Chapter Forty-Four: Jealousy

Lydia inhaled deeply, hesitantly stepping up to the door.

"Lydia, honey. Let me in. I just want to explain myself." Rob's muffled voice came through the other side of the door, causing her to sigh.

"Okay, let's just get this over with..." Lydia muttered to herself, no more than unlocking the door when Robert burst through it, whipping around and looking at her like he was going to either bite her face off or fall to the floor in a hysterical crying fit. Either was a likely probability, really.

"Lydia...Look, I was wrong..." he stepped up to her, to which she backed up an extra step to stay out of his bubble of crazy.

"I know. That's why I broke up you. What do you want?" Lydia spat, arms crossed over her chest, making sure he knew he'd have no leeway with her.

"Baby, just give me another chance. I didn't know what I had with you until I lost it." Rob clasped his hands together in some wierd attempt at begging.

Oh no. He wasn't getting off that easy. "What about little Miss Candice?"

"Candice left me, Lydia. She wasn't like you. She wasn't as kind or understanding...or..." he began to throw compliments her way, only for her to cut him off.

"Or what? Gullible? Self-loathing? She didn't have enough connections? I'm not working for Delia anymore, so you don't have anything to gain from me. Just so you know, Rob." she scoffed, making sure he knew that she wasn't blind to his lies.

"Yeah. I know, Lydia. I'm sorry. I was an idiot. I took you for granted." he said, appearing on the verge of tears, and Lydia backed up an extra step, feeling a bit surprised.

"...W-what?" she stuttered. When did Rob ever think about anyone but himself? When did he even consider her at all? What was he doing? Was he hitting that weak spot inside herself? The one that wanted someone to share her life with? That wanted someone to love her back for once? That void of loneliness that so desperately wanted to be filled?

"I know what I did. It was wrong. You did everything for me. I went off with somebody else because she was just as selfish as I was. I've done a lot of meditating on it. I even talked to Ricky about it." he nodded proudly, though Lydia was a bit puzzled.

"Who's Ricky?" she asked hesitantly.

"My new medicine man. He's really good with natural remedies. I laid in a seaweed soak for days thinking about you..." he began to smile, stepping back up to her, and this time she was a bit too confused to step back. Was this guy serious?

Rob continued on, due to Lydia's lack of words to say. What could she say? "I was thinking about the day we met in that coffee shop. You were the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. You still are." he said, stepping up to her and placing his hand on her cheek. Why was she just standing there? Why didn't she slap him silly? Was it that hidden desperation again? "I missed you Liddy." he smiled, brushing his thumb over her cheek, while using that cute little pet name he'd called her from time to time.

...

"What a load of horse shit..." Beetlejuice growled, listening to that hippy dippy asshole try to wooh Lydia back. And that's what it was. Complete shit. Beetle had been an unabashed ballbag long enough to know what the prick was trying, and unfortunately, he'd heard Lydia's defiant tone wearing down. He was playing on her emotions, and for a reason he'd promptly ignore for now, he was furious with her for even entertaining that shit.

"Okay, that's enough, Deetz. Say somethin'. Tell him to fuck off." he griped to himself, though things began to take a turn for the worst. "Okay. Enough 'ah this shit."

...

"I-I don't think this is a good idea, Rob..." Lydia said softly, feeling completely taken aback and a bit powerless.

"Then don't think, Liddy. Just do what you feel." Rob coerced, and just when her heart and stomach began to sink, her bedroom door flew open.

"Okay, pal. That's enough of yer shit!" Beetle stomped out of it, stepping up in Rob's face.

"Lydia? Who's this? And why does he look like that?" Rob ignored Beetle, turning to Lydia with a look of disgust on his features.

"This is BJ. He's living here." Lydia replied, only for Beetle to shoot a look so evil in her direction she wondered if Rob was the one she should be worried about.

"It's a COSTUME, dipshit!" Beetle growled. "We were out all night in the club together! What the FUCK is it to ya?!"

"Wait. You're with HIM?!" Rob's asked her, scowling. "Why?"

"Doesn't matter WHY, pal. She just is. You gotta' problem with it? 'Cause I promise ya, you won't after I'm done with yer ass." Beetle warned him, as Lydia backed up again just for good measure. She had to admit, it was all a bit unnerving.

"Lydia. Is that what you want? That's how it's going to be?" Rob pleaded, and for a split second, she almost wanted to say no. Why, she had no clue. Maybe it was because he seemed so apologetic, and she was so very lonely when it came to having a partner. Maybe it was because Beetlejuice was so hell bent on screwing her over that it all seemed hopeless.

Unfortunately, her brain was whirling enough that Beetle turned around, eyeing her like he'd blast her through a wall. "You can't be fuckin' serious, Deetz..." he shook his head, mumbling under his breath, and that was just enough to snap her back to reality.

"I do want this. I'm with him now." she spat defiantly, running up and clutching Beetle by the arm.

"See? She's over yer ass. Now scram, before I throw yer ass out muhself!" Beetle shoved him back.

