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Dennis just stood there with a cigarette clenched between his teeth, his eyes half lidded and were it not for the fact he was staring right at her, Bella might have assumed he hadn’t even noticed her.

Not that such a feat would be hard given the man loomed over her and on a good day she maybe came up to somewhere at the bottom of his ribs. The cigarette in his mouth rolled from one side to the other slowly.

“Pardon?” Dennis repeated, desperate that he had perhaps heard her wrong. “I’m a bit deaf before noon.” Dennis’ supposed deafness was not helped by his current location. By one of the party tree’s booming speakers, it was a place for quiet Dennis had found. Only the truly dedicated would come out here to pester him.

“I said,” Bella spoke up to be heard over the music, “why do you smell like Polly?”

“....” Dennis let the cigarette go back to the other end of his mouth. “We hang out a lot.”

“No I mean like,” she gestured at him, “literally like Polly. Not figuratively or a little bit but do you like, rub Polly all over yourself every morning.” She paused, her eyes went wide. “Do you two… bang?!”

This was a safe assumption to make. Polly had declared once she’d bone anyone at any time, and she had slept with…A lot of people. Dennis could have been one of them but he was not.

“Oh you know,” Dennis shrugged, “ghosts smell like algebra and global warming. We’re all like that.”

“That’s just what Scott says,” Bella told him, “ he’s right that we werewolves can smell anything and everything. I don’t doubt he can smell things very well, but I have come across Polly and she does NOT smell anything like algebra and global warming. And I should know, because I hate both of those things!” She paused and looked around as if someone might hear them over the thundering lyrical stylings of “IMAGINE AN ACTUAL FUCKING DRAGON”.

“It’s okay though,” Bella said, “Polly is super nice.”

“I know she is.” Dennis said, his tone taking on an edge. “I’m not embarrassed to be dating Polly.” He wanted to say because he wasn’t dating Polly but Bella sensed she had misstepped. Her eyes went wide, her hair seemed to fluff outward.

“Oh no! I didn’t think you were. I figured you were keeping it quiet, I get that." She nodded. “We all remember every time there’s a new couple at this school they get visited by Violet and Tate.” She said and both her and Dennis winced. The parasite and her host were irksome at the best of times. When did they ever NOT have someone to talk about love with?

Their ability to irritate and drive you up the wall increased thirty fold. Everything became a contest and they, as the best couple mind you, were destined to win. Which of course Violet would tell you about in excruciating detail.

“She is the worst.” Dennis said as his cigarette bobbed up and down.

“So,” Bella took a step forward and Dennis looked at her. She waved and he leaned down. The sound of what Bella knew to be bones creaking rather than leather rattled through her ears. “Me and Oz are doing a date thing and he’s…A little shy.”

Dennis looked at Bella. One eyebrow went up and the look on his face was positively dripping with the urge to say something clever .

“So,” she clasped her hands, “you know because he’s shy the idea had crossed my mind of a double date. For Oz. Because Oz is shy.” Bella said, fidgeting as she spoke. Hands clasped, fingers intertwined, unclasped, back together and Dennis could sense that it might not just be for Oz.

“ Dennis.” He heard Abby’s voice roll the length of his spine. “ I literally know what you’re thinking and understand that if she wants a nice calm date then Polly being anywhere near that place isn’t going to help her out.” Abby as ever was the endless voice of reason.

Polly was great but the idea of her being an anxiety aid was…No Dennis felt like it was entirely within her power. She helped him out from time to time but that was also because both of them like to slam their faces into narcotics. Sure she could be chill but would she be chill on a date?

“Bella,” Dennis said, “if you’re asking if me and Polly will engage with you and Oz in some kind of double date th-”

“Oh yes! Yes, I am so glad you got that.” Bella sighed. “I really didn’t want to ask you outright, it’d just…You know, really help.” She said and Abby knew that the boat was sunk. “Help” it was Dennis’ shazam, it was his magical word and now that he’d heard it…

“I’ll see what I can do.” Dennis said in the same tones that launched ships, that drove back attacking armies, and that would soon attempt to convince Polly to go on a double date with a huge dork and a lil’ wolf.

“Oh that’d be so-” Bella started to say as Dennis’ cigarette shot backward into his mouth. She paused. “Did you mean to-” The answer she got was Dennis swallowing and then Bella just blinked a couple of times.


“It’s fine.” Dennis said as smoke curled around his lips. Abby lit up in the dark of him, cigarette perched between her lips. She turned his ribcage into a single point of light and blew smoke upward. Her haunted house was taking it upon itself to get involved. She just wanted a nice smoke. “I’ll go talk to her.”

Dennis put his hands in his jacket pockets and waved his phone at Bella. “You’ve got my digits?”

“I… I don’t think so?” Bella said as she shook her head.

“Well Oz does. Text me the plans later and I’ll begin the process of telling my… What do you call the people you date? Sugar…Tits?”

“ I want you to know that I hate that I had to be in here to hear that.” Abby told him and judging by the look on Bella’s face, she might not have been a fan either.

“Text me about it.” He finished. He faded from reality and left Bella standing there all alone. She was now aware…That she now had to pitch this to Oz. Who had said a double date with a little nervous laugh that told her that he probably hadn’t meant it….Or that little laugh meant he was all for it.

He had a lot of nervous little noises.

Dennis exhaled a fine green mist and from the nimbus overhead Abby stared back at him. “Unique perspective.” Dennis said as she sat down in the air, now level with his eyes. “That’s more like it.”

“You’re really gonna do this?” Abby asked him.

“We got caught out,” Dennis told her, “not much we can do. Honestly it’s kind of a pain in the ass.” He shook his head and held out his hand. Abby passed him the cigarette she’d lit, he took a slow drag. “Our authentic ghost stank apparently is too similar to Polly.”

“Well given she is the source.” Abby rubbed at her temples. “How did it end up like this? No other werewolf has mentioned it! I mean we did all this to get around Scott at the start.”

Dennis recalls being introduced to Scott and his immediate barrage of questions. Why he wasn’t one colour like other ghosts, why he wasn’t kind of slimy and why he smelled more like dead meat than…whatever a ghost smelled like to Scott. Polly and Dennis worked out very quickly that if Scott was going to ask these questions…The student body would likely ask far more.

“I can’t believe I let Polly convince me to dab ectoplasm on myself all this time.” Dennis mumbled. “I mean we had to!”

“We had to.” Abby agreed. She could have provided it but then…She stared. “Why didn’t we use my ectoplasm again?”

“Polly just…” Dennis stared dead ahead. “Has she been convincing me to rub her ectoplasm on me this entire time?” He looked up at Abby. “Is ectoplasm gross? I mean I know all ghosts like, make it but it’s not like your puke or something is it?”

“Ew god no. It’s just…A thing we do.” She muttered. “Ectoplasm happens.” Abby said. “I mean it’s how I keep your body moving.”

“So…Outside I smell like Polly and inside I smell like you?” Dennis looked at his hands. “I suppose it’s better than smelling like a corpse.” He chuckled. “Let’s not worry about it. The fact is we had to do it to trick Scott but now I reek just like Polly which has a stranger convinced…Me and Polly are dating.”

Abby pressed her knuckles against her lips. Dennis winced as she scowled.

“We’re not.” He said as if somehow she didn’t know that. “We’re just buddies…Who smell like each other and stuff.”

“I know,” Abby groaned, “just…Fuck’s sake.” She held out her hand and he passed her back the smoke. She took a puff, a few quick ones before exhaling through her nose. “It’s just such a pain in the ass. Dating and finding out you smell like someone else.”

“It’s…Something we get to deal with I guess.” He reached out, placed his hand on the small of her back. “Hey it’s okay.” He drew her closer and she sank into him, lowered into place. He pressed his forehead against hers. “I got you.”

“I got you.” She said back. It’d just be nice if people knew that about them. They had each other. The secrets were…Essential but more and more they felt restrictive. They felt like more of a trap than their bond ever could have been. Stuck together and unable to be seen that way. It was…A unique brand of hell.

“So how much do you think we’re gonna owe Polly for this?”

“We spin it as a prank,” Abby said, “ a big joke and she might fall in love with the idea.”

“...Hopefully Bella or Oz don’t want to do some kind of messy or weird date.” Dennis said as Abby leaned to the side. She phased into him, swinging around to place the cigarette back between his lips as their forms merged. Dennis exhaled out the corner of his mouth.

