Deuce woke up to his usual alarm of the sounds of students moving through the hall. He sat up and began to stretch, his muscles poking out from the white shirt he has torn to make a tanktop. His green shorts appeared when he tossed his blankets off and swung his legs over the edge of the top bunk.

He hopped down and headed to the wardrobe that he shared with you. It had been a few days, nearly a week now, since the group went to that weird fairytale place. That also means that it's been almost a week since you remembered your life there with your siblings.

Deuce pulled his shirt off but stopped to look over to you. You were still laying in bed, your back turned to the room and you facing the wall. You'd been like this since him and Frankie dragged you back. You were an emotional mess but it was understandable. Unfortunately you were still an emotional mess and you haven't even left the dorm since. Deuce was worried but he understood.

He got dressed and walked back to the bunkbed where he kneeled down. He gently reached out to shake you a bit.

Deuce: Y/N? You awake?

No response. He sighed to himself and patted your shoulder.

Deuce: I'll bring you something for lunch. Make sure to drink water, bud.

He got up and grabbed his bag, heading out to go to class. Once he was gone, you lifted your head to look at the door. You heard everyone outside. You thought you heard Frankie asking Deuce how you were doing. Your friends were out there, just on the otherside of the door.

Life was on the other side of that door.

So why couldn't you open it?

The ghouls sat at their usual table and ate, talking about today's classes and some gossip they had heard, but it was clear that there was an absence. Frankie looked at the place you would usually sit between her and Draculaura with slight concern.

Cleo: Did he not get out of bed again?

Deuce sighed.

Deuce: Nope. He didn't even budge.

The others all began to worry a bit, until Cleo stood up suddenly. She grabbed a blood apple and started to leave.

Frankie: Where are you...

Cleo: I'll be back. Don't wait up.

The group watched Cleo leave before they looked to Deuce. He was just as confused. Where was she going?
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You washed your face with the water from the sink. You looked at yourself in the mirror. The bags under your eyes were pretty bad now and you were starting to grow a bit of a stubby beard. You usually shaved just to keep it at bay, but it wasn't like you'd have a fullgrown beard in a week.

You rubbed your chin before you sighed.

Ozzie: We'll be waiting. Now, go home.

Home. Your home was here, but you didn't even know if that was true anymore. What was home? Your friends were here, but your family, the family you had forgotten, were back in the Fairytale World.

How could you forget them? Why did you forget them? Was it something to do with how you ended up here?

You sighed and dried your face off before you heard a knock at your door. However, before you could ignore it, it swung open and Cleo walked in. She closed the door behind herself and looked around for you.

She spotted you and threw a blood apple at you which you barely caught.

Cleo: Eat. Then we're cleaning you up.

You gave her an odd look as she started to look around the room.

Cleo: Actually, this place is a mess. Hurry up and eat, shave off whatever that thing on your face is, and take a shower.

You were about to argue, but Cleo held up a hand.

Cleo: I swear to Set, I will curse you if you try.

You closed your mouth and looked at the apple. You looked up just in time to see Cleo walking towards the bathroom.

Cleo: I don't want to see you naked.

She closed the door leaving you standing there. You honestly didn't know what to say. So you just sat down on the toilet and started to eat the blood apple.

Meanwhile, on the otherside of the door, Cleo looked at the room. She was disgusted but she wasn't expecting much from a dormroom with two boys living in it. She took a deep breath and picked up a pair of boxers. She didn't know if she wanted it to be Deuce's or yours. It was gross either way.

So while you cleaned yourself, Cleo did what no one thought was possible and started to clean your dorm.

Depression smelt like diry socks.

After some time, you exited the bathroom with a clean face and body to find your room absolutely spotless. Cleo was sitting on your bed on her phone before she looked up to see you standing there. You wore a black long-sleeved shirt that almost hung off your shoulder, exposing your collarbone and a pair of light torn jeans.

Cleo: Oh, look at that. You do have some sense of style. A bit too emo for my taste, but it suits you.

You just eyed her.

Y/N: What are you doing all this for?

Cleo was a bit surpised to hear your voice. It sounded rough, like you haven't spoken in months. She uncrossed her arms and instead leaned back on your bed, looking ti the window that was now letting light in.

Cleo: Deuce is pretty upset that you're all....sad. So I figured I'd do my job as your friend and try and help you out a bit.

You raised a brow.

Y/N: Friend? Since when are you and me friends?

Cleo shrugged.

Cleo: I'm sure we became friends somewhere along the way. Now get your shoes on. We're going out.

Cleo got up as you watched her.

Y/N: Where are we going?

Cleo stopped and looked at you over her shoulder.

Cleo: On a date.
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Cleo looked over the menu at all the delicious looking deserts as you sat across from her in the Cafe that seemed way too rich for you. You actually felt like you stuck out seeing as this was a more trendy type of place.

Cleo: Do you like chocolate?

You turned back to her. You looked at the menu she was holding and shrugged.

Y/N: Yeah. Who doesn't?

Cleo: Some people think it's gross. And some people think some deserts have too much chocolate.

Y/N: Okay? So why wouldn't I like chocolate?

Cleo: I'm just asking.

Y/N: Yes, I like chocolate.

Cleo placed the menu down and looked at you.

Cleo: Is this how you act on all your dates?

You sighed.

Y/N: Do you really have to keep calling this a date? You're literally my best friend's girlfriend.

