The Second…

Disclaimer: I don' own noth'n!

A/N: My first Casper fan fiction! I know, from the summery you're probably saying "omigosh that is SO cliché!" but give it a chance! And if you're good reader/reviewers I might even make a sequel! 'Hope you like it!

Update: I decided I'd go through this story and do some heavy-duty remodeling! Don't worry, I don't plan to change anything, just enhance and fix it! It's been a long time...

- 5/28/11

While life in Whipstaff manor was never really normal, it always had a sort of routine. You woke up, attempted to eat breakfast before three of the four resident ghosts interrupted you rudely, and then you left to go to school or work. This day, though, was slightly different, for it was an important day for a certain member of the Harvey family. The tranquil silence of the morning was broken by a sharp shrill of a cry. A feminine expression of frustration that rang it's way through the halls and seeped outside. Birds squawked and darted out of the trees and the squirrels dashed for cover. Proof to the world that this girl, was very much alive and had healthy lungs.

Dr. James Harvey nearly spilled his coffee over his work like he had done several times since he and his daughter Kathleen, or "Kat" as she liked to be addressed, moved to into the lofty mansion. He had just gotten settled after making sure he was really alone in the kitchen, when he heard a loud, frustrated groan behind him. He turned to see a very disgruntled looking Kat all but plowing her way toward the table and planting herself down with a small huff like sigh. "What's the matter, honey?" James asked with concern etched in his voice.

While Kat wasn't normally the one to make such a dramatic scene... or so she liked to tell herself, she simply couldn't help be feel helpless at the moment, therefore, emotional. Kat played with the ornaments on the table idly as she explained her "situation". "My junior prom is in less than a week and I have no one to take me, on top of that I have nothing… nice to wear!" she explained. She hadn't exactly raised her voice, but the mention that she didn't have many nice things made James flinch a little. He felt a little guilty, but really, it wasn't like they were rolling in the twenties. Still, maybe he could afford helping her out in such a big event in her life?

James set his work down carefully, pulling his glasses off to clean them just as carefully before he turned to give his patiently waiting daughter his full attention. "Kat, I'm sure I don't have to remind you that I don't exactly get paid a whole lot in my job..." he began.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I know, I-I was just-" she was cut off with a gentle smile and a hand lifted up from her father to halt her.

"Even so, I know how important this is to you and I do have some money saved up for such an occasion so... I'm sure we can get you something to wear before then," he finished and smiled at the guilty yet delighted look in his daughter's eyes. "Oh, and I don't believe you'll have a problem getting a date! No young man in his right mind would dare not ask you to dance! I'm sure it's because it's still just too early and most boys your age are shy," he reasoned with a shrug.

"Thank you so much dad!" Kat said, jumping over the table to hug him. "Do you really think I'll get a date?" she asked after she released her father and settled back down, her voice softening a considerable amount.

James smiled affectionately and reached over to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I know so," he said in a way only a parent could. Suddenly the happy moment was interrupted, as per usual, as the familiar rumble of the other inhabitants of the mansion made their way to the kitchen, laughing manically as they arrived. This "event" no longer surprised the two mortals who simply sat there and watched with a sort of detached acceptance.

"Morn'n fleshies! Casper! Where are you, ya little bulb-head! Where's our meal?" Stretch said in an odd sort of hurried way. The other brothers sat and seemed to fidget in their seats.

"Going somewhere?" James asked, happy if they where leaving and not really caring where they went.

Fatso's head bobbed as he nodded, making his fat like ectoplasm jiggle. "Yeah! It's that time of the year again and we're making our annual trip to Romania!" he said.

Stinkie nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, time to scare us some tourists!" the foulest smelling of the three ghost brothers -how ever possible that was for a ghost – said, rubbing his translucent hands together.

"Where is Casper? I haven't seen him all morning…" Kat pondered aloud.

