Oh hey, I'm not dead. I have however, learned what the kid from Home Alone felt like when his family left him behind.

I'm being serious. I was at band camp a couple weeks ago and the teacher actually left me behind at the hotel for an hour while the rest of the class went to look at waterfalls. It was a disaster.

Anyway, one last thing before the story; thanks to an error I made last chapter which none of you thought to tell me about, this story is now beta read by Tumblr user Ectofruitloops. Go check her out, she's great.

Onwards!

Chapter 13;

"Seriously Maxie, you suck at this game."

"Yeah, yeah." Max rolled his eyes, glancing over at his friend before turning back at the computer in front of him. "Shut up, you nerd. ...How exactly did you get internet in the Ghost Zone, again?"

"I convinced Parker that it'd be beneficial- are you stuck in a tree? What is it with you and those dumb plants?!"

"Who knows? Karma hates my guts." He shrugged, "How do I get out of this thing?"

"Uh, hold on," The ghost currently known as Jason moved his avatar up to join his friend's. "...Yeah, I've got nothing."

"...Fascinating. You can stalk a teenager with ease, but when it comes down to getting your buddy out of a tree, you can't do anything." He paused, only speaking again when the silence became awkward. "How's that going for you...? Anything to report?"

"Uh, no." Jason shrugged, "I'm just giving him some time off, you know? Some time to cool down, accept that someone wants to be like him... Yeah."

"So basically, you scared him off."

"No!" Jason slouched, "Maybe. But not on purpose! I didn't mean to!"

"You're stalking a sixteen year old boy and you almost dragged me into joining you!" Max ran a hand through his hair, pausing after a moment to adjust his glasses. "Seriously, there's a line between curious and creepy, and you've set up a tent on the creepy side! You've been spending too much time with Parker."

"Who's been what now?" A female voice spoke up, and both boys turned.

"Uh oh," Max whispered.

"Hi, Parker!" Jason quickly moved to his feet, closing the laptop he'd been holding in his lap. "I didn't hear you get back."

"That's because you talk too loud, honeybuns." She ruffled his hair, ignoring the annoyed look Jason shot her and the amused snickers from Max. "Here, I got you something." She handed him an envelope, and in reply to the questioning look Jason sent her, smiled. "It has to do with Danny Phantom. William, I have one for you too." She tossed a second envelope towards Max.

"Oh, we're going by human names now?" Max shrugged, watching Jason rip open the envelope. He ignored his own; he didn't want to know what a creep like Parker had for him. "Well thank you, Louise. Who'd you stalk to get this?"

"Your ex-"

"He actually doesn't care!" Jason cut in, tearing at the envelope some more. "Parker, sarcasm, remember? Or do I have to explain it all again?"

Max let relief wash over him. If there was anyone who could shut Parker up, it was her charge. Thank you, Jay. That would've gone bad.

"Jamie-poo, you know I don't care about stuff like that." She smiled, ignoring the loud annoyed sound Jason let out in reply to the nickname. "Aren't you going to look at your picture?"

"Oh! Right," Jason pulled out the picture inside, and the ripped envelope slid out of his hand. It took Max a moment to realize that his friend was shaking.

"...Parker," Jason spoke slowly, "What kind of sick trick is this?! It's not funny!"

"It's not a trick," Parker crossed her arms, "I told you they were the same person. I told you five times! Did you believe me? No. You asked for proof. So there's your proof. Danny Fenton is Danny Phantom. It's pretty common knowledge. Most of the Ghost Zone knows it!"

Wait, what?

"You're lying," Jason was shaking now, "He's not! He- he can't be! That- it couldn't have all been for nothing!"

I'm confused.

"Well, that's life. Afterlife." Parker frowned, "Oh, whatever. The schematics of it all confuse me."

Join the club. Reaching forwards, Max plucked the picture from his friend's hand. Everyone's freaking out over some kid's back? ...I still don't get it. "What does this prove, exactly?"

"E-exactly!" Jason snapped, taking a step towards Parker. "What does this prove?!"

"Apparently that you're a moron." She deadpanned, and Max barely held in a snort of laughter. "I'm surrounded by idiots who can't see what's right in front of them! Fenton, Phantom... It's not a secret! Nobody's keeping it as one! If you'd just talk to people you'd know his human name!"

"You're lying," Jason moved back, glancing between Max and Parker. "She's lying! Make her stop!"

Max held up his hands in a sign of surrender. "Hey, fight your own battles! I'm staying out of your sort-of-kind-of family drama." He paused, adjusting his glasses once again and squinting at the picture. ...Oh god, why would I notice that? "And apparently you're all good at identifying people by shots of their butt. Seriously, get off the creepy side."

"You're all lying," Jason took another step back, ignoring Max's comments. "I won't let you lie to me!" He ran off deeper into the lair, a sound of a door slamming following moments later.