“ Those two? Oh they’ll want a nice quiet night somewhere. They absolutely won’t do anything as wild as you or Polly like.”

“So… what do you think?”

Oz just stared at Bella, his eye brows closely scrunched together as if he were thinking about the hardest math problem to exist.

He breathed in and closed his hands and put them against his face as if he was praying to God about what to say to his werewolf girlfriend, “Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why did you wanna do this anyways?!”

Bella looked down and fiddled with her hair, “I just figured since we are still kinda new to this dating thing that… well we could have some company and ya know help our anxiety a little bit. I know you can get overwhelmed a lot, and so do I, so I figured Dennis is pretty chill and he might bring Polly too-”

“Polly?! Oh no we’re not going to some drug fueled, alcohol flooded, orgy are we?!”

It was now Bella’s turn to furrow her brows, “What? NO! Why do you think I would take you to an orgy?! We've only had three or four official dates since we’ve been together!”

Oz then rubbed his neck, “Sorry… ah you’re right…  I over-thought it again, sorry.”

Bella just turned to her nervous shadow man lover and put her hands on his face to signal to him she was about to pull him down so she could reach him. Once his face was at her level, she kissed his nose and then nuzzled him, “I would never take you somewhere you weren’t comfortable with honeybun. Besides, I don’t drink or smoke or “do the drugs” anyways. The most I’ve done was drink a little fruity sangria with my meals.”

Oz hummed as he put his hand on Bella’s arm, “Hmmm you’re too cute.”

Bella giggled as she gave Oz another smooch on his cheek, “No YOU are! My sweet silly shadow!~”

“Oh really?~” Oz smirked as he pulled Bella into a tight hug and began to cover her face in kisses. The short,chubby werewolf squealed in delight as she fought back with her own kisses.

As the two were laughing and being sickeningly sweet, a loud honk interrupted their kissy fight.

“Oh shit!” Bella said as she put her hands on the steering wheel of the car as she put it in drive, “It’s our turn now!”

Oz then put his head out the window to look at the irritated driver behind them, “Sorry!”

The annoyed minotaur just rolled his eyes and snorted as Oz went back into his seat and began to fiddle with his cardigan buttons as Bella pulled up to the drive thru kiosk. A muffled and exhausted voice then came through the speaker,

“Hello welcome to McDongals, what would you like?”

Bella turned to Oz, “What would you like hun?”

Oz began to sweat as his eyes darted around the giant menu. He remembered the cars behind him and began to panic. Bella just smiled,

“You want your usual?”

Oz nodded his head silently as Bella leaned out the window, “Hello, uh I would like two orders of chicken nuggets one with honey mustard and the other with sweet and sour sauce.”

There was a small pause and then the receiver spoke again, “And to drink?”

“One Sprite and uhhh,” She turned to Oz, “What do you want to drink, Ozzy?”

A strangled voice that cracked a little whispered to her, “Dr.Pepper…”

“And one Dr. Pepper.”

“Okay that will be $20.69, please drive to the first window please.”

“Thank you!”

As Bella drove away she swore she could hear the receiver say, “I want to fucking die...”

Her ear flicked as she mumbled under her breath, “Mood.”

Oz turned his head towards her, “Huh?”

“Oh it's nothing hun. So anyways… you still wanna go on this double date? I can cancel it if you’d like.”

The fearling went into thought as Bella stopped at the window. He subconsciously got her purse and his wallet and handed Bella his half of the price for their food, “I’ll go with you. Just… can we think of a safe word or something in case something bad happens or we get too nervous?”

Bella finished giving the cashier the money and put the shift into drive, “Sure! What should it be?”

They both went into thought as they waited for the car in front of them to move a bit, “I dunno…” Oz began, “Something that’s not too complicated, I guess.”

“Maybe a food? Like… marshmallow?”

“I dunno. Mustard?”

“Hmm maybe. How about fudge?”

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN YOU RAN OUT OF SWEET CHILI SAUCE?!?”

The couple looked forward to see a familiar angry red demon lean out and pull the poor fast-food worker right from the window by the collar of their shirt, “I KNOW YOU ALL FUCKING HAVE IT! STOP BEING SO FUCKING STUPID AND GIVE IT TO ME!”

The poor employee gulped, “I’m sorry s-sir but y-you ordered all of our stock yesterday… We are going to get a new shipment soon! I promise!”

“THE FUCK DOES SAUCE HAVE TO DO WITH SHIPPMENTS YA TURD!? I WANT MY SAUCE NOW OR ELSE I’LL USE YOUR BLOOD AS A SAUCE!”

The employee just closed their eyes, “Fine… do it.”

Damien paused, “What?”

“My life sucks, I am trying to pay off college, my landlord wants to kick me out, my parents hate me for trying to get an art degree instead of becoming a doctor, and I have depression. Do it. End me.”

Oz and Bella could feel the awkward tension that Damien was facing from right inside Bella’s car as the demon prince grunted and shoved the employee back into the window, “Forget it… Your chili sauce sucks anyways.”

The demon then drove off in his pimped out muscle car and the employee just fixed their outfit and acted like nothing happened. 

Oz let out a huge breath that he was keeping in, “I forget why I was attracted to him in the first place…”

Bella then drove up to the window, “I can see why you would be. He has that classic spicy babyness.” 

The two laughed a little as the employee handed Bella the food. Bella took it and looked at the satyr. “Thank you. Are you alright?”

The satyr nodded their head, “I’ve had worse nights… Enjoy.”

Bella thanked the employee again and drove away as Oz held the bag in his lap. He sighed as he thought of the satyr, “Poor guy…”

“Yeah, that's why I never want to work at fast-food… I couldn’t handle the stress. I have a deep appreciation for servers and food workers.”

Oz took out a fry and nibbled on it as Bella parked awkwardly in the parking lot of the McDongalds. She sighed as she had to straighten the car out several times and she finally got it right, “Sorry. I’m terrible at this.”

“You’re fine, I know you don’t drive much.”

When Bella put the car in park Oz handed her some fries and her nuggets and she gladly opened them up and smelled the greasy goodness, “Mmmm chimken nuggiessss”

Oz giggled at his girlfriend’s silly and cute mannerism and gave the phobias that were on his arms and shoulders each a french fry. As the two were relaxing and enjoying their meals, they both simultaneously perked up and looked at each other and exclaimed,

“CHILI SAUCE!”

Dennis found Polly without too much trouble, he knew that at this time of the year she was trying to get extra scratch. That meant trying to brew up a nice patch of that chemical nerve agent she called toilet wine. Polly was currently sitting over a toilet, the top pulled open and stirring at the dark purple interior. When she saw him she beamed.

“Hey, boo. Just in time to help me out.” She pulled out her…steel stick? “Oh no it melted through the spoon part.”

“Yeah I don’t think I’m gonna drink that.”

“Too much iron I got you.” Polly let go and the once ladle sank into the toxic soup. “What’s up my mostly ghostly amigo?”

“We have an issue,” Dennis walked into the stall and kicked it closed for all the privacy it would get them. “You know who Bella is?” Dennis held a hand at waist level. “She’s like this tall.”

“No she isn’t,” Abby leaned out of his chest, “not far off it though…”

“She’s the like,” Polly screwed up her face. Closed her eyes. “No I don’t actually or if I do I have had too much Lemon Swayze to remember.”

“Good strain?”

“Just fills the head with sounds and lights,” she fished around in her vest and pulled out a joint for Dennis. He took it noting it felt a little moist in his hands, but still beggars can’t be choosers. “So who is Bella?”

“You know Oz,” Dennis said and Polly nodded a few times, “she and Oz are dating. It ranges between adorable and kind of uncomfortable to watch.” Dennis placed the joint in his mouth. He exhaled through his nose, a gout of green flames shot out and lit him. “In that they are just so awkward about it.”

“Ahh young sweaty love.”

“Indeed,” Dennis exhaled and his head got heavy. “This is wild. Lemon Swayze?”

“Yeahhhhh.” Polly held out a hand and of course he was never one to hog the action. “It’s good stuff.”

