“Where were you Holt?” Purrsephone continued the interrogation.

“I only said hi to Frankie then I went over to talk to Heath,” Holt explained. Purrsephone gave him a [discerning] look. “Do I need to bring Heath over to confirm this?”

“Ugh, don’t. He’s so annoying,” Meowlody said, turning her attention back to the field while Purrsephone glared at Frankie then back at him.

“I don’t like you talking to her,” she said.

“I told you, nothing happened. We just talked,” Holt reassured.

“You already talked enough.” Purrsephone pulled out her phone. “Meowlody, can you take a picture of us together?”

Meowlody accepted as Purrsephone pulled Holt close to her and posed. Holt followed suit, ready to move on from his interrogation. When the two were done, Meowlody handed back the phone.

“You too are too cute,” she pouted. “I wish I could find someone.”
“You will soon. You just gotta stop talking to losers,” Purrsephone scolded.

Romulus turned back and looked up at the bleachers. Meowlody sat up and waved at him with her fingers. Is this what we came here for?

“Um… Romulus is not a loser,” Meowlody corrected.

“Any manster who tries to treat you like he did will always be a loser in my eyes,” Purrsephone scolded.

Toralei walked toward the werecat twins with a black hood over her head and thick black sunglasses. Her arms were crossed and she made no expression. I’m not going to question this.

“Hi Toralei,” Meowlody said cautiously. “You’re late…”

“How are you doing?” Purrsephone continued.

“Clawdeen won’t talk to me,” Toralei grumbled.

“Being a bit dramatic, don’t you think?” Holt raised his eyebrow. The Gossip Ghoul blast came out a few days ago, surely everything should’ve settled by now.

“Changing into an entirely different monster the second you stop listening to music is being a bit dramatic, don’t you think?” Toralei snapped as Meowlody chuckled.

“Hey, don’t fight,” Purrsephone pleaded.

“Don’t worry, I’ve accepted it,” Holt admitted.

“It’s not only that, the entire school thinks I’m some sort of cheater. I don’t mind dirty glances, but only when I actually did something!” Toralei complained.

"You should go talk to her," Purrsephone said.

"No," Meowlody protested. "You should make her come to you."

"That's stupid," Purrsephone said.

"No, it's not."

"How many times has that worked out for you?"

"Ghouls!" Toralei turned their attention back to her. "Clawdeen is very cool with ignoring me so I don't think either of your suggestions will work."

"Clawdeen never struck me as that unreasonable," Holt retorted.

Toralei gave him the look she always gave someone before she had something catty to say. “I forgot that you were an expert on Frankie and friends!" she changed her voice when saying the last part of the sentence to add to the mockery.

“Stop, he’s trying to help,” Purrsephone pleaded.

“I’m not exactly ‘in’ with that group right now either,” Holt reminded.

“Whatever,” Toralei rolled her eyes.

The game passed with Holt barely paying attention. He spent most of his time on his iCoffin rearranging his Scarify playlists and occasionally joining in the werecat trio’s conversation to keep his mind off Frankie. Why would Frankie tell him that? Especially when he was official with Purrsephone? It was completely unlike her, which added to the severity. Frankie wasn't joking, or being passive; it was a genuine offer, something he had learned to not expect after a year of playing "will-they, won't they" with her.

Would he have accepted the offer if it had come before? Can he accept it now? He was deep in thought when he got a new notification.

ETTA: How was the talk w Frankie? ;)

He glanced over at the trio to see them too enthralled in their own gossip session to even notice him. He held his phone closer to his chest and replied.

HOLT: Frankie told me that she wants to be with me and is willing to retry if I want

ETTA: What?

ETTA: Really?

ETTA: What did you say

HOLT: I didn’t say anything

HOLT: I just left. Sitting w P rn

ETTA: What u gonna do now?

The entire bleachers suddenly erupted in cheering.

“We won!” Purrsephone squealed, throwing her arms around him. Holt returned her hug while slipping his phone back into his pocket.

“By how many points?” Holt asked.

“Who cares,” Toralei said, standing up. “We can finally get out of here.”

The trio and Holt left the bleachers swiftly. They avoided the celebrations and headed straight toward the parking lot.

“Hey Toralei,” Holt called. “Clawdeen is here. You should go talk to her.” She turned around and glared. “You don’t want to be telling monsters everything you wish you had said when that monster has already moved on.”

Her expression softened as she sighed. “What if she tells me to screw off again?”

“What do you have to lose?” Holt shrugged. “You can do this.”

“You’re right…” she said, nodding her head.  “See how much nicer I can be when you actually contribute something.”

“Noted, I’ll do better,” Holt said, bowing while placing his hand on his chest.

“Meet us at my car afterwards?” Meowlody said. “We’ll wait for you.”

“I’m going in, wish me luck,” Toralei said as she marched away.

"Communication is key!" Holt called after her.

Purrsephone slung her arms around his. “Hey, I’m sorry for being a bit catty today. I just get worried that you never actually wanted to be with me,

“You don’t need to worry about Frankie, or Gossip Ghoul, or anyone. I only have eyes for you. You’re my ghoul,” Holt affirmed. Purrsephone smiled and squeezed onto his arm tightly. They kissed.

“Ugh, don’t make me run you two over,” Meowlody groaned.

“Sorry you’re jealous,” Purrsephone joked back as she pulled Holt toward Meowlody’s car.

“Today was a total nightmare,” Clawdeen sighed her review of the day, still seeing monsters glance over at her and making it obvious that they were gossiping.

“Oh don’t worry, this will pass,” Draculaura tried

“Hello ladies,” Clawd announced as he approached them.

“Let's cut to the chase,” Clawdeen sighed as she closed her locker. “How’s Romulus doing?”

“He’s been a bit distant, barely spoke to me this game. I think I’m going to give him some space… considering everything.”

Clawdeen rolled her eyes when Draculaura spoke. “It’s for the best.

“You knew?” Clawd asked surprised looking down at Draculaura. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I had just found out!”

“When?”

“The night of Cleo’s party."

“Okay, but you still should've told me."

“Clawdeen is my beast friend, also I had already told her to end things with Romulus before GG posted about it."

“It’s true!” Clawdeen chimed in.

“Would you tell me if Romulus was doing something shady but he begged you to keep it secret?” Draculaura asked. Clawd stood still as he struggled to come up with something to say. “There’s our answer.”

“Fine,” he conceded. “But after this point, we tell each other everything.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Can I get a ride with you girls? My ride is usually Romulus…”

“Sure!” Draculaura squealed. “My dad allowed me to drive by myself while he’s gone as long as I promise to never crash the car.”

“Wow, so strict,” Clawdeen chuckled.

“Knowing me, it’s a much more difficult ask.”

“Okay, let’s go!” Clawd exclaimed as they started to walk.  “So Draculaura, have you been up to anything exciting since the last time we spoke?” Since it was Clawd’s last year at Monster High, he had become super deadicated to all his varsity teams so they would look better on his university applications. Baseskull wasn’t going to take long (nor was he a star player) but casketball and roller-skating were where he shined the most. Draculaura was sad not seeing her boofriend constantly like she had gotten used to, but she was grateful for any moment she got.

“Working on it,” she smiled. Clawdeen stared down at her friend suspiciously when a monster walked up to them.

“Clawdeen?” Toralei said meekly as she approached. “Can we talk?”

“I have nothing to say to you,” Clawdeen snapped.

“Listen… please…”

“Clawdeen.” Draculaura signalled for her to crotch so she could whisper in her ear. “Hear her out and afterwards you don’t need to speak to her again.”

Clawdeen sighed. “Fine.”

“We’ll give you two space,” Draculaura said, dragging Clawd to her car. Clawdeen watched her friend go then looked back at Toralei.

“C’mon,” she demanded, holding in her anger. The werewolf and werecat walked to a spot slightly more private, with many passing onlookers whispering and gawking at them. “So why you didn’t tell Gossip Ghoul about us because you had someone else on the side.”

“It wasn’t what it looked like,” Toralei pleaded.

“Seemed pretty obvious to me!” Clawdeen folded her arms. “You have five minutes.”

“What I told you was the truth! I used to date Rochelle last year for about three months. She tried to get back together but by that point I started seeing you. I ignored her for months to focus on

When you were ignoring me, I thought we were over, so I finally gave in. We met up at the park and after catching up, she kissed me. It only lasted a second and afterwards I told her that I didn’t have feelings for her anymore. I have texts to prove it.” She opened her phone and showed a series of convos between her and Rochelle throughout the summer.

“Oh wow…” Clawdeen muttered reading the texts. She scrolled back and forth. All appropriately matching the time stamps

“A picture tells a thousand words but it doesn’t tell the full story,” Toralei said as Clawdeen handed her phone back with a humourous eyebrow raised. “What? I paid attention in journalism class.”

“Sorry, Toralei. I should’ve just talked to you,” Clawdeen apologized. “Gossip Ghoul has been wrong before.”

“Not to sound corny but communication is key.”

"Where'd you get that from?" Clawdeen asked, knowing Toralei too well.

"Holt."

"I would've never pegged him for someone wise."

"Me neither," Toralei laughed. She reached for her hands and squeezed them. “Is it okay if we kiss?”

“Well, now that our business is out, we don’t really need to keep hiding anymore.” Clawdeen pulled her close and planted her lips on top of hers.

Romulus watched as Clawdeen and Toralei walked down the parking lot with their hands linked together. His hands gripped his dented steering wheel in anger.

“C’mon Romulus,” Gil pleaded beside him.

“How would you feel if Lagoona dumped you?” Romulus questioned.

Gil became quiet. “I would be upset but that’s because we’ve been together for so long and been through so much. Regardless, I would have to respect her decision.”

“Easy for you to say,” he scoffed. “Toralei… can you believe it? Those two hated each other not too many months ago and now they’re holding hands like they’re in love. I was the perfect gentleman to Clawdeen Even after what Gossip Ghoul exposed, she’s still with her.

“I get that you’re upset but you have to accept that Clawdeen just wasn’t meant for you.”

“How can I accept this when Clawdeen practically cheated on me?

“Cheating is a bit overdramatic.”

“She was going on dates with me then hooking up with Toralei on the side. How is that not cheating?”

Gil squinted. “You were having sex with Operetta up until you decided to finally ask Clawdeen to be your ghoulfriend?”

“She doesn’t count.”

“How?”

“She just doesn’t, okay?”

“If it doesn’t count then why didn’t you tell Clawd?” Gil asked. Silence quickly fell between them. Because it’s none of his business. Romulus wanted to reply but he knew Gil wouldn’t accept that answer, and he really wasn’t in the mood for this interrogation. Operetta and him already agreed that what they did meant nothing, and he didn’t see the point in justifying it with anyone else but the two of them. “Fine… but Clawdeen said she’s a lesbian. There’s not much you can do after that,” Gil tried to reason.

“That’s something ghouls make up to get mansters off them,” Romulus explained.

“No dude…”

“Whatever… how am I supposed to trust what she says after she told me that there wasn’t someone else but was seeing Toralei?”

“I think her getting Toralei was pretty damning evidence.”

“I can’t believe … for a werecat, no less.”

“Didn’t you hook up with Meowlody?”

“Yeah, that was because she basically threw herself at me. She was never a serious option,” Romulus admitted. He could never find himself ever respecting ghouls like Meowlody, they were too easy; but Clawdeen? She was a lady; she was harder to get and even harder to get. For years he had secretly pined after her. She was the only ghoul he had met that he could’ve seen a future with. He stayed away for years, knowing that when he finally did date her, he could never get with any other ghoul, she was going to be his last. He had to get his fun out of the way before settling on her. Through all his hookups, kinda-ghoulfriends, and flings, he always knew that Clawdeen was the only one.

He put all of the ghouls past him when he was ready just for her. He became the type of manster that someone like her would date, and now, at the very last minute, she was telling him that she was not interested.

“Okay…” Gil said, reacting to his Meowlody comment. “What are you going to do now though? Clawdeen is with Toralei and you can’t stop that.”

Romulus was ready to retort when he caught of glimpse of Howleen walking across the yard toward the bus stop. She walked beside two sophomores he sort of recognized. What were their names? Gigi and Twyla? Howleen laughed enthusiastically with them. She looked livelier, bubblier and prettier than he had ever seen before.

She took notice of him looking at her and stopped. Her friends noticed that she was no longer walking with them before she mouthed his name to them while she waved back at him.

“You’re right…” Romulus conceded. “I guess the only thing I can do now is move on.” He waved back at Howleen. She smiled before she continued to walk with her friends out of the parking lot.

“Great,” Gil sighed. “Just focus on casketball and college applications.”

“I will.” He picked up his phone and opened her contact. “Just need to get some things done first.’

ROMULUS: You free tomorrow night?

Chapter Text

CLEO: Come to my house at 10. We have a lot of work to do

Draculaura read Cleo’s text, remembering the labour Cleo had planned all the ghouls to do for her earlier in the week. She groaned as she tossed her phone to the side. With Clawd busy with homework and his sports, and her father back in Europe, there wasn’t much for her to do at the moment before Cleo restarted the fearleading team. Is this all she had going for herself right now? Another night playing quasi-slave to Cleo?

She turned on her tv to watch a Flee rerun when her special ringtone for her father rang.

DAD: Draculaura, if you get a mysterious message, please follow its instructions. Love you.

LALA: What do you mean?

DAD: I can no longer speak to you about this matter.

LALA: What are you talking about?

LALA: What’s happening?

Within seconds, her answer came.

UNKNOWN: Come to Monster High at 22:00. Come alone.

Jackson and Deuce had spent the entire day playing video games together in Jackson’s living room when his phone buzzed on.

CHAD: hey jackson, i’m hosting a game night tonight

CHAD: u wanna come?

Jackson thought to himself.

JACKSON: Is there going to be music?

CHAD: not really. if u come, we’ll make sure theres none

JACKSON: “we’ll”?

CHAD: yeah, clair is helping me host

CHAD: u in?

Jackson paused as he weighed out his options. It had been a while since he had seen Chad and Clair.

“Who’s that?” Deuce asked.

“Chad,” he answered, picking up

“Chad?” Deuce said taken aback. “I didn’t know you still talked to him.”

“Yeah, he’s hosting a game night.”

“Hanging out with other normies?” Deuce laughed.

“They’re not so bad.”

JACKSON: Yes. What time should I come?

CHAD: clair and i are going to start setting up at 5

JACKSON: I’ll come help.

He turned off his phone then continued to play.

“What are your plans for tonight?” Jackson asked.

“Play mediator for whatever fight breaks out between my mom and aunts tonight,” Deuce chuckled. “We’re having a movie night, and my mother loves to start controversy.”

“Jackson!” Heath’s voice echoed from down the hall. Jackson held in the urge to groan. He hadn’t seen Heath in a while and while he did like to hang out with his cousin, his tone of voice made it obvious that Heath’s intentions weren’t void of any mischief. Heath waltzed into the room with a bright grin. “Oooooh, hey Deuce,”

“Hi Heath,” Deuce greeted.

“What have you two been up to?” Heath asked, still making it obvious that playful banter was not his intention for the visit.

“Just video games,” Deuce answered. “You?”

“Spent the whole day with Abbey at the maul. Cleo wanted her to get a lot of supplies for her eek-vitations and she needed my help.”

“Oh, yes. Cleo is planning some fundraising party for next month.”

“Are you going to help?”

“When she calls on me to play delivery man.”

“Why doesn’t she get Ghoulia to do it?” Jackson asked.

“Ghoulia is slow, but also Cleo has been a bit weird about Ghoulia since the photo shoot.”

“Anyway, long time no see cuz,” Heath said. He’s now getting up to what he actually came here for. Jackson thought to himself.

“Holt and I switched around our schedule for the weekend,” Jackson explained. Holt had appealed to Jackson to let him have the full day yesterday because Purrsephone wanted him to go to the baseskull game. Jackson didn’t expect much from his innocent comment when Heath shot him a mischievous grin. “Oh no… What happened?”

“The craziest thing happened to me at the baseskull game,” Heath’s grin grew wider. “Holt just came up and we talked!”

Jackson facepalmed. Was that it? He always felt slightly weirded out and annoyed whenever Heath talked about Holt like he was a celebrity and not Jackson’s alter ego.

“Great story Heath,” Deuce sarcastically said.

“Heath, we really want to finish our game,” Jackson groaned.

“Woah? Do you really think I would bring this up if that was all to the story?” Heath asked.

“Yes Heath, that is exactly what we’re expecting,” Jackson stated. “This wouldn’t be the first time that you’ve fanboyed over talking to Holt.”

“Ohhh but this is not like that,” Heath said, raising Jackson’s annoyance.

“Then what is it?”

“You see, what made this conversation notable wasn’t the fact that Holt talked to me, but rather the subject matter,” Heath put on an annoying accent as he spoke. “For you see… the subject of our conversation was Frankie.”

Jackson froze. “Wait what?”

“He said—” Heath raised his finger and then looked back down at Jackson. “Wait, I shouldn’t say this. I don’t want to be Gossip Ghoul.”

Jackson rolled his eyes. “Out with it!”

Heath cleared his throat, clearly enjoying his cousin conceding to him. “Holt told me that Frankie came up to him and told him that she still has feelings for him.”

Jackson’s expression dropped. “What…”

“And—” Heath held up his finger – “she would be willing to restart if he wanted to.”

There was an immediate silence that fell between the mansters as the sound of Jackson’s game filled the void between them. Jackson looked at Deuce then back at Heath.

“Are you joking?” He quickly put down his controller.

“Nope!” Heath laughed. “I’ve never been so serious in my life. I almost burst into flames when he told me.”

Jackson blinked slowly. “If Frankie said that to Holt…”

“Wait,” Deuce said cautiously. “I wouldn’t jump the gun yet. Do we know what Holt said back to her? Heath?”

“No clue,” the fire element admitted.

“Is he still dating Purrsephone?” Deuce asked.

“He never posted her on his Monstagram!” Heath exclaimed.

“That’s not good enough,”

“That doesn’t matter!” Jackson exclaimed. “If Frankie is willing to date Holt, she’s willing to get back with me!” He could already imagine her approaching him and repeating the same offer

“I’m not sure if that’s the case,” Deuce said.

“Why would Frankie say that to Holt but not apply it to me?”

“I don’t know but—"

“She knows that you’re under her thumb,” Heath interjected.

“No…” Deuce said in a warning tone. “I want to practice caution because Cleo has been trying to compile a list of guys that would be willing to go on a date with Frankie.”

