Chapter Text
“WHAT?” Lydia and Claire screamed in unison.
“That’s right, girls,” replied Mrs. Shannon, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, “You two will be assigned together for this project.”
“But Mrs. Shannon–” Lydia started.
“ –LIKE, EW, MRS. SHANNON. I CAN’T DO A PROJECT WITH LYDIA!” Claire blurted. She turned her head toward Lydia. “Like- no offense.”
Lydia rolled her eyes. None taken? Oh well, at least one of them had the guts to say it out loud.
“Nonsense, Claire” Mrs Shannon scolded, “Remember what lovely work you both did at the bazaar?”
Lydia gritted her teeth. Oh yeah, the bazaar, with the two separate haunted houses each of them built. That project wouldn’t have even succeeded if it weren’t for Lydia and her ghostly pal, Beetlejuice. After all, the only scary part about Claire’s half was the shameless narcissism!
“I decided that since you worked so well together then, I thought you both could come up with something extraordinary for a class presentation! After all, the topic seemed very, er– fitting.” Mrs. Shannon hesitated on the last bit.
“Like, get real! I refuse to work with someone so freaky.” Claire griped.
“I wouldn’t say that if I were you, Miss Brewster. Remember that science test we had last Thursday?”
Mrs Shannon reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper stamped with a fat red ‘F’ .
“I think you’ll find that this will take quite a hit to your already, erm— lackluster performance in class”
Claire gulped, chewing her perfectly manicured nails.
“So you may try to skip the project, but as your educator, I wouldn’t find it advisable.”
Claire growled in a hissy fit.
“And as for you, Miss Deetz—“
Lydia’s eyes widened, shocked to hear her name.
“— You have been earning very solid marks. However, I recently received concerns from your mother that she wishes for you to interact more with your fellow students. She’s been given notes from doctors stating a lack of meaningful relationships with peers your age.”
Lydia wanted to boil over. Those jerks always made her out to be some kind of problem child! They had no idea about the absolute cavalcade of absurd peers she had in another world. (Though that may have been for the better…)
“—I believe that the requirements of this project will do you quite some good. I’ve already gotten your mothers on board, Mrs. Brewster has graciously offered to host a little get together so the two of you can brainstorm.”
“Mrs. Shannon, you can’t be serious—“ Lydia protested.
“Miss Deetz, I am as serious as the complaints from the janitors about those bugs getting loose during your last presentation. Now, I suggest you begin your class work for today and think about your project.”
“But—“
”Enough, Miss Deetz. Please get to work.”
Lydia groaned as Mrs Shannon walked back to her desk. A chorus of snotty voices erupted on the other side of the room from gaggle of girls in Claire’s “in-group”.
”Like, ew, Claire— She seriously paired that weird kid with you?” Sneered a girl wearing mounds of blue eyeshadow.
”I heard she takes those bugs of hers in her lunchbox as an afternoon snack,” snorted a girl with red lipstick and blush that made her face look swollen.
”Yeah, and I bet she sleeps in a crypt!” Added another, smacking the fat wad of bubble gum in her mouth.
The three erupted into a fit of annoying laughter that sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Lydia gritted her teeth.
”Don’t listen to those girls, Lydia,” whispered Prudence.
”For sure” added Bertha.
“Those mean old girls have no idea what they’re talking about. You’re gonna have the best project in the whole class, you’ll see!”
Lydia smiled feebly, which was quickly laid to rest as another burst of giggling broke out.
Despite Lydia’s sullen feelings about the whole ordeal, Delia was delighted to relay the information once Lydia got home from school.
“Oh, Lydia, it’s so nice to see you getting out of the house more!” Delia clasped her hands. “Why, you’ve been cooped upstairs in that room of yours for so long that your father and I can hear you talking to yourself all the way from my studio!”
Lydia groaned. She told Beetlejuice to work on his volume control, that cackling at his own jokes had a tendency to carry.
“They’re expecting us at six o’clock, so head upstairs and make sure all your things are packed by then,” Delia instructed, placing a well-meaning kiss on her daughter’s forehead. Lydia stiffened at the gesture, but didn’t do anything rude.
“Uhm, Mother–” Lydia asked hesitantly, “Er, how long are we going to be there exactly?”
