Chapter 4 ~ In Good Company

"Why are you holding the camera like that?"

Coraline had stepped out of the car and taken two steps, mostly to survey the little house until she spots her mother whipping out a digital camera from her purse. The lens was facing her, and when she hit the button, she began talking to it. Not really having a conversation with the thing but just discussing the situation, and anything tied with it. She only stopped when Coraline questioned her sanity.

"Oh, this is vlogging!" Mel beamed.

"... Right." Coraline left it at that. She knew very well what the word meant, but the real mystery was why her mother was doing it too.

"Didn't I tell you? Huh, must've slipped my mind..." Mel looked at the camera again with a smile before stopping the record, and proceeded to explain. "Sandra and I used to do this with our old camcorders for a while, during our high school years. Never occurred to us why, but we had loads of fun with it. We eventually stopped when we graduated, and I thought after all this time, I could surprise her through the window there." With that, she pointed to the main window beside the front door. Coraline hadn't realized their blinds were more than halfway up, and hoped she wasn't seen by its inhabitants while judging the house. She sort of liked her mother's idea of bringing back childhood memories this way, and now Coraline really wondered about Sandra's reaction to her long-lost friend filming at the window. There was one more thing to wonder about, however...

"Hey, if it's a surprise, won't anyone else in the house get freaked out by you doing that in plain sight?" Coraline said.

Mel lips curled in a smirk. "That's why I called her husband to help out. Perry should be waiting in the living room right about now and once he sees me, he'll call Sandra."

Coraline nodded in understanding, unable to hold back a grin. The Jones' proceeded toward the window to get in full view, with Charlie having to hunch lower to be seen as well. As Mel began prepping her camera, Coraline caught something flashing by the living room couch before it disappeared into a corridor. She couldn't make out the shape in time, other than its small size and color being red. Ignoring it for now, she turned to the stout-looking man seated on the couch and assumed he was Sandra's husband. When Coraline heard the camera lens clank against the window, the girl was proven correct when the man, Perry, turned his head to the window in brief suspicion until he recognized the Jones' with a knowing grin. He changed his gaze to the kitchen across the living room, and opened his mouth to shout words that couldn't be heard. After several seconds, Perry turned to them again with a thumbs-up motion before a woman walked into full view from the kitchen, her confused eyes on Perry for a moment.

Then she spotted the Jones' at the window.

Sandra's shriek was muffled, but very much heard as she literally hopped in the air, hands near her mouth in pure excitement like a kid who was just told she was going to Disney Land. Coraline giggled at the results and from hearing her mother burst into a hearty laugh while her father muttered a joke in surprise, a smile clear in his tone. Sandra was already flying across the room to the front door, and Mel barely opened the netted door wide enough before her old friend practically barreled into her with a tight hug. "You're vlogging!" Sandra squealed, and Mel giggled vigorously as she held her best friend in one arm, flipping the camera around with the other, hoping to capture the moment.

"Oh, "as soon as freakin' possible" my butt, by the way!" Sandra bragged, laughing alongside Mel as Coraline and Charlie stood behind, amused by the scene before them. More and more, Coraline felt a little more at ease in spending time here. Seeing these two reunite after how-many-years, and just the plain fact of her mother being actually excited about something, the 11-year-old hoped it stayed this uplifting for the whole trip.

A minute or two goes by of Mel and Sandra retiring from their hug, and chattering excitingly about the former's idea in bringing back their vlogging days before the Jones' are eventually welcomed into the Babcock household. Coraline took a deep gander from where she stood, noting its smaller size compared to the Pink Palace but nothing really claustrophobic-like. Coats were hung while boots were sorted, before introductions and opening conversations between the families went underway with handshakes going back and forth.

"Gotta admit I wasn't sure what Mel was going on about that surprise when she called. But hey, lemme tell ya - priceless! Those two scream like they're at a Bon Jovi concert!" Perry pointed out to Charlie, a chuckle coming from each of them.

"I'll say!" Charlie added, "I haven't heard her squeal like that before - I don't think that surprise could've been planned any better!"