“Why would she do that?” Jackson asked.

“Because she thinks it's time for Frankie to move on.

“Frankie doesn’t need to move on, I’m right here.”

“And she knows that,” Heath chuckled.

“Shut up Heath,” Jackson groaned.

“Hey!”

“No seriously dude, stop,” Deuce complained. He opened his mouth to speak again when his phone buzzed. He checked his messages and groaned. “Shoot, my mom wants me home now,” He turned back to Jackson. “Don’t do anything until Frankie talks to you.”

Jackson walked up Chad’s driveway as his mind still ruminated over Heath’s revelation about Frankie and Holt. He wanted to ask Frankie and see the current status of her offer and if it applied to him as well, but he knew it was better to follow Deuce’s advice rather than Heath’s.

Chad’s garage door was wide open as he and Clair pulled game boards off of one of the numerous shelves.

“Hey guys!” Jackson called. The duo turned around with their boxes in hand.

He felt slightly awkward being around so many normies. He hadn’t realized how much he had gotten used to hanging around the monster side of town with Heath and Deuce.
“Jackson!” the duo exclaimed as Jackson walked inside.

“Follow me,” Chad instructed. Jackson walked behind Chad and Clair into his living room. When they entered, the normies placed the game boards down and organized them. Jackson looked around, Chad’s living room wasn’t very different from what he last remembered; the room was spacious with a mini fridge, two small couches and a tv to entertain any guests that came by.

“So what’s up with you Jackson?” Chad asked.

Frankie wants me back! “Oh nothing much. The year has just started,” Jackson said.

“What about the infamous Holt?” Clair joked. He explained the situation with Holt.

“Oh wow.” Chad blinked.

“Gossip Ghoul,” Clair repeated the blog's name "Sounds lame. Who would want to read about the lives of their peers?”

“I would,” Chad chuckled. “It sounds like it would be a great premise for a tv show.”

“Yeah, but this is real life,” Clair rolled her eyes.

“Don’t worry Jackson. You’re on the human side of town, you don’t need to worry about us ‘normies’ snitching on you.”

“Thank you, but I don’t think you two need to worry about me.”

“Maybe not you, but definitely Holt,” Chad said as he scrolled through the blog. “GG is almost obsessed with him.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Jackson facepalmed.

“I’m going to follow her,” Chad said, enthusiastically.

“Why?” Jackson and Clair said in unison.

“Because it’s fun, and exciting, and whimsical and I don’t know why a teenager needs to explain why they just enjoy stupid little gossip.”

Clair shrugged as Jackson uncomfortably rubbed his neck.

“So how many people will be coming?” Jackson asked.

“Maybe like ten,” Chad clarified. “Don’t worry, I didn’t tell them about your monster side in case you don’t feel safe.”

“I don’t really mind anymore… it just feels weird being back,” Jackson admitted. “When is everyone coming?”

Before either of them had a chance to respond, a knock came from the front door.

“Let the games begin!” Clair said to start off the night.

Game night began with a few normies from Chad and Clair’s school coming. They played Monopoly then the Game of Life. Eventually, the game got slightly boring as Chad, Jackson and this girl had finished their journeys.

“Let’s step outside,” Chad said to Jackson as Clair spun the spinner on the gameboard. The two headed out of the house and stood in front of his garage. Chad pulled o

“Those things are bad for you, you know,” Jackson reminded.

“Yeah, I need to quit… Enough about me though, we never got a chance to properly catch up since we last spoke,” Chad began as he took another huff from his vape. “Outside of Frankie, are there any girls at your school that you are interested in?” It felt odd hearing someone not use monster lingo around him; he had gotten used to a life completely surrounded by monsters.

“No, there aren’t any gho- girls,” Jackson admitted.  

“That’s great,” Chad leaned close. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this but Clair still kind of likes ya.”

“Really?” Jackson pushed his glasses back up his nose. “What happened to—”

“Rodrick? Turned out he was bad news. She hasn’t seen anyone in months and told me that she wished that she had explored things more with you,” Chad explained.

Jackson wasn’t exactly sure how to feel. His hyde side proved to be a bit of an inconvenience for her so the two settled on being friends. Months had passed since their brief fling, but it had felt like it had never happened. He still somewhat liked Clair: they had many things in common such as their favourite school subjects, books and comics, and he found her incredibly entertaining to talk to but… she wasn’t Frankie.

“You should ask her out.”

“I’ll check my schedule,” Jackson awkwardly said. He wouldn’t, not now. He was getting back together with Frankie, and it wouldn’t be fair to lead her on.

“Don’t pressure yourself,” Chad tapped his arm. “You don’t need to do it anytime soon, just keep talking to her, and see how things go.”

“I don’t know… Feels pretty awkward.” Jackson scratched his head.

“Jackson,” Chad laughed. “I know you two made out.”

“She told you?”

“Of course, we’re best friends. I really do think that if you two tried again now, things could be different.”

“You think so?”

“Definitely. I don’t think you should wait around waiting for Frankie. She hasn't made much effort to reinitiate things."

"I guess..." Jackson held back his annoyance. They were wrong, they were all wrong. He and Frankie were going to get back together soon, he knew it.

Chad shivered. "It's getting cold... C’mon, let’s go back inside.”

Draculaura parked her car in the Monster High parking lot and checked the time. It was exactly ten o'clock. She took a deep breath and looked through her iCoffin messages.

CLEO: Ghouls, don’t forget to bring some red markers

She ignored the text and opened her messages with Clawd.

CLAWD: Biteology is killing me.

LALA: Miss you

CLAWD: Miss u 2.

CLAWD: Cant wait 2 c u again

She checked the time again. It was now ten o-five, yet the school courtyard seemed deader than ever. Who messaged her? And why was her father suddenly so keen about her texts? How did he even know anyone was going to text her? Maybe it was Clawd trying to coordinate a surprise for her. Who knows.

She screamed but the monsters would not let her go… or were they humans? She couldn’t tell.

“This must be a big misunderstanding! Let me go!” she exclaimed but her attackers didn’t budge.
Minutes later, she found herself being settled into a chair with the pillowcase ripped off her head. She blinked to see herself in a dark room surrounded by multiple crimson-red cloaked figures.

“Wait…” Draculaura said, glancing around and processing her surroundings. “Is this the Vaslissa Society of Vampires?”

Vaslissa Society of Vampires was a secret society for vampires that was started by the queen of Vampires in Europe centuries ago. The society was dedicated to preserving the customs and rituals of vampires.

Draculaura’s father had been the president of a chapter for many centuries before they had moved to America. While Draculaura loved New Salem, part of her wished that they had stayed in Europe for just a *bit* longer so she could’ve gotten her invite to the society and then transferred chapters once she moved. Her father still maintained a lot of influence amongst vampires in the new world, but not as much as back home.

Its first American chapter was started in St Vladimir Academy in Montana and made its way to New Salem. Draculaura had been waiting for the day when she would be sent her invite; she had spent her previous year at Monster High trying her best to be an exemplary vampiric student and making herself noticeable to the board. Appearing on Gossip Ghoul a few times (without any negative press) certainly helped.

She should’ve been given an invite way sooner but for some reason, she passed the age where members typically are offered their invite and heard nothing. She had wondered if her dating Clawd had been a barrier considering how rigid vampires could be but American vampires were more relaxed, and ever since the vampires versus werewolves debacle at Monster High was resolved, werewolf-vampire relations had never been better!

“Draculaura,” a crimson-cloaked figure stepped in front of her. “Is that your given name?”

“Yes,” Draculaura squeaked, barely holding in her excitement.

The cloaked figure stepped closer to her holding a box that contained a blooddrop pin. “You have been selected to join our secret society… This society maintains our old vampire culture, customs, influence and unity, even here in the new world. You will have access to all vampiric networks in the monster world. There will come great benefits, however that will only come with great sacrifice. This is not an organization for the weak of heart, however, we will make you the best vampire you can be. Do you accept our eek-vite?”

“I accept.”

The figure placed the pin over Draculaura's chest. “Then, Draculaura, you are officially, a fledging.”

Draculaura was taken to a room to continue her initiation.

“My name is Batsy, Batsy Claro,” the vampire introduced. “As a fledgling, you must complete a list of thirteen tasks, half you must complete by yourself while the other half you will complete with your partner. He should be in here now.” The two walked through the curtain when Draculaura’s heart immediately dropped.

No… It can’t be. In front of her stood a familiar tall figure with black hair with a streak of red highlights.

“Valentine?!” she exclaimed.

“Draculaura?” his smile dropped.

The members gazed at each other as murmurs swept the room.

“I’m sorry, you two already know each other?” one asked.

“We know more than just know each other.” Draculaura folded her arms.

“Valentine said he never went to Monster High,” the other cloaked member said.

“Wouldn’t be the first time he lied,” Draculaura said, glaring at Valentine. “Do any of you read Gossip Ghoul?”

The murmuring intensified around them.

“I didn’t know this, did you?”

“No, I

“This has never happened before.”

“Wait I remember reading something about this on GG,”

“Did anyone know for certain though that they knew each other?”

Batsy stepped forward. “I did,” Everyone stared at her, waiting for her explanation. “Vampires must learn how to work well with each other. Our society is about unity and cooperation between vampires, especially ones they may not be fond of. If you and Kieran—”

“Sorry I go by Valentine,” Valentine attempted to interject but was promptly ignored.

“—can work together,” Batsy continued. “If you are able to complete your tasks together without any issues, then you will prove how you fit our values. If not, then I am afraid that we will not be able to accept you since your ability to cooperate with other vampires comes with conditions.”

There was an awkward silence in the room as the tension rose.

“I personally do not mind working with Draculaura again,” Valentinue said, but from his tone, Draculaura knew he wished nothing more than for her to disappear.

“Very well… Draculaura?” Batsy turned back to her. She stood still, staring at Valentine, remembering everything that had happened, and how he had tried to take everything from her. “We’ll give you two a moment to speak.” She snapped her fingers and all the cloaked members shuffled out the room.

“Why don’t you go back to Europe?” Draculaura snapped at him.

“Thanks to the little stunt you and your ghouls pulled last year, I’ve essentially been shunned.” He glared down at her.

“Isn’t that a tragedy?”

His glare intensified. “Call it what you want, but I know that your father was a part of this society and I just want to remind you that my mother was as well…”

“No,” Draculaura started to furiously shake her head. “I won’t accept this. You have to go!”

“This chapter is the only one I can even get hopes of getting into so I don’t plan on going anywhere,” he sneered.

“You are absolutely disgusting,” she spat back.

He took a deep breath, holding in his anger. “We may not like each other, but neither of us wants to back out of this society so let’s just call it a truce.”

“And by truce, you mean that you stay away from me?”

“Gladly… Can we just stay civil until we get initiated?” He held out his hand. “Truce?”  Draculaura stared down at it, wanting to rip it off its socket, but she knew she had no other option. She raised her hand so it would meet with his.

“Truce.”

Clawdeen pulled her thick hair into a ponytail while Toralei ranted to her over Facetime.

“I told Mr Rotter that he did the equation wrong and threatened to give me detention. Can you believe that?" Toralei complained.

“What was your tone when you told him that?” Clawdeen asked as she pampered herself in her window. Toralei was silent then sighed. “I guess that’s our answer.”

“Shut up,” Toralei laughed. “I can’t believe you’re spending your night being a slave to Cleo.”

“How else should I spend it?”

“With me, of course.”

Clawdeen chuckled. “I would but you already made plans with Purrsephone and Meowlody.”

“That’s true…

“It’s so annoying when ghouls disappear on their friends whenever they start dating. I’m glad Holt is only ‘present’ half of the time so Purrsephone doesn’t fall into that trap,” Toralei said. “Meowlody completely disappeared when she was hooking up with Romulus. Purrsephone never really had this problem, she’s very good at scheduling. HeShend Holt are going on a date sometime this week but until then, she belongs to Meowlody and I.” She smiled brightly.

“I’m glad that you’re happy,” Clawdeen said. “Hold on, I got a text.”

CLEO: Come to my house NOW

“Okay, Cleo wants me to come over now. I gotta go.”

“Tell your ghouls I said hi,” Toralei said sarcastically.

“I’ll talk to you later.” She ended the Facetime call and put her phone in her purse. She left her room at the same time as Howleen. She scanned her sister's outfit. It was nice, but way more extravagant than what she usually wore when hanging out with her friends.

“Hey,” Clawdeen called. “Where are you going?”

“Out,” Howleen answered.

Clawdeen scoffed when Clawd pulled himself from around the corner. “And where are you going?”

“Cleo’s house, we need to prepare some eek-vites for some party,” she explained.

“What’s the theme going to be?”

“We don’t know yet, probably

“What’s the cause?”

Clawdeen shrugged. Cleo’s parties were never really about the charity she said they were for, but to raise awareness for herself and to show the world how great she is.

“All I know is that Draculaura will be helping us tonight. We could use the help.” Clawdeen offered.

“Naw, I need to get some biteology homework done before training with Gil.”

“Not Romulus?”

“No, we haven’t spoken since the last GG blast.”

“Sorry about that,” she awkwardly apologized. She felt slightly guilty becoming a slight wedge between her brother’s long-time friendship.

“Don’t apologize. He’s probably just busy. Gil said that he invited Romie, and he said that he had plans tonight. While I don’t know if he’s being honest or just trying to avoid me, I’m not going to worry too much about it. Romie doesn’t hold grudges.”

“Didn’t you already train this morning?”

“The grind never stops Clawdeen,” he said. “Well, you have fun.” He waved off. Clawdeen playfully rolled her eyes and left her house.

Cleo oversaw her servants as they crouched over her Hiss on the Lips eek-vitations. Most of her family’s servants were with her father on his business trip (and a handful were with Nefera, somewhere in Europe), so she needed her ghouls to help her out. Frankie, Lagoona and Abbey were already over, helping to add the finishing touches to the almost-completed eek-vties made by the servants.

“You forgot a detail there!” Cleo scolded. Usually, Ghoulia oversaw such things but she was unavailable due to needing to study with her mathletes team for their first competition of the year. The servant lowered his head to apologize when another entered the room with only Clawdeen weside him.

“Draculaura isn’t with you?” Cleo immediately interrogated.

“Hi Cleo, I’m good too,” Clawdeen replied sarcastically. “And no.”

Cleo turned away from the door and led Clawdeen into her house. “That ghoul is not answering her texts.”

“What is the theme for the party?”

“I’m throwing a Hiss on the Lips party!” she exclaimed. “We are going to raise money for fearleading squads in underprivileged monster schools!” She figured that hosting a successful fundraiser would be a good way to keep herself relevant in the minds of all monsters and further cement herself in the fearleading industry.

“I love the idea!” Frankie squealed.

“Wait, isn’t your magazine cover coming out tomorrow?” Lagoona asked, realizing the connection.

“It is!” Abbey confirmed.

“Make sure to get your copy,” Cleo said regally.

“This is so exciting!” Frankie exclaimed. “I’m so excited to see you and Ghoulia!”

“Yeah… its great news…” Cleo said. “Let’s focus on getting these eek-vites done.”

“Why you leave eek-vites to last minute?” Abbey asked.

“There were some… changes in plans

“I know that you

“That’s code for ‘I just came up with this’,” Clawdeen teased.

“Let’s change the subject!” Cleo said. “Anyone have anything exciting to share?”

“Well it’s exciting, but I have something to confess ghouls…” Frankie dropped her scissors. “At the baseskull game I told Holt how I felt and said that if he wanted, I was willing to restart things with him.” All the ghouls gasped.

“Why didn’t you tell us then?” Cleo asked.

“Because he didn’t really give me an answer and I was hoping to hear back from him but I haven’t.”

“I mean if you got no answer, that means he’s still probably thinking about it,” Lagoona reasoned.

Clawdeen cringed. “Toralei told me that Holt and Purrsephone made plans to go on another date this week.”

“I guess that’s my answer,” Frankie frowned. “Do you ghouls think that things can even still work out with me and Jackson anymore if Holt is with Purrsephone?"

“No, it can’t,” Cleo said bluntly. “Let’s face it Frankie, the only way something can work with Jackson and Holt is if one ghoul gets with the both of them. Purrsephone and Jackson are inevitable at this point.”

“I…” Frankie’s eyes began to water. “I guess you are right.”

The ghouls huddled around her to hug her

“Don’t cry Frankie,” Lagoona said.

“Yeah, this isn’t the end of the world,” Clawdeen said.

“We’ll find you a manster to go on a date with this Friday.”

Monday came as Clawdeen, Draculaura, Lagoona and Frankie made sure to come to school a bit earlier to help hand out Cleo’s completed eek-vitations. The ghouls paired themselves off, Clawdeen and Draculaura were one pair in charge of the first two floors, while Frankie and Lagoona were in charge of the latter floors.

“Where were you last night?” Clawdeen asked her friend.

“My dad gave me this huge list of chores to complete,” Draculaura yawned deeply.

“You missed Cleo’s tyranny last night,” Clawdeen jokes.

“I can imagine… The eek-vites look great though,” Draculaura said, admiring the lip-shaped cards with fangs poking out from the corners. when her iCoffin dinged its Gossip Ghoul chime. She quickly pulled out her phone to check the latest blast. “Oh no.”

“You say that every time something insane is posted," Clawdeen groaned, preying this time GG's update wasn't about her as she opened her phone.

Chapter Text

gossipghoul.net

Disclaimer: All the names of places, monsters, and events have been altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent. Namely, me.

Hey monsters!

The first two weeks of school have certainly been more dramatic than we all expected and I am ready to fuel the fire that is already brewing.

Almost Alpha on a date with a familiar face

 Who’s that with MH’s most eligible bachelor? He recently reconnected with Lycan Lesbian, and —oh wait, looks like it is actually her discount younger sister, Little H. I got confused since they look so much alike. Looks like Little H has graduated from taking her sister’s clothes to taking her boyfriends. And Almost Alpha? Guess some wolves like to keep it in the pack.

Bulls have feelings too

No one wants a bull in a China shop, especially when their emotions are as fragile as such. Bull Bully was seen drunk out of his mind at a Chinese dragon’s birthday party wallowing about what could have been. He spent the entire night complaining about how he had lost all his chances with Kitty Dee and how she’s gone to any ghoul that would listen before trying (and failing) to make a pass on them. Talk about being sloppy about your feelings. He spent the latter half of the night bulldozing any monster in his path. Bull Bully eventually crashed, knocking over an entire bookshelf and falling on top of the Chinese dragon’s glass table causing it to shatter. Word says she is less than impressed with his behaviour. Maybe Bull Bully should work on his personality instead of making it everyone else’s problem.

