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“Spell, I know you're tryna be mature and all, being a good person or whatever, but this is one situation you need to walk away from.”
The witch just stared at Clawdeen with the most bored and tired expression that he could muster.
…well there goes his peaceful morning!!!
Actually, there goes his peaceful day.
Maybe even week if Monster High’s track record is anything to go off of.
All Spelldon wanted to do was drink his iced sarcoffee-gus in peace, attend his morning classes, skip lunch and get some homework done in the library, attend the worst class in existence, then finally see his best friend for the last two periods they shared together.
But no, it always had to be something. He's barely even spoken to Clawdeen Wolf before, yet here she is, planting herself right in front of his path.
And he couldn't walk around her either because, of course, Frankie, Draculaura, Cleo were standing on either side of her too. The only ghouls missing from their group were Ghoulia and Lagoona.
Spelldon wishes the saltwater monster was here. At least she'd probably tell Clawdeen to stop harassing him.
On second thought, maybe that's why she's not here, Spelldon realized.
He was tempted to just walk in the other direction and loop back around to his classroom, but he knew if he walked away now, they'd just come after him later.
“Clawdeen, if you're going to make me late for class, don't be vague about it. What's the problem?”
Now, okay, Spelldon already knew exactly what this was about. He wasn't an idiot.
Ever since he'd befriended Kieran Valentine, the entire school’s been on his case.
“Spelldon, he's going to hypnotize you and break your heart!”
“Spelldon, he's evil! The absolute worst!”
“Spelldon, Valentine's going to suck you dry of your blood!”
“Spelldon, Valentine kills puppies!!”
By Zeus’ might, he needed these monsters to shut up before he got a brain aneurysm.
Seriously, Valentine killing puppies??? PUPPIES??? Do the students at Monster High have anything better to do with their time than involve themselves in drama?
Spelldon would bet 100 bucks the answer is no.
So yeah, he knows for a fact what this is about, but he wants to hear her say it just for the small, microscopic chance that it's not what they're ruining his morning over.
Clawdeen half rolled her eyes, “You know what it's about, it's Valentine. Come on, you already know what he did to Draculaura and all those innocent ghouls. Being his friend is a bad idea.”
Frankie nodded, “We're just worried about you Spell! He's dangerous!”
“Mhm,” Cleo stared down at her nails before looking at the witch directly, "he's the worst! And have you seen his clothes? Talk about out of date. You can make better friends, Spelly.”
Gods save me now.
Please, Athena, give me the strength not to hex this entire school…
“First of all, I don't recall us being close enough for nicknames. I know everyone here is big on this whole family thing, but I'm not. You ghouls are not my family. We're not even friends, even if my sister likes you.” He shot a glare at them, “My name is Spelldon.”
He held back a smirk when he noticed them freeze.
Yes, Spelldon was being more rude than he needed to be…but did he care? Absolutely not.
If they wanted to shit talk Val, then they didn't get his kindness.
Taking advantage of their silence, he continued, “Secondly, I don't care. Val's done bad things, he was horrible, I know. That doesn't mean he doesn't deserve the chance to learn from his mistakes and better himself. Or, what, do you want him to be some evil heartbreaker all his life?”
“Well, no, but–” Frankie tried to cut in, but Spelldon shut her down with a scoff.
“Then be quiet. No one's forcing you to forgive him, but don't try to hold him back. Say whatever you want about him or our friendship with each other, but if it reaches his ears? I'm hexing your entire clique.”
Cleo gasped dramatically, as if the witch had just offended her entire bloodline, “You can't hex us! What is up with you? Show us some respect or I'll–!”
“You'll what? Annoy me to death?” He cut in, “Cause you're already doing that masterfully. I can feel my brain cells denaturing just being near you ghouls.”
Spelldon was just about to walk away when a hand shoved him back slightly. Clawdeen of course, always Clawdeen who didn't know when to step away.
“Alright, Cauldronello, I don't know what your damage is, but we're just looking out for you. He's been evil for hundreds of years! All that doesn't go away overnight.” She barked, getting way too close to comfort, “He’s going to steal your heart, break it, and ruin you. Is that how you wanna live? Heartbroken and unable to move on for the rest of your life?”
Yeah because that would happen. He rolled his eyes, about to fire back at her when Draculaura, who Spelldon now realized had been oddly silent this whole time, finally spoke up.
