Teaching Lessons

Lydia's face fell. The cashier asked if she was alright, and Lydia quickly rambled something about feeling sick, paid for her items, and quickly took her bags. What are we going to do? If Vincent is here, he'll follow us! Beetlejuice can't do anything out in public like this! Am I going to die?

Almost as if Beetlejuice could read her mind, he placed a hand on her shoulder, sending a bolt of electricity through her body from the sudden contact.

"No worries, Babes. I got this. Just walk outside." His voice was reassuring enough for her to make herself walk. The snow welcomed them once again as they stepped into the cold winter night. The sun was completely set by now, and only dim streetlamps lit the area. Her hands were shaking in terror as they walked some ways away from the store.

They were about halfway to her apartment when she heard a voice. It made her shudder through to her bones.

"Hey, Lydia! You get yourself a new piece of meat? Too bad for him, I'm the only one you want." The voice seared through her ears, making them burn. She wanted to run. She wanted to scream. But having Beetlejuice there made her feel more courage than usual. Instead of running, she turned and faced her ex-lover.

"I will never want you ever again, Vincent." Her voice was stern, trying to cover the utter terror she felt. Beetlejuice was still covered in his hooded trench coat, standing beside her. She couldn't tell what he was thinking or planning to do. But Vincent was really there and approaching the two fast. He didn't seem as drunk as he did the previous day, but his face beamed with anger and malice. His green eyes seemed to be in ablaze. She could barely recognize him as the man she fell in love with so many years before. His brown hair was short and messy and his clothing was wrinkled. It looked as though he had just gotten out of bed. She could smell the alcohol again and it made her feel woozy. Her knees began to buckle, but a hand touched her back. Beetlejuice held her in place, almost protectively. Lydia couldn't take her eyes off of Vincent as he grew closer. The wounds he inflicted the day before began to throb underneath her clothing.

"You bitch, I'm the best thing you'll ever have. Didn't I teach you that last night? Or do I have to teach you again?" Lydia's breathing became shallow as she waited what he planned to do to her. He drew his hand out to slap her across the face. Lydia closed her eyes and got ready to duck when heard him grunt. She opened her eyes to see Vincent struggling against Beetlejuice's grip on his wrist, inches away from Lydia's face.

"You don't want to do that." Beetlejuice's voice was darker than Lydia remembered.

"What the hell, man? Let go of me!" Vincent tried to swing his other hand at Beetlejuice's stomach, but his hand was caught by Beetlejuice's free one.

"You want me to let you go? Now that wouldn't be fun. I want to enjoy this." Lydia took a few steps back as Vincent tried to break away.

"You freak! Let me go! I'm gonna kill you and that bitch!" Beetlejuice's hold was so strong, Vincent couldn't budge. Lydia's eyes widened slowly as a glow came from inside Beetlejuice's hood. A strange green huge emanated around his body and a growl echoed around them in the snow. She looked around and saw that no one else was around.

"No one calls Lydia a bitch." Lydia froze in place from what Beetlejuice said. Then, she watched as Vincent's face twisted in fear as he stared helpless into Beetlejuice's hood. Beetlejuice then threw him down into the snow. Vincent screamed as he scrambled to his feet and ran off. Lydia's mouth was wide open. The glow receded and Beetlejuice lowered the hood, revealing his normal, cackling self. "Was that great or what! God, I am a genius!" he slapped his knee in triumph. "Guess that's that. I don't think he'll be bothering you again. It's a shame too, I was very toned down."

"What…did you DO to him?" Lydia asked as Beetlejuice calmed down.

"Oh nothing too terrible. Just something very personal for good old Vincey. You'd prolly not want to know the details."

Lydia thought a moment and nodded. She was just fine NOT knowing the details.

"I guess we should walk back home…" Lydia turned and heard Beetlejuice growl in irritation. "What is it?"

"I should've gone back by now. What the hell, Juno?" Beetlejuice cried out into the snow. "That was your issue, wasn't it? I did what I was supposed to! She's supposed to come here and get me."

Lydia shrugged. It was too cold outside to think about such things at the moment.

"Well can we please worry about this in my apartment? I'm freezing and still experiencing shock here."

"Yeah…guess so. You look like a popsicle anyways, ha." Beetlejuice snickered and snapped his fingers. Within an instant, Lydia was back in her apartment. THAT was convenient. "Better, Babes?" Beetlejuice threw off his trench coat onto one of her chairs and levitated into the air, playing with his finger nails and yawning. Lydia could only shrug and she went into the kitchen to put her food away.

"Well, since it seems that Juno is probably going to be a while getting to you, how about you answer some more questions?" She called out from the kitchen. Beetlejuice floated into the room and sped up so close that his face was only an inch or two away from hers.

"What do I get out of it?" He whispered, making the hair at back of her neck stand. Lydia felt herself blush from his question and she pushed him from her.

"Whatever you're thinking, it's a definite no." She took a deep breath and got her bearings. "What you get is me not sending you back myself."