Metronome

Stranger Beetles

Nate, meanwhile, was going to absolute town on the other machine. He was almost to the end of the song when a bulky, sweaty looking boy shoved him, causing him to misstep.

"Ryan!" He yelled in frustration. The boy smirked.

"Oh, sorry nerd, did I mess up your game?" He sounded very not sorry. "Get fucked, Matthews."

Nate clenched his fists, but said nothing. He did want his face caved in today. He hopped off the machine and stood back to watch Lydia.

"Hey, she's pretty good!"

Stranger Beetles

Just wait til she gets home >:D

Stranger Beetles

"Not a big deal?" Nate demanded, "You just witnessed the fall of the Nate Dynasty!"

He ran to the Dance Dance machine and pulled up the scores seeing who beat him. "Who's ShaMil?" He asked, squinting at the name. "Whatever, let's get my spot back!"

He threw some quarters into the machine and picked a song.

Stranger Beetles

"I'm the top score on Dance Dance," Nate said proudly. They were walking toward town, where a small but busy arcade sat. Nate led the way inside, pushing around the after school rush.

"Turner!" He shouted to a greasy looking guy running the counter. "We brought a friend. Whatcha' got for us?"

The guy turned around, a sad look in his eyes. "Nate...someone beat your top score."

"WHAT?"

Stranger Beetles

Beetlejuice's face dropped, and his tail tucked between his legs. He slunk back into the car and hopped up on the seat, facing away from her. Why couldn't he come? Weren't they best friends? Call him when she needed him...just like everyone else. Was he just a magic genie to her?

He didn't realize he'd been whimpering until Barbara spoke up.

"She hasn't forgotten about you, hun," She said, "she's just made new friends, now. It's okay for her to hang around other people, that doesn't mean she doesn't still like you."

Stranger Beetles

The Maitlands seemed thrilled that she'd made friends on her first day of school. "Of course, hun," Adam said.

Beetlejuice seemed to disagree. He whined and jumped from the car. "It's dog friendly, right?" He asked in a hushed tone, tail wagging nervously.

Stranger Beetles

"We were wondering if you'd like to go to the arcade with us. We could spot you a few quarters." Nate kept his hands in his pocket in a desperate attempt to look cool.

The Mainlands' car pulled up just then. Barbara waved at Lydia from the passenger seat, and Beetlejuice was in dog form, pressing his nose against the window. His tail wagged wildly when he saw Lydia, but then he let out a growl at the site of the boys from the mall.

"Beetlejuice, please," Barbara chided.

Stranger Beetles

Oh ok

Stranger Beetles

What were they thinking?

Stranger Beetles

"Yeah, they're pretty cool. Wanna make one? I play a warlock," Nate took his fork and swished it like a wand.

Meanwhile, back home...

"All I wanted was her approval and she never appreciated me!" Beetlejuice sobbed into Barbara's lap. They were getting into the real meat of the demon's life problems, now.

"There, there," Barbara petting his hair, which she found to be in desperate need of a wash. "Your mom sounds like she doesn't deserve you. You have Lydia now, and she thinks the world of you." The demon sniffled, and looked up at Barbara. He had mascara pouring down his face. Had he even been wearing mascara? Was this another joke? Barbara was baffled by the demon's ability to make light of the situation, even as he was clearly pouring his heart out.

"Why don't we get you cleaned up," Barbara offered, carefully standing. Beetlejuice perked up at that, seizing yet another opportunity to be vile.

"Only if you join me, babes," He wiggled his eyebrows.