Don Brewing

Chapter 4 – One Hot Halloween

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Beetlejuice, and I certainly don't make any money off of this.

…

October 29th 2002

…

"Ok Huns, this is the last day we can practice before you perform at The Juice's dinner party." Ginger spoke to the two girls wearing outfits similar to her own. "Now remember your steps!" She stood in between Lydia and Claire. "Ready: One, a two, & a three…"

Lydia and Claire both stepped in time to the smooth jazz music coming from the old phonograph each tapped in time to beat and crossed each other at the correct queue. By the time they had finished Ginger was clapping from her spot on the sofa.

"Wow, great job girls, ya both did excellent!"

Lydia blushed a bit at the compliment while Claire proceeded to gloat. "Of course like, I did great!"

All three girls chuckled and began to clean up the room. Watching Claire plop herself next to Ginger in order to chat Lydia strode across the room in order to turn off the ancient music player. She bent down to pick up the vinyl when she felt a wave of dizziness hit her.

"Lydia?" Both women got up from the couch at the sound of the vinyl smashing to the floor. Ginger caught the young Goth before she too would hit the ground. "Claire-hun, go get a sock from the closet over in the hallway!"

"Like a sock? Why-"

"Just DO IT!"

Claire scrambled down the hallway to the specific closet and opened one of the drawers without thinking. The stench was enough to make her hair stand on end. Running to the kitchen she grabbed a pair of tongs, and went back to fish out one of the stiff socks.

"Good Hun, just let it hover over her nose."

"Oh like, ok."

The sock did the trick. Lydia's eyes opened wide at the smell of the offending foot-covering, both her hands shot to her nose. "OH GROSS, isn't that Beej's favorite sweat sock?" Lydia said, trying her best to maneuver away from the stench.

Claire, without thinking threw the sock (tongs & all) into a pile of trash in the corner. The sock moved on its own, worming its way back to the closet & mate. Sitting down next to Lydia, Claire put a hand to the girl's forehead.

"Oh my GOSH, you're like, burning up Deetz!"

Ginger shooed the blonde's hand away and felt Lydia's forehead with her own. "She's not burnin' up, Hun, that's just your hand's Heat." Ginger turned back to look at Lydia. "Honey, ya ok? Ya looked like ya were about to take your final bow."

Lydia looked up at Ginger's worried humanoid face and sighed. "I'm fine, Ginger, I haven't eaten anything today. You know, cause BJ was on this gross food kick this morning..." It wasn't a lie, well not completely, so hopefully she wouldn't have another skeleton in her closet. She had eaten that day, but as for her almost faint, Lydia hid the fact that she hadn't been sleeping well or been under a ton of pressure lately.

"Well like, then come on Deetz, were like, totally going to get some food in you!"

"Ya know Claire-hun, that's a great idea; I'll go into the kitchen and fix ya both a light snack." Claire and Lydia watched Ginger tap out of the un-living room and began to take their tap shoes off.

"So Deetz are you sure you're like, ok? We still like, have to perform tomorrow, remember? You have to like, bring you're A-game."

"I should be fine, Claire. Really, there's no need to worry."

"Oh well like, ok then." She shrugged as they both stepped into her room. "By the way Lydia I like, no wait, I love the costumes you designed."

Lydia's head whipped around to face Claire. "R-Really?"

"Yeah like, how did you know my fav color was pink?"

"Well, you do wear it all the time…" Lydia laughed and a small smirk formed on Claire's face.

"Un-huh. That red on your costume like, really does you justice."

"Oh, um, cool. Thanks Claire."

"Like, I'm sure a certain Beetle-brain is going to love seeing you in it."

"Ha, yeah I'm sure he will-" Lydia stopped just as she was about to pull her poncho over her head. Wide-eyed she stared at her new friend. "Be-Beej likes e-everything I wear, so yeah, it's not like, you know, like he li-likes me like that or anything! I didn't design our outfits to be so r-reveling; I'm not trying to h-hook him…"

"Wow Deetz like, slow it down. It's like, no big deal that you like him."

"But…"

"Look like, the circumstances are TOTALLY weird but like, who cares? You like, love him, right?"

"Um… I, uh, yeah, I guess I do…" Lydia blushed and sat down on Claire's bed.

"So then you like, just have to show him." Claire winked at the girl. She stood back suddenly and a tornado of fire swirled around her. When the heat & fire dissipated, she was back in the clothes she died in. "Like, that will never get old."

Both of them broke out in laughter.

…

Ginger entered the kitchen and began to search the fridge. Humming, she stopped when she heard a small gasp. Jacques had been absently stirring some batter (using his arm & hand as a spatula) in the corner of the room prior to the spider-woman's entrance. The French skeleton stopped his stirring to stare at Ginger's seemingly 'new' appearance.

"Oh-la-la…" He said taken aback.

