Me: I know what you are all saying, "DPfruitloop! You haven't updated in ages! What's up with ya? WHY YOU NO UPDATE!" Well my wondrous readers, my reasoning behind my late update is quite simple really. I am lazy. Yes, I know that this is quite a shock to all of you. I am LAZY.

Danny Muse: YAY FOR LAZINESS!

Me: Actually Danny, most people consider laziness a BAD thing.

Danny Muse: NOPE! Laziness is SEXY!

Me: -.- you think everything is sexy Danny.

Danny Muse: XD Sexy waffles…

Me: Oh wow… anyways, on with the story, I made it extra long to make up for my lateness!

Danny Muse: Sexy narwhals…

They say that the good things in life are reflected in many ways, through the crisp of an autumn morning, or the smell of a white rose- held by one's beloved. However, the bad that life reflects often seems to outweigh the good that it reflects. Death, sadness, despair, violence, murder, pain, emptiness, fear, loneliness, and anger- these are of the many terrible things that are reflected in our everyday life. The brokenness, the anger, and the frustration fuel our eternal suffering, and we become weak. The darkness cascades over our eyes, blinding us from any light, and any hope. This is the nature of oh so many human beings. You however, may be living in the sunlight, smiling and laughing. Oh would you pause for a moment and notice me, the one whose eyes are covered and is shivering in the cold? Would you save me? Please, for I don't believe that I can live this way for any longer. I cannot pretend to smile anymore, while you dance in the sun, eyes shining with hope. I need some of that hope, some of that will to carry on.

Would you please save me?

Chapter 6

Danny's POV

Time to me is irrelevant. Autumn leaves or summer trees- I do not see the difference, for everything in sight is dark, simply black and white. There is good, and there is bad. Nobody is in the middle. The calendar says about a week has passed since my encounter with Dash, but I do not see it that way. It is not something that I can explain easily… the simplest way to do so would be to state that…that my life is like a dream. I walk, and I get the notion that at any moment, I will wake up and everything will be okay. I remind myself often, that this is a luxury that I do not possess, however if I am to be frank with myself, I believe that it is the only thing keeping me alive. If I live under the false notion that it will all go away, I can find the will to carry on. I know that it isn't the healthiest of habits, but it is something, and something is better than nothing.

Everything only ever seems to get worse, and never gets better. I only wish to smile and have it be meaningful… why is this a luxury in which I cannot indulge? Why am I breaking apart at the seams? Why…just…why? Did I do something wrong, in which I am being punished for in the most brutal of ways? All I have ever tried to do was help people… and all that I have received from it was a whole lot of crap. It just isn't fair. I wish I was dead.

I sigh and look down at my desk, an open book lying before me, and I continue to read the same line over and over, not having even a single word sink into my disturbed mind. I sigh and give up, I don't even recall what book we are reading, or what class I am currently in. All I know is that my life is screwed up, and I don't give a crap about anything else. I shut my eyes and sigh, and then lay my head on the cool desk. I know the teacher won't even try to awake me from my much needed sleep, for all of my educators have given up on me, saying I am a lost cause, not even pausing to dwell on the fact that my life may be full of more crap than they could ever imagine. I hate everything; it's all just so stupid and pointless…why do I even try?

Sam's POV

I look over to my right when I hear a loud thud, and sigh softly to myself when I see that two desks over Danny had thrown his head upon his desk in some unknown dismay. I am scared for him, I truly am. Ever since the 'Dash incident' his attitude had only become even more moody. He doesn't even seem to make an effort to smile anymore, and he always looks so tired… and he's still wearing those stupid long sleeves… and it's at least 80*F today! Most people are in tank tops and shorts! Isn't he hot?

I groan and look over to Tucker across the room, and notice that he was already looking at me. His eyes spoke it all, "We need to do something". I nod at him, and he nods back. I stare down at my open book, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet and continue to read, knowing that after school, I am going to corner Jazz and have a long, serious talk with her… this cannot continue any longer. We NEED to know what is going on with Danny, and end it. I want my happy go lucky friend back. This just isn't like him…

What's going on with you Danny?

I sprint out of 6th hour as soon as the bell rings, and run as fast as my legs can carry me, I run down the hall, lockers and students a blur behind me. I earn myself a few strange looks, but I disregard them, the only thing on my mind is reaching Jazz, it is vital that she talk to Danny. I would talk to him myself, but it has already been made obvious that he has no desire to speak his feelings out to me, and I don't want him to become even more distant from me than he already is. I figure since Danny and Jazz have such a close relationship, that perhaps he will open up to her a bit more.

