Seeking
Danny Fenton woke up on Sunday at six a.m., hitting his alarm. He rolled out of his full-size bed. He had awkwardly and slowly stood up. Gave out a stretch out, as he yawned. While rubbing out the crust out of his eyes, he looked at the other bed across the filthy room. It was still dark, because the sun was barely peeking out of the horizon. There sprawled out fully clothed on top of the blankets was his dormmate. He went out his bedroom and entered the only other room in his dorm. In this room was a beat up couch, two lawn chairs, a forty inch tv sitting on the floor, and a kitchenette. He walked over to the cabinets in the kitchenette. He open one looking for a clean bowl, but it was empty so he looked in the other. After searching the cabinets, he had to settle with a dirty one in the sink. He filled it up with Honey Smacks. He looked into the fridge, all there was month old chinese, a few empty beer bottles, and a half empty half gallon of milk. After taking out the milk, he took a sniff and got a whiff of the milk that spoiled a week prior. He then placed it back and closed the fridge. He sat down on the couch, and turned on the tv. The news came on. He left it on, as he began eating his cereal with a big wooden spoon. It was a human interest piece about the biggest turnip in the state. He could heard his dormmate stumbling around in their bedroom.
The dormmate came out the room dragging his feet, hunched over, and holding his head. "Hey, Fentonio, do we have any cereal left?," asked Dash.
"Yeah, and the milk is in the fridge."
"Thanks," Dash said as he went looking for a bowl, "Fuck. My head hurts."
"I heard that last night's victory party was insane."
"Fuck yeah it was! Just got in. Where were you?," Dash asked as he pulled out the milk. "Oh!," Dash said gagging, "Fuck!" Danny laughed before Dash dropped the milk. Dash rushed to the sink and began puking all over the dirty dishes.
"Ah, man," Danny said between laughs, "Not on the dishes. Now we have to clean soon."
After puking Dash said, "You're a dick." He took a couple mouthful of water from the sink's faucet and spit them out. He wiped his mouth dry on his varsity football jacket sleeves. He sat down in one of the lawn chair. His head was hanging back, as he stared at the ceiling try to focus on one spot, his arms draped over the armrests, and his legs stretched out. "So, why weren't you there last night?"
"I was out with Sam and Tucker last night."
"Alright, I'll let you off the hook this time, but next time, man, you're coming. Can't be the only one doing keg stands."
"You're on!"
"Fuck, I'm tire. What time is it?"
"Six ten," Danny said reading it off the tv, next to the date that read September 19, 2010.
"Why the hell are we up?"
"I'm going to the farmers' market with Sam." Danny took his bowl back to the sink. He had made sure he had stepped over the milk. Smelling the vomit on the plates in the sink, he gagged a bit. He turned on the faucet and sprayed the vomit off.
"Hey, you should see this," Dash said.
Danny came back in front of the tv. The human interest piece ended and was replaced with Molly Ringer the lead newscaster. "Today's main story, earlier this morning there was a break in J.C.N. labs around midnight. Once police arrived on the scene, they were confronted with the suspect fleeing in a 68 dark highland green Ford Mustang 390 GT 2 +2 fastback. Then the Amityville Police proceeded to pursue the suspect in a high speed chase, before the suspect disappeared around one fifty." The news showed video from a helicopter cam of the mustang going intangible at the police barricade.
Danny went to the bedroom, as he began calling Sam from his HTC Droid Incredible. From the other room he could hear, "The officer involved in the crash was Officer Robinson Richards who," before he had closed the door. While the phone was ringing, he was getting dressed. After Sam answered Danny said,
"Hey, Sam, I can't go to the farmers' market today. Something just came up." He started tossing all the things on the floor looking for his shoes. "Yeah, I know and I promise, I'll make it up to you." He found his shoes underneath his bed. "I love you too. Later." He hung up his phone. Now fully dressed he went ghost and flew out the dorms heading towards his parents.