Sightings

(Warning to Bull Bully, this one might break his heart)

DJ and Kitty Dee were spotted sharing some fries in the local food court, oblivious to the drama being caused across town. Upstairs, Stone Cold Hotty was seen working a shift at the Boofield Maul, likely trying to make enough money to pay for his dates with Drama Queen (lucky ghoul). Across the aisle, Angel of Music Jr was seen working overtime to pay for the bills her senior seemed to forget (again). Predatory Fangs was seen chatting up some freshman ghouls in a Scarbucks before being chased out by some older ghouls. Thank Ra.

Your E-gore

Q: Hi GG,

I know someone who interns at Thirteen Magazine and I got an early preview of Drama Queen’s new fearleading profile. I wasn’t expecting much but  I was surprised to see another zombie ghoul there new pictures. She appeared in the last photo but she looked so creeperific that she definitely overshadowed Drama Queen. (sadly I cannot send the pictures)

-Phantom68

A: Hello Phantom68

I might suspect who this zombie ghoul could be, and this doesn’t surprise me. Every wannabe inevitably tries to take her queen’s throne…

-GG

----

Q: Hey GG,

I was wondering, what even happened that caused Failed Spark to go on pause with Lonely Normie/DJ for over a year? It couldn’t have been their split personalities because she liked both of them. Do you have any details or theories?

-Batfiend1829

A: Dear Batfiend1829,

Sadly, I do not have the details but I have gotten many E-gores detailing theories about this matter and I have to admit, every single one is juicier than the last: That’s what the verdict seems to have come to but I have my suspicions. Some theories say that Failed Spark was never really into Lonely Normie or DJ in the first place, others say that DJ didn't want to be tied down to one ghoul and dragged poor Lonely Normie along with his games, and others suggest that maybe Lonely Normie just isn’t into ghouls at all…

-GG

----

Q: Dear GG,

I’m writing about you in my journalism class. You rule!

-Wendygo

A: Dear Wendygo,

I am honoured. It’s not easy to do what I do but I certainly enjoy bringing some joy to all monsters like you. Don’t forget to get my good side.

-GG

XOXO,                       

Gossip Ghoul

Chapter Text

“Oh, he is so dead!” Clawdeen growled as she immediately turned off her phone. Her heels spun as she stormed toward the direction of the gym; it was where she knew Romulus likely would be since he liked to practice casketball in the mornings.

“Clawdeen, wait!” Draculaura chased after her friend, but she didn’t slow down. This was a situation that could not wait. Draculaura’s heels hastily clicked before her as her mind kept spinning. Had he lost his mind? Howleen? Her fifteen-year-old sister? The girl he had told her many times was like a little sister to him? It had to be a mistake, and if not, Clawdeen wanted him away from her little sister in general.

She walked into the gym then headed straight into the boy’s locker room. As expected, Romulus was there, putting his jacket over his shoulders and pulling out his school bag from his locker. Clawdeen marched up to Romulus and shoved her phone in his face when he swatted it away.

“Hey!” He tried to protest but Clawdeen did not stop trying to put her phone in his face. “You’re not supposed to be in here.”

“Is this some sort of sick joke to you?” Clawdeen interrogated. “She is FIFTEEN! You… you are FOUR YEARS OLDER THAN HER!”

“Three,” he corrected, being technical.

“Don’t play smart with me!”

Romulus sighed as he unhooked his open lock. “Can you calm down?”

Clawdeen scoffed. “How am I supposed to be calm when you’re perving on my sister?!”
“It’s not perving, we were just hanging out.”
“Oh, I bet you were.”

Romulus rolled his eyes. “Why do ghouls have to be so dramatic?”

“Excuse me?” Her blood began to boil.

“It was a date and last time I checked, we were no longer dating,” he explained. “In fact, you dumped me, so I guess what I’m doing is trying to move on.”

Clawdeen could feel her blood turn into fire. “So moving on to you is getting with my younger sister?!”

“Howleen is a big ghoul now, she can handle herself.”

Clawdeen stared at him wide eyed as every muscle in her body wanted nothing more but to rip him limb from limb.

“Why are you doing it,” she said in a low voice,

“Don’t worry Clawdeen, it’s not you, it’s me.” Romulus sneered then walked away.

She watched as he walked away, not sure what to do next. Should she chase after him? Yell? Scream? Attack? There was no good option other than to let him walk away and seethe

“Asshole!” She exclaimed. Draculaura placed her hand on Clawdeen’s arm to soothe her. “I hate him… I truly… and utterly… hate him…”

“Hate is a strong word Clawdeen,” Draculaura said.

“Do you hate Valentine?”

“Well yeah but—”

“Then I hate Romulus,” She reaffirmed

“I’m going to talk to Clawd,” she said. She opened her phone and started to text her brother.

“Maybe Romulus is trying to pull your leg. You should talk to Howleen, maybe it’s not even true,” Draculaura said. She was right. GG has been wrong before. Despite the

She reopened her phone and texted Howleen.

DEENIE: Is the GG blast true?

She closed her phone when Clawd came up to them in the hallway.

“Have you seen the new GG blast?” Clawdeen asked him immediately.

“Yes, Heath sent me the link… Let’s head to the field,” he instructed. The ghouls immediately followed him outside where less monsters could hear him.

Clawd said. He breathed heavily as he processed the situation more. “I can’t believe it… That’s why he’s been ignoring me!”

“He has no shame. I just confronted him,” she growled. She ran down the conversation to Clawd, much to his horror. “I gotta say, your friend is an asshole.”

“I’m going to kill him!” he exclaimed.

“No one-” Draculaura tried to calm the both of them down. “-is going to kill anyone.”

“You heard him, Lala! He’s totally out of line!” Clawdeen argued.

“I won’t disagree with that, but I think it’s important that no matter what, someone talks to Howleen first,” Draculaura said.

“I will talk to Howleen,” Clawdeen said.

Dracualura hesitated. “Are you sure? You two are prone to fighting.”

“I think I can handle it.”

“Maybe I should do i—” Draculaura tried to interject.

“No, I’ll do it.” Clawdeen said firmly. “When next I see her, I will talk to her.”

“And while you do that, I’m going to talk to Romulus. No way he’s going to pull that stunt with me,” Clawd said.

“And remember, both of you, to remain calm,” Draculaura cautiously warned.

“We will,” the Wolf siblings said in harmony.

“Good, now let’s get to class.”

Clawd left the ghoul to head over to his senior classes while Draculaura and Clawdeen went their theirs. Clawdeen was slowly felt déjà vu as she walked through the halls. Everyone stared at her as they whispered about the new GG blast. Her nightmare was happening again, but under worse circumstances.

Why is Romulus doing this? Why would he go after

She got to her class and ignored the not-so-subtle stares of her classmates. She sat beside Ghoulia and closed her eyes. One… two… three… four…

“Uhhhhhh,” Ghoulia moaned.

“Not now Ghoulia,” Clawdeen desperately muttered. Five… six… seven… eight… She opened her eyes and pulled out her phone and opened her chat with her sister; she had been left on read.

“Gossip Ghoul thinks that I’m gay?!?!” Jackson groaned as Heath showed him the new blast as the duo walked to school. Heath started to laugh uncontrollably while Jackson fell into anguish.

“It’s harmless speculation,” Heath said.

“Speculation that isn’t wanted…” Jackson muttered.

“Don’t worry cuz, everyone who knows you knows that isn’t true.”

“Not everyone,” Jackson groaned. “What about the monsters at other monster schools.”

“It’s not like that matters considering that the two ghouls that matter to you know you’re as straight as an error,” Heath said before glancing at Jackson’s outfit. “I guess the bowtie is a bit suspicious.”

“Stop,” Jackson said as he adjusted his bowtie.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” Heath laughed. “Which reminds me, has she texted you?”

“No…” Jackson groaned. The last time he had texted Frankie was weeks ago, and it was to discuss the release of this new comic they both liked. He wanted to text her first, to get the ball rolling, but Deuce advised against it, telling him that it may come across as desperate.

“Worst comes to worst, you already know that Clair chick is interested in you.”

“Don’t call her ‘chick’.”

“C’mon, she’s smokin’, for a normie.”

Jackson rolled his eyes at the offensive comment. “You do realize I’m a normie too.”

“What’s wrong with what I said?”

“To say that she’s ‘pretty for a normie’ implies that all normies are ugly.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s offensive.”

“Don’t worry, you’re proof that that’s not true, which is why Clair would accept any date you ask her on.”

“Which won’t be happening anytime soon.”

“Who knows,” Heath chuckled. He slapped his cousin's back before the two dispersed to head to their lockers. Jackson reviewed all his classes for the day as he organized his locker (Holt had messed up his filing system again) when he heard Frankie's voice behind his locker door.

“Hi Jackson!” she said. He froze. It’s happening, it’s really happening. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite.”

He cleared his throat and closed his door. “Oh, don’t worry. I didn’t think you would… need anything?”

“This is a bit awkward to ask but I forgot to bring my dead languages book today and you know how Mr Rotter gets about people not bringing their textbooks. Could yours for today? I’ll give them back later.”

“Oh…” he looked inside his locker then back at her. “Sure.” He passed the textbook.

“Thank you so much. I owe you one.” She smiled and walked away. Before he had another moment to process what had just happened, Heath slung his arm around his shoulders.

“So… what was that?” Heath pried.

“She just… asked me for my dead languages textbook…” Jackson said.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it…” Jackson began to spiral. “Do you think the GG blast deterred her?”

“Jackson…” Heath looked at him with his ‘c’mon now’ look. “That might have been the dumbest thing you have ever said.”

“Well, I’m trying to find reason!” Jackson protested.

“Yeah, stupid reasons.”

“Anything is better than nothing. Why didn’t she say anything to me?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Heath asked. Jackson looked at him blankly.  “She’s not that into you anymore.”

“No…” Jackson muttered. “That can’t be true…”

“I think you should ask Clair out.” Heath patted his chest. “C’mon, let’s get you to class.”

“I chickened out,” Frankie admitted when she got to Lagoona and Abbey.

“What? Why?”  Lagoona asked.

“I don’t know. I was about to confess my feelings as I walked up to him but when I looked into his eyes… everything Cleo said came back to me…”

“So what did you talk about?” Abbey asked.

“I asked him for his dead languages textbook… I don’t even have that class today!” Frankie said, passing over the textbook in shame.

“It’s okay Frankie, we’ll figure out a new game plan.

“No need. Jackson is going to ask out normie girl we met last year,” Abbey said bluntly.

“What?” Lagoona and Frankie said in unison.

“Heath told me. Normie boy told Jackson that normie girl still like him so he will ask her out for date sometime soon," Abbey explained.

Frankie processed Abbey’s revelation as her friends continued their conversation.

“What’s her name?” Lagoona asked.

“Air. Very interesting name, but not so sure.”

“Do you mean Clair?”

“Strange name to give child, but yes.”

Lagoona turned back to Frankie. “If you confess your feelings to Jackson, maybe—"

“No… it’s fine. Thank you, Abbey. I needed to hear that,” Frankie said firmly. First there was Purrsephone and now Clair; both Jackson and Holt had moved on, and it was time for her as well. “What are the names of the options Cleo found for me again?”

“Isn’t that terrible?” Deuce said as him and Cleo walked through the halls together, hands together while they both gazed down at their iCoffins.

“Yes, it so is,” Cleo frowned as she looked down at the preview of her photos for the recent 13 Magazine cover story on her. She looked creeperific (as usual) but she couldn’t deny that Ghoulia didn’t also look drop-dead gorgeous beside her. She even hated to admit it but despite being in only one shot, there were certain moments where Ghoulia did outshine her. “This was supposed to be about me!”

“What?”

“I can’t believe that Ghoulia would just go and steal my spotlight like that!”

“Cleo, I was talking about the new Gossip Ghoul blast.”

“Is it about me?”

“No, it’s about Clawdeen, your friend?”

Cleo paused and debated if her problems still took precedence. “What did it say?”

“That Romulus secretly went out on a date with Howleen.”

Cleo gasped. “How could he do that to Clawdeen?!” She grabbed his phone and read the new update in horror. “This is preposterous!” She continued to scroll down when she caught a glimpse of her GG nickname and read the message.

“What’s wrong?” Deuce said, noticing her change in demeanour. She passed his phone back to him and he read.

“Why would Gossip Ghoul say that about me.” Deuce leaned in to read. “Can you believe the gull? To compare her to me!? The absolute audacity! It has to be nonsense too. ”

Deuce pulled away and sighed. “She wants to rile you up.”

“Rile me up about what?”

“Cleo, we know Gossip Ghoul and she knows us. She likes to get ahead of the gossip, and that’s only possible if she’s able to conjure some up on her own. You have become her new target and she knows what buttons to push to start the most drama. Don’t let her words ruin your friendship with Ghoulia."

“But GG had a point. Every lowly tries to grab onto more power at some point.”

“Yes, but the lowly in question in your beast friend, someone who you’ve known for years and has never expressed any interest in popularity,” Deuce held the door for her into the creepateria. “I mean, Ghoulia probably cares more about the next issue of her favourite comic book than being popular herself.”

“Not if her favourite comic book is Succession.”

“Succession isn’t a comic book and you know that.”

“Ugh, who knows what those nerds are writing about these days.” Cleo’s phone buzzed. “Hold on.”

GHOULIA: Where are you? I thought we were going to walk

She remembered that she had made plans to go get lunch with Ghoulia off-campus to make further plans for her Hiss on the Lips party. She was no longer in the mood. She closed her phone and tightened her arm around Deuce’s.

“You were saying?”

“I was saying that high school takeovers and scheming is not Ghoulia’s thing,” Deuce explained.

“Know thy enemy, Deuce.”

“Your ‘enemy’ is your beast friend Cleo. We both know that she would never do that.”

“Stranger things have happened,” she argued. The two sat down at a table when she got another text.

GHOULIA: Are you mad at me?

Cleo closed her phone and rolled her eyes.

“Is that Ghoulia?” Deuce asked.

“Who knows.”

“Cleo, don’t ignore her. I know you’re upset, but I’m sure Ghoulia didn’t mean to steal the spotlight from you. This was a one-time thing, no point in throwing away a friendship over it,” Deuce reasoned.

“Fine… you’re right,” Cleo sighed. She opened her phone again and began to type.

CLEO: I’m busy with Deuce today.

She closed her phone and turned back to Deuce. “So what are you planning to buy me with your new paycheck?"

Clawdeen waited out in the field for her sister during lunch. Sophomore class had their lunch before hers and Clawdeen knew that Howleen had photography this period. The photography class allowed its students to wander the campus to find pictures to take. Knowing Howleen, she was likely making her way toward the field with her friends.

TORALEI: Purrsephone is freaking out over the GG blast

DEENIE: What? Why?

TORALEI: She deluded herself into thinking Romulus would finally text her back now that you two are over

DEENIE: LOL

DEENIE: Sorry, don’t meant to laugh but that’s too funny

TORALEI: Tell me about it.

TORALEI: Have you talked to Howleen yet?

DEENIE: No
TORALEI: Tell me everything when you do

DEENIE: Will do

She got a text from her brother.

CLAWD: Have you talkd to Howleen yet?

DEENIE: Nope. Waiting for her right now

CLAWD: Ok

CLAWD: Romulus has been avoiding me all day

CLAWD: Fucking coward

Just before Clawdeen could reply, Howleen walked out with her best friends, Twyla and Gigi. The three were deep in conversation when Howleen took notice of her sister

“Howleen, stop,” Clawdeen commanded. Her sister instantly froze, but she knew that she was annoyed at herself for even listening. “We need to talk. Twyla, Gigi, do you mind?”

The other ghouls awkwardly nodded and walked away while Howleen stayed in place with her arms crossed.

“If this is about the Gossip Ghoul blast then I rather not,” she started.

Clawdeen walked up to her. “Romulus, really?”

“It’s nunya business!”

“Yes, it is! You are my younger sister, who you talk to, especially if they are my ex, IS my business.”

“It’s really not, and I don’t appreciate you getting in the way of my schoolwork to do it.”

“Oh please, we both know your plans for this period was to hide behind the trees with Gigi and Twyla and take pictures of the grass and pretend it means something to your teacher."

Howleen exhaled, very annoyed. “Fine… You have five minutes, but after that I don’t want to be interrogated about this anymore.”

“Whatever is happening between you and Romulus has to end here.”

“Why can’t you accept the fact that a guy might like me?”

“I can accept a guy liking you, I just don’t buy Romulus’ sudden interest.”

“And why is that?”

“Because of the timing in all of this,” Clawdeen argued. “Not even a week after I broke things off with him, he goes running to you. What am I supposed to take from that?”

“You’re not supposed to take anything from that. You dumped him! He’s no longer your territory and neither am I!”

“Howleen, that isn’t what this is about,” Clawdeen argued. “He is obviously doing this to

“How narcissistic.”

“What?”

“Are you really delusional enough to think everything revolves around you?”

Clawdeen blinked, already feeling her annoyance levels rise. “Are you really stupid enough to think that this doesn’t have to do with me at all?”

“I guess you are delusional, but that isn’t an excuse to try to control me.” Howleen snapped. "You must've loved it when GG called me your discount younger sister."

"No, I didn't?" She said defensively when she paused. She's projecting. Clawdeen told herself and carefully picked her next words. “Howleen... I’m looking out for you.”

“Don’t! I never asked you to look out for me…”

“You don’t need to ask because that’s my job.”

“Then quit.”

“I won’t.” Clawdeen took a deep breath. “Listen, Howleen, there is a reason why I broke things off with Romulus-“

“Is it because you’re a lesbian? Already heard that,” Howleen snapped.

Clawdeen sighed, taken aback. “Okay, okay, that was a big reason but there’s something else.” Howleen folded her arms. “You have to be careful around mansters like Romulus. At first, everything seems fun and sweet, but eventually, you realize that all that sweetness comes at a cost. He’s not as nice as he appears to be, and one day you’ll realize that whatever he is doing right now, is all part of it. All the good looks and grand gestures can’t hide the asshole that is hiding inside.”

“Thanks, but I don’t need your paranoid monologue to ruin my day,” Howleen sneered. “Now I have to get back to class... unless you want to ruin my grades as well?”