Ginger's shoulders tensed at the sound. Blushing she managed to hold all the ingredients she grabbed in her one arm and turned around to face what would be an embarrassing situation. Setting the items on the counter she began to make a couple of sand-witches.

"Gingēr? Is zat you?"

"Oh, ha-ha, yes I suppose it is…" Ginger blushed; trying to hurry in her task.

"Mon Dieu, you look – Ah! I um…" Jacques reattached his arm, shaking the batter from his hand. "…you 'ave quite ze beautiful frame, no? I 'ave never notized it before…"

"Well, I uh, ya know…" She quickly piled all the sand-witches onto a plate. "I never get to show off this form 'cause Beetlejuice is such a pervert! Ha-ha, haa…"

Finished, she didn't move.

Jacques was standing right next to her, his tall frame leaning against the counter. Ginger stared at his collarbones, realizing the obvious new height differences, and wondered what he might have looked like had he muscle and skin. She blushed at the thought and the fact that she'd been openly ogling him in the kitchen.

"Oui... that iz terrible." He picked her hand up and kissed it. Using his clean skeletal-hand Jacques tucked a small pink strand of Gingers hair behind her visible ear, marveling at the texture of her new-found skin, and the heat that came from the bright flush that stretched across her small face. "Perhaps, I can zee you more often when he ez not around? Maybe tomorrow, mon cheri?"

"Ah-ha, um ha-ha, I, uh, I g-guess…" Finding it hard to speak, Ginger felt her two usually strong knees wobbled at his touch.

Picking up her tray, she quickly & clumsily left the kitchen, a bright pink blush covering her cheeks. Jacques watched her go with an amused toothy-grin. He had thought the woman attractive as a spider, but as a human?

"Ah, la amour."

…

October 30th 2002

…

"Hey, do NOT give me THAT look!" Beetle yelled. "It may work on Mom, but it will NOT work on me!"

"B-But Beetlejuice…" Donny put all his effort into his version of 'puppy-eyes'. "PLEASE! Please don't bring that snobby, snooty, and rude young lady to our family reunion!" He stopped his foot in a child-like manner.

"Look Donny, as much as it re-kills me to say it…" Beetle stuck his finger in his mouth, imitating the universal 'I'm-gonna-throw-up' sign. "…I agree with ya." A shiver ran through him. "EWW! YUCK! I can't believe I just said that."

"Golly Beetlejuice, you mean that?" Donny hugged him.

"Unfortunately … yes." Beetle peeled his brother off his body. "Now make like a rotten-banana, 'an split!"

Beetlejuice brought his leg back for the kick, ready to send his brother into next Sundae, when a familiar red-spider print poncho caught his eye. Quickly setting down his brother, Beetle made it look as if he was playing-nice the entire time. Donny smiled and took advantage of the situation to continue hugging his brother.

"Awe, Beej. It's nice to see you getting along with your brother."

"Right-right, were getting' along good enough…" The he said under his breath: "Don't push it, Lyds…"

"Hello, Donny."

"Why, hello Miss Lydia." Donny beamed at her, his eyes going from his brother to her and back. "I'm here to pick all of you up since Doomie's feeling under the weather."

"Yeah, he's got a case of Flush-tration." A toilet flushed in the background. "He went through three oil changes last night."

"Is he going to be ok?" Lydia began to walk to the garage, but was intercepted by both the Juice brothers.

"He'll be fine, Lyds. Last I checked on him he was nursing some engine fluid."

"Yes, Miss Lydia. I personally checked up on Doomie; not a thing to worry about!"

"I guess… if Donny says so." She smiled teasingly at Beetlejuice.

"Geez, Babes, way ta show the love."

Donny watched bemused as Beetlejuice walked over and put an arm around Lydia's shoulders. 'Their perfect for each other.' Donny sighed and smiled. 'Maybe this Halloween they'll get their act together…' At the thought of Halloween Donny's smile faltered. He remembered the argument he and his brother previously had about bringing a certain hot-headed blonde.

Donny blushed.

His spectral body tingled at the thought of the fiery valley-girl. Donny cursed his traitorous mind; Claire had gotten under his skin. Not only did the hot-head make him morally act like a copy of his brother, but she physically turned Donny on in the process. Donny gripped the keys to his Beetle-mobile (a car better titled for his brother) and tried to will his mind clean.

"Babes? Do we have'ta bring that Claire-atron?" Beetlejuice gave her his best toothy grin; the beetles in his teeth scattered for freedom.

"BJ, we talked about this: if Claire doesn't go then I'm not going." Then she whispered: "Besides I think it's a good idea for her and Donny to get a second impression."

"Un-huh, perfect idea Lyds, but I think they got all the impressions they needed on my bedroom floor!" He angrily whispered back.

