RUNAWAY
Chapter 1- Everything Has a Beginning
Paulina, the most popular girl at Casper High, was waving at me! She smiled with her perfect pearly teeth. As I approached, I noticed something was off. Her smile…no it was perfect…hair? No, long and wavy as usual…what was it? Then I realized it was her eyes. Instead of that cold blue glare, it was replaced by warm and very welcoming amethyst color. Hmmm…I never knew lilac could be so soothing, I like it. 'Mr.Fenton!' Did she just say my name? 'Mr.Fenton!' She did just say my name! That's weird…it's more like 'Hey loser!' Suddenly Paulina's chin was growing facial hair at a rapid pace which soon turned into a goatee. AAARRGG! That's disgusting! Her hair started to fall out and her small figure began to expand into a dreaded beer belly. A feeling of disgust passed over me and Paulina now with a deeper voice yells my name again…
"MR.FENTON!" I woke up.
"Care to join us? Now wipe off that face of disgust and answer the question!" said Mr. Lancer. He was staring at me intently and what was really creepy was that he was only standing a few inches away from my desk, and I was in the back of the classroom!
Since I didn't even know what the question was I simply replied "I dunno." Mr. Lancer with a glare walked away to find another victim in his English class.
Looking back on my paper where my head had once been, I realized the date. Gaaah…tomorrow Christmas vacation starts…and so does 'the fight'. Why would they start it on a Friday? Why not wait 'till Saturday like a normal weekend! At least I would have one more day of peace. He smirked at his own complaining. When have I ever had a peaceful day. Maybe I could just go ghost most of the holidays, take out my frustration and such. Yeah, that would feel good, but…groan…Jazz.
Lately my sister, who even promised to back off with the ghost hunting, has been returning to her over helpful, annoying and protective self. It has gotten to an extreme point at the moment and I don't think I can take it much longer.
Something light hit my head which disrupted my complaining rant. I discovered that it was a crumpled piece of paper. I looked up and the first thing I see is Tucker fast asleep at his desk and a nice amount of drool coming from his mouth. How is it that I get caught nodding off for a couple minutes and he sleeps peacefully through a whole class with no interruptions! Focusing my attention back on the note I looked to the side to see Sam giving me a look that translated to 'Open it!' So I did.
"R u ok?"
With a quizzical look I began to write my reply. "Just tired…" It's then when I realized that my thoughts were affecting my facial expressions. That must have looked weird. I continued to write "Yeah, I'm fine, had to chase Klemper multiple times due to Jazz's 'help'. Oh! And I got stuck in the thermos again, that put the cherry on top of the night."
Slyly, I might admit, I turned my hand invisible since we were in the back and threw the note back at Sam which she catches immediately. She unfolds it and as she scans my writing she begins to giggle. Wait…did Sam just…giggle?
Lancer looked up from reading a passage from Macbeth, and eyed Sam suspiciously but chose to ignore it. Since when does a Goth giggle? It must be the Christmas spirit kicking in. She looks nice when she smiles, she should do it more often... Whoa, where did that come from? Did I just think that? She's your best friend Fenton!
Before I could beat myself up for my thinking habits the note hit the side of my head again. You would think after having my ghost powers for almost two years I would have better reflexes.
"Try not to go over board this Christmas with, as I like to call it, 'frustration management through kicking ghost butt'…hmmm…maybe I should write a book…jk! And I know you're just in the most 'delightful' mood, especially around the holidays: p"
Looking up I see Lancer at the board writing something down about literary terms and some nonsense like that. Reading the note I grumbled gah! The holidays! Wait, could Sam possibly be worried about me? The thought delighted me. Then I thought: Of course she worries about me you idiot; we've been best friends since before we could say ectoplasmic goo! (my parents liked to tell these terms to me as a bed time story since I was born in the crazed ghost-hunting family…just dandy…)
Observing my surroundings to see if anyone is watching I smirk at a certain sight and begin to reply. "U don't happen to have a camera phone on u? Cuz we could take a pic of Tuck for blackmail…" Tucker, Tucker, Tucker. How does he do it? I look over to see that he is still asleep with a wet piece of paper underneath. Trying to suppress the laughter I handed the note to Sam. The problem was that it never really made it to her. Uh oh…Lancer intercepts the pass from Fenton…FOUL! Or in this case…
"DE-TENTION!" yelled Mr.Lancer. Damn it.
