AB25: It may have taken me longer then I had hoped, but I got the second chapter up. Another bright note - I'm finished TWD for the most part. I just need to write the epilogue, and then I will be able to focus more attention on this.

--

Chapter Two - And So the Story Begins . . .

--

"Echo," I began tiredly, "For once think before you act. Do you really want to be inside of the thermos again?" I shook the metal cylinder in her face.

The ghost glared at me. I had let her get away with a few things that I wouldn't let other ghosts do. My only explanation (well, excuse, really) was that she wasthe first ghost I'd ever met - we seemed to be friends at times. When I had met Echo, I was in my Greek mythology obsession stage.

Echo had actually been born in ancient Greece. Resembling her human form quite a bit, she wore a simple white dress, with a golden belt around her hips, a golden armband, and a slim golden circlet. She had long black hair and pale teal skin. The sad thing was, she was so stupd when it came to humans and how to exist along side them. Echo loved to freak humans out with her use of echoes. Dad, Erik, and I had to force her back in the ghost zone at least twice a month.

"Dusk," she said reproachfully, looking down at the busy sidewalk, "Just look - they're bored! They need some excitement in their lives."

"They're bored . . . in the ghost capital of the world?" I raised an eyebrow. "Echo, if you make me late for class, I'll let Erik come after you next time." Echo huffed in annoyence.

"Just one!"

"No!"

"Oh, come on! Don't you wish you could scare them instead of protect them? They're ungrateful creatures, you know."

"Some aren't like that."

"Most of them are."

"It doesn't matter what they think as long as I know I'm doing the right thing." Down below the first bell rang. "Echo, if you don't leave right this moment, I'm gonna - " Smirking, Echo shifted her form to mirror my own. Her color was washed out, but then, she was merely an echo of me.

"'It doesn't matter as long as I know I'm doing the right thing,'" she mocked. "I'm such a goody-two shoes and a daddy's girl."

Rolling my eyes, I sucked her into the thermos. There's never a dull moment with Echo around. Next time I really did plan on letting Erik deal with her. She was more cooroperative with him anyway.

I landed (fully human upon entering the building) in the school moments before the second bell rang. I winced at the bell pierce the empty hallways. My classroom was on the other side of the school.

"Damn it," I muttered before sprinting down the hall. I was turning the corner when I collied with someone coming from the opposite direction. His papers and books went flying, raining down around us when we landed on the floor.

"I'm so sorry!" I gasped, stumbling to get up. In a bit of a daze, the guy propped himself up on his elbows. "I can't believe - fifth time - augh!"

I quickly gathered his things while trying to make sure he was okay. I had never seen him before, so either he was new or he was one of the thousand students I'd never met. He was tall and lean, but muscular enough that it was obvious through his navy blue sweater. He had deep mocha skin paired with even darker eyes that were framed with lashes that rivled the Foley twins'. His hair was trimmed very short, showing off his beautifully skulpted features.

"Here," I handed him his things when he stood up. "Once again, I'm really sorry about running into you. I'm late for class again, and I know Lancer will have my hide for it."

"Lancer? I was just trying to find his class," the boy murmured.

"You're new?" Nodding slightly, he glanced at me, actually looking at me instead of the space near me. His eyes widened a bit when he met my eyes. I blinked and smiled at him. The reaction was getting slightly old. My eyes are a rare shade of blue usually not found outside of crayon boxes. I was considering investing in contact lenses that were a nice shade of brown. "Well, welcome to Casper High. I've Dove. I can show you the way to Lancer's classroom if you would like. He'll be nice to you about being late since you're new."

"I would appreciate it."

"Follow me." I led him back down the hallway he had just come down until we reached the very end. A small hallway on the right led directly to the English classrooms. Lancer's was the third on the right. "That is the easiest way to the English hallway. You could also take the more scenic route down the science and detention hallways, but I don't reccommend it unless it's absolutely neccessary. The assistant principal hangs out to give detention to kids showing excessive PDA, loitering, skipping, or standing around with nothing better to do - great, he locked the door again."

I tapped on the door's window pane. Mr. Lancer answered looking annoyed.