"Someone really needs to teach him how to fly right," Parker sighed, pushing a loose strand of hair from her face. There was a moment of silence- not including the crashes coming from Jason's room- before she glared at Max. "Someone who isn't you. I will not forgive you for what happened last time."

"I already told you, I don't know how that cactus got there." The crashes continued in the background, "Man. He sure knows how to throw a temper tantrum."

"And apparently twenty is the new terrible twos. You know, I wanted children when I was alive. He almost makes me glad I died before that could happen. Does that make me a bad person?"

"Probably." This time, actual silence separated his words. Oh no. "I should go talk to him." He didn't wait for Parker's reply, choosing instead to rush down the hall. The door to his friend's room was unlocked, but opening it revealed that it didn't contain Jason. Nor did it contain his coat, or the stupid sunglasses he'd grown fond of.

There was a moment of silence before Max cursed under his breath. Darn teleporter. "Parker? We have an issue!"

.-.-.-.-.-.

"Why aren't you at school?"

Valerie ignored the younger hybrid, choosing instead to pull a box of cereal from the pantry out. She stopped once she realized it was Fruit Loops, and taking a shaky breath in, put them back in their spot.

"Valerie! Don't ignore me!" Danielle reached out, grabbing onto Valerie's arm. "Why aren't you at school?"

"Because I'm sick." It wasn't a lie; after all, she had thrown up a couple times last night. Though, it wasn't so much from a virus as it was from the fact that she'd been hunting an actual human who'd been little but nice to her. At least with Danielle and Vlad she'd never really gone after them, but with Phantom... No, Danny. He's Danny. He's always been Danny.

"What are you sick with?" Wow, she was stubborn. Just like Danny. Maybe it was a Halfa thing.

Valerie didn't reply right away. The very thought of what she'd done made her sick to her stomach. "...Life." And the one I almost ended.

"Oh. Ew." Danielle made a face, floating up to grab the cereal. "Hah, Fruit Loops. Still funny."

Valerie watched the younger girl find a bowl and pile it high with the cereal. Her gut turned, and Valerie couldn't figure out for the life of her how Danny had kept this a secret. "Why wouldn't he tell me?" I... Did I say that out loud? Crap.

"Why wouldn't who tell you?" Danielle asked, moving towards the fridge. "Aww, no milk? Oh well. At least it won't get soggy."

"...Your brother. Cousin. Danny." Valerie didn't bother to try hiding how she felt. "Why wouldn't he tell me? Why wouldn't you tell me?"

Danielle looked back at her, apparently confused. "Tell you...? What are you talking about?"

"Fenton... Phantom..." Valerie couldn't bring herself to say it. She didn't want to say it. Saying it out loud meant it was real, that it had happened.

"What? ...What about them?" She sounded a bit smug, almost. Like she was in on some joke Valerie was missing.

Wait... "Them? No..." Him. It's him. It's Danny. It's always been Danny.

"Yeah, them." Danielle crossed her arms, "One human and one ghost. No overlap."

"But..." But there is! They're the same person- they're both Danny! "No...?"

"Yes...? What, did you think you found another Halfa?"

Valerie leaned against the counter. I was wrong? Oh thank god, I was wrong! But... Wait, no, I... I can't be. Fenton, Phantom. They look so close and they're both... "But they're both Mr. Master's godson."

Danielle didn't reply at first; she opened her mouth to do so however, but it quickly closed. She'd quit looking at Valerie when she finally did say, "Weird. Are you sure?"

Valerie debated strangling the Halfa right then and there. She should've seen it before- this dumb half-ghost was lying to her! It was too convenient; of course they were the same person! Everything pointed to it, and there was no proof against it!

No matter how much Valerie wished there was. No matter the fact that if there was even a sliver of proof against it, she'd have latched onto that and continued to live in denial.

No matter how much Valerie wanted to be wrong... She was right.

.-.-.-.-.-.

With barely a minute left in class, everyone had given up on doing their work. Tucker shoved his binder into his backpack, hesitating a second before he could do the same with his pencil case.

Danny sat in the desk beside him, head still in his hands as it had been for over half the class. If the class wasn't so loud, Tucker was sure he'd be able to hear his friend snore. Danny, you idiot...

"Danny? Danny," He shook him, "Are you sleeping?"

No reply.

"Are you dead?"

No reply this time, either.

"Can I draw on you?"

This time Danny did reply, letting out a soft moan.

"I'm going to draw on you." Tucker pulled out a strangely colored green-brown permanent marker from his pencil case, removing the cap. The felt had barely touched the side of Danny's face before he'd reached up, grabbed onto it, and thrown it across the room.

"I said no, Tucker."

"Well maybe if you'd stop sleeping, I'd listen. And you'd better be thankful that one was an ugly color, otherwise I'd make you do the walk of shame to get it back."

