Chapter 2

"Danny? C'mon sleepy head! Danny…! Wake up! Wake up Sleeping Beauty!"

I jolted my head up to see Sam hovering over me. I fluttered my eyes and stared at her to get a clear view.

"Sam…?" I grumbled with a yawn as I tried to wipe the sleep away from face.

"Come on; if you're gonna learn in detention you should go now." She chimed as she ruffled my hair.

"Oh. Right." I muttered.

I trotted swiftly down the hall so I could get to the classroom in a timely manner before Lancer threw a fit at me for being late when he was trying to help me.

I hesitated and slowly opened the door, "Mr. Lancer?"

"Ah yes, come on in Danny."

I nodded and did as I was told. I made my way over to a desk and sat down. "Now, I believe you'll be able to pay attention for one-on-one time correct?" Mr. Lancer asked.

"Yes sir," I gulped while nervously running a hand up my neck and ruffling my hair. "Sorry about class, Skulker did a number on me last night. I didn't get back home until 3:00 in the morning."

"It's alright Danny; it seems since the incident with the 'Disasteroid' your grades have been pulling back up." He said.

I glanced out the window to gather my thoughts before turning back to him, "That's because people have been treating me differently. I'm not as stressed out as I was before. I mean sure I can't hide from fans anymore, but it's nice to finally feel good about myself."

Lancer smiled at me, "That's good to hear, Danny. Now let's begin with the lesson…"

I actually paid attention and absorbed everything into my mind. I can finally do that now because I don't have to think about what happens if a ghost comes. If it does I'll just go ghost right in the middle of class and no one would think anything of it. Sure Paulina or someone might yell 'Go get 'em Danny!' or something, but that's just normal. I know I had been hesitant about it before, but now that I think about it now I really do like it. I don't even have a curfew anymore which is awesome. My parents assume that I'm fighting a ghost at night now. My parents don't even get involved which is a huge shock for my dad. Only on occasion when I call for help they will meet up with me take care of business. They just keep doing the research and inventing new weapons for me to use while I handle most of the fighting. I have to say I really like this life more than the crappy old one I had. I'm freer than I've ever been.

I strode out the door of the classroom to see Sam and Tucker waiting in the hallway. I turned to them and gave a grin, "Oh hey guys, you didn't have to stay that whole time."

"Of course we did, if not who else is going to sit in your house and eat your food the rest of the day?" Sam asked with a smile.

"Um, my dad." I replied with a snort.

"Accurate." Tucker commented.

"Okay, I'll give you that one." She sighed in defeat, "But can we just leave please? I'm tired of being cooped up in this place. I've had enough of the public education system for the day. "

I chuckled and held my hand out to her, "Yeah sure."

She lightly smiled and took my hand I offered as we began to walk down the hallway.

"Hey Danny since you two are pretty open with the couple thing now, do you think it makes Paulina jealous?" Tucker asked.

I scoffed, "I dunno, but I really don't care. She had her chances and didn't use them."

"Wow, harsh. And you had a crush on her for so long." Sam teased.

"Yeah, well, I was open with the crush on her, but not the one on you. I thought it'd be all awkward and ruin our friendship." I replied.

"I thought the same thing, that's why I didn't say anything either." She said.

"Danny! Dude why did you not tell me about the crush on Sam? We tell each other everything but you couldn't even tell me that?" Tucker asked in frustration.

I stared at him and blinked in confusion, "Wasn't it obvious and everyone figured it out?"

"Well yeah, it was obvious to everyone but you two." He retorted as he pushed open the door to leave the school.

We followed him out the door and he paused in front of the crosswalk, "Well you love birds, I have to go. I was supposed to leave earlier because I have work to do at the Mayor's Office but I had to see how Danny was doing after that fight with Skulker I saw on TV last night."

"You can't come hang out with us after you get done with work?" I asked in disappointed and gave a mock pouty face.

"Aw poor you…and nah, I have a date." Tucker replied proudly.

I waggled my eyebrows at him, "Oohh with Valerie?"

Tucker crossed his arms in defense, "So what if it's with Val? We've dated before then she started liking you. But now you have Sam, so I don't mind being the rebound guy. Plus, I think she knew it was going to happen sooner or later anyway."

"Yeah, you're right. Well I guess I'll see you in 1st and 2nd period tomorrow then."

He plopped a hand onto my shoulder, "Sure thing man, science is something I'm kind of good at. There's no way we're failing that science project."

I let out a small laugh, "I hope so."

"Well I should get going if I'm going to get that paper work done. See you guys tomorrow!" Tucker called as he ran off.

I sighed, "We barely get to hang out with him anymore."

"It's alright, Danny. He's a busy guy just like you are. He gets the same special treatment you do." Sam said as we began to walk towards my house.

"Yeah, but you don't get any special treatment. Does that not bother you?"

"No, it doesn't bother me. Plus I don't need special treatment because I don't fail classes." She retorted.

"True."

"Cheer up, Danny! Things are going great for you! The only downside is those obnoxious reports breathing down our necks every minute."

I sighed, "Also true."

"Everything is going to be fine. I mean we're half-way through Junior year and not too long we'll be Seniors. We can then be done with this high school at least!"

"Yeah… It's all so weird to think about. I mean can you believe Jazz actually graduated last year? I don't understand her reasons for staying here. She wanted to go to Yale or Harvard or some other fancy school. But instead she stayed her in ghost ridden Amity Park."

Sam gazed at me with a heavy heart, "She did it for you, you know that right? She wanted to stay and make sure that you were safe. She's your sister and she cares about you."

I sighed, "I do know. But I'm not worth throwing away her future."

My girlfriend shook her head at me and stopped in her tracks, "Danny, she's not throwing anything away. She's taking online classes until she decides where she really wants to go. Jazz wants to find a good school close to home so that if you ever need help she can be here for you. I'm honestly jealous that you have a sibling that wants to stick around this hell hole just to ensure that you're okay."

I felt my heart tighten, "Yeah. You're right." I snorted at my stupidity and started our walk back towards my house, "Sorry. I totally went way off topic there. I guess that's been bothering me for a while. I just want her to be happy. She's never even had a boyfriend."

"Well… unless you count the Johnny incident."

"No. I don't count that."

"Y'know for a younger brother you're pretty protective of Jazz too." Sam commented.

I shrugged, "It's a mutual thing. I don't want anyone that I care about to get hurt because of something I've done."

"Wow… such a hero complex."

"Why does everyone say that!?"

When we eventually reached Fenton Works, I turned to Sam and puffed out my lip, "You coming inside or you have to go?" I grumbled.

"Actually… I do have to go. My parents, ugh, you know them. It's 'family game night', I'm going to hurl."

I laughed and smiled, "Well at least your family game night includes at home bowling allies? Just try to have a little bit of fun."

She scoffed, "Trust me I won't. But anyway, there is a movie coming out tomorrow I wanted to see. A horror film, ya know. I was wondering if you wanted to go…I already bought tickets."

My lips turned upward, "Like a date?"

"If you want it to be a date…" She replied slyly.

"Then it's a date."

"Great I hoped so! Well see you tomorrow, Danny." Sam said giving me a peck on the cheek.

I reached up and touched my cheek, "Yeah, see you." I paused on the stair steps up to my house as I watched her disappear from view before slipping inside.