Happy Halloween~ Have a spook-tacular holiday~
~CWA
CHAPTER TWENTY
Danny Fenton
The next day, I'm up bright and early before anyone else. Wasabi's bed is empty, which doesn't really surprise me with how much time he's been spending with Jade. But my little nightstand is not as empty as it usually is. Beside the small alarm clock and lamp, there's a tiny box with a nearby note. I quirk an eyebrow and for a moment, I even dare to hope that it's Tadashi who left the mysterious box. Maybe it's even an apology note. I've always favored apology notes. It's a sweet, romantic gesture in my eyes to leave a little note of apology to someone whose dear to you. Hell, if it is Tadashi who wrote it, I think I'd forgive him in a heartbeat from the sheer romanticism of it all.
But my hope is crushed when I see that it's Wasabi's handwriting on one note and an unfamiliar, more feminine handwriting on the other. I swallow thickly, thinking to myself about how stupid it was to even think it was Tadashi, as a lump forms in my throat and my stomach twists in displeasure. But I force myself to think a bit more positive that Wasabi left a note for me.
Danny,
Jade and I are heading out for an early day out together, but Jade wanted to leave her (late) Christmas present for you.
Take care of yourself and you better not sleep the whole day away.
-Wasabi
I open the little present that's been left by Jade and find a small bracelet with two tiny charms on it- one is a little 'ghost' and the other is a little speech bubble reading 'boo.' Cute. Apparently she's already found out what it is that I'm working on, which considering her boyfriend is Wasabi, it's not that hard to believe.
With a small smile, I slip the bracelet on before I start to think about what I should do today. True, I could go work on the portal. But the odds of me running into Tadashi in the lab, even in this early, is still a bit too high for my liking. So the questions remains, where else can I go? Obviously the cafe is out.
I click my tongue a bit in thought before I remember someone at the lab mentioning a nearby 24 hour gym- the perfect place to work out my frustration and flex some much needed muscles.
With a smirk on my face, I get ready in a pair of sweats, a loose long-sleeved shirt, and a gym bag and head out.
When Wasbai mentioned an early start on a day out, he wasn't kidding. It's early enough that even the streets are pretty empty aside from a few people who are likely heading to work and the few college students that look like they haven't slept in days. It almost feels like a zombie apocalypse from the few groans and moans I hear from some of the more sleep deprived students.
Still, I end up finding the gym easily enough. Like I've heard, it's open and there's a small light-up sign that says open 24-7 along with a small list of some of the things the gym includes such as showers, restroom facilities, boxing ring, etc. The list goes on and the more I read, the more I nod to myself in approval. Sounds like a pretty decent gym. With a small grin, I enter the gym with a cheerful expression on my face.
My eyes briefly sweep over the interior of the gym, taking in a few of the details that stick out. Punching bags. Weights. Benches. Mirrors. Boxing ring. Various other needed equipment and materials. Three doors leading to three separate shower/restroom areas (male, female, and what looks to be a gender neutral one too). A few body positivity posters are around the room along with other positive posters with positive messages (ranging from religion to LGBTA+ issues).
There's not many people here. A few muscular guys are at it on the weights in some sort of contest- though the muscular woman with them seems to be winning. Another person is on the treadmill with their earbuds in. Aside from that, I don't really see anyone in the large, spacy gym. Well anyone aside from the person behind the counter.
"Ah, a newbie," the person behind the counter greets me, "Welcome to Gym Neutral, a gym for everyone of every kind. Name's A.D., as in the letter a, the letter b, owner of the gym and I'm happy to have you here so if you can come over here we can go over getting you a membership so you can fully enjoy everything here."
I can see why it's called Gym Neutral. A catchy name, I may add, for a gym that apparently prides itself in being a safe environment for 'everyone of every kind.' Even the person behind the counter doesn't seem to be binary-conforming with a mix of both feminine and masculine features and physique. Though I have to admit they don't exactly look like someone who would own a gym since they're rather lean and soft, my eyes traveling along them slightly. Their hair is short/half shaved and dyed blue. Green eyes covered by thin, black glasses. Pale skin littered with freckles. A cocked hip as they lean on the counter with their elbow.
Their thin, feminine hands hand me the membership form to fill out, but their eyes trail up and down my form. Even with sweats and a long-sleeves, my physique isn't exactly hidden since the shirt is a bit more form-fitting. I shift a bit under their gaze, flushing slightly as I avoid eye contact in every way I can.
"Hmm the gym isn't the only thing for everyone of every kind," A.D. winks suggestively at me, causing my whole face to turn a vivid shade of red.
I cough a bit into my elbow. Any other time, before Tadashi especially, I may have pursued them. But today I'm looking for a different type of workout than what A.D. is suggesting. Thankfully, I'm saved by the little bell that signals someone else is entering the gym.
"Stop flirting with every single person that comes in, Adrian," a feminine voice calls out, "I can't imagine that it's good for business."
A.D., or rather Adrian, pouts slightly, whining slightly at the comment, but seems to give up as they give a small yeah fine and hand me a pen to fill out the form. I carelessly take the pen as I turn around to greet a familiar face. Her eyes go to A.D. briefly, giving them a stop you little shit look before she looks to me. She eyes me slightly before smirking with a small nod of acknowledgment,
"Hey Danny."
