Ch. 2


I'm a young soul in this very strange world,

Hoping I could learn 'bout what is true and fake,

But why all this hate?

Try to communicate,

Finding trust and love is not always easy to make.

~New Soul; by Yael Naïm


The next morning, while Danny, Jazz, and I were trying to eat breakfast, Maddie opted to working on one of her latest Ghost hunting devices. I could see the glares Jazz was throwing her mother's way, and it made me frown a little. Jazz always tried to act more grown up than her parents.

"Two more days, and it's done!" Maddie exclaimed cheerfully.

Jack ran up behind her and grabbed the device. "It's done?" he exclaimed. "The Fenton Finder is done!"

"Uh. . . .Fenton Finder?" I asked nervously.

"This baby uses satellites to lead you right to the Ghosts!" Jack cried.

"It uses what to track what?" Danny stammered.

Danny and I both stood from our seats and tried to discreetly walk away from Jack and Maddie.

'Welcome to the Fenton Finder. Multiple Ghosts are near. Walk forward.'

Danny and I were pressed up against the fridge by the time Jack and Maddie had that device pointed at us. My heart was pounding painfully in my chest with that thing pointed so close to us.

'Ghosts located. Thank you for using the Fenton Finder.'

"What?" Jack exclaimed. "That can't be right!"

"Actually, I need to tell you guys something. . . ." Danny sighed.

Pursing my lips, I looked up at Jack and Maddie. "Me, too," I said.

"That's not all you need, you two," Jazz interrupted. "You need guidance, and parents who can provide it."

"Sweetie, I know what we do doesn't always make sense sometimes, but you're only. . . ." Maddie chuckled.

". . . .sixteen," Jazz finished, "biologically. But psychologically, I'm an adult! And I won't allow your insane obsession with Ghosts pollute the minds of these impressionable children! Come, you abused unwanted wretches, I'll drive you to school."

Jazz wrapped her arms around Danny and I, leading us out of the kitchen.


As Jazz drove us to school, it was quiet. Not to mention uncomfortable. Sure, Jazz was trying to mean well by what she said, but it kind of struck a chord in me. Abused and unwanted? I knew all too well what those words meant. I never told the Fentons that, then they'd start asking all kinds of questions. I also had to tell a little white lie about my name—I found out my mother's maiden name and decided to go by that. For the meantime, I wasn't Jaimie Masters, I was Jaimie Baxter.

"Did you really have to say all that?" Danny asked, looking at his sister anxiously.

"Yes, Danny," she exclaimed. "They need to understand that they're neglecting you both."

"It's fine, Jazz," I stammered. "I-If Ghosts are something they. . . ."

"Jaimie, you shouldn't be defending them." Jazz's voice was stern, as if she were scolding a small child. "You and Danny shouldn't be exposed to this nonsense. They're not being responsible parents."

Danny shot a look my way.


At school, Danny and I found Sam and Tucker, heading over to Lancer's class before the bell rang.

"I think I should tell them," Danny said.

"Why?" Sam exclaimed. "Parents don't listen! Even worse, they don't understand. Why can't they accept me for who I am?"

"Sam, I'm talking about my powers, my problems," Danny deadpanned.

"Oh right. . . ." Sam said with a sheepish smile.

"If you're going to tell your parents, then I should tell them, too," I put in. "You shouldn't have to do it alone."

Danny sighed. "It's been a month since the accident and I still have barely any control," he said. "If anyone catches me, I go from geek to freak around here." Crossing his arms over his chest, Danny didn't seem to notice his legs disappearing and him steadily sinking through the floor.

"Kinda like you're doing now?" Tucker asked.

We helped Danny back up before anyone noticed.

"If my Dad can invent something that accidently made me half-Ghost, why can't he invent something that turns me back to normal?" Danny exclaimed, phasing through a vending machine.

"It's only been a month, Danny," I said. "At least give it a shot."

"It's hard enough being in high school, how am I supposed to handle having Ghost powers, too?"

"Danny, your powers make you unique," Sam exclaimed. "Unique is good! That's why I'm an ultra-recyclo-vegetarian."

"Which means what?" Tucker asked.

"She doesn't eat anything with a face on it," Danny explained.