“Right,” Dennis’ words got heavy as the bathroom seemed to fizz at the edges of his vision. “Bella is a werewolf and she smells something funny about yours truly.” He tapped his chest and swore his ears buzzed like he’d clapped a microphone. “That funny thing is yours truly…”

“Truly?” Polly snickered as she took a hit. “What does that mean?”

“Apparently I stink like you.” Dennis said. “You’re my cologne, Geist by Polina.” He said in a breathy tone. “She thinks we’re dating.”

“Shit I wish somebody told me.” Polly smirked and Dennis held out his hand, when Polly didn’t pass it back a ghostly arm snapped out and took it.

“Hey!”

“We need this as much as you do,” Abby rasped as she wrapped an arm around Dennis’ shoulder. “Basically she’s convinced herself that Dennis and you are dating. Because he reeks like you and you go down on people more often than shite internet.”

“Wow, tell me how you really feel.”

“Pissed.” Abby spat back. “Basically she wants to go on a double date. Her and the little Peter Pan escapee and Dennis and you.” She went on and Polly’s eyes went wide and then her lips twisted up at the edges. “Wipe that look off your face before it gets old enough to have bad ideas.”

“Oh it’s already had plenty.” Polly told her. “So what? We don’t have to do it do we?”

“I mean I said I’d ask.” Dennis shrugged. “You can say no. I don’t think feelings will be hurt.”

“Say no.” Abby told her. “Say no and be helpful for once.” Dennis sighed and looked at his partner. Abby for her part ignored the stare she was getting and puffed on the joint, the bathroom stall had started to smell now faintly of citrus and the stall had begun to fizz in the corner of their eyes. Lemon Swayze was very clearly the sort of stuff that hit hard and fast.

The world started to melt away, sour stars bloomed in a vast cosmos of wonder. Leaving the three of them leaning against the closest solid surface for support. Dennis had found the stall wall an endless comfort. Polly relaxed against the wall, floating just above her toxic nightmare of a booze still.

“But Abby,” Polly droned on, “Oz and Stella-”

“Bella.”

“-need our help. If we’re not there to show them how to do a little bump and grind,” she said as she gyrated in the air, “there romance has no chance of blossoming into anything more advanced than second base.” She gasped. “I bet those two don’t even know there’s two more bases!”

Abby said nothing but Dennis took the spliff from her, his mouth puckered around the next hit. No wonder they called it lemon, the faces it had you making when you got a taste.

“If you grind on any part,” Abby started to say before Dennis coughed and held the smoke out to Polly, “any part!”

“She won’t,” Dennis told her, “she’s making jokes.” He said, giving her a squeeze on the arm. “Aren’t you Polly?”

Polly’s reply was to make her eyebrows do something horrendous and flash the pair a smile. “I mean listen if you two want to have a little fun,” Polly’s hand ghosted across her body. Tracing her curves, linger in places to draw a breath. “I’m up for big fun.”

Dennis’ heart didn’t beat very often but it picked right then to thud hard. He wasn’t sure if that was desire or Abby. Abby for her part frowned, scowled but she had to admit the idea was tempting. It’d been an age since she last got to have some fun, being stuck to Dennis was awkward in regards to satisfaction. She didn’t want to rush him…They both had spent a long time getting comfortable with each other.

They just hadn’t gotten…THAT comfy with each other yet.

She might have called whatever Oz and Bella had…Awkward but it wasn’t as though she and Dennis weren’t in some ball of utter con-fucking-fusion either. Imagine sharing a body with the guy you want to drive six feet into a mattress. Then imagine his idea of romance is just being with you…Physical intimacy was something she had to approach with all the care of surgery.

She’d rather just drag him into a nice comfy couch and make sure nobody could sit on the damn thing once done. Polly seemed down for that kind of party and Abby wouldn’t say no. She’d encourage Dennis not to say no…Polly was a weirdo but Abby could trust her to be good to her other half.

She shook her head. No, too much in their system. Dennis getting buzzed, her getting high and it was making all the stupid thoughts pile up. All the desperate thoughts. The kind of thoughts that get you trapped to one of your victims.

The kind of thoughts Abby promised she was going to stop having.

“Hm.” Dennis replied to Polly and tried to ignore the weird thoughts that circled. “To be honest. I have no idea what they would do as a date.”

“I don’t think it’s gonna be the wildest of times.”

“No.” Dennis agreed with a long sigh. “I can’t even imagine what those two do for dates.” He pursed his lips. “Might be because my credentials with romance are limited but…” He paused as he felt his pocket vibrate.

He fished it out. “We might be about to find out…This is a text from Oz.” Dennis took a breath and popped open his phone. “What does he wanna tell me?”

Oz was now in his bedroom with his phone on his chest. He tapped the casing on it,

It’s okay. Everything will be fine. Do it for her, Oz. Do it for her.

A little dinging noise came from his phone distracting Oz from his thoughts. Dennis answered back,

Sup, did you ask Bella about the date thing?

Oz began to type back,

Yeah I did. She seems like she really wants to go on this date

Dennis replied back,

So… is this a yes or a no

The familiar panic rose in Oz’s chest. He didn’t want to let his new girlfriend down. Even if she told him she wouldn’t be mad if he didn’t want to do this, he wanted to do it for her. And maybe himself too… but mostly for her.

Yes

More waiting. Ding.

Alright then. What do you want to do?

Oh shit he didn’t think about that… What would Bella want? She likes food… she also likes video games… He tapped the sides of his phone in thought before he typed it out,

Maybe we can go to an arcade? Or maybe a pizza place?

Shit that was stupid… Oz was not very creative when it came to romantic places. Another ding.

Up to you. Just let me know because Polly is deciding if she wants to join this instant.

Dammit. Okay… what does everyone like? Oh wait!

There is this new karaoke bar that opened up downtown. Maybe we can go there?

There was a very, very long pause now. Dennis must be talking to Polly about what dumb date idea Oz had. He sighed and let his head crash on his pillow. 

“I hope I don’t look like a total loser… Karaoke...” He smacked his head with his hand, “How stupid can I get?”

A ding rang from his phone and Oz jumped a bit and fumbled with his phone,

Okay. We’re down

Oz let out a sigh of relief and wiped a few beads of sweat from his forehead,

Great! I’ll call Bella and let her know

“Okay… Let’s see…”

Oz dialled a number and let his phone ring. It went on for a bit until a sweet voice came through,

“Hi Ozzy honey! Is everything okay?”

He could never get enough of that voice, “Hey Bell-Bell… I’m fine uh I actually decided on what we can do for our date!”

Bella gasped, “You wanna go!? Ozzy, that's great!”

The fearling chuckled nervously, “Heh yeah um… so uh do you like karaoke?”

Bella squealed in excitement and Oz had to pull the phone a little bit away from his ear, “YES! I always wanted to try karaoke!”

“Well um there’s this new karaoke bar downtown and I already told Dennis and he said he and Polly are down to go. Is that okay?”

“Absolutely my Ozzy Wozzy! Oh this is gonna be so much fun!”

Oz’s heart fluttered, “Hee hee yeah it will be!”

“Remember we have our safe word in-case something happens, alright?”

“A-Alright.”

“And Ozzy?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m very proud of you for coming along. I know how hard it can be to experience something new, but I know you’re gonna be just fine!”

Oz smiled and put his head on the phone, “Thanks sugar bell. I love you.”

“I love you too, honey bun! I’ll pick you up tomorrow, alright?”

“Okay. I’ll let you go, it’s getting late. Love youuuuuuu!”

“I love you tooooo! Night night!”

“Night.”

The other side hung up and Oz put his phone on his bedside table and began to dig himself under the covers. He got comfy and sighed,

“I hope I don’t fuck this up…”

“Karaoke?”

“At a bar.” Dennis added on. “Not that you hate karaoke, do you?” Dennis realised he had no idea but surely not. Polly just grinned. “Oh I know that look.”

“We have to find out how many awful naughty songs they have,” she wrung her hands, “I want to sing all the songs with swear words.”

“I don’t know if it’s quite like that.” Dennis chuckled. “I do hear you though. There has to be certain songs sung.” He took a breath and looked at Polly. “So do we set rules or-”

“For what?”

“We’re supposed to be a couple.”

“Ohhh I wanna call you hot cock.”

“No.” Abby said instantly. Polly was at Dennis’ side a moment later and shoved Abby’s head back into his body.