“Mrs. Brewster wouldn’t keep us long, this being our first time meeting each other” Delia answered, “We’ll be back home right after supper.”
Until after supper? Three hours putting up with Claire? Lydia could have fainted.
“Enough said, now go upstairs get your things ready!” Delia said, playfully turning her daughter and pushing her forward.
Lydia stumbled up the steps like a prisoner to their cell. She shut the door, locked it, and scrambled over to her vanity. Placing a hand on each side of the table
Lydia sighed and scurried upstairs to her bedroom, locking the door firmly tight behind her. Walked over to her vanity, staring into her reflection with one hand on each side of the mirror. Her mother may not have understood her problem, but thankfully, she knew someone who did.
“Though I know I should be wary, still I venture someplace scary…”
Before she knew it, there was a pop of green light, and her best friend appeared through the mirror…
Beetlejuice burst into a hissy fit when he heard the news.
“That Claire Brewster, she really grinds my gears!” Said Beetlejuice, transforming into a pair of lavender and striped cogwheels.
“And that’s not the worst part!” Lydia lamented, “Mother already has plans to make me hang out at her house, tonight!”
Beetlejuice transformed back into his usual self. “Woah, sounds like you’re in quite a pickle, Lyds!” He transformed into a discolored pickle sticking out of a striped jar. “Looks like a real dill-emma to me, pft.”
“That doesn’t begin to describe it. I can’t even bear with her during class. How in the world am I supposed to put up with her in her own home?”
“Aw, Lyds. You’re forgettin’ that you’ve got ol’ BJ in your corner!” He transformed back into himself again. “A little mischief oughtta set her straight! Lemme put a couple ants in her pants to show who’s boss, c’mon c’mon!” he made beggar hands, a handful of ants crawled out of his sleeves.
“Tempting…” Lydia mused, unconvinced, “–But my revenge is staying artistic, not personal .”
She reluctantly began gathering her things. “Besides, Claire Brewster is hard enough without being juiced, and I’ve got the project to worry about! We’d get almost nothing done.”
Beetlejuice held a particularly juicy ant up to his mouth. “You never let me have any fun,” he pouted, sudden disappointment flashing across his face as all the ants poofed away.
Lydia humorously tutted, which was followed by an eye roll.
“ Lydi-aaaa” called a high-pitched voice from downstairs. “ The Brewsters are waiting for us!”
Lydia slumped. “Coming, Mother!” She called, downtrodden. She walked past Beetlejuice as she hurried to grab the rest of her things.
“Don’t let em’ getcha’ down, Lyds,” beetlejuice said encouragingly, “That Claire Brewster won’t be gettin’ away with badgering my best friend!” He transformed into a giant striped creature with a green overbite sticking out of his maw.
Lydia gave a lighthearted chuckle, reaching out and scratching her friend’s furry face.
“I guess it only makes sense, given the hairy situation we’re in!” Lydia joked, feeling slightly better now. Her friend, sensing this, grinned in return.
“Who on Earth is that you’re talking to, dear? Come on, we’re almost late for the Brewsters!” Delia scolded. A series of footsteps could be heard outside the door.
Lydia ceased the petting, grabbing her friend's face. ‘Mother’s coming! Who knows what can of worms I’d open if she saw you?” Lydia freaked.
“I’d say, a delicious one,” Beetlejuice cracked.
Lydia dropped the badger altogether and rushed to the window. Throwing her arms in the air, she spat out the chant as quickly as possible.
“ThoughIknowIshouldbewarystillIventuresomeplacescary– ghostlyhauntingIturnloose–Beetlejuice-Beetlejuice-BEETLEJUICE–!”
To his surprise and Lydia’s relief, Beetlejuice was poofed back to the Neitherworld exactly as the door opened.
“Lydia, dear, we’ve got to hurry!” Delia reprimanded, “The car is already started, grab your things and get down here!”
Dejectedly, Lydia grabbed her bag and the rest of her supplies. Delia shimmied down the stairs, with Lydia all but dragging behind like a bereaved zombie. She climbed into the back seat of the car, tightly hugging her bag to her chest like an emotional support animal. She buried her face in it, dreading every second they got closer to their destination.
It’s just a couple hours, she thought to herself. No big deal. No big deal at all…
Lydia buried her face even deeper in her bag, hoping it really wasn’t.