The next few days were, for the most part, very mundane. Due to the house being on a hill, away from town, there wasn't the possibility of going into town to keep her entertained. So she spent the majority of her time exploring the house and trying to get back into the attic. After being unceremoniously kicked out of the attic, Bella found that she was unable to find the entrance to the attic again. Which was a pain because she really wanted to see her aunt and uncle again. But she did find out that not only did the house have a pantry under the stairs, they also had a balcony on top of the roof. How she found it was a pure accident. Bella had been walking down the upstairs hallway and found a large closet that hadn't been used in years. She walked in fully expecting to hit the wall, but she quickly found out that it was another hallway that lead to a smaller door to the rooftop balcony.
She shut her eyes as they adjusted to the unexpected light, "I knew this wasn't a closet," Bella muttered as she waited for the light to be less blinding. When she could see again, she gasped at the sight before her. The whole town was laid out before her, the school, the park, the theater, everything! She walked towards the edge in a sort of trance, "Woah… The town looks so small from up here…" What she failed to realize was that she wasn't the only one appreciating the view. Beetlejuice, after his last conversation with the mild-mannered Maitlands, decided it'd be best to just stay on the roof where he couldn't bother anybody. What he didn't foresee was someone coming up to the roof as well, more specifically her.
He watched as she stood close to the edge of the roof, her caramel-colored hair flowing gently in the wind. He then noticed something that he hadn't on his first look, she had two grey boys in the side of her head holding her hair back, 'Did she have those before, or was I just not paying attention?' He didn't have much time to ponder what else he missed because Bella had just turned to go back inside. Beetlejuice froze like a deer in headlights when she finally noticed him, both of them not knowing how to break the awkward silence.
Finally, Bella spoke up, "I thought you had gone for good," She smiled in relief and walked over while BJ relaxed, "Well you can't get rid of me that easily sweetheart~" Bella rolled her eyes at him, "Again, my name is not 'sweetheart'. I'm Bella. Bel-la," She poked him in the arm to emphasize her point, causing him to laugh. "Got is Miss Bel-la~" Bella smiled and leaned against the wall next to him, "Glad we got that clear…" She then turned to see that the sun was starting to set, causing a memory of her and her mother to appear.
August 7, about 9 years ago, Bella and her mother were on a picnic in the middle of a park. Emily was laughing as young Bella was unsuccessfully trying to catch a butterfly. Emily smiled as she drew the young Bella in her sketchbook. Her caramel, shoulder-length locks curled around her face, emphasizing the roundness. Bella gave up her chase and ran back to her mom who snatched the giggling youngster in a warm embrace. After they had both calmed down, Emily noticed that the sun was about to set, "Look Bella, the sun is saying goodbye. Say goodbye to the sun darling, " Bella turned to the now setting sun and waved it goodbye, "Bye-bye sun! We'll see you tomorrow!"
Emily chuckled and kissed Bella on her head, "Do you know why the sun sets Bella?" Bella giggled and stated in an obvious tone, "It's because the sun gets tired like me! Then it wakes up in the morning to say hello to everyone!" Emily smiled and laughed, "You're right, and just like the sun, we will be able to rise again with the new morning… Remember that okay my dear?" Bella smiled and nodded, "I will Momma! I always will!"
