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Chapter Four: My Hatred Resurfaced
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...but
you couldn't ever forget her once you met her.
"Samantha
Fenton, butI prefer Sam she finished sticking
out her hand. I shook it politely still staring at Danny's old
friend from high school and, apparently now, wife. How could someone
be so stupid to marry a ghost? Okay, I had admitted earlier today the
possibility of still liking him but I didn't think I would ever go as
far to marry the guy.
That must have meant that Phantom still had up the front, making Sam believe she'd married a really nice and loving man. What she didn't know was underneath that caring man was a malevolent ghost. So what if everybody believed Phantom was a hero? He was using his so called wife.
She thought she'd married the nice Danny Fenton; when in reality, she'd married Danny Phantom. The ghost boy that was still evil in my eyes. He wasn't telling Sam the whole truth.
"Are you okay?" she asked. I noticed I had just been standing there, staring at nothing.
"Oh, yeah," I replied sheepishly. "So where will I be staying? I'm not sure how long I'll be staying, but it shouldn't be very long."
"You can stay right here," she answered pushing open the door to the bedroom I remember being Danny's. "Danny said he gave you a room on the house room. Why?"
"I beat him at some kind of karate something," I supplied. She began laughing for a reason I didn't understand.
Wiping a tear from her eye, she regained enough composure to tell me, "No one's every been able to defeat Danny at something like that, or at least since he started taking karate classes. There's only one person in the world that I know of that could ever come close to beating him and she moved away ten years ago. And now he goes and gets his butt kicked by you?" she resumed laughing.
She'd lost my attention at 'only one person in the world.' She was talking about me! Or at least that's what I figured. "Who is this other person?" I asked, curiously.
She stopped laughing instantly and her face turned from happy to sad just as quick. "Her name was Valerie." I cringed when I heard my old name. "She left town ten years ago for reasons unknown to everybody who knew her. It left Danny heartbroken. I never liked her but he did. Beyond healthy means I might add. When she left he spent an entire week in his room after he told everyone that she'd gone missing. That made me even angrier.
"But, if she's still out there, someday I'm gonna thank her for leaving because it opened Danny's eyes for once in his life. He finally realized I liked him," she told me. "But that's getting too personal. Call me if you need anything." And with that she left.
Well, you're welcome, Sam. You wanted to thank me and, unknown to you, you just did. I sighed and looked around the room. It was nice, with the regular stuff like a full sized bed, a dresser with a tv set on top of it, a closet, and a table with a lamp. On the back of the door was phone numbers of local places around here including one for Samantha Fenton.
But there were also some things you didn't find in any hotel. I saw a computer desk with a computer in the corner, CD player, CDs, a phone, and bookshelf complete with books. So, nobody used half the stuff that was in here anymore-everything had been greatly updated, telling me they hadn't modified this room in a while-but they'd tried to make the room as cozy as a real room.
I flopped onto the bed which I found nice, soft, and fluffy. It felt better than my bed back home, but I knew this was only temporary and that I shouldn't get used to it. Once again, I found myself thinking back to the reasoning that Phantom really was a nice guy.
The town sure thought he was. But one good dead doesn't make him a hero, and Phantom himself told me about what he did so how could I be certain that he wasn't lying and had just threatened the entire town into making him mayor and declaring him a hero. That was certainly possible. But I don't think the Guys in White would let him get away with that kind of thing that easily. Or the Fentons for that matter.
Speaking of the Fentons; where were they? I know I hadn't seen much of the town yet, but ten years ago, you couldn't go a day without hearing Jack Fenton yell, "GHOST!" So where were...
"Nick?" a voice outside my door startled me. I told them to come in. "Hey," Kwan greeted me. "Some of us are going to a book display and program honoring the hero of this town. I'm sure you've heard of him since you've been here. Phantom?" I nodded. "Well, do you want to come with us? See more of the town, too?" I thought this over before replying,
"Sure." I stood up and followed Kwan to his hover craft. Once we'd taken off I asked a question that'd been bothering me. "When did Phantom get time to write a book if he's really the hero you say he is?"
"No one knows," Star answered. "All we know is that mayor nine years ago asked him to write a book about everything he'd been accused of doing wrong, everything he'd done right, and everything that went on during the day he became a hero. Before we knew it, there was a best seller on the shelves."
