The Beetle Bride (ON HOLD)

Chapter Four; Spooky Action At A Distance

Seated at the far end of the dining table, Lydia absentmindedly pushed her food around her plate, occasionally spearing the odd prawn with her fork, chewing it just once or twice before hastily swallowing.
Delia's timing really couldn't have been any worse, usually she didn't even bother to serve dinner unless they were expecting guests, but she'd chosen today of all days to insist on eating together as a family. Today, when she had finally managed to strike up something that resembled a coherent conversation with her new, yet old, ghostly inhabitant. She'd contemplated faking sickness in order to avoid having to leave her room but decided against it. That would've only caused Barbara to fuss over her more, and right now that wasn't an option. She wanted to get to know Beetlejuice. The real Beetlejuice. It was evident he didn't plan on leaving anytime soon, so she figured it wouldn't do any harm to keep talking to him whilst she still had the chance.

However disgusting he may be, he actually intrigued her. And surely there was no shame in that. So why was she feeling so appalled with herself? The nagging voice of reason at the back of her mind returned as she rose from the table, filling her with doubt and dread. Accusing her of behaving like a stereotypical adolescent with a crush, and scolding her for keeping dangerous secrets.
Shuddering, she hastily mumbled excuses about being too tired to eat. Unable to resist any longer. She had to get back to her room. To him. She admittedly thought, defeated. She had to get back to him.

"Are you alright pumpkin?"
Charles Deetz asked, amidst a mouthful of seafood paella.

"Yeah, fine dad. Just tired."
She replied, keeping her tone as even and breezy as possible.

"But you've hardly touched your dinner Lydia."
Her stepmother piped up, as if pointing out the obvious was necessary. The woman had a knack for doing that.

"I'm sorry Delia, I'm just totally beat. Can you please save me some, so I can warm it up later if I'm hungry?"

"Of course dear."
She beamed, immediately brightening. Appeased by Lydia's well thought out response. It never failed.

"Thanks."
She smiled warmly,
"Goodnight, love you."

Racing up the stairs, she didn't even wait around for their response, such was her incessant need to talk further with her glorified roommate whilst she still had the opportunity. His mind was like a bag of cats, who knew where he went and what he was doing when he wasn't in her mirror. And she wanted to try and pin him down in the hopes of getting him to answer a few of the questions she'd longed to ask since their first meeting. And now there were even more. Indeed they were fast piling up into a veritable stack.
As she reached the landing, she met with Adam. His kind, open and honest face smiling down at her, succeeded in making her feel more dishonest and unappreciative than ever.
"Whoa there! Someone's in a hurry. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry Adam, just tired you know. Didn't sleep too well last night."
She admitted truthfully, but she couldn't help fidgeting awkwardly with the collar of her school blazer. Something she always did when feeling nervous.

Fortunately for her though, Adam was not nearly as perceptive, or familiar with her traits as Barbara was.
"Yes Barbara mentioned that you'd had a bad dream. I dare say it wasn't due to watching too many horror movies."
He joked, patting her gently on the forearm as she sidestepped around him.

Laughing, she halted in order to afford him the attention he deserved. That both he and his wife deserved. The couple had been so kind to her, yet here she was running around after the one who was least worthy of her time. Once again she was struck by the bitter realisation that she was a traitor. She was practically harbouring the one guilty of causing them all so much upset, which made her a guilty party too. 
"Hey Adam, listen....I just wanna say..."
She faltered slightly, feeling suddenly quite choked with emotion,
"...I mean, I probably don't say it often enough, but I want you to know that I love you guys, and thanks for always being there for me."