Elsewhere, a familiar apparition poured over his father's papers as he tried, in vain, to make sense of the recipes for more of the potions used for the Lazarus machine. It was lucky he had managed to save the formula and had tried his best to understand it but alas, he just wasn't the genius inventor his father was. Casper grunted in annoyance and sighed dejectedly. Would he ever get his wish? It seemed unlikely. How many times had he tried to figure out how to become human again? How many times had he stared at the Lazarus machine? He knew his decision to use the machine on Dr. Harvey was the right one, and he felt no regret, but he still help some hope in the possibility that he could become human again.

Casper suddenly realized the time. Had he really been down here this long? Had he really not left since last night? Time held little meaning when you were dead... but lately he had been a bit more aware of it, even since he met the Harvey's anyway. The last thought lead him to Kat and he sped toward the kitchen, hoping to catch her before she was off to school, hoping he still had enough time to cook her some breakfast! He peeked in and saw the object of his true affection speaking to her father- or more complaining than speaking.

"No one to take her to the prom?" Casper whispered to himself, sad that she would not think of him, but knowing that, that just could not happen. He felt his depression creep by and lost track of time once more as he was swallowed by his own gloom. His unhappy thoughts were disturbed by the familiar sound of his uncles asking for him. Casper headed straight through the wall that would take him to where he stored his uncle's meals and emerged with three plates.

"There you are! Well? Hurry up and give us our food!" Stretch commanded as Casper placed the food before them. They proceeded to devour it quickly and messily without regard to the others in the room.

Casper rolled his eyes and turned to the other occupants of the mansion, hoping they hadn't lost their appetite with the gross display of lack of self control. "So what'll it be?" he asked cheerfully but Kat could see right through him. As amusing as that play on words would have normally been to her, this was serious.

"Casper," she began, catching his attention and making him swivel to look at her. "Are you okay? You look… paler than usual… and that's saying a LOT," she said without an ounce of humor.

Casper shook his head, dismissing her question and concern. Really, he didn't want to burden her with his useless troubles. There was nothing she could do to help him, anyway. "I'm fine," he told her in a curt and direct manner. Clearly telling her to drop it.

Kat opened her mouth to protest, but thought against it and shut it with an inaudible snap. She knew if he wanted to talk to her about whatever was bothering her, he'd eventually open up. She ignored the part of her that reminded her of how scare and distant Casper had been recently. "French toast then, please," she said, relenting to his wish. The relief in his eyes was also clear to her. It seemed she could read him like a book these days, even if he was holding something back and not around as often as he used to be.

"Nothing for me thanks," James said as he read the paper before Casper could utter a word. Casper shrugged and began making breakfast for his favorite living creature. After their messy breakfast, the Ghostly Trio said their "goodbyes" and flew off, leaving a relieved pair of humans and the younger ghost. As Kat and her dad spoke of how peaceful the mansion would now be, Casper pondered on the other "problem" Kat had. Then he had an idea and flew off without a word.

"Where'd Casper go to in such a hurry?" Kat asked, her brows knitting with worry. Oh how she wished he would speak to her, like they had in the past... what had changed between them? Something was wrong with her favorite ghost and she felt hurt that he wouldn't let her in on whatever was bothering him. Just what was she to do?

TBC…

OLD End A/N: Short, I know, but I find it that if I write short chapters I can write more chapters! And the more chapters I write (hopefully with inspiration from reviewers…) the longer they get! I plan to finish this fic soon but my writers block often sneaks up on me…

NEW End A/N: I hope ya'll enjoyed this and I hope I managed to fix the cheeziness and OOCness... I don't know when I'll fix the rest, but when I do, you'll find another "new" end author's note at the bottom of the chapter I upgrade. If you're a new reader, just think of it as new updates? Stop reading now if you want to maintain your sanity, or keep on reading if you're really THAT curious about what happens next... but I'm warning you now, the rest of the story is as it was when I wrote it four years ago... BADLY WRITTEN lol.