Clawdeen stared at her. As much as she wanted to rip Romulus’ limbs, there was also a deep part of her that wanted to rip Howleen’s hair as well. How ungrateful could she be? She had wished she had someone to look out for her the way she was doing now for Howleen. Clawdia was there, but she was too much older to give as valuable of advice as Clawdeen was giving.

“You know what?” Clawdeen stepped forward and towered over her sister. “If you don’t want my help, then I’ll leave you be. I won’t bother protecting you no more, and when this all inevitably falls apart, don’t come crying to me.”

“Purrfect,” Howleen said. “Didn’t need to watch over me anyways.” She turned and walked away, not once glancing back at her sister.

Chapter Text

“So, Draculaura, how have you found your tasks?” Batsy Claro asked innocently as she swirled her spoon through her blood cappuccino in front of Draculaura. They sat together in a dimly lit vampire café where only two other vampires seemed to be sitting. The cafe was eery, but secluded enough for Batsy to agree to meet with her for her check-in. Draculaura held back her immediate cringe. She had spent the last three weeks trying to complete the first half of her tasks and the truth was that the tasks had been a lot harder than she had anticipated.

“They’re going great!” Draculaura lied.

Her first trial of writing a 4000-word essay introducing herself wasn’t so bad, but her follow-up task of having to eat a clove of garlic while sitting under the sunlight was torturous and ridiculous. While she had managed to trudge through the tasks on her own, she did find each one more increasingly difficult than the last. She looked down at her recent tasks that she had crossed out:

7. Bring a rotten gargoyle egg from the MH catacombs to the society without cracking it
8. Take a picture of yourself in the mirror fully visible

Underneath was a picture of her grinning fully visible, thanks to a temporary vampire visibility elixir she bribed Jane Boolittle with the promise that she would do her a favour in the near future; who knew what that meant.

She was able to trick her friends into unknowingly helping her complete her trials such as tricking Clawdeen into carrying around the rotten gargoyle egg by making her think it was Clawd's lost gym bag, but her nineth one was something she could not figure out to work around. She had to write a 13 000-word essay about the hisstory of the society; a feat she could only imagine to be difficult due to how far down on the list it was and how the society’s secrecy made its hisstory hard to find by the normal monster.

She had so much on her plate, andshe had no one to vent to about her current situation. She spent days stressed about the logistics of her task while fake smiling around her friends and Clawd so they wouldn't suspect anything.

“Oh really?” Batsy pulled out her notebook and looked inside. “Valentine has completed his first nine trials.”

How?! Draculaura wanted to shout but she settled for a more mundane, awkward “Oh…”

“I know you and Valentine may not have the best hisstory, but you should consider reaching out to him for help.”

“I don’t need his help.”

“You know that the latter half of your trials will specifically require you two to assist each other, right?

“I know, but until then, I will do my best by myself.”

Batsy slid her notebook back into her bag. “Okay, good luck, but remember. If you do not finish your current task by the end of this week, your invitation will be revoked. Reconsider your position on Valentine, it might save you.” She swiftly got up and left the café without letting Draculaura get in another word.

Draculaura groaned as she got up as well and left the café. She headed for the library while she braced herself for the most stressful afternoon of her life. When she got inside, she started planning out the sections she was going to check out first when Valentine’s voice greeted her.

“Draculaura.” She turned around to see the vampire walking toward her.

She sighed. “What do you want Valentine.”

“I see you’re still not ready to offer me a warm welcome.”

“For you? Never,” she rolled her eyes.

“Are you here for your paper?”

“Why do you care?” she sighed.

“I can help you. It’s not easy, at all, but I found a workaround,” he tried to shoot a helpful smile, but the look behind his eyes seemed slightly desperate.

“I’m going to get this done without your help.

“Draculaura…” he now seemed impatient. “You need my help.”

“I do not,” she protested.

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Now get out of my way.” She pushed past him.

“You know where to find me when you can’t!” he called after her, but she ignored him.

SLO-MO: Just talk to her

Ghoulia read Slo-Mo text, getting increasingly annoyed at how he didn't seem to grasp the problem despite her explaining the situation three times. Cleo had spent most of her time now either actively avoiding Ghoulia or pretending she didn’t exist when she was near, which was even more stressful for Ghoulia who had taken a lead role in planning Cleo's party. The 13 Magazine spread of Cleo had been dropped and while everyone’s attention had been on Cleo’s, Ghoulia suspected that Gossip Ghoul’s comment was the culprit of her friend's sudden cold behaviour.

GHOULIA: I can’t do that… she will think I’m trying to gloat.

SLO-MO: But u aren’t?

GHOULIA: Exactly!!!

SLO-MO: Wait… I don’t get it…

Ghoulia sighed and broke down a simplified version of Cleo’s character again to Slo-Mo. Cleo was a complex person, something that monsters usually overlooked because of her extravagant exterior and behaviour, but Ghoulia knew her better than anyone else.

There was no way Cleo could try to avoid her today. She and Cleo had been passively planning the details for the party since the beginning of summer so Cleo allowed Ghoulia to set up an appointment to finalize the venue booking. Without Ghoulia, Cleo may as well consider her deposit and party gone.

SLO-MO: Be direct. She can’t dance around this forever.

GHOULIA: Okay… I’ll try…

SLO-MO:   : )

“Good… you’re here,” Cleo said, walking up to her with a slight eye roll. “We have a lot to do.”

Before Ghoulia could speak, Cleo walked past her and greeted the venue managers. The meeting went by smoothly with Cleo making the finishing touches to her plans while Ghoulia established that Cleo was actually the host, not her. When they were done, the managers stepped outside so the two ghouls could fully process the room again. Ghoulia stared at her friend and finally spoke.

“Cleo, why are you ignoring me?” Ghoulia asked.

“No, don’t be ridiculous Ghoulia, I’m not ignoring you,” she replied, passively scrolling through her phone.

She’s avoiding again… great… Be direct.

“Is this because of what Gossip Ghoul said?” Ghoulia asked, immediately wishing that she had worded her sentence better.

Cleo hesitated slightly when she continued to speak. “No, I don’t care about the irrelevant whispers of a second-rate blog."

Ghoulia instantly knew Cleo was lying; she was trying to overcompensate for her hurt feelings, but Ghoulia knew better than to immediately call her out.

“Okay, do you want to work on the party details?”

“No, I actually think I can handle the rest of the organizing from now on,” she immediately brushed off.

"Don't be like that... this is very stressful, let me help you out like I always have," Ghoulia said. "I know this is about the photo shoot. I'm sorry I did it. I don't care about modelling, you know that." And that was the truth. She had only done the shot because she figured it would look good on her university applications next year. It wasn’t her thing, and she knew that secretly Cleo didn’t either.

Cleo was a fearleader at heart. She only did modelling because of her ancient sibling rivalry with Nefera which constantly made her seek out ventures she was not necessarily that passionate about in hopes of outdoing Nefera. Before Dedyet had essentially abandoned the De Nile household, she would constantly put Cleo up against Nefera and make them fight for her attention and approval, far more than their father ever did. They were groomed to see each other and everyone as rivals and Cleo held onto it, even with her mother out of her life and Nefera on a different continent. Ghoulia felt bad being so wrapped up with her future hypothetical university applications that she had missed an obvious trigger that would likely upset her beast ghoulfriend.

Cleo looked around the room when her eyes landed on a pile of magazines on a nearby table.

“Oh, here’s the new issue of Thirteen magazine,” Cleo said, picking it up and turning to the page of her cover. “Let me help you out and review it, shall we?” she pulled up Ghoulia’s picture. “Your posture is atrocious and your hair was obviously rushed.”

“Okay Cleo, I get it…”

Cleo pointed to a new section. “And the lighting, ugh, they really set you up with this one. Your skin looks more grey than blue, and not in a good way.”

“You don’t have to be so mean…” Ghoulia said, feeling more insecure.

“Oh and this.” Cleo held up the magazine toward Ghoulia. “Your makeup makes you look like a complete clown.”

“Enough!” Ghoulia shouted. “I’m sorry if you’re jealous, but—”

Cleo turned around with her eyes super wide. “Me?! Jealous?!

“No, I didn’t mean it like tha-”

“You must think you are sooo much better than everyone because of your GPA and this magazine photobomb,” Cleo interrogated.

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you implied it.”

“No, I did not. Stop putting words in my mouth.” Ghoulia protested. “Why are you doing this?”

“I’m just pointing out the problems with your shoot. I don’t think it would be fair to let you develop a conflated ego on something you clearly have no future in.”

“Gossip Ghoul didn’t seem to mind.” Ghoulia snapped. “I wouldn’t be shocked if she mentioned your crooked smile in her next update.” As she said the words, she realized that she had made a mistake.

Cleo’s look turned colder than ever. “Ghoulia Yelps, you’re officially uninvited to Hiss on the Lips,” she sneered. Before Ghoulia could reply, Cleo turned on her heels and walked away.

GHOULIA: So…

GHOULIA: That went terribly…

Draculaura’s ponytail hung over her head as she lifted her head out of her arms. She looked around herself to see that she was still in the same quaint library with her essay not an inch closer to being completed. She glanced at the clock and realized she had spent eight hours searching and still had not found anything she needed. She groaned softly as she opened her missed messages.

DEENIE: Where are you ghoul?

DEENIE: You’ve gone completely MIA

Draculaura checked the time and realized that she had spent another twelve hours, uselessly searching for seemingly nonexistent pieces of information.

LALA: Sorry ghoul, I’ve been busy

DEENIE: Doing what?!

DEENIE: Cleo has literally lost her mind planning for this party

DEENIE: She won’t even call it party… she keeps saying “Hiss on the Lips”

LALA: LMAO

LALA: When even is the party?

DEENIE: This Saturday

Crap! The party was the same day as her due date, and her and Clawd had also planned a movie date the night before with her already buying their tickets. Her weekly schedule also suggested that she wouldn’t have much time to work on her essay after today.

She wanted to call her dad for advice, but he was abroad and didn’t believe in using iCoffins. Draculaura sighed as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail; this was going to be a long weekend.

Draculaura tightened her ponytail and got up. She immediately returned to the library shelves and desperately looked for books that provided a semblance of the information she needed.

Her fingers finally reached the book as they desperately clawed at the spine so the book would pull out. Just when she thought she had finally gotten lucky, all the books across the shelf flew off as bats flew out from behind them. Draculaura quickly braced herself when she finally read the book cover. “Transylvania Greatest Tourist Spots”

This is impossible! She wanted to scream as she slammed her face into her palms. She accepted the reality of her situation as she packed up her bags and left the library.

Holt scrolled through his Scaretunes as Operetta shuffled through the store trying to restock the shop shelves. Cleo had booked Holt to be the DJ for her Hiss on the Lips party and he needed to ensure that his playlist was ready to go by the end of the night so he could start practicing his mix, especially since he only had half a week to really work on it.

“What about Ceelo Scream?” Holt asked for advice for his playlist.

“I overheard Cleo calling him a loser one time… HEXO,” Operetta suggested.

“Good idea,” Holt said, immediately adding a few HEXO classics. 

“Oh and you should add this one song… what is it… Nonsense by Scarebrina Scarpenter.”

“Scarebrina?” Holt grinned. “Purrsephone is currently getting me into her.”

“I love her,” Operetta said opening a new box.

“She’s great.”

“Speaking of Purrsephone, I assume she’ll be accompanying you at the DJ booth?”

Holt nodded. “I should tell her about my playlist update.” He opened his messages.

HOLT: Adding Scarebrina to my mix

Things between him and Purrsephone had been good, even with Frankie’s random confession to him at the baseskull game. He had basically thrown Frankie out of his mind (to his best ability) while he focused on his relationship. They had been on a few dates and were stronger than ever. She didn’t know about Frankie, and she didn’t need to know. Frankie was in his past, and he was ready to move on.

“Did you ever tell her what happened at the baseskull game? Between you and Frankie.”

Holt flinched slightly. “No, she doesn’t need to know. Me and Frankie are done, I’ve decided.”

“Which reminds me… you should be careful about Heath, that boy has a big mouth on him,” she warned.

Holt shrugged. “He hasn’t said anything to anyone.”

“Are you sure about that?”

He froze and looked over at her. “Do you know something?”

“No, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he mentioned it to someone, especially Abbey… or Jackson.”

Heath was ready to brush off her comment when it finally hit him: he and Jackson were the same person, and just from that fact, Heath could already exploit that loophole.

“Ugh I’m so stupid,” Holt said, facepalming.

“Well seeing how your business isn’t plastered over Gossip Ghoul yet nor Jackson hasn’t tried to write you a note, I think you’re in the clear,” Operetta softly chuckled when Purrsephone texted him back.

PURRSEPHONE: Omg I was just about to text you

PURRSEPHONE: I can’t go to the party anymore. My family is visiting my grandma this weekend

PURRSEPHONE: She’s sick : (

HOLT: Shoot, I’m sorry to hear that

HOLT: want me to do anything

PURRSEPHONE: Cuddle session on Wednesday?

HOLT: Done

“Purrsephone’s out… her and her family are going to visit her sick grandma,” Holt said as he closed his phone. “Would you like to be my plus-one at the booth instead?”

“Actually, I plan on hiding out here awhile now that I have Gossip Ghoul on my ass,” Operetta complained.

“Ugh don’t be like that.” Holt lowered his phone and groaned. “It wasn’t so bad… besides, most monsters probably wouldn’t get the reference.”

“Angel of Music Jr? Please, she might as well have screamed my name.”

“Purrsephone didn’t get it.”

“I really don’t need ghouls whispering behind my back about how tragic I am. Besides, it won’t take much to get monsters to realize that GG is talking about me once they realize it’s me working here.”

“Don’t worry. There’s far more interesting drama happening than you having a job.”

“Oh, like what’s happening with the infamous Manny Taur,” Operetta immediately teased. Purrsephone had mentioned to Holt before that Manny had tried to get with her multiple times but his lack of effort and occasional disrespectful behaviour had turned her completely off him. He had sent her messages begging her to give him another chance when the first GG update of her with Holt dropped.

“What a joke,” Holt shook his head.

“Be careful, Manny might try to take his anger out on Jackson,” she reminded.

Holt cringed suddenly recalling waking up to see random bruises on his body that weren’t the result of his own fair share of physical fights.

“Manny won’t dare go after Jackson now that he’s in with Deuce and Clawd. That would be a death wish."

“You never know, some mansters do crazy things when they’re angry…”

“Manny is a coward at the end of the day. There’s a reason why he picks on smaller people like Jackson.”

“You and Jackson are the same size.”

“You get what I mean.” Holt rolled his eyes. “You should hang with me at the DJ booth for the Hiss on the Lips party."

“Nope.”

“C’mon! You love a good party.”

“I sometimes like parties, besides, isn't the theme supposed to be fearleading?”

“The cause is for fearleading, I’m pretty sure the theme is masquerade.”

“How original,” she sighed. “I’m not exactly in the best mood to be out dancing.” Holt immediately clocked the change in her tone of voice.

“You and Johnny still fighting?” he asked. Operetta liked Johnny… a lot, but he was barely ever around. He perfectly fit the stereotype of being a ghost.

“I don’t get it… why ask me to be your ghoulfriend if you’re never here…”

“I have to be have to be real with you Etta… that guy is a jerk. You can do much better.”

“So my horrorscope keeps telling me,” she sighed.

“Come to the party with me, get your mind off things.” Holt offered again. “I’ll let you play all the Scarebrina and HEXO songs you want.”

Operetta glanced over at him and playfully rolled her eyes. “Fine… but I’ll be in charge of getting us masks.”

Valentine opened his door. His eyes gazed down at her in surprise. This is it…

“Well hello Dracualura… now what do I owe this surprise?” Valentine greeted, already

She swallowed her pride and . “I need your help.”

"Just as I anticipated," he gloated. "I will help you on the condition that you do me a favour."

“Fine, what is it?”

“I need you to vouch for my character when it's time to have our individual interviews. Many people on the board do not want me part of the society but if I could get you to say that I’m not so bad, they’ll allow me.

Draculaura raised her eyebrow. “How did you even manage to get an invite if so many of the vampires hate you?"

“It’s…” he began to scratch his head. “…a bit of a long story…”

She wanted to ask what the story was but remembered the time crunch she was on.

“Okay, fine, but… don’t make me regret this,” she warned.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behaviour from now on,” he said, passing her. “Follow me.”

Draculaura could not recall an essay she had to write more rapidly than this one. Valentine took her to a secret library at the edge of town and managed to charm his way into getting the librarian into letting him into a secret section behind all the books. There, a large stack of books from the old

“How do you know this place?” Draculaura had said when she first entered. She had been in New Salem for longer than him yet had never heard of this place before.

“Batsy showed me around,” he grinned. They immediately went to work, with Valentine pulling out books and giving her the references, while she furiously wrote. When they were done, Draculaura’s hands were completely read while Valentine seemed quite pleased with himself.

“See draculaura, was that so hard?” he chuckled.

“So we have an agreement?”

Draculaura sighed as she plopped back in her chair. “Yeah… we do.”

Batsy barely skimmed over Draculaura’s essay; an insulting gesture considering how much of a hassle Draculaura went through to finish it. When she reached the last page and she dropped it on the table.

“Acceptable,” she passively said as she gazed back up at Draculaura and Valentine. Draculaura resisted the urge to squeal. “So now that you two have completed your nine core tasks,

“Isn’t this society already confidential?” Valentine asked.

Batsy gazed at him and smiled. “Yes, but this one is specific to our chapter. Since I will be overlooking you two for the upcoming months, the society thinks it’d be appropriate if I decided what you two should do for your final four tasks to prove yourselves worthy.” She turned to unzip the cage that was sitting beside her and pulled something out with both her hands.

Draculaura gasped excitedly while Valentine braced himself. The creature was one of the cutest things she had ever seen. It had beating red eyes and large ears that flopped over its forehead. It wagged its tail while showing off its large fangs with its pants. Small black wings sat on its back.

“Here. His name is Goredan and he is a bat and wolf hybrid.”

Valentine looked up at her confused. “How is that possib—”

“You’ll have to take care of her for two weeks. I will send both of you the instructions,” Batsy said as she placed him in Draculaura’s arms.

“He’s so cute!” Dracualura exclaimed as she braced the bat-pup in her arms.

“He is…” Valentine said.

“I will wash and feed you every day. We’re going to take so many pictures!”

“No pictures of him, please,” Batsy said. “He’s supposed to be a secret, remember?”

“Oh… right…” Draculaura continued to scratch his belly.