Danny raised his head, glaring at Tucker for a second before noticing the time. "It's Friday, right?"

"No dude, Tuesday." Tucker deadpanned, "You slept through the three day weekend."

"I what?!" Danny shouted, jumping to his feet and attracting almost as many looks as Tucker's loud laughter did. "...I hate you so much."

"Hate me all you want, you're the one who keeps falling for it." He stood up as well, handing Danny his binder before stuffing everything in and zipping up his own backpack. "So, since Sam will be busy with the fact that she joined choir and didn't tell us, want to hang out after school? And maybe tell me why you've been looking like a zombie all day...?"

The bell rang before Danny could answer, and they piled out of the classroom. Tucker followed Danny, waiting as they stopped by his locker. "Well?"

Danny frowned, pulling at the lock and opening the door. "Well... What?"

"Do you want to come over to my house?"

"I don't know, Tucker..." Danny sighed, shaking his head. "My dad said he needed to talk to me after school. And then there's everything with Valerie..."

"Wait. There's stuff going on with Valerie?"

"No Tucker, I was so upset last night because of the creepy ghost who took a picture of my back."

"I think she should get some credit too. Valerie wouldn't be enough to freak you out like that."

"No, you don't get it." Danny hesitated for a second, speaking so quietly afterwards that Tucker barely heard. "She knows."

Tucker didn't even ask what it was she knew. "...Dude, I'm sure that's not true. If Val was going to piece you and Phantom together she would've by now."

"Except for the fact that last night my dad told her I'm Vlad's godson."

Tucker blinked twice not knowing what to say. "Danny, I..."

"You what? Have a plan for this, too? Oh! One that you'll actually tell me?" He slammed the locker door shut, running a hand down his face. "I can't do this anymore, Tucker. I can't keep pretending I'm fine when everything's falling apart because I screwed up. If I hadn't said Vlad's name wrong, if I-"

"Dude, stop. You can't change the past. Stop beating yourself up over it."

"Change the past?" Danny smiled, "Tucker, you're a genius! I'll go to Clockwork, and-"

Tucker placed a hand over his friend's mouth. "Danny, no. As cool as it would be, that's not what I meant. I meant that you need to let it go, because otherwise you'll stress yourself out and end up saying Spectra's your mom or something."

Danny pushed Tucker's hand away, looking horrified. "Don't even joke about that! Ew, Tucker! No, don't even- I think I'm going to be sick!"

Proud of his successful attempt at distracting his friend, Tucker continued and led the way outside. "Why? Would you prefer Desiree to be your mom or something?"

"Yes Tucker, I want someone who obviously doesn't like me to act as my mother." Danny deadpanned, "Just like you obviously want to bake real children into cookies."

Tucker leaned away in horror, following Danny out the front doors. "Who told you about that?"

"Uh, Sam did? Seriously, who else would?"

"I've been betrayed by your one true love!" Tucker declared, ignoring Danny's annoyed groan. "Don't deny it; you'll get together eventually!"

"I'm more likely to get with Ember than Sam, Tucker."

"Who's Ember?"

Both teens turned, Tucker barely holding in a high-pitched shout of surprise. Danny's dad stood beside them, looking more confused than anything with the Fenton RV parked a little ways away.

"Wow," Tucker frowned. "How did we miss that?"

"Hi... Dad," Danny lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck. "I didn't think you'd actually come pick me up."

"I told you to come straight home, Danny." Jack sounded completely serious, and Tucker couldn't think of a rational reason why. "...Isn't Ember the name of a ghost?"

"W-what? Pssh, no." Danny laughed, very evidently awkward. "Ember's a pop star, Dad. She's obviously alive."

"...Right," He motioned behind him. "Danny, get in the RV. Now."

"Okay, okay!" Danny took a step back, giving Tucker an awkward smile. "Sorry. Maybe tomorrow?"

"No," Jack cut Tucker off, motioning towards the RV. Danny rolled his eyes, waving at Tucker before heading into the vehicle.

"Text me if you need a hand with stuff!" Tucker called, only to have Jack step between him and Danny.

"He won't."

"Uh, sorry Mr. F," Tucker frowned, looking up at the very intimidating man. "But... You don't really know what I mean by stuff, so you don't know he won't need help."

"I know enough." Okay, scratch intimidating- Danny's dad was currently terrifying. "I don't know which one of you dragged him into this, but I'll make it clear; unless you cut off all contact with Danny Phantom permanently, I will do everything in my power to make sure you, Danny, and Sam never see each other again."

Wait. What? "Uh, what? That's a bit contradicting."

"I've already contacted your parents- they're on my side. You children could be hurt! Did it occur to any of you how dangerous this is, associating with a ghost like that?!"

