Dead Shadow: Beetlejuice Fanfiction Story

Chapter 19: The L Word

No. No, no, no. Come on. I got her parents, I got her friends, and I got my parents here. We're working on the party, I pulled a ton of distraction!

He watched as Lydia went toward the door. Privacy. Outside. I am screwed. She's gonna want someone else, not her best friend. Why did I wait so long to get my parents? He follower her outside. "You wanted to talk?"

"We kind of have to," Lydia said. "You are my best friend, BJ. You've helped me so much, risked so much, and-"

"So then don't leave!" he yelled her. "You're the bestest ever, it's boring without you, you make the afterlife worth afterliving. It's going to be so completely boring if you choose Prince Vince. I can handle anything, if you just stay." Just. Stay.

"I don't have to wrap you into my business anymore," Lydia said to him, "but if I do pick someone else, you're right. I won't be able to stay with you. But? I really don't know if my presence is worth all of this."

"Yeah it is." Of course it was. "I kind of risked hell for you, Babe, why would this be a thing?"

"You risked it for my eternity of being a dead shadow," she corrected. "Not just to keep me as a roommate."

Same diff. "Prince Vince isn't going to make you happy. Don't do this." Don't do this, please don't do this. Don't do this!

There it is again. He should be miserable in some way with the thought of ending up with her, but he was only miserable when they had to talk about it. Maybe? Maybe it is. "Could you put the wedding dress back on me?" He looked confused but granted her wish. She touched the dress. "Do you think it's nice?"

"Of course it's nice," Beetlejuice said. "I juiced it up, didn't I?"

That's not what I asked. "Is it nice, on me?" Yeah. He still looked confused. "I used to live in the living world, and we saw each other every day after school. So, I really think it'll be okay. You could even hang out at the castle I bet."

"Why are doing this, Lydia?" He was using her first real name.

It made her feel worse, although she shouldn't. "I'm so confused." She walked around in the dress. "I know Prince Vince had some attraction to me, and it's better if there is mutual attraction for marriage."

"Oh." Beetlejuice looked like his whole world was falling apart. "Recent dead people kind of change with the way they feel in like the first two years so maybe something might change? Maybe this isn't such a good idea?"

You've never once whooped or drooled over my presence. Recently dead change, but you aren't recently dead. You are the best friend in the world, but that's all you can be. What kind of friend am I to make you take on all this? You've done enough for me. More than enough. She wiped away a tear. "I'm sorry."

"Nah." Beetlejuice looked terrible. Of course he did, he probably felt in second place again.

"I promise, I can take a couple of hours a day just to come see you, just like I always did. I'll get it put in the marriage," she agreed. "Everyday. Different home, but same friend."

Beetlejuice stuck his hands in his pant pockets. "I did a lot for you. I bet you've got that goody two shoe feeling of guilt for me doing all that. So, dragging me down by making me of all ghosts raise a kid, sweet Lydia just can't do that. Add in your dad that is repulsed by me, your mom that is way too jazzed about you being royalty, and . . . I'm just not an option, huh?"

"Beej'."

"Shower?" he asked. "I'll . . . I used to when I lived with my parents. I could. I could brush my teeth. Fix my hair?"