AN: Hi everyone! I'm finally back! I would say I had a lot of time to work on my stories... but that would be a lie. I was having way to much fun on my vaction to even touch my laptop. But I'm here know and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 27:

"Why do ghosts have to ruin everything?" Mr. Rainer groaned, resting his hands in his hands. "I just wanted a few days to not have worry about anything and they go and make a mess of everything. I bet that stupid ghost boy was behind everything."

"More like trying to stop it," Mrs. Fletcher replied, rolling her eyes at Mr. Rainer. "I mean, I really doubt he made a giant nutcracker out of toys and have it attack himself. There was probably another ghost behind everything."

"That was really annoying," Mrs. Cassie said, draining her mug. "Getting everything ready for Christmas is hard enough without all that extra stress."

"But it did keep things interesting around here," Mr. Smith smirked. "And everything worked out in the end."

"And we have more important things to do," Mr. Lancer spoke up. "I set up a meeting with Daniel for tomorrow after school hopefully now we'll be able to learn what's going."

"If he tells us," Mrs. Cassie pointed out, gesturing with her mug. "There's a very good chance he won't tell us anything or just lie."

"These brats do lie all the time," Mr. Rainer agreed. "I doubt Daniel will be any different."

"But you don't know him, Mr. Rainer," Mr. Smith argued with a grin. "Anyone who knows Danny knows he's a pretty terrible liar. Mr. Lancer should be able to figure at least a little of what's going on because of that fact."

"But there still is the possibility that he might not say anything," Mr. Lancer said, running his hand over his head. "There won't be much we can do if Mr. Fenton doesn't confide in us."

"Danny doesn't have a whole lot of reason to trust us," Mrs. Fletcher sighed sadly, closing her sketchbook. "We haven't been that helpful or kind enough to him to earn a whole lot."

"I'm sure he trusts you, Mrs. Fletcher," Mrs. Cygert assured with a smile. "A lot of us get respect as teachers, but you relate the best to the students out of all of us. And you've gone out of your way to help Danny. I'm sure he appreciates it."

"Should Mrs. Fletcher meet with Danny then?" Mr. Smith wondered, tapping his mug. "If she the one Danny trusts the most, she's the one Danny's most likely going to open up too."

"No that wouldn't be a good idea," Mrs. Cassie replied with a shake of her head. "While Danny might trust her, she's too influenced by her emotions in this issue."

"I agree," Mr. Lancer nodded. "This is why I'm doing still meeting with him. I'll be sure to let you know anything I find out."

(Time Skip)

Mr. Lancer straightened the papers on his desk, mostly to keep his hands busy instead of an actually need. Danny would be arriving any minute for their meeting and Mr. Lancer was anxious to finally learn with what happing with him. A knock at his door drew Mr. Lancer from his thoughts.

"Come in," Mr. Lancer called, straightening his posture to look more professional. The door opened and Danny stood there, looking nervous.

"You wanted to see me, Mr. Lancer?" Danny asked confusion and worry clear in his voice.

"Yes Mr. Fenton," Mr. Lancer replied, gesturing to the seat in front of him which Danny slowly sat in. "My fellow teachers and I have been worried about your behavior for quiet some time. When you first came to high school, you were a bright student if a bit quiet and shy. But ever since your accident, you're grade have slipped dramatically, you're often leaving class, sleeping in class, or showing up late, and you rarely complete homework assignments anymore. You've been nervous and jumpy, but the most concerning thing is that you seem to be getting injured."

"Well, I…uh… you see…" Danny stuttered nervously, rubbing his neck and looking around the room as if he could find an appropriate answer.

"We've waited for some kind of explanation, but none has presented itself," Mr. Lancer continued. "At least, no explanations that are pleasant or concreate. So Mr. Fenton, Daniel, I must ask you…Are your parents abusing you?"

Danny's head snapped up, his eyes widening and mouth gapping in shock. Mr. Lancer watched him carefully as Danny tried to compose himself. Finally, Danny managed to sputter, "You think they...? That's ridicules… They would never… not on purpose anyway and…"

"So they have harmed you?" Mr. Lancer asked. Though his voice was calm, his body was very tense.

"Yes- I mean no! I mean…" Danny shouted before taking a deep breath. Calm and determined, Danny continued, "Mr. Lancer, my parents do not abuse me. They aren't perfect and they make mistakes but I know they love me."

"I believe you, Daniel," Mr. Lancer replied sincerely. "But then what is going on? Are you in a gang? Are you taking drugs?"

"What!? No!" Danny replied instantly, disgusted by the idea. "I would never do anything like that."

"Then tell me the truth," Mr. Lancer demanded.

"There's nothing to tell," Danny replied instantly, becoming defensive. "I mean I do have problems with Dash…"

"I really doubt Mr. Baxter is responsible for all your problems," Mr. Lancer said sternly, silently challenging Danny to deny it. "And surely you would have told someone by now if things were really that bad."

"Why should I? You never did anything about it before," Danny grumbled quietly before speaking more clearly. "Well, that's all that's going on. Anything else is my own laziness and clumsiness."

"Is that really everything?" Mr. Lancer asked skeptically.

"Yes," Danny replied before he suddenly fell from his chair.

"See… clumsy," Danny said with a smile, though he seemed really worried for some reason as he watched Mr. Lancer's reaction.

"Alright Mr. Fenton," Mr. Lancer sighed after a moment, it was clear he wasn't going to be getting anything else from Daniel right now. "You may go."

Danny let out a sigh of relief, gathered his bag, and left the room. Mr. Lancer sagged in his chair after the door closed behind Danny. The meeting had not been nearly productive as he hoped, but it had been clear that Danny wasn't going to say anything more. It was saddening to see his student in trouble, but unable to do anything about another sigh, Mr. Lancer gathered his stuff and headed for home.