Afraid - Chapter Three

Danny was hyperventilating. Did Mr. Lancer know? Did now despise Danny? Was he going to tell everyone?

Ok, calm down Danny, there's no way to know for sure if Mr. Lancer actually knows. If I'm lucky, he'll think it's a joke and just give me a detention. But then, when have I ever been lucky?

Danny continued to brood.

Lancer was walking to his classroom; he wasn't really paying attention to what was going on around him, though. No, he was too busy thinking about what to do when last period came; Daniel Fenton was in his English lesson then. He was supposed to be returning the essays. Normally, that would be fine, but this time he had Daniel's strangely personal one. To be honest, Lancer didn't even know why Daniel had even given this essay in. Was it a mistake? Was it meant only for Daniel's eyes? If so, how was he going to give the essay back without causing an awkward rift between the two of them for the rest of the year? Not that there wasn't already an awkward rift…

But then again, hadn't Mr. Fenton said he was glad that he'd set the topic at the end of the essay? Didn't that mean he was supposed to have read it? He sighed, everything was just so confusing.

"Hey, L–man!" called a voice.

"I thought I told you not to call me that Kain," Lancer replied. He turned around to see his fellow teacher, Kain McGellen. He was quite short, with ebony hair and obsidian eyes. Despite his age (43 years as of last week) he still acted like a child (much like a certain Jack Fenton…).

"Aww, but I've always called you 'L–man'."

Lancer rolled his eyes, "That may be true but I don't have to like it."

"Anyway, what's with the thoughtful face? It makes you look constipated," asked Kain. Lancer blushed in embarrassment. Trust Kain to make a comment like that.

"Must you say that every time I think near you? As for why I'm thinking, it's about a student," answered Lancer.

"Ohohoho! Don't you know paedophilia is illegal?" laughed the other man.

"Arrghh! Not in that way you perverted maniac!" raged the poor English teacher. The dark haired man just laughed while looking at the blushing teacher. He knew there was something troubling him, he wasn't sure what it was, but he was glad he took his mind off it, if only for a few seconds.

Mr Lancer took a breath and spoke again, "It's about the essay he wrote, the content…I can't reveal it to you (it's against student-teacher confidentiality) but I can tell you that it worries me," he frowned but continued, "It tells me that he has more problems, many more than I could've imagined." By now both had reached their destination.

"I don't know if there's much I can do to help, but know that I'll always be here to offer advice," Kain's smile turned into a smirk and a glint appeared in his eyes, "of course, if you ever want to pursue that relationship with that kid…"

"KAIN!" yelled an outraged English teacher.

Danny slammed his head on the table. He had English next and Tucker and Sam weren't going to be there. He groaned.

"Come on Danny, I'm sure it won't be that bad. I bet Mr. Lancer didn't realise what you were writing about," Sam said, trying to reassure him. Tucker hastily agreed. Danny just kept his head on the table. Sam and Tucker exchanged looks.

"How about, you try and see if he knows about you-know-what?" asked Tucker.

"Yeah, then you'll know how to act around him, if he knows, show that you know he knows, if he doesn't, tell him it was a joke," advised Sam. Danny's head still remained on the table. The other two sighed.

"Maybe we should leave you alone for a bit." Said Sam and the Goth and Techno-freak left.

Danny lifted his head up. By now, most people had left the cafeteria in favour of the grass outside. Not him though, he remained wit his untouched lunch. He was too worried to eat. He sighed. Maybe Sam was right; maybe he should try and work out if Lancer really knew. He sighed again.

"Hey kid, what's with all the sighing?" asked a voice from behind him. The person the voice belonged to sat down beside him. Danny turned his head slightly to look at the man.

"Hey Mr McGellen," he said.

Ooooo, looks like Kain is on friendly terms with Danny, how will this affect the plot? Hmm, looks like Mr. Lancer doesn't actually know what the secret is. Danny will have to watch his words, make sure he doesn't accidentally slip up.

I'm actually quite ashamed with how short this came out but I guess it'll have to do. I seem to have a problem with writing long chapters. I need some opinions, should I bring Vlad in? If so, should he be evil or should I create a father-son bond between him and Danny?