She lidded her eyes, relaxed and calm. Her fingers gingerly slid around the frail glass, and lifted the cup from it's matching saucer. Pink lips touched the glass just as gingerly as said fingers, and she tilted it back in order to swallow the steamy hot liquid in her cup.
Lydia pulled the glass cup away from her mouth as she swallowed the fresh tea, then set it back down on it's saucer she had sitting on a relatively short table placed in the middle of her room. She turned her head; was there a noise? For this to work, she needed absolute silence, and she hadn't seen him yet all morning.
A small smile appeared on her lips. Maybe he decided to leave her alone after all. He hadn't even disturbed her while she slept in a little, let alone the small hum of his power she sometimes felt when he was around. It almost felt too quiet now, very creepy. But at least she had a chance to pull this off.
Just a few more minutes, that's all she needed. Lydia picked up the cup and took a long swig. Perfect! Very little tea was left in the cup. Lydia could just barely hold onto her excitement. But in order to do this reading right, she needed to stay as quiet, calm, and clear as possible.
Lydia set the cup back down and began to focus on her question. Is he going to leave soon or what? Eyebrows furrowed, but then quickly relaxed in the midst of her slight meditation. Fingers lightly touching the cup once more, she spun it counter-clock wise in the saucer. One...Two...Three...
She froze. Lydia looked around, keeping herself relaxed, and tried again to clear her mind. She's just kinda paranoid, yeah, that's it. She didn't hear a noise. Lydia looked
down at the cup, regarding it warily for just a moment. Maybe Adam and Barbara were moving stuff upstairs? Oh well, back to concentrating...she had spun it three times, right? She took another deep breath and tipped the cup upside-down in its saucer. Lydia sat, and waited a few minutes to only focus on her question. This moment had to be absolutely silent.
So what was he going to do? Stay or go? Lydia wanted to know what she was in for, and how soon it would come. And in her mind stayed the question, as she finally picked up the cup back up , and eyed the markings of it carefully. Several symbols within the cup were marked. first Lydia studied the rim.
It looked pretty normal. Some of the symbols marked had nothing to do, such as the Eye, or the Cup Or Glass; even the Cat. Lydia made a disgusted face when she saw the Ace of Hearts. But mostly, she eyed the Snake, meaning whatever thoughts of that wretched poltergeist were right. He is a liar, but she won't call him on his bluff. Not yet. She finished skimming and began to look at the inner circle.
Lydia grimaced. Whatever was in the inner circle was predicted to happen in the next while, least being two weeks, while the rim predicted up to, at most, one. Again, symbols that meant nothing to her were the ones she ignored. Lydia squinted, first sign being for Venus. What was with this Cup and predicting love? First the Ace of Hearts, and now this? What the hell?
And then there was Saturn; she will be tested? Then Mercury... what the fuck, she wasn't social! She rarely even talked! Lydia grumbled and looked down at the saucer. "Worthless piece of shit fortune telling tea cup," she muttered and picked it up angrily, storming down the stairs while still ranting. "Telling me I'm gonna go to parties, be tested, fall in love and other bull shit."
She entered the kitchen, lips parted only in slightly as her silent ranting continued. "Then that I'm going to be Social? What the fuck? Knew it, thing is probably rigged, I should of went with Tarot instead but too late for that now isn't it? Still didn't even finish reading the damn book," she huffed and turned the water as soon as she made it to the sink. "How's the reading?" Barbara asked, appearing into the kitchen with her feather duster. Lydia grabbed the rag with much intolerance and scrubbed the glass roughly, cleaning off the dry tea marks and along the predicting lines. "It's a bunch of bull, I don't think I did it right," she lied, and rinsed off the cup, then grabbed the saucer. She screamed and threw it into the sink, covering her mouth. "Lydia! What's wrong?" Barbara asked, rushing to her and pulling her close. Lydia didn't budge from her stance, then quickly grew furious. "Nothing, just thought I saw something," she sighed, gripping one hand with the other and running up to her room. "I-I need to be alone!"
Lydia slammed the door behind her and locked it, knowing it wouldn't stop Adam or Barbara but at least two parents would be barging in and not just one. She looked down on her hand and felt the coolness of the ring freeze her body to no end. He was around here somewhere. "Allright ass hole, show your face," she muttered. Show no fear, that's what he wants. But he didn't listen, wherever he was, he stayed transparent. Lydia turned around and jerked a little. Or not. "Reading your future, babes?"
"You bitch!" Lydia growled, clenching her fists, "You were spying on me?!"
"Yeah but it's not like you were naked or anything so calm down," he waved her off and floated to her bed. Lydia fumed for a moment and cleared her mind. He wanted a reaction, she wasn't going to give him one. "So where the hell have you been?" she asked in a blank tone. He looked back at her and smiled. "You starting to care again babes?"
"No, I-"
"Because if you are you don't have to play all innocent. I should be the one trying to get you in bed, not the other way around."
