Chapter One

Being a senior was scary. Being a senior meant she would be leaving for college next Autumn, which was what, five months away?

There would be dorm rooms. She would have to meet new people. And be away from home. Away from Adam and Barbara. Away from her dad and...

Delia...

Away from Delia...

That actually was not so scary.

But being with Delia as a senior was scary. In the past years Lydia had grown more happy, but no less morbid in her taste of attire and art. Barbara and Adam encouraged it, said her clothing was unique and she should look into classes for clothing design.

Delia claimed it was no way for a pretty young woman to ever meet someone normal.

Lydia claimed it was the only way she would meet someone like her, strange and unusual.

She lay on her bed staring up at the ceiling and thought about leaving the place. Living in the middle of no where meant there were no colleges that were necessarily close, but she couldn't stand the thought of being away for so long. What if she got used to being away so much that her visits became rare? What if she forgot the fun times she had here, the secrets... her secret ghost friends?

No, they were unforgettable.

There was a knock on her door and Lydia sat up quickly, bringing her books and papers towards her to look like she had been doing homework, what she told everyone she was doing.

"Hungry Lydia? We made shish kabobs!" Her dad called through the door.

"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute." She told him. "Just let me finish up... here." Lying about homework wasn't always the best idea for her, she forgot what she said she had been working on.

As her dad walked away, Lydia put away her "homework," or in this case a few blank pieces of paper and a biography on Edgar Allan Poe. Being a senior was great, she only had at the most an assignment a week, and those she could almost always get done with in class.

There was just no other excuse she could come up with for why she wouldn't be going with Delia to the movies or to the mall or where ever else was suggested, because she knew Delia would have an ulterior motive to inviting Lydia anywhere.

Meeting nice guys or getting a make over. The two most important steps to becoming the woman Delia wanted her to be.

Adam and Barbara knew of her hiding out and though they both agreed it would be good for her to go meet new people, they didn't feel the need to pressure Lydia to do it any other way but her own.

She was really going to miss them.

Dinner always brightened her mood. Despite not needing to eat, Adam and Barbara always came down to visit during meal times and meals were never so boring again.

Tonight, though, when she sat down she was prepared for questions about her social life. She managed to avoid Delia most of the day so dinner time was her moment to strike.

Lydia wasn't sure, but she had a theory. She believed Delia may be trying to live through her, after all Lydia could move where ever she wanted in a few months. She could go to the city and go to college for clothing design or photography or anything in the world.

Delia wasn't forced to stay in the house like Adam and Barbara, so Lydia would be behind her all the way should she choose to go to an art exhibit and see the world and whatever the hell else she always talked about. Alone, or with her dad... just not with her.

"Aw Lydia." Lydia looked up at Adam to see a horse face where his normal face should have been. "Why the long face?"

No matter how old Lydia got, Adam's corny jokes still brought a small giggle from her, but she did add an eye roll towards Barbara this time.

"I didn't realize I was making a face like that." She said honestly around a mouthful of food.

"Well you know us, always here to help." Barbara told her with a wink.

Delia and Charles were in their own little world, discussing what exactly... Lydia was sure she didn't care, but she was glad that they hadn't been listening to her conversation.

It was so odd to have two different sets of parents, and as Lydia glanced at her mortal ones, she wondered if they ever felt she preferred her dead ones.

The private conversation ended at the end of the table and Delia spoke up.

"Lydia darling," Lydia's hand clenched around her glass she was drinking from. Calling her "darling" was never a good sign, but if it was followed with "Your father and I have been talking," well... that was even worse news.

"You're father and I have been talking," She said it, things can only get worse now "and we believe it may be in your best interest," Calm down, remain calm, whatever she says won't be so bad if you can remain calm about it "If we enrolled you in an etiquette class."

How in the -- WHAT

"... A what? You think I need etiquette classes?" She was expecting maybe dance classes or a beauty pageant, something to give Delia an excuse to pamper her up and tell her how much she should really accent her fair skin rather than make it look sickly by wearing those "Halloween costumes."