“Shh, me and my boy friend are being so fucking cute right now.” She wrapped her arms around Dennis shoulders and leapt into the air, his hands shot out to cradle her off the ground. “Oh you know how to treat a lady.~”

Ghostly hands shoved Polly forward, jutting out of Dennis’ chest but given Polly was a ghost and already floating she just slid backward and dragged Dennis forward with her. The two stumbled, he reached out to stop himself falling face first into the metal eating toilet wine. He let out a groan.

“You listen to me, Geist.” Abby snarled, dragging Polly into Dennis’ chest by her vest. Dennis stood there, eyes fizzy as he felt now three mental consciousnesses rolling around inside him. Each one attempting to get a hand on a very crowded wheel.

Polly saw Abby floating just behind a wall of bones, ribs separated the pair and even that was a momentary obstacle. “You are not to fuck with him, literally not to fuck him.” She shook Polly. “This is a huge misunderstanding and it’s only happening because he’s too nice for his own good.”

“Yeah that’s not my fault.” Polly said. “I didn’t say I was his girlfriend.” She went on dislodging Abby’s hand. “He has to learn to be honest, both of you do.”

“We can’t just do that.” Abby told her. There would be questions and then there would be answers and…She swallowed as she imagined the looks they’d get. The poor hostage and the monster that clamped itself to his very being. She was never supposed to be seen, they weren’t supposed to be trapped like this.  

She couldn’t handle those looks…She couldn’t take those stares because they were deserved. She knew she was worse than slime, worse than anything else you could imagine. In a school for monsters she knew that was a place for her, what else do you call someone like her?

Dennis, god Dennis, he did everything he could to make her comfortable. She wouldn’t go back to how she was, never, ever, again. They’d been there for her in the darkest moment. She’d done things to him that…

He deserved so much better than her. She knew it. Everyone who met them would see that.

Only he was ignorant to the fact.

Polly’s hand touched Abby’s shoulder, reaching through the ribs. The cage bars to give her a squeeze. Abby looked at that little hand like it was such a terrifying thing. Hiding inside of Dennis, keeping him alive, only getting out when they had agreed moments meant that she could avoid most people. Ghosts are hard to avoid…The haunt, they linger and they remind you of things that you thought you’d lost long ago.

Things like understanding or someone willing to listen. Someone not trapped.

“You and Dennis have to,” Polly told her, “have to let people know about this thing that you two have.” She pushed forward, leaning further into Dennis’ body and the man’s head filled with fuzz. Abby was like smoke that rolled across him, a fire that would creep and crawl. Polly was like water and she was a heavy thing. All the drugs, all the booze gave her mentality a weight that caused Dennis’ internal landscape to lurch.

He could barely keep his eyes open.

“Polly it’s…” Abby shook her head. “I don’t know how we do that.”

“Telling people helps.” She replies and Abby growls at her. “For real! You don’t got to blog it all over insta and shit. But start telling people. You two just curling tighter and tighter around each other isn’t helping either of you.”

“I know. It sucks I know.” Abby replied. “Just…” She looked at Polly. “I trust you with him.” She said. “You’re his friend and he likes you and he likes you a lot.” She went on. “We both do.”

Polly’s grin was downright evil. “How do you guys feel about poly with Polly?” She asked and Abby made a sound. “Okay let you two settle your shit first and then I can work out how to get the two of you.”

“...Really?”

“Hey you’d do it.” She said and Abby literally could not fight that. “Besides I’ve never banged two people in one body before, that’d be nuts. It’s for sure on my list.” Polly was giddy and Abby shook her head. Shoving the ghost back out into the real world. Dennis' head got lighter.

“Can you please give me a warning before you do that, “he groaned, “my head feels too small.” He rubbed at his temples.

“Sorry,” Abby said before sinking back.

“So…we’re having a date then?”

“Oh yes,” Polly said, “you and me hot-cock.”

“That’s still a hard no.” Dennis told her. “Let me tell you the details. Also let’s start preparing flasks, I have a feeling those two are going to sing 80s duets about cuddles.”

“Oh fuck me.” Polly muttered. “Well, we’ll just have to turn those kinds of songs into the ones where they sing about hot, sticky, sweet, sex!”

“Like the song from Def Leppard?” Dennis puffed out a haze of smoke

Polly pushed her sunglasses down to her eyes, “Ex-fucking-actly!”

Oz waited patiently in an abandoned parking lot. Since he lived in a literal void within the fabric of time and space, he usually popped up in places that wouldn’t cause a huge fuss; or around people who knew about his ability to rip open a portal from the literal darkness and wave hello like he was leaving a normal white-piket fence house.

He fixed up the semi-fancy shirt he was wearing and checked his watch. It was now 6:55pm. Just a few minutes before Bella told him when she would pick him up. He rocked back and forth on his feet, thinking about the whole situation.

Just relax, it's just a date… A date that could go entirely wrong. Or I can choose a song that makes everyone cringe. Or-

A tiny hand then slapped him on his cheek, “Ow!”

He began to rub the side of his face as he saw one of his phobia friends giving him a stern look, it was Atelophobia to be more exact. Oz let out an annoyed groan,

“Okay, okay I’ll stop! Geez for someone with tiny hands that stung! Ow…”

Atelophobia just stuck out their little tongue and just went back to business hanging out on Oz’s shoulders as their host went back to waiting.

A minute passed and the sound of tires crunching old asphalt came near Oz as a small powdery blue, and obviously previously owned, car came and parked right in front of him. The window rolled down and it revealed Bella in the driver’s seat with sunglasses. She then leaned out in a seductive manner and let her sunglasses slide down to look at Oz, 

“Hey pretty boy~ You wanna take a ride in my old as fuck car?”

Oz snorted and so did Bella as he made his way to the passenger’s side and got in. As he put on his seat belt he looked at Bella’s outfit. She had on a pretty deep purple dress that had sparkly material all over her and she did her hair to look more wavier than usual. She also had on soft nude pink lipstick, some shiny light purple eyeshadow, along with some pink blush dusted on her cheeks. 

The shadow man couldn’t help but sigh in a dreamy manner, “You look beautiful~” He then leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek, “As always~”

Bella giggled and her own natural blush came through, “Oh you~ You also look very pretty, and handsome~”

It was her turn to give Oz a kiss, “As always~”

As Oz swooned and made cute little giggles, Bella then began to drive the car out of the parking lot, “You excited?!”

Oz rubbed his arm, “Yeah. I guess?”

“Aw hun, don’t worry it’ll be fun! I know it's a little daunting, but just focus on having fun! Besides… I have a special song I wanna sing just for you~”

Red flooded Oz’s face, “Oh uh… wh-what kind of s-song?”

Bella smirked and chuckled in a smarmy manner, “You’ll see~”

The organ that pulsed in Oz’s being began to beat at a hundred miles per hour. He may not have the same heart as mortals had but it reacted to strong feelings like any other blood-pumping organ. Maybe she was right… This could be a good night after all.

The small blue car finally made it to the karaoke bar, “Sing Your Guts Out” and the shadow and wolf couple got out and locked the car. Bella went over to Oz who was looking at the neon sign that was perched on top of the bar that also had an image of a martini glass pouring out what seems to be like intestines and musical notes. She took a hold of Oz’s hand in a tender manner, “You okay?”

Oz snapped out of his daze, “Oh. Y-Yeah. I was just reading the sign.”

Bella looked up and let out a snort, “It’s a very silly name isn’t it? Nice play on words though.”

“Heh yeah…” Oz muttered as he squeezed Bella’s hand.

Sensing his nervousness, the wolf girl kissed her beloved’s hand, “You’re okay. You’re safe with me.”

The tension seemed to ease off a bit as Oz looked at his girlfriend and the smile he loved to see every day, “Okay… I’m ready!”

The two then walked into the joint and were hit with the chorus of bad singing and drunken cheers from the audience. Once the two met with the hostess of the bar and requested a table for four, she directed them to their seats. It was a pretty swanky little place, 80s and 90s memorabilia was in every corner and wall and the floor was only slightly covered in vomit and had only one passed out individual laying on the floor. It was a new record!

As the couple sat down the waitress handed them some menus, “Can I get you all something to drink while you wait for your guests?”

Bella scanned the menu, “Uhhh I’ll have a sangira. Oh and can we get the party appetiser plate?”

