WoM- 'groaning' It took me forever to finish this chapter. One thing after another kept distracting me, so I just couldn't find time to sit down and get it done! At any rate, this chapter is dedicated to Anne Camp Aka Obi Quiet, for being my first watcher on Deviantart and a totally awesome friend. THANK YOU! Also, I'd like to make a note of the fact that I'm currently beta-less thanks to my dad's new child block, so please be kind in regard to mistakes in this chapter, which is definitely my favorite yet for this story.
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Ember: (After taking over a guitar store) Hey, kiddies, this is a little ditty I'd like to call, "Get out of my new home!" (Plays destructive note on her guitar and everyone runs out screaming)
Boy: She rocks!
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Chit-Chat
"I hope you ladies are comfortable?" Mr. Lancer honestly tried to hide his amusement the best that he could, but one did not need to be psychic to see that Sam and Paulina were not particularly pleased at their current situation.
I really must remember that my powers don't excuse the bad puns… Lancer told himself before turning back to his captives.
"This is totally unfair, Mr. Lancer!" Sam snarled out venomously. "The school was practically destroyed by ghosts! We should've gotten out of this!"
"Yes, well perhaps other teachers would let you slide that easily, but I'm not resting until you two sort out your differences."
Oh goody… Sam's glower, if possible, grew even darker at her English teacher's words. Paulina looked sullen herself, but Mr. Lancer took heart in the fact that the girls were no longer protesting verbally. I can't believe this overbearing busybody jerk of a lonely, bald old man is gonna make me sit here with captain of the cheer squad, leader of the unofficial Danny Phantom fan club and one of the many girls in school who have never had an original thought in their pretty little heads!
Mental protests were another matter entirely, of course…
I'll ignore that one for now… Clearing his throat, Mr. Lancer stood up from the kitchen table, glancing between the girls pointedly.
When the school was declared unfit and locked down over the weekend so that repairs could be made (Amity Rebuilding had become impressively quick with their work after the ghost attacks started up) it seemed that Sam and Paulina would get off scot-free. But Mr. Lancer was strict when it came to upholding his word, and refused to drop their punishment. However, since both of them were still quite vigorous in their protests to let the other in their homes, they had gone to the teacher's own house to have their first session.
Much to said teacher's irritation when Paulina started to complain about how small his house was and Sam suggested he hire a gardener to look at his lawn…
"Now then." Mr. Lancer started, his hands resting on his hips as he glared down at the two in what he hoped was an intimidating expression. "I hope you two will remember the rules of this discussion? Paulina?" Huffing at the pointed look the teacher was giving her, Paulina sulked as she recited the older man's exact words.
"We're not allowed to degrade each other." She said in monotone. "Disagreeing with one another's opinions is fine, but we can't make it personal with name calling or scorn. We have to listen to everything the other person says, even if we find it boring and we have to answer everything honestly and civilly."
"Good." Mr. Lancer nodded his head in approval before turning an even more pointed look to his other captive. "Sam?" Glaring bitterly for a moment, Sam also started to recite the teacher's words in an even more monotone voice then Paulina had used.
"The discussions cannot turn into physical fights under any circumstances." She started, a triumphant look flashing in her eyes for a moment before she returned to her speech. "We're not allowed to use any language that isn't deemed school appropriate, nor are we allowed to talk about things of the same nature. And absolutely no death threats or references to murder whatsoever."
"Good." Mr. Lancer nodded his approval. "For your first meeting, I've provided both of you with worksheets to interview one another and fill out as you go along."
"Hey!" Sam protested, her eyes going wide. "You never said we'd have to do any work!"
"Tough, Miss Manson." Mr. Lancer said dryly as he handed both girls twin sheets of paper and turned on the tape recorder. "Now if you need me, I'll be in the next room. Remember the rules, ladies." And with that, the English major left the two alone, settling down in a chair and opening a book as he casually began to subtly overhear his students from the next room over.
…Well, it sounded more dignified then saying he was eavesdropping…
"This is so stupid…" Paulina said irritably.
"Got that right." Sam grumbled before sighing in a pained sort of way. "Well, let's get this over with. The sooner we get done here, the sooner I can meet Danny and Tucker at the mall."
