Chapter Text
Monster high, a great school for the world of monsters, a place for everyone to be who they are, Cleo was fourteen, mentally, while being over 5000 years old of course, Cleo had heard the stories about this place, from Nefera being a very popular ghoul, captain of the fear squad.
Cleo was called in four days before school started, she would be a fleshmen, supposedly out of middle school, but her father had given her private tutoring for her middle school education, but knowing how successful Monster high was, Ramses wanted the best for his daughter.
"Why are we here? School doesn't start yet," Cleo huffed as they waited outside the Headmistress's office.
"I was informed it was important to your school experience." Ramses answered, Cleo smirked "Nefera didn't get this type of treatment did she?"
"No,"
"Ha! That makes me more special than her," Cleo stated in confidence, looking at herself in her compact. Ramses shook his head "Not until you've proved so, Nefera is doing exceedingly well, good grades and captain of the fear squad with a two mational titles."
Cleo's smirk disappeared, he was right, she still had to prove herself to get on Nefera's level. Nefera was a senior and had a successful school experience already.
Cleo folded her arms and put her compact away. A few minutes of silence passed before the door opened, and they were told to come in.
Ramses took a seat set out and Cleo sat in another, both opposite Headless Headmistress Bloodgood "Mr de Nile, miss de Nile, thank you for coming in for this meeting." she began.
Ramses cleared his throat "May I ask what this is about?"
Bloodgood nodded "I am sure you're curious, but can assure you I think it will benefit your daughter's school experience, upon reading her file, I discovered your daughter is transgender,"
Ramses nodded "That's right, but I assure you, it is anything but a set back, she will be an exceeding student, just like her sister." Ramses informed her, Cleo stiffened, he was consistently reminding and comparing her to Nefera. While the support of her transition was a win and a good thing, it wasn't fun being compared to Nefera.
"I have no doubt in her academic abilities, her records from the tutoring is very impressive, this is more of a social thing."
"Such as?"
"Mr de Nile, I am a proud trans woman, I am very open to any type of monster in my school, equality means a lot to me and this school, but that being said, I do believe helping students who have differences than others, your daughter is as valid as any other student, but the world is still adapting to differences, I didn't have as much support as Cleo has in you and Nefera, I want to show my students support, I am hoping to enrol her in Monster highs very own support group for transgender students, letting her make friends with a few trans students who can understand this better than you can."
Ramses thought about it "So, it would be an after school social club? With other students?"
"It would be beneficial and good for her wellbeing, a better wellbeing gives her a better education."
Ramses smiled "I like the idea of that, Cleo, what do you say?"
Cleo shrugged "I guess it would be good for me,"
Ramses nodded "Good, so it will be after school?"
Bloodgood nodded "Yes, you have your schedule ready and all, in four days when you start, so far there only one of your classmates will be joining you, there is a few seniors as well, I hope you will have a good time."
Ramses nodded "Will that be all for today?"
Bloodgood nodded "Yes, I shall see you on Monday miss de Nile."
Cleo nodded and was let out with her father in tow. Ramses seemed happy about this, which was odd as he wasn't too keen on Cleo being social with commoners. Ramses faced her sternly "Now, while I agree about this being good for your wellbeing, you are not to let any socializing be a distraction from what really matters."
"What really matters?" Cleo asked, Ramses rolled his eyes "Being the best, you are a de Nile, not another commoner who just happens to be trans, you have to be exceptional, follow your sisters lead and keep up the good grades, do you understand?"
Cleo gulped, feeling the weight of his pressure increase "Of course, Daddy, I understand."
Ramses nodded "Good," he said, before he led the two out, back to their expensive Egyptian home. Cleo went straight to her bedroom, she had to decide what to wear on her first day of school.
Monday, Cleo followed her sister through the doors of Monster high, Cleo was sent to get to her homeroom. Meeting some classmates. A werewolf and a vampire were sitting together, a sea monster had been talking to some weird emo guy. And a zombie was reading next to a sleeping fire element.
Cleo took her own seat with attitude, to give off her impression that she was the supreme and not to be messed with. "Welcome to monster high." a teacher named Mr Rotter stated, he was one of the main teachers.
