Lancer sat at the front of the classroom grading papers as his english class worked on a vocabulary quiz. This is the third time the quiz has gotten rescheduled due to ghosts interrupting class time. Hopefully today would have some semblance of peace.
From his desk, Lancer could hear Mr. Fenton give an audible sigh. He sat at his desk, staring down at the quiz with his head in his hands. No doubt wishing he'd studied a bit more.
Lancer looked back down at the paper he was grading. He wasn't sure what ever happened with Danny, he had been so bright at the beginning of the school year. But now he was getting into so much mischief and trouble and he couldn't figure out why.
Suddenly, a chair was scraping against the floor and Danny was speaking much too loudly in lieu of the quiz happening.
"I need to use the bathroom, Mr. Lancer!" He looked up to see the boy standing with his hand raised into the air.
"Mr. Fenton, sit down. Yesterday you left class twice. I'm sure it can wait until the end of class."
"Sorry, Lancer, it can't!" And he ran out the door.
"Mr. Fenton!" Lancer shouted sternly, rushing out after him.
He followed Danny down the hall, past the bathrooms, and out the front door of the school.
"Mr. Fenton! Where do you think you're-"
Out of breath, Lancer looks up when he sees a bright flash of light. He tilts his up to see a bright ring around Danny's waist, traveling along the length of his body to reveal a black jumpsuit underneath.
That was… That's the ghost kid that's been all over town the last few months. What's his name? Inviso bill? No, no. Phantom! Danny… Danny Phantom.
Lancer stared at the boy and began shouting his name again but his voice was lost to the outside air as Danny took off into the sky, chasing after the ghost.
He sat down on the steps in front of the door, just staring at the blue sky. How did he not notice? How could he have not noticed! To Kill a Mockingbird, they even have the same first name! What do his parents think of all-
Lancers face dropped even more. They couldn't know. Of course not. They were ghost hunters, always looking for a specimen to dissect and test their weapons on. Why on earth would Mr. Fenton tell them about this?
Slowly, he stood back up and walked back to the classroom where he had to round the students back up from where they were sharing answers. It looks as if he was going to rework this quiz and reschedule it. Again.
After a stern talking to, Lancer had the class work on an assignment for the rest of the hour, tapping his pen on top of the paper he still hadn't finished grading, he stared at Danny's seat.
Soon class finally ended and Danny still hadn't returned to retrieve his belongings and Lancer sighed, bringing them to rest behind his desk. The next class hour dragged by and soon the students were leaving the school and heading home for the day.
He finished erasing the lesson he wrote on the chalkboard and turned to his desk, only to see Danny's backpack gone. Rubbing his face, he sat down in his chair and looked at the empty space.
What was he going to do? He couldn't not tell the boy's parents, could he? That must be a violation of some sort of procedure they have here at the school. But what if telling them put Danny in even more danger? What was he supposed to do then?
Lancer groaned and stood up, pacing back and forth behind his desk. He turns and reaches for the phone on his desk, but pauses.
If Danny hasn't told his parents that means he doesn't feel safe. Or is trying to find the best way to do it. He should leave it to him to decide to do that. But what about his grades and attendance? How is he supposed to help with that if Danny doesn't have the necessary support system?
He sits back down in his chair and looks at his gradebook. Sighing, he pulls it over and opens it. Flipping to the right page, he takes a pencil and erases the absence mark he gave Danny when he never returned to class.
It's not much, but it's a step in what he hopes is the right direction. He closes the book.
He just hopes what he can do will be enough.