“It's always been impossible not to think of Valentine on my birthday. But all those years it was fine, it was happy thoughts. Next year…I don't know how I'll be able to do it.” She looked down at the ground, her voice trembling slightly, “My birthday will forever be...Valentine's Day.”
Silence rang out in the halls after that.
The ghouls quickly shifted their focus from him to Draculaura, offering comfort to the vampire. All of them could tell she was on the verge of tears.
Spelldon couldn't help but feel more and more bad for her.
She didn't deserve any of that.
Wait–
Fuck. Spelldon cursed in his head once that thought ran through his head. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
He was in check.
This was not an argument he was winning. Not at all.
And when Draculaura continued speaking, he knew he was only falling into a deeper and deeper hole.
“I know Valentine is trying to be better, he was trying to help during the Fraidy Hawkins dance after all. But still, it's- it's too soon, Spelldon. Why can't you see that?” She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
Tears that came not from her own pain, but pure concern and worry for the witch’s sake.
There was absolutely nothing he could say to them now that wouldn't make him seem like an absolute douchebag.
But not only that, they'd attracted the attention of other monsters who just had nothing better to do. Because Zeus forbid we actually attend class in a high school... Spelldon wouldn't be surprised if he saw this exchange on the Ghostly Gossip later. In fact he'd bet money it would be there.
Spectra always seemed to know what was going on in the school. And if she happened to record this…Val would definitely see it. He was always concerned about what others thought of him—too concerned if you asked Spelldon.
A big part of him wanted to just walk away, avoid the drama, and let it go.
He wasn't built for drama. He kept his opinions to himself and kept to himself. Valentine liked to say Spelldon “floated above it all” but in reality, the witch just didn't have the patience for it.
When he was upset, he didn't have good control over his emotions. He'd lash out at anyone who so much as even breathed too loudly near him.
As much as he didn't care if the other monsters liked him, he didn't want to become hated by everyone. He'd never admit it, but the thought scared him a little.
The thought of being hated like…like Valentine already is.
And that is exactly why Spelldon couldn't just walk away.
Valentine had no friends outside of him and Whisp. Sure, a couple students like Scarah and Iris didn't have a problem with Val—Spelldon’s actually pretty sure Scarah’s been wanting to befriend the vampire for a bit now— but the overwhelming majority despised him.
If Spelldon turned away from this, it'd almost be as if he was telling Val that he wasn't worth fighting for. That he didn't care for him as much as he'd claimed.
…Spelldon absolutely refused to do that.
He'd rather every monster in school hate his guts than let Val think for even a second he didn't care.
Steeling his resolve, Spelldon cast Draculaura with a look that could only be described as sheer, utter apathy.
Completely detached and disinterested.
It was nothing personal against her—he felt bad, he really did. But he loved Valentine far more than he felt bad for her. And maybe that makes him a bad monster..but Spelldon couldn't care less.
Love really makes you do crazy things, huh?
“Draculaura, you should consider therapy to help you process and move on from everything.” Was the first thing he said, he's not horrible, he still wanted to give the ghoul some genuine advice.
Everyone looked at him in confusion, like that wasn't the response they expected.
He’s sure they expected him to give in and drop Val, maybe even slander him.
Spelldon almost laughed at that thought.
As if.
“I met Val after he did all those things, and he wants nothing more than to be good now. So thanks, but no thanks. I don't need or want your help.” Spelldon turned on his heel, “The next monster who wants to talk to me about Valentine gets turned into a pig for the day.” He’d be taking the long way to Clawstronomy it seems.
There were shouts as he walked down the hall, but Spelldon couldn't be bothered to listen.
Sure there was a time when his best friend was practically evil incarnate, but that's just it. It was a time.
The Valentine he knows is hopelessly sweet, clumsy, and all around harmless.
His Valentine would sooner walk into the sun than accidentally step on an animal's tail. Such a soft-hearted monster would never hurt him.
Distantly, Spelldon wondered what would happen if Valentine did turn on him. If the vampire decided to play with his heart and leave him broken and alone. But honestly? Even if he did, Spelldon doesn't think it'd matter much.
The same outcome would occur if the opposite occured. If Valentine refused his love and sought it elsewhere.
Spelldon thinks he finally understands what Cupid means when she talks about true love on her radio show.
He'd willingly give the vampire his heart without so much of a second thought. In fact, he'd do it with a smile on his face too.
For who else would Spelldon Cauldronello love if not Kieran Valentine?