Everyone was present, and Cleo had listened to most of the names, some were familiar, from when Nefera complained about her classmates, must be siblings or something.
It was more interesting than Cleo liked to admit, but it nice knowing there would be other monsters to meet. As the first day carried on, Cleo had attended all her classes, got her schedule and understood what the curricular was for the year.
After the day ended, Cleo was headed again to the principal's office for the trans group. She entered the room, only to find Bloodgood absent and the weird emo was sitting in a chair. Cleo rolled her eyes and took a seat.
"Uhm sup," weird emo said. Cleo looked to him curiously, "Hi," she said, the guy held out his hand, "I'm Deuce,"
Cleo loathed shaking hands, so she kept her arms folded "Cleo," she said simply.
"You uh, must be that other trans kid, I think you were in my homeroom?"
"Sounds about right," Cleo stated.
Deuce smiled "Nice to meet you," he stated, Cleo observed him, he was wearing a hood over his head, what looked like cheap sun glasses over his eyes, punk T shirt and baggy black trousers.
"It's always a pleasure for anyone to meet me," Cleo stated, Deuce looked confused "I don't understand."
"I am princess Cleo de Nile, as in the de Niles. Probably the richest person you'll ever meet,"
Deuce pulled his hand away "Cool,"
"Cool? Is that all you can say, you're with royalty,"
"I'm not very good with words,"
Cleo eyed him and checked her nails "I can tell," she remarked, Deuce furrowed his brows "Oh okay."
Cleo checked her reflection in her compact again as the two of them sat in silence until Bloodgood entered. "Oh good, you're both here," she remarked as she went to her desk, she took off her head casually before continuing.
"I wanted to hold this meeting so they two of you could meet, you're both in the same class and age group, for the rest of your fellow group members are seniors and juniors."
Cleo raised her eyebrows, Bloodgood continued "I think it would good for you both to become friends,"
"Isn't that a little reductive?" Cleo asked, Bloodgood looked confused. Cleo cleared her throat "Well you want us to be friends because we both happen to be trans, but we're more than that."
Bloodgood nodded "I am fully aware, I am more than a trans woman myself, but I wanted the reduce the idea of either feeling alone in your years at this high school,"
Deuce smiled "Sounds fair,"
Cleo rolled eyes, he was beginning to annoy her, Cleo needed to focus on gaining popularity, she royalty and needed her own popularity outside of being Nefera's younger sister.
A few moments passed when Bloodgood let them go, Deuce headed on with some friends, who she saw was the guy with fire hair and an attractive werewolf guy. She walked away, heading home with Nefera.
As the week bled on, Deuce had went on to not hate school as much as he thought, he didn't really like middle school but this was different. He wasn't going in alone, he had his friends, Clawd Wolf and Heath burns, they were all beast friends or as Clawdeen would call them, the three idiots.
Deuce liked them both, they were funny and easy to get along with. He liked having friends. The new girl he met, Cleo. She was different, she was a princess and had clearly more life experience then he did.
He got a good look at her as she admired her own reflection, she was pretty, really pretty. And he noticed an amount of bandages on her body. He wasn't one to assume but he figured she was a mummy. Bandages, royalty, attractive, it made sense.
They had seen each other around school, she was around school, now fanging around with Ghoulia Yelps, a zombie genius from their class. It was nice to see she had a friend. But they didn't talk much, a little bit of small talk, but she wasn't exactly keen on making friends with him.
A few days had crossed when they were in their support group again, she was in a fearleading uniform, and he'd guess one would say she looked well. Deuce was lying to himself if he thought he hadn't blushed. But it was stupid, he hadn't even known her for that long.
They didn't say much in the group meeting, the older kids were the ones talking. Cleo was keeping to herself, Deuce wasn't one to do that, he liked being friends with everyone.
"So, fearleading huh?" he asked, to begin the conversation. Cleo looked to him "Well my sister is the captain and I need to start gaining popularity from somewhere," she answered.
"Then I guess I'll be seeing you more often."