“No monster except you two is supposed to see him while you take care of him. I’ll check up on you guys next week… take good care of him, he’s a rare breed.” Batsy pet the batwolf one last time before coldly walking away.

“I’ll do the first shift… I have the perfect little pet bed for him,” Draculaura said, dotting over the creature once again.

“Okay,” Valentine laughed. “Look at us. It’s like we’re a little family,” he joked. Immediately, Draculaura turned to glare at him.

“Don’t get the wrong idea,” she warned.

 “Would never dream of it.” Valentine grinned his classic charming grin at her, the one she had learned to distrust yet still found too cute. She realized having to be around Valentine all the time was going to be her biggest trial of all.

Chapter Text

“I don’t get it…” Jackson complained as he finished the last few lines of his homework while Deuce scrolled through his Monstagram. “Why would Holt tell Heath?”

“He probably doesn’t know how big Heath’s mouth is yet,” Deuce said.

“True… I feel like he should’ve pieced it together by now.”

“Well, for his sake, he doesn’t find out in this circumstance,” Deuce said. Jackson was about to ask him what he meant when he finally pieced it together. Purrsephone probably wouldn’t like to hear about Frankie’s confession.

“And done!” Jackson announced as he finished his homework. “Now onto clawculus.”

“Jackson, you’ve been doing homework for the past two hours instead of getting ready for your date,” Deuce complained. It had been a few days since Jckson had formally asked out Clair. She had accepted, with the two of them agreeing to go to a restaurant in the human side of town. He had been nervous about it throughout the week and the only way he could think of to calm his nerves was to do homework.

He kept on thinking about Frankie, and how upset she would be if she found out that he was restarting things with Clair but he had to remind himself that they owed each other nothing. Heath had told him how Frankie was supposed to be on a date with some manster tonight as well, so that combined with her never giving the same confession she made to Holt to him solidified that there was not much more to them anymore. Despite this, he couldn’t get over her.

“I have a lot to do and Holt will be in control tomorrow,” Jackson said.

“Then what am I here for?” Deuce questioned.

“Emotional support.”

“Haha, very funny.” Deuce adjusted his glasses, hiding his genuine smile. “Fair enough though. It was either be your emotional support for tonight or Cleo’s… she’s gone full party planning mode… I wish all the monsters under her command tonight luck... but still, your date is in an hour.”

“Almost done…” Jackson continued to scribble down numbers. Clawculus was less complicated than his relationship with ghouls.

Deuce groaned and stood up. “C’mon, stand up. You’re going to get ready.

“Okay, you can do this. First date after Frankie,” Jackson hyped himself up in the mirror.

Jackson usually wasn’t “present” on Friday nights, but he was able to make an agreement

He had Friday and Holt would have the entirety of tomorrow so he could practice his set before the Hiss on the Lips party.

Over the next ten minutes, Jackson got ready for his date. He wanted to look nice for Clair, but not try too hard.

“How do I look?” Jackson asked nervously.

Deuce ruffed up his hair and removed his bowtie. “There you go.”

“Are you sure?” Jackson asked, glancing at himself in the mirror again.

“We’re off!” Jackson called as he and Deuce walked toward the door.

“Be back by midnight!” his mother called back.

When the two got outside, Jackson opened his car door.

“Do you want me to drive you home?” Jackson offered.

“No, it’s fine. Going to enjoy my few minutes of freedom before I have to go back under Cleo’s reign,” he joked.

“Clair is your friend... things won’t be awkward,” Deuce reassured him. “Just be yourself and everything will go well. Just relax.”

“Okay…” Jackson took a deep breath. “Thanks, Deuce.”

“No problem. See you, dude,” Deuce bid his farewell as he went in the opposite direction. Jackson drove to Clair’s house, constantly repeating to himself how they were already friends and how it would go fine. He reached her driveway to find her already standing outside with a vape.

“Jackson, you’re early,” she greeted.

“Oh, shoot, sorry…” he apologized.

“I don’t mind. You wouldn’t believe the amount of times Rodrick was late for everything.” She took another hit of her vape.

“You know those things aren’t good for you…” Jackson nervously lectured.

“Yeah, I’m trying to quit. Wish I never started.” She stashed it away. “C’mon, let’s go.”

The night couldn’t have gone worse, Jackson thought. Clair had managed to spend the entire time talking about her ex, Rodrick, everything she hated about him and all the times he had wronged her, still very clearly not over him. Jackson didn’t mind listening to her, considering that they were still friends, but he was slightly disappointed to know that there was no hope for tonight. Eventually, he saw himself as a hypocrite. He wasn’t over Frankie either, yet he was subconsciously judging Clair for acting in a way that allowed his obsession with Frankie to continue. He continued to listen to her, adding the commentary she wanted to hear and staying engaged with every word.

“And then he… Oh my god… I just spent this entire date talking about him, didn’t I?” Clair said, embarrassed.

“No, no, it’s fine,” Jackson brushed off. “Truth be told, I’m not over Frankie either.”

“Jackson…” Clair groaned. “You deserve better.”

“I could say the same for you.”

Clair opened her mouth to retort then smirked. “Touche”

“Well.” Jackson picked up his menu.

“Speak of the devil,” Clair said looking out the window. Jackson followed her gaze to see Rodrick standing outside the restaurant but with another girl.

“Ignore him, you can do better Clair,” Jackson pleaded.

“I know…” she bit onto her nail. “I’m going to go talk to him!” She abruptly got up and went outside to confront the boy.

Jackson calmly watched him from his seat when suddenly Rodrcik pulled Clair in and the two began making out.

“That’s how I expected my night to end,” Jackson half chuckled to himself.

JACKSON: I’ll talk to you later😅

He picked up his keys and left the restaurant.

“Hi Clawd,” Draculaura spoke into her phone.

“Hi, Ula D,” Clawd greeted on the other end of the line.”

“When are you going to get here?

“What?”

“The movie. We are going to see it today, remember?”

“Oh shoot, sorry D… I’m completely swamped in clawculus homework right now,” Clawd said sorrowfully.

“I already bought ticket…” Draculaura pouted. “That’s alright… I could come over with my books and we can study together?”

“I would love that, but you know me, I will get distracted. I got a C on my last test so I really need to bring my grade up with this next one.

“Oh, okay.”

“I promise to make it up to you… I’ll take you to that party tomorrow… what was it called?”

“Hiss on the Lips,” Draculaura reminded.

“Yes, that.”

“Okay…

She stared down at her two movie tickets. Tonight her and Clawd were supposed to see Prom Pack, a movie Draculaura adored and always wanted to see whenever it played in theatres. She turned to go home when she spotted Valentine coming toward her.

“Draculaura,” he greeted as he approached her. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Hey Valentine,” Draculaura resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He held Goredan between his arms with the bat-wolf surrounded by a strange purple glow outlining his body. “You brought Goredan?”

“Batsy gave me an invisibility potion to put on him,” Valentine explained. “You see the purple aura around him? Only monsters who are aware of his existence can see him… so it’s just us right now.”

Draculaura paused. “Why would Batsy do that?” He shrugged. “Okay, I won’t fight any moment I get to spend with this cutie.” She pulled a silly face at Goredan who barked happily.

“So what are you up to?”

“I was going to see a movie with Clawd but he bailed last minute so I’m going home. T’s a shame, cause I already paid for our tickets.”

“I’m free.” Valentine offered himself up. She watched him then looked down at her movie tickets. It would be a shame to waste.

“Fine, but you have to pay me back for your ticket,” she said firmly.

“Not a problem,” he said, already heading toward the theatre.

#

“Casketball is cool but I always thought it was on the lower end of the sports spectrum. My mom put me in it when I was young, and I was pretty good at it until I discovered baseskull. That’s where the real action is. Baseskull just has so much more to it: there’s more strategy, appeal, and glory. I don’t know why monsters even waste their time with casketball anymore, it's such a bore in comparison.” Frankie passively listened to Neighton yap on and on about his opinions. He had been one of that Cleo had picked out for Frankie and the match couldn’t have been worse off. Throughout the entire night, she did not recall any moment where he showed any interest in her.

“Oh look, the game’s on!” he exclaimed, his eyes glued to the TVs across the room. “I’m going to move up to get a better look… you should join!” he said. Before she could respond, he slid out of his seat and went up.

“And that’s my cue to go,” she muttered, picking up her purse and sliding out the booth. She went outside and took a breath of fresh air, something she had quickly learned to miss after being stuck in a room full of sweaty sports guys for an hour.

She walked down the street by herself, wishing she had done literally anything else tonight (save for Cleo’s last-minute planning for Hiss on the Lips) than going on this date.

What’s Jackson doing? She wondered to herself. Ever since she learned that he asked out Clair, she thought of him more than ever. She remembered Clair, she was a nice ghoul… girl. Before she could dwell on the situation further, she spotted Jackson walking out of a convenience store. She expected him to walk out with Clair beside him, but he was alone.

“Jackson!” Frankie called. She waved at him to gain his attention. When he nervously waved back, she walked up to him.

“Frankie,” he smiled. “What’re you doing here?”

“Oh I was just walking around when I spotted you…” Frankie said. “What are you doing right now?”

“I’m just going to the local theatre. They have a new silent movie playing. I wanted to get a snack before I went 'cause everything is so expensive there.” He held up a few packs of candy.

“Are you going alone?”

“I was hanging out with Clair but…” he grinned awkwardly. “I think she’s getting back with her ex.”

“Okay…” she tried to hide her glee. “I’ll join you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

“I thought you were on a date too?”

“He turned out to be a douche,” Frankie said. “Now let’s go, we don’t want to miss the movie.”

“Remember when our class decided to pull a prank on Mr Bloodsworth?” Valentine asked as the two and Goredan sat on the hood of his car on a hill that overlooked New Salem.

“And you and Wolfgang dropped those feathers on him?” Draculaura continued the story and laughed. “Oh my ghoul, he was so angry but it was so funny!”

“I don’t know how we didn’t get expelled.”

“You and Wolfgang had your way with charming people.”

“You giving a long monologue about how that prank was essential to our learning experience to the headmaster probably helped us way more than anything we could have said.”

Draculaura nodded as she continued to pet Goredan when his purple aura suddenly disappeared.

“You’re back!” she exclaimed as she picked up the bat-wolf and gave him several kisses.

“That spell was more effective than I had hoped for. I gotta thank Batsy again,” Valentine said as he joined in on petting the bat-wolf.

“Why does she help you so much?” Draculaura asked, putting Goredan back down.

Valentine awkwardly scratched his head then sighed. “Well… Batsy and I kind of, sort of, started… hooking up.”

 “Ugh, really Valentine?” Draculaura couldn’t hide her disgust.

“She came onto me!” he defended. “There were four other ghouls on the rooster to pair me with but I assume Batsy paired us up because she doubted that we would ever get along.”

“How do you think she would react if she found out that we were getting along right now?”

“Probably not too good, but she knows you’re dating Clawd so there’s no cause for suspicion,” Valentine said.

“Wow, very well thought out plan.”

“I guess you can say I am on probation,” Valentine sighed. “Batsy is the only reason why I was even considered to get an invite. Without her, I would’ve been doomed.”

“Really?”

”Yeah… I owe her a lot…” Valentine tapped his finger on the hood of the car sorrowfully. “Things have been hard ever since I moved back to New Salem. I’ve never known what it was like to be an outcast before. My mom wanted to send me back to Romania since I was finding things so hard but I knew how much she would hate it if I did.”

There was a silence between them as Draculaura processed his words. She typically felt bad whenever people expressed loneliness, but his words only angered her.

“Is this the part of the night where you try to manipulate me into feeling bad for you for what you did?” she questioned.

“What? No!”

She got up. “Of course…this was your plan all along. Having me vouch for you isn’t enough. You have to manipulate me into thinking that somehow me and my ghouls exposing you was something terrible and you were just a nice guy all along? Fuck you!” Draculaura exclaimed. Goredan yelped and covered his eyes. “

“I will admit I wasn’t the nicest, but you did go overboard,” Valentine argued back.

“How so? We just told everyone what you did and they were horrified for us,” Draculaura snapped back. I trusted you Valentine! Do you know how much it hurt when I found out that the monster who I thought was my friend, the monster who I thought I could trust had been manipulating me and every interaction we had was fake?”

Valentine stared at her. “It wasn’t fake Draculaura…”

“Yes, it was. I cannot trust a single word you say about the situation because it was all based on lies anyways!” Draculaura yelled, feeling her tears start to swell. “And for what? A trophy? The bragging rights? And it just wasn’t me… you did that with so many other ghouls. How can you live with yourself?!” She screamed. Valentine said nothing and continued to watch her. “It’s getting late… I’m going home.”

“Draculaura…” she turned back to him. He looked at her intensely, with nothing but regret showing on his face. “I’m sorry.”

Draculaura took a deep breath. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“That’s the ghoul Romulus is puppysitting,” Howleen overheard a werewolf to one of her friends say before they started snickering. Howleen tightened her sweater around her as she watched Romulus play casketball with some of his friends from outside of Monster High. It had been a pretty uneventful night, but she enjoyed any time she got to spend with him… except for the nasty commentary she would sometimes overhear.

“I saw her with him on Gossip Ghoul… do you think they’re a thing?” one of the other werewolves asked the group.

“Doubt it,” the first one snorted.

“You’re just mad that he never asked you out.”

“Please, let’s be seriously. You know Romulus, he likes to bring around ghouls he can hook up with then toss aside. They never amount to anything.”

“Until Clawdeen.”

“Yeah, and she turned out to be a lesbian, so he’s now going for the next best thing."

“She looks young…” Another one said pitifully. "Kind of weird, if I'm being honest."

“I know… good luck.” The ghouls snickered again as they walked away.

Howleen pretended to not notice them as she quietly wished that Romulus had not taken her somewhere so public, but there were limited places for them to go.

Ever since the Gossip Ghoul blast, things had been tense in the Wolf household. Clawd constantly tried to talk to her (which she knew was a trap set by him to convince her to stop seeing Romulus) while Clawdeen and she were barely on speaking terms. Romulus never came over like he had used to, but Howleen preferred it since she did need any drama that would come up with him being in her room or them spending time in her living room.

She and Romulus had been on a few dates, most of them low effort and nothing particularly special. Tonight was the worst of them, with her barely interacting with him and just watching him play casketball with other monsters.

She watched him make another shot when her phone buzzed.

GIGI: Howleen!!!

GIGI: How is your hot date with Romulus tonight?

TWYLA: tell us everything!

Howleen frowned. There wasn’t much more to say. Twyla and Gigi were at Gigi’s house watching Freaky Friday, but Howleen bailed on them to hang out with Romulus today. She now regretted that decision.

HOWLEEN: It’s great! He’s sooo romantic

HOWLEEN: So much better than the guys in our grade

GIGI: Ugh, I wish I could get a boyfriend in grade 13

TWYLA: Are you two going to Hiss on the Lips together? Has he asked you?

She scratched herself nervously. He had never once brought up Hiss on the Lips to her.

HOWLEEN: Totally!

GIGI: EXCITING!!!

HOWLEEN: gotta go, ttyl

She put her phone away and tightened her claws as she watched Romulus on the court. He was in deep conversation with another manster before he tossed back the casketball. He finally walked toward her after waving his friends off.

“Ready to go?” he asked. Howleen nodded. He picked up his bag and walked out the court, with her trailing behind him. When they got to his car, he opened the door for her. She almost climbed inside when opted to kiss him instead, hard; harder than she had ever kissed him before. She tried to push further, so they would start making out when he finally pulled back.

“Woah, woah woah, what’s gotten into you,” he chuckled, lightly rubbing his lip. “We’re still in public.”

“What are we?” she boldly asked.

“What do you mean?”

She hesitated, already feeling slightly stupid. “What are we doing?”

Romulus began to chuckle. “Here we go.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ghouls love this question.”

“Just answer it,” she snapped.

“We’re hanging out.”

“That’s it?”
“Yes.”

“I bailed on hanging out with Gigi and Twyla tonight in order to spend time with you…” she complained. “I would like to know that the guy I’m ditching my friends for actually feels the same way about me.”

“Sorry that this was such an inconvenience for you.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?” a flicker of annoyance flashed across his face.

“I just expected more considering that we spend so much time together now and Gossip Ghou—"

“Gossip Ghoul? Really?” He laughed. “If you care about what that ghoul says, then you are lost.”

She scoffed, getting increasingly angry. “What’s your problem? Why are you so afraid of commitment?”

“My goodness Howleen, if I knew you were going to be this childish then I would have never took you out in the first place,” he snapped. The comment hit her like a dagger.

“Why don’t you want to commit to me?” she asked, holding back her tears.

Romulus rolled his eyes. “I’m not having this conversation anymore… get in the car.”

“What?”

“Do you want a ride home or not?” Romulus questioned. Howleen froze. “Then get in the car.” Without another word, she climbed into the passenger seat.

“Here we are,” Jackson said, as he parked outside Frankie’s house. She held onto her leftover bag of popcorn from the movie and glanced at her house; the lights were still on indicating that her parents were home. She frowned slightly knowing that she couldn’t invite him inside.

“Thank you,” she finally said, unbuckling her seatbelt.

“Anytime,” he smiled. She smiled back and got out of the car. As she reached her sidewalk, she turned back to his window.

“Listen, Jackson…” she took a deep breath. “I had a lot of fun tonight.”

“Me too.”

“I was thinking-” Suddenly a raindrop fell on her bolt causing it to hiss violently. Frankie looked up to see rain “It’s going to rain!”

Jackson immediately got out of his car, pulling out a yellow umbrella and holding it over her head.

“Let me walk you to your door,” he said sweetly. She looked into his cute blue eyes and grinned.

“How are you always prepared?” she chuckled.

“It’s one of my qualities. C’mon.” Frankie led the way to her doorstep with Jackson behind her, carrying the umbrella. Her heart beating faster with every step. “Now that you’re back home safe and sound, I should probably get goi—"

Before she could understand her actions, she pulled him to her lips. The two kissed deeply as the rain fell over the umbrella. As the two kissed, Frankie could feel a spark dance around her bolt.

The car ride back home was painfully silent with only the sound of rain filling the void. Howleen quietly picked at her claws as Romulus drove.

She opened the door when he started to speak again.

“Listen Howleen,” he started. She paused and looked back at him. “This is only going to work if you respect my boundaries. I don’t like having my character and morals questioned, especially by someone who doesn’t know as much. I’m older than you, so I understand these things a lot better. There is no reason to rush these things. Being mature is understanding that monsters will sometimes talk and have their judgements, but you don’t listen to them. I am not going to do something just because of what some stupid ghouls say. If you don’t like that, then we should end things right now. Understand?”

