Poly

Chapter 24

I didn't go to school the next day. Mum let me stay home 'cause she said I looked "more pale than mint", and that was never a good sign in the Stein family. What she didn't know was, that her precious daughter was in one of the biggest dilemmas of her un-life. Because that "responsible" daughter had two mansters confessing their love for her, and both mansters seemed like the right choice.

How could I tell mum that her smart and righteous daughter was in a "childish" love triangle, and so in love with both guys at the same time, that it was literally tearing her stitches apart! If dad knew, he'd pull out his hair from having re-stitch me together again. 

I had gotten a few concerning texts from some of the ghouls, asking me why I didn't come to school, and if I was ok. But I didn't answer them.
I was too occupied with the guilt, over keeping both Holt and Jackson on hold, because I simply didn't know how to handle this messy situation.

So I would lie still like a corpse on the cold metal slab, that I called my bed, and wouldn't answer to anyone until I had a conclusion to my dilemma. 

Then my creaking door opened. Mum and dad weren't home, so it wasn't them. Curiously I sat up and saw Cleo stand in my doorway.

"Cleo?" I asked. It was possible that the last 24 hours had just been a bad dream, because I couldn't think of one possible reason why Cleo de Nile would stand in my doorway, when there wasn't any special occasion happening.

"In the flesh," she smirked. She threw her bejewelled designer backpack on the floor like it was nothing and rested on my couch. I got up, straightened my bedhead to the best of my abilities, and sat down next to her.

"What are you doing in my house?"

"What? A ghoulfriend can't just visit to be nice?" it almost seemed like saying the word 'nice' about herself felt painful.

"How did you get in?" 

"That's what amulets are for," she winked vainly. Even when she only lounged after a day of school and fearleading, she looked fresh of the runway, ready to take over the next cover of Vogue.

"Why are you really here?" I asked again serious. Cleo sighed.

"Ok.  We all got a little concerned when you didn't show up to school without a heads up. Also Holt was looking for you. So I thought there might've been a connection."

"What did he say?" I blurted, sounding a little too eager than I wanted to. 

"Calm down, ghoul. I didn't ask. But it sounded serious." 

"Serious? That doesn't sound good." I mumbled to myself. Cleo sat up and looked now more uptight than before.

"Frankie. What is going on?" 

"You wouldn't understand. You've been clear how you feel about me and Holt. As well as me and Jackson for that matter." I said quietly, and tried my best not to meet Cleo's piercing blue eyes. Then she put her hand on my shoulder. Her amber scented perfume followed and washed over me like a forceful stream from the Nile.

"I know I've been a little harsh on you," which time?  I thought to myself, "but that's just because I want to look out for you. You're still knew to the dating scene, so I want to protect you from possible heartbreak." she said sincere. And to my own surprise, I believed her. A timid smile showed on my lips.

"I'm in love with both Jackson and Holt. I know I should choose between, but I don't want to choose at all." I admitted. It felt so right, yet greedy to say out loud. Was that even a thing? Was it even a realistic scenario, for me to want more than one manster at a time?

Cleo leaned back into her relaxed pose, and smiled confidently at me.

"Why should you choose at all?" she then said. I lifted an eyebrow, waiting for her to admit her joke, but she was dead serious. 

"Wouldn't it be weird?" I asked.

"In my book, having more than one lover is a sign of wealth!" she chuckled proudly. "Having two boys around you, who both really like you, doesn't seem like something you should complain about." 

"I guess you're right. I've just never heard of anyone having more than one partner at a time," 

"Frankie. Remember when I used to date Clawd Wolf?" I nodded. Although it was before I enrolled at Monster High, I remember people still whispering about it. "Well, while we were dating, I fell in love with Deuce. I was at a crossroads, but in the end I followed my heart, and I choose Deuce, and now we're the power couple of Monster High!"

"That sorta makes sense," I said timidly, unsure why that was relevant to my own dilemma. She only had to worry about liking one boy at a time, I had two mansters!

"All I'm saying is, if choosing both Holt and Jackson seems like what your heart wants, then you go get it!" Cleo was right. If I knew choosing one over the other would be impossible, then why should I choose at all? 

"Hopefully they're both on board with that decision," I admitted.

"If they love you enough, the will." Cleo winked. "In any case, I've got your back, ghoulfriend." she added with a warm tone in her voice. It filled my lungs with air, and my body a new source of energy. Knowing there was a loophole in this mess, and knowing there was a possibility that I didn't have to say goodbye to one over the other, made me hopeful again. 

I jumped up from the couch in such pure excitement that I began to spark! 

"I have to tell them!" I joyfully exclaimed.