The harpy wrote down the order on her notepad, “Okay! And for you sir?”

Oz froze up and looked around. He attempted to speak, “Uh… Long I-Island… T-Tea”

The waitress gave a confused look, “Sorry?”

“He’ll have a long island iced tea.” Bella chimed in as she took Oz’s hand and gave it a squeeze

“Alrighty then!” The waitress jotted down the last order, “I’ll be back with your drinks soon!”

“Thank you!” Bella chirped as the waitress went on to the kitchen. A light thud was heard on the table as Bella saw her boyfriend had face planted on the wooden surface and let out a pitiful whine,

“I’m so pathetic…”

“Aw honey,” Bella cooed at her beloved, “You’ll get better at it. No worries.”

“But I do worry!” Oz peeped as he looked at his girlfriend with his chin still resting on the table, “It’s how I am…”

Bella gave her boyfriend a kiss on the top of his head, “Just keep at it my love.”

“HELLOOOOOOOO!”

The two jumped a little as they heard that all too well familiar voice. Polly was now rushing at them with Dennis slowly tailing along. Polly then grabbed the two in a friendly headlock and squeezed them both,

“I came just in time! This place only has like, one passed out person!”

Oz  laughed nervously as Bella did one out of genuine surprise, “Hey Polly! Glad you could make it!”

“Uhhh DUH! No one leaves Polly out on a party! Especially if said party has A FULL FUCKING LIQUOR BAR! WAOOOO!” 

The party ghost then leaned over to Oz and whispered in his ear, “Bro, you hit the jackpot! She has thicker thighs than I do!”

Oz’s face flooded with bright red blush as he hissed at the crude ghost, “Polly!”

The ghost girl merely laughed as Dennis sat down across the table with Polly following after.

“Sorry we got here a little late,” Dennis rubbed at his tired eyes, “ghost zone teleportation is kind of a headache.” He leaned on his elbow. “We wound up teleporting out at a place that USED to be a karaoke bar.”

“Yeah in the Zone it’s still a karaoke bar, the ghost of a good time.” Polly giggled. “In the real world though,” she looked at Dennis with a smirk and he had to hide his smile, “it’s a big wig hedge fund place. We exploded onto the scene in the middle of some wolf of wall street shit.”

“Literally they were eating the shit of a wolf that worked on wall street to prove they had what it took to work there.” 

“Oh God...” Bella recoiled

“The gods of finance are weirdos.” Oz told the group, a couple of eyebrows went up. “At least you know, Zoe mentioned that to me.”

“Oh she’d know for sure.” Polly said. “That girl is into the craziest stuff.” She rocked in her seat a little bit as Dennis rolled his shoulders. This was good, this was fine. Oz was certain this was normal, the silence had not yet gotten uncomfortable. Oh no- now that he thought that was it too quiet? Was everyone waiting on him to say something?

The harpy came back with drinks and looked at the new pair at the table. “I’ll be right back with menus for drinks.”

“No need.” Polly pointed at Dennis. “That man is having the drink you have with the most tequila in it.”

“Straight tequila is fine.” Dennis said.

“It will have the most tequila in it. I would like,” she pursed her lips, “your most tiny umbrella filled drink possible.”

“So that’s Tequila and a Cradle of Life.” The harpy placed down Oz and Bella’s drinks before retreating. The ghosts shared a look, a soft chuckle. Oz was… Not jealous. Jealous was not the right word, but they knew each other’s ORDERS. They had little jokes? Oh no, oh no this was a bad idea. Another couple who knew what they were about VS a new couple?

He’d sunk himself.

“Sing your Guts Out.” Dennis said with a laugh. “You have got to wonder how they got away with that name.” He pointed out a logo. A screaming monster, mouth open and guts spilling out in the shape of musical notes. “Somebody is really, really, creative or they missed a calling as a slasher movie director.”

“You love those movies.” Polly said. “You have like 800 of them at your place.”

“It’s because they are cheap and easy to understand. Like all my favourite things,” He said and Polly gasped before nudging him in the stomach with her elbow. “Hey you wanna admit you’re cheap?”

“I think there’s enough rumours to confirm I am anything but.” Polly went on. “So you guys waiting here long?”

“No!” Oz called out quickly.

“No just like five minutes,” Bella said, “wanted to drive over here.”

“You got a licence?” Dennis asked. “I never bothered, I prefer floating places.”

“He’s so lame.” Polly said. “I keep telling him to get a licence, even the temporary one!”

Dennis reached into his jacket and pulled out four temporary driver’s licence. All of them looked quite authentic but they all had the wrong name printed on them. “I got plenty, just ask the state of Boo-York.”

“Are those fake?” Bella asked and Dennis grinned at the werewolf. “Why do you have fake driver’s licence?”

“In case I need to drive a car.” He replied.

Bella laughed a little, “I actually was too scared to get my licence at first. I took driver’s ed when I was sixteen and I was terrified of getting in a crash or someone hitting me. Those “educational” videos they showed us scarred me for life, “ Bella paused a bit remembering a fake baby being thrown into the front shield window in a car with horribly made fake blood, “Although now that I think about it, it was hilarious that the song they chose was “My Immortal” by Evanescence”

She and Polly burst out laughing, “Oh my GOD no fucking way! What’s next they make a “don’t do drugs” PSA with ‘Bring Me to Life?!’”

“I know right?!” Bella laughed

Oz looked as his girlfriend was having a better time with Polly than him. He wanted to add on to the conversation but he felt like he would say something stupid and make himself a fool of.

“How are you holding up shadow man?” Dennis commented seeing Oz drift off into his own little pity party

“Oh um… well I’m doing alright. Not much happening ya know. Well besides being with Bella.” He said in a much happier tone

Dennis snickered under his breath, “Sounds like she makes ya pretty happy.”

Oz tapped his fingers, “Heh yeah… she’s the best.”

Abby then tapped Dennis on the leg, “ Ain’t he just sickenly sappy. Alright Mr. Helperman, do you magic so we can get the fuck outta here!”

The undead just rolled his eyes and paid attention to Oz, “Well if she makes ya happy then that’s all ya need.”

“Yeah… although,” Oz paused as he sipped his drink, “I feel like I’m not doing enough on my part.”

“IN what regard?”

“Well-”

“Here are your drinks!” The harpy waitress said, placing down a shot glass and an entire bottle of tequila and a giant margarita glass covered in teeny umbrellas, some were even lit on fire…Even the glass had umbrellas glued all over it.

“Hell yeah! Thanks boo!” Polly beamed as she managed to take a sip from the umbrella coated glass

The waitress then placed down a good sized platter with every appetiser the bar had to offer, ranging from onion rings, to mozzarella sticks, to three kinds of wings, “Here you all go! Can I get you anything else?”

Polly looked up from her drink and snapped her fingers at the waitress, “Your number~”

The waitress was in shock as her face turned bright red. She scanned the table and then leaned towards Polly, “I’ll give it to you with the receipt.”

Polly knocked her glasses down from her head to her eyes, “Nice.”

Bella then leaned over to Oz, “Girl has no chill.” 

She and Oz laughed as Dennis could feel Abby cringe within his rib cage. Polly then went back to sipping on her drink, “So you two fucked yet?’’

Bella spat out a bit of her drink as she was sipping it as Oz began to cough from the tea he was swallowing. As Bella was patting her boyfriend’s back Dennis shot Polly a look,

“Really?”

“Whaaaaat? I’m just asking!”

“Normal people don’t ask if another couple is having sex or not.”

“And I am not “normal” Dennis the Menace” She then floated a bit so her face could be closer to the couple, “So? Spill the deets!”

“Uh, I’d rather not say,” Bella commented as she rubbed Oz’s back as he was recovering from his choking, “We’re still new to all this so… um.”

“Ah I see… Still at that first base eh?” Polly smuggly snickered, “Ah its fine boo. Besides sex is great when its unplanned. But not unprotected ya know?”

Oz cleared his throat, “M-Me and Bella had th-this conversation al-already. W-We’re gonna w-wait until we’re ready.”

“Awwww c’moooon Ozzy man! Don’t you wanna be pegged by this cute little goddess?”

The two now had matching red faces as they looked at one another awkwardly. Bella then gathered up her courage,

“It's just… well I’m just kinda nervous about it. I heard it can hurt and I’ve always heard awful stories from some friends and family and I um… I’ve… I’ve never done it myself.”