For what, another trip to Goths-R-Us? Paulina asked mentally. Uh, talk about a lame subculture…
"Okay, first question; hobbies. What do you like to do?" Sam asked.
Other then belittling everyone you meet and taking advantage of people's insecurities. Not to mention stringing poor guys like Danny along for your own twisted form of amusement. Sam added to herself.
"Cheerleading." Paulina answered shortly. "I like cheerleading and shopping."
And that's all you need to know as far as that goes. She finished in a dark tone. That's all anybody needs to know…
"Typical…" Sam scoffed just below Paulina's hearing.
"What about you?" Paulina countered. "What do you do? When you're not hanging out with your friends anyways…"
If there's ever a time like that. What, are you three attached at the hips or something?
What's that supposed to mean?
"For your information, Paulina." Sam bit out. "There are a lot of things I do without Danny and Tucker. I like writing poetry, drawing, photography and reading. And I have a collection of black and white films and horror movie posters!"
Goody… Mr. Lancer could almost see the cheerleader making a face to match that thought.
"Whatever." Paulina said in disinterest. "Next question; collections. Well, you already answered that…"
Yeah, and there's no need to tell her about the ghost thing… Mr. Lancer blinked at Sam's thought. Ghost thing? How many of his students were in on this big ghost hunting fest, anyways?
"And I'm guessing the closest thing you have to a collection is your five hundred pairs of shoes, right?" Sam asked sarcastically.
What does she mean by that? Paulina thought irritably. And I only have 106 pairs of shoes! It's better then wearing the same grungy pair of combat boots every day…
"Actually, no." Paulina sniffed. "I collect memorabilia of Danny Phantom."
"Memorabilia?" Sam repeated.
I'm surprised she even knows what that word means…
"Newspaper clippings, books, toys, all those little trinkets the stores are selling now… I probably know more about Danny Phantom then any other girl in our school, you know. Including you."
You know, for some reason I doubt that. Sam thought wryly. I mean, I am one of his best friends. Heck, I'm the reason he's a ghost in the first place!
…
"WAITING FOR ODYSSEUS!" Mr. Lancer bellowed when the girl's thought finally sank in. "WHAT DID YOU JUST—!" The teacher cut himself short there, realizing that Sam had never technically 'said' anything.
"Mr. Lancer?" Sam exclaimed. There was a sound of movement in the kitchen before the door flew open, a concerned Sam and Paulina rushing into the room. "Mr. Lancer, are you—?"
"Fine." Mr. Lancer said stiffly, though he really wanted to demand what the girl had meant with that last thought. "I'm fine, Miss Manson, I just… uhh… I'm fine."
"Are you sure, Mr. Lancer?' Sam pressed, reluctant to let the subject drop.
He's been screaming for no reason a lot lately. Either there's a ghost involved, or Tucker's on to something about the pressure of teaching in a haunted school finally getting to him…
"Yes, Miss Manson, don't mind me. You two just continue your discussion now." Paulina and Sam exchanged looks at that.
What's with him? Paulina wondered, concern evident in her tone. I mean, he's been acting so different since the science lab thing…
Well, if he says he's fine, then I guess I can't do anything now… Sam thought grudgingly. I'll just make sure Danny checks up on him when he's out on tonight's patrol.
…Wait, what did she just…?
I don't want to know. Mr. Lancer reminded himself firmly. The children think I'm insane as it is…
Though he was starting to wonder if that was all that far from the truth…
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"Oh, come on!" Mr. Lancer growled out angrily as he glared around him. "How many places are there for a paranormal spirit from an alternate demension to hide in a town this size!"
Muttering bitterly about his luck, the teacher slowed his car to a stop, waiting impatiently for the light to turn green again.
Half and hour earlier, Sam and Paulina had left for home upon finishing their discussion (After three more verbal fights and constant degrading of each other in their minds) and Mr. Lancer decided to hunt down Desiree with some questions he had for her about his powers and the headaches that came with them.
Both literal and metaphorical.
So far, though, he couldn't find any ghost, gypsy or otherwise. He was even starting to worry that Phantom had already caught up with her yet again and banished her back to the cold, creepy dimension the ghosts resided in.
