Hey guys. I decided to update early. :) Yay. Um... Well I didn't really like this chapter so much but I promise chapter 8 is better. Don't hate me! And I love all the awesome reviews I'm getting! 27!!! That's awesome! Anyway, keep reviewing and I'll keep updating! See ya!
Disclaimer: Must I state the obvious? I have no money, don't sue me.
Chapter 7: Confrontations
I stared absently across the huge football field, my chin in my hands as the wind whipped my hair all around. The air was cold on my bare skin, but I didn't even notice. After first period I had skipped out of school. I didn't want to deal with anyone calling me into their office to talk, didn't want to deal with faking a smile.
I hated this place.
Granted, it probably wasn't too smart to remain on school grounds. But I couldn't seem to muster up the strength to move. Instead I allowed my thoughts to wander to the trouble I might get in. He had given the school my cell phone number just in case. He had told me that after he gave it to me. So if they called I would know.
Most likely I wouldn't pick up.
I gritted my teeth as a particularly cold blast of air made goosebumps rise on my arms. I shivered and wanted to move, but my limbs weren't listening. It was like I was stuck.
Too weak, The voice whispered. I clenched my fists and held back the tears that threatened. I refused to cry. Last night had been enough to last me a long time. I couldn't afford that kind of weakness. It could easily cost me the mission. And with Darion, the result of the mission could mean life or death.
Faintly I heard the bell ring for lunch and stiffened. If anyone came out here for lunch, which they usually did, I could be questioned. Especially since Danny and his friends usually came out here to eat and they would most certainly question me. Then they would tell Jazz and she'd question me, too.
I stood so quickly the blood rushed to my head and made me dizzy, but I was already halfway down the bleachers, too stricken with desperation to care. I practically bolted for the gap in the fence.
"Kida!" I heard my name being called by a familiar voice. I recognized it as Danny's. I cried out quietly in exasperation. Didn't he get lunch? It would've given me adequate time to escape. I stumbled slightly, unsure of what to do. If I ran, he would tell Jazz that I had run away from him. And it would give her more of a reason to be suspicious.
So I decided to do the only thing that made sense at the moment, the only thing that came to me in the fog of jumbled thoughts.
I slowed down as I got near the fence and slipped a pack of cigarettes out of my pocket. Smoking affected me very unlike it affected other humans. I couldn't get addicted, I wasn't sure why, but it acted almost like a drug in my system, soothing my every nerve and calming my body, but in a different way than it should. It was like being shot with an awesome tranquilizer. Like a high.
One of the many things I had taken up before I was captured that I was rediscovering.
I lit one up and turned around, smiling a little. Danny jogged up to meet me, eyeing the cigarette in my hand warily.
"I didn't know you smoked," He said carefully.
"I don't," I replied, winking and taking a long drag. "It's all an illusion."
"Why'd you run?" He decided to change the subject.
"I didn't want to get in trouble for smoking on school grounds."
"I thought you don't smoke," He chuckled, rolling his eyes.
"As far as they know," I gestured toward the school. "I don't."
"I see," He didn't see. He was blind like the rest of them. "Why'd you skip the rest of the day?"
I hesitated. "I didn't feel like going to school," It was the truth. Well, half of it, anyway. "It's my life, right? Why should I have to waste it in school?"
He opened his mouth, but then closed it, a puzzled look forming on his face. "Hey, you're right. Why should you? And why should I?"
"You shouldn't," I said simply. "You should come with me."
"Oh, I… I can't."
"Why? Afraid they'll call your parents? Afraid you'll get caught?" I was taunting him, I knew. But it was fun. And I hadn't had fun in a long time.
"No!" He growled defensively. I smiled and took a final drag, putting the butt out on the fence. Maybe I wouldn't do that anymore. It tasted gross and was a bad habit anyway. But it made me feel good.
I wasn't sure of anything anymore. Except for my mission.
"Then come with me," I said simply. "Break the rules for once." Instead of enforcing them, I added silently.
He seemed to be thinking it over.
"Ok," He said at last. "Where to?"
"Are you afraid of ghosts?" The question took me by surprise and I answered without thinking.
"No," I licked my ice cream and shot him a quizzical look. "Why?"
"Just wondering."
I almost swore out loud as it hit me. He was asking me because he wanted a possible reason for my little episode the previous night. But the part of me that wanted to retain as much pride as possible said that my original response was better and there was no need to think of a cover story. He wouldn't think I was weak. Weakness was the reason why I was captured in the first place. I couldn't fight him off. But that would never happen again.
"Do you know who… who Danny Phantom is?" I glanced quickly at him, searching his eyes.
"Well, yea, I see him in the paper most of the time," I laughed. It was a lie. I didn't even read the paper. Too… much, I supposed.
He blushed a bit. I glanced at my watch; 5:15. The day had flown by without a call to my cell or Danny's. I hoped that had meant our absences went unnoticed.
"Do you like Sam?" I asked abruptly.
"What? Me?! Like Sam?!" He spluttered loudly, turning red. A few people turned to stare at him.
"Danny…"
"Ok, the truth is… well… not even Tucker knows about this, I shouldn't be telling you."
"I won't tell," I said quickly, using my mind to push him a bit as well. I held up a hand, fingers crossed, and winked. "Girl Scout's honor."
"You were in the Scouts?" Danny said incredulously.
"Hey, I could have been in the Girl Scouts, mister!" I brandished my remaining cone at him and it almost slipped out of my hand. "But no, I wasn't. I just promise."
"Ok, ok… Tucker should probably know anyway, maybe I should tell him, too… Anyway, Sam and I… we used to secretly date," He admitted at last. Explains the jealousy and possessiveness over him, I thought wryly. "But it was awkward… like dating my sister."
"Ew," I muttered.
"Tell me about it. Anyway we ended up staying just friends and now we're closer than ever."
Only I think she's not as over him as he is her, I thought to myself, picturing Sam throughout the time I had been here. She was relaxed at first, but now that there was competition…
"Kida?" Danny asked suddenly. I sighed inwardly; just from his body language alone I could tell the next question was going to either be about or related to the night before.
"Yep."
"Do you like your parents?" I don't even need my powers to figure out what he's inquiring. That's one for me. I frowned thoughtfully, brushing aside the thought. Did I like my parents? I didn't really remember much about my parents. My mind wouldn't really allow me to. It would cause unneeded pain. I decided to lie. Again.
"I guess so. But my parents are never home. They both work really late and leave home really early."
He looked surprised at that.
"What do you do for dinner?"
"Uh… whatever I feel like, I suppose," I wanted to laugh and cry. For the past few nights I hadn't eaten anything. For the past few days all I had really eaten was a cheeseburger and a ham sandwich. Oh, and there had been that rather questionable school macaroni and cheese, but I wasn't sure if that counted as food.
"Well… do you want to eat over my house?" My mind raced. Eating over Danny's house would please Darion, but it would mean I would have to meet new people and be in the same room as Jazz. I wasn't sure if I was ready for the first one, and I definitely wasn't ready for the second. But also… a part of me wanted to go. Thoughts, decisions, and excuses plagued my thoughts, but when my gaze landed on his own eager one, I knew what my decision would be.
"That would be… nice."
Next chapter... DINNER WITH THE FENTONS!!! AH!!!! lol no really, it turns out pretty good. I hope.
