A/N: Hey guys!

So the song I was listening to while I wrote this was "Teen Idle" by Marina and the Diamonds. I've been addicted to her for years.

Special thanks to my beta Harmony Valenka Smith, for the much needed help! Thank you!

I want to thank you guys and my friend Ranger for reading this story. You guys rock. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter and the story on a whole.

Fair Warning: this chapter is a little sad (like usual) but it does lighten up towards the end. :)

Enjoy:

"We're playing hooky today." Daffy tells Bugs as he wipes off the mashed potatoes some jerk deliberately smashed into his sweater for the fourth time this week. Daffy doesn't see the worried expression that crosses Bugs' face.

"What if you get caught?"

"Ever heard of a Mental Health day? That's my excuse." Daffy mumbles, sneaking out of the cafeteria door. He walks past the courtyard and sneaks past the security guards there, undetected, he doesn't stop until he reaches his bicycle parked by a tree that no one would care to look.

He's riding away without looking back, relishing in the feel of the cold air as it hits his skin, like an electric rush he feels as if out here he can finally breathe. He can't see Bugs but he hears the specter speak. "Where are we going?"

"Anywhere but here." Daffy replies giddily.

Daffy cycles to the terminal, he hops on the bus, the one heading into the city. Despite the fact that it doesn't seem that Bugs is entirely on board with the idea, he does nothing to stop Daffy. Daffy supposes that it's because he's not in any imminent danger and that Bugs really needs a break is why Bugs isn't stopping him. It's better this way.

Daffy takes a seat in the back of the bus where there's fewer people and no one to hear him supposedly talk to himself, since he learned the hard way (at school) that no one else can see Bugs.

"Are you alright?" He whispers, putting in his earphones and looking at his hands, so as to appear as if he's just listening to music.

Bugs is beside him, he can't really see his face, just hears his voice. "Well, let's just say that a lot of strange things have been happening."

"Strange, like how?"

"Like I'm healing."

"Are you not supposed to do that?"

Bugs sighs. "No, not really. If I think about it I freak out, so I'm trying not to think about it."

Daffy suddenly gets the urge to touch Bugs. He reaches a hand out to the one Bugs has resting beside him. Daffy can do it without thinking now. The cool soft skin of Bugs hand presses against his and the startled ghost looks up. His expression is one of gratitude.

"Don't worry," Daffy comforts, "whatever happens, I'm here with you, until the end."

Bugs says nothing else after that, he just smiles.

They go all the way to the last stop. When they're finally off of the bus, Daffy takes a look around. It's a strip of shops, but the most recognizable one is a coffee shop with a sign reading "Simple Delights".

Daffy walks towards it and Bugs follows.

The place smells like too much sugar and strangely like a new car, a weird combination but one Daffy thinks he could definitely get used to.

He orders a latte and a doughnut and takes a seat near one of the many windows in the establishment. Bugs floats down beside him and watches the other customers drink their coffee and talk, bemused, until Daffy pulls him from his thoughts.

"Do you ever wonder if people missed you when you...you know?"

"It's okay Daffy, you can say it: punched my own ticket and the answer is yes, all the time."

"Is it hard for you to deal with your decision knowing that there's a possibility that someone misses you?" Daffy asks, curiosity shining in his onyx eyes.

"Well, it's not like I can change it really. But yes, it's a little hard knowing that a decision I've made has ultimately made someone miserable. It's a new kind of guilt."

The dark-haired teen says nothing, he just stares down at his cup chewing his lip. Finally in a voice so low, Bugs wonders if he was meant to hear it. "Do you think anyone would miss me?"

Bugs blinks, taken aback by the question. "As long as I can help it, you won't be going anywhere." He says seriously. "I don't ever want you thinking about death."

"But what if I want to be...you know? Something else? Or be somewhere else?"

"Daffy you're a beautiful human being and just because you don't see that doesn't mean that no one else does." Bugs reaches a hand out to cup Daffy's. He doesn't usually initiate the contact unless they are in Daffy's dreams, for fear that the Touch will take effect, but to his delight nothing deadly happens. He just feels the warmth of Daffy's palm in his.

"Say, all this talk about death is making me antsy. How about we explore downtown Devil's Cauldron?" Bugs asks.

Daffy nods. "Lead the way."

"So when were you born?"

"July 27, 1977." Bugs answers, floating beside Daffy with ease as the other teen tries to balance across the edge of a sidewalk. "You?"

"April 17, 1997. It doesn't matter anyway because birthdays suck." Daffy fusses.

"Wow, your soul is black." Bugs quips, but he can't hide the grin that crests his face when Daffy shoots him a harmless glare.

Daffy blushes when Bugs' eyes do that thing they do when he smiles. But he manages to say: "I don't have a soul."

"That explains a lot." Bugs laughs and Daffy sticks his tongue out at him.

"Are you an only child like me?" Daffy inquires, raising his arms out like a bird to steady his balance some more as he walks back and forth.

"I...don't know. I guess."

"Well, you have to know."

"My dad told me that before my mom left him or whatever, she had suffered a miscarriage. I was supposed to have a little sister, but shit happens…"

Daffy doesn't say anything for a few beats. When Bugs looks up Daffy is glowering at him with unshed tears in his eyes. "You can't just say things like that so casually!"

Bugs floats over to him. "Daffy it's fine. I'm over it." He wraps his arms around the smaller teen, cooing.

"Good to see you broke your charge."

When Bugs looks up it's the smug face of Noah he sees. "What are you doing here?" He grits out, still not releasing Daffy from his hold.

"What, do you have amnesia? I told you I'd come to check up on you. It's not like I'm excited to be here either." Then, pointing to Daffy. "What did you say to him?"

"Nothing, I was just being an idiot."

Daffy pulls away to glance over in the direction Bugs is looking. "Who are you talking to?" He asks, wiping his eyes when he suddenly sees a guy, who couldn't be much older than he or Bugs, dressed in a decent suit staring right at him. At first the dark-haired, grey eyed man doesn't speak, he simply just stares at Daffy while Daffy stares back. Bugs is the one to break the silence. "Noah, this is Daffy my human and Daffy this is Noah my boss."

Within a second, Noah is shaking Daffy's hand. He doesn't break eye contact with Daffy the whole time.

"Umm, so are you done yet? We were kind of talking here." Bugs mutters.

Noah ignores him and smirks at Daffy. "If you ever need anything, anything at all. I'm never far away."

Bugs glances between Daffy and Noah. Daffy looks confused while Noah looks...like he is seriously flirting with Daffy. "Sorry to break up your party but Daffy and I were just going now…"

"Oh yeah." His boss blinks, finally remembering why he came. "You are supposed to protect him at all times. Following him while he skips school is a violation of rules 22 and 41. Haven't you read the rule book?"

"There's a rule book?"

"Never mind. Just don't screw up with this one." And with that and a wink sent Daffy's way, Noah disappears.

"Well he's something."

"Heh, tell me about it."

"It's getting late. We should get you home."

Daffy acquiesces. "We should. After I do this!" He punches Bugs in the arm before running away.

A/N: Hope you all liked it. I'm trying my best to update regularly now. Especially since I have an extended Christmas break. :)

Happy Holidays guys! See you next chapter!