DannyMay 2019. Day Four

"Ectoplasm"

I had an idea, and then that idea evolved into something else. But I'm pleased with what it turned out to be.

Edited 20/10/2020 to fix typos.

Dash stared down at Mickey, the smaller boy's brow furrowed in concentration. Head swimming, limbs growing weak and about to throw up, they heard Kwan -maybe the only other person they could focus on at this point- counting back, and when he reached one, the jock and the nerd quickly took their small jelly-looking cube in the table between them and swallowed it fast, grimacing at the taste.

Around them, students exchanged money and whisered to each other in anticipation.

"C'mon, you gotta do it!" "Hold up, just hold up longer than him…" "Gosh, just quit!" "He better be worth my money."

After exactly fifty-nine seconds, Dash fainted.

"YEEEAAAHHH!"

Cheers and groans alike erupted from the watching crowd as cash and valuables passed from hand to hand and Mickey's friends patted him on the back and shoulders in congratulations, and he bumped a fist into the air… to shortly after throw up on the floor.

They no longer knew who had started it, but the rumor mill agreed on one thing: it was out of boredom, just like most things hese days. You could run for your life many times before it became routine.

So, some day after a ghost attack, two kids sat on a bench and found some ectoplasm stuck in it… one taunt led to another…

Yeah, there might be a bunch of other toxic substances to bet around, but where would be the city's spirit if they used something non-ghostly?

"Hey, Fenturd!"

Danny sighed and looked away from his locker, absently putting on his backpack on one shoulder.

"What do you want now, Dash?"

Behind him, Kwan and Dale silently approached, nodding encouragingly at their friend.

"Uh…" He hesitated for a second, unsure in how to proceed, and then chose to make it up on the march. "IS YOUR SISTER FREE THIS FRIDAY NIGHT?!"

That got Danny's atention.

"What?" He asked plainly, his hand tightening on the locker's door.

Dale and Kwan gave Dash a smile and a thumb up as they slowly unzipped Fenton's backpack.

"I asked if your sister is free this friday night! Maybe she could come over my place and…" The jock trailed off as Fenton stepped away from his locker and half-way closed it. Behind him, Dale -who was holding a tupperware with bits of ectoplasm in it- shook his head no and Kwan -who had been slightly thrown off-balance in his theft by Danny's movement- held up his arms forming an 'X' symbol. "ah… look… after my mom…?" It came out more as a question than a statement.

Fenton blinked in confusion, loosening his posture a bit. "… why'd she do that?"

Kwan and Dale, whom had resumed their mission of plucking loose ectoplasm from Danny's stuff -it was easier to do it with him, as Jazz was nowhere as messy and careless with her belongings and would promptly clean them from any aftereffects of their parents inventions-, nodded approvingly at Dash.

"Uh, duh, so you and I can go out and watch a movie, of course!"

Both of them froze and grew red at that, with Kwan and Dale gladly taking advantage of it and quickly going over Fenton's other pockets.

"Are you asking me out?" Danny breathed.

"Is someone else here?!" Before Danny could turn around and chek, Dash amended himself. "Of course I'm asking you out! But… mom is sorta sick right now, so I'd like someone to stay with her…"

Danny scratched the back of his head, his cheeks flushing brightly. The jocks checked his pencil bag.

"I… I'll see what I can do…"

Dale and Kwan nodded their victory and walked away.

"Great. I'l pick you up at seven."

"Dude, that was amazing!" Said Kwan, clasping Dash on the shoulder.

"Yeah! We got enough Green for the next match. This time we're so gonna beat Mickey's ass!" Agreed Dale, patting his backpack where the tupperware was kept. So far, Mickey had been able to stand more ectoplasm cubes than the others, or remain concious the longest.

Dash didn't answer, lost to his thoughts. When he finally looked up, it was to ask his buddies "What d'you guys think I shuold wear for my date?"