Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Jeremy had dropped in on her again tonight. Ever since he’d broken up with his latest girlfriend, he’s been over practically every night. It was times like these that Ashley cursed herself for giving him a key to her place. She had already settled in for a comfortable night, tank top, shorts, and a silk wrap. She had been ready to fall asleep on the couch watching some competition reality show, next she knew she was four episodes deep and had no plans to stop. That was when she heard the door unlock, open, and close. She thought about trying to fake sleep, but he always knew when she was pretending.
“Oh good you are awake!” He called out as he came around the corner. He smiled at her as he held up two bottles, “I brought vodka! Yeah, yeah, don’t worry, I also got some of that nasty sweet tasting stuff you like.” He added when she wrinkled her nose at the mention of vodka.
Having been over many times, he knew his way around the kitchen. Ashley has just manage to get the energy to join him; already shots were lined up, and a soda chaser for him. Oh, it’s gonna be one of those nights. She quickly checked her schedule and was surprised to see she was off tomorrow. No doubt Jeremy had batted his eyelashes and worked his magic to get both of them the day off.
“You know I was in the process of getting ready for bed right.” She stated.
“Don’t worry, we don’t have to go in and I made sure we won’t be called in! Now here, get started! I’ve already had two!”
Within the next two hours, many shots had been had and they were now nursing their respective drinks. A vodka soda for Jeremy and mead for her. Whenever Jeremy wasn’t drinking, he was talking. Apparently he had just broken it off with his girlfriend of the past four months and needed to blow off some steam. Ashley knew he was actually the one that was dumped, but she was too exhausted and drunk to argue with him tonight. He managed to get a few more shots in before she was able to hide what was left of the vodka. He drained his glass and when he couldn’t find the alcohol he took her glass and drained it too.
“You do realize you just drank some of my nasty sweet stuff.”
“If it was good enough for Vikings, it’s good enough for me. At least once I’m already drunk it’s not half bad. Hey, are you still into all that mumbo jumbo stuff, because I heard about some crazy shit.”
Ashley sighed and nodded, thinking he wanted her to give him a reading she got up to collect her supplies.
“Wait, where you going? Get back here, I wanna tell you something!” He whined.
She rolled her eyes and continued on collecting her cards and some candles.
“No you don’t...I don’t...I...fuck I’m drunk.”
“Yes you are, so what’s the question this time?” She asked while shuffling her cards.
Jeremy reaches out and grabbed the cards from her, “No reading, listen to me. I heard about a way to summon a ghost! Super easy. All you gotta do is say his name three times and he’s supposed to appear.”
Ashley laughed in his face when he told her the name, “Are you kidding me? You want me to play some Bloody Mary shit?”
“Okay, but seriously, what do you think is gonna happen? Come on, make a believer outta me.”
“No, you are drunk and it’s late and I just want to go to bed, sorry, but either I call a Lyft or you can sleep on the couch.”
“Come on Lee, it’s, it’s so simple, it’s simple, just three times. Come on,” he grabbed hold of her hands and started to drag her to the bathroom.
“Don’t tell me you’re gonna be sick, I will leave you to your worship of the porcelain bowl by yourself.” Ashley was really hoping he would give up. She just wanted to try and sleep.
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No. Come on.”
Jeremy dragged her into the bathroom and positioned her so she was in front of the mirror. She tried to reason with him some more, but it was moot. He was insistent that they were gonna summon a ghost just by saying its stupid name three times. She wasn’t sure why Jeremy was acting like this, usually he just scoffed at her if she were to ever bring up the afterlife or anything of a spiritual nature. She eventually gave in, figuring once nothing showed up she’d be able to get Jeremy to go to bed or leave so she could go to bed.
“Fine! When no ghost shows, you go to bed or leave, got it!” She tried to say in an authoritative manner, but came out more of a whine.
“And when one does, we can celebrate with more shots!”
Ashley stood in front of the mirror, whispered a short prayer to the Gods that nothing happens and said the name.
