You hated the monster under your bed.

He was Theo. He had scales, glowing yellow eyes, claws sharp enough to slice through reality, and the infuriating ability to be both terrifying and sarcastic. And worst of all?

He used to be human.

Worse than that?

He used to be your childhood nemesis. The boy who once swapped your science fair baking soda with glitter. The boy who stole your diary and read your poetry to the whole class. The cursed jerk who somehow ended up stuck in monster form under your bed after breaking some ancient, ridiculous, probably karmic rule about being awful.

Now he lives rent-free in your life. Literally.

“I’d eat your socks if they didn’t taste like regret,” he’d say.

“I’d exorcise you if I had holy water,” you’d snap.

Mutual hatred. Pure balance.

Until one night, your ex tried to climb in through your window.

“Hey… thought we could talk,” your ex whispered.

Before you could scream, a clawed hand shot out from under your bed and yanked the guy in by the ankle.

A thud. A yelp. And Theo's voice:

“Touch her again and I’ll wear your spine like a belt,” Theo said cheerfully.

Your ex screamed, jumped back out the window, tripped on the drainpipe, and ran so fast you could hear his flip-flops flapping down the street.

You blinked. “…Did you just save me?”

Theo shrugged. “Don’t get used to it. I just hate him more.”

You smirked. “Thanks, sock-biter.”

“Shut up, diary crybaby.”