I spotted Rita from across the coffee shop. Grabbing my computer and espresso, I made my way over to her. I plopped myself across from her, grinning widely. She glanced up at me in surprise.

"Hey. Someone's in a good mood," she said, arching an eyebrow at my unusual behavior.

I grinned down at my drink, humming a reply.

"Okay, seriously, who are you and what have you done with the real (Y/N)?" she asked, chuckling playfully.

I rolled my eyes, still grinning. "Haha. Very funny."

"Ah, there's that familiar sarcasm I'm used to!"

I laughed and shook my head.

"But, seriously, I'm glad to see you're doing better emotionally. I guess that Larry guy really is helping you get through this, huh?" she asked, her smooth, light brown face tilted to the side curiously, some of her dark brown hair falling into her green eyes.

I grinned. "Oh, absolutely. Lawrence has helped tremendously."

Rita held up a hand to sop me. "Wait. Your new boyfriend's name is the same as your old boyfriend's?"

I nodded, resisting the urge to burst out laughing by biting the inside of my cheek.

"Don't you think that's a little... I don't know..."

"Weird? Coincidental? Spooky?" Beej said as he materialized right behind Rita.

Rita screamed and jumped two feet, her eyes wide in panic. She clutched her chest, her breath coming in ragged form.

"What. The. HECK."

"Ah, yeah, sorry about that. He has a tendency to be a bit of a troublemaker," I said sheepishly, while Betelgeuse came to sit next to me.

"R-right..."

"You gotta stop doing that, babe," I told him somewhat sternly. "You're gonna give someone a heart attack or something."

"Wouldn't be the first time," I heard him mumble.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Well, seriously, you gotta stop. I don't wanna be responsible for a hospital bill."

He smirked at me, flicking his tongue. "Or what? You gonna punish me?"

Rita choked on her latte and I blushed fiercely.

"Beej!"

He simply chuckled.

"Well, um, I hate to be a third wheel, so I'm just gonna go..."

Rita went to gather her things. I stopped her.

"Oh, no, you're really fine! Sorry about him. It's been a while since we've talked, so I wanted to catch up for a bit." I smiled at her warmly.

She, however, looked nervous and slightly panicked.

"Um, look, I'll have to, uh, call you later, kay?"

Beej and I exchanged a glance.

"Rita, what's going on?"

"Nothing! Nothing's going on! Why-why would you say that??"

I arched an eyebrow at her.

That's when Riley walked in. From around the corner he emerged, and from his vantage point, he couldn't see Beej and me. He propped against the corner cooly and raked a hand through his wavy, blonde locks. He smirked at Rita, who had broken out into a cold sweat.

"Hey, mamasita. You ready to go?"

That was the final straw for Rita, because she blushed crimson and buried her face in her hands, obviously embarrassed.

Betelgeuse and I shared yet another confused glance.

"Um, hey, Ri," I said, chuckling in bewilderment.

His eyes widened when they snapped over to Beej and I. He swore as a massive blush spread across his face.

"Smooth move, there, Elle Woods," Rita groaned from behind her hands. "You're not helping our case at all."

"Wait," I said, a grin slowly creeping across my face. "Did you just call her 'mamasita'??"

Rita made an unearthly sound from behind her hands.

"Um, it's sort of an inside joke-"

"No, it's a sexy nickname," Beej interjected casually. "And you don't wanna argue with me on that one, cuz that's sorta my territory."

I nodded. "It's true."

"So... so you're not mad?" Rita asked me, finally meeting my gaze.

"Mad? Why in the world would I be mad?"

Riley shrugged and sat down beside Rita. "I dunno... I guess we just thought you might be resentful because of.... you know.... your situation, or at least a little weirded out since we used to be a thing," he told me, fiddling with a salt shaker on the table.

I smiled at them and shook my head. "Guys, I'm not mad or weirded out at all. I'm actually really happy for you both. And as for my 'situation', I got news about that. But first, how long has this been going on?" I asked as I wagged my finger between them, smirking.

"Halloween," they both answered.

As badly as I wanted all the juicy details, I didn't press them any further, because I could tell they were kind of awkward talking about it.

