Wow! More reviews! Keep it up guys! I'll be writing more into this one, also juggling with "Needless Saving". Anyway, enjoy!
It was a repeat like yesterday, I was working as I bake, and Vlad showed up. What's worse, it was Friday. The supposed billionaire told me he's off for the rest of the day because he already held an early morning meeting that last four hours. He came straight here, knowing I'd be working, and Jazz wouldn't be able to pick me up due to working at her job she has. I kept myself quiet and busy during work hours. Vlad would talk about the dates he'd love to try with me, very romantic, and all too tempting.
No matter what, I couldn't let him go over his head on wanting to date me and not get what he wanted in return. The customers drew in his words and asked him whom he's taking on a date. Soon enough, he told them it was all for me. The customers would adore anything he says right off the back.
Sometimes, I wish I have the power to teleport out of here and I cannot. It seems silly, but I can fly without being caught. Of course, Jazz wouldn't let it go through my head that I had to be careful around this man especially. I didn't tell her that he has a crush on me, but why drag that in? It's just a crush fling, everyone goes through it and gives up some point of life.
In the final hours of working, I took off an apron, washed my hands, and snatched my jacket for the weather since it was slightly windy. Vlad got up and started to follow me. I snuck my hands into my jacket's pockets and walked the opposite direction of my home.
"Daniel, let me have one month to spend time with you. I won't care if you're into shopping like crazy or loves to have sex several times a day and/or night. I don't care if you're not perfect. I just want you-"
I spun around, "-Shut up! I told you, I'm not good for anyone and I'm sorry. Find someone else, would you? There's plenty fish in the sea anyway…I'm not compatible with anyone." I snapped.
He heard me, instead of being angry he just simply smile, and somehow, I felt creep out. My eyes closed and shook my head. I turned around and kept walking where I needed to be. Vlad followed me like a lost puppy and he had to be finish with work today? Where's a ghost to distract the guy for me?
I managed to get to the house that and saw a woman who was five feet and a few inch, she had white hair, blue eyes, and definitely modern adult. She was hanging out in front of the door until I realized something. I froze and spun around to glare at the billionaire.
"Do not step on this woman's property!" I snapped.
Vlad smiled away and stopped moving at all. I sighed and went up to the elderly woman with a caring smile.
"Hey Mrs. Taylor, what am I working on today?" I greeted her.
She chuckled and hugged at the first thing, "Oh, it's good to see you again, Danny. And remember the tree I wanted?" She asked me.
I hugged her back, "Yeah? The cherry blossom trees?"
Mrs. Taylor brightened her smile, "I bought it last week and it just arrived this morning! Could you be a dear and plant them in the front. I got four of them and I want them on the corners and in the middle of my front lawn."
I chuckled, "Of course! I always wanted to see the cherry blossom trees, where are they?"
She pointed to her small garage, "They're in the garage, and the tools are set for you." Her head turned to the front, "Is that your friend, Danny? He can join us, you know?"
"No and no." My head shook, "Sorry, Mrs. Taylor, but he's not a friend."
She frowned, "He doesn't know-"
"-No. I'll get started on the tree."
Mrs. Taylor nodded, "Of course, I'm going to finish up making the lemon bars and the cinnamon tea."
I gasped and chortled at the fact she made my favorite! Honestly, working for the woman who knew my secret rocks! She's awesome. I saved her so much in the first year, she knew who I was and confessed it to me. It was a little after Jazz discovers my secret and really, this woman is quite an opening minded about many things.
"Awesome! They're my favorite, Mrs. Taylor!" I was eager to get the job done.
I headed over to the garage, punched in the security code, and went in as I found everything I needed. Since Mr. Stalker was watching, I had to be careful now. Normally, I can carry two trees, but now…that would easily expose my secret out of a proportion. I couldn't risk it. I noticed the tree was growing up to four feet tall right now and it wasn't so bad for a start. I grabbed a shovel and the tree along. I started at the corner first on the right of the house. I set the tree down and dug up a little. Mrs. Taylor has taught me so much more than expected and with her experiences, I was able to get stronger with my ghost fighting experiences.