Bella didn't know how long she had been absorbed in her memory, but it was long enough that Beetlejuice was worried, "Bella… Bella… Hey!" He shook her gently trying to get her to snap out of whatever she was in and bring her back to reality. Bella gasps as she realizes she's been crying, then tries to give Beetlejuice a reassuring smile, "Sorry about that," she wiped her eyes, "I guess I got caught in memory land again…" she chuckled to herself trying to lighten the mood, and failing to do so. Beetlejuice wasn't usually the one to worry about others, but when someone slides down next to you in a trance and starts to cry, then he starts to get worried. "You were quiet for 5 minutes! What happened?" Bella realized that she was somehow sitting on the floor, she could have sworn she was standing a minute ago…
"Wait, FIVE MINUTES!?" She turned to Beetlejuice alarmed, "You're lying I-" she looked back to the sunset to find that the sun was nowhere in sight. The sky had gotten significantly darker and she could see the stars were starting to come out. She looked down to the floor in shock, "I haven't had an episode that long before…" Beetlejuice looked at her in disbelief, "This has happened before?" Bella went pink from embarrassment, "Sadly yes, but again, they usually don't last that long. Usually, they're a minute at the most…" Beetlejuice shook his head, "I'm literally a demon from H - E - Double Hockey sticks. And I'm concerned about this." Bella was about to apologize, but he kept going, "Seriously, imagine if I wasn't here to snap you out of it? You would have been stuck up here for hours and probably died from hypothermia! Now let me tell you, those who die that way never stop complaining about how cold they are. It's infuriating…"
It took a moment for him to calm down, but once he did, he noticed that she was on the verge of tears. Again! He silently wished he could kick himself, 'Great. You made her cry. Way to go Beetlebrain!' Before he could think of something to say to calm her down, she gave him a soft hug around his midsection, "Thank you… Mr. Juice," she quietly muttered. Beetlejuice was lost for words, all he could do was pat her on the back in a mechanical manner, "Um… You're welcome… I think…" She let him go and got up fixing the hem of her dress, "I should go inside, it's getting late…" BJ floated to a standing position and nodded, "Yeah, you should…" He then turned to her curious,"How did you get up here in the first place?"
Bella blinked in surprise then pointed to the hidden door, "I found this when I was exploring to find a way to the attic…" Beetlejuice gave a curt nod, "I see…" He walked to the door and peered inside, "Kinda dark don't ya think?" Bella was about to answer that she had a flashlight, but after looking around she remembered she left it inside, "Shoot, I don't have my flashlight! How am I supposed to see in there?" Beetlejuice chuckled and turned to her with a grin, "Well lucky for you, you have a demon on your side. I can help my dear…" Bella raised an eyebrow at him, "Bella! I was going to finish with your name, which is Bella," Bella laughed and walked over, "And how do you plan to do so?" Beetlejuice smiled deviously, "Watch and learn, sweetheart,"
Before she could correct him, he started bouncing up and down so fast that he was becoming blurry before her very eyes. At the same time, he started emitting a white glow from his skin, the faster he went the more light shone. Eventually, he slowed to a halt, smiling at Bella and waving some jazz hands, "Ta-da! Instant glow in the dark demon!" Bella stood silently in the doorway for a moment, then she giggled at his goofy look, "How did you do that?" She asked with a smile. Beetlejuice grinned mischievously, "I swallowed a flashlight a while ago, so whenever I shake enough I glow!" Bella shook her head and laughed, "Works for me…" She then grabbed his hand gently and walked down the hall, "Now come on, let's go back inside, I'm freezing," Beetlejuice felt his cheeks slowly go pink, causing the light to change shades slightly. To his relief, Bella didn't notice and continued to lead the way back inside.
It took a minute to get through the hallway, but they eventually made it, "Thanks for that Mr. Juice," Bella said as she let go of his hand. Beetlejuice laughed, "It was my pleasure, and please, don't call me Mr. Juice. It sounds waaay too formal for me. I mean look at me," he motioned to his wrinkled pinstripe suit, green unruly hair, and his unshaven face, "Do I look like the kind of guy who gives two sh**s about being formal and polite? He** no!" Bella went quiet and thought for a moment, then her face lit up as she smiled at him, "Then, can I call you BJ? It's short for Beetlejuice and it is a nickname from a friend!" Beetlejuice blinked in surprise as he tried to comprehend what he just heard, 'Nickname? Friend? Me? Her? HUH?' He snapped out of his stupor and gave her a flirtatious smile, "Alright, but in return, you gotta let me call you nicknames like 'sweetheart' from time to time,"
Bella crossed her arms in a huff, "That's unfair," she muttered. Beetlejuice chuckled, "Okay okay, I'll try calling using your name more often. You can still call me 'BJ' tho-" Bella gave him a hug, cutting off the rest of his thought, "Thank you BJ! I'll see you tomorrow! Goodnight!" She let go and gave him one last smile before hurrying to her bedroom. Once again, leaving Beetlejuice standing alone and stunned. He watched her enter her room and shut the door gently behind her, then after making sure she was gone, he held his head in his hands, "Son of a b****. That girl is gonna be the undeath of me…"