Danny was having a bad day, for Dash Baxter, school bully and high school football hero extraordinaire was on the hunt for him. Again. Why, you ask? Because Dash had failed his math test, again, because he never studied. And now Dash needs a punching bag. So Danny was running hoping to find a place to hide. Danny also knew better than to ask a teacher for help. They played favorites.

"hey Danny," cried Dash, "why you running?"

"oh shit, oh shit, oh shit" chanted Danny

"I just want to bruise you a bit" Dash called out again.

Dash may have been the quarterback for the football team but Danny was motivated by fear and had plenty of practice running (thanks to Dash, the neighbors dog, local gangs etc.). thus Danny was not easy to catch. Of course it didn't help Danny that other students would try to trip him up, or block his path. So it was eventually that Danny was cornered by Dash.

"Can't we just talk thi-oof." that was the sound of Danny being cut off by Dash's fist to his stomach.

"No, we can't." this was then followed up by a knee to the groin and a elbow to the back.

Danny was knocked to the ground.

"You know," Dash started, "I really don't understand what a loser like you gets off getting a better grade then me?"

"maybe if you studied" said Danny as he tried to get up.

"Wrong answer" Dash kicked Danny back down, then put his foot on his back. "the correct answer was 'I'm so sorry Dash, it won't happen again.'" Dash looked thoughtful for a moment, and then pressed harder. "followed up by groveling for the chance to do my homework for me."

"in hell" was the instinctive response, followed up by much wishing he had kept his mouth shut. Fortunately for Danny the lunch bell rang, announcing it was time to go back to class.

And while Dash went to class, Danny decided he was not going to stick around and skip the rest of the day. It wasn't worth sticking around to him, not with Dash waiting.

However that meant walking home and the buses would get there first probably. Unless he ran. But then Danny was good at running. So, with running, this time around he tied the bus. Danny took a minute to catch his breath, and then caught up with his sister Jasmine.

"Danny, you skipped again" she tried to sound upset at him, but she already guessed the reason. "you might be in trouble this time."

"good, maybe they will expel me and I wont have to put up with this shit any more." there was actually a half hopeful smile on his face.

"Danny.." she frowned at him.

"what?" he glared up at her.

"you really should not give up so easily." still frowning.

"maybe if there was something worth fighting for at school." said Danny.

"what about being an astronaut?" she said "You always wanted to be one."

"pipe dream." was the automatic answer.

Jasmine had no response to that."still, you're likely to be in trouble with mom and dad."

"five bucks says that they have been to busy in the lab to answer the phone." Danny was smirking again.

Though they took the bus to and from school, it still only came within 2 blocks of their house. Along the way they saw what was a familiar scene to Danny, though it was odd to him not to be the one being picked on. One elementary student had another pinned to the ground and was rummaging there pockets. Danny did not like seeing this, it pissed him off. He grabbed the bully and pinned him to the ground.

"listen twerp, that's rude, how do you like it?" growled Danny.

"hey, let me go!" shouted the bully.

"how 'bout no?" said Danny "guys like you think they own the world, and sure for a few years in school, the world seems to agree with you, but do you want to know the ultimate fate of a bully?"

"get off you nut!"

"bullies get stuck working the gas station, if they don't lose out to the illegal immigrant. Why? Because you stupid idiots think its fun to force the other guy to do your home work. And you want to know what else, when your world goes to hell, all your so called friends are going to point and laugh because your no longer good enough. I have seen it happen and its the road your on you little shit!" but just as Danny was really about to rant Jasmine interrupted "Danny let him go."

Danny let him up, and said "i don't know why I bother, you're not worth the effort." he looked at the other kid "hey, you all right?"

"yeah, I'm ok." he said.

"ok, good." said Danny, "go on home."

after watching the kid run off he turned his attention back to the bully, "if I ever catch you again," he growled, "you will suffer."

"psh, right,"said the bully as he ran.

"so Danny,was that because of your anger at Dash, or did you want to help that kid?"

"would you believe that I really don't know?"

"oh, I just remembered!" exclaimed Jasmine. "the ghost portal should be done today!"

"alright, maybe I can lose myself to the nether realms" said Danny.

"well, it's actually called the ghost zone, and no I won't let you, I'd chase you," replied Jasmine.

And with that last remark, the two of them make it to there front door.