“Never?” Polly asked in a stunned tone

“Nope.”

“Neither have I…” Oz said while letting his head hang low

Polly then put down her drink and put her feet up on the table, “Well my virgin pardners… Lemme give ya a little Sex Educa-tion! You see… when Oz is gonna put his thick black c-”

“Okayyyyy uh! Heh how about we talk about what song we can sing!” Oz yelled, “Dennis you wanna come with me and help me choose?!”

After his tenth shot of tequila, Dennis made an old man grunt and got up, “Sure. Be right back girls.”

“‘Kay! I’ll stay here and help Bella with her romancin’!” 

Bella gulped as Polly scooted over to her and placed her arm around her.

Dennis was about to say something before Oz pulled him away and led him to the karaoke machine. 

Bella watched as her boyfriend left and was now shaking in her seat. Polly took a sip from her glass, “So, what are ya into?”

“Huh?”

“Ya know… Ass play? BDSM? Role-playing…”

Bella looked away and then downed her drink a bit more. She was gonna need it. The wolf girl finished her swig and looked at Polly, “Uh… promise not to judge?”

“Girl, trust me… I’m like a thousand times more fucked up than you! Hit me!”

Bella then fiddled with her hair, “W-Well hah uh um I like… topping…”

Polly shook Bella a bit, “Ooooh GIRRRLLL are you telling me you’re a dommy mommy?!”

Bella laughed, “Yeah.. I dunno… Oz just makes me -MMMMMM! Ya know?!”

“It's that bottom boy with a juicy ass energy, boo! So, you’ve never had sex before? Like ever?”

“No. I was always too scared of it…”

“Ah girl there’s nothing to be scared of! And if you’re ashamed of losing your virginity then that’s nothing to worry about either!”

“But… but what if it feels weird after we do it?” Bella looked away and bounced her leg, “I know it sounds funny and I know it wouldn’t affect me and Oz’s relationship too much I think… But I grew up in a very reserved Mexican family…”

“Oooooh I get ya… Bonus points if they were catholic, yeah?”

“Yep.”

“Called it!” Polly laughed, “But seriously my girl in sexiness, lemme ask you this… do you trust Oz?”

Bella’s eyes lit up, “Oh yes! I trust him with my entire life!”

“Then there ya go!” Polly then took a sip of her drink as did Bella. The buzz was kicking in for Bella as Polly began again, “As long as you both trust each other and know how to handle yourselves you’ll be fine! Oz is a sweetie bo beetie, I’m sure he’ll go very very easy on ya! So easy I bet, that you’ll smack his ass just to get him going! HA!”

“Oh God I wanna smack his fucking cute ass so badly!” Bella slurred as she drank more

“Yes! YES!” Polly slammed the table, “Go OFF queen! Tell me what else you wanna do to that little twink!”

Bella’s claws dug into the table, “I wanna MAKE HIM SCREAM MY NAME! I WANT HIM TO KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM!”

“AYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Look at this girl goooooo! I’ll drink to that!”

Polly and Bella clinked their glasses together as they took another sip. Bella let her glass hit the table as she whipped her mouth as she was salivating a bit just thinking about Oz’s sweet self, “Is… Is it okay if- If I wanna call him my little bottom bitch?”

“Girl, that’s not even PAST the start! Imma let ya in on a little secret about Ozzy boy. c’mere…” Bella leaned in her tail wagging a hundred miles an hour, “He LOVES being called a slut!”

“Oh my GOD!” Bella yelled pounding her fist on the table, “I love him so fucking much, Polly! The things I would do to him!”

Polly raised her glass in the air, “Go fucking OFF!”

Bella then began to regain some common sense, “Still… what if I change my mind mid way? What if I ruin it for us?”

Polly placed a hand on Bella’s shoulder, “Then that is also okay. The key to having the BEST sex is that you both are on the same page and are in full consent mode! Oh also this!”

Polly dug in her pockets and pulled out at least four shiny little packets with an obvious circle shaped dent in them. Each a different size, “Never go without em!”

She opened up Bella’s hand and tucked them in. Bella turned bright red, “Wh-what if my mom sees these?! What do I tell her?!”

Polly then placed a few travel sized packets of lube on the table and slid them over to Bella, “How old are you?”

“22?” 

“Then you are a full fledged adult little lady. You’re business is your own fucking business and as long as you are safe about it there is no shame! I met God ya know and you know what he said?”

Bella blinked, “What?”

“He said and I quote, ‘Damn me girl! You got a LIST! You got that MAD pussy game!’”

Bella laughed and Polly continued, “So no need to be ashamed girl. Sex is natural as all can be! Just go with the flow and feelings and I promise you… that you’ll both come out of this one step closer. Not because you both lost your virginity… but because you two got closer than ever before. Literally!”

Bella’s heart fluttered and she looked at the equipment Polly set her up with. She then thought of something, “Hey Polly…”

Polly swallowed the last of her drink, “Yo.”

“I have this song I wanna sing…”

The catalogue was expansive, songs that were new and old cluttered the screens of the selection machines. You basically picked a song, it printed you a ticket and a little screen above the bar displayed who was to come up when. It was a nice easy system and so of course Oz had no excuse not to pick something quickly.

“Ha,” Dennis chuckled, “oh they got some vintage on this.” He said as he pressed on the screen a few times. “Yeah I know what I’m going for.” A ticket popped out and Dennis folded it up for his pocket. He made to move away.

“ Hold on. I get one too.” He heard Abby say as a ghostly arm slid out of his own forearm and scrolled through. Dennis could only smile.

“Of course.” He said quietly. “Who am I to say no?” It was her night out too. He couldn’t help but notice Oz fret and took a deep breath. “Oz I say with no hyperbole that you might actually be the most scared fellow I’ve seen in this place.”

“Just a lot on my mind.” He said and Dennis leaned on the machine. He trapped Oz between the machine and himself, Dennis loomed over him and in the curve of his body Oz suddenly found himself looking up into his tired glowing eyes. “Umm, personal space?” He said as a couple of Phobias emerged to push limply on Dennis’ jacket.

“You got plenty,” Dennis said, “listen man. Bella said you might be a little nervous about all this,” he waved a hand at everything, “and so a double date might help. I got no idea, I’m not much for dates.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’m more of a go to a place and do a thing kinda guy.”

“Isn’t that just a date?”

“If you tell me it is then I’ll trust ya.” He shrugged. “Just treat it like any other time out. I’m sure you’ve done stuff before, right? Hung out, partied a little, accidentally caused a minor forest fire.”

“That was one time.” Oz whined and Dennis chuckled. “They put it out.”

“I mean there wasn’t much left to burn but sure.” Dennis nudged Oz, a ghostly arm gave him a shake. “Just take a deep breath, the world isn’t that scary.”

“Oh it is.” Oz told him and Dennis scoffed. “What, you're not afraid of anything?”

“Oz,” Dennis looked down at him. “The worst thing that can happen to anyone is they die. I already died and that was so boring I stood back up.” He sighed. “I don’t have anything to be afraid of. It just gets in the way of living.”

“Yeah fear sucks like that...” Oz told him. “All it does is get in the way of a good time, a great time.” He went on. “It doesn’t do anything useful.”

“Well I mean, it helps you not stick your dick in a blender.”

“....Yeah you know what it does.” Oz nodded.

“Fear is useful but it’s not always necessary.” He nudged the shorter man. “Just focus on doing what you gotta do to have a good time. You picked a song?” He asked and Oz turned around.

“I need a lil’ more time to think.”

“It’s fine I picked a couple.” He turned around and flashed one to Oz. “A lil’ Elvis, I think I should do the hip stuff don’t you?”

“...You’re serious.” Oz asked and Dennis flashed him a smile that was all teeth.

“Thank you very much,” he said in a truly awful impression. “Let’s get back before Polly deepthroats my tequila.” He turned and didn’t wait for Oz.

He found the girls close and giggling which might have scared Dennis were he the sort to be afraid. “You two behave yourselves?” He asked and the look he got back told him that they had not. “Machines are a bit weird, Oz wasn’t able to get his ticket. Gonna give them five minutes to try again.”

