Disclaimer: I'm not that crazy about the theme song to this show. It's catchy, but not in the good way.
"Dan!"
The figure stirred under the covers of its bed. It wanted nothing more than to stay there for a long time.
"Dan!" The voice calling was even harsher than before.
"It's time for school, dear." This voice, belonging to a woman, was much nicer.
"Fine! I'm up." The dark-haired teen kicked off the sheets and sat up on the edge of the bed. "And it's Dani!" She got up and stalked out. "You make me sound like I'm a guy", she muttered under her breath.
XxXxXxXxX
Dressed in a white shirt with red trimming and a pair of denim shorts, Dani (how she dislikes to be called 'Danielle') ran a brush through her dark hair. Despite protests from her mother, she decided to grow it long; nearly six inches past her shoulders.
Looking to her bed, she grabbed a scrunchy and wrapped it around her hair, forming a long ponytail.
She picked up her backpack and walked out her bedroom door.
XxXxXxXxX
A red-haired boy sitting at the kitchen table looked at Dani. "Geez, Dan, why do you have to take your time?"
"The reason, Dani, is that I need to look my best."
"I don't have that kind of time." He took a bite out of the toast on his plate.
"Jason, be nice to your sister." The kind-sounding woman from before gave the girl a kiss on the cheek.
"Mom, it's Jase", he whined through his breakfast. A swallow cleared his mouth. "How many times do we need to go through this?"
"You should be more worried about getting to school than the number of letters in your name."
At that moment, a burly man entered holding a boxy-looking device. Jase's eyes widened, while Dani cringed a little.
"Hey, Dad. What's that?"
"Morning, son. It's a little something I've been cooking up. It's the Fenton Seeker."
Jase reached his hand out to push one of the buttons. "What's it do?"
Through the man's natural movements, he took the device out of his son's reach. "It locks onto a ghost's very being and identifies where they are."
Dani gulped. "Fascinating, Daddy." She glanced at Jase, her tone darkening. "Shouldn't we get to school?"
"In a minute. I want Dad to test this out."
The girl backed away from the table where the rest of her family was gathered. "But there aren't even any ghosts around here. What would be the point?"
Jack glanced at his daughter, who was halfway to the door. "But they might be invisible. What better way to sniff them out?"
Dani hurried out of the house.
There is a ghost just outside your home. Don't let it get away.
"You see, Dani? I told you it…works."
The woman put her hands on her hips. "Where did she go?"
"Probably left for school."
"You'd better get going, too, Jason."
"Jase, Mom!" She kissed his cheek, but he fought her affections. "Come on! I'm too old for that." He walked out as the woman waved.
"Ah, there he goes, Maddie. I'm so proud of him."
"Oh, Jack…you're just saying that because he loves ghost hunting as much as you do."
The man took a breath. "Maybe I am. I just wish I knew why Dani gets so nervous all the time."
"Girls are like that, sometimes."
XxXxXxXxX
"So your Dad was testing another invention?" A dark-haired boy walked alongside Dani. He could be readily identified by his pierced eyebrow and sullen expression.
"Yeah. I didn't want to get found out. That's why I'm so early."
"I've been thinking about this, Dani." An African-American girl in a yellow top and green pants holstered the PDA she had been checking. "Would it be so bad telling your parents what happened to you?"
"Let me think about that, Takeisha…yes! You've seen them in action. Even if I'm their little girl, who knows what will happen? And Jase…he's angling to become a member of the 'Bustin' Makes Me Feel Good' club."
"I'm just saying, Dani. Better you tell them than they find out some other way."
"I guess."
"At the moment, we have more troubling things to worry about, like the spirit crushing meat grinder that is this school day."
"Sam, have you considered becoming a poet?" Dani adjusted her books in an effort to make them seem less heavy.
"Poetry is cliché."
XxXxXxXxX
A ginger-haired girl adjusted her glasses and clutched her books to her chest as she walked through the hall. She felt a soft hand grasp her shoulder, stopping her walk.
A girl with long blonde hair eyed the meek student. She is the picture of teenage pulchritude with her perfect features and cheerleader outfit. "Nice dress." It was a pink and flowery affair.
"Thank you." She nodded her head.
A brunette girl, similarly dressed and of Asian descent, stepped forward. "Did your grandmother die in it?"
"Well…yes, she did."
This news caught the dark-haired student unawares. The blonde looked once more. "She probably caught herself in the mirror while wearing it."
Tears started to well up in the girl's eyes as she ran off. The cheerleaders high-fived.
"And what day of high school would be complete without Dacia and Kimi bringing someone to tears?" Sam shot a cutting glare as the girls approached.
Dacia stuck her arms out. "One side, losers! High school royalty, coming through." Kimi followed close behind, offering a wave to the threesome.
"Those two have no right to say things like that."