Cleo: It's not a romantic date. And if anything, I'm the one taking you on a date. Now stop being a buzz kill and enjoy yourself a bit.

You rolled your eyes as the waitress come to your table. You decided to just let Cleo pick out whatever for you as you looked out the window. You really didn't want to be here, but you found yourself feeling bad.

She was genuinely trying to help here. You shouldn't be such a jerk.

Y/N: Hey, uh, Cleo.

Cleo looked back to you.

Y/N: Thank you. Sorry if I'm being an ass, but I actually do appreciate this.

Cleo smiled a bit.

Cleo: Good. In that case, maybe you can talk to me and tell me exactly what's going on in your mind.

You thought about it for a moment before leaning back in your chair.

Y/N: I don't even know where to start.

Cleo: Take your time.

Y/N: I guess.....I'm genuinely confused. My name isn't even Y/N. It's Oscar Ozymandias. I was born in the land of Oz. My dad is the Wizard of Oz. How do I even begin to process any of this?

Cleo couldn't imagine how badly your world had flipped upside down. The realization that you were someone else entirely.

Y/N: My siblings, we used to always play together. My brothers were always teaching me how to be a knight. And my sister was always dressing me up like I was some kind of doll. We would always play Knights and my brother, Oswalt, would always read to me at night. When I got scared, Ozzie would let me sleep with him. Ruby always snuck me candy when our parents weren't looking.

You smiled a bit at the memories. That smile slowly began to fade.

Y/N: And....I forgot it all. I couldn't remember them until I saw them again.

Cleo: I'm assuming you miss them?

Y/N: Yeah. I do.

Cleo: Do you want to go back?

You didn't answer right away. You tapped your elbow before you sat up.

Y/N: I'm not sure.

Cleo watched as you looked out the window.

Y/N: I want to see them again.....but I'm not sure if I would stay. I feel like I shouldn't. Like I wouldn't......like I don't deserve to.

Cleo: What do you mean?

You shrugged.

Y/N: I'm not even sure. It's just, my whole life is here. But they're there. And I'm from there. And....

You struggled to find the right words. Cleo waited, but when she saw that you couldn't really figure out what you wanted to say, she decided to try and help.

Cleo: If I may?

You nodded.

Cleo: I know you and I aren't exactly the closest people in our group, but I do know that you've always struggled with belonging. You were a Normie in a Monster School, and then a Bloodfiend which is something stuck in the middle, and now you're...something else entirely.

She wasn't wrong.

Cleo: And if I'm being honest with you, I never really understood why that was. I guess being someone who was always at the top, I never had to. And even now, I can't say I know what's really going on in your head.

She finally looked you head on.

Cleo: What I do know is that regardless of who you are or where you're from, we'll always be here for you. Because you're our friend and we....we do love you.

You gave her an odd look. You weren't uses to hearing her say such emotional things.

Cleo: I know we don't have anything in common besides Deuce, but he cares about you like a brother and you have saved my butt before.

She sighed.

Cleo: I didn't like you. Like, at all. I actively tried to sabotage your documentary and that lead to a whole issue and you still saved the day.

Cleo leaned forward and rested her chin in her hand.

Cleo: You might not know who you are, but I do. Cause I see it every day. You care for everyone. Even when you were the villain when everyone went into hiding, you didn't everything you could to save the day. You always do. You fight for us and you always do the right then. You don't even try either! It's annoying sometimes because here I am trying to be a better person and you just...are! And now you're in the dumps and it's effecting everyone because we rely so much on you and it's not fair for you and....

She stopped herself and looked at you in the eyes, tears starting to build.

Cleo: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that we put so much on you. We leave so much to you and something like this happens and you...you struggle. And I don't want you to feel like you're alone in this.

You didn't know what to say.

Cleo: And I know I'm probably the last one you would want to talk to, but you can always come to me if you need to talk. I'm sure the same goes for Deuce and the others. Like I said, we love and we care for you. So...yeah.

She looked away, subtly wiping her eye to not let you see her cry. You just sat there for a while before your deserts and drinks arrived. You looked at your chocolate desert and smiled.

Y/N: You know, the first birthday I remember, Helsing baked me a chocolate cake. He burnt it.

Cleo raised a brow.

Y/N: But, he tried. And it meant the world to me.

Cleo's eyes grew a bit wider when she saw you smile.

Y/N: Thanks, Cleo. I love and care for you too. And thanks for paying. Free food will always make me happy.

Cleo smiled as you took a bite.

Cleo: Yeah, I'll keep that in mind.

She got her own desert and started to eat as well. You both fell into small talk about some movies you were looking forward to seeing with Cleo recommending some shows she thought you'd enjoy.

Clawdeen: So, we're all seeing the same thing, right?

The ghouls were all standing across the street with Deuce. They were heading to the Maul when they spotted you both, all very confused to see you and Cleo laughing and smiling together. The first time some of them have seen you in a few days and the first time Deuce has seen you smile since you got back from the Fairytale World.

Lagoona: Wow. Cleo actually can be caring.

Deuce: This. Is. So. Awesome.

The Ghouls looked to Deuce who was smiling.

Deuce: My two favorite people are getting along again. Best day ever!

He cheered and immediately ran across the street, almost getting hit by a car in the process, where he rushed into the Cafe. They watched as he practically jumped on you in glee. The others all smiled in relief and decided to join you as well.

Depression smelt like dirty socks. But happiness tasted like a nice desert.