Ember stepped out of the portal and into a dingy, dark alley. There was trash scattered, and it smelt like piss. She walked out of it and into the street. In the crowd of pedestrians walking, she saw her friends. She went up to them. They were looking around. The crowd was a mix of punks, rockers, and goths. Here the social outcast made the society. Across the street were three buildings. The first one on the right side had a red neon sign that read 'Three Dogs Skate', it was a two story gray building. The one in the middle was a decrypt playhouse called Coppola Theater. The last one was another two story building with the sign 'Back Alley Bar'. Ember looked behind and saw the building that the portal was at was an auto shop called 'Drop Dead Auto".
"Do you think he's in one of those?" Kitty asked.
"I think we should look elsewhere first," Johnny said. He stood on his tip-toes looking left and right, "Who knows how big this place is." He placed his hand on Kitty's lower back as he tried to lead her away. She didn't budge.
"That's why we should check these places first," said Kitty.
After looking at the marquee for 'Coppola Theater' that read 'Casablanca', Ember said as she pointed "He'll be in there, I know it."
"Come on, that drunk. If, Sid, is anywhere he'd be in the bar," Johnny said.
"Maybe we should split up, I'll check the skate park," Kitty said. She left Johnny's side and began walking across the street. The cars driving by stopped for her. There was a swift breeze and so she zipped up her red leather jacket, wrapped her purple scarf around, and crossed her arms. It was times like this that she wished she didn't wear a red skirt and fishnet stockings but instead wore pants like Ember. The sidewalk across the street was as pack and so she had to slip through the crowd to get to the entrance of the skate park. Inside seemed larger than its outside appearance had led her to believe. On one side there were halfpipes, quarter pipes, mini ramps, and half bowls. Where on the other side looked like a plaza to her, with its stairs, rails, and benches.
She first went to a mini ramp, there she saw a skater doing fs disaster. As he skated down, his buddy went up and did a fakie ollie. Then a third did a bs boneless. She didn't recognized either one of the skaters, so she went on. She watch the skater in the halfpipe doing a fs indy early grab, but on the way down he fell off sliding on his back then rolling to the bottom. When he stood up she saw his back was all red from all the falling he had been doing. She searched all that side before going to the other.
On the other side there was a group of ghosts sitting on the benches watching another one skate off the stairs with six steps. He did a pop shove-it, but as he landed he had too much weight behind so he fell back off the board. He hit the concrete hard. He stood up holding the back of his head. He had to jog fifteen feet to pick up his board. Kitty recognized this slender skater as the drummer from the concert earlier. She followed him up the stairs to the group of ghost.
She looked around, but she didn't see Sid. Instead she also saw the guitarist. She went up to him and was about to speak, but he had gotten up and skated towards the stairs. He tried to do a kick flip but he couldn't get back on his board. So when he came she was able to ask him and the drummer "You're in Sid's band, right?"
"Yeah," the guitarist said as the drummer once again went to the stairs. He tried to pop shove-it once more, but this time he landed it. He rolled a bit before coming back up the stairs. "What do you want?," the guitarist asked.
"Well!," Kitty had to shout because the other ghost had begun hollering when another skater land his trick.
"Hold up let's go somewhere else," the drummer said. So he and the guitarist began to walk away. Kitty went after them. She had to quicken her pace to keep up with them. They reach the back wall. They went through the door that led outside. There was three empty pools, couple tables, and brick walls covered in graffiti. They sat down at a table. "So?," asked the drummer.
"Well I was hoping if you two could tell me where Sid is."
"Wow," the guitarist said, "Just wow."
"I know right," said the drummer shaking his head, "Asking us for help without a proper introduction. What has the youth come to nowadays?"
"Kitty," she said annoyed.
"That's cool," the guitarist said monotone while looking at his nails, pretending to filing them. He then looked up to her seeing her staring hard at him. He gave off a quick laugh satisfied at getting under her skin so easily. "Mark," he said with his hand on his chest. Placing the other on the drummer's shoulder he said, "Jorge."