“Beetlejuice.”
Ashley looked at her reflection in the mirror. What did she think was gonna happen? He was finally gonna take notice of her as more than a friend. She kept telling herself that she wasn’t waiting around for him. She may not be good at lying to other people, but she could sure lie to herself. She looked up at his eyes in the mirror.
“Beetlejuice.”
Now look where you are. Playing games like you’re 14 and drunk off your moms wine coolers. Isn’t it time you put yourself out there? Come on girl, what happened to you? It used to be you wouldn’t let anything stand in your way and now you’re this.
“Beetlejuice.”
Ashley opened her eyes, not realizing she had closed them. She looked around in the mirror and then turned around to Jeremy, “What happens now?”
Jeremy however was looking over her shoulder, eyes wide.
“Jer?” She asked, waving her hand in front of his face. She moved forward to steady him as he began to shake, but his eyes rolled up and he collapsed to the floor. She tried running to him, but there were hands on her waist holding her back. What? Then something grabbed her left hand and twirled her around so she was facing towards the mirror again. The hands let go and she was left staring at a man sitting up on her counter. She gasped and took a step back, almost tripping over Jeremy. She blinked and rubbed at her eyes, she had been drinking and honestly was exhausted. The man was now swinging his legs back and forth, hair was sticking up in all directions, eyes wide, teeth pulling at his bottom lip. He was examining her just as she was him, although he looked like he was more interested in what was underneath her robe.
“Hi!”
What?
“It was you right? You called me? I sure hope it wasn’t him. I don’t like him. You I like. You look like fun!” He continued to talk not taking a breath.
“You’re Beetle-” she started to say when he slapped his hand over her mouth.
“Wait, please don’t say it. Why don’t you call me BJ?” Looking at Ashley raised eyebrow in question he continued, “No? How about Beebs? Beets? Juice? Juju? No, that doesn’t work, just hear me out tho-eww no bad dog!”
Ashley pulled back and was spitting trying to get the taste out of her mouth.
“Did you just lick me?” Beetlejuice asked.
“Believe me, I wish I hadn’t.”
“I’m pretty sure I just took a bath like, like...two months ago!”
“That...that’s a long time!” Ashley couldn’t believe it, “Who are you? What are you?”
“Ah, of course, where are my manners! I am the one, the only, the ghost with the most, and now your full time personal specter!” He did a flourish and a bow.
“Ghost?”
“That’s right baby!”
Ashley looked him up and down one last time, took a step closer and reached out to poke his chest. Her finger didn’t go through. She placed her hand against his chest and gave a push. He quickly grabbed her arm and stopped her before she could push him over. She had to admit she liked this punk look going on with his hair and nails. His eyes were...intense and actually a little unnerving and she was really starting to smell him. She was drunk, she was tired, she didn’t want to deal with this till morning, but first, “Take a shower.”
Now it was Beetlejuice turn to look stunned, “What?”
“Take a shower, please. I need to uh...yea, just please, go. I’m gonna go make a cup of tea and when you’re done I have many...so many questions, so you clean up and then we’ll talk. You do not do anything until you are clean! Got it?”
Beetlejuice stood there, mouth agape as Ashley squatted down and grabbed Jeremy under the arms and dragged him over onto the couch. She didn’t scream. She isn’t running. She cares about me enough to order me about! I think I’m in love! Beetlejuice stepped into the stall and closed the door, he knows because Lydia has been teaching him this stuff, and turned the water on. He stood there, hands at his side and let the water run over him, clothes and all. This isn’t so bad. He waited for what he thought was an appropriate amount of time before turning the water off and heading out the door.
He first saw Jeremy on the couch, still passed out and grimace, What a loser, good thing I’m here now. He continued on to the room that had soft light seeping out from it. He peeked around the door and was wishing he finished sooner. He had seen her reflection in a mirror, angled enough to see a flash of bare skin as she changed into an oversized T-shirt. When she turned around and saw him he stepped into the room and asked, “Now what?”