I found the cinnamon tea very helpful with cholesterol and blood sugar level. That's not all, it kept me health and I got to be around people when they're sick, I even took care of Jazz when she was sick! I felt like there's something I can do. She made me feel useful for once. Also, it kept me focus in class and everything I do in life, especially ghost fighting. Mrs. Taylor pointed out my academic improvement and my fighting stances have changed drastically since I drank tea. Before I knew it, I grew addicted to it.
"You do freelance job as well?" The man had to ask, but he was on the opposite property.
He was free to do what he wants. I kept digging at a normal pace, but what worries me if he observes I don't sweat. I hardly sweat at all since my core is like extremely below zero degree temperature. He just stood there, watching me, and I chose to do the same thing. By being quiet and just plainly listening to him. I dug deep, but not too deep. I lifted the tree like a book lifting and I place it into the ground hole. I restore the hole backup to normal. I went back to the garage and picked a middle of this side of the lawn. I repeated the process of gardening and honestly, it's a best work out without involving ghosts once a while.
Vlad kept watching me doing this, his eyes never left off me, and it didn't feel right at all. I gulped mentally at the idea of him trying to use me for power…if he knew who I was personally. I started to wonder if it's normal for him to cling onto someone he really likes, but I can't help and wonder. Something about the billionaire was mysterious and I wanted to read his mind. Oh well, can't have that power either and I never seen it before in the ghost zone. So why should it even exist?
I sighed after finishing the last Cherry blossom tree and brushed my hands off from the dirt I've dug up from. I picked up the shovel and put it away. I locked up the garage with its security code and headed over to the hose next to the front door. I started to turn it on and went over to the trees to water them.
"Have you always worked as a freelance gardener or something?" Vlad asked, hoping desperately for me to answer him back.
No matter what, he hardly gave up and kept trying at his very best. I wasn't too sure how long he was going to put up with me, but I kept mentally counting the days I have left until college. Yeah, that's better and I should make myself busier somehow.
Once the last tree finally got its water, I was finished for the day. I fixed up my mess and join into Mrs. Taylor's house. Once I entered in, there's a table at least five feet from me set up with two cups of tea steaming and another eight feet from the table, there's the kitchen. It's like a small house for two or three people, but it's beautiful here. Unfortunately, she lives alone and her husband passed away eight years ago. She considers my company a lot since she observed me closer than she observed anyone else. I washed my hands at her kitchen sink while she was cutting up the lemon bars. I can definitely smell the sweetness in these things.
She set them on a plate and retrieved napkins along the way. We both went over and sat down. I could see Vlad throughout the window and he just stood there. One thing for sure, I had to miss leads him before heading home.
"Are you sure he's not a friend or a boyfriend at least? He seems lonely out there." Her voice saddened.
I sighed, "Sorry, but I'm not going to have a boyfriend ever."
She frowned, "But he looks like your type. Why don't you want one? Is it because of-"
"-Shush," I hushed her, "-he's been addicted to me by being around me. He wants to go on a date with me and all, but my real life isn't worth it for anyone. I mean, I can't go telling my secret to someone who hardly know me." I pouted.
She handed me a lemon bar, "I haven't told anyone and your secret is always safe. You need to give faith in people. Just because you will not age after twenty one doesn't mean you shouldn't or cannot date others. It's life you're living in."
I accepted the lemon bar and took a small bite, "You know I have been in so many relationships, nothing has ever worked out. I tried, it just my secret takes over so much and I always consider my secret as my number one priority." I chewed on the rest of the lemon bar.
Mrs. Taylor sighed, not wanting to believe what I said, and she knew most of my problems. She patted my hand like a grandmother like and I always treated her like a grandma. She didn't mind it at all and she never had kids…so it was reasonable.