Lydia stomped in frustration and retreated from her room. Halfway down the hall she stopped, and turned around. "What?" she asked herself. Usually she retreats to her room. Now she's running from? Lydia yelled out loud again. That's it, he's so gone.
Beetlejuice sat in the corner of her room, the dim glow from the end of his cigarette being the only light other than the gleaming moon's foreshadowing beams. He took in a long drag, and let it out slowly. What time was it, twelve? He looked at the clock on her night-stand... twelve-thirty. Ah, oh well, not like he's got anywhere to go in the morning. No better way to spend the night other than watching your babes sleep. Nope, not tiring at all... okay maybe it was a little tiring. He took another drag and relaxed in the chair to her vanity.
So where the hell have you been?
He chuckled to himself. It wasn't the way she use to ask it, but pretty damn close.
Week number one, check, Lydia sighed and crossed out the past week tiredly. She looked back along the past markings from so far this month to see how jagged each 'X' was. "Damn it you stupid poltergeist," she huffed, realizing the previous X went across the whole calendar and onto the wall. The girl then shuddered and rubbed her ass in a sorry manner, hoping that won't happen again. "Stained... in the perfect shape of your hand!" she yelled, quickly losing her temper. "I only not have to burn those pair, but make myself new ones too. And I ran out of fabric," she hissed at the poltergeist with a smug look on his face as he floated above her dresser. "Loosen up, it was a pair of black jeans, not like you can't buy them anywhere," he snickered, picking at a tooth with his nail. "Fine," she said, the ghost seeming somewhat bothered by the smile in her voice, which had shown itself clearly on her face. "You're right, they can be bought. And since it was your hand that soiled them-" she turned to give him a cold look, "-while they were still on my ass. You can be the one who pays for them," the sincere little smile returned.
"Fuck. You," the Ghost with the Most spat, getting ready to put a cigarette between his lips before it was snatched away by a sixteen-year-old bitch. "No pants, no smokes," she smiled, and tossed the cancer stick out the window. "Think you're so smart," he muttered, juicing the same stick back into his hand.
Lydia snatched it again, "Do it one more time, see what happens," she warned, yet still cheerily. This time, she didn't bother to throw it. The poltergeist glared at her with emerald green eyes, brow furrowing, and he just juiced it back into his hand.
Once again, she snatched it, but this time she shoved the stick into her mouth and chewed it up. "Third time's the charm," she said with a mouth partially full just as the stick was chewed up into a little ball. He just watched her with a smirk, waiting for her to get sick and throw up. "Just wait, babes," he snickered, somehow entertained.
"You know what? Fine, I'll buy your pants, only because you just made my day watching you make yourself puke," he said just as she spat up the ball into her hand, gagging and sticking her tongue out. "I'm not going to puke. The mint flavor saved it," she gagged, tossing the ball from her window, "We're going in five minutes," she said bluntly just as she reached the door. "And what are you gonna do in the mean time?" he asked, plopping down on her vanity with a loud thump! "In the mean time I will be gargling the rest of my mouth wash," she moaned, ignoring Barbara's question downstairs of what all the commotion was about.
The ghost struggled to muffle a loud cackle, which came out slightly heard but only by Lydia. She gagged, again, and this time ran for the bathroom.
That had to be the funniest look on Lydia's face he had ever seen in his life. Beetlejuice, whom was still giggling, could no longer contain himself once the sickened Goth returned to her room. "I fucking hate you," she sighed, but didn't pull her glance away from him for a second.
"Lydia?" Barbara called into the door. "Oh no..." Lydia murmured, turning to look at him. But then her features crossed, and she smiled, getting an idea. An idea Beetlejuice feared he wouldn't like. "Coming, Barb!" she yelled, running to the door to see if she could get to it before he went invisible.
She didn't make it very far though, before feet came off the ground and she was no longer able to run in any direction. "Ugh! You stupid...!" Before she could get much more out, Beetlejuice snickered and pulled her through the mirror, shoving her into his world, then quickly following. Barbara was still probably at the door... but what the fuck did he care? Like he was really gonna lose any sleep over that.
Lydia yelped, not remembering much of what just happened, but definitely knew that she was...not in her room. She groaned, straitening herself out and popping her back while standing, looking around her crummy surroundings wearily. Very slowly grasping where she was just sent to. "Where am I?" she asked in a cold tone, looking for the poltergeist who was hopefully in the same room.
"Definitely not in Kansas anymore, Toto," the very ghost she was looking for cackled, apparently in a dusty old red chair by a table with countless candles on it. Each one lit, though the wax didn't seem to melt.
Lydia didn't say a word after the realization slowly landed in her mind, telling every one of her nerves to start freaking out. Though the most she had really done was stand very still and stare at absolutely nothing, it was the only thing she could do to keep herself remotely calm. "What?!" she finally exploded. "I thought I needed to call your name three times to send you back," she hissed, clearly not happy like he was probably hoping. "Hey, you wanted in," the ghost shrugged, "Not to mention that since we're married now, that rule no longer qualifies."
