Hey! A new chapchap! This one's a bit longer, so enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own DP.
"It's been almost two hours past his curfew, Jack!" Maddie exclaimed. "What if he's hurt? Or lost? Or worst?" Maddie paced about worriedly in the living room, while Jack was perched on the couch, tweeking another one of his crazy ghost hunting inventions.
"Ah, don't worry about it Mads. It's all part of growing up! You have to rebel against your parents every once in a while to get the full experience of being a young teenager!" Jack told her reassuringly.
"But it's not every once in a while, Jack. It's been going on for months now!" Maddie counteracted. "Not only this. He's also bring home bad marks, Mr. Lancer has been telling me about his unexcused absences and lates, he's been shirking all of his chores. It's... it's just not right."
"That's what puberty does to you, Maddie. The anger and stubbornness is only the first threshold into manliness, along with all the hormones and chest hair and... stuff." Jack told her. "Danny does have chest hair, right?"
Maddie sighed. "I don't know Jack. Maybe we should look at Danny's behaviour in a more psychological manner. What if him getting in trouble is a sign that he needs our attention, or maybe some advice about something?"
"Oh I'm sure if Danny needed to tell us something important, he would just say it. Loud and proud, like a Fenton!" Jack stood with pride, posing as a hero with his hands on his hips. "No secrets in this family, am I right?" He announced confidently.
Maddie groaned, slightly embarrassed by Jack's awkward position. "Jack, if you're going to do your hero pose, please put on some pants first."
Ding dong, ding dong.
"Oh, he's here." Maddie let out a quick sigh of relief, then stomped angrily towards the front door, ready to heckle her son with non-stop questions. Then, she swung the door open.
"Young man! Do you have any idea-" she suddenly stopped mid-sentence upon realizing that the person waiting at the door was not Danny. In the place Danny should've been standing guiltily stood an all-too-familiar man that towered over her petite figure.
"Vlad Masters?" The man smiled as Maddie addressed his name. "What on Earth are you doing here at this time?"
"What's that? Vladdie's here?!" Jack ignored the fact he was pantless and excitedly bounced over to the front door. "Hey V-man! Glad you could stop by!"
"Ah Maddie... and Jack." Vlad addressed rudely. "How goes it? Good? Good. May I come in?"
"Actually, it's pretty late and-" Maddie started, but her voice got pushed over by Jack's booming voice.
"Of course Vladdie! Any good college friend of mine is welcome at the Fentonworks anytime!" Jack widened the door and yanked his college "friend" inside the comforts of his home. Maddie groaned in annoyance and distrustfully trailed slowly behind the two.
Jack placed Vlad on a seat on the couch, and quickly gathered some leftover brownies from the kitchen as refreshments. "So, how's it been Vlad? Living the billionaire life in Wisconsin? Getting all the hot babes, am I right?" He elbowed Vlad playfully.
Vlad slid over slightly away from Jack and looked at him in hatred and annoyance, then softened his eyes at Maddie. "Oh Jack, there's only one babe out there for me." He coyly smiled in her direction and winked flirtatiously at her. Maddie noticed and immediately looked back in disgust.
"Any particular reason why you decided to come all the way from Wisconsin to 'visit' us in the middle of the night?" Maddie crossed her arms skeptically.
"Oh, I just felt like seeing my old college 'friends'." He said the term cautiously. "But enough about me, and more about that young man Daniel. How has that lad been lately?"
"Aw, Danny? He's doing great! Growing up to be just like his old man!" Jack proudly proclaimed, and didn't notice Vlad silently shudder at the thought.
Vlad cleared his throat and continued. "So, where is he? It would be nice to have a chat with someone so young and full of energy." Vlad complimented with fake enthusiasm.
"He's not here." Maddie admitted. "He hasn't come home yet."
"Oh, but is it not past his curfew?" Vlad put on a pretend worried expression. "That poor, innocent, naive, defenceless boy. He could be anywhere." He shook his head. "Do you always let him out this late at night?"
"I don't let him, Vlad." She replied harshly. "I mean... he never use to do this before..." Maddie pondered thoughtfully.