She pops her bubble gum carelessly as she rests a hand on her hip. She's not in her usual clothes, which is understandable since it is a gym after all. Instead, she wears typical stylized sweats and a sports bra under a black opened jacket. A gym bag is lazily swung across her shoulder and there's a towel around her neck- still clean since she has just gotten here.
"Uh hey GoGo," I greet, rubbing the back of my neck, "I didn't know you went to this gym."
"It's the only one I like," she says simply, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world, "It's positive and uplifting."
It's kind of hard to believe that she likes the place because it's positive when she says it in such a bland tone with a couldn't-care-less expression on her face. Though from the corner of my eyes, I can see Adrian puff up in pride over the positive comment about their gym, only to get shut down as GoGo continues.
"The only downside is that flirtatious idiot," she jabs her thumb over at A.D., who gives a rather dramatic gesture of being shot in the heart before sinking to the floor.
She says it as if it's a bad thing, but I can see the smile twitching at her lips. She must come here a lot to be on friendly terms with the owner. Though I don't think it takes much to be friendly with A.D. if their open flirtatious attitude is anything to go by. She still eyes A.D. rom the corner of her eyes with a bit of amusement as she pays most of her attention to me and the membership form in my hand.
"Good to see you're finally branching out," she gestures toward the form, "And here I thought the only places you even went to were the lab and the cafe."
"Haha," I snort, "I'll have you know, I'm a very active person."
A.D. opens their mouth to say something, the look in their eyes suggest it's likely to be a more sexual comment, but GoGo waves her hand to cut them off causing them to shut their mouth with a pout.
"Really," GoGo raises one slick eyebrow in question, "Then prove it. Come on."
She grabs my wrist and drags me away farther into the gym causing me to drop the membership form. A.D. sighs and moves from around the corner to pick it up, waving it in the air slightly,
"He still has to be a member!"
"He'll sign it later, A.D."
Well. Apparently I'm going to be a member of the gym then whether I like it or not.
I pull back my fist and hit the punching bag, harder enough to get my frustration out, but no hard enough that I'm using my full strength. As soon as GoGo had dragged me over to the punching bag, she demanded to see just what I can do. After the first punch it, I just kept going and going… Every punch vents out my frustration and I haven't even grown tired yet. Hell, I haven't even broken a sweat.
But I finally stop when I feel GoGo grab my wrist to keep me from going. Her eyes are hardened and there's something akin to understanding shining in them as she holds my wrist firmly.
"Stop."
"...Why, I can keep going," I reassure her, "I'm not going to hurt myself or anything."
GoGo lets out a snort as she lets go of my wrist for favor of crossing her arms across her chest very sternly. I try hard to ignore how my voice sounds- disbelieving, as if I'm trying to convince myself of something. But GoGo is a having none of it.
"Something's bothering you and just punching a bag isn't going to help," GoGo points out, "I don't do pep talks, I'm not a shoulder to cry on…. But Adrian's made it pretty clear that I'm a damn good listener."
She plops down carelessly on a nearby bench, stretching a bit as she leans against the wall the bench is pressed against. Her eyes leave no room for argument, causing me to sigh as I sit down beside her. By now, the gym's filled up a bit more, but a quick look around us shows that no one is really paying attention to me or her or whatever conversation we're having.
I sigh slightly and run my hands through my hair,
"….Tadashi and I had a fight," I admit softly, "… I was teaching Hiro how to hunt ghosts and Tadashi found out and he lost it…. And maybe I should have asked him if it was okay for me to teach Hiro but he just… He doesn't get it."
GoGo's eyes soften slightly as she adjusts her spot on the bench. There's a small silence between us because I'm not too sure about what to say, but then GoGo speaks up.
"...Doesn't get what?"
"It," I stress hopelessly, my voice raising slightly, "...He doesn't get it. Ghosts. Just everything. It. I…"
My voice grows soft as my eyes get a bit moist from tears that just want to fall, the emotion pouring into my words is making it a bit hard to keep my speech consistent and clear.
"He doesn't get it…," I whisper, "….I've seen ghosts, GoGo. I've seen good ones, some are even my friends, but I've seen bad ones. Ones that would destroy the world if someone didn't stop them. Ones that would hurt people without a second thought. Ones that could easily destroy your life or even end it without so much as blinking. And I just want to protect people from that, I want to help people, but there's been times where even I couldn't do anything or I was too late and I… I just want Hiro and Tadashi to be safe. Is that so wrong?"
I look up to GoGo with pleading eyes. I know maybe I'm talking to the wrong person. Maybe she'll just shut me down. Maybe she won't get it either. But instead, when I see her face, there's nothing but a foreign softness with understanding.
"No," GoGo finally admits, "Nothing wrong that that…. But I have to get going. Unlike you, I can't afford this much time off with my project."
Gogo stands up, stretching briefly before she picks up her bag. She gives me a small nod and starts to walk way, but stops suddenly. She pops her bubble gum before she finally turns to me one last time, glancing at me from over her shoulder.
"...Tadashi may not get it, Danny, but he will eventually. Even if he doesn't believe in ghosts."