"That's the thing, it's so much more than an etiquette class. You get so much more out of it than just table manners, you learn how to use your skills. They teach you to be powerful women, how to have more... more... what's the word I'm looking for Charles?"

"Sexual appeal?" Lydia offered, seeing right through all of her fancy talk. "Style? What is it really Delia, a matchmaking service?"

"What? No! No, no... The brochure did say you will be meeting boys but it isn't a matchmaking service per se."

"I don't... I don't want to listen to this. I think I'll just go to bed now." Lydia announced before standing up. "Good night."

She ignored Adam and Barbara's looks of concern and Delia saying "How does she feel she can turn down etiquette classes when she behaves in such a way?"

Closing her door, Lydia threw herself onto her bed and looked over at her wall calendar. Another month, that was it and then school was out. Then summer always went by in a flash and she'd be outta here.

And in a dorm room... with her luck she'd probably end up with some bubbly roommate.

"Oh God." Lydia groaned, covering her head with a pillow.

There was a knock on her door and not caring who it was, she shouted "Do not disturb!"

"Lydia, we aren't here to bother you." Barbara's voice called through the door. It was a sign of how much they cared that they didn't use their powers and just appear in her room.

She heard Adam tell Barbara they should just let her be alone and though she hated turning the two away, as they had never been anything but kind to her, she wanted her solitude just for the night.

"Good night Lydia." Adam said through the door and then they left. Lydia curled up with her pillow and fell asleep on top of her covers.

"Hey you, baby doll. That's enough snoozin' babe." She thought it was her dad waking her up for school, but he didn't say things like that... and his voice was smoother. It didn't sound like gravel beneath your feet.

Lydia sat up and saw a large snake at the foot of her bed. The creature had the body of a snake anyway, but the head was unmistakably Betel Geuse.

Screaming, she jumped up to get away from the grotesque thing, but he slithered toward her with a leer on his face.

She grabbed a glass of orange juice from her dresser and threw it on the snake who began to scream in agony.

"I'm meltin'! Ah babe why'd you have to do a thing like that? I'm meltin'! I'm meltin'!"

The creature was dissolving right in front of her on her bedroom floor. But in its place were a hundred beetles that scattered all around her room. They crawled into her bed and up her legs. She screamed and stomped at them, but they were always crawling.

"Ah you're ruining your dress dancin' 'round like that." the same gravelly voice said behind her.

She turned around and saw the Bio-Exorcist in his maroon wedding tuxedo standing in front of her, as if he had never been murdered by toxic orange juice.

"No, no you're dead. Barbara, she... and then I..." Lydia stammered.

"Oh I'm dead, but don't feel so special Princess. I was dead long before Barbara or you did anythin' to me... and so... 'til death do you part." He told her. She looked down at her hand and saw the ring he had forced onto her finger so many years ago.

He was coming closer to her with that leer on his face.

And that was the reason she was wide awake an hour earlier than she had to be. Groaning, she tried to go back to sleep just for a bit longer. At least it was a Friday, because she could tell already what kind of day it was going to be.

"...And if I catch you snoozing in class again, Miss Deetz, you'll have so many lunch detentions..."

"Yes Mr. Gavin." Lydia answered before her teacher could try to come up with a way to finish his threat. She took her journal and left.

Last hour of the day, thank God. Thought Lydia as she got onto her bike and headed home.

It was with a feeling of dread that she recognized the purple convertible driving slowly towards her. The last time she had talked to Delia was at dinner the night before and she had been hoping she could maybe shoot for not saying a word to her all weekend, but apparently she had different plans.

Why me?

"Lydia, I'm going to treat you to something special today, so hop in."

"But I have --"

"Homework?" Delia asked, eying her empty basket. Lydia's face turned red as she tried to think of another excuse.

"I'm still in my school uniform." She said.

That seemed to work but all it did was buy her a few minutes to go throw on something decent.