Sandra was fanning at her welled-up tears with her hand, still catching up with Mel and said, "I'm trying not to cry, I still can't believe you're here!"

"And it only took like what, sixteen - No, seventeen years to find you again. Damn worth it!" Mel replied, just as eager and nearly as flustered as her old friend.

Coraline's introduction had also settled, and she was greatly satisfied that this family didn't say her name wrong. The Babcock's also grew interested in her hair colour which she felt proud of. Ironically, most of the attention was by Sandra's rather preppy-looking teenage daughter, Courtney, who came from upstairs without anyone's notice until she saw Coraline.

"O-M-G. That is some fabulous hair you got goin' on there, girl!" Courtney greeted the youngest Jones', bending down with hands on her knees for a better look. Coraline, feeling proud of herself but still a little weary of the teenager, managed a grin at the older girl's comment. She mostly received confused stares from students and teachers when she started school in Oregon while her friends back at Michigan, and eventually Wybie, were the only exception.

"Thanks! Had it since I was nine." Coraline declared with confidence. She saw Sandra approach them from the corner of her eye, though the woman's attention was on Courtney.

"Courtney, did you call down your brother?" Sandra inquired. Coraline mentally kicked herself; she had forgotten about the other kid.

"I did," Courtney insisted, rising to her full height, "Dunno why he's stalli -" She stopped at the sound of feet slowly padding down the stairs in the hallway, until she glanced back at Coraline with a light smirk, motioning the new arrival with her pointing thumb.

"There he is." She said, though Coraline couldn't see past her or Sandra as they were blocking the view of the hallway entrance. Courtney reached out to lightly pat her left shoulder. "I'll catch you up at dinner - gotta go finish this boring project for school or I'll flunk. You know how that's like." Coraline honestly didn't, as she tries to complete everything during classes to avoid homework. That would mean no time to go exploring. But, the young girl nodded conformingly still. Courtney then turned her attention on one of the adults behind Coraline.

"And Miss Jones," She called, grinning with sass, "I wanna see that clip of you and mom actually being young!" With hearty laughs from everyone, the teen exited the room, her ponytail swaying back and forth as Sandra had returned to chat. It may have been a coincidence as Coraline moved her gaze from Sandra, and the approaching boy looking away from Courtney - just in time for their eyes to meet.

He gradually froze in his steps; just as she did with her movement. It wasn't so much of awkward anxiety, but curiosity. She noticed the boy react the same way it seems, as he snug his hands in the pockets of his red, unzipped hoodie. Coraline had never seen a pair of sharp blue eyes like that before, let alone every strand of hair that stood straight up from his head, practically defying gravity. He was shorter than her as well, but, then again her growth spurt was something inherited by her father and had to be acknowledged. With those last details, the awkward silence finally settled in as she blinked, and then gulped. The boy shifted his weight, as he too likely felt the awkwardness in the air. Coraline volunteered to break the silence between them, lifting a hand in a small wave before she spoke.

"Hello..."

He blinked several times again as if shaking off a trance, but he smiled ever so slightly as he too raised his hand from his pocket in greeting.

"Hi..."

Coraline couldn't contain her own smile at how timid he sounded. Not wanting to add more silence, they introduced themselves only for the words "My name is" to end up being unintentionally synchronized by the two, and they pause and chuckle from the mishap.

"S-Sorry, uh..." Norman stumbled, and then collected himself. "My name's Norman."

The boy, Norman, addressed and they both extended a hand to shake each other's. She had to catch herself from distraction by how cold his skin felt, even after being snugged in a pocket.

""Norman", huh?" She smiled, testing out the name in her mind and speech as she shook his hand.

He averted his eyes with a faint laugh, looking away sheepishly. "Yup..." Norman gazed upwards to her again, due to the height difference. "And, you are?"

"I'm Coraline. Not Caroline, by the way; I've had a lot of people say it wrong already." She answered, confident yet soft.

