AN: Hello everyone! I would like to thank everybody who has read this story and even more thanks to those who have reviewed. Speaking of reviews, if you'd like me to read a story you've written and review it, just shoot me a PM and I'd be more than happy to do it when I find the time. About Sportsman's review, you asked why Danny's parents berate him instead of helping him. I'd say that his parents (mainly Jack) lost their patience and were extremely cruel (because of what seems to be Danny's constant irresponsibility) in the last chapter, but they still love him. They just got frustrated and they said things they didn't mean, which everyone has done at some point. Danny's just so depressed by this point that he takes it seriously. :P oh, and thank you for reviewing. To everyone else, enjoy!


Danny, are you sure you're alright?"

My sister's question startled me so much that I spilled the milk I'd been drinking.

"I told you already, Jazz, I'm fine," I protested. I was sure that the morose look on my face suggested otherwise, but this was the third time this morning that she'd asked the dreaded question and it wasn't even 7:00 yet.

"Okay then," she answered, obviously less than convinced. She continued to study me while I ate my breakfast. I really wasn't hungry even though I hadn't eaten dinner the night before, but she made sure I finished every bite of my cereal. Once I was done, I put my dishes in the sink and exited the room, relieved to be out from under her scrutinizing gaze. That relief lasted for about two seconds, and then I collided into my parents at the bottom of the stairs.

"Danny, we need to talk to you," my mother said. At first, I expected anger and a continuation of the bashing session last night, but instead she looked almost...concerned?

My dad was the first to speak.

"Danny, we've decided that we need to apologize for last night."

I was still reeling from what he'd said to me, but he looked so remorseful that I decided to hear him out.

"Danny, I'm so sorry about what I said to you last night," he began. "I didn't mean to say those things about you and I don't believe any of what I said. I was just so frustrated. I'd been having a bad day and I let it get the best of me, but I was so wrong to act the way I did. Will you forgive me, son?"

I could tell that he meant his apology, but I still couldn't shake the ever-present weight of worthlessness from my shoulders.

"I forgive you, but you don't need to apologize. I deserved it for slacking off so much. Heck, sometimes even I feel like I'm a failure." I gave a halfhearted laugh and watched them share a worried look before my mom asked, "Danny, is there something wrong?"

"I'm fine," I insisted for the millionth time that morning. "I'd better get to detention. And don't worry, I'll come straight home after school." With that I retrieved my backpack and walked out the front door, but not before catching another glimpse of my parents' concerned faces. With an exhausted sigh, I transformed into Phantom and shot off to school as quickly as I could.


I knocked on the door of Lancer's classroom and he answered it almost immediately.

"Good morning, Mr. Fenton," he said in a not-so-enthusiastic way. And he wonders why nobody ever pays attention in his class.

"Good morning, Mr. Lancer," I answered, echoing his monotone before walking straight over to his desk and placing my completed homework on it. I figured I might as well try to make this detention a somewhat pleasant one.

He was beyond surprised at my sudden effort. He raced over to his desk, probably to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. "You...you did your homework?" he murmured, looking stupefied.

"Don't look so surprised," I told him and went to sit in my seat. Lancer now looked elated and was grading my work with the excitement that, say, Tucker would have when tearing into a Triple Nasty Burger.

I instantly saddened when I thought of my best friend. I hadn't talked to him or Sam in ages. I'd altogether given up on investigating Gregor because I knew if I continued to, Sam would get even more angry with me than she already was. I was also realizing that some of my suspicions might have been fueled by jealousy since he seemed to be taking my closest friends away. Still, I figured that if Tucker hadn't noticed anything off about him, then he was probably clean, which then segued into the fact that neither Tucker nor Sam had texted me or talked to me in two days. Sam surely wasn't still too livid to talk to me. Was Gregor really that captivating? Then again, I supposed that if they wanted to make new friends, who was I to hold them back? Still, I missed them so much...

Suddenly, Lancer's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Mr. Fenton, what's this on your worksheet?" He held it up and I saw him pointing to where I'd bled on it the night before. It was very faint, but there were still some spots that I'd missed.

Oh, come on, I thought. I mentally slapped myself for being so careless.

I walked up to him, pretending to inspect it, when I noticed it looked a lot like ketchup. Suddenly, my excuse was formed.

"Oh that? Last night at dinner I spilled a bit of ketchup on it. Sorry, sir, it won't happen again." I lied, crossing my fingers. I shot him a wide grin, hoping to show him that everything was fine with me.

"Alright, but do try to be more careful in the future." I nodded and made my way back to my seat. I could tell he still wasn't completely persuaded, but it would have to do for now.

"Oh, and Mr. Fenton?" he spoke up, stopping me in my tracks. Now what did he want?

I turned around, forcing another smile. "If you ever need to talk to someone for any reason, please know that I am more than willing to be that someone." he finished, and I did my best not to look confused. He was a teacher! They weren't supposed to care about anyone but the football team...at least, they all acted like they didn't.

He noticed my flustered look and commented, "Don't think I haven't noticed the stress you've been under lately. I know that at times I can seem harsh when I give you detentions and call you out when you fall asleep in class, but everything I do is for your own personal good."

Yeah, right, I thought. That detention cost me what little self-esteem I had left.

"Thank you, sir," I responded, and went to sit back down. I was so tired, and my muscles hurt like nothing else. I decided I'd put my head down and try to catch some sleep before class started. There weren't very many ghosts the previous night, but the ones that did come all arrived at about 1:30 in the morning for some ghost raid and I caught most of them within the next hour. I counted that as a blessing, but I was still worn out and was sure it showed.

The first few students were starting to chatter and mill around in the hall. I slowly let myself drift off until I heard the bell ring.

A lot of people were already seated, but not Sam. I was beginning to wonder where she could be when in she strolled, obviously on cloud nine. She'd probably talked to Gregor before class and that's why she was so upbeat. As soon as she saw my face her expression changed, but instead of glaring at me furiously she looked at me with the same concern my parents had earlier that morning. Then, she proceeded to sit down and busy herself with her notebook.

Lancer actually seemed a bit perkier in class and I managed to pay attention until the very end, even if it was only to distract myself from how down I felt. Everyone was out of the room before I was, for a change. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sam give me another look I couldn't quite read and then she left.

What was with everyone?