"Then what about in the bathroom when...?"
"Couldn't resist letting the tension build," he smirked, leaning back in the chair. "I mean, if he shot you to the point that it killed you, it would have sent you here to the Neitherworld anyway, so fretting over your life would have been pointless on my part. Kicking his ass if he did, though, is what I'd be dwelling on if it weren't for the fact that I couldn't just come out and not try to help you."
"So you're saying if I died you wouldn't care."
"Don't see why I should since someone tried to walk out on me on our wedding," he snapped. Lydia cringed, looking down at her hand and fingering the ring. "Isn't like you didn't get what you wanted anyway," she muttered, turning to look around the room. "So this is the Neitherworld? Kinda small..."
"No. This is my grave, I thought you knew that."
"Like I really know anything about this place since I'm alive."
The poltergeist ignored her and snapped his fingers, the room around them spinning fast. Lydia thought she was going to puke, and closed her eyes trying not to let herself get dizzy. "Wakey, wakey, Lyds," she heard him chime from behind her. "What'd you do?" she groaned, opening her eyes and covering her mouth like it would keep her from throwing up. "Took us to the Spooky Boo-tique, where else?" he said with a slight frown, almost upset that she asked. Lydia ignored this and looked at the small building before her, then turning around to see the endless parking lot in front of it. "All these people aren't... inside there, are they?" she asked in a tone that seemed off pitch. She could hear the ghost snickering now. "Yep. Guess they upgraded since the last time we've been here."
"We?" Lydia scoffed, but he ignored her, and dragged her through the doors. She expected to see a million and five creatures crunched up wall to wall in the small building, but inside was quite the opposite. The inside was actually, for some impossible reason, much, much larger than it was on the outside. Almost like it was its own mall, as everyone in side, every size, shape, and species ran around, picking out awesome looking clothing. Lydia started to drool over a couple pieces, "I guess this is where you're getting my pants?" she asked, pulling out a silk skirt with a neon pink fishnet material hung messily over it, black and white leggings counted in the design. "I've never seen anything like these before!"
"How the hell can you say that, you're the one who made 'em!" The ghost behind her exclaimed, making her freeze. "What?" she murmured. "Oh, you're suddenly remembering?" he huffed. Lydia stared off into space for a moment, not blinking, and not even breathing, and before she knew it she just forgot the past few minutes like it never happened. "What?" she said again, looking at him a little bewildered at her surroundings, then looked back a the clothing in her hands, "Whoa! So cool," she smiled, looking for her size in it.
Beetlejuice just looked at her almost astonished. Did she really just pretend to forget everything in the past five minutes? He ground his teeth together, and floated behind her while she looked around. "These are all so cool! Whoever came up with this is a genius!"
He just rolled his eyes, deciding that he was done telling her anything about their past together. Every time she either ignored him or do that... freaky stare thing she just did. He always liked freaky but Lyds was really pushing it this time. Speaking of Lyds... where'd she go?
"Lyds?"
Lydia backed up a few steps, looking up in awe at the dark figure closing the distance to her. "Excuse me miss," probably the most handsome boy she'd ever seen standing before her, "Do you by chance need any help? That looks like a lot of clothes there."
Her cheeks flushed, she could feel the blood rushing. She wasn't a very social person, not to mention that maybe one of the cutest dead guys she'd seen since she'd been here was talking to her. But he wasn't being very flirty... so why the hell was she blushing?! Snap out of it Lydia! Just ask him where the dressing rooms are.
"Yes uh... I would just like to know where the dressing room is," she smiled, taking a deep breath to calm herself. The boy smiled, flashing two fangs long enough to make her gulp. "Those are uh... some nice fangs you have there," she laughed nervously and looked at his name tag, "Uh... Benny?"
"Why thank you," he said, "I have to sharpen them quite often," he said simply before leading her across the store. He wasn't that much taller than her, but enough to make her look up just to see him. His long white hair probably reached down to the center of his back, pretty healthy looking too for how long it was. The clothes he wore were black though. Pretty cliché so far, but it didn't change the fact that she liked it. A lot.
"Here you go," he turned around and smiled at her. He picked a key with a number tag on it and handed on her. "Room number three."
Lydia took the key with a smile and turned to go into the room she was directed to. "Hey uh, a group of friends and I were gonna go out tonight," the Benny called after her, Lydia stopped in her tracks and turned back to face him. "Maybe if you wanted to you could meet up with us?"
She slowly cracked a smile, her cheeks heating up again. "S...Sure," she smiled. "Cool, we'll be at the Creepy Eye Scream shop maybe around eight or nine. See you there?"
Lydia nodded, and scurried off to her room as fast as she could.
The Ace of Hearts...
A/N: Probably noticed that things seem... pretty wacked out between the characters. I'm going to make a couple of boy cliches, Benny for example, to try to get the actual plot going. So from this point on it's going to hopefully be more exciting to read. Sorry for the wait, guys...