I'm so confused. Wow, is that a plastic bag on the road? Who littered? Sam will not be happy...

"Danny is a good kid, and like I thought you and Sam were. But one of you made contact with Phantom, and he manipulated you- you know, the least you could do is not drag my son into your little ghost squad! He's a Fenton, and Fentons will not have anything to do with Phantom!"

I wonder if we'll have nice weather this weekend... Urgh, I have homework... Wait, crap, he was talking? And now he's walking away. A loud, furious sound from Danny cut off Tucker's thoughts, and Jack had to hold him in the RV.

It was then that Jack's words sunk in, and Tucker froze.

He couldn't spend time with his friends anymore, because Danny's dad thought they'd dragged his son into helping Danny Phantom.

I don't believe it.

Irony sunk my friendship.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Danny couldn't believe it. He knew life seemed to have something against him, but this? Being unable to see the most important people in the world to him unless they disowned him?

He almost started crying, but Jazz entering his room forced him not to. She sat down on his bed, placing a duffle bag at her feet. "I'm sorry, Danny."

"It's not your fault," Danny muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Jazz, I want Tucker and Sam. I want this to all just go away, I- I don't want to do this anymore. I made a stupid mistake and now the world hates me!"

"Dad just thinks he's helping you. He's trying to keep you safe!"

"That doesn't make it right!"

"I never said it did."

Danny frowned, moving to his feet. "Jazz, just- why do you have a duffle bag?"

"It's for you," She took a breath in. "I already packed your things- they were being washed- and there's a hundred dollars in the side pocket if you need cash. I know, it's not enough, and I'm sorry. You can take my phone, too- I know, it's girly, but I need some way to let you know when I've sorted all this out. I-"

"Jazz?" Danny moved a little closer to his sister, "Jazz- what? What is all this?"

"Don't go anywhere obvious, and don't tell me until you get there." She continued, avoiding eye contact. "Just call the home phone, disguise your voice- I know you can, Danny. You've been doing it to spook me since you were ten."

"Jazz, you aren't making sense."

"Just ask for me, and the code word is 'Inviso-Bill'. I know you hate it, but it's the best I could think of that nobody else would understand."

"Jazz-"

"I'll reply with 'Phantom'. Do you understand?"

"Nope," Danny replied, raising an eyebrow. "Why does everyone insist on making plans for me but not telling me what they are? Jazz, just- what?"

"I'll tell Mom and Dad that I know where you are and that you're safe, if that's-"

"Jazz, stop!" Danny nearly shouted, and his sister looked up at him. "Just tell me what you want me to do!"

"If Mom and Dad think it'll be better for you to never see your friends again," She paused, licking her lips. "The easiest way to prove them wrong is to have the risk of never seeing you again."

"You... You want me to run away?" Jazz nodded, and Danny wrapped her up in a hug. "Jazz you evil genius! I- it might actually work! That or backfire horribly and have me be grounded for the rest of my life…"

"Nice to know you have so much faith in me, little brother." She pulled back, smiling. "I wasn't sure if you would want to go with it, but it can work. I'll do my part, and if we're lucky you'll be able to see Sam and Tucker again by Monday!"

"It's a three-day-weekend."

"Tuesday, whatever. I was close enough." She threw the duffle bag at him, which Danny caught. "Leave before dawn, okay? Do you know where you're going?"

Danny frowned, shaking his head. "No, I...Sam and Tucker are out of question, I probably can't get into the Ghost Zone, and there's no way I'm going to Val's..." Somewhere in the back of his mind, another name popped up.

"Well, don't tell me." She hugged him once again, kissing his forehead. "Goodbye, Danny."

"Jazz," He groaned, wiping at where her lips had touched. "I'm not going to die!"

"Promise?"

"Yes!"

"Good," Jazz moved to leave, opening up the door. "Let me know when you're safe, okay?" Danny nodded, and Jazz shut the door behind her.

Danny sat on his bed for five minutes before the name surfaced again. And he had to admit, it did make sense. They'd take him in for sure, and if anything went wrong he could call in Sam and Tucker to get him out. Even if Danny had to make up some lie about being kidnapped or something, it would still work. Maybe some fake tears should be added in as well; otherwise he'd have to suffer through evil monologues.

It's decided, then. Taking a deep breath in, Danny quickly made sure he had everything he would need.

I'll go to Vlad.

Well, you tried Jack. Gold star. A for effort.

Okay everyone, this is the last chance you'll have- as of next chapter, the Misleading Poll will be over! Just vote A or B, one is rather expected and the other will make people hate me despite the fact that it amuses me. You don't know which is which, and that's why the poll's misleading!

Follows, favorites, reviews and votes are all loved! But if any reviews turn into flames, the flamer will learn what the kid from Home Alone felt like.

And it really isn't as fun as that kid made it seem. Seriously, it makes you feel like crap.