I figured he written it while he was pretending to be Danny but seeing as people didn't seem to know about that aspect I kept my mouth shut and enjoyed the short ride to a new central park. We landed right in the middle of the park where a large crowd was forming. One of the things I thought was that they weren't going to get him to show up. He was never stationary ten years ago.
Then again, more than its fair share had changed in the last ten years.
The top opened automatically and once it was completely open I stepped out along with Star and Kwan. I told them that I was going to walk around a bit and most likely find a seat by myself. They only told me that if I wanted a ride back to the boarding house I'd need to meet back at the place they parked fairly quickly.
"Alright," I replied waving them a goodbye. I started to walk off toward the stage; I was determined to find a seat close to the front. This was the first time since I'd been back that I was getting the chance to see Phantom in his true form. I found a seat on the fifth row-pretty good concerning we'd gotten there a little late.
Different people were starting to walk across the stage. Most of the people I didn't know, but there were a few I recognized. Like Sam and an African American man who looked an awful lot like Tucker. I wondered why they would be led out. They didn't want anyone to know they associated with Phantom did they? That was if they knew it was really Phantom underneath the Danny disguise. I finally just dismissed it as a coincidence that their jobs had landed them here.
Ghost catchers began to make their way across the stage with weapons in their hand. Now, I didn't know why they had their weapons if they thought Phantom was a hero now.
I saw Jack and Maddie Fenton. Followed closely by Jazz Fenton. I remembered her as Danny's sister. Then again, who couldn't. Next, a brunette I didn't recall from my past walked up to the stage. The last person really caught my eye.
He was a tall man. Muscular looking. He looked to be about the age of Danny's parents and I knew I knew him from somewhere. It was at that moment I realized what a horrible memory I had. Dismissing that random thought, I saw him holding a weapon as well which meant he was a ghost hunter, but I knew he wasn't a ghost hunter ten years ago.
As soon as the crowd hushed down Jazz
walked up to the podium. "Hello, and welcome this afternoon to
the proper inducing of Danny Phantom as the town hero, and to the
official book display of his book along with many books authored by
our mayor Daniel Fenton who, by the way, will not
be able to
attend due to certain issues that arose." Applause filled the
place.
'Yeah, I wonder where 'Danny' is,' I thought bitterly. I noticed Jazz had a mischievous gleam in her eyes and had a smile that was a little too sweet for my liking plastered on her face.
Did she know Phantom's secret?
She continued once the applause died down. "We don't intend for this to last long." Jazz sat down and Jack and Maddie strolled over to the podium as applause filled the place once more.
"Ten years ago this ghost, now known as Danny Phantom, was believed to be Public Ghost Enemy Number One. Not long after that, he saved the mayor he was believed to want to hurt. Everyone finally put down their weapons long enough to listen to his side of the story. Since then, and until he leaves to find greater things, he will be considered a hero in our eyes," Maddie spoke.
"Uh...ditto," Jack agreed before sitting down, as applause once more was heard. As the brunette made her way across the stage to the podium I first considered that Jack was still the doofus he was ten years ago and second told myself that whether he be a hero in the town's eyes or not, he would not be a hero in mine.
"I would agree with the Fenton's," the brunette started, "but I've only been a ghost hunter for two years and the only reason I'm into this is because Phantom wanted a group ghost squad, which was approved and chosen by our mayor, Daniel Fenton, resulting in what you see here." She motioned to the small group of ghost hunters. "I, Julie, am quite honored that a little no one like me was chosen to be on one of the most important squads in the city."
Once again applause filled the place as the tall man, the last of the group, made his way to the podium. "I am quite honored as well as Mrs. Yamson to be part of the ghost squad Mr. Fenton and Phantom himself put together. I had never had much experience with ghosts except for the small bit that would invade my home every once and a while, and when that happened I was all ready to protect my daughter and myself.
"I myself always thought of Phantom a villain. That was, like mentioned earlier, until we gave him a chance to explain his motives. Thank-you." The man sat down and Jazz once again took the podium and waited for the applause to die down.