"Heh, I'm sorry to hear that." Norman assured, briefly contemplating on the name. "It's a nice name," He added, his expression sweet with a smile still present on his face. Coraline prayed there was no blush forming in her cheeks, grinning at his compliment.

"Thank you," She replied.

"Well, well, look who's already introduced themselves!"

The two broke eye contact to face Coraline's mother in surprise, but then slowly realizing they hadn't even let go of each other's hands. They quickly released, glancing at the other with apologetic smiles before turning to face Sandra as she approached them, crouching to meet their unequal height.

"Glad to see you two are getting along already," She noted kindly, patting both children's shoulder. Coraline spotted her mother's smirk as the woman approached them, almost knowing what she was going to say if she really saw everything.

"Remember what I said in the car, Coraline?" Mel joked, kneeling in front of her daughter, "I think a well-deserved "I told you" is in order."

Coraline felt in too good of a mood to say a comeback, so she merely stuck out her tongue in defiance as the other adults chuckled at the child-play. Mel turned her attention to Norman, as Charlie following in tow and took the boy's hand in a handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, Norman," Charlie began with a pleasant smile, as Norman nodded in greeting before Mel spoke. "Hope you don't mind me stealing your mother away to catch up on some things we missed, by the way," She inquired with a wink, and Norman grinned in amusement. "Not at all, Miss Jones."

With greetings said and done, Mel and Charlie returned to unpacking their things. Norman glanced at Coraline as she approached him. "Sorry about my mom," She mumbled, smiling apologetically, "I'm as new as you are to her sudden craziness." Norman chuckled, pausing to look up at his own mother as she turned her attention to Coraline.

"I'm certainly not, and I'm going to relish it if she gets even the slightest bit grumpy," She laughed, followed by Coraline before the woman continued. "So, dinner isn't until about half an hour I think, but I'll call you both down once we're set up. And, Coraline is it alright with you sharing my son's room? I'd offer a guest room if we had one, and... Courtney can be a little possessive with her things. Do you mind at all?"

Coraline was not surprised by the current situation, but was not really pestered by it. She's heard amusing stories of teenagers who become possessive, but she liked Courtney - it wasn't every day that a child gets a compliment about her dyed hair color by a fashion-wise teenage girl. Coraline recalled having had several sleepovers with Wybie, and the shrewd concept of cooties has become forgotten quite quickly for the both of them. For Norman as well, it seemed, since he shook hands with her. Her train of thought had soon sped her by, before she responded.

"Nah, I understand," She shrugged with an assured grin, "I'm fine with it."

"Happy to hear that, sweetie," Sandra replied, smiling with gratitude before turning to her son. "Norman, could you show Coraline to your room while the adults prepare?"

For a second, Coraline saw Norman's expression shift toward fear, but he collected himself again, glancing at her with a nervous smile before turning to his mother again. "Sure, Mom," He replied quietly.

Sandra planted a kiss on his forehead, unfazed by how he shifted away slightly. Before the kids traveled upstairs, Mel had grabbed her daughter's tied-up sleeping bag where Charlie left near the stair column, getting Coraline's attention as she tossed it to her. While the kids were entertained, the mothers went to the kitchen to chat and prepare, and the fathers went back outside to bring in the rest of the luggage.

As Coraline followed Norman up the stairs, he thought about his near-embarrassing episode of awkwardness the moment he descended downstairs to meet the Jones'. Managing to keep his cool without screwing up was worth a pat on the back, but that can come later. The way he handled the introduction surprised him a bit though. Most new situations have him becoming reclusive sooner than he liked, but this time, his mind was calm as he spoke to Coraline - this equally aged, blue-haired visitor with a name that sounded so unique, one would think it belonged in the fantasy world.

He could cringe to think of how many times people must've gotten her name wrong.

But now, as he reached the top of the stairs with Coraline following close behind, he grew anxious at how she would react in seeing where she'd be sleeping. He never wished for guest rooms a little more than now.

"Uh, before we go any further," Norman quavered, "How squeamish are you with creepy things? Like, weird things, or strange... or gross?"