Her heart raced as she processed what he had said. She wanted him to commit, but she also knew that she couldn’t force his hand. He was Romulus, and she was just Howleen. He was right; he was older so he understood relationship things better, but she couldn’t help feeling the way she felt. She turned away from him, holding back her tears as she exited the car. As she whimpered, his car drove off.

Chapter Text

“And for that reason, I know that Kieran Valentine would be an hexcellent addition to this society,” Draculaura said firmly. The council members looked around confused

One member cleared his throat and spoke into the microphone. “We had reports that you and Valentine had a… situation last year.”

“Since then, Valentine has profusely apologized to me. We have made amends,” Dracualura replied professionally.

“There you have it!” Batsy said, adjourning the meeting. All the vampires shuffled out of the room, leaving Valentine (and Batsy) behind.

“Thank you Draculaura, I can’t thank you enough,” Valentine said, approaching her.

“Don’t make me regret this,” she warned. Valentine stopped then firmly nodded when she headed off.

“I really don’t know what to do about Jackson,” Frankie admitted to her ghoul friends as they did the finishing touches to all their masks. Clawdeen half listened to Frankie’s tale about her impromptu date with Jackson and her boringsome dilemma with the normie/manster.

This was going to be her first night with Toralei in public for the entire school to see. She figured that Gossip Ghoul would post about them, so she wanted to ensure that her costume was purrfect, as Toralei would say. Toralei had sent her a preview of her costume hours before; it was an orange and purple ensemble so Clawdeen painted her mask purple so they would match.

“What is problem now?” Abbey asked.

“Jackson likes me, but Holt doesn’t,” Frankie explained.

“So?” Lagoona said, adjusting her dark blue mask over her eyes.

“Ugh, where is Draculaura?” Cleo exclaimed, frantically pacing around her room to grab last minute things she needed.

“She said she will come late, probably with Clawd,” Clawdeen answered as she blew over her mask to make it dry faster.

“You should just date Jackson,” Abbey said.

“Yeah, the reason why you and Jackson didn’t work out last time was because Holt also liked you. Maybe this is for the best,” Lagoona added.

“I know but let’s look at their family. Jackson’s mom is like him and she only has one husband. If this is going to work out, both Holt and Jackson would have to date me,” Frankie said.

“Oh enough with it,” Cleo said, applying heavy eyeliner around her eyes. “Jackson likes you and we all know Holt secretly does as well. Just go in for the kill. Stop wasting time.”

“Cleo!” Clawdeen scornfully protested.

“What? It’s true.” Cleo screwed back on the top of her eyeliner. “We have spent too much time worried about this will-they, won’t-they drama. It’s time to take what you want now, Frankie.”

“Did we all forget that Holt is dating Purrsephone?”

“Who cares.” Cleo rolled her eyes. “We all know Holt did that to make Frankie jealous, as much as he wants to deny it. He may feel some guilt, but I can assure you Frankie that if you spend some more time with him, instead of just one convo, he would bow to you in a heartbeat.”

“Any guy who does that is an asshole and isn’t worth keeping.” Clawdeen folded her arms.

“That may be true, but some sacrifices have to be made to get what to want.” Cleo shrugged. “C’mon ghouls." The ghouls shuffled out of Cleo’s house and into the limo to get to the venue. The ghouls continued to talk about Frankie’s problem which annoyed Clawdeen further.

DEENIE: Can’t wait to see you tonight.

TORALEI: Can’t wait to see you too, I’m already in line.

When they got there, there was already a line of masked monsters waiting outside desperate to get in. Clawdeen found Toralei and brought her with her inside. The party commenced immediately with the venue becoming packed within twenty minutes. The two danced together when Clawdeen caught a glimpse of Romulus wearing a poor attempt of a mask dancing sensually with a ghoul in a white mask.

“Excuse me,” Clawdeen said, shooing off the ghoul. She turned her attention to Romulus. “Where is Howleen?”

He shrugged. “No clue.”

“So why are you dancing with another ghoul?”

“Howleen and I are not a couple.”

“Oh don’t give me that,” she scoffed. “Is this some sort of fetish for you?”

Romulus chuckled. “I don’t think what I’m into is any of your business anymore.”

“I’m sorry that your ego was hurt but trying to get back at me by going after my sister is beyond pathetic.”

“My ego is fine.” His entire demeanour suddenly became more threatening.

“Back off,” Toralei warned.

“This isn’t worth my time,” he turned back to the ghoul. “Let’s go.” She immediately obliged and left with him.

“What an asshole,” Toralei sneered as they watched him leave.

“I know…” Clawdeen said. “Hopefully Howleen knows to stay away from him now.”

Howleen painted her claws as she and her ghouls watched Prom Pack in Gigi’s house. Howleen passed one of her shades of blue over to Twyla when Gigi gasped.

“Scarah just saw Romulus dancing with another ghoul!” she pulled out her phone to show them the text convo. Howleen immediately felt like crying. She hadn’t spoken to Romulus since their fight so she wasn’t sure if they were still together or not; it seemed like the answer was officially not.

“I feel so stupid,” Howleen put her head in her hands.

“No.” Gigi stood up, shaking her head. “He doesn’t get to treat you like that, and you are not going to let him think he won.”

“What am I supposed to do?” Howleen glanced up at her.

“We’re going to that party,” Gigi said firmly.

“Will we be allowed in?” Twyla asked nervously.

“Please, Clawdeen is one of Cleo’s ghoulfriends. She will let us in,” Gigi reasoned. Howleen wiped the tears forming under her eyes and nodded. The ghouls quickly threw some outfits together with the help of Howleen’s killer fashion sense and Gigi’s genie magic.

They called a taxi to the venue and were instantly greeted with the long line. Determined to get in, Gigi pulled her ghoulfriends to the front.

“Names…” The guard boredly asked them. Gigi nudged Howleen.

“Uhh we’re not on the list but we’re good friends with the host,” Howleen said.

The guard blinked then looked inside the doors. “Miss Cleo?” the guard called

“What is it now?” she complained hastily.

“These ghouls say they know you.” He pointed to them. “Lift your masks.”

Cleo glanced at them. “They can enter.” She walked away.

The guard turned back to them and opened the red velvet to let them inside.

“This is so cool!” Gigi squeaked as they walked inside.

“I didn’t know this many people could fit in a room before…” Twyla said.

Howleen looked around for Romulus, but she could not spot him, despite his tall stature. She began to feel sad when Gigi pulled her and Twyla to the dance floor and they all began to dance.

“Howleen?” A vampire asked. She couldn’t recognize him until he lifted his mask to reveal his identity.

“Oh, hi Bram,” Howleen said. Bram was a vampire in her grade. She sometimes worked with him in Home Eck but they usually hung around separate circles.

“Do you want to dance?”  

“Oh sorry, I—” Howleen started to say when Gigi cut her off.

“One second Bram,” Gigi said. She pulled Howleen and Twyla closer to her. “Go dance with him!”

“But Romu—”

“Romulus is dancing with another ghoul.”

“I don’t even know if he’s still here.”

“That’s true, but we can make sure that he certainly sees,” Gigi shook her phone in her hand.

“We can’t…”

“If he sees you on Gossip Ghoul then it would send him the message that you have your options too.”

Howleen grinned and accepted the challenge. She went back to Bram.

“Let’s dance,” she said. He guided her slightly away from her friends as the two danced for the rest of the night together. From the corner of her eye, she could see Twyla and Gigi taking several pictures.

“This isn’t fair. You helped plan the event!” Slo-mo exclaimed. He stood in Ghoulia’s living room wearing his blue tux and mask.

“I can’t do anything… Cleo banned me. Surely, she told her servants to not let me in,” Ghoulia said. She was angry, no, furious about the fact that she had spent so much energy planning Hiss on the Lips just to not be able to go, but she had learned to accept her losses.

“Absolutely ridiculous…” Slo-mo groaned. “There must be a way to get inside.”

“It’s fine, I’m serious. I’m fine with just watching Gilmore Ghouls tonight.” She held her laptop closer to her.

“There must be a way…” he started to slowly pace. “You booked the venue, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So… you probably know the secret ways to get in.”

Ghoulia froze then smiled. “You’re right…” She opened a new tab and looked over the venue blueprints.

Frankie watched as Holt DJed at the booth alone. Operetta was with him at the start of his set but had randomly disappeared during the night. With her ghouls preoccupied with their partners, Frankie decided that it was time to go in for the kill.

She pushed her way through the crowd when she finally made it to the booth. She climbed up beside Holt, who was carefully monitoring his mixing.

“Operetta?” he asked.

“No, it’s me, Frankie,” she said.

“Oh…” he replied. “No offence, but I don’t want Gossip Ghoul—"

“Don’t worry, I’m wearing a mask. No one recognizes me,” she retorted.

“Right…” he said, pushing one button upwards. “Need anything?”

“Just wanted to hang out with you here.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “Is that okay?”

“Uh, yeah! Sure.”

“Terrific,” she said as she started to dance.

“I’ve been telling you about this party non-stop. What do you mean you forgot?” Draculaura scolded a half-dressed Clawd in his room. When she arrived at his house, she had expected him to be ready. Instead, she was met with her boyfriend’s typical complaints about him being too busy and needing to study.

“C’mon Draculaura, it’s Cleo. She’s going to host ten million more parties until her dad comes back,” Clawd said. “I need to study again tonight. I really need to ace this test on Monday.”

“It’s…. you… there’s always something!” she exclaimed. “Since the end of summer, you’ve never had time for me. I put so much effort into trying to see you but you always find a reason to say no.”

“Draculaura, you’re not being fair.”

“But you are?” she crossed her arms. “I’m missing out on important

“Just go by yourself! You don’t need me escorting you. You’re being overdramatic. We both know that Clawdeen and all of your ghouls are there.”

Draculaura hesitated in yelling at him. “Why don’t you seem to care about these things?”

“I do I just…” Clawd looked away from her. “I just don’t have time.”

“Forget it!” she raised her hands up in the air. “Enjoy your homework. I’m leaving.”

Draculaura left the Wolf house and made her way to the Hiss on the Lips venue trying her hardest not to think about Clawd when a manster stopped her.
“Draculaura?” Valentine’s voice came from behind his mask. “Well, well, well. We gotta stop

“Valentine? Are you going to the party too?”

“Yeah, I thought ‘why not?’”

“Alone?”

“Yup, Batsy didn’t think this was worth her time.”

“Neither did Clawd,” she sighed. “Do you want to go together? No one will know it’s us with our masks.”

“Sure.”

“Perfect. Don’t try any funny business!” she warned.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Cleo could not think of another instance where she enjoyed one of her parties less than this one. She had spent the entire night roaming around the venue, ensuring that everything was perfect that she never really took a moment to enjoy herself. She realized how much work Ghoulia took on without her ever fully appreciating it. Part of her wanted to get Ghoulia to take up the roles she usually did, but the other part wanted her nowhere near her party.

To add more stress to her life, she had been informed the night prior that a reporter was coming to her party to ask her questions about the fundraising aspect of her party. She was sure that she had made over $300, but she was unsure of specifics since Ghoulia typically handled that.

“Cleo? Cleo De Nile?” a reporter

“Yes, it is I,” she replied.

“Do you have a minute for a quick interview?”

“Why of course! Follow me.” She guided the reporter to a quieter spot as they began her interview. Cleo was halfway through answering a question about her inspiration for the fundraiser when she spotted a ghoul wearing a green mask that Ghoulia had been working on before their fallout. 

“Ghoulia?” she walked past the reporter and pushed her way to the zombie. “What are you doing here?”

“Uhhh…” Ghoulia groaned.

“I don’t give a shit. You are not invited!”

“Uhhhhh!”

“Oh please, as if anyone wants to see your tacky mask,” Cleo sneered.

“Uhhhhhhhh!”

The record scratched as all the monsters froze and stared at the former best ghoulfrineds.

“How dare yo-“ Cleo struggled to find more cordial words. “GET OUT OF MY PARTY RIGHT NOW!”

“Uhhhhh,” Ghoulia spat back. She began to walk out, with all the zombies following close behind her.

“That party was so good!” Frankie screamed. Her and Holt had decided to walk home together after the party had ended. “And you were amazing.”

“Thank you, couldn’t have done it without you,” Holt said.

“Really? Seriously doubt it.”

“No, no. It gets lonely up there. I need someone with me so I can stay in the moment,” he admitted. It felt similar to the first night he had met her; she stood with him in the DJ stand, and every insecurity and worry he had had suddenly gone away.

“You remember how we first met?”

“Yeah.”

“I miss that.” She pulled him in when he pushed her off.

“Frankie…” he said.

“What’s the problem now, Holt?” she asked, getting frustrated.

“Purrsephone.”

“You can’t seriously like Purrsephone. She’s not your type.”

“And how would you know that?” He questioned. “We have barely talked in the last year. We barely know each other anymore.”

“You’re right… I’m sorry…” Frankie said sorrowfully. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Look Frankie….” He scratched the back of his neck, unsure of what he was going to say next. He wanted to accept the apology, but she had crossed a line. “I don’t think we should be friends anymore.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious just like how I am serious about my relationship.” He exhaled and then scratched his head. “I don’t know what I’m doing… This isn’t right. Tonight was a mistake.”

“Holt.”

“Goodnight, Frankie.” He said as he walked home.

“She ruined it,” Cleo sloppily said as Deuce held her up.

“Cleo, your party was awesome, you’re just too stressed to see,” he said.

“Really?”

“Really.”

She nuzzled her head in his chest when they reached the front of her house. For some reason, the front of her house was extremely busy, with her servants rapidly working to move luggage inside the pyramid.

“What’s going on at your house?” Deuce asked.

“I’m not sure…” Cleo said cautiously. She watched the guards move when a mummy walked toward her. “Mom?”

Chapter Text

GossipGhoul.net

Disclaimer: All the names of places, monsters, and events have been altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent. Namely, me.

Hey monsters!

Hello fellow monsters, it’s that time of the month where I drop all the excess gossip I have been holding in for weeks. Hiss on the Lips was the talk of the town, especially with all the masks but remember my dear readers, a mask can only hide some secrets.

Drama on the dancefloor

Drama Queen’s party couldn’t have gone on without a stitch. While giving an interview with a local reporter, Undead Wannabe crashed the party and had a few choice words to yell at Drama Queen. What did she say? Only words that are certainly unbecoming of a queen. I can't reveal what she said without having my entire blog taken down, but calling someone that at their own party is certainly a bold move. If ghouls who were supposed to be friends could say this to each other, is anyone be safe?

Puppy love or puppysitting?

Little H and Almost Alpha, our new… interesting… couple were spotted at the casketball court where he played for hours with his ghouls while she sat at the sidelines and watched… ech, Little H seems less like Almost Alpha’s new ghoul and more like a lost little puppy he allows to follow him around.

The story continues at Hiss on the Lips where the interesting couple were seen there… but not with each other. While Little H was with a mystery manster on the dance floor, Almost Alpha was leaving with a mystery ghoul. Maybe they were never an item and Almost Alpha really was just puppysitting; or maybe there was some love, and now it’s lost, and Almost Alpha has struck out with not one but two ghouls from the same pack in two months.

Flames dying?

Hot and Cold might be MH’s new it couple, but whispers say otherwise. This manster has always been known to like things hot but is our special fire elemental the one who wants to cool things down? I’ve seen some spooky things, but this seems to be the spookiest of all.

New ghoul in the DJ booth

Hiss on the Lips could only be topped off with the hexellent music provided by our favourite DJ and hs typical female companion. Problem? That’s not his ghoulfriend. While Kitty Dee was out of town, DJ was getting to know a new special ghoul. Who could she be? And is she going to be a problem for the werecat twin?

Sightings

Pretty in Pink and Predatory Fangs were seen getting close downtown, seemingly forgetting all the trouble he had caused her last year. The already strange affair wouldn’t be as notable if her hanging with her boofriend wasn’t becoming so rare.

Your E-gore

Q: Hi Gossip Ghoul,

I saw Failed Spark and Lonely Normie walking together downtown. They certainly seemed to enjoy each other’s company. What do you think of this?

--AmericanWolf

A: Dear AmericanWolf,

YAWN! BORING! Things look deader than my undead grandmother. There’s going to need to be some serious mad scientistry to bring sparks back to this couple

-GG

----

Q: Sup GG,

Gossip Ghoul, we know that Lonely Normie and DJ are the same person but if DJ hookups with other ghouls... (unless Jackson also lost his virginity) 

-GargoyleGod

A: Dear GargoyleGod,

Good question, I actually never thought of that. Would any of their personalities like to answer?

–GG

----

Q: Hey GG,

I love your blog. I saw Saltwater Disaster hanging around a strange bunch near a sketchy convenience store on past midnight. This crowd didn’t look like the typical bunch Forgettable Friend liked to hang around. What do you think she was doing? Drugs?

- PhantomTings87

A: Dear PhantomTings87,

Wouldn't shock me. That ghoul always seems like she's on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Probably because it's been forever since she's gone home.

-GG

----

Q: Hey GG, 

I overheard Pretty in Pink and Local Beast talking the other day and something tells me that whatever spark that kept them together is slowly wearing off. He barely has time for her anymore now that he’s constantly studying for school while Pretty in Pink seems to be preoccupied with her own secret activities. It reminds me of how my parents used to speak to each other before they got divorced. Nothing crazy, they just never had anything to talk about

--GingerDragon

A: Dear GingerDragon,

Secrets are surely the easiest way to kill off any relationship. If Pretty in Pink wants to know what it's like to lose your spark, I’m sure Failed Spark is more than willing to give her advice.

--GG

You know you fear me,            

Gossip Ghoul

Chapter Text

Cleo blinked her eyes open as her phone buzzed beside her head. She sat up and opened her messages.

DAD: Cleo

DAD: Where are you?

She sighed. While Deuce’s mother was away on a business trip, Cleo made herself at home at his house. The opportunity could not have come at a better time considering how her mummy was the last monster she wanted to see. It had been years since she had last seen her. Her mother randomly got up and left the De Nile household without saying so much as a goodbye to her daughters and husband. Cleo would call and write e-gores to her mother, begging her to come back and explain why she left but was met with ghost-silence. Eventually, she stopped caring and got used to a life without her mummy.

CLEO: At a friend’s house

DAD: No, you’re not.