"Fine, Lydia. If that's the way you want it. I was trying to be a good guy. It's your loss now, Baby!" Rob spat indignantly, before stomping out the door and slamming it shut behind him so hard that it rattled the dishes in her cabinets.

Time slowed down for a split second, and just as she was ready to tell BJ how thankful she was for his help, he yanked his arm out of her grasp, causing her to stumble forward without warning.

"Get the fuck off me, Deetz!" he snapped, shoving a chair into her kitchen table hard. "God, yer a dumbass, sometimes!"

"Look, BJ. I'm sorry, I just-" she began, but he stepped up to her, placing his moldy finger in his face.

"Just what?! Just wanted to get put through the wringer again? Just wanted to be played like a fuckin' banjo?! Don't tell me yer that desperate to get laid, Deetz!" Beetle went off on her, causing her to cower a little. Yeah, he had a point, but she hated his temper. He could be pretty damned scary sometimes.

"No!" she shouted back, hoping he'd lay off of her. She couldn't help that she was unsure sometimes. Yeah, it was stupid, but she was alone, and even if she had newfound confidence and a living dead guy with her most of the time, she still wanted somebody to be her person. He probably didn't understand that, though.

"Well, that's what he wanted, Deetz! He knows he can't get money 'er opportunites off yer ass anymore, but there's one thing he CAN get! Use yer damned brain!" he kept badgering her, unrelenting.

"Look, I'm not doing anything with him!" Lydia tried defending herself, only to be one-upped again by her angry frenemy.

"'Cause I stepped in! He already had his hand on ya, you crazy broad!" Beetle shouted, and for a brief moment, Lydia wondered if he really cared that much or if he was just using it as an excuse to give her more grief. She wasn't so sure about him anymore. Last night he was completely different, but just like any glimmer of good from him, it didn't last. Why did she even let him get to her in the first place? Yeah, she messed with him some by telling him she loved him, and though she didn't intend to mean anything remotely romantic by it, she felt herself developing an actual soft spot for him. Of course, she was always grateful for him, but the feeling was changing, and she didn't understand why. He was very dead, first of all. Even more, he wasn't really warm and fuzzy at all. The problem was, he wanted to bring her down. That was always the problem.

Even more than Rob's confusing shit, Beetle was beginning to get to her as well. Did he have to call her that? Did he have to try to be an asshole to her constantly? No. He didn't. He wanted to. Feeling her bottom lip quiver a bit from what she was feeling, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Why do you have to be so mean?"

For a split second, Beetle paused, staring at her and breathing heavily from exasperation. "Yeah, well if I wasn't mean, that guy would be takin' advantage of yer ass right now. You want that?" he grouched, seeming to hold back a bit this time.

And that's when she saw it. He was protecting her. Sure, she'd asked for help, but if he wasn't so invested, he could've been way more civil about things. It was the same reason he didn't let her run off and die back in the Neitherworld. All along, she thought BJ had been chasing her because he was going to strangle her, but it was the opposite. He was trying to protect her then, and he was doing it again now. He really did care. Yeah, she heard the things about his weird infatuation or lust or whatever, but this was different than what she'd initially thought. Everything suddenly began to click into place.

"No. I don't want that at all. You're right, BJ. Thanks for helping me." she immediately calmed down, feeling a strange sensation inside herself. It was written all over his face. He was so angry, but it wasn't the kind of anger that came from a true enemy. It was jealousy.

"Eh, don't thank me, Deetz. You'd better do that next time some fucker tries to get in yer pants. One ah' these days, I may not be around to chase 'em off." he grumbled defeatedly, leaning on her counter and juicing a beer in his hand.

"Oh." Lydia frowned a little, wondering just what was going on in his head. "But you ARE staying with me still, right?" she asked, raising a brow. She didn't like how he sounded at the moment. Surely he wasn't planning on up and leaving her just yet. At least, she hoped not. She'd hate to blow him back to the Neitherworld.

"Well, yeah." he shrugged, his angry mood fading to something else more akin to defeat. "I'm just sayin' I can't watch ya every second, kapeesh?"

"Yeah. I understand." Lydia nodded, and though she felt a great sense of hope well up inside herself, she also felt a strange tension come from him. She knew what he was up to, and though he was oblivious to that fact, it was always in the back of her mind. And she knew she was foolish to believe he was changing his mind, but she did all the same. She actually hoped he would. She wanted to keep him around. "Well, now that he's out of the way, do you want to do something?" she asked, trying to keep him near to her if at all possible. Yeah, she was crazy, but she'd accepted that long ago.

"Huh?" his face twisted a bit in confusion.

"Hey, are you still watching Paternity Police? I'll join you, if you like." she stated, hoping he'd get the hint that she wanted him around. Maybe he'd stay.

He shrugged, nonchalantly, but she could instantly tell a shift in his mood. "Yeah. They were testin' dipshit number eight. Still no match. That chick got around, if yaknowhaddimean." he sniggered, and she fell in line with him, going to watch some shitty trash TV for his sake, if nothing else.