Chapter One
It was a beautiful day and, as he walked through the neatly kept streets, he had time to notice the glorious reds and golds of the leaves and to breathe the crisp, clean autumn air. It seemed a perfect town. Most of the houses had large, well-tended lawns leading up to spacious, comfortable homes. The parked cars he saw were relatively new and in good condition- a seemingly perfect town. This seemingly perfect town was Amity Park.
He sighed deeply, before he continued on walking though the broad streets. If only, he thought, he had been in town earlier, his family wouldn't have given him the cold-shoulder over the phone. Looking up at now the darkened sky, he thought conscientiously about his family. First of all, there were his parents, the most caring but strange parents he'd ever meet. His sister who was always there to help him out. As well, his brother-in-law and nephews always knew how to start or end his day. Finally there was his---Before he knew it, he was infront of his house, and infront of his sister.
"Uh hey sis. What's up?" he tried to speak in a casual tone but he knew his sister was in no mood to be friendly.
"You perfectly know what is up. You told us that you would be here yesterday! Do you have any idea how mad Mom and Dad are? Worse, do you know how mad she is?" his sister concluded, with a sigh following shortly after. He thought that his sister was very out of character today. Trying not say anything, he just followed his sister into the house.
"Jazz, who was at the door?" a soft, gentle tone of a female came from the living room. Once the siblings reached the living room, they saw who the voice belonged to. Mrs. Maddie Fenton, dressed in her usual ghost hunting costume, sat on the couch reading a magazine.
"Oh it's you. Welcome back Danny," Maddie proclaimed before continuing on her reading.
Inhaling deeply, Danny spoke to his mother in his courteous voice," I know that you are mad..."
"Mad? Danny, that doesn't even cut it! Mom's furious!" Jazz interrupted, glaring dangerously at her thirty-five-year-old brother.
Looking at Jazz in exasperation, Danny continued, "Furious at me that I didn't come here last night as I planned. Is it my fault if the plane got delayed 12 hours!"
Maddie just smiled in response, and Jazz was turned around with her arms crossed. Relieved to be unable to pursue the matter any further, Danny just left the room in a rush.
Danny traveled up the stairs and took a turn on his left, into the second bedroom. Opening the door, the room revealed a frustrated but elegant, charming, young girl at her desk. Flowing jet-black hair flowed down her back as she kept her head in her hands. Gradually, the door opened fully and Danny walked cautiously, careful not to startle her. However, the young girl stood up from her sitting position and went to stand in front of her window sill. She tapped against the iced glass window with the nails on my delicate fingers, in a steady beat. With her other hand, her fingers traced the intricate pattern designed on the window. The moon was glowing above, vivid in the starry night. The only light, at the moment, was emitted from the lamp on her computer table that cast an uncanny glow in her shadowy room. Her violet orbs shimmered in the light as she gazed out in the distance.
Just as Danny was going to call her name, she rose from the window sill. She crept over the tile-covered floor to the full length mirror resting on the wall. Inhaling sharply and the swiftly blowing out, the gust sent dust that had covered the mirror spiraling into the air. Danny gasped as he clearly saw her face and its state in the mirror. Her hair was torn and tangled at every angle possible. Her violet eyes were bulgy and had bangs under them.
Seeing his shocked face's reflection in the mirror, she grunted slightly and turned around. "I see you finally decided to come home," she said angrily. Speechless, Danny still couldn't find the right words to say.
"Just as I thought," she murmured as she went to go sit on her bed, covered with elegant peach and creme designs. Danny sighed just before he sat beside her on the bed.
"Honey, didn't you listen to me over the phone? The plane got delayed twelve hours and I couldn't book any alternative flights. You understand, don't you?" Danny asked, trying to find some sympathy in her eyes.
She looked up and slightly nodded. Danny sighed in relief and gave her an embrace,"Thank you."
"Dad?" she questioned as she looked at her folded hands," That isn't why I am frustrated and look in this disheveled way."
"Marlene? Is there something wrong?" Danny asked his daughter, while she looked at him with an askant. "Why are you glancing sideways like that? Did something happen while I was away? Was it Ethan or was it Aidan? Aidan's only six; you know he doesn't mean it if he did something. Ethan, I guess, wouldn't have any reason to bother you."
"Dad, it isn't them, at least they respect that I don't have a mom. They like me for who I am, and don't care what my past is," Marlene Fenton replied bitterly.
"Did something happen between you and someone at school?"
Marlene smashed her head on her pillow and stared up at the ceiling as if for some help. A tear threatened to shed but she whipped it away quickly. Danny felt his heart wrench when he saw his daughter sniff once, then twice before tears started to pour uncontrollably out of her eyes. Leaning forwards Danny whipped the tears off her face and lent his arms for comfort.
Marlene took his arms graciously and snuggled into his bold, muscular arms. "Dad, he left me for another girl! A girl that actually has both of her parents."