Lancer dismissed that thought after a while, though. After all, Phantom's injuries seemed fairly severe, surely he was down for at least the rest of the night… then again, he had said that ghosts were fast healers….
The most I get into this ghost business, the more I wish I lived in a normal, specter-free town… Lancer thought bitterly. He didn't like acknowledging the fact that he knew so little about these ghosts, especially when he had no way of getting more accurate information.
…Well, no way that didn't involve the Fentons, at any rate, and he still hesitated to get them involved with his current dilemma. Especially now that he knew both of their children had something to do with it.
I don't want to go to them until I have the full story. The teacher thought firmly. And that's only if it's endangering the children's lives in some way.
Unfortunately, the more Lancer learned about the situation, the more it looked like such was the case…
"You jerk!" Mr. Lancer jumped at the feminine screech, which was soon followed by the angry, indecipherable yelling of a man. Concerned, the teacher turned his car off and got out to hunt down the source of the disturbance. He wasn't about to just leave if there was a problem that could end with someone getting hurt, after all…
It didn't take him long to find a young couple engrossed in a heated lover's quarrel. Over what, Lancer couldn't be sure, but it didn't take long to see that it was just a couple's spat, and nothing to be overly concerned about.
"Where do you think you're going, huh?" the girl, a pretty twenty-something brunette, snarled out as the man stormed off.
"Away from you!" the man spat back over his shoulder. Lancer sighed heavily as he turned and started back to his car, not about to intrude upon the argument.
Kids these days…
"Fine!" the girl screamed after him. "Go! Be baby about me having dinner with my friends! You know, Jeremy, some days I wish you weren't so immature!"
Oh yeah?" Jeremy countered, "Well I—!" here the poor boy was cut off by a rather cruel sounding laugh. A familiar laugh to Lancer, who stopped in this tracks when it reached him.
Wheeling around, the teacher's eyes went wide when a misty lavender smoke drifted from a nearby drain pipe to twist and form into the very ghost he'd been looking for, except larger for some reason of another.
"So you have wished it…" the genie ghost purred out with a smirk, pointing at Jeremy as her entire body began to glow. "so shall it—!"
Desiree was cut off with a cry of pain as Phantom swooped down from the sky, nailing the female ghost with a kick in the face that sent her flying past the girl, who screamed and rushed over to Jeremy. Their quarrel apparently forgotten, the couple huddled together fearfully, uncertain of what to do until the ghost boy turned his attention to them.
"Leave!" he snapped out impatiently. "Trust me, it's for your own good!" the pair didn't need to be told twice, bolting down the street as fast as their legs could carry them. Lancer was tempted to follow them, but the fact that this could be his chance for answers from both of the ghosts rooted him to the spot.
Still, even as Desiree collected herself enough to take to the air again, the teacher found he could not bring himself to call out and gain their attention.
"Foolish whelp!" the ghost hissed out, narrowing her eyes in irritation at Phantom. "Impudent child! You dare interrupt my spell casting yet again?"
"Save it, Desiree." The ghost boy snapped. "What did you do to Lancer?"
"Nothing that he didn't wish for, child." The woman said slyly. "He requested the ability to know what his students were thinking, and I granted that request, as I do with all that I hear."
"And what's the catch, huh?" Phantom asked suspiciously. "Is his head gonna end up blowing up or something?" Lancer's eyes widened at that prospect. That most certainly wasn't part of the deal!
"So suspicious…" Desiree sighed dramatically. "And at such a young age, too!" the ghost chuckled to herself before smirking at her opponent. "Or are these questions merely a way to distract yourself from what you're really asking yourself; How much longer until he hears enough to figure it all out?"
"Shut up!" The ghost boy snapped back.
She's wrong. The boy thought firmly. Jazz and Tucker know now, and Tucker's going to tell Sam as soon as she gets back from her session with Paulina. They won't betray my secret, even in their heads… Mr. Lancer frowned. Why was it the boy constantly forgot to include Danny…?
"No, there're no strings attached to that man's powers." Desiree chuckled. "After all, who's to say he won't do my work for me after he finds out that one of his students is a pitiful half ghost freak?" Mr. Lancer's eyes widened at that.