"Err..." Coraline muttered, staring elsewhere and biting her lower lip before she looked up to him again, "I'm alright with it. I kinda got used to stuff like that, thanks to the local nature boy back in Ashland. Good friend of mine."

Norman drew a brain fart. "Where is that...?"

"... Oregon."

"O-Oh, right," Norman fumbled, mentally slapping himself for that question. Maybe he spoke too soon.

Leading her down a hall that led to two rooms on each side, they stopped near a closed door farthest to the left. Norman had his hand on the knob, shyly looking back at Coraline.

"We don't have a single guest room, as you know... and..." Norman trailed off, ignoring the butterflies in his stomach and missing Coraline's amused smile before he hurried to finish his sentence. "Sorry if any of my stuff makes you cringe." He then turned the knob and pushed the door open, parting to the side as Coraline entered first. He stepped inside afterwards and prepared for the worst as she scanned the room.

"Wooow..." She whispered.

Norman was too caught up in his paranoia to distinguish if that sounded like good news or bad news. According to Neil and much to Norman's silent pride, it was a paradise fit for zombie-lovers; nearly every inch of the bedroom was clustered with posters, toys, and items hanging from the ceiling which were in old horror movies, most dating back to the seventies and even earlier. It's funny though - how a person could treasure something they like but could easily feel ashamed of it when a stranger undignifies it. Coraline's back faced the boy as she continued her surveying, leaving Norman to guess and fiddle with his hands before Coraline focused at the bed near the window. The bed sheets were also proudly sporting the zombie theme, conveniently illuminated by the cloud-covered sky turning a darker shade of blue as the evening swept along.

Finally, the moment of truth arrived.

"Alright, I admit it," She started, her tone sounding baffled as she lowered the tied sleeping bag to the floor, "I see why you warned me but this is... wow."

Norman felt his heart plummet. He should've guessed.

"I, um... I get it," He started, trying to hide his discouragement, "Maybe I can bribe my sister to share her room wi-!"

"Oh no, no, I didn't mean it like that!" Coraline finally looked at him with an instinctive smile. "Pardon the pun, but your room literally bleeds with awesomeness," She added enthusiastically, "There's lots of stuff to look at! I mean, yeah, I'm not a huge fan of horror movies but I don't hate 'em either. There's still some to enjoy, and I'd say your room is definitely one of them."

There came that refreshing peace welling in his chest. Norman lit up at her compliments and even the pun, as corny as it sounded, letting his arms drop to the side.

"You really think so?" He almost piped. It wasn't the first nice thing said about his interest in the undead, but coming from someone outside of town and with not-as-big appreciation for zombies, yet still appreciated it? Norman questioned this, but he still found Coraline's words a relief to hear.

"Sure!" Coraline proclaimed, "Nothin' wrong in being a little different from other people, even if those other people think you weird. To them, I say hah." She gestured to her cobalt bob-cut, smiling proudly. "What'd you think I dyed my hair for?"

"Heh, fair point," Norman grinned, walking over to his bed to take a seat. "Was there another reason why you colored it?" He questioned, but quickly realized he might have sounded intrusive or insulting. "N-Not to say it isn't cool - it really is! I'm... just, curious." Coraline only grinned, giving her sleeping bag a kick to tip it over, repeating the process to roll it toward Norman's bottom bedframe.

"I remember being so bored of my hair color, especially being around so many kids with the same look. Then again, I get easily bored. But the point is I was tired of blending with crowds, just looking like every other normal shmuck in the world, so... One day, I just went up to my dad and begged to let my hair go blue. I still remember the look on his face." She perked up at Norman, grinning mischievously. "You should've seen mom's face too! Comedy gold."

They laughed together as Coraline finished adjusting her sleeping back, before she settled the affair and went around his bed to sit near its end. Norman never thought he'd see another case of one individual holding more life than their whole town. It certainly makes his case a little less of a downpour, as they both sat in silence occasionally whipping out their cellphones. Then, Coraline turned to him.

"So, Norman, what's your story?" She inquired.