Jorge pulled out a pack of Marlboro Reds. He took one and offered the other two cigs. Kitty grabbed one and Mark took two placing one behind his ear. Jorge put the pack away and from another pocket he pulled out a Bic lighter. With the cig hanging on his lips he sparked a flame. He light his. He reached out, sparking another flame for Kitty. She leaned forward and got her started. Then Jorge handed Mark the lighter. Once he got his lighter, he put it away. "So, you're friends with Sid," Jorge stated instead of asking.
"Yeah, but I haven't seen in seven years."
"That sounds like Sid," Mark said, "What did y'all use to do?"
"Umm," Kitty said, "We just hung out."
"Hung out she says," Mark said jokingly.
"Don't mind him. He's an idiot," Jorge said letting out a puff of smoke. "Unfortunately, we can't help you, right now?
"Why not?!" Kitty stood up slamming her hands on the table. Jorge motion her to sit back down. She slowly sat back down.
"We can't tell you where he is right now, because we ourselves don't know where he's at," Jorge said. Kitty looked down at the table with disappointment, not noticing the elbow bumping and winking. She looked back at them and they stopped.
"How come?"
"After the concert, we put all the instruments away before he could get there. And then Mark and I came here."
"Oh,' Kitty said.
Jorge put his board on the table pushing towards Kitty. "So, you want to just skate for a while."
She pushed the board back gently. "That's okay, I don't skate. I guess I see you guys around hopefully." She stood up and so did the other two. She wave to them goodbye. She pulled out her Razor, and began to text. After she went inside, Jorge pulled out his cell and sent out a text. Then the two ghost went to an empty pool. First, Mark dropped in and then Jorge.
Johnny 13 had watched his girlfriend cross the street in search of another man. He shoved his hands in his black trench coat, and walked into the street. He too didn't look out for traffic. As he reached the doors for the bar, a stout ghost sitting on a bar stool put his hand out to stop Johnny. "I.D.," was all the ghost said. Johnny just shrugged and turned around to walk away. As he began walking heard someone say "Hey,you," and so Johnny looked around. The ghost calling him was standing by the alley between the bar and movie theater. Johnny walked up to the ghost dressed in a tan trench coat, a fedora, and aviator sunglasses.
"Hey, man you need I.D.?," the ghost said.
"Guess so," Johnny said monotone.
"Alright, five bucks."
"Ugh, fine." Johnny reached into his coat inner pocket, pulling out a stack of cash. He handed the ghost a fiver. The ghost took it, and pulled out a stack of I.D.s. After a quick look through he handed one to Johnny. As Johnny started to walk away another ghost went to the ghost in the trench coat. Johnny overheard their conversation.
"Do you any I.D.s?," the new ghost asked.
"Yeah, man. Got some here." The one in the trench coat hand the new one an I.D. that was it no exchange for cash or anything else. Johnny balled his fist and clenched his teeth. He was about to walk back to the man, but decided it wasn't worth it, so walked up to the bouncer. He hand the bouncer the I.D. he bought but never looked at. The bouncer looked at it.
"Anita Johnson, female, age sixty-nine, and a sticker on the back that reads organ receiver."
Johnny had one thought in his mind 'That mother fucker ripped me off.' He started to walk towards the I.D. seller, but the bouncer handed him back the I.D.
"You're good to go."
With another shrug of his shoulders he walked into the bar but not before hearing the ghost who got an I.D. after him speak to the bouncer.
"James Connelly, male, age twenty-two. Come on in," the bouncer said.
Once inside Johnny saw the bar was dimly light, with a wooden bar, six tables, two pool tables, a dart board, a door in the back, and a staircase. Coming out of the speakers was The Business, but Johnny didn't know who they were nor that the song was called 'Drinking and Driving'. He just walked to the bar, waiting for either of the two bartenders to look at him. Neither one did, even after, what felt like to him, five minutes. His fingers tapping away rhythm less, as he stared at the shelves behind the bar. They were well lit with every bottle gleaming and promising a night of fun and glory. The many taps changing in shapes called out in their endless stream.
Finally a bartender nodded to him in acknowledgement. "Can I get a Graveyard's Burial IPA?" Johnny said.