Lydia got into the passenger seat wearing a wide brimmed hat as dark as her hair and one of her many flowing dresses she had made herself. No words of disapproval came from Delia for which she was thankful.

They drove on in silence for a few minutes and Lydia was the first to break it.

"If you're taking me to etiquette classes, I'm jumping from this car." She told her, resembling her moody 13 year old self.

"Oh Lydia, lighten up! Can't I just surprise you?"

"You can, but no where does it say the victim has to enjoy the surprise."

"Look, I'm attempting to do something nice Lydia, so is it too much to ask for you not to act like a complete brat for just one day? Hmm?"

Lydia didn't answer but instead looked out the window and watched the trees and buildings go past at a blur. She wished she had thought to bring her camera.

"My birthday is next week." She said more to herself than to Delia. It was more of a private revelation that she'd be 18, a legal adult.

"Yes, it is."

That was the last thing that was said in the car until Delia pulled into the parking lot of the mall.

I knew it. What is it this time? Clothes, make up, both? Oh God, tell me we aren't here to talk about boys, the last time Delia tried that she ended up asking if I was a lesbian.

Delia turned towards her as soon as they were through the building doors.

Oh no, here it comes.

"I know we just got here..." Whatever she says, be polite so she doesn't try to throw you out next week.

"But my bladder is going to explode if I don't do something quick. Watch my purse?" She asked.

A little surprised, though covering it up quickly, Lydia nodded. "Sure." And was soon watching Delia move her little legs as fast as she could to the restrooms.

Lydia leaned against the wall and set the purse on the floor beside her. The thing was ugly, she didn't want to be seen with it.

Looking up at the ceiling, Lydia watched the clouds move through the sky light. It was very pretty for a mall, and not overly crowded. That was nice, she hated crowds.

She saw something out of the corner of her eye then and was distracted from her cloud watching.

Looking around at the things her own level, she saw groups of kids, some her age and others who looked older, at different tables in the food court. Others were on benches and there were a few walking into a gift shop.

But what caused her to turn away from those beautiful cloud shapes was making everything else seem to disappear.

While she gazed at him from across the mall, she wondered if he had been gazing at her a moment earlier when suddenly he looked up from the ice cream cone he currently seemed to be showing off some skill on.

Lydia quickly turned away and hoped he was too far away to see her blushing.

Why did I choose this hat

Sneaking a glance back at him, she saw he was still looking over towards her... maybe at a poster near her or something, but she was going to believe he was staring at her as intently as she was staring at him.

Oh God he's looking at me, I should have put my hair up instead. There was no time. Oh God he's still looking at me. What -- wait where is he going? Come back Cute Boy

As if Cute Boy was made to follow her every command, he was soon making a beeline from the trash can to where she stood.

Wait, now what are you doing? Don't come over here, I'll die!

Oh, you must be going to the bathroom... no need for me to get so nervous or anything like that. I'll just smile at you from under my hat and you'll smile back...

I'll be calm...

And I'll make you think that I'm just way too cool -- wait what? Since when do I want guys to think I'm "way too cool"

The Cute Boy was thankfully oblivious to everything going on in Lydia's head, but he had enough common sense to smile at the one he had dubbed The Cute Girl while her passed her on the way to the drinking fountain.

He smiled at me... damn right he did.

Feeling a little guilty, but not at all able to help herself, Lydia had to check out his butt as he bent over to get a drink. It was just so cute. Her eyes traveled up to his face and she watched the water drip from his lips. She licked her own before realizing what she was doing.

Stop it, if Delia comes out and sees you, you will never hear the end of it.

The Cute Boy was standing up and when he turned around, Lydia quickly looked away, hoping he hadn't caught her staring... again...

But she was only able to look away for a second before glancing back at The Cute Boy with a smile.

He's walking towards me! It'll be okay just remember not to be a complete idiot and it will all be okay.

"Hey." He said.

"Hi." She said.

"My name's Jack."

"I'm Lydia."