Danny finally understood what had bothered her daughter all this time. Frustrated and disappointed of how he just left on trips for the past two weeks, he wasn't even there when his daughter needed him the most.
"Who left you for another girl?" asked Danny as he tried to be the best father he could be.
"Josh Carson. He said that he found another girl, someone who actually have reputable parents. He said that he would lose his reputation if people found out he was dating me. There are rumours that mom ran off with another guy because you weren't right for her. He said that I was just a girl with no looks, just brains and it was a miracle that he fell for me. He thought I was a snob because I always bragged about you being an astronaut. He just left me."
Unable to find something to say, Danny pulled apart from their hug and got up from her bed. Exiting the room in such a swift manner, Marlene was left in her own thoughts. Seconds later Danny appeared in her room with a letter in his hands.
"Marla," Danny kept his hand on his daughter's shoulder, and said as gentle as he could," Read this on your own time. It will explain everything to you. Honey, you're only fourteen. You have so many years to find the right guy. It took me three years of dating to find the right girl. Boys these days just don't know how to keep a girl with your beauty and brains."
Marlene giggled at the last few words before sighing,"I guess you're right. Thanks Dad. I don't know what I would have done without you. I mean Grandma and Aunt Jazz are always too busy with work. Grandpa and Uncle Nick are men and Ethan and Aidan are just too young to understand. Only you can understand because you are my dad." Marlene faintly smiled at her father. Danny just turned around in response to hide the tears starting to fall down his cheek in a steady beat.
"Yeah, yeah. Now will you wash up and come down for dinner? I could already smell your grandmother's lasagna," Danny ordered his daughter before he left her room in a haste. However, on the other side of the closed door, Danny stood there with his back against the door as he reminisced Marlene's mother's real situation and of why she left them. The only thing he could do about it was cry.
Marlene had just finished her chores when the doorbell rang. Flipping her jet-black hair back, she went to open the door. She stared at the beautiful woman who stood in front of her. She had shoulder-length black hair which was tied in a pony-tail. She wore white hip-huggers and a white tank, which suited her dark skin well. On her feet were high heels of white color.
"Hello, is this the Fenton residence?" asked the lady as she tried to smile at Marlene's stare.
"Oh," Marlene snapped out of her trance, and blushed at her own actions,"I'm sorry. May you please repeat what you said?"
The young lady sighed, but Marlene knew she was annoyed by her not paying attention. "Is this the Fenton residence?"
"Yes, why? Is there someone you would like to meet?" Marlene asked as she motioned for the visitor to come in.
As the young lady stepped inside the house, she took an intake of what the house's pleasant atmosphere had to offer. The ceiling was pale blue with patched white spots, resembling the sky's glory. The wall was painted with creme and champagne gold. The floor, on the other hand, was covered with peach, almost orange carpet. "My, my, this place has changed so much since the last time I was here.
Marlene just raised her eyebrow at the lady's remark. She couldn't remember any renovation of their house. For all that she cared, this house hadn't changed ever since she was born, except for the addition of furniture and paintings, here and there. Ignoring the comment, Marlene spun around and was about to call her father, when the lady tapped on her shoulder. She pivoted on her foot and came face to face with the woman. At this distance, Marlene saw a more detailed look on the visitor's face. She had brown eyes and had a zit on the upper right part of her forehead.
"Yes?" Marlene asked as politely as she could, trying not to reveal her impatience.
"Who's he?" the lady pointed to the left direction, and Marlene smiled graciously.
"Honey, who's at the door...Valerie?" The jet-black haired Fenton stood there stunned as the scene unfolded infront of him. Valerie, who had abandoned him so many years ago, now was standing in his house, right beside his teenage daughter. Unable to think clearly, Danny was just abacked by Valerie's sudden appearance. Funny thing was that Valerie hadn't been seen in Amity Park for the past fifteen years. He wondered why she would just show up for no definite reason, unless she wanted him back.
"Danny? Is that really you? Just as cute as you always were," Valerie giggled fakely as she strutted like a peacock towards Danny. Marlene just stood nearby shocked at the reunion. "Who is this lady?" she mumbled furiously as she forgot how beautiful she thought Valerie was, when she saw Valerie hug her father rather too comfortably.
"Yeah," Danny snuggled out of the embrace rapidly, much to Valerie's disappointment,"What are you doing here?"
"Escuse me? I thought I was always welcomed here!" exclaimed Valerie as she glared at Marlene, before taking Danny's arms into hers. They journeyed into the living room, not bothering to look at Marlene once more. However, Marlene was far from mad at her father's little visitor; she was spiteful. The sooner she learned about this "Valerie" and why she came here, the better it was for Marlene and her dad. Quickly tip-toeing the living room, Marlene stood against the wall, as she eavesdropped on the conversation.