Author's Note: I own nothing.

27 Shaded Grey

Dani had honestly not really paid attention to the electives she'd signed up for. She'd just checked whatever Sam had checked since she was busy fighting ghosts, she'd need a friendly face in class. That meant she accidently signed up for theater class. She had no interest in it but at least she wasn't alone. She was doodling in her notebook as Lancer spoke from the front of the room.

"This week we are focusing on the Greeks, but since we are focusing on keeping spirits up this week after last week's fiasco of a spirit week we will be focusing on the great Greek love stories." There was a groan from several of the boys, Sam included. Dani rolled her eyes. She knew Sam had been looking forward to the great Greek tragedies but honestly Dani could do without tragedy in her life for a while. Lancer rolled his eyes as Paulina and Star squealed in excitement already eyeing Dash, Kwan and Vincent. They were top of the A list, football stars and the most eligible boys in sophomore year. Dani really wasn't looking forward to any of this. Lancer cleared his throat from the front of the room.

"To avoid any squabbling over groups, I have already picked your pairs, along with which love story you will be focusing on." That got groans from everyone. Dani crossed her fingers as Lancer started handing out small packets, there seemed to be sets of two each a different color. "Each group will be expected to perform a two-to-five-minute skit about your love story. Miss Sanchez, you and Mr. Baxter will be assigned the story of Hellen of Troy. Miss Williams and Mr. Sie will be assigned the story of Cupid and Psyche." Star and Kwan grinned at each other as Paulina waved flirtatiously at Dash. "Miss Foley you and Mr. Manson will be assigned the story of Orpheus and Euridice. Which leads into our last pairing Miss Fenton and Mr. Grey who will be presenting the story of Persephone and Hades. This assignment is to be completed by the end of the week." The bell rang. "I suggest you meet up outside of classes to get this finished as it counts for a good chunk of your final grade." The students all made noises of acceptance as they filed out of the room. Dani rolled her eyes as Tanya patted her on the back.

"Bad luck there, getting paired with one of the popular crowd." She lamented and Dani nodded. No one from Dash's friend group had talked to them since the Spring Fling dance at the end of last school year, when Sam had turned into a dragon and attacked Dash. Dani had eventually gotten out of Sam that there had been some kind of bet, and she'd been the butt of the joke. The trio made their way out of the classroom, Sam looking a bit more dejected than usual. Dani frowned.

"What's wrong Sam? Thought you'd be happy you got the saddest love story of the bunch." Dani pointed out. Tanya shook her head.

"Ah, but not the partner he wanted." Tanya said as Sam slammed open his locker. Dani frowned.

"Who'd you want to get paired with?" Dani asked but before Sam could pull his head out of his locker to respond Dani's ghost sense went off. "Hold that thought." She said and Sam and Tanya stepped so that between the two of them Dani could no longer be seen. She vanished completely from sight as Vincent Grey approached them.

"Hey. Wasn't Fenton with you two?" Sam glanced at Tanya who shrugged.

"She ran to the bathroom. Why?" Tanya asked and Vince rolled his eyes.

"Look I really need to pass this class if I'm gonna stay on the football team." Sam rolled his eyes.

"Better get to work than, and maybe pick out a costume." Sam bit out. He didn't like Vince, suspecting that he had been in on Dash's spring fling bet.

"Costume! Lancer didn't say anything about a costume." Vince said and Sam shook his head.

"Read the packet. Extra credit points added if you put more work into your presentation." Vincent grumbled.

"Whatever, just tell Fenton to meet me at the burger joint across from Axiom labs tonight. My dad's gonna be doing some big presentation tonight for his security system." Tanya nodded.

"We'll pass along the message." She assured him and he nodded hurrying off, looking like he wanted to be sure no one had seen them talking.

Vincent Grey was going though the worst week of his life. His father's big presentation had been shot off the rails by some pasty faced white haired girl and her giant green mastiff. They had left the lab in shambles and his father's career with it. Loss of the career meant loss of the paycheck that let them rent a large house in Amity Park, forcing them to move to a tiny apartment in Elmerton. It was sort of a low income suburb of Amity Park and the news of his fathers fall from grace had cascaded through town and quickly reached the school and worse Vince's friends, or at least he thought they'd been friends. Turned out friendship with the popular crowd was a fickle thing.

There had been a surprising rock in all this mess though, Danielle Fenton. He felt like a class A jerk for setting up the bet he'd won revolving around Dani. She was sweet, helping him with their shared project and even helping him muddle through his algebra homework, she was apparently taking advanced calculous. But he'd also learned something over the last few days.

Ghosts were real, and the cause of all of his current problems. He had no idea what to do with this information so he was currently stewing in his own misery in the living room of the apartment when his father came into the room.

"Ok. I have good news and bad news." Vincent sat up as his father spoke. "The good news is I'm being given a second chance." Vince perked up.

"That's great! How many people can you put on it?"

"That's the bad news. I have to guard the lab myself, at night, in that." He said pointing over to a uniform hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Vince slumped slightly on the couch.

"Oh good, if things get worse you can use that uniform to deliver packages." Vince's father pulled a face then snapped his fingers.

"That reminds me. This arrived for you this morning, from Wisconsin?" Vince frowned as his father handed him a large package.

"I didn't order anything?"

"Might be from one of the scholarships you applied for. I hear they sometimes send things from the schools you're interested in, especially if you apply early." Damon checked his watch. "I have to get going. There's dinner in the fridge and I already packed your lunch for tomorrow."

"Thanks dad!" Vince called out as his father grabbed the uniform, pulling on the jacket and hat. He pulled his son into a brief hug before heading out of the apartment. Vince turned back to the box sitting on the couch. He pulled open the box and frowned on top of the contents was a carefully printed note.

'Heard about your recent ghost troubles. Hope this helps. Vlad.' Vince frowned moving the note and picking up the first item in the box. It was a book. 'A Study of Spectra Sightings and Guide to Hunting Ghosts by V. D. Asters.' Shaking his head Vince set aside the book and pulled off the cover on the rest of the contents of the box.

"Don't know who you are Vlad but if this does what I think it does I can't say that I care." Vince said with a grin as he pulled a gun from the box. It was silver and red with no visible place to load any ammo, but it didn't seem to need any ammo as he touched the trigger, setting off a pink beam of light and scorching the ceiling. Vince couldn't wait to see what this would do to that stupid ghost girl and her dumb dog.