When Delia walked out of the ladies room, she looked for Lydia where she had last been with her... and gasped loudly. Stuck to the lips of her stepdaughter was what looked to be her equal in all things gloomy and morbid.

Had it been one of her own friends she would have just laughed and then might sneak off, of course congratulate the girl later... but she had adopted Lydia and some motherly instincts were kicking in and they all told her to shout and yell and make a scene !

Grabbing Lydia's hand, Delia pulled the two apart with a look of crazy about her.

"We are going straight home this instant and you are explaining yourself to both me and your father!"

"But... but I didn't get his number!"

"I slipped it into your pocket, don't worry." Jack said and sent her a wink that made Lydia sure she could fly. Delia gaped at him, he had been groping her!?

"Call me Lyds." The boy said with a dreamy grin and Delia shook her head at him, shouting "When it's a cold day in hell!"

"Tonight!" Lydia added before the mall doors closed on her.

Hearing this news, Charles was concerned... but not as concerned as Delia wanted him to be, so he felt obligated to tell Lydia how boys will do anything and yadda yadda yadda.

"You haven't even asked her if she would care to explain how she let that happen. A responsible young woman like herself should know better..."

"I can't explain." Lydia said with the same dreamy look she'd had the whole ride home. "One minute we were saying 'hey' and the next... we were on cloud nine."

There was a snort from the hallway that Charles was sure came from Adam.

"Aww come on. The girl's in love. There's no danger in that. First love." Adam added his two cents to the whole deal with Barbara nodding at his side.

Charles smiled fondly, a blissful look coming across his face... a look that suggested he was remembering very happy times.

"No, I suppose there isn't really. Well, we got answers to your - I mean our questions Delia. I suppose she can go."

Lydia barely waited for him to finish his sentence before running out the door. She had a phone call to make after all. She was going to be sure to thank The Cute Boy... or Jack... so much for getting her out of a shopping trip with her step mom.

"I am not joking pal! You need to shower and I don't care if we have to force you." Kise threatened.

Betel Geuse eyed the mans scars and wondered if he got them the way he said, from bull fighting down south, or from what was more likely the truth - talking bigger talk than he should have been.

"I am perfectly happy the way I am, do I try and force ya not to act like an asshole?" He asked from where he lounged on his top bunk.

"Oh ha ha..." Kise said sarcastically, "But here's the thing... being dead means that generally we don't need to clean ourselves. It's a little hard to get dirty since, well, our bodies stay in the same state they were when we died." He explained in a tone one would use on a confused kindergartner.

"Ah yes, good point." Geuse mumbled sleepily in a tone that suggested not only did he not care, but he also thought it was not a good point.

"So," his cell mate continued while trying to calm himself, "if you could... Please explain to me how it is possible to ever get That. Disgusting. On. Purpose "

Betel Geuse smiled up at the ceiling in response to the compliment that was just so nicely bestowed upon him.

"Such sweet things you say to me, Kise. Quit, or I might grow fond of having you around."

There was silence for a while as Kise tried to come up with how exactly you hurt a dead guy and Betel Geuse just napped away. Finally, though, he felt the guy deserved an answer after all of his sweet talk.

"In my line of work, appearance is everythin'. I'm the ghost with the most, pal and anyone looking to hire can clearly see that."

"Yeah... but you were fired."

"No." was the harsh reply.

"My bad," Kise smirked, sensing a touchy subject, "You were demoted right? All the way down to level one? Damn... and you've been working for Bio-Exorcist, for how long again?"

"Six Hundred Years." Betel Geuse bit the words out.

"Man, I don't know what I would do to see all of my hard work just... taken from me like that... one day you're succesful and powerful... the next you're demoted and in jail. Harsh little world."

Betel Geuse turned his back to his cell mate and attempted to ignore him. Shoving a bar through his head would only keep him in here longer and then Kise would be complaining the whole time about headaches.

When he had his powers back, he could do a bit more than a simple bar through the brain.

Despite Kise attempting to bait him into getting angry, Betel Geuse fell asleep with a smile on his face and dreamed a very happy dream.