"Passing notes in class Mr. Fenton" Lancer said spitting the words out like if it were venom, "sleeping in class? And probably not listening to a word I say…" Lancer paused expecting a complaint. I have nothing for him; because all of it's true. I mean, I usually don't want to stay after school, but since Christmas is near, the later at home, the better.
"I'll be seeing you after school. We wouldn't want to ruin the little detention routine we have, now would we?" Lancer said sarcastically.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIINNGG! Thank the Lord!
With a final look at me, Mr. Lancer tries to yell the homework assignment for Christmas break over the ruffling of papers and gathering backpacks but found it unsuccessful. Walking up to the front of the classroom I failed to notice a large foot sticking out in front of me. "Jeez Fentoni, can't even walk in a straight line! Wouldn't expect you to though, not with those feet…"
"I don't feel like dealing with you Dash" I said in a tired voice raising my hand as if I were surrenduring. That's unusual. I never even have enough time to think about raising my hand. It's a spontaneous kind of thing, bullying I mean…well for Dash anyway. "Aww, well that's too bad!" As I knelt down to gather my books that were sprawled across the floor and about to get up, the last word was said and Dash shoved my head back into the ground. He left the classroom laughing. Standing up with my fists clenched I glowered at him but then I eased when a hand touched my shoulder. I turned to see amethyst eyes filled with concern.
"Calm down Danny, he's just a jerk with a head too big to fit on his neck." said Sam calmly. I realized that my eyes must have been glowing green. I also saw that Tucker was still asleep. "How does he do that?!?" I said frustratingly. Sam raises her hand and I wince as I know what is about to happen…
SMACK! Ouch…
Sam's hand slapped Tucker on the head hard enough to knock off his barrette and for him to finally wake up. " NO NOT THE PENCILS!!!" Tucker yelled. I slapped my hand into my own face and shook my head.
The golden trio walked down the hallways of Casper High. Their fellow sophomore classmates, as usual, chose to ignore them.
"We wouldn't want to ruin the little detention routine we have, now would we?" I mimicked. "He is so irritating!" I said while punching my other hand.
"Calm down man!" exclaimed Tucker.
I faced him with my now radiant green eyes "Calm down? CALM DOWN! Easy for you to say, oh, and by the way, how was your nap?" my voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Well I did have this pretty awesome dream about these calculators and PDAs but then the pencils started to…."
"TUCKER! You're not helping." Sam exclaimed while giving Tucker the dreaded death glare. I should learn that, it's very effective.
I unclench my fists when we finally reach our lockers I rested my head on the cool metal. How ironic that all of our lockers are right next to each other. You would think the school would immediately separate you from your friends. They have tendency to do that. Soothing my headache of a day with my locker door I hear Tucker's stomach grumble in complaint.
"It's a good thing we have lunch next, I'm starved!" said Tucker already packed for the rest of the classes for the day. Sam was digging through her locker in order to find a notebook for Biology when she sighed "Ugh… I seriously think your brain is directly connected to your stomach. Have some sensitivity once in your life!" Tucker gave her a questioning look as to say "Sensitive to what?" Sam jabbed her thumb behind her directing it towards me.
I pick my head up and start twirling the lock to the familiar numbers of my locker combination. "Life has just been a pain lately, well more than usual. Vlad is still trying to…I'm not really sure, but something a batty billionaire would do. My parents still don't know about my powers, which are becoming a bigger problem because their gadgets are getting more advanced and harder to avoid. Dad let out three ghosts, I had to stay up till 2 to get them because the thermos overloaded and they escaped…again. I got stuck in the thermos myself because of Jazz…"
"DANNY!"
Just as my locker was opened, I winced at the sound of my name. I barely turned around before I was engulfed with strawberry- red hair. Being hugged by your sister is awkward; being hugged by your sister in public is embarrassing.
"It's okay Jazz, I haven't been attacked in the last 5 minutes" I said trying the nice brother approach. Maybe she would leave if she knows that I'm perfectly fine.