Cleo furrowed her brows "You're joining the fearleading team?" she questioned, Deuce shook his head "Nah, I'm gonna go for casketball,"
"You like sports?" she asked, Deuce smiled she was joining in the convo. This was going well. "Hell yeah, it's clawsome."
"I see," she remarked. "And you? You like doing flips in the air?" he wondered.
Cleo chuckled "Not exactly, I like what it can gain me; popularity,"
"Isn't there to more to unlife than being a high school queen?"
"Not to a de Nile," Cleo answered. Deuce didn't understand, wasn't Monster high about joining together, not being popular? Deuce wanted to elaborate when someone burst the door open "Cleo! You're late! If I have to come in here and drag you out for practice again, there will be a curse in your future!" An angry older ghoul cried from the door, Cleo seemed to get quite a fright.
The ghoul was tall with teal hair and similar features to Cleo, she must of been Cleo's sister. Cleo quickly picked up her bag and went to Nefera "Nefera! I thought you knew I had this group today, you were supposed to schedule practice later," Cleo responded.
"I am not re scheduling anything for weak links like you, you're new, get with the programme." Nefera replied.
Cleo huffed, she strode past her sister and made her way to the gym, Deuce watched with some sympathy, her sister seemed mean. That was no way to treat someone, especially not a family member.
Nefera turned and followed her sister, slamming the door behind her. Deuce could vaguely hear some of the seniors gossiping about her, they seemed to think she was cool, while others disagreed and called her a bitch.
Deuce hadn't seen much of Cleo after that. Deuce wasn't sure why but something about this ghoul was intriguing him, he brushed it off, probably just because most pretty monsters had intrigued him, this royal ghoul wouldn't be any different.
Monday morning the second week of school. Cleo had mad science class, and Mr Hack had given everyone their first paired off assignment, and unfortunately for her. Cleo wasn't allowed to choose who she was paired with.
Ghoulia, her new friend had been paired Draculaura, Clawdeen had been paired with Slo moe, while Lagoona had been paired up with Heath Burns. Which left Cleo with Deuce.
She prepared her desk as everyone was moving seats. Heath Burns was next to her sitting with Lagoona, he smirked "Good day mate," he greeted in a terrible Australian accent. Lagoona was not impressed "Sit down cunt," she replied.
"Sup partner," Deuce greeted as he took the seat beside her, Cleo slightly smiled "Greetings,"
"What are we supposed to do again?" he asked quietly, trying to read the book, Cleo raised her eyebrows "You don't know?"
"I mean the guys a bit high strung to understand right?" Deuce asked, Cleo almost laughed, he was funny "Totally,"
Deuce tried to read it again, Cleo hadn't paid attention in the class anyway, she figured Ghoulia would just do the hard stuff but that was out of the picture now. Cleo looked at the book again, reading through the instructions "Perhaps we start here," she suggested, Deuce looked to her "Good idea,"
Cleo furrowed her eyebrows as she saw him in the sun glasses again, he had worn them all week as well as a hood over his head, what was up with that, she rolled her eyes "How dark are those?" she asked, Deuce looked confused "Uh what-"
"No wonder you can't read basic instructions, those things aren't reading glasses," Cleo stated, leaning up to take them off. "Woah I wouldn't do that-" Deuce said quickly before brushing her hands off, but she managed to knock his hood down.
Her eyes went wide as she found numerous snakes on his head, he was a Gorgon! She gapped "You're a gorgon?"
Deuce nodded "Good thing you didn't take off the shades, aye."
Cleo nodded "Would I have turned into to stone forever?" she asked.
Deuce shrugged "Nah, a couple hours, but at least five."
"Wow, stoned many monsters before have you?" Cleo asked, raising her eyebrows in curiosity. Deuce smirked "Some, haven't had the chance to stone a princess yet though," he teased.
Cleo laughed "I doubt I could possibly do anything that would make you stone me,"
"I believe you," Deuce stated. Cleo smiled, he wasn't as weird as she thought, he was weird, but not in a sense that drove her away. The rest of the class went by in a breeze, Deuce and Cleo had been talking throughout the entirety of it.