"Pint or mug?"
"A mug,"
The bartender turned around. He went and grabbed a twenty-four ounce glass mug. He then went to a tap shaped like a headstone and poured out the golden splendor. The mug was filled with a inch of head. He handed the mug to Johnny, and said "That'll be two fiddy."
"That's pretty cheap."
"It's happy hour. All the drinks are half off."
"When does happy hour end?"
"It's twenty-four seven."
Johnny handed the bartender a five, and took a sip of his drink. He just sat there at the bar drinking. He watched the people by the tables talking away, in one of the groups was the ghost that came in after him. There was also two ghost playing pool, but no one played darts. The door in the back opened. A ghost that Johnny barely recognized came in. As the ghost came closer and closer, Johnny tried to recall him by power elimination. So by the time the buff ghost in a spiked leather jacket with leopard print lining got to the bar, Johnny finally connected the dots. "Hey." The buff ghost looked at him. "You're in Sid's band?"
"No," the ghost said standing straight towering over Johnny, "I'm in a band with Sid." A bartender flocked quickly to him. "Three pitchers of Sam Adams." the bartender winked at him and gave double finger gun before going to fetch the order.
"What's the difference?"
"Nobody owns The Savages. We're all equal. Got it." The bartender came back with his order. He gave the bartender a fifty. "Why you asking about?"
"I'm helping my girlfriend find him," Johnny said after finishing his beer.
"Good work, detective."
"Shit, I know Sid. You know Sid. Is there any way in hell that'd you help him spend time with your girl."
"Haha, that snake in the grass. I'd rather be alive. You know, I like you. The name's Jonas Rotten."
"Johnny. So what's behind the door?"
"What am I? A tour guide?," said Jonas Rotten, "It's a patio to drink outside. Upstairs is a dance floor and a stage. Both have more chicks or dudes, whatever floats your scrot, than here." He grabbed his drinks and went outside.
Johnny wanting to wander around a bit. He decided to go upstairs instead of following Jonas. It was dark with only strobe lights, and neon rings as sources of light. The ghosts were packed in, sweaty, and grinding up on each other. The music was some kind of techno and deafening. Johnny was loving it especially when he saw a chick dressed in, how he'd describe it, a red bandana for a shirt, and the shortest black shorts he'd ever saw. He pushed through the crowd and slipped in behind her. He slid both his hands across her waist resting where half his hands were on her shorts. She looked back up at him, contemplating what to do. Not being all that interested in him, she just shrugs telling herself 'Could be worst'. Looking forward she pushed her ass more into him, slid one hand up across his cheek and into his hair, as the other rested on his hand.
They spent the next two songs like so, and would have continued so but his pocket buzzed. He took his Droid X and read the text from Kitty "He's not at S8park."
He was going to text back that it was going to take him more time to fully check, but Ember beat him to the punch. She texted "I found him."
Ember crossed the street knowing full well that she'll find him at the theaters. She went up to the ticket booth. The worker reminded her of Sidney Pointdexter. "One ticket," she said.
The worker started to print out a ticket. "You know the movie is almost over," he said.
"Yeah, whatever. I don't care just give me a ticket." the worker handed her the ticket, and she went in. Inside the lobby the red carpet was stained and torn. The paint that was once light yellow was now murky and peeling. All the seating seem to have lost their cushion long ago and was covered in layers of dirt and grime. She had the feeling that she was in a condemned building. Even the movies and plays posters looked aged and withered. She went to the concession stand. The worker, another nerd, looked at her at with a look that only someone who had a strong disdain for his life and all those around him could have. "Small popcorn, and Red Vines."
He gave off a heavy and annoyed sigh. He walked to the popcorn maker with slump shoulders and dragging feet. Every moment he did gave off the sense of such a bother. He came back to her plopping the bag of popcorn down. He reached down the counter and pulled out a pack of Red Vines and dropped it next to the popcorn.