"So, what was your news?" Rita asked me, her curious and slightly nosy side kicking in.

I smiled.

"Well, I'm happy to announce that I've been reunited with the love of my life!"

They shared a confused look.

"What do you mean?" questioned Riley, arching an eyebrow at me.

"I mean I found Lawrence."

Rita's eyes widened in realization as she stared at Beej. "No.... No way..."

Riley just sat there, even more confused.

"I'm sorry, I don't get it."

I sighed and rolled my eyes playfully. I looped my arm through Betelgeuse's and smiled up at him. He grinned right back at me.

"Guys," I said, turning to face them, arm still linked with Beej's, "meet my boyfriend, Lawrence Betelgeuse Shoggoth."

"You're actually serious," Rita mumbled, still staring wide-eyed at the pair of us.

I laughed and nodded. Riley was wearing a similar expression to Rita's, now that he finally understood.

"But-but he's dead."

"Correctimundo, buddy," Beej said, doing finger-guns at him.

He's such a dork, I swear.

"H-how-"

"Okay, lemme explain, I guess," I interrupted him, clearing my throat and waving my hand.

By the time Betelgeuse and I had finished explaining the entire story, and answering many, many questions, we decided to leave Rita and Riley to do their thing.

We waved good-bye to them as we stepped out of the coffee shop and into the crisp, dusk air. I sighed, a smile on my face. Betelgeuse came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, nuzzling his scruffy face into the crook of my neck. I giggled.

"That tickles!"

I glanced down at my phone to check for notifications and noticed the time.

"Oh skiz!" I hissed, quickly taking off toward home.

Beej floated along beside me in confusion. "Uh, babes, you okay? What's the rush?"

"My friend is gonna be here any minute and I'm not gonna even be there to welcome her!"

"Oh, well, why didn't you say so?" he asked, landing on the ground and scooping me up abruptly.

"Beej! What're you-"

All of a sudden we were in the middle of the Deetzs' kitchen. Delia and Barbara had been cooking, but now they just stared at us awkwardly.

"Hi," Delia greeted in confusion.

I waved a small wave. "Um, hey."

"Well, this is weird," Beej said as he just turned and strolled into the living room with me still in his arms.

I wriggled out of his hold and scrambled around the living room, straightening up as best I could. Beej peeked out of the front window.

"Hey, (Y/N)? Some chic just pulled up on a motorcycle. Looks like your long-lost twin or something with all that leather she's got on."

I gasped excitedly. "That'll be her!"

There was a knock on the door. I threw it open, an enormous grin on my face. "Nerva!"

She smiled, her perfectly-lined eyes squinting as she grinned. "(Y/N)!" she exclaimed, immediately hugging me.

I laughed. "Still a hugger, huh?" I asked her, hugging back.

She chuckled. "Ha! You know it!"

We both straightened up and she looked me up and down. "Wow, I am digging your new hair!"

"Thanks," I said, smiling and closing the front door before we made our way out of the foyer and into the living room.

"Oh! Who's this?" my friend asked me, motioning to Betelgeuse, who had kicked back on the couch and was munching on what I could only pray weren't chocolate-covered beetles.

"He's your next study, I have a feeling," I replied, a grin spreading across my face.

"(Y/N), come on, don't tease me, now. I know you don't believe in that kind of stuff."

"Well, buckle up, because do I have a story for you."

"Um, so you gonna tell me who this is, or what?" Beej asked me.

I smiled again. "Beej, meet my good friend Minerva Sultan, paranormal enthusiast and makeup guru. And I'm sure that once I finish my story, she would absolutely love to ask you some questions."

****************************************

Helloooo my lovelies!

Sorry it's been a while, life has been cuh-ray-zeeeeee lol. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

I wanted to give you all a Valentine's Day gift, that's why I was trying so hard to get this chapter done by today! Hope you all have a lovely Valentine's Day!

A big thanks to Relegain for letting me use her wonderful oc Minerva in my story! Please go check her and her work out! She's phenomenal. I hope I did Nerva justice!

Thanks for reading!

Ciao, bellas!

~Smol Emo