"I helped you clean, so stop being a perv about it." She scolded him.

"BABES! Th-Think about it fer a second!" He pleaded and shot down to the ground to grab hold of her ankle. "This is Bruise-ster were thinkin' o'bringin'!"

"I know Beej, but this is her first Halloween as a ghost! You know she doesn't have anyone besides us to spend it with." Lydia pleaded with Beetlejuice and hoped he wouldn't ruin it. She had been practicing hard on her dancing and wanted everything to go smoothly for the show her & Claire would put on for the reunion dinner.

Meanwhile, Donny felt his heart literally sink to his stomach as he watched the two interact. His brother's girl-best-friend had a point and he felt ashamed that he'd been acting like a complete troll towards the fire-wielding ghoul. He wondered WHY he became out of character around her. Sighing in defeat, Donny went and sat in the car.

All the thoughts made his head spin.

Claire made his head spin.

LITERALLY!

Beetlejuice and Lydia shuffled into the backseat. He started the engine but froze when he realized the position he'd been put in. Panicked he realized that Miss Claire would be sitting her pretty-hot self right next to him in the passenger's side.

"Br-Brother, would you mind sitting up here next to me?"

"Not in another millennium." Beetle droned out and given a playful slap by Lydia.

"Miss Lydia, how about you?" He eyed her hopefully from the dashboard mirror.

"Oh, uh, I gu-"

"AB-SO-LUTE-LY NOT!"

"BJ!"

"No way, Lyds."

"BJ…"

"I'm not gettin' stuck sittin' next to the Claire-cano!" Beetlejuice whined.

"Beej, please?"

"That ain't gonna work on me Lyds. I ain't movin'…" He pointed at himself. "…and you ain't movin'…" He pointed at her. "…SO THERE!" He crossed his arm in a child-like manner and slouched in the seat.

Snorting out a laugh, Lydia shook her head and apologized to Donny. Un-known to the two Juice brothers, Lydia had happily sided with her best friend. She felt that Claire and Donny needed to get to know one another a little better.

At the sound of a knock on the door and all three passengers turned to see Claire fling it open and proceed to stuff a large duffle bag at Donny. Getting in she quickly closed the door and began examining her nails. Slightly irked by the intrusion Donny tried his best to regain his polite personality around the rude ghoul.

"Miss Claire." He gave her a stiff greeting. "Good evening."

"Yeah like, whatever."

Lydia watched nervously as Donny's grip on the steering wheel turned his knuckles white. 'If they were any whiter I'd swear I was looking at bone…' Lydia thought giving him a concerned look.

"Ugh, like, are we going anytime soon?" Claire's eyes shot to the driver. "Or am I like, going to be late thanks to our less-than-competent driver."

"Do not worry, Miss Claire, I promise you we will get to my mother & father's house within plenty of time." Donny ground out as he started the car and pulled onto the one-lane high way.

Beetlejuice leaned towards Lydia and whispered to her. "This is going to be an interesting ride, if ya know what I mean, eh Babes?" All Lydia could do was roll her eyes.

"I hope not, Beej…"

...

Beetlejuice grabbed Lydia and she in turn grabbed the duffel bag that had her & Claire's costumes in it. They were all about twenty minutes from the Juice household and had been driving for only thirty before that. As it turned out, it only took a half an hour to get Claire cooking hot (without the provocation of BJ) around Donny. Beetlejuice held tightly onto Lydia as they watched a rather large mushroom-cloud explosion from the front gates of his parent's house.

Beetle whistled loud & long at the sight. "That's a 4.5 on the Richter scale…" In the background, a large scale appeared, Lydia watched as a mallet sent the little weight up to the number he predicted ringing the bell at the top. She giggled as he put her down.

"Poor Donny, didn't he really love that car?"

"Ah, who cares, Babes? Little goody-two-shoes can find & fix up another ol'junker." Lydia shook her head and watched as Claire, in a burst of flames, appeared before them.

"O.M.G. What a DIP! Lydia can you like, BELIEVE what that librarian-wanna-be said!" Claire huffed in annoyance ignoring the fact that Donny appeared right next to her.

"This is getting' good, eh Lyds?" Beetlejuice was eating it up, thoroughly enjoying watching two of the most annoying ghosts he knew insult each other.

"BJ, this isn't amusing."

"Hey, Babes, speak for yourself." Just as he said this Donny materialize right in front of the white picket fence of their parent's house and began to finish the soap-box rant he'd started in the car.

"You-You Miss Brewster, must be the most rude, most discourteous, most IMPOLITE woman I have ever met!"

Claire had turned back around on Donny, but thankfully due to her little meltdown in the car, she didn't have enough Heat to produce another material explosion. All she could manage was a glare that could possibly turn sand into glass. Lydia was about to intervene when she heard the familiar sound of Mrs. Juice clearing her throat.