The African-American girl huffed. "They probably realize that high school is the end for them and that they'll never have it this good again, so they want to wring every last drop of satisfaction."
Dani looked at her female friend. "And how do you know that, Takeisha?"
"Do you realize how many bloggers on the web were picked on in high school? You can't swing a dead cat around without hitting one with that point of view."
Sam shook his head. "You've got to stop surfing the web. It's gonna make you stupid."
"For the sake of our friendship, I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
The ringing of the late bell cut the conversation short.
XxXxXxXxX
A number of students were talking. They didn't much care for the school day that lie ahead.
"Settle down, students." The bald man at the front of the class looked like he would not allow his charges to overwhelm him. The teenagers sat, their attention captured.
"Before we begin, I'd like to introduce a new student." The door to the class opened. In walked a handsome young man with dark hair, dusky skin and a kind smile.
"Hola. Hello." He offered a slight wave. "My name is Paulo SantaCruz. I've only been here a few days, but I really like this place. I look forward to knowing you."
"Good. Now take a seat…" The educator pointed toward an empty seat near the back. "…there."
The new student did as he was told. Nothing like making a good first impression. As he walked by, a number of girls were watching him pass, gazing lovingly. Sam scoffed at this.
"Girls drooling over the first thing around here with an accent. Can you believe this, Takeisha?" Takeisha had her head on her hands glancing at Paulo. Sam quickly turned to his other friend.
"Can you believe this, Dan--?" The dark-haired girl offered the same emotional sentiment, but only one of her hands held up her head. "I really should've seen that coming."
Paulo got to his desk and sat down. Next to him was a moderately attractive young man with - rather unusually, the Latino noted to himself - short blonde hair.
The blonde held a hand out. The new student was certainly familiar with this gesture. "Hey. My name is Skyler."
"That's an interesting name."
"Well, my parents are interesting people."
"What do they do?"
"Skyler, do you have something to add to the lesson?"
The boy was like a deer in the headlights. "No, Mr. Lancer."
"Then I'll thank you not to talk during class."
"Sorry." The teacher turned toward the chalkboard. Skyler leaned over to Paulo. "I'll tell you later."
XxXxXxXxX
The school cafeteria: a common place for eating, meeting and other activities. Takeisha stood in line to partake of today's scrumptious meal: chili. She glanced toward the people in line. Two students in front of her was Paulo. This was as good a chance as any: get to talking, find some common interests and they were on the fast track to high school sweetheart-dom.
Takeisha grabbed a milk, slapped a dollar on the grid near the register and fast-walked after the new student.
"Hello, there."
Paulo nodded politely. "Hola."
"I saw you in homeroom today. My name's Takeisha, and you must be…"
"…leaving? What a great idea." Skyler popped up alongside Paulo and pulled him toward a table. The girl stopped in her tracks as she saw the boys walk off.
"Skyler, what was that about?"
"Saving your life. That's Takeisha Foley. She'll flirt with just about anyone."
The Latino sat down. "You mean she's like the town bicycle?"
"No, no. Nothing like that." Skyler waved his hands as he sat. "That would require guys to be attracted to her."
The boys laugh as Takeisha stalks off. She sees Dani and Sam sitting at the usual table. They wave her over.
As she sits down, Dani puts a hand on her shoulder. "I saw what happened with Paulo. Harsh."
"Don't worry. I just need a bit more time with him. After all, the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice."
"I can't understand this. Some guy travels here from another country, and suddenly, the girls are on him like red on a hydrant?"
Takeisha glanced smugly at Sam. "Do I detect a hint a jealousy?"
"Do I detect a hint of shut the hell up?"
"Sam, don't let this get to you. He's just a guy." A far-off look develops in Dani's eyes. "A guy with the most wonderful, sensitive eyes…"
"…a nice smile…"
"…that accent…"
"…cute butt…"
"Oh, I forgot about that. Thanks, Takeisha."
"Anytime…"
"So, do the two of you want to write that Harlequin novel now or wait 'till you finish school?"
The girls glanced at Sam.
"Just a thought." He smiled as he stuffed a fork full of salad into his mouth.
XxXxXxXxX
Dani looked out the window. "It's just that Mom and Dad don't seem to have any visible means of support. I mean, you don't see them going off to work. You don't hear them talking about anything except building stuff to catch ghosts."
Jase said nothing as he turned the car around a corner.
"Jase, are you even listening to me?"
"As seldom as humanly possible."
"Would you listen to me?"
A red light. The perfect opportunity. "As the older sibling, I think you need to listen to me. Mom and Dad provide for us, don't they? Don't they?"
"Yes", Dani replied weakly.
"As long as there's a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my stomach, with loving parents that put them there, who cares how it comes about?"
The light turned green and Jase continued down the street.
Dani folded her arms. "I'm just saying is all."