Something had changed, Deuce wasn't just the guy from her support group, she supposed she consider him a friend, they had done well in their assignment. And they agreed to work on it together in their group meeting later that day.
Deuce had two seats for them, sitting opposite one another, and the hour went by quickly with their joyful conversations. Deuce was someone completely opposite to her, but she found herself relating.
Deuce made the funniest trans jokes, she was embarrassed to admit that she snorted a couple times. Deuce promised he won't tell, but he teased her that he was responsible for it.
She was enjoying being friends with a commoner, her family was wrong, they weren't lower than her, they were kind, funny, handsome even, and they were good to get to know.
While Deuce had talked with Cleo, he had forgotten about everyone in the world, she was one of the most unique monsters he'd ever met, he could spend all day with her. The other group members had noticed that Cleo and Deuce were getting on well, Deuce thought it was cool "Look now you have your attention,"
Cleo rolled her eyes "Only because you can't keep your mouth shut,"
"I keep my mouth shut." Deuce said with teasing defence.
"Yeah when you don't have a joke."
"All I'm here hearing is that you think I'm funny." Deuce stated with finger guns. Cleo scoffed "Oh yes har har har." she mocked. Deuce smiled "You like my jokes, don't you. I am the king of humour."
"Humour doesn't give one royal status."
Deuce snickered at that "I beg to differ,"
"You wanna argue with a princess, it's your downfall." Cleo remarked. Deuce smirked "I'll take you up on that bet,"
Five minutes and Deuce had his arms folded, pouting, Cleo was smirking "Well?"
"You win," he answered simply. Cleo giggled "I knew it."
Deuce smiled to himself, blushing, she was hard to beat, but it was fun. Cleo and him then had to leave for the end of the day, they had said to meet up again in their support group and for the assignment.
Deuce was glad he made friends with this ghoul, it had definitely been something he didn't wanna forget. When the week ended, Deuce was thinking of going out for milkshakes after school on Monday, it would be fun and another reason to fang out. It wasn't a date, just two friends fanging out. That was all.
That's what he told himself anyway, but something shifted when he saw something else in the hallway where his locker was. He had just come from Casketball practice. His locker was nearby Clawd's, but what he saw was unexpected and weirdly making his heart hurt slightly.
Cleo and Clawd were at his locker, kissing. It looked like they were dating now. Deuce frowned, maybe he did want it to be date, that would explain why he blushed when he thought about her. But that wasn't a crush... right?
'Sure, I may have looked at her lips a few times while we talked, and maybe I notice things I don't notice in other ghouls or monsters, and maybe I perhaps have thought her personality is more intriguing than others and would rather fang out with her than watching Heath attempt to flirt with ghouls, but that doesn't mean anything!' Deuce told himself.
Deuce looked to the couple again, Clawd in his casketball uniform and Cleo in her fearleading one. Clawd slowly placed his hand over her waist and Cleo let a hand run up his neck to place around his face.
His body had filled with jealousy, he wasn't sure what else to do. 'Fuck, I have a crush,' he thought. Deuce frowned, he had missed his shot. 'Guess I better get used to that,' he thought. He went to walk away when he heard Clawd call his name. Deuce turned and Clawd was smiling, his arm on Cleo's shoulder.
"Hey man, wassup." Deuce greeted as he walked over. Clawd smirked "I wanna introduce you to my ghoul, Cleo,"
Deuce nodded "Uh yeah, we met, we're in class together."
Cleo nodded "Remember he's the guy from my support group."
"Oh yeah! I forgot about that, well I'm glad you guys are friends then," Clawd said happily. Deuce noticed how Clawd seemed to glad he was with Cleo. He felt bad for having a thing for his friends ghoul.
But he smiled "Yeah, when you two start dating?"
"Just last week, seems like a perfect fit right? Most popular manster and the most popular ghoul." Cleo stated, smiling from Clawd's side.
"Totally," Deuce agreed. It wasn't long for the two to walk away, hand in hand, saying they went to get something to eat. Deuce banged his head against his locker. High school sucked.
End Of Chapter One.