"Have you tried to set aside your priority and just live a life? The world dealt fine without Danny Phantom before, why not give the man a try?" She winked at me.
My head shook, "No, who's going to take care of…you know?"
Mrs. Taylor smirked at me, "You know who and that's not changing the subject. You're worried of what CW has said to you a couple years ago."
I was about to take a bite, but that hurts sometimes. I remembered Clockwork showed up to save my family, I learned my life lesson the hard way and could have almost ended up evil me by now. I almost lost my family and friends, but I didn't have anyone. I raised myself, took care of school on my own, and dealt with ghost fighting. When I was so down and beaten, I went insane to evil. I took it out on a ghost to the next ones. Then, my first ghost murdering came along, as I grew stronger. He said it was because once I turned twenty-one, I realized I couldn't age anymore and it made me stay with my insanity for the rest of my life. Mrs. Taylor was right, I was worried over to be evil and alone and that's what exactly what I was doing. I sighed.
"Well, I broke up Dash last month. So jumping into another relationship right now isn't a good idea." I shrugged.
She stood up and hugged me, "Danny, you kept your promises and you saved us all. I have faith in you that it'll never happen. Who knows, relationships might keep you sane more than ever." She smiled.
I chuckled. She knew what to say to lighten things up for me. Mrs. Taylor sat back down and helped herself some lemon bar she made today.
"Relationships keep me sane, that has got to be the rare line." In the corner of my eyes, I could see Vlad standing there and I felt terrible-
A deep blue mist escaped my mouth and Mrs. Taylor sighed.
"Shall I go distract the man while you go fight'em?"
I sheepishly smiled, "Could you please?"
Mrs. Taylor chuckled, gathered a couple of lemon bars on a spare napkin, and went out to Vlad. Once she chatted with him, I altered to Phantom, and quickly searched for the unwanted ghost.
I heard a screeching and jerked myself around. There were old birds, assuming they were extinct American birds, and they dashed out of the place. I flew off to where they headed to and they…talk?
"Vouchda know vhat Vasters wants? Ve wants us to spy on vim!" One of them spoke, a deep voice.
I blinked, "Spy on who, may I ask?"
They glanced down at me and sped off at the sight of me. Before I knew it, they were invisible and no longer in sight. I groaned at the fact I was losing my touch with ghosts and slammed my face to feel like an idiot more than ever. Why has my life decides to be more complicated right now?
I triggered invisibility and hung by one of the cherry blossom trees to check on Mrs. Taylor and Vlad. I mean…I have to be sure there wasn't much going on.
"Mr. Masters, you can't go stalking your crush, but you can visit him from time to time." She smiled.
Vlad sighed, "All I want is a simple one date with Daniel. Is that hard to ask? I don't care if he wants to be the one spending the money or if it's a one-night fling. I want him," Vlad felt disappointed.
Mrs. Taylor nodded, "I understand, sir, but you'll have to be patience with him. Danny has gone through a lot in his life, but don't judge him. He can't help it for being himself like this. Besides, he got out another relationship from Dash and a month to heal doesn't do much. Give him a few more months to heal."
Vlad accepted the lemon bar, "I supposed I should have waited and taken a friendship token instead, but I believed I ruined that."
I wanted to hug him, tell him my reasons, and I couldn't. I flew off, not bothering to stay, and Mrs. Taylor was able to know I was gone anyway. My arms crossed as I flew over to home and thought about it.
I spent some time alone, rethinking on the evil side of me, and how my life was given a second chance by a ghost name Clockwork. Was it fair? Was it safer? Could have I met the man without my ghost powers? No secrets? Still, I can't split my ghost or it'll be evil for life. What's worst is immortal life…can it get worse from this?
Reviews please? They're like snacks to me! Now, I reaaallly want a lemon bar, I hadn't had them in years! lol, next chapter maybe a day or two.