"Hi, Mr. Lancer. Sorry about the delay, but I knocked over another student. I have my homework, which I'll leave on your desk as you probably want to introduce him to the class." I slipped in the classroom. Lancer, distracted by the new kid, seemed to forget about my tardiness. I put my neatly printed and stapled essay on his desk before sliding into my seat beside Ceres. A note was sitting there, waiting.

What happened to you? You just disappeared during lunch.

--Sorry, Cer. Echo wouldn't be reasoned with. And then I ran into the new kid - literally.

Oh, Dove. What am I going to do with you?

--Clumsyness is genetic. Looking at my dad, I say there's nothing that can be done..

Oh, wow, you ran into that guy?

--Navy sweatered kid? Yeah. He was turning the corner at the same time I did. He was nice about it . . . I suppose. He didn't say much.

Nothing is better then yelling. But still, he's really cute.

--Oh, crap! Lancer's giving me the evil eye!

Did you get his name?

--He nev -

Sorry I got you detention, Dove. I didn't think he was looking.

--Don't worry, I was bound to end up there anyway.

-

It turned out the new guy's name was Orion. Ms. Kat had come in during my detention with Lancer. She always came in when I was in there, thank God. I don't know whether or not she did it for my sake, or whether she just liked talking with Lancer. Either way I was grateful. She usually got me out early, as well.

"You have Orion in English? Small world, I have him in my music class. " Ms. Kat made a face. She hates teaching music and doesn't bother hiding that fact from her art students. "He moved from Chicago, correct?"

"Yes, Melena," Mr Lancer told her distractedly.

"Hopefully he'll take art next year. He has a broody air about him – artist material, I'm sure." She frowned at Lancer who was in the middle of reading a paper. "Uncle, are you paying attention to me? Or anyone for that matter?"

"Of course, sweetheart."

"Then," Ms. Kat began, pulling on a strand of hair that had come loose from its knot, "Explain to me why Dove is still here. It's nearly five."

Mr. Lancer's head shot up. "Miss Fenton? What are you still doing here?"

"Just waiting to be dismissed, Sir." I replied. Behind him, Ms. Kat winked, knowing full well that it was barely four thirty.

"You're dismissed," he muttered before going back to work. I packed up my things and headed out.

Detention served, I was free to go home. By this time, my family would be gone. Erik would be out somewhere downtown, mom would be at work, and dad ... well, that would depend on the day and ghost situation.

When I arrived home, there was someone standing on our front steps, staring at the door. She was petite with deep tan skin. Her dark curly hair was pulled back in a low ponytail at the nape of her neck.

"Excuse me?" I said. She jumped and looked at me. "May I help you?"

She stared at me, her green eyes wide. It took her a moment, but she recovered from her surprise. "Oh ... yes. I'm looking for Danny Fenton."

"I'm not sure if he's home at the moment."

"His parents said he might be ... I already called Axion and he wasn't there." She bit her lip nervously.

"Do you know him?"

"I use to," she sighed. Pulling out a notepad and pen, she scribbled something down. She ripped the piece of paper off and handed it to me. A telephone number was on it in rounded script. "Could you please ask him to call me? That's my office number.. Tell him to ask for Valerie Grey." She looked at me for a moment.. "Tell him I'm sorry," she whispered and walked away. I watched her - Valerie – turn the corner before going inside.

I felt confused and a bit shocked. Valerie, from what I had heard, was one of my parents old friends. Dad had liked her back in ninth grade . He had wanted to date her, but it never worked out between them. They reconciled later in high school and remained friends. She and Tucker even dated for a bit . . . But I had never met her. Why?

Because Valerie Grey disappeared nearly twenty years ago.

---
Stars lookin' at our planet, watching entropy and pain
Maybe start to wonder how all the chaos in our lives pass as sane.

-- Stars by Switchfoot
---


AB25: So, fair, bad, good? Let me know, please! If I can improve upon it, any suggestions would be welcomed. And if anyone has song suggestions, I am trying to put a portion of a song after each chapter . . . how ever loosly linked.

Anyway, have a nice weeked, all. :D

Anne