DAD: Are you at Deuce’s?

DAD: I have sent some of our servants to come and pick you up.

DAD: If you do not come willingly, you will be grounded

“My dad is sending someone over to pick me up,” Cleo groaned.

“Do you think you will be fine?” Deuce asked.

“Yeah,” Cleo sighed. “I can’t avoid my mother forever.” She stood up and changed out of her pyjamas. “What’s going on with Ghoulia is already stressful enough, I don’t need this!”

Deuce packed up all her clothes while she packed up her makeup. When they were done, they waited outside the front of his house.

“If there’s any problem, just text me. I’ll even come pick you up if need be.”

“Thanks Deucie, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

A gold limo rolled outside of the window.

“I should get going,” she said before giving him a kiss goodbye. She entered the limo and watched as Deuce’s house disappeared through her window. She didn’t want to admit it, but part of her really wanted to know what her mother wanted to say while the other part of her wondered how Ghoulia was doing.

“Cleo,” Ramses’ voice boomed as a servant opened the car window. “I am not pleased with your antics.”

“You always told me that royalty has to care for themselves. Hiss on the Lips was such a hassle, I needed a break!” Cleo retorted.

“Your mother came home so we can all be a family again. You should be grateful,” Ramses scolded.

“Why do we need to thank her for something that is her fault anyway?”

“Your mother had business to attend to.”

“For three years?”

“Would you rather me not come back at all?” Cleo froze when she heard Dedyet’s voice. She turned to see her mother sitting in a stool in the island kitchen. Beside her, was her blue cup filled with coffee. Cleo resisted the urge to roll her eyes; gone for three years and coming back home as if no time had passed, typical.

“Cleo,” her mother greeted. “Come sit beside me. Let’s catch up.” She reluctantly obliged, sitting in the chair a servant pulled out for her. “Nefera told me about this blog that is popular in New Salem… I forgot what it was called… Gossip Ghoul?”

“It’s not a big deal,” Cleo said.

“If it wasn’t a big deal, then why would Nefera mention it?” Dedyet said. Cleo knew she had already lost the argument. Nefera made it a point to never mention things that were beneath her, so even though Gossip Ghoul. “I took the initiative to go through the site. If your nickname Drama Queen?”

“Yes.”

“Love it,’

“Really?”

Dedyet opened the recent blast on her laptop. “Yes, it let’s monsters know that you’re a diva that shouldn’t be messed with. Gossp Ghoul mentions you quite often. It also shows that your parties are a success and that you are a really relevant ghoul. I have one question though… this Ghoulia… wasn’t she your friend?”

“Uh… yes, but—”

“You need to tell her off. You can’t let ghouls think that they can say anything to you and get away with it?” Dedyet explained.

“I know…”

“So…” Dedyet closed her laptop. “What are you going to do about this?”

PURRSEPHONE: gossipghoul.net/updates/new

PURRSEPHONE: Who’s the ghoul?

Holt could already feel his palms begin to sweat as he read her text.

“Purrsephone is asking me who the ghoul was from Hiss on the Lips,” he said nervously.

“You should reply to that soon if you don’t want to look suspicious,” Operetta said, as she flipped the page in her magazine. They were once again hanging out in her workplace.

“What do I say?”

“Tell her the truth!”

“Operetta, be serious.”

“I am! Things have their way of travelling in this town. Better to be honest with her than to lie and have her figure it out later.”

“I’m going to tell her that it was you, alright?”

“Your funeral,” she shrugged.

HOLT: Operetta

PURRSEPHONE: Yeah, thought so : )

PURRSEPHONE: Sorry for asking, Meowlody told me to make sure

HOLT: Dw, see you soon

“My dad sent me this werd postcard saying that he plans on coming to New Salem too, he just needs to finalize some plans,” Operetta said.

“Woah, woah, wait. Let’s go back to you,” Holt said. “Where did you disappear off to?”

She smiled. “You don’t need to know.”
“Kind of do to make sure my lie is full proof.”

“I’m not part of this,” Operetta said, folding her magazine. “The good thing is that everyone was wearing a mask. If Gossip Ghoul couldn’t figure out that it was Frankie, I seriously doubt that she will find out.”

ROMULUS: I’m outside

Howleen’s heart raced as she read the text. She hadn’t spoken to Romulus since their fight, and she wasn’t sure what to say to him, especially after the GG made their business further known to all the monsters of New Salem.

“So I read Gossip Ghoul last night,” Romulus started.

“Since when did you read GG?” Howleen tried to tease. Romulus ignored her comment and continued talking.

“I was thinking a lot about what you said the other night and I agree that we should try to define some things…” he took another deep breath. “I don’t feel comfortable with you hanging out with other mansters… I want you to be exclusive,” he said.

“Really?” she said excitedly. “Does that mean we’re boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“I guess so," he chuckled.

“Thank you,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

FRANKIE: Sorry Jackson, it’s just complicated right now

FRANKIE: Let’s talk about it later

Jackson reread the text over and over again. Complicated? They kissed! What was more to say?

“Jackson, you need to go to the convenience store and buy me some paprika?” his mother’s Hyde side, Helen, asked.

Jackson groaned. “Why me? Dad is still out; you can ask him.”

“You spend too much time at home, you need to go out,” his mother lectured.

Jackson sighed as he grabbed the keys. He drove to the local grocery store and went to the spice isle to find the paprika his mother wanted. Throughout the entire time, his mind kept on replaying his unofficial date with Frankie and her text.

“Hi Jackson,” Purrsephone said, appearing beside him.

“Hi,” he muttered.

“What’s wrong?” She asked. He awkwardly scratched his head causing her to laugh. “Jackson, we’re friends. You can tell me anything.”

“It’s about Frankie…”

“I may not be the biggest fan of her but I’m a fan of you so go off,” Purrsephone said.

“Okay…” Jackson began. He explained to her the night they spent together and the text he got this morning. “I don’t see what’s complicated, especially since she knows that we both like each other. I was hoping that after what happened at the baseskull game—"

Purrsephone furrowed her eyebrows. “What happened at the baseskull game?”

Jackson’s heart began to race. “Oh, I—”

“Jackson…” she said sternly. “What did she say.”

“She told Holt that she was still interested in him and that if he was willing to start over, she was all for that.”

“She… did… what?” her eye twitched.

“Oh…” Jackson froze. “I wasn’t supposed to say that… I assumed you knew…”

Purrsephone closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened her eyes again.

“Don’t worry Jackson… thank you.” Purrsephone bitterly smiled before walking away.

Jackson awkwardly walked to his car and drove home. When he arrived, he handed his mother the paprika.

“How was it?” Helen asked.

“Good,” he said sheepishly.

“See, isn’t it good that you got some air?” Helen said, grinning.

“Yeah…” he sat down on the living room couch, still dizzy from the encounter. “Very.”

Chapter Text

“I’m going to miss him,” Draculaura sniffled as she watched Batsy take Goredan away.

“He was a good boy…” Valentine said. “Now we just wait for our final task.”

“This one was really fun,” Draculaura said. “It was like I was a mother and that was our baby.”

“You know, we can pretend certain aspects together…” he said, moving closer to her.

“I have a boyfriend,” she reminded.

“C’mon, we both know that doesn’t matter,” he said. She looked at him with shock.

“You and Clawd have gotten a bit boring… and I know you miss the feel of my touch.” He reached for her arm when her hand smacked him squarely across the face.

“You stay away from me,” she scolded and then stormed off, already regretting giving him a good word to the council.

Holt opened the door to his house to let his ghoulfriend in. His parents were gone for the night so he had invited Purrsephone over for another movie night. When he opened the door, he leaned in for a kiss but she walked right past him.

“Hey,” he said, awkwardly closing the door.

“Sorry, I just forgot to say something

“…I’m confused…”

“Really?” she stepped toward him. “Is there anything you think you forgot to tell me?”

He racked his brain trying to think of an answer but nothing logical came.

“Lemme make this easier for you.” She stopped closer to him. “You forgot to tell me how Frankie confessed her feelings to you at the baseskull game.”

“Okay I don’t know what Heath told you—”

"HEATH?!" Her eyes widened to a scary size. “Oh so you told Heath but not me?”

“No, well, yes, but…”

“That must’ve been who you were hanging out with at the party!” she accused. “How could I have been so stupid. Obviously, it was Frankie, and you used Operetta to cover your tracks.”

“I, I didn’t… I” he began to stutter. For some reason his brain could no longer work when coming up with something to say to her.

“Unbelievable.” Purrsephone stormed out of his house.

Clawdeen and Toralei snuggled on Toralei’s couch watching Superstore on her Hexflix account. As they started a new episode of Bojack Centaurman, Toralei glanced at her phone and gasped.

“What’s up?” Clawdeen asked.

“Nothing… Purrsephone is just telling me everything that happened today.” Toralei sat up. “Did you know that Frankie confessed to her feelings to Holt at the baseskull game at the start of the screamestre?”

“Kind of,” Clawdeen said.

“You about this for months yet you didn’t tell me.”

“It wasn’t my business to tell.”

“I tell you everything that’s happening with Purrsephone and Meowlody,” Toralei scoffed.

“That’s different.”

“How so?”

“It just is."

“Purrsephone is really pissed off, rightfully so.” Toralei put her phone down. “You should’ve told me."

"Toralei, we agreed that we wouldn't bring up any drama between our ghouls to each other."

“Not when it comes to my ghouls and things that could hurt them.” Toralei moved away from her. “I don't know why you wouldn't mention this... I... I have to be honest and admit that I feel like I’m not as important to you as you claim.”

“Toralei… what are you talking about?”

“Even, you chose to get ready with your ghouls except with me. While I don’t usually mind that, you knew that Purrsephone and Meowlody weren’t going to be in town so I would have to go to the party alone. Then on top of that, I’m finding out that you knew this important piece of information that you never told me!”

“Toralei… my ghouls are important to me.”

“I gotta go, Purrsephone needs me,” Toralei quickly put on her coat.
“Toralei, wait,” Clawdeen tried to stop her, but she was already out the door.

Monday was one of the weirdest days of Ghoulia’s life. As she walked through the hall, every single monster stared at her, all deeply intrigued by her next move. She never had this much attention in her life, and while she enjoyed some of it, she would rather do without it.

Classes went on as usual, except with her avidly avoiding Cleo. After she had time to calm down, she grew to deeply regret what she had said to her. The end result was her spending most of her day alone or with Slo-mo, which she didn’t mind as a temporary alternative.

When lunchtime came, she sat alone in the creepateria as she waited for Slo-mo to come. She ate her sandwich while reading her comic book when a commotion began behind her.

“You!” Cleo exclaimed. Ghoulia turned around to see the mummy charging towards her with a large milkshake in hand. The entire creepateria was watching the two ghouls.

“Cleo,” Lagoona said, trying to pull her away.

“You think you can come to my party, call me whatever you want and face no consequence?” Cleo asked. “You made a terrible mistake.” Suddenly, Cleo's cold, thick milkshake rolled down her blue hair. Ghoulia shrieked as the cold sensation reached her scalp and clothes.

“Cleo that’s enough!” Lagoona screamed.

“Oh, please Lagonna, you are barely relevant as it is. The only reason why you even still go

“Excuse me?”

“You saw what GG said about you. You are nothing more than a saltwater disaster. I don’t need the likes of you around me, especially if you are going to be sympathetic to that.” She gestured to Ghoulia. “I hope you learned your lesson.”

“I can’t believe that ghoul!” Lagoona exclaimed. “Show’s over!” She yelled to the crowd. Many onlookers still stared, laughing and taking pictures. Ugh, this will certainly be on Gossip Ghoul later.

“Ghoulia, are you okay?” Lagoona asked.

“It’s okay… just wasn’t expecting that,” Ghoulia admitted.

Lagoona pulled her up. “C’mon, let’s get you to a bathroom.”

“Cleo, you did what to Ghoulia?” Clawdeen said in shock. The ghouls sat in Scarbucks inside the maul, recalling the most scandalous gossip of the day. When Frankie had asked where Ghoulia and Lagoona were, Cleo proudly gave her the answer.

"That's not cool, Cleo," Draculaura said cooly.

"I'm shocked that you even have time to have an opinion considering that you barely had time for us as of late," Cleo snapped.

"If this is about Hiss on the Lips, I did come, You just didn't see me," Draculaura defended herself.

"Whatever." Cleo rolled her eyes. "My mom is back in town and she thinks I need to put my foot down more often. Too many ghouls have been walking over me."

"Dedyet is back?" Draculaura gasped.

"Yes, and she-"

"You stupid little bitch!" Purrsephone yelled, charging toward Frankie. Clawdeen instinctively stood up and became the wedge between the two. Purrsephone glared at Frankie as though she wanted to shred her into a million pieces while Frankie seemed bewildered.

"What is this about?" Frankie asked innocently.

"Don't play stupid," Purrsephone scoffed. "I know it was you, and I know what you did."

“Ghouls, let’s cool off!” Clawdeen warned.

“Clawdeen, back away,” Toralei commanded. She used a serious tone she had never heard before. Taken aback, Clawdeen obliged.

Frankie nervously glanced at Clawdeen. "What did I do?"

"I don't have time to play this game with you. Stay away from Holt or else I will make sure those body parts of yours can never be resembled,” Purrsephone threatened.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Back up!" Clawdeen said, trying to stop Purrsephone from moving any closer to Frankie.

"How cute. You got your ghouls to play bodyguard for you cause you are too pathetic to stand up to your own actions," Purrsephone continued, becoming more enraged.

"I... I..." Frankie started to stutter. 

“You shouldn’t be so worried about Frankie since it’s Holt who is the one with the wondering eyes,” Cleo said.

“Actually, I already confronted Holt, and he told me everything,” Purrsephone said, refusing to break eye contact with Frankie. “Turns out that it was Frankie here who had been constantly ty to respark something with him, and like the good boofriend he is, he rejected her.”

“He didn’t reject spending time with her at my party.” Cleo said.

“Oh, but he will now,” Purrsephone glared. “Now, I just need to teach Frankie a lesson.” She pulled out her claws. Within an instant, she made a striking motion across Frankie’s cheek. Frankie screamed as Clawdeen jumped in between her.

“THAT'S ENOUGH!” Clawdeen said, pulling out her claws as well.

“Strike her again and I will keep you frozen for a year,” Abbey threatened.

“Oh please Abbey, you should be focusing on the fact that Heath is growing bored of you,” Purrsephone snapped.

“What are you talking about?” Abbey asked. “Gossip Ghoul is liar.”

“Wouldn’t you like to think that, wouldn't you," Meowlody said.

"What do you mean?" Abbey glared.

"Enough!" Draculaura yelped. “This is over.”

"No, it's not," Toralei growled.

“Toralei!” Clawdeen cried.

“What?” She glared. “Frankie crossed a line. It’s time for her to learn."

"And that lesson has already been learned. Let's go home before maul security is called on us."

“You ghouls have no shame,” Meowlody shook her head.

"Watch your back," Purrsephone spat her last threat to Frankie.

“And don’t bother texting me again,” Toralei sneered at Clawdeen and then turned her heels away from the ghouls. Meowlody and Purrsephone followed suit and stormed away.

Clawdeen turned to Frankie. “What the fuck was that!” she yelled.

“Why are you yelling at me? It was Purrsephone who attacked me!” Frankie argued, holding her cheek.

“Looks like it might leave nasty scar,” Abbey said, looking at the wound.

“Frankie, I told you not to go after Holt, and what did you do? You did it anyways! What did you expect would happen?” Clawdeen retorted.

“Oh bite me,” Frankie rolled her eyes.“I don’t need to considering that you’re the one with the scar.”

“Why did you let her scratch me?!”

“I didn’t know she was going to do that. I can’t tell the future.”

“It must be her relationship with Toralei,” Cleo sneered.

“The fuck are you implying Cleo?” Clawdeen asked, getting more defensive.

“I am tired of having friends actively working against me. Decide now Clawdeen. Are Toralei and her litter of crazy kittens more important to you or your actual ghoulfriends?”

“Don’t be so fucking dramatic.” Clawdeen rolled her eyes. “You need to stop reading Gossip Ghoul so much. This drama has gotten to your head.”

“Or maybe I’m just seeing things clearly now,” Cleo said. “C’mon ghouls, let’s get Frankie fixed up. Clawdeen, you can stay here with Draculaura. Think about what you did wrong today.” The mummy picked up her Scarbucks cup and left the café with Frankie and Abbey behind her.

Chapter Text

gossipghoul.net

Disclaimer: All the names of places, monsters, and events have been altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent. Namely, me.

Hey monsters!

This week has certainly been juicy.

Some ghouls don’t go down without a fight

Drama Queen making a statement that her throne is to not be threatened. The showdown at Hiss on the Lips certainly changed some dynamics, but we’re not dealing. Undead Wannabe’s latest win was caught short when Drama Queen poured down a slime milkshake over her head, ruining her fangtastic new hairdo.

Best part? The fighting didn’t stop there.

Catfight in Scarbucks

Kitty Dee, Kitty Dum and T in Tortitutde were seen confronting Drama Queen’s ghoul army, with Failed Spark and Lycan Lesbian being the main targets of their scrutiny. The altercation ended with Failed Spark gaining a nasty scar. Any ideas of what the problem could be?

Sightings

Almost Alpha and Little H were seen holding hands together at the park. Looks like the manster is less embarrassed about puppysitting now.

Your E-gore

Q: Hey GG,

Drama Queen’s mummy is back in town, after going MIA for three years. This ghoul is crazy, evidenced by how Drama Queen and Original Diva turned out.

-WendyGo

A: Dear WendyGo,

Knowing that Drama Queen’s cutthroat mummy makes me really interested in what’s going to happen next…

-GG

You know you fear me,            

Gossip Ghoul

Chapter Text

“Cleo has officially lost her mind,” Clawdeen ranted as she paced across Draculaura’s bedroom.

“It’s because her mummy is back,” Draculaura said, rubbing her temples, still reeling from what happened at the maul.

“That doesn’t justify anything! She had no right to talk to us like that!” Clawdeen said. “And Frankie! I can’t believe that she would do something so stupid!”

Draculaura nodded. Frankie was usually more level-headed than she was the last few months. Draculaura loved to defend her ghoulfriends, but what Frankie did was inexcusable.

“What are we going to do?” Draculaura asked,

“I need to make things right with Toralei,” Clawdeen said. She pulled out her iCoffin and pressed Toralei’s contact.