Norman reviewed her, befuddled by the question and mentally stumbling in his thoughts on how to answer that. He glanced around his room for two familiar spectres, but to his slight discouragement they were nowhere. He returned his gaze to her, opening and closing his mouth as he scrambled for words.

"U-uh, my..." God, why was he so bad at this? "What do you m-mean, my story?"

He had not detected any hostility or mockery in Coraline's following giggle, but his insecurity remains. He did not intend to just reveal his life story like that, not with how tied it is to his communication with the dead.

Coraline shrugged, leaning backwards to rest on her elbows. "I dunno, like... what do you got to say for yourself? No pressure if you don't wanna say much, but if we're gonna break the ice..." She looked to him, smiling encouragingly, "I'm not exactly gonna do all the work here."

"R-Right, right..." He rubbed the back of his neck guiltily. This is what he gets for overestimating. Taking a breath, he shifted around to face her and crossed his legs, taking an interest in picking at his nails as he decided to start somewhere.

"There's not much to me, really," Norman began, "In a town like this, it'd be smart not to make an impression that you're a weird one. It'll bite you later, in whatever way it comes."

"Mm... I'd say ignore 'em and just be yourself but, I understand how hard it would be if it were just you."

"Believe me, I've been doing just that for as long as I lived," Norman noted, and could not stop the wave of nostalgia making him feel a little more drained. Things have changed for the better, sure... just not entirely. Not just because of the current plight of Aggie not moving on, but there are still bullies too. Norman had hoped the population targeting him had decreased to almost nothing. Turns out, he hoped a little too easily. Still, in the end... most was not for naught. "Neil knows what I mean," Norman noted, "He's one friend I managed to find out of this mess. Among other things that happened, I'm pretty thankful."

"Hear hear," Coraline smiled, "Even having an only friend in the world is enough. I do wish there was more people who listen, too."

Norman hummed in agreement as memories flooded back to him, cracking a smile not a second later. Suddenly, there came familiar, ghastly music from one of many classic horror films garbling out of Norman's cellphone. The boy in question leaned and grabbed it from his night table, activating the phone to find a new text message. He smiled. "Speak of the devil." He casted his eyes to Coraline before he petitioned, "Do you mind if I take this?"

"Go on," Coraline consented with a nod, also bringing out her phone from her back pocket, "I have to text Wybie back in Oregon I'm here anyways."

Norman cocked his brow a bit, pressing the phone to his ear. "... Wybie?"

She smirked, not looking up from her illuminated screen. "Nature boy, short for Wyborn."

"Oh," He deadpanned.

"Not his idea, of course."

"Which one?"

Coraline flinched with a snort. "Both," She quipped.

Norman wheezed. "You're terrible."

"Guilty~", She grinned.

Norman smiled as he began pacing from his bed, waiting for Neil to answer his call. He remembered what she said downstairs, how she's new to her mother's craziness. While he won't admit it, it was clear some of that craziness resides in someone behind him. His thoughts halted when finally, a cheery voice sounded from the speaker.

"Norman, buddy! So, did she come yet?"

"She's here, yes," Norman responded as he turned to said girl with a smile, who returned it. "Her name's Coraline."

"Awesoooome... and, you sure it's not Caroline?"

"Trust me, I'm not wrong."

"Huh... alright then. Oh, did you ask her if she wanted to come play hockey with us?"

"I forgot to ask, she's right here though. I wouldn't leave her behind anyways... Hold up, lemme ask her." Norman brought the phone away, finding Coraline looking up at him in interest when she was mentioned.

"Coraline," Norman informed, "What's your favorite sport?"

"Soccer," Coraline declared without delay, her eyes glinting with challenge, "No questions about it, it's just loads of fun to play and watch." She looked down at her screen for a second, before glancing at Norman again in curiosity. "Why do you ask?"

"Well," Norman began, "It's not soccer, but Neil's prepped for a hockey match tomorrow afternoon with a few others and myself. You, uh..." Norman trailed off, some slight anxiety building in him as if his question would make him combust, but he shrugged it off. "Y-You wanna join us?"

