Mindless Behavior

Chapter Three:

Danielle's POV:

The hour I waited for Kitty and Johnny to go to bed dripped by slowly, seeming to take an eternity. Finally, Johnny walked in to check on me. After their bedroom door clicked shut, I gave it another hour and half, long enough for the lovebirds to settle down for the night, I then crept out of my room and down the hall. I slowly opened the front door and flew out into the pitch blackness and green swirls of the Ghost Zone. I hardly knew my way around the Ghost Zone, but I knew which was north was. Plus, how many parties could the Ghost Zone have in one night? I was certain it wouldn't be that hard to find.

After flying around for a bit, I found the party. It was being held on a huge island, with loud music and smoke, not to mention drinks that Dad, Johnny, and Kitty would kill me if I drank. I landed on the island and changed back into my human form. Though my ghost outfit was pretty hot, I liked the party outfit I'd chosen better. A short, black leather skirt, my knee high boots, and a bright green halter top.

I walked around the island, trying to look like I belonged, and praying that no one would recognize me as Danny Phantom's daughter. Boy, would that cause a scene- and not a good one! The party seemed to be in full-swing, but no party was complete until I was the center of attention. I needed to find someone to dance with. I turned in a slow circle, looking for someone to dance with, when someone walked up behind me. "Danielle?"

My heart jumped into my throat; I was certain I'd been caught. I spun around and came face-to-face with a pirate. I was confused, how did he know me? I stared up into his green eyes and, suddenly, I recognized him. "Youngblood?" I asked in shock.

"It's me," he said.

"Wow," I said, unable to help myself. The last time I'd seen Youngblood, I'd been with Dad in the zone a few years ago. Youngblood had been short and annoying, and nowhere near handsome or hot. Now, though, he was standing in front of me looking like he'd walked off some sort of movie set. He was wearing his usual pirate outfit, but it had been upgraded. His green hair was grown out and pulled back into a ponytail under his hat. He was wearing a heavy jacket and boots, and had a piercing in his ear. He was hot. "You've certainly grown up," I said, taking a sip of my drink.

"You're one to talk," he retorted. "So where's Phantom?"

"Shh," I quieted him teasingly. "I may or may not have sneaked out."

"Really?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Doesn't seem likely, considering that the last time I saw you, you were Daddy's little girl."

"Things change." I said. "Last time I saw you, you were an annoying little pirate."

"Still a pirate," he pointed out, tipping his hat and grinning at me.

I smiled coyly, "I can see that."

"Care to dance?" he asked, as a loud pop song started.

"Sure," I said, taking his hand and leading him to the center of the island where everyone was dancing. I was definitely going to make a scene.

Johnny's POV:

I got up around two in the morning, but I didn't know why. I just had a feeling something was wrong. I woke Kitty up as I got out of bed. "Johnny?" she asked. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know," I replied slowly. "I'm going to go check on Danielle."

I walked out of our room and down the hall to Danielle's. I pushed her door open and peeked in. She wasn't there. "I knew it!" I shouted, instantly pissed.

"What is it?" Kitty asked, walking up behind me.

"She's gone. She went out to that party!" I walked back to our room and grabbed my jacket and motorcycle keys.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to go find her."

"Johnny," she said reasonably, touching my arm gently, "let's just wait for her to get back."

I sighed, "Fine."

The two of us sat in the living room for another hour before the door finally opened and a very drunk Danielle, dressed in the sluttiest outfit I'd ever seen, walked in. I wouldn't have reacted so badly if she had seemed the least bit remorseful when she came in, but she blew us off. "Danielle, care to explain where you've been?"

"Not really," she said, shrugging out of her jacket, dropping it on the floor.

"Too bad. We're going to talk about this."

"No, we're not," she said.

"Danielle-"

"Back off, Johnny!" she snapped. "You're not my father!"

"Yeah, because if I was you wouldn't be acting like this!" I snapped.

"Like what? A little bitch? Yeah, Johnny! You've got your girlfriend to do that, don't you?"

I snapped. I grabbed her arm and twisted her around, delivering a firm swat to her bottom. She gaped at me. "Did you just spank me?" she asked incredulously.

I avoided her question, "Go you bed. You're getting up in a few hours to do chores."

She let out a frustrated screech and stormed to her bedroom, slamming her door, as usual. I turned to Kitty. "Did I really just do that?" I asked, sitting on the sofa.

Kitty picked up Danielle's jacket and draped it over the back of the chair. "Yes, and she deserved it. She needs to learn better."

"You're right. We should probably go to bed."