VALENTINE: Just caught up on GG

VALENTINE: What happened

“She’s not answering… I’ll text her,” Clawdeen said as she frantically typed on her phone.

LALA: Long story…

“Ugh, she’s not replying!” Clawdeen complained again.

VALENTINE: Want to talk about it later?

LALA: sure

Tuesday night was casketball night and the group chat between the ghouls had been silent since the maul incident. She had spent the entire day after the creepateria incident to rants to Abbey and Gil about what Cleo had said, and the recent GG blast made her angrier than ever.

“Cleo is being such a bitch!” she would yell as she ranted to Gil. Her treatment of Ghoulia was not okay, but what made her even angrier was the fact that she would immediately assume that “Saltwater disaster” was supposed to be her, even though it was the first time Gossip Ghoul had used that alias and the post was complete nonsense.

She reviewed her entire friendship with Cleo, and while she already knew the two ghouls were never that close, she had come to realize that she was never particularly fond of her.

“Where’s Cleo?” Lagoona asked as all the ghouls sat down beside her on the bleachers.

“She at shopping maul with her mummy,” Abbey said.

“She cancelled out performance last minute so there will be no fearleading today,” Frankie said.

“Uhhhhh,” Ghoulia said.

“Yeah, very out of character,” Clawdeen agreed.

“Thank goodness, I do not want to see that ghoul today,” Lagoona said when she leaned in closer to the ghouls. “I was thinking for my birthday we just have a small get together at my place, is that okay?”

“Uhhhhh,” Ghoulia said.

“Yeah, that should work for all of us,” Draculaura chirped.

“Holt’s here,” Frankie gasped, watching him and Operetta walk to a seat together.

“Frankie, is it a really good idea for you to approach Holt again after what happened?” Draculaura asked.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m going to stay away from Holt,” she said, but part of Lagoona wasn’t sure if she was being fully honest.

“I have to say, I wasn’t expecting to see that on Gossip Ghoul,” Operetta laughed. “This is why you should’ve taken my advice.”

Holt groaned. “You’re right. Ugh… Purrsephone is so pissed at me.”

“Shocked you didn’t get a scratch and a dumping over this,” Operetta continued to chuckle.

“We talked again last night and she said that she needed some space for now but I’m no longer allowed to hang around Frankie.”

“Doubt that would be too hard now.”

“Since we’re on the topic, are you ever going to at least tell me who you ran off with that night?”

She took a deep sigh. “It was Romulus.”

“What?” Holt looked at her surprised. Romulus didn’t seem like the type of manster that Operetta would ever entertain. “Why?”

“I was bored… and curious.”

“Ew, gross,” he laughed. “I saw that he’s officially with Howleen.” He glanced over to see Howleen and two ghouls in her grade sitting on the opposing stands, avidly watching and cheering for Romulus.

“She can have him. He’s not a great manster,” Operetta sighed. “I will say though that I doubt that- oop, my dad’s calling. I’ll be right back.” She got up and walked away. Holt continued to watch the game without her when his phone beeped.

FRANKIE: Hey Holt, can I talk to Jackson?

HOLT: Frankie, I can’t talk to you anymore

FRANKIE: I know. I just want to talk to Jackson

FRANKIE: Can you transform outside the gym?

HOLT: idk Frankie…

FRANKIE: Holt, please… It’s urgent.

FRANKIE: It will just be ten minutes.

HOLT: Okay. Be there in a sec

He opened Operetta’s contact.

HOLT: Turning to Jackson for a bit to talk to Frankie, I’ll be back

He left the gym and stood in the empty hallway just as she asked. He pulled off his headphones from his neck and turned off his music when everything turned black.

“Frankie?” Jackson said, very confused.

“C’mon,” she said, guiding him to the janitor’s closet. Jackson obliged, still feeling slightly confused from his transformation. When they got inside, Frankie locked the door and looked at him.

“What am I doing here? I thought Holt was going to be active at this time,” Jackson said.

“Shut up,” she commanded. She jumped on him, pressing her lips onto his. His body reacted the exact way she expected, kissing her right back.

Monster High had won its game, leaving the school in high spirits. Draculaura waved off her ghouls and went outside the boys locker room to wait for Clawd like she had usually done. A bunch of mansters came out, one by one until Clawd finally came out.

“Hi there,” Draculaura greeted him flirtatiously. He took one glance at her then looked away.

“I gotta study,” he brushed off.

“Again?” she asked, already feeling incredibly annoyed.

“Don’t be like that.” He rolled his eyes.

“No, answer me,” she said firmly. “Do you think you have time for this relationship anymore?”

“Oh brother, I gotta go,” he said as he walked past her.

“Wait,” she stopped him. “You have been ignoring me ever since Hiss on the Lips. What’s wrong?” Clawd avoided her gaze, but she could tell he was deeply angry about something. “What is it?” she asked again, more cautiously.

“You have been giving me so much shit for not spending time with you, then I find out that you have actually been spending all your time with Valentine instead.”

“H-how do you-”

“You can’t even deny it… I read Gossip Ghoul too!” Clawd exclaimed. “Why are you hanging out with your ex again.”

“I...” Draculaura struggled to figure out what to say. She couldn’t reveal the secret society to him, nor did she think that explanation would do so well considering how often her and Valentine did hang out now, off hours. “I can’t tell you…”

“You can’t even be honest with me… I’m tired of always being the bad guy when what you’re doing is worse.”

“Clawd-“

“We’re over,” he said finitely. “I don’t want to see you again.”

“Toralei!” Clawdeen called for the werecat. She stopped and turned back to her, with her arms crossed.

“What do you want?” Toralei said, rolling her eyes.

“I wanted us to talk,” she said. “What happened at Scarbucks was out of control.”

“I agree. I don’t think that can happen again.”

Toralei nodded then sighed. “Clawdeen, I love you, but my ghoulfriends always come first…”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I think we should stop seeing each other for a while…”

“That was the first time you said ‘I love you’.” Clawdeen said. Toralei looked away. “I ove you too.”

“I know… It’s just that right now… it seems like we’re just…”

“Incompatible,” they said at the same time.

“I guess…” Toralei scratched her head. “I guess I’ll see you around then.”

“Yeah…” Clawdeen said, holding back her tears. Toralei walked away, leaving Clawdeen behind to watch the ghoul she loved getaway.

“Draculaura…” Valentine greeted as he opened the door to his house.

“Hi Valentine,” she whimpered.

“I thought you wanted me to stay away from you?” he chuckled.

She wiped the tears on her face. “Can I come in?”

“Uh... sure.” He opened the door to allow her to enter. “What’s wrong?”

“You were right… Clawd and I were basically over and I didn’t want to admit it to myself…” she sniffled.

“Oh wow… I’m sorry,” he said apologetically. He stroked away her tears and cupped her face.

“I don’t want to be alone right now,” she admitted.

“Don’t worry, I got you.” He pulled her in closer. Without him needing to make another move, she kissed him. His lips were warm, far warmer than Clawd’s had ever been in months.

Chapter Text

Valentine’s arms tightened around Draculaura’s waist as she woke up next to him.

DEENIE: Are you coming to Lagoona’s house?

LALA: Yes!

The last thing she could remember was them passionately making out before they had both fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

I need to get out of here. She thought as she got up when Valentine suddenly scooped her with his arm again.

“Good morning gorgeous,” he sighed as his body woke up.

“Valentine…” she said, stopping him. “I need time to think about this…”

“Oh,” he said, letting her go. “Okay.”

“We’ll talk later.” Before he could say anything else, she slipped out the door.

Lagoona walked into her local convenience store and began to pick out the candy for her and her ghoulfriends to eat at her birthday get-together. She walked throughout the store, carefully picking the best candies that she knew her ghoulfriends would love while keeping track of the time. She grabbed a jumbo bag of candy-eyeballs when the front bells of the door rang.

"Ho-ho-ho, SCARY HISSMAS!" The animatronic Sandy Claws sang as the front door of the convenience store closed.

“Lagoona,” Toralei greeted beside her. Behind the werecat, there were the twins, as expected. They all smirked toward her.

“What now Toralei?” Lagoona groaned, secretly hoping that she wouldn’t get scratched by Purrsephone for some reason.

“Word on the street is that you and Cleo are not on the best terms,” Toralei said.

“Who told you that? Gossip Ghoul?”

“Gossip Ghoul doesn’t need to report on everything for word to travel.” Toralei stepped closer. “What is that for?” she pointed at her basket.

“It’s my birthday today and I’m hosting a little get-together at my house.”

“Happy birthday,” Toralei sang. “Is Cleo coming?”

“That’s not your business,” Lagoona snapped.

“I’ll take that as a no,” Toralei said. The twins giggled behind her.

“Just because I have a disagreement with Cleo doesn’t mean I want to be associated with the likes of you,” Lagoona said angrily.

“That’s fair,” Toralei said, grabbing another bag of chips. “But if you ever have a change of heart, you know where to find us.” The trio walked out the store.

Cleo walked alone down the street unable to fully process her thoughts about her mother being back. It was weird; this was what she had secretly always wanted, why did she still feel so terrible?

The street was brightly lit with Hissmas lights, something she had always loved to see ever since she had first moved to New Salem. Usually, she would come to see the lights with Ghoulia, but this year she had to go alone since Deuce had gone off on an early vacation with his family. 

“Cleo?” Clawd’s voice came from behind her. “What are you doing here? And what’s up with the wig.”

“My mummy thinks I need to change up my hair. She’s making me wear this wig today.”

“I see… Isn’t Lagoona is having a birthday get together right now?”

 “Pretty sure I’m not invited,” Cleo said wistfully.

“Oh…” he said awkwardly. “How are you doing? What’s it like to have her back.”

When Cleo and Clawd dated, her mother was in her life right before she went MIA on the entire family. Clawd helped her process everything, to his best ability. He was no Deuce.

“It’s great!” she faked smiled.

“Cleo, I know you too well to not know when you’re faking a smile,” Clawd laughed softly. “C’mon, let’s talk.”

The two sat on a park bench (much to cleo’s dismay) and talked about all their problems.

“Well since Nefera is still gone, this is the first time in my life where all the focus has been on me!”  Cleo explained. “I thought I would love it, but… it doesn’t feel right…” she stopped herself from shedding a tear. “Things felt more clear when I had Ghoulia.”

“Why are you ghouls fighting anyways?”

For the first time in weeks, Cleo realized that she wasn’t exactly sure why she was truly angry at Ghoulia. Everything she had done to her had always been a response to whatever messed up thing she had done first. She knew that Ghoulia didn’t relish in the spotlight, she was never a threat to her status until Gossip Ghoul started implying that she was.

“I don’t know…” she admitted. “I think I let my own insecurities get the best of me. I spent so much time competing with my sister that I started viewing everyone as a threat…”

“Looks like we just made a breakthrough,” Clawd joked.

“What about you? I know you don’t walk down here unless you have something on your mind.”

“I don’t know, I want to be with Draculaura, I really do, but right now… the time just doesn’t seem right,” Clawd confessed.

“Clawd, we dated and if there’s one thing I know is when you are forcing yourself to like something. It’s what you did when we dated, so I know that with you and Draculaura, it’s real.”

“Yeah… I can’t get over the fact that she’s hanging out with Valentine again. I mean… what’s up with that?”

“Well, we’re hanging out and there’s no problem.”

“True… I just need time to clear my head,” he said. “It’s getting late, we should start heading home.”

“I agree.”

“Hug?”

Cleo playfully rolled her eyes. “Fine.” The two hugged. While Cleo preferred __, she had to admit, Clawd was a good hugger. The embrace was quickly cut short when Clawd pulled away with his ears on high alert.

“Did you hear that?” he asked.

“No?” she shook her head.

“Okay good,” he straightened his jacket. “Must be nothing.”

“E-gore Sent” Ghoulia stared at the notification for over an hour as she reeled in the fact that she had really sent her first Gossip Ghoul tip, especially on the ghoul she would have considered her best friend not too long ago.

GHOULIA: I sent it in

SLO-MO: That’s good

“Ghoulia, your friend is here!” her mothered shrieked from downstairs.

“Coming!

“She’s coming up to you!”

Ghoulia froze.

“Ghoulia?” Cleo softly said as she opened her room door.

“What do you want?”

“Listen, I know you’re mad but please hear me out,” Cleo said. “This was hard for me to realize but… I’ve gotten some clarity recently. I realized that “I spent so much time competing with Nefera, I don’t want to compete with my best friend." For the first time in weeks, Ghoulia could see the Cleo she knew and loved standing in front of her. “I know I never said this before, but I think it’s time I do now…” Cleo held Ghoulia’s hand. “I’m sorry.”

Ghoulia grinned, suddenly forgetting any grievance she had against her best friend. “Apology accepted.”

“Perfect. I wonder how Gossip Ghoul will report on this?” Cleo pondered when Ghoulia’s heart skipped a beat.

“Wait, Cleo I need to tell you something,” Ghoulia said when her phone buzzed.

Chapter Text

gossipghoul.net

Disclaimer: All the names of places, monsters, and events have been altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent. Namely, me.

Hey monsters!

It’s the most chaotic time of the year, and breakups are in season. Scary Hissmas monsters, I have a gift for all of you, my dear readers: a fresh piece of gossip that is to die for. Pretty in Pink and Local Beast have seemed to have called it quits. Reason? My guess is that Local Beast has found a new ghoul to hug under the Hissmas lights. There, there, Pretty in Pink, maybe your rebound is somewhere under the Hissmas tree.

Tis’ the season to be petty

Drama Queen has landed herself on the naughty list, but we don’t have coal to give out, just some of her secrets:

• Her grades were so bad last year that her father almost pulled her out of fearleading.
• Wonder why she disappeared over the summer? That was because she was hiding the bandages on her face from her new nose job.
• She has had over five pregnancy scares ever since she started dating Stone Cold Hotty. The first time, she wasn’t sure if it was his or Local Beast’s.

Hopefully, this list will make Drama Queen nicer next year.

Scary Hissmas!            

Gossip Ghoul

Chapter Text

“No way this is true,” Clawdeen gasped reading the new GG blast while laying on Lagoona’s bed.

“Of course, it’s not true. This wouldn’t be the first time Gossip Ghoul was wrong,” Lagoona said, pacing across her room.

“Draculaura, are you okay?” Frankie asked the vampire.

“No,” she sniffled. “It’s true… we broke up.” All the ghouls gasped.

“When?” Clawdeen eagerly asked.

“After the casketball game,” Draculaura said, wiping away her tears. “And from the looks of it, he already found himself a new ghoul… no wonder he didn’t have time for me.” Her tears became more rampant. “Sorry, I gotta go.” She ran off.

“I got this.” Clawdeen chased after her. “Draculaura!”

“He dumped me!” Draculaura exclaimed. She turned around to face Clawdeen with her mascara running down her face. “After almost two years of being together, he just dumped me, like that!”

“Did he say why?”

“He got annoyed about the fact that I always complained about him never having enough time for me

Clawdeen became confused. “Why does Valentine matter?”

“He saw that we were hanging out on GG and assumed something was going on.”

“Ugh, Clawd. He likes to jump to conclusions.” Clawdeen sighed. “Lala, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know. Part of me was so in shock that I was hoping I would get a text from him begging me back and saying we should forget everything but… it never came.” She began to cry again’

“It’s okay, Lala. Clawd is just stressed. I will talk to him for you.”

“No, it’s fine,” she wiped her nose. “This might be for the best. His grades are important.”

Well if it makes you feel better, Toralei and I broke up

“Aww, Clawdeen…”

“Actually, she dumped me,” she said. “I’m still in shock. You know what the worst part was? We finally said we loved each other as it was happening.”

“That’s so sad,” Draculaura sniffled again.

"It's fine... I had it coming." Clawdeen tried her hardest to not cry again. "Do you wanna come back inside?"

“It’s alright… I think I’m going to go home. I’ll text you all in the morning.” Draculaura gave Clawdeen a big hug and then waved.

Clawdeen watched Draculaura leave then went back into Lagoona’s house to talk to the ghouls. “Draculaura said she’s going home,” she announced.

“Cleo… I’m so sorry,” Ghoulia said cautiously as Cleo read the new Gossip Ghoul blast. She didn’t know what to do. Cleo was staring at her screen, blocking Ghoulia’s bedroom door; she was trapped.

“Ghoulia…” Cleo exhaled. “This… is the BEST THING GOSSIP GHOUL COULD’VE POSTED ABOUT ME!” Cleo cheered. “THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!” Cleo excitedly said as she raised her friend off the ground.

“I'm confused. I thought you would be mortified by this."

“How can I be mad? This post was the best thing for my brand. Now, I’m going to be scandalous! That’s what my mummy said is necessary to keep me relevant,” she grinned.

“So you’re not mad?”

“Of course, I’m not mad.” She pulled her in for another hug. “You are the best ghoulfriend a ghoul could ever ask for.” They pulled apart. "In fact... we could actually use our drama to help my brand..."

"What do you mean?"

"I never got this much attention from Gossp Ghoul before our little drama began. We can continue to pretend to be enemies, but behind the scenes we orchestrate everything."

"That..." Ghoulia thought hard. "Is actually a scary good idea..."

"Exactly, I'm a genius, just like you," she grinned. "Let's start planning."

“You’re back,” Valentine greeted as he opened the door once again for Draculaura.

“The news is out… Clawd and I broke up and it seems like he already found someone new…” She said.

“You don’t deserve that.”

“You’re right, I don’t.” She marched into his house. Valentine closed the door behind her and followed her. “Can I get you anything? Tomato juice? Vegan blood ice cream?”

“I need a distraction,” she boldly said.

“What does that me—”

She jumped onto him, furiously kissing. He caught her, matching her passion as he kissed back. The two ended up in his bedroom where they landed on top of his sheets.

“Are you sure?” he asked, holding onto her wrist.

“Yeah.” She pulled him in again.

"Batsy can't find out," he reminded her. 

"I know," he said. He reached for his pants and began to unzip. “Wait.” She stopped him. “Do you have a condom?”

Chapter Text

gossipghoul.net

Disclaimer: All the names of places, monsters, and events have been altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent. Namely, me.

Hey monsters!

Does anyone else feel like this year has been tame? I do. My new years resolution is to make sure next year is more dramatic than ever, and I hope you, my dear readers will help me. Until then, I must take a break, and enjoy my holiday. Are you going to miss me? Only time will tell. This is me signing off until the New Year. See you soon.

You know you fear me,            

Gossip Ghoul