"It was actually and hour and a half ago, a lot could happen in a period. You never know, always be prepared Danny, always." She said looking around expecting to see a ghost attacker. I sigh and roll my eyes "Yeah, Yeah…" I turned back to my locker but Jazz shut it before I could get anything. "Hey!"
"I'm serious Danny, you should…."
This is when I just pretend to listen. Oh how my sister would fit the teacher role with her droning lectures. Now slightly annoyed that Jazz shut my locker door, I leaned against the wall of metal with my arms crossed. I finally just interrupted her or else I was going to miss my whole lunch period.
"Listen, Jazz…remember when you got really uhh… to put it nicely 'sisterly' when you found out about the ghost powers?" I asked lightly to test the waters.
"Uh-huh" Jazz said now folding her arms against her chest and giving me a skeptical look with one eyebrow raised.
"Well, uhh…umm… I don't know how to get this across but, I DON'T need your help." I said cautiously.
Shocked and anger rising "I helped you catch three ghosts the other day! Without me you could and probably would have been up all night. Sometimes you're just an ungrateful little brother" she said while jabbing her finger into my chest emphasizing each word. Jeez! What's up with her? Jazz is usually really patient and all shrink like. I was about to say something about it until she mumbled something that was not meant to be heard "Sometimes I wonder if you would make Vlad's perfect little hybrid son."
By now, most of the student population was either in the cafeteria enjoying there lunches or in class. No one was left to stare except for Tucker and Sam who have slowly inched away from the fighting siblings. But disbelief was in their eyes on Jazz's reaction.
Vlad's son? A wave of depression swept over me but was quickly followed by anger towards my sister. The frustration building up all day is finally going to come out. Now that I was taking the offensive of the argument, Jazz seemed to get smaller which made my confidence soar. "I WILL NEVER BE LIKE HIM!" staring daggers into her eyes. "You never give up do you? I might be an 'ungrateful little hybrid', but at least I'm not an overly- perfectionist and annoying girl who frequently sticks her nose in other people's business! Skulker, or as you like to call him 'Ghost X', is not going to attack me now or any other ghost for that matter. I can protect myself, and you always screw up anyways! You're a lousy ghost hunter and the worst sister anyone could EVER HAVE!" I said my voice rising and eyes blazing through the whole rant. Maybe I already have a death glare.
Although weakened by her brother's fury, both Fenton siblings were fuming. Jazz simply walked away, and towards the end of the hallway her shoulders hunch and she ran towards the exit that led outside. I slam my fist into my locker.
"Ouch." Tucker said simply.
"Being an only child is a virtue." sighed Sam, as she picked up her backpack.
Tucker replied confused "I thought that was 'having patience'."
With and exasperated look, Sam airily replied "There are multiple virtues Tucker."
The trio headed towards the cafeteria and a specific table, their table. Always empty, it became a routine to sit in the far corner; it awaited them like an old friend. No one dared to sit there, not if they would want to be an A-lister. (Paulina's opinion mattered mostly in this area.) Once seated with their meals, if you could call it a meal , Danny gave out a sigh and rested his head in one hand while he rubbed his eyes as if he could wipe the exhaustion away.
"Haven't we been over this already? Or is it just me. I thought Jazz and I finally made an agreement!" exclaimed Danny while throwing his arms up into the air.
"Apparently not…" mumbled Sam while stuffing a huge forkful of salad into her mouth.
Giving her a look, Danny continued "I know she is just worried about me, but I like to have a bit of breathing space, yeah know. I should probably say sorry to her when I get home…but she said I would be like Vlad! OK, too much thinking, it just really annoys me."
He looked up to his two best friends with a look of pure honesty and said quietly "And I promise that I will protect you guys, and I'll…" But Sam cut him off my raising her hand.
"Stop worrying so much Danny! We'll always be here, no matter what. We're going to face all life's challenges together."
"Nice spiel." Said Tucker with a smirk. He then turned to Danny with a more serious face "Yeah man, we've got your back."
The feeling of gratitude washed over Danny as he smiled back at his friends. "Thanks guys."
A/N: Hey! This is my first ff ever, and I'm excited to write it! I hope it's alright! Reviews would be very pleasant, especially constructive criticism. Hope your Christmas was swell! xOoglesx