Kitty followed me down the hall to our room. At seven, I stumbled out of bed and got Danielle up. I directed her to the garage, where she was to organize all my tools and wash the bike- with my shadow to supervise her. I then went back to bed.

A few hours later, when I woke up, I went to the kitchen to find Danielle helping Kitty make breakfast. I leaned against the door frame, unsure of what I was seeing. Danielle looked at me, "I finished in the garage," she stated.

I looked for my shadow, which was in the corner of the room. It nodded at me and I called it back to me. Danielle was unusually quiet throughout breakfast and afterward, I went and found my garage and bike completely spotless. I was a little impressed, but I was also suspicious. I went back into the kitchen and found Kitty sitting at the table reading, while Danielle did the dishes. After she finished, she went to her room, leaving the door partially open.

"What's that all about?" I asked.

"I have no idea. She finished the garage and came into the kitchen to ask if she could help me. Then when you went to the garage, she started on the dishes by herself. And when I tried to help, she told me to sit down and relax."

"Well, hopefully she'll stay this way."

I went back out to the garage to make my weekly call to Danny. "How is she?" he asked, sounding as anxious as he did every time I called.

"Well, I caught her sneaking back in after going to a party-"

He cut me off by groaning, but before he could speak, I carried on, "I gave her a swat and she's been acting very well behaved this morning."

"Really?" he asked. I could tell he was surprised, but I could also tell that he didn't like that I had swatted her.

"Yeah. She's being good, offered to help Kitty with breakfast, then did the dishes without being asked."

"That's good," he said slowly. "I was actually thinking of coming to see her."

"Okay. When do you want to?"

"I was thinking tonight, after dinner."

"Alright. We'll see you then."

"Okay. Bye."

"Later," I said, hanging up.

I walked out to find Kitty. "I just got off the phone with Danny. He's coming over tonight to see her."

"That's great," she said, smiling at me.

"Danielle!" I called, careful not to use the nickname that she now hated.

She came out of her room, "Yes?"

"Your dad is coming to see you tonight."

Her face clouded over instantly, "Just great," she muttered, then she turned on heel and stomped back to her bedroom, shutting the door harder than necessary.

"What was that about?" I wondered out loud. I went down the hall and pushed open her door. "What's going on, Danielle?" I asked. "Why don't you want to see him?"

"It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Johnny. Really, I don't."

"Alright, but I want you to behave yourself when he comes."

"Fine," she said, closing her eyes and laying back on her bed. "Please go away."

I walked out of her room and closed the door. "Well?" Kitty inquired.

"She wouldn't talk about it," I said. Somehow, though I was confused, I felt like maybe we were getting closer to the source of Danielle's attitude problem.

Danny's POV:

That night around seven, I went to Johnny and Kitty's lair. I had a stack of books in the passenger seat of the speeder. I was planning on giving them to Johnny and Kitty, giving them instructions to make Danielle read a few pages a day. I was going to let her start high school the next year if she could learn to behave herself. I also had another surprise for Danielle, one that I hoped she'd like.

Kitty let me in when I got to their lair. I had the books in one hand and a bag containing Danielle's surprise in the other. "Hi, Danny," she said, stepping aside to let me walk in.

"Hi," I said. I handed her the books before we got to the living room and explained my plan to her.

"Of course," she said. I followed her to the living room where Danielle and Johnny were sitting.

"Hey, Johnny. Hi, Danielle."

"Hey, dude," Johnny greeted me. "Have a seat."

Danielle just stared at me, then looked away. I sat down on the loveseat across from her, "I brought you something," I said, placing the present on her lap.

"Thanks," she mumbled, refusing to look at me.

"You can open it," I said.

She opened the bag slowly and pulled out the ridiculous pink paper I'd put in it, then she pulled out the present. It was the stuffed bear I'd given her four years ago when I'd first adopted her. It was brown and had a black shirt with our symbol on it. She'd adored it when I'd presented it to her and named it Cujo after the ghost dog we both adored.

She stared at it, "Cujo," she said tonelessly. "Thanks." She sat the bear down and leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest.

It was awkward and silent; Danielle wouldn't even look at me, just stared down at her hands.

Kitty somehow managed to start a conversation about Danielle's incredible cooking ability, which surprised me. I couldn't cook at all. It was strange.

Danielle seemed to lighten up at the talk of her cooking and I couldn't understand it. After awhile, I decided it was time to leave. "Bye, Danielle," I said, after having said my goodbyes to Kitty and Johnny.

"Bye."

"I love you," I said hopefully.

She locked eyes with me for the first time all night. "I know," she stated.

I nodded and went out to the speeder.