"Well, first I would like to thank Maddie and Jack Fenton, my parents, Julie Yamson, and Damon Gray for taking time to share with us," Jazz began but I was already frozen in shock. My dad had sided with Phantom? He had betrayed my cause? I had found my dad? Jazz continued. "So, we would like to close this short, yet sweet program with a warm rounded applause as I, being chosen by Danny to hand this out due to his absence, present Phantom the key to the city. Where ever he may be." Jazz paused then added under her breath, "which I still don't think is necessary to give to a dead person."
The park was filled with happy hands once more. Everyone was clapping. Except me. The town had almost taken my hatred of Phantom away. What with all their stories of before and after?
Almost.
I glared as Phantom appeared out of nowhere and took his medal then disappeared out of sight once again. "Okay, now if everyone would make their way behind the stage, you'll see the books set up." Everyone quickly piled out of their seats to get a good look at the books behind the stage.
I just sat there, waiting for everyone to clear out of the seats area before I made my way behind the stage. As I sat there someone tapped me on the shoulder so, since I'd had grown accustomed to punching Harper in the stomach over the last ten years, I swung my fist back before second thought hit me. I heard an "UGH!" from behind me.
I turned around sincerely sorry; until I saw the victim. Then I just muttered an, "I'm sorry," and waited for him to straighten back up.
"Give a guy a warning, will ya?" Danny gasped as he stood up. "I was just coming over to ask you if you liked the house I'm letting you stay in."
"Love it," I replied half-heartedly. He stared at me with uncertainty in his eyes and was about to ask another question when...
"Daniel Fenton!" I turned to see his parents and sister making their way to him. "I am so--"
"Mom!" Jazz exclaimed with a shift of the eye in my direction.
Maddie noticed me at last. "Uh...You may be the mayor of this town but that doesn't give you an excuse not to attend one of the most important events we have this year! And you we're the organizer of it all." I could tell she was pretending. "Sorry you had to here that. Our son and daughter here."
"No problem," I replied meaning it. I'd let anyone who wanted to yell at that guy; even if it was his own mother and even if it was pretend. "I really should be-"
"Well, we were just leaving and thought we'd say bye," Maddie told her son and daughter before leaving. I started to repeat that I should be going but a shout interrupted me.
"Danny!" I turned around to see Sam waving for her husband. Danny excused himself to see what Sam wanted. Jazz did the same. I was about to make my way back to the hovercraft to wait on Star and Kwan, but when Sam waved me over as well, I figured it would be rude to refuse.
So, despising it with all my heart, I began to make my way over to the area where they'd laid out the books. As soon as I had arrived there saw what Sam had been trying to get my attention to. Right past all the books was Danny's silver limo with Jazz, Sam, Tucker, the girl named Jamie, and my dad all standing around it.
"What?" I asked, clearly confused walking through the crowd toward the limo.
When I arrived at the limo Sam explained. "Well, we figured it'd be nice to let you come into our home. Mine and Danny's that is. We're just dropping the others off. We have a knack for being hospitable." I only stared. Here I was, someone they almost hated ten years ago, being invited into their home; but not just any home, the enemy's home.
Then again, how could I politely decline such an offer? "Sure," I sourly agreed. As I was getting into the limo I realized something. I was being invited into the enemy's home. There, I could search for clues that would expose Phantom.
I had made up my mind; I decided to forget whatever kind of love that I thought I might still hold towards Phantom. I was going to expose him; then destroy him.
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Sneak Peak
I was riding in Danny's limo, along with Sam, Tucker, Jamie, and dad. I had realized before I came here that I wouldn't actually get to talk to dad but I didn't realize how hard it would be not to let him know who I really was. I really wanted to talk to him. To catch up on everything little detail that I'd missed when I ran away. How long he'd missed me. If he was still looking.
Why he joined Phantom...
"Hi, I'm Tucker." I turned my gaze from dad to the man sitting beside me. He had grown considerably, but the techno-geek look he had in high school still lingered on him. Hopefully his attitude had grown as well..."Tucker Foley. That's TF as in too fine." ...or not.
"Are
you trying to get a date with me or something?" I asked.
"He
hits on every woman he sees, married or not," Sam supplied for
me. "Of course, if he'd understand that that is why he's alone
now maybe he would stop. But we're not counting on that anytime
soon."
Read and Review please! Oh, and I have a
question. Is Valerie's hair black or brown? And what color is her
eyes exactly? Thanks in advance!