It can't be…
"I said shut up!" Desiree screamed in pain as the ghost— actually half ghost, if what she said was true— blasted her with a charge of ectoplasm, sending her crashing to the earth.
Before he could continue his assault, though, the ghost woman disappeared with a chuckle that had the hairs on Lancer's arm standing on end even in his current state of shock and uncertainty.
"Go ahead, child…" She goaded gleefully. "You're merely playing right into his hands… and when you do…" She trailed off with a hearty laugh that eventually faded into silence, leaving behind an angry teenaged ghost and a stunned high school vice principal.
"Great." Phantom growled out, "Just great! Can this night get any better for me?" Unable to resist any longer, Mr. Lancer stepped forward, a twig snapping loudly under his foot and making the ghost jump four feet in the air before wheeling to face him, both fists aglow before he recognized the teacher. "Mr. Lancer? What are you doing out here?"
Mr. Lancer ignored the question, ignored the fearful tone it was asked in. His mind reeled with all the information it was trying to take in, signs flashing in front of him that made him feel foolish for not noticing earlier…
…I knew I should've gone invisible when I had the chance…
…As if she hasn't made thing complicated enough already…
…I'm pretty sure a psychotic ghost who wants to kill me and rest my pelt at the foot of his bed had something to do with it….
…Danny has enough responsibilities…
…All the ghosts know Danny goes here…
…I help Danny fight ghosts all the time…
…I seriously wanna be there when she find out…
…Please don't let them find out…
…He can't know, can he…?
…Too bad you're only in love with the wrong me…
"Danny?" The name came out in a hoarse, stunned tone, softer then his usual confident manner of speaking. "Danny Fenton?"
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WoM- Don't gimme that look, I told you guys this was my favorite chapter! You should've known from that alone that the ending was cruel and unusual. I'll update soon, hopefully, but right now I've gotta sate the readers of some of my other stories. Later people!
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Thanks to;
dramaqueen07, X-Roosterrelli-X, shadow929, Invader Johnny, Esme Kali Phantom, peppymint, Gamma Jack Plasmius, AnimeWerewolf, Risika135, Fading Background, Ghostboy814, definenormalAB, Anomaly25, Meiriona, The Sole Survivor, A reader, starlight wishes, Firefury, puppyface, SSpHaC, CarmenElizabeth, Sparky the Wonder Weasel, Zarz, SilverstarsEbonyskies, memoirs of a faded memory, Kairi7, Halfa-NariMaruko, Missmeliss4251, Fey Phantom, Kuki Salazar, A Mere Servant of God, Hunter097, Serena the Hikari of Love, KHFREAK14, Phantomhobbitses, Catmedium, Hiroshi Yakuza Ketchum, animeobsessed3191, Titan6, Phantom of a Rose, fish n chips n vinegar, phantomshadowdragon, Catnip070, AirGirl Phantom, Gmasangel, Majestic Moon, Jenna Dax, Shimegami-chan, WolfDaughter, conan98002, Zuzanny, Darth Frodo, Firehedgehog, werewulf, happy, Laughing Hyena, Miss Selarne, Ohka Breynekai, dArkliTe-sPirit, ellen, nhaar, Katie, LokiWaterDraca, Crazy Billie Joe Loving Freak, midnight, Laura, BratCat, vlad snuffles, the sleep warrrior, Petitio Principii, xheartkreuzx, Insomniac Jaki, epobbp, Jillie chan, SquirrelGirl, kdm13, ShiroandFubuki, Queen S of Randomness 016, littlekittykat, Kirstyn.T, rainblackroses14, silvermoonphantom, Kage Jaganshi, Samantha-Girl Scout, Redwind, killerdoodlebug, Inumaru12, dPhantoMfreak, blindyourears, Yoshi, Emria, Fan-Fic-CC27, Shadow49, purrbaby101, Mr. Snuffles, hammy ham ham, roseofmyheart, peach curtains, dAnnYsGiRl777, Itallia, Harm Marie, J.J. Banks, ForgottenSmile, Kat, Kellie Fay, Shi Rurouni of the Aphrodesiac, ghostlover15, Lynx Silverhawk, angel4u185