"Who cares about that stuff?" Tucked exclaimed. "Danny, two words: meat connoisseur." Sniffing Danny, Tucker pulled back with a smirk. "Last night, you had sloppy joes."

"Impressive," I said.

"Meat heightens the senses," Tucker explained. "My all-meat streak is fourteen years strong."

"And it's about to end," Sam scoffed. "The school board finally accepted to try a new cafeteria menu."

"What kind of menu?" I asked.

"Come find out."


"Bread with grass on it?" I asked. I picked up the bread and felt a knot of slight disgust roll through me. "Is this what an ultra-recyclo-vegetarian eats?"

"What have you done?" Tucker cried.

"Guys, it's time for a change," Sam exclaimed.

Sitting at our usual table, everyone but Sam was hesitantly picking at the food. Grass on bread? That was the new change in menu? It seemed a bit extreme.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Sam said. "Give it a try, you'll like it!"

"Sam, doesn't this seem a bit extreme?" Danny asked.

"Ah, Ms. Manson," Mr. Lancer said, walking up behind Sam. "The school board wanted me to personally thank you for ushering in this welcome experiment to our cafeteria."

"Meat. . . .near. . . ." Tucker exclaimed, sniffing the air.

"The rumors about the all steak buffet in the teacher's lounge are completely untrue," Lancer said. "Thanks again."

Tucker threw a scowl Sam's way. "Thanks for making us eat garbage, Sam."

"This isn't garbage, it's recyclable, organic, matter," she stated.

"It's garbage," Danny, Tucker, and I said.


Danny, Tucker, and I spent the next couple minutes poking at the food, not really knowing what to do with it. Sam kept trying to tell us that it was good, but we weren't really giving it a go.

I felt a shiver run up my spine and I briefly saw Danny's eyes widen.

"Guys, we've got a problem," Danny said. Something hit him in the back of the head before he could say anything else.

"Fenton!" someone shouted. Dash Baxter, the school's most popular guy and the one who's been bullying Danny for the longest time, stormed up to us. "I ordered three mud pies, do you know what they gave me? Three mud pies! With mud! From the ground! All because of your girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend," Danny exclaimed.

"These are the best years of my life!" Dash cried, yanking Danny up by the collar. "After high school it's all downhill for me. How am I supposed to enjoy my glory days eating mud?"

"Actually, it's topsoil," Sam muttered.

Shoving Danny down, Dash shoved his plate over to Danny. "Eat it. All of it."

"Why don't you back off, Dash?" I snapped.

"I'd like to see you make me," he exclaimed.

"Touch him one more time and see if I don't?"

I felt another shiver go up my spine. Being able to just barely see around Dash, I saw a greenish colored woman go by at the other end of the cafeteria.

"Uh. . . .Garbage fight!" Danny cried, throwing the mud at Dash's face.

Everyone cheered and started throwing whatever 'food' they could find at each other. I felt a hand grab my arm and pull me back. Danny, Sam, Tucker, and I hid underneath one of the tables and waited for the perfect opportunity to crawl away from the fighting.


A Ghost lunch lady, that was what set off Danny's Ghost Sense and sent shivers up my spine. She seemed harmless enough, just floating and looking around the kitchen.

"She looks a little like my grandmother," Tucker whispered.

"Shouldn't she be haunting a bingo hall?" Danny muttered.

"Hello, children," she chirped, floating over to us, "can you help me? Today's lunch is meatloaf, but I don't see the meatloaf. Did someone change the menu?"

"Yeah," Tucker said. "She did." He pointed to Sam.

"You changed the menu?" she cried. "The menu's been the same for fifty years!" A gust of wind started swirling around us, her eyes were glowing a reddish color. Dark circles appeared under her eyes, a scowl on her face.

Jumping in front of where Sam, Tucker, and I were standing, Danny yelled out his usual catchphrase, "I'm going Ghost!", before flying up to where the Lunch Lady was.

Transforming as well, I flew up to where Danny was facing off with her.

"I command you to go away!" Danny cried, sounding very unsure about what he said.

"Is that the best you can come up with?" I muttered.

She threw her hand out and the nearest dishes flung at us. I managed to turn intangible and was about to do the same for Danny, but he'd already done it before I could react.

"Jaimie!" Danny called, pointing to where Sam was standing. The plates were going straight for her. I rushed over and caught the plates before they hit her. When she launched more plates in Tucker's direction, Danny rushed over and caught them before they hit Tucker.

