Disclaimer: This is a complete work of fiction, there's no resemblance to any persons, places or events. If so it is utterly not intended. I do NOT own Monster High or anything to do with it. I do NOT claim to own any artists' works, lyrics, copyrights, labels, etc. Their exposure in this story is completely non-profit and just for fun! I own nothing but my own plot and ideas, thank you.

Heartlessly Heartfelt
Chapter Twenty Two

There was nothing scarier than having to singing in front of everyone, than not having a song to do that with. Clawdeen had been wracking her brain for hours to try and come up with something decent to sing but the problem lied solely in finding a song with some meaningful lyrics. That was the main goal for the lesson that was nearing closer and Clawdeen had no idea what she would do, what song to choose - nothing.

She walked around camp, sticking her furry hands into her fashionably recycled hoodie that she revamped herself. There was a chill in the air she couldn't hide from no matter how hard she tried.

"Mama, you taught me to do the right things. So now you'll have to let your baby fly, you've given me everything that I will need. To make it through this crazy thing called un-life. And I know you watched me grow up and only want what's best for me. I think I've found the answer to your prayers. And he is good, so good. He treats your little ghoul like a real man should. He is good, soo good. He makes promises he keeps, no he's never gonna leave... so don't you worry about me."

Halted in her tracks, Clawdeen didn't have to trail a scent to figure out who was singing. It was her own sister Howleen. 'Damn, you sound good sis!' She complimented in the depths of her own mind, being too mesmerized to even speak. She hardly knew her sister could sing before this camp and now she with a bit of confidence built from this musical camp, she was rocking it!

She turned away from her sister's voice and headed in a different direction. That was a really nice song, of course there were so many songs out there she really shouldn't duplicate a song. She needed something to really grasp at her, but what was there left?

"I rehearsed m'song earlier, I think I did a real good job on it. What'cha think sweet pea?" Operetta's southern-belle twang was recognizable anywhere and everywhere it was heard. Careful not to startle anyone, she listened to the recording Operetta began playing for someone else.

"I met an old man yesterday, next to me on a westbound plane. He said, 'I was married sixty years, I swear it feels like she's still here.' Then he took out her picture. Staring at that black and white, the tears filled up in his eyes. I said, 'You were a lucky man'. He said, 'I feel like I still am'. When he told me her name... I heard myself say, 'I wanna be... somebody's Chelsea. Somebody's world. Somebody's day and night - one and only ghoul. Apart of a love story, that never has an end. Y'know that's what everyone woman wants t'be. Somebody's Chelsea. He made me laugh when he talked about their first date and her father's doubts. He said, 'Even as her hair turned gray, she still took my breath away and that'll never change with time'. That's when I closed my eyes..."

The recording stopped and Clawdeen felt her heart melt with every word sung. It wasn't just a pretty song with nice words... the words held much meaning, so many emotions. It also suited Operetta extremely well. As beautiful as a song that was, Clawdeen still didn't have one to call her own just yet. But that definitely gave her a step in the right direction.

Walking the trail that weaved in and out of various cabins, she heard another lovely voice in the air, her ears perked - listening for some more meaningful lyrics.

"Are you aware of what you make me feel, baby? Right now I feel invisible to you, like I'm not real. Didn't you feel me lock my arms around you, why'd you turn away? Here's what I have to say: I was left to cry there, waitin' outside there, grinnin' with a lost stare... that's when I decided, why should I care? 'Cause you weren't there when I was scared, I was so alone. You, you need to listen. I'm startin' to trip. I'm losin' my grip and I'm in this thing alone. Am I just some chick you placed beside you, to take somebody's place? When you turn around can you recognize my face? You used to love me, you used to hug me. But that wasn't the case. Everything wasn't okay."

Clawdeen could feel mixed emotions about a relationship scenario that had a flame, but it blew out and was running cold. She got all that concluded from lyrics she heard from Venus McFlytrap. How did she know it was her? Simple, because the ghoul ha d one of those distinct voices you just couldn't mistake. Sort of similar to Operetta, but nowhere near the same.

She sighed, was she the only ghoul without a song? It was quite possible sadly. She only had the night to figure it out, but even less time than that to prepare for it. Why did this have to be so damn hard?!

"Hey-ya ghoul,"

Clawdeen swung around right away and found Operetta smiling at her, she blushed slightly. "Hey Operetta, what's up?"

"Oh y'know me, not up t'nothin' much." She gave a shrug of her shoulders, tying her deep red and black locks up in a messy bun, out of her way with the heated summer nights and even hotter daytimes. "I just love strollin' around camp and hearing voices everywhere singing. It's a music soul's dream, everyone singing and jamming in harmony."

Clawdeen really admired the way Operetta spoke about music, it was her real passion and you'd have to be totally blind not to see it. But even if you didn't see it with Operetta, you still felt it. That's how passionate about it she was. "It is really nice, I've been hearing some great song choices for tomorrow's assignment... but I haven't found a song yet." She let out a soft sigh.

"Oh darlin' don't you fret about that!" Operetta beamed with excitement, almost as if she couldn't wait to get out what she was going to share. "Why don't you borrow my iCoffin and sift through my songs? I have a huge library of tunes and you might just find one ya like."

It was a shot in the dark... but Clawdeen really wasn't going to be fussy at this point. Not that she wanted to settle for any old song, she wanted to try and capture a scenario and a feeling like all the other song choices she'd heard today. "Thanks ghoul, I'll get back to you. I'll be careful with it I promise."

The songbird waved it off, "Don't rush it back to me, no need. I gots me a date so I'll see ya later."