She grabbed her snacks and walked away. On both sides of the concession stand were doors leading to the main house and a staircase leading to the balcony section. Without hesitation she went up the stairs. The stairs was two flights. After the first flight was the second floor that was in a U-shape revealing most of the lobby, and only had two sets of restrooms and another concession stand with another worker with the same zest for life as the first concession stand worker. The top floor resemble the second floor in shape, but only had four sets of worn out couches and double doors leading to the balcony section. At the double doors, she stopped. Behind those doors she knew she would see the man she hated for seven years, and if never saw again he was the man she would hate forever. But she knew if she saw him again, she'll fall back into the old pattern. With a sigh she went through the double doors and was standing in middle of the bottom of the balcony. The balcony was three section of ten rows of ten seats.
It was dark, but as she looked around she saw the balcony was empty except for one person. She did a check of the rest of the house below, and saw that it was a different story down there. She looked at the only other person up there. It was the flamed mohawk ghost who made no notion showing that he had noticed her. His mohawk was four inches tall again. She went to the top row and down the middle section. She sat in seat six. He had gave her the armrest. She saw that he had only a large drink. The movie was at its end. They were at the airport and Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart, was saying "You'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life." Ember tilted her bag of popcorn towards him.
"Is there butter on it?," he whispered.
"Of course. What a stupid question," she said in a hush tone, but she rolled her eyes before waving her hand around revealing they were alone.
"That's okay. I don't want any," he said in his normal tone. He then offered her his drink. Without asking which drink it was, she took it. She took a sip and cough hard. The soda was spiked and heavily at that. She took another sip now fully aware of what it was. After a few drinks she handed it back.
The movie ended, and as the credits rolled the lights turned on. He push lightly on her leg to get her attention. She looked at him from the corner of her eye. He stood up and began to walk off. She sprung up and followed him. He walked to the bottom of the balcony but didn't go through the double doors. Instead he leaned back on the railing of the edge of the balcony. He had a slight grin as he watched Ember walk down the steps toward him. "It's good to see you, Kid," he said when she got to him. His eyes roamed up and down her body. His smile turn to a devilish grin, "It's really good to see you." He tried to drink more of his spiked soda but only air came out. He sucked a few more times letting out a noise each time. Satisfied with the large soda cup being empty, he tossed it over the railing.
She scoffed, "You haven't change." She leaned on the railing as well. Their shoulders touched, but he quickly slid his arm around her shoulder. He took a flask out his pocket and took a few swigs. She got a whiff of his scent, and it reminded her of summer campfires. His body was warm. He was the only person that felt warm to her. She felt her cheeks burning from blushing. He handed her the flask. She sipped it. The oakiness of the bourbon was strong and so was the after burn as it slid down her throat. She laid her head into his chest. His mohawk was burning brighter, but all she could think was 'He's so hot, how come Kitty never melted." With the thought of Kitty she quickly jerk her head off him, but didn't leave his side and left his arm on her shoulder. His hair dimmed.
"So, you came to see me, and all by yourself."
"Kitty and Johnny are here too looking for you."
"Ha, Johnny looking for me, I bet'cha a hundred he's hitting on some chick as we speak."
"Do I look stupid?"
"Well," he said before getting an elbow jabbed into his gut. "I was kidding. So how did you guess I would be here?"
"I didn't guess shit," she said looking up at him. "I know you won't miss out on watching a classic." She heard a whirring sound, and so she whipped her head around. The screen was rolling up, leaving an empty stage behind. She leaned over the rail looking down and the crowd had left, and in their place was a few workers who didn't resemble the other workers she saw. These workers were breaking the rows of seats into small sections of four, and stashing them away into the walls. As they work, she said "Cool."
"Yeah, the band and I practice here all the time," he said turning around, leaning over like she was.
"How long," she said. Her own flame hair became livelier.
"How long what?"
"How long have you been here practicing?"
"Maybe two years," he said. Ember pushed of the rail heading toward the double doors. "Hey," he said as he turned around again, "Where are you going?" He walked after her. Her hair was wild. As she entered the staircase, she got Kitty's text. All the way down to the lobby Sid called out to her.