"I control lunch!" the Lunch Lady cried. Danny and I placed the plates on the table. "Lunch is sacred! Lunch has rules! Anybody want cake?" she added in a sweet voice, holding up a slice of cake.

Sam and Tucker nodded.

"Too bad! Children who change my menu do not get dessert!"

Phasing through the ceiling, the three ovens behind her started shooting green flames. I pushed Sam and Tucker out of the way. When the ovens flew at us, I turned Sam and Tucker intangible and threw us through the wall. Danny followed suit right as a crash came from the other side of the kitchen.

"This is the thanks I get for thinking like an individual?" Sam cried.

The lights in the hallway gave out and some of the lockers flew open, books and paperwork flying to where the Lunch Lady was.

"Steak," Tucker said, sniffing the air. "Ribeye. Medium rare." The meat flew over and covered the Lunch Lady's body. "Where did it come from?" Tucker exclaimed.

"Prepare to learn why meat is the most powerful of the five food groups!" the Lunch Lady cried.

Danny threw himself in front of Sam. "The only thing who has an expiration date here is you!" he cried, before accidentally turning back into a Human. I shot out a purplish-pink ray at the Lunch Lady, and it took out a big chunk of her meat armor. Hitting me with the back of her hand, I slammed against the wall and felt myself black out for a second.


I jolted awake after feeling something shaking my shoulder. Sitting upright abruptly, I accidentally headbutted Danny. We both cried out in pain, holding our foreheads. I looked around and saw the mess the Ghost had made.

"Where's Sam?" I asked, noticing her absence.

"The Ghost took her," Tucker exclaimed.

"Are you OK?" Danny asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. I nodded. "You got hit pretty hard back there."

"I'll be fine." I looked at my hands—I had turned back into a Human. "What about you guys? Are you two OK?" They nodded. "I wasn't out that long, was I?"

"About five minutes," Tucker sighed.

"We need to get to Sam before that Ghost hurts her," Danny said, helping me up. "We can't afford to waste anymore time."

I nodded.

Before we took off, Danny grabbed my wrist. "You're sure you're OK?" he asked.

I gave a strained smile. "Ease off, Fenton," I said with a humorless chuckle. "I'm fine."

Right as we were about to take off, we were all stopped by Lancer. "You're not going anywhere!" he exclaimed.

"Told you you'd pay, Fenton!" Dash cried.


When we got to the office, we were sat down while Dash smirked down at us. Opening up a file from one of his many cabinets, Lancer started naming off all the things Danny, Tucker, and I got in trouble for.

"Tucker Foley: chronic tardiness, talking in class, repeated loitering by the girls' locker-room. Danny Fenton: thirty-four dropped beakers in the last month, banned for life from handling any fragile school property, but no mischief before today. Jaimie Baxter: repeated visits to the principal's office for participating in fights, chronic tardiness, and no prior records before coming to Casper High. Currently living with the Fentons. So, tell me, why did the three of you conspire to destroy the cafeteria?"

"W-We didn't!" I exclaimed. "It was. . . .uhm. . . ."

"Dash!" Danny cried. "Dash started it! He threw. . . ."

"Four touchdown passes in the last game, and is thereby exempt from scorn," Lancer snapped. "You three, however, are not. I'll have your punishment when I return. Mr. Baxter, watch the door."

The moment Mr. Lancer left, and with Dash standing on the other side of the door, Tucker, Danny, and I stood up.

"We gotta find Sam," Tucker said. "For some reason, I feel like I got her kidnapped."

"Maybe because you told the Ghost she changed the menu?" Danny snapped. "How about that?"

"We better figure something out quick," I said.

"That steak is still in the building," Tucker exclaimed. "Twenty yards, tops!"

Danny looked at some of the footage from the school's security cameras. "Look," he said, pointing to one of the screens. "Meat trail." Quickly turning into a Ghost, Danny grabbed Tucker's arm and phased through the floor. I quickly did the same thing.


"Sweet mother of mutton!" Tucker cried. We were at the entrance to the school's refrigerated section. Boxes upon boxes of cold or frozen meats were stacked up high. "I dreamed of it! I never thought I'd live to see it."