I stop for a moment, and take a deep inhale of breath to soothe my tired lungs. I allow my eyes to scan the crowed hallways, and sigh in relief when I spot the familiar flaming red hair, donning a light blue headband. I shove through the mob of students before me, earning myself a few glares. I glare right back; people are so stupid… can't they see I am in a hurry? Why won't they move their stupid butts and stop talking in the middle of the hall?

"Hey, watch it Manson!" A student in front of me shouts as I shove him to the opposite side of the hallway. I give him a glare in which could be comparable to that of the devil.

"OUTTA THE WAY!" I scream and despite the glares I receive, the mob in front of me begins to thin, and I sigh in relief… why it is that high school students have to be so bull headed… well, I know that I am not one to talk…but still. I continue to sprint down the hallway, until I find the mess of ginger hair…all too close. I shut my eyes as I run straight into my best friend's sister.

The two of us scream as we plummet to the ground. The ridiculously high piled stack of books in Jazz's arms skids across the hallway, and the crowd of students merely walk by, some of which stepping on the books. I yell at the morons and retrieve the books for Jazz, apologizing to her as I do so.

"Its fine Sam, really…Is there something you wanted to talk about?" Jazz laughs a little bit at the last part of her sentence as I place the pile of books back into her arms, and I blush in embarrassment, before I recall my reason for running into Jazz in the first place. My expression becomes more serious, and apparently Jazz senses that what I am about to say was of great importance, for her smile slowly falls. We both stand slowly from where we had previously fallen.

"Jazz, I'm really worried about Danny." I sigh, and Jazz nods knowingly.

"I know you are Sam, and I am too, but we will just have to wait until he comes clean on this." Jazz replies. I shake my head; she is less wise than I give her credit for if she believes that this will go away on its own accord.

"Jazz, I think that this is a bit more serious than we thought before… I really think you need to talk to Danny… I know he doesn't want to hear it from me… but maybe from you?" I finish hopefully, only to be crestfallen when Jazz sighs and shakes her head.

"Sam, I know that you think you have Danny's best interest in heart, but if I ask him to tell me what's wrong- then he will just think that I am being bossy." Jazz looks at me apologetically, and although I understand where she is coming from, I can't let this one slide.

"No Jazz, you NEED to do something." I demand, and Jazz sighs and nods her head.

"Alright, I will keep an extra close eye on him, and speak to him about this if the opportunity arises." I nod in acceptance of her words, and sigh in relief as she walks away, and out the doors of the school's west entrance. I know that Jazz will stay true to her promise, and that if anyone could figure out what was wrong with Danny, it would be Danny's older sister.

…but you would have to be absolutely mad if you think that I am not going to be watching him like a hawk.

Jazz's POV

I sigh as I fumble with the keys to my car, my overly large stack of books swaying as I open the car door. I toss the pile of books into the passenger seat, the books deforming from their previously neat stack into a jumbled mess. I look around my car and sigh again as I realize that I should really clean it. How is it possible that a car can get so messy? I suppose that it is simply one of the great unknown mysteries in this world.

As I climb into my overly messy car, I reflect upon my previous conversation with Sam. I know that she is right… I have always known it deep down. As much as I wish he would, Danny doesn't like to come to people with his problems. Instead, he locks them deep within himself… and really it's not all that healthy.

All in all, I am very concerned about Danny's mental health. I look over to the stack of books, the top one on the sea of books labeled oh so appropriately How to Know if Your Teenage Brother is Depressed; the Future Psychologist's Guide to Mental Illnesses.

I roll my eyes at the ridiculous title as I begin to drive toward my home. Honestly, authors today seem particularly unable to devise a decent name for their published works. Oh well, I suppose it makes it a bit easier to locate the books that I need… but would it kill them to be a bit more…original?

I shake my head, focusing my mind to think of the problem at hand… yes, Sam is right. I really need to talk to Danny about this. I know that he has an awful lot of stress on his shoulders…between juggling school and ghost fighting, he rarely has any time for himself anymore… and I'm worried that that has become too much for him to handle, he's only 14 after all. I know that he would never admit this to anyone, but I know it's been hard on him.

My hands clench around the wheel in anger as I think of this, oh how I wish that I could relieve some of the pressures which don his shoulders! How is it fair that he is forced to endure this as only a freshman…no teenager should have to go through all this crap alone… heck, no ADULT should have to go through this crap alone… and yet, he does.

I may be unaware of the severity of Danny's issues, but I know that they are there, and as his older sister I take it as my duty to care for him… and if this issue is all too great for myself to handle, I will tell my parents…everything if need be. No secret is worth my brother getting hurt, and if I find out whatever is troubling him is doing so… his secret can be thrown out of the window for all I care.

I will find out what is wrong Danny… I promise… and I will find out SOON.