Seriously? What the fuck? The man, ghost, was standing there, a puddle forming under his shoes, still fully clothed and smiling. She asked as calmly as she could, “Do you know uh...how...to take a shower?”
“You get in, you get wet, and then you’re clean?” Beetlejuice was confused. Is that not what the breathers do? He was trying to think back to what he was told, but really he wasn’t paying attention. He never did really, but he did his best because it made Lydia happy. Now that he thought about it there was something else! “Oh right, clothes off first,” and shrugged his jacket off, got his pants unbuckled and was about to pull them down when Ashley yelled to stop!
“Wait, wait, wait, slow down. I mean yes good, clothes off first, but usually that’s done in the privacy of the bathroom. With the doors closed. So others don’t see and often hear you shower.”
“Why?” He was genuinely curious.
“Because most people don’t want to have other people seeing or hearing them shower.” She responded.
“Why?” Beetlejuice bit his lower lip again to keep from smiling. This was his favorite game until Lydia would give up and not talk to him. Or Barbara. Or even Adam.
“Most people, both the person showering and any people living in the same place might feel embarrassed.”
“Why?” The corners of his mouth were defiantly turned up now.
“Because society has deemed it ‘civilized’ to feel embarrassed or ashamed of being naked. Not just in front of people with whom you plan to have sex with, but even when you are living by yourself. Maybe someone doesn’t want to wear clothes after they’ve showered because it’s as hot as satans asscrack and don’t want to try pulling skinny jeans on because it’s impossible to dry off as they start sweating the minute they step out from the cool water.” She explained exasperated, “and because people use shower time to masterbate.” She added as an afterthought.
Now he was confused again, “So, I’m supposed to rub one out while in the shower? I have a better idea, why don’t you join me and help!” He loved the way her face grew rosy and she did her best to look stern, but saw the corners of her mouth turn up for a second.
“No thank you. Now if you would please go back and take a proper shower. I guess I’ll find some clothes for you to wear when you’re done. Follow me.”
Beetlejuice followed her, watching the way her hips moved as she walked and appreciating the view of her legs and ass. He couldn’t stop himself, he just had to reach...out...and…oh yeah baby—next thing Beetlejuice knew the left side of his face was stinging; or at least he thought it was supposed to.
“Do. Not. Touch. Without. Permission. Got it!” Ashley poked him in the chest to accentuate each word. From the look in his eyes she had the feeling he liked being challenged. What did I get myself into? Okay, maybe not brute force, but charm will work. She flattened her hand against his chest, it was disconcerting to not feel the thump of a heart and looked at him softly, “Please.” He nodded his head and placed his hands up in surrender.
Ashley showed him what to use and in what order, even going so far as to grab a marker and numbered the bottles. She left him in the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She walked over to check on Jeremy when she heard a noise, looked behind her to see that the door had been cracked open, steam steadily pouring out from behind it. After checking Jeremy over for any injury and finding nothing she draped a blanket over him and left a note asking him not to wake her in the morning. She went to her room and looked around for some clothes she knew were left from the last time Jer stayed the night. She hadn’t found them until she had done the laundry and had a feeling he had snuck them in there for her to do. She placed them in her closet under some of her clothes, knowing that he would never ask for them back and knew better than to go through her closet. She grabbed some sweats, a shirt, and even a pair of briefs, leaving them just inside the door on the counter. Loud, out of tune humming could be heard along with some other noises she’d rather not give too much thought to.
Ashley chuckled before stopping herself and went back to her room hoping he hadn’t heard her. She grabbed a few towels and cleaned up the water from before. After she flopped face down onto the bed and just rested for a few seconds. I should really get up and wait to make sure he does things right. It didn’t happen as Ashley swiftly drifts off to sleep. She slept through the night for the first time in two months. Dreaming blissfully and oblivious to what she would wake up to.