“Oh you didn’t get to pick a song, Ozzy?” Bella asked and he shook his head. “Aw I’m sorry hun. It sucks when that happens.”

“Just machine jitters,” Oz said, “probably lots of people picking songs.” He said and the group nodded.

Polly scooted back over beside Dennis, giving Bella one last nod of support. The slim shadow man then took his seat and the little lady on his side wrapped one of her arms around his waist. Oz gave a little giggle as he started to feel a bit better, he turned to the couple across from him, “So uh, you two okay?”

“Awesome.” Polly told him. “Gonna be great.” She went on as Dennis poured himself another shot. “You find it weird they gave you the whole bottle?”

“I honestly didn’t want to ask.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe ‘cause this place is new, they're being extra sweet.” He had to admit he didn’t have much cash on him. He never had much cash. Very hard to get cash when you’re a dead guy who isn’t even legally recognized as dead. City Hall has a lot of questions and he’s never there to answer them.

“It was pretty sweet,” Polly said and leaned against Dennis. His arm held steady and he looked down at her. “You feeling all kindsa sweet?” She asked and he looked down at her, eyes narrow.

Maybe all that talk of romance had got her in the mood. Maybe she could push a little.

“Like sugar,” Dennis told her simply. He felt Abby coil inside him, ready to strike. “Why? What did you have in mind?” He asked her.

“ Careful .” A voice crawled the length of his spine.

“Me and Bella were thinking.” She grinned. “Maybe you and I can do a couple of duet songs and then she is gonna sing a little diddy for her little Ozzy.” She looked up. “You know somethin’ like this!” She leaned forward and her body passed through Dennis. She winked at Abby as she passed through. The other ghost scowled at her, the response was a kiss and a wink. Abby rolled her eyes.

Polly poked out of Dennis’ shoulder and whispered into his ear, “How ‘bout it?”

“That’s not normally how one sings a duet with another.” Dennis said to her. “But fuck me I’ll  go along with it.” He agreed and Polly leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. She slid back and Abby glared daggers at her.

“It’s a kiss between friends,” Polly said before giving Abby the same. “Friends?”

“Get outta my guy.” Abby said but she didn’t say it with any venom.

“Friends share, remember?” She winked and ran a finger across one of Dennis’ ribs. “Lots to share.”

Oz wasn’t sure what level of couple you have to be on to LITERALLY occupy the same physical space. But god it was probably kinky, that felt like it was kinky and he looked at Bella and muttered as much to her,

“Heh. Kinky weirdos.”

“Oh yeah,” Bella agreed, almost giddy, “real kinky weirdos.” She began to go into a giggle fit at the sight of Dennis with Polly half-way though his being.

“Get a room you two.” She teased as she accidentally bumped Dennis’ foot with her own as the undead man just threw back another shot. Bella then began to munch on a few of the chicken wings, mostly the buffalo ones because Oz wasn’t very tolerant of those and the lemon pepper and BBQ sauce ones were all gone, “You guys aren’t gonna eat anything?

“We’re ghosts.” Dennis told her and pointed at the food. “We can’t exactly eat food. Falls out.”

“Even you?” Oz prodded Dennis' arm. “You’re kinda solid.”

“He’s mostly ghostly,” Polly said in a fake horrified voice, “it’s a super touchy subject. Cause you can touch him and it’s super.” She grabbed his face, tugged at his hair and wiggled his head from side to side. “See?”

“I can eat,” Dennis said, “just nothing inside works so…It just sits there and I have to get it out later.” He lied but that was what they told every student.

“How does being a ghost with a body work?” Bella asked and stopped. “Oh sorry, that might’ve been a super sensitive subject, you don’t gotta-” Dennis cut her off by raising a hand.

“I can do most ghost things but sometimes I sort of…Break down. My soul and my body are still,” he took a breath, “stuck but one is very much past tense.” He pointed down. “Barely felt when you kicked me.”

Bella then remembered when her leg hit Dennis’, “Oh no I am so sorry! I didn’t mean-”

“Oh you’re fine, he doesn’t feel anything.” As if to demonstrate Polly stabbed the back of his hand with a cocktail umbrella. Dennis’ lips puckered a bit at the action but he didn’t react. 

“See?”

“You know I still get wounds, Polly.” He pulled it out and a little hole on the back of his hand oozed a thick viscous green material. “Sorry ectoplasm,” he said, “don’t touch it. Stains.”

Bella’s nostrils flared…That…Didn’t…Smell like Polly. That smelled like…Well she guessed that must be what Dennis’ smells like normally. If all his ghost goo is stuck inside him maybe that’s why she’s never been able to smell it. His ghostly half smelled like leather shampoo, hair dye, the tang of hot sweat and a promise of violence. A thick heavy bouquet of scents rolled from that little dribble of the real Dennis beneath the flesh.

Bella was also…fairly certain it smelled…Female?

It was odd… Yeah it had a similar static smell to Polly’s as she was a ghost too, but it also had hints of old leather like Dennis; mixed with traces of punk rock albums, hard rum, and… Longing? A lot of longing to be precise. It was like Dennis was him but also someone else.

“How odd…” She thought, “ It’s like he’s two people all at once… Wait…”

Her ears began to flick and rotate. The noise of the bar seemed to die down as Bella honed in on Dennis’ chest. There was no heartbeat, that was expected, but there was a source of sound. It was close yet distant. As if it had one foot in the land of the living and the other in the realm of the dead. It was neither alive nor dead all at the same time. The animal side of her caused the fur on her body to stand up a bit like goosebumps. It was so weirdly fascinating and the logic side and animal side of her brain were duking it out on what to think of it all. She didn’t know what to say to that. Does she tell Oz, is this a ghost trapped in a body thing? 

“So Bella,” Polly began, “It's been a while… You and your pretty boy wanna pick out that song you wanted?”

“Oh yeah!” Bella exclaimed, trying to push aside her curiosity, “I’ll be right back y’all!”

Oz was about to get up, “You want me to come with you?”

The shadow man was then stopped by a gentle finger on his nose, he looked to Bella who had a new kind of grin on her face. One he wasn’t used to seeing. He gulped as he felt his inside burn up. 

“Stay.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. He sat down immediately as Bella patted his head, “Good boy~ Be right back~”

As she walked away Oz’s eyes stayed as wide and squiggly as if they were drawn on with chalk. He began to gulp down his drink to try and moisten up his dry throat and hidden mouth.

“Simp.” Polly teased

Oz let out an exasperated breath after he downed most of his drink, “AHGH! What was THAT?!”

Dennis chuckled and felt Abby do the same as Polly continued, “THAT my dear friend, was a little something called ‘being a dommy mommy.’”

Oz’s eyes just seemed to get wider. Polly snickered as she leaned back in her chair and gave Oz a wink, “You’re welcome~”

The shadowy embodiment of fear was now in a sort of mesmerised daze as the alcohol was catching up with his system. He then mindlessly began to munch on the snacks in front of him,

“Ahh geefz! Waf do I do-wah?!

“Mouth closed when you chew,” Dennis pointed out as Oz covered his mouth in embarrassment, “And nothing. Just let it play out.”

“Let what play out?!” Oz squeaked

“Your boner my dude!” Polly added nonchalantly

Oz downed the last of his drink and hiccuped, “I don’t want Bella to get weirded out! I know how she feels about this sort of thing!” He paused and grabbed his head, “Ooooh… I forgot this was ahhh- ah HIC! Ughhhh, long island…”

“And there he goes” , Abby sighed, “ Light weight.”

“Okie dokie!” Bella’s voice rang as she came strolling back, “I got my song! Also uh I hope you don’t mind but umm, could I go first?”

“Awww…” Polly groaned, “Well okay. For you boo.” 

“Yeah I don’t mind. Go on you two, sing your hearts out!” Dennis said as he grabbed the bottle of tequila and just started taking sips from it

“Hehhh…” Oz giggled in a sluggish manner, “More like… like… Sing your barf out… hA haaaaaa…”

Bella giggled and sauntered over to Oz, “Well someone’s having a good time, hm?”

Oz looked at his girlfriend and held her face, “You’re soooooooo prettyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeee hee hee!”

“Awww darlin’,” She picked up Oz by his hands as he wobbled a bit, “Ya feeling a little buzzed?”