"Yeah, Danny's a good kid!" Jack pitched in. "I mean, except for all those bad grades, and coming home late, shirking his chores, sneaking out-" Jack listed, but stopped when Maddie nudged him hard in the gut as if to say, you're not helping.
"Well maybe that's because you two give him too much freedom." Vlad concluded. "Might I suggest placing some strict restrictions in this household, you know, to instill some sense of discipline in his young teenage mind. Oh, what's the word..."
"You mean... you want us to ground him?" Maddie asked in shock.
"Ah, yes. 'Ground'! That's the word! I've heard from many that it's a very effective technique towards troubling children. Maybe you should try it."
Insane. He was insane, Maddie thought the idea was insane. But then, she began considering it. Never had she grounded her children before. Any kind of punishment she made towards them wasn't as serious or harsh. She rarely got mad at them, but when she did, the worst she would do was tell them to go to their room. She thought, maybe Vlad was right. Maybe her forgiving nature and Jack's detached relationship towards Danny had programmed some of his worst habits. Before she could ponder on the idea anymore, Maddie suddenly heard the front door slam shut.
"Okay," It was Danny's voice. "I know I'm really late, I know what you're going to say and-" Danny entered the living room and paused upon seeing Vlad resting on the couch. His blood immediately began boiling and he could feel his fists start to clench up.
"What is going on? What are you doing here? What is he doing here?!" Danny pointed accusingly at Vlad.
"Hey Danny, look! Vlad's come to visit! Isn't that great?" Jack pitched in joyfully.
"I can see that," Danny said behind gritted teeth.
"Oh Daniel, we were just talking about you. Such a pleasant surprise!" Vlad smirked.
"Too bad I can't say the same about you." Danny retorted. He was about to start another insult when Maddie intercepted.
"Danny! Where have you been, young man?!" Maddie forgot mostly about the unwanted company of Vlad and focused her anger on Danny.
"Tell the truth now, Daniel. We wouldn't want any lies spreading around like butter, would we?"
Danny shot his arch enemy one last hateful glance, silently mouthing the word 'fruitloop', then he turned to face his mother, trying racking his brain for a decent excuse. "I, um... was at Tucker's." He told his parents cautiously. Unfortunately, they didn't look very convinced.
"We called Tucker's house. His parents told us they haven't seen you all day." Maddie suspiciously told him. Vlad grinned evilly when he saw Danny begin to panic.
"Oh u-um, did I say Tucker's? I-I meant at the library. You know, doing research and... stuff." Danny stuttered in response. Both parents looked more convinced by that excuse.
Danny would've gotten away with it, then Vlad had to butt in. "I say, look at the time." He regarded his watch with the false look of surprise. "I don't believe the library stays open for this long, do you Maddie?"
She turned back to Danny, who she caught trying to slowly sneak away to his bedroom.
"No," she said. "I don't believe so either."
She walked up to Danny carefully, softened her eyes, then knelt down to his level. "I don't know what's going on Danny, but obviously something is. And your father and I want to help you with whatever it is." Danny said nothing. He turned his glance down at the floor, but felt his mother lift his chin gently back up. "I need to know what you're so afraid of."
Danny hesitated. Her soft violet eyes pleaded him to spill his secret. But he knew he couldn't. They wouldn't understand. They wouldn't get it. No matter what he said, he knew that they would never accept him for who he really was.
"I... I can't tell you." He shrugged his chin out of her grasp, then stared back at the ground. "I'm sorry."
Maddie couldn't believe it. How long has her son been lying to her, throwing these stupid excuses around, and she was too oblivious to see it. Trouble-making was one thing, but now, she couldn't even trust her own son! No, she had enough, and Vlad was right. Maddie had to do something about Danny, and she was going to do it now.
She stood back up. "Danny, I didn't want to do this, but I have no choice." She looked at Danny with a gravely serious expression. "I'm taking away all of your video games, TV, and phone privileges. Until further notice, you are not allowed to leave this house without my permission. Understand?"
"What?!" Danny exclaimed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that, Daniel James Fenton, you are hereby grounded! Now march up to your bedroom and go to bed!"
Sorry if you think it's a bit chunky and crappy. Was kind of rushing on this chap, but I promise the next chap will be better. Please review and tell me what you think so far! :D