Beetlejuice straightened the white bow-tie over the black button-down and white tuxedo. He ran his fingers through the short locks atop his head and readjusted the black shades. It was time for one last checkup on her.

The school gym was decorated with golden garlands and white and black balloons. "Golden Years Cotillion," a banner read. Beetlejuice smirked. Did they have any idea how stupid that sounded?

He scanned the crowd and caught the eye of his would-be date. The teenybopper was dressed in a fluffy pink tent that looked like it was fit for royalty; bedecked in sequins and lace. He grimaced and promptly escaped into the shadows along the edge of the dance floor to look for the girl he was really here for.


She was lingering near a column near the rear that was wrapped in plastic ivy and yellow roses. Her dress was garnet red and strapless and a rhinestone choker decorated her bare neck. The chocolate-colored hair was pulled back in a braid-favoring up-do, sending a few stray wisps of hair cascading onto her shoulders. Twin bracelets hung loosely off her right wrist.

She was swaying to the heavy bass undertone. Bodies danced to the beat in the mosh pit close to the DJ, but she stood alone, watching them move and envying every pair out there.

Suddenly she felt two arms encircle her waist, but she didn't turn her head. Instead, she smiled and whispered. "I felt you coming, you know. My skin tingled all over when I felt you see me from across the room."

"I'm sorry,' she said softly.

"For what? For me going crazy before I saw the gates? I was so consumed…and you saved me. I should be thanking you."

"No. It's my fault."

"Silly. Stop talking like that. Just sing. Please? For me?"

She turned to face him finally and they began to move in time to Tom Petty's "Free Falling". He smiled and began to croon along to the second verse.

"All the vampires lying in the valley, move west down Ventura Boulevard…"

Suddenly she lifted her hand and pulled off his glasses. Behind them were the deepest green eyes she'd never even imagined. The sang of July twilight, of heady jungles under the noon sun.

"Summer is dancing in your irises. Did you know that?" she whispered, lost in the moment.

"Yeah, I get that a lot," he returned.

It was really going to suck having to return to the Neitherworld for a while. He was already forbidden to return to Winter River because of all the trouble he'd caused. And poor Claudia would be all alone in her slight madness…until she found someone who really loved her in spite of it. Poor girl, aged and twisted beyond her years. Someone responsible for that kind of traumatizing had no place in her world.

But tonight…just for tonight…

She was his.

And I'm free…free fallin'…yes I'm free…free fallin'…

The end.