"How is it I have the Ghost powers and you're the weird kid?" Danny asked.

Whatever Tucker was going to say got cut off by someone laughing. Quickly turning a corner, we saw the Lunch Lady and Sam, who was buried in a pile of meat.

"My dear child, meat is good for kids," the Lunch Lady said in her grandmotherly voice. "It helps them grow and makes them smile. Why won't you eat it?"

"We don't need meat. That's fat."

"Silence!" the Lunch Lady screamed. "You need discipline! Manners! Respect! You know where that comes from? Meat! Chicken or fish?"

"Talk about a fruit loop," I muttered.

"I'll take care of the Ghost!" Danny exclaimed. "You two just figure out a way to get Sam out of that pile of meat."

"Way ahead of you," Tucker said.

Once Danny took off, Tucker and I went after Sam. Tucker was digging into the meat, enjoying it more than he should've. Sighing, I put my hands on Sam's shoulders and phased her out of the meat.

"Thank you," she said, shooting a disgusted look at the meat.

Before Tucker could take another bite, all the meat in the room went over and stuck onto the Lunch Lady, making some kind of big meat Ghost. Grabbing Danny, the Lunch Lady threw him at the nearest wall but he phased through.

Grabbing Tucker and Sam, I phased us out the nearest wall before the Lunch Lady could get us.

Putting them on the ground, I transformed back. Danny quickly appeared, looking exhausted.

"You look really bad," I said gently.

"Fighting giant meat monsters, phasing through walls, you must be exhausted," Sam said.

"Exhausted? Me?" Danny said. "What could give you that idea. . . .?"

He dropped to the ground and quickly transformed.


It took a lot of work for us to pick Danny up and bring him all the way to his house. Jazz hadn't been able to give us a ride home, and while I would've been up for using my powers to fly Danny to his house, it'd be hard with him being unconscious. So Sam, Tucker, and I picked up Danny and our stuff and walked all the way to his house.

Opening the front door, we saw Maddie and Jack standing there, looking a little confused.

"Hey there, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton!" Tucker exclaimed. "What a school day! Poor Danny nodded off. We figured we'd carry him all the way home and tuck him into bed with little to no interaction whatsoever!"

"Don't worry about it," I chimed in. "Danny's had a rough day, I don't think he's been getting enough sleep."

When we reached Danny's room, we put him on his bed. I sighed. He'd never used his powers that extensively before, so it made sense that he'd get so exhausted so fast.

"He'll be OK," Sam said. "He just wore himself out."

"I know," I said. "I've never seen him use his powers that much before."

"Yeah, but he put up a fight," Tucker murmured.

Danny's eyes opened and he let out a surprised shriek. "What's going on?" he exclaimed.

"You passed out," Tucker said. "We took you home. You've been asleep for four days!"

"Four days?" Danny cried.

"Nah, just a couple hours," Tucker chuckled.

"Knock it off, Tucker!" Sam snapped. "This is the second time today your carelessness almost got him killed."

"Me? I almost got him killed?" he snapped. "The only reason this happened was because you had to be unique. You had to take the meat away. And I'm going to get it back."

"You wanna change that menu back?" Sam cried. "You're going to have to go through me to do it!"

They ran out of the room, slamming Danny's door shut.

"I'm sure everything will be back to normal by tomorrow," Danny sighed.

"Try and get some more rest, Danny," I said.

"I don't know if I can," he said.

"Do you want me to stay until you do?" I asked. "Or. . . .at least make the time go by quicker."

He shook his head. "You get some sleep. I'll be fine."

I nodded.

"Jaimie. . . .about earlier. . . .you're sure you're OK?" he asked.

I shot him my best smile. "Never better."


Author's Note:

Sorry this chapter wasn't up earlier, I got sidetracked by responsibilities. I hope this chapter was good though! Let me know what you guys think. If you guys have any kind of questions on what Jaimie looks like, she's redheaded with green eyes, maybe a couple inches shorter than Danny. As a Ghost, her hair's turned into bluish colored flames, like Ember. Her Ghost outfit is almost like Danni Phantom's, only it's all white and without the D on the chest.

I don't own 'Danny Phantom', that belongs to the producers. I own my fillers and characters!

Leave a kind and helpful review, please!

Thank you.

Susan Strong