Half way through the lobby she stopped and turned to him. "Two years! Two fucking years! Haven't seen you in seven, not knowing where you were or how you're doing! But it's all good to you as long you get to play punk music with your friends," she said as he drew near. Her hair was out of control. She threw his flask, which she still had, at him. It hit him the chest, and he bent down to pick it up. She turned around and began walking away, with him following, only to stop at the exit. She turned back to him. "I only came here for Kitty, because for some reason she can't see how much of a shit you are." They walked out of the theater. Ember went to lean against the wall of the theater, but Sid tried to go the other way. "Hey, where are going?"
"Home."
"Not even going to say goodbye! What's new!" she said rolling her eyes.
He stopped and went to her. "What do you mean by that?!"
"You know exactly what I mean!"
"No, I don't!," he said walking up to her. They stood only half foot apart. "And why should I say goodbye. It's obvious you don't want me around!"
"You should at least say something to Kitty after what you've done!"
"What the fuck did I do?!" His six inch hair raged on. The crowd around them moved away trying not to get burned. He opened his mouth to say something, but he closed it and ran his hand through his hair. Then he said as calmly as he could muster, "Look, all I wanted to do was hanging out with you and have a good time." Ember's hair calmed down a bit. "I don't care about Johnny. I really don't want to see Kitty right now." Ember's eyebrow raised. "Why don't you and I just go crash at my place? It's like a three minute flight from here. Then afterwards let's go cause some chaos in the Human Zone." Ember stood there. Her hair died down. She opened her mouth to say something, she didn't know what, but then she heard Kitty's voice.
"Ember," Kitty said as she push through the crowd. The crowd started walking around knowing the scene was over. "Sid," she said as she went in hugging him. She embraced him tight, leaving no space between them. She stayed like that for a while. At first he just stood there, but soon he began patting her back awkwardly. Ember was confused by all he said and did. But as he and Kitty separated, Ember could see that he was falling back into pace.
"Hey, Kitty," he said, "You ain't changed a bit." He had a soft, sweet smile, but he moved where Ember was between them. "Did you see our show?"
"Yeah, you guys were awesome," Kitty said.
"Well, that's good."
"You guys weren't bad, but my band's better," Ember said.
"Really?" He went up to her and wrapped his arm on her shoulder again. "Maybe, you should join the battle of the bands next week, and we'll see whose band is better."
"Please, like I ever share the stage with you." She left his arm where it was.
Kitty walked over grabbing his arm, "I would like to see you play again."
"Actually next week is just the qualifying round. It's in the Human Zone, but hey we'll make it into a day trip."
"Sure," Ember said, "Hey, where's Johnny?"
"Why don't you guys look for him," he said leaving the sides of the girls, "I'm going to go crash out, but I'll see you soon, maybe in a decade. Haha." He gave them a wink.
"What an ass," Ember said crossing her arms staring at him, as he walked away.
"Right?," Kitty said staring as well. Once he was out of sight she said, "Let's go get Johnny."
Danny Phantom was flying through the Ghost Zone. Unsure where to go, or what he should look for, except for a mustang. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to him. He was about to give up until he saw a ghost cop just weakly float on. He continued on, spotting injured cops along the way. He then saw some going around as if they were looking for clues just like he was. "What's going on here?"
"That's what I like to know Ghost Boy." Danny spun around and saw Walker behind him with his hands on his waist. "Now, I'd like to know if you had any part of this."
"Any part of what?"
"Hmm, you don't know do. So, why are you here in my jurisdiction?"
"I'm looking for a ghost that cause havoc in the Human Zone early. He was driving a green mustang."
Walker smiled "It looks like we have a friend in common." Danny looked at him strange. "How about you and I work together to get this punk?" Walker offered his hand
"Sure." Danny shook Walker's hand.
"Danny, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Author's Note: The first chapter's name come from Pennywise "Fuck Authority", the song supposed to be played was The Casualties "We Are All We Have", this chapter's name is The Rabbles "Seeking"
R&R