Coraline squinted at him, as if thinking very hard on joining the brigade, while several seconds went by of Norman biting his lip out of nervous habit, until she spoke. "It's not soccer, but it's still hockey, which is also fun. I accept your invitation," She nodded with a smirk, and Norman smiled in jest.

"Talk to me bro, what'd she say?"

"Well, you can tell Salma she can find peace in just keeping score."

"Hah, awesome-sauce! We'll meet around two o'clock so that we don't play in the dark too soon - Salma and Alvin already know. Lunch and snacks are on me!"

"Great, we'll catch you up tomorrow then."

"..."

"Neil, you there?"

"This is the most normal phone call we've ever had, isn't it?"

"... Actually, it is."

"Lemme fix that."

"What do you-! Neil... Neil, no."

"Too late, it's already happening~"

"Neil don't do it."

"..."

"... Neil?"

"CAN'TWAITTOMEETYOURGIRLFRIEND!"

"Oh my God, nEIL."

"Gotta go buddy see ya bye!"

Just like that, Norman is left with his cellphone emitting a continuous blat before he shut it off, and Coraline eyeing him with a most amused gaze when he turned.

Welp.

"Uuhhh, yeah..." Norman drawled, fiddling with his phone. Of course Neil had to squeal at the top of his lungs for the occasion. "Neil likes to mess around."

Coraline arched her brows. "Charming," She jested, but noticed Norman's features falter towards looking humiliated and had to chime in. "Seriously, don't worry about it, Norman - might as well tease each other about relationships while we're young. Could help us avoid the actual drama when we're older."

"True..." Norman testified, and timidly rubbed his arm. "But, still, sorry about that."

Coraline waved him off, smiling forgivably. "Water under the bridge," She affirmed.

"Kiiids! Grub's ready!" Mel's voice rang from downstairs, prompting Coraline to whoop satisfyingly as she leapt off the bed, stuffing it back into her pocket.

"Ever eaten airline food before, Norman?" She piped; her expression unusually cheery considering the reputation of the matter in question. Now Norman eyed her with playful suspicion as they walked toward the bedroom door, slightly ajar from its frame.

"I've heard things," He confirmed. Immediately, Coraline retched and pointed at her exposed tongue with a most grueling expression, and Norman is quickly racked with laughter. "You heard correct," Coraline elaborated with a final giggle, as Norman pulled the door wide open and stepped aside with a mock bow, motioning his hand very mannerly out the door.

"After you, kind lady," addressed Norman in a lower and regal tone, unable to stop a grin cracking on his face. Coraline activated her inner queen, strutting out the door with pride and an equally royal attitude.

"Why thank you, good sir." She acknowledged, soon faltering with a boisterous snicker as Norman too, lost his composure. But before he could step out, he heard his name in a whisper and glanced at his room, finding his ancestor and his grandma with a pleased grin and proud smile, respectively. A gleeful Aggie clasped her hands together, while Grandma winked with two thumbs up at him, and Norman grinned brightly with a relieved nod. To say things were going steady wasn't saying enough. Coraline called to him from down the hall, her head poking out from the stairwell waving for him before disappearing. He gave a final gaze of contentment to the ghosts and departed, leaving his door wide open.

Aggie giggled to herself. "That went better than expected, did it not?" She beamed at the elder woman, who still stared with a knowing smile at where her grandson left.

"Norman certainly warmed up to the girl - quite a spitfire for someone her age, too. But... never in my life have I seen his door left open like that."

"Oh... but, what's the reason?" questioned Aggie. She's only been mingling on Earth for months and never saw meaning to what Norman's grandmother implied, but the woman has lived and lingered long enough to know its meaning.

"Ever since he outgrew his crib," Grandma stated, "Norman's either had that door closed or barely a crack open."

"Is it bad manners?" said Aggie. The elderly ghost chuckled, turning to the little one.

"Not at all, dear. The door's sort of like his personality. He's always been a shy boy, one for privacy or alone time."

"So... when Miss Coraline arrived, Norman kept it open for her because..."

Grandma Babcock smiled.

"She's welcome."