"Ooh, sounds fangtastic, catch ya around!" And with that, Clawdeen hurried off to listen to the library of songs at her furry fingertips.

Operetta couldn't have been more excited right now, she was going to make some real progress with Jackson. They had planned to sing a duet of some type, considering he wasn't driven crazy by her singing voice - it was the perfect opportunity. One of the only genuine ones she'd have, to just sing and not worry about what it'd do to everyone else. She wasn't quite sure what they would sing, but she also left the song choice up to Jackson, so she'd just have to see what he came up with.

She found a little spot kinda off camp grounds, but still in the middle of nature's beauty. A little creek passed through the forest floor, the trees limbs moving gently in the warm breeze. It was perfect, all except for one person...

"Hey," Jackson greeted Operetta and for once, he didn't look intimidated. Not that he did before, but normally the mentioning of singing in front of people scared him - but she'd been working on him all week thus far to get to this point. "So I know you told me to come up with a couple song choices, but I had this week's assignment stuck in my mind..." he chuckled meekly, "y'know me, I'm always thinking about assignments and stuff."

Operetta smiled, "That's what makes ya so adorable."

He blushed, "Yes well... I'm about to get real cute. Because I chose, this song." He presented her with a printed out copy of the lyrics and he watched as her eyes lit up.

"Oh this song is perfect, it's amazin'. Let's give it a whirl!" She exclaimed excitedly. One thing about her, you always knew when she approved of something, because she accepted it right away and if she could - she'd want to get started right away.

Taking out her acoustic guitar, tuning it up a little bit - she cleared her throat and began to strum effortlessly. After a brief breather, she started her introduction. "Every other Friday... it's toys and clothes and backpacks. Is everybody in? Okay let's go see dad. Same time in the same spot, corner of the same old parking lot. Half the hugs and kisses they are always sad. We trade a couple words, and looks and kids again - every other weekend."

Jackson was too caught up in watching her do her thing that he missed his own introduction. She grinned in response though.

"Nice to see that you're all caught up in my thang, you forgot about your own thang."

His eyes widened, "Right! Sorry about that."

She shrugged her shoulders, "No problem. I'll give ya another couple measures before your part. Don't think anything about my part, you just go on however it feels natural." She did just as she said she would, started about four measures before Jackson would come in with his part, preparing him as best she could. "Same time in the same spot, corner of the same old parking lot. Half the hugs and kisses they are always sad. We trade a couple looks, and words - and kids again, every other weekend."

Feeling a little less than confident, Jackson started. "Every other weekend, very few exceptions. I pick up the love we made in both my arms. It's movies on the sofa, grilled cheese and cut the crust off. 'But that's not the way mom makes it daddy' it breaks my heart. I miss everything we used to have, with her again. Every other weekend. But I can't tell her I love her..."

"I can't tell him I love him..."

"'Cause there's too many questions and ears in the car..." they both sang in unison, Operetta following closely.

"So I don't tell him I miss him..."

"I don't tell her I need her, she's over me-"

"- he's over me..."

"- that's where we are."

Jackson didn't have to think so strategically anymore, he just followed Operetta's lead for the most part, "So were as close as we might ever be again..."

She concluded the line, "Every other weekend." A quick breather before she continued on, "Every other Saturday, first thing in the morning. I turn the TV on to make the quiet go away. I know why, but I don't know why we ever let this happen. Fallin' for forever was a big mistake, there's so much not to do and all day not to do it in - every other weekend."

"Every other Sunday, I empty out my backseat. While my children hug their mother in the parking lot. We don't touch, we don't talk much. Maybe 'Goodbye' to each other. And she drives away with every piece of heart I got. I re-convince myself we did the right thing again - every other weekend. But I can't tell her I love her..."

"I can't tell him I love him..."

"'Cause there's too many questions and ears in the car..." they both sang in unison, Operetta following closely once more.

"So I don't tell him I miss him..."

"I don't tell her I need her, she's over me-"

"- he's over me..."

"- that's where we are." In harmony so naturally, it didn't feel like either end had to try anymore.

She concluded yet again with, "Every other weekend."

"Yeah for fifteen minutes, we're a family again."

"Oh God I wish that he was still with me againn,"

"Every other weekend." Upon the conclusion of the song, it just felt so great. Like a connection was made and all they did was sing a song together. He figured that's exactly what Mrs. Shea was talking about when she mentioned about song lyrics actually meaning something. Unlike a lot of the meaningless pop songs out there, there were some with some truly heartfelt emotions in them.

Operetta wished so badly that she would've recorded that, but with Clawdeen having her iCoffin... she didn't think that through entirely, but then again maybe this wasn't something she wanted to share with the world. Being able to sing with Jackson Jekyll was something that Operetta wanted to keep to herself and enjoy as long as she could. If that made her selfish, then so be it. "Well! I think I might just call you my lil' prodigy! A couple weeks ago you never woulda sang out loud... and now..."

"I'd really like to keep this between you and I, if you don't mind Operetta. You're the only one I, uh, have ever... sang in front of like this. It wasn't bad though, right?"

"Oh hell no, it was amazing! You, Jackson - are amazing." Without even thinking about it, she set her guitar aside, knowing exactly what she wanted next. It might not have made sense to anyone else - but it didn't need to. She pulled him close, taking him by surprise in a sweet kiss.

HI EVERYONE! I know it's been awhile since I've updated anything, but I am here don't you worry. I'm just working and trying to balance that with everything else I want to have time for. Let me know if you enjoyed it! R & R - it's always appreciated!

~CreativeWritingSoul