Oz nodded his head, “Very… Not good with… with being t-t-tiiiii-p-seeeeyyyyy.” (Tipsy)

“Aw that’s alright,” Bella leaned in, “I’m a little buzzed myself. Now you wanna come with me?”

“Yeahhhhhhhhhhh. Are we gonna HIC sing?” Oz slurred while Bella held him up a little more so he wouldn’t slide down onto the floor and be the second person in this building to be on it.

“Well… how about I treat YOU first, hm?”

“Okay… Whatever you say sugar bell-bellsszzzz”

Bella let Oz lean on her as they went off to where the stage was and then placed him on a seat that was right in front of the stage. She fixed up the collar of his shirt, “Just relax and have fun, alright?”

Oz nodded sleepily and hiccuped as Bella went on stage. The two and a half ghostly monsters just watched this event unfold before them.

“I wonder what cheesy little song she picked,” Dennis commented as he took another swig from the bottle

“I bet it’s either Love Shack or Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” Abby laughed, “ Or some sweet nonsense song.”

“Eh sounds like either could fit them. I wonder if they can actually sing well.”

Polly just looked to her two partners in crime and snickered under her breath, “Oh you both have noooo idea.”

Then the machine started and instead of an upbeat pop song a sudden suave and sleek piano riff played. It caught the half-and-half ghosts unguarded but the thing they heard next made Dennis feel the most surprised he had been in a long while,

“You had plenty money 1922…”

As surprised as Dennis and mostly Abby were, Oz was practically launched into space when he heard those lyrics come out of his girlfriend.

“You let other women make a… fool of you~”

“Why don’t ya do right… like some other men do~”

While the sexy jazz beat played, Bella began to sensually walk across the stage keeping her eyes on her thirsty boyfriend as he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. There were other folks in the bar whooping and whistling as well, but Bella couldn’t care less. She was doing this for her Ozzy and her Ozzy alone,

“Get outta here… Get me some money too~”

As the piano continued its trills and rifs, Bella let her hips sway along with the beat as she stepped down along the stars that led to the floor,

“Why don’t ya do right… like some other men do?~”

She was now right in front of Oz eyeing him down like she was sizing up a prey animal to take down. He could do nothing but helplessly watch Bella as she sang in to him with her velvety voice,

“Now if ya had prepared 20 years ago… You wouldn't be wanderin’ now from… door to door…~”

The werewolf let her tail sway hypnotically as she let it caress Oz’s sides as she circled his chair, happily watching him squirm,

“Why don’t ya do right… Like some other men do~”

The stage lights and disco ball let their beams of light dance across Bella’s silhouette as her dress sparkled underneath them,

“Get out of here… Get me some money too~”

She then began to transform, letting her wolf side take over as she loomed over her boyfriend as he felt her claws trace his chest,

“Get outta here… get me some money too~”

She then let her giant paw lay flat on Oz’s chest as she ran it up to his neck. He shivered and let out a breathy and squeaky moan as the silvery werewolf continued, 

“Why don’t ya do right… Like some other meeeeeen-”

Just like in its respective cameo in the film sung by the infamous Jessica Rabbit, Bella swiftly and confidently tugged Oz by the collar of his shirt so his face was right up against her’s as she let out the final croon,

“Doooooooo~”

As she let out that final note the music closed and a loud applause rang through the air. Oz merely breathed labored and shaky breaths as his massive werewolf girlfriend’s fangs glistened with the same hunger he saw at the table before. 

Bella leaned in, her nose flaring up with a new scent Oz was producing. And what a scent it was; it drove Bella mad. She then whispered in Oz’s ear,

“Chili sauce?” 

Oz then grabbed Bella’s face and dug his tongue in her mouth as she gave all that passion right back as she scooped him up and dropped the microphone. Once he pulled away he let out a shaky and wobbly sigh of bliss as he nodded, “Ch-chaaaa-aahhhaaa!~ Ch-chili sauce…!”

Bella then ravished Oz’s neck and face with a thousand hungry kisses as the crowd went crazy over the spectacle, “Then let’s get outta here… my little slut!”

“Ohhh my GOD! AAAAUGH!” Oz exclaimed and flopped within Bella’s fluffy beefy arms in a dramatic fashion as Bella raced out of the bar. But before she did, she grabbed her purse and frantically dug out some money and slammed it on the table as Oz was grabbing onto her cape of neck fur and giving her sloppy and desperate kisses,

“MMmmmmMM! Bell-Bell, h-hurryyyyy~”

“Thanks! Bye!” Bella rapidly said to Dennis and Polly as she sprinted to her car. Once she tossed Oz in like a ragdoll she slammed the door shut. Then a huge pitch-black portal swallowed the car whole, and they were gone.

“How much did she put down?” Dennis asked and Polly picked up the notes. She held up exactly seven dollars. “Mother fuckers!”

She let her head lean against one of her hands and let out a long disappointed sigh,

“Young love makes monsters of us all,” she said with a groan. “So…”

“Yeah.” Dennis looked at her. “I feel like we weren’t necessary for this. I coulda done anything else tonight.”

“You could still do something tonight?” Polly offered and Dennis scoffed and pushed back his hair similar to how Elvis would. 

Polly snorted, “Oh wow.”

“Just saying.” He stood up. “I got some Elvis to sing. After that you wanna blow this place?” He hooked his thumb into his belt. “I heard tell there’s a pretty nuts party going down across town. Liquid Diamond Lipstick is playing in The Genie’s Garter tonight.”

“Your treat?”

“We don’t pay for things.” Dennis told her with a smile. “Do we?”

“No.” Polly sat back as Dennis made his way to the stage. She watched him get up there, and cough into his fist. The music along with Dennis promised there would be trouble in the near future. His hips popped to one side and he managed to make some shapes that honestly…Polly leaned to one side, then back. She’d have to find a way to get that level of expertise undressed and pounding in her direction.

Still this was never really about these three….So just know they went out, they got wasted, they got even more fucked up and all three of them woke up in a stranger’s house, covered in money while police sirens blared in the background. They would miss the first bell tomorrow.

As those ghosts were partying like it was 1999, a werewolf and an embodiment of fear were up that night cuddling in each other's arms, nude as the day they were born.

They did the deed, and as awkward and slightly painful as it is with a first time, it was a night they would never ever forget. They laughed, they moaned, Oz screamed as Bella howled, they said and performed some raunchy and sexy things, and Oz was called a slut, a dirty little bottom bitch, and/or whore more times than the amount of fingers you could count on your hands as Bella managed to destroy his lower regions in ways he had no idea were possible.

All in all, they learned how pent up they both were and let it out all on that night in the act of sweet love making. Now as their clothes were scattered all over Oz’s bedroom floor with a used condom or two and some empty packets of lube in the trash bin, the two held and kissed one another with Bella still in her full wolf form as Oz snuggled in her fur. He kissed her neck and face as she nibbled on his neck,

“You were so fucking good at that holy fuck! God I love you Bella~”

Bella giggled as Oz continued to dote over her as she squeezed him like a teddy bear, “Mmm and you were as perfect as ever my darling~ Thank you for taking it easy on me~”

Oz let his head rest against his beloved’s thick furry neck as she groomed his messy hair with her teeth ever so carefully. He groaned a bit as he began to feel the aftermath within his nethers, “I don’t think I’ll be able to sit correctly for a month…”

“Aw sorry about that hun…” Bella cooed as she kissed Oz’s head, “I went too far. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“No!” Oz said as he put his finger on Bella’s wolfy nose, “No… You gotta plow me even HARDER next time.~”

“Oh my, Ozzy!~” Bella growled playfully as she nibbled Oz’s ear, “You naughty little man~”

The two just giggled as they continued to make out. Bella hummed as she pressed her face against Oz’s so she could look into those bright white eyes she fell in love with, “I love you Ozzy~”

“I love you too Bell-Bell~” Oz sighed as he wrapped his arms around his big fluffy werewolf GF once more. The two got comfy and began to drift off to sleep.

Then Oz’s eyes flew open, “What will my mom say? What will your mom say?!”

Bella just let out a short laugh, “Ah don’t worry, we’ll get there when we get there. Just stay with me… Please?”

Oz couldn’t argue with that, besides she had a death grip on him so there was no way he could escape; nor did he want to. Each of their mothers did find out by the way, but it's fine. They were adults and it was their business and their fucking business alone.