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Kai escorted Jewels off at Art Hiss-tory class. She seemed to recover a little bit more on the way there. They started talking about their big final projects in Art Class.

"And now Ms. Moanatello is trying to convince Abbey to do an ice portrait of a student instead. I guess that IS a little bit easier to fit in the studios than 50 tons of ice, but Abbey seemed pretty down about the suggestion." Kai had really admired Abbey's original idea, but Ms. Moanatello was a very practical artist and insisted that the students not have any creations that may have unwelcome side effects like engulfing half the school in a glacier.

"I still don't know what to do for my project." Kai sighed in frustration. "It seems like everyone else settled on at least a rough idea pretty quickly. Layla's got this great sand sculpture idea, and Draculaura's working on a self-portrait - and that has to be hard when you can't see your own reflection! But every time I think I've settled on something, a dozen other ideas bubble up and they all seem just as good. And I get stuck again."

They arrived at the Art Hiss-tory classroom and Kai held open the door for Jewels.

"It's at times like this I really miss Demona. She's my ghoulfriend, but she's hexchange studenting in Grrmany. She must be really busy, because I don't hear from her very often. But she was always good at making my mind up for me." Kai grinned, a little embarrassed to admit that he needed help making up his mind. "Oh hey, look at me rambling on. You going to be okay in your class? I gotta run to Home Ick."

She twiddled her thumbs, looking at the ground. "Heard that rumor? Well, they obviously made it about me. I promised Marceline that we would make her a dress at the creepover.. And it'd only take a small portion! But nooooo somebody HAD to be over dramatic and call me hijacking a creepover."

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Maybe I just shouldn't go.."

Hesitating for a minute, she took his hand and stood up. She wabbled on her feet for a little bit, trying to catch her balance.

"Thanks..." She added simply. She nodded, not knowing what to do next... Her next class was study howl.

School was going well. Really well. Scary well. Rory had a lot of catching up to do, starting school a couple weeks later than the rest of the student bodies, but he'd started to fall into a groove. He was slowly learning his way around the schoolgrounds. The easiest way to handle the crowded hallways, he discovered, was to wade into the groups of zombies going from one class to another and to let them act as an undead, lumbering shield from any possible catastrophic collisions. It had also given him a chance to brush up on his zombie and converse with some of the nicest students in school.

Slo-Moe Mortevitch was one such student, and Rory was pleased to find himself walking next to the lumbering student disembodied president on the way to Civics. Slo-Moe was telling Rory about the Student Body Council plans for the dance.

"UUugggghhhhhhhh." Slo-Moe informed Rory.

"Oh, really? A king and queen of the dance?" Rory asked. "And how do you guys, uh, elect the king and queen, then?"

"Uuugggghhhhhhhh ugggghhhhh." Slo-Moe replied.

"Voting via iCoffin. That's a GREAT idea." Rory agreed. "So, how do they decide who's running? Sorry if I'm asking so many questions, but this is my first dance."

"Uuuggghh hhrrrgggghhh." Slo-Moe raised an arm and stiffly pointed at Rory. "Uuhhrrrrrrfff."

"Nominate ME for Tombcoming King?!" Rory nearly squeaked as his voice cracked. "No way! I...I mean...the crown and scepter...they're probably heavy and pointy. That could be dangerous!"

"Ugghggghhh." Slo-Moe slowly shrugged. "Uugghuhhh huhh."

"You're right, someone will probably nominate Marceline. I mean, she's so witty and brilliant and smart and bootiful, I can't imagine her NOT winning Tombcoming Queen."

"Uuuggghhhh?"

"When did I last see her? Oh....my first day of school, I guess." Rory scratched his head. "When I asked her to the dance. I've been avoiding her since."

Slo-Moe gave an eye-rolling, sidelong glance to Don Ofthedead, who groaned in response.

"I know, I know..." Rory replied, trying to hexplain his stitchuation. "But the less I see her, the less chance I have of completely cracking up, you know? And ruining everything! And destroying our friendship forever! I couldn't stand that, you know!"

Slo-Moe just sighed.

"She probably feels the same way. I mean, not only haven't I seen HER, but SHE hasn't seen ME, right? She's probably trying just as hard as I am to avoid-"

The Zombie mob turned a corner and Rory's voice cracked as he spied somemonster walking out of Home Ick.

"-Marceline!"

"Tha-" Rory's voice cracked and he flinched. "Er, *ahHEM* thank you." Rory obligingly took the cookie, paused, and then crammed it into his mouth.

"Itff gffd. Ffrrry gfffd!" He tried to smile and chew at the same time, which he realized acutely was probably the worst decision he could have made. He swallowed as the zombie mob all dispersed to their classes. Which left Rory alone in the hallway with Marceline.

Rory looked around, left and right. This was getting awkward, like Marceline was expecting him to say something. What was he supposed to say?! Why couldn't he think of anything? Why wasn't Dashner there to interrupt and save him from all of this crushing silence?!

"Er...." Rory tried not to look bug-eyed and panicky, but was acutely aware that he was failig. "So....there's going to be a Scream King and Queen at the dance, have you heard?"

WHY did he ask her about that?!!!

The cookies seemed to fall in slow motion. They hit the ground, and cracked and crumbled, with a reverberating sound that seemed to echo in Rory's ears.

"GHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSP!" Rory completely freaked out. Broken! Dashed into a billion crumbly pieces! Each cookie completely rendered into fractured remains. Ex-cookies. "Oh no! Oh no, oh no, oh no!"

Rory joined Marceline on his hands and knees, trying to scoop up cookie pieces and stick them back in her tupperscare.

"They're still good! They're okay! They're only a little cracked and fractured and broken and mauled beyond all recognition! Don't hate them! They might be sort of ugly and awkward but they're still GOOD cookies! THEY ARE GOOD COOKIES!"

"...Oh. Ah, heh..." Rory pulled his hand away lightly, leaving the cookie bit in Marceline's hand. "Sorry."

Rory rubbed his hand a little bit, feeling his shiny cheeks flush.

"So, uh...do you know anything about pirate creepovers?"

But before Marceline could answer, the bell rang again. Rory bounced up.

"Oh no! I can't be late! See you later!"