Linariel: Okay here's the next part I really hope this gets some more reviews. I'm planning to update sometime later this week with the next part after that or a little later but no less then a month I have a lot time now and a lot planned for this story.
Thank you everyone for the reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own any Danny Phantom characters from the series that honor goes to the incredibly creative Butch Hartman. I do however own all the characters who don't appear in the series are mine. That includes Adrian, Jennifer, Lilith, Alicia and any others.
Adrian Spook
In
The Unluckiest Number
Episode Summary:
Adrian finds his day going from bad to worst thanks to The Ghost Punks. It just so happens to be the day he celebrates his 14th birthday. That doesn't top it though he gets a little more for it then he wanted. Including inheriting his father's genes.
Part 2
Things just keep going from bad to worse
By: Lydia (penname: Linariel)
It was quiet, too quiet. Muscling around behind the broken pillar Alicia Foley cocked her blaster ready to take on whatever came towards her. Dressed in complete body armor she kept her eyes peeled for any disturbances. A whisper went across the breeze her reflexes kicked in and she aimed her weapon and shot at the direction of the sound. A bleep went out as numbers appeared '2 specters terminated. 600pts ' Her suit glowed green as she grinned at her accomplishment. She was getting pretty good at this.
"Nice one Alicia!" said a voice from behind.
Out of instinct she flipped around and aimed his weapon at the new threat. Only to see her best friend Adrian in a more masculine version of the body armor with orange highlights. She glared at him playfully. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Adrian rolled his eyes and said dryly. "I just couldn't resist you looked all tense and everything thing. You do realize this is only a game it isn't real." He motioned to the digital surroundings of remains demolished buildings. "We are currently hooked up to helmets which project the image to our brains."
She sighed. "Sorry force of habit. Remember my parents had a similar version I used for training along with my siblings. I still don't know why your dad didn't let you get involved."
"Maybe because he thought my self defense classes from my grandparents were enough." Adrian remarked with a shrug. He noticed a gray blob approaching his partner. "'Licia duck!" he commanded.
Alicia stooped down and allowed Adrian to go for his target. Hitting the ghost once but only halfway destroying its life points. He tried again but missed by a few inches. The ecto being cackled swishing its tail as if to mock him.
"Nice try Adrian but ya missed him." Alicia remarked teasingly.
With a groan Adrian glared at her. "I don't see you doing any better."
"Oh yeah?" Alicia said taking his words as a challenge she aimed her blaster directly at the specter and hit it dead on causing a bleeping noise and then it faded away. "Yes!" she pumped her arms in the air. "Direct hit to the ecto fiend!" A screen popped up and points kept going up till finally 'WINNER PLAYER 2' was displayed on the screen. "Rockin I beat my high score!"
Adrian rolled his eyes. "Whatever let's just finish this." He grabbed onto his glowing orange helmet carefully pulling it off as he did so it dimmed then he faded out of existence in the game world.
Shrugging Alicia joined him. Back in reality she saw her friend handing his helmet to the clerk then leaning on the counter as he waited for the man to come back with the total bill for that round. She strode over with a grin on her face, which was overly exposed, placed her own helmet next to his and stared at Adrian till he turned to look at her with a mild glare.
"What?" he asked getting a bit irritated by the silence out of anyone it was unnatural for his dramatic BFF to be quiet.
Alicia smirked and twirled her hands around on the counter. "Oh nothin' much just that… I won this round, and the last. I was the best 2 out of 3. You know what that means?"
Adrian blinked trying make sense of her words till they caught up with him and his eyes widened. "Fine I'll pay for your strawberry shake." Handing her a ten to give the clerk he strode towards the snack bar with his wallet only turning once. "But you know this is cruel and unusual torture."
She shrugged. "It's not my fault your mother banned you from sweets. Just don't breath it in and get yourself something sugar free."
'Sugar Free... Who ever invented that concoction is going to pay some day.' Grumbling Adrian walked to the concession stand and waited for the person to turn around. The clerk was a slightly taller Hispanic that looked to be his age with puffy dark brown hair and navy blue eyes. His mind seemed to be on cleaning the counter behind them with a washcloth. Adrian coughed slightly to get his attention he waited for the response. Somewhere in the back of his mind he couldn't help but think the person looked familiar.
"Alright what can I get you. Our special today is nachos with ranchero sauce and plenty of zesty cheer. Of course there is also…" The person finally looked up and amethyst eyes met navy blue ones that did a double take.
They stared at each other for a long moment before rare grin broke out on Adrian's face. "Hugo long time no see." He greeted him warmly. Glad to see his only guy friend. He was a jock at Amity High but they'd been friends before that and never really lost it after their friendship afterwards. He hadn't seen him around in weeks. "When did you get back?"
"Hola Adrian mi Amigo the feeling is mutual." Hugo said grinning brightly. "Just yesterday from Soccer Camp. I'm supposed to be resting after all that training I know, but mi papa needed someone to watch the concession stand for him today, so here I am. You?"
Adrian shrugged slightly. "Nothing much just letting off some steam by playing Ghost Catchers 0.7 it's 'Licia favorite game."
Hugo looked away slightly with a blush. "Alicia is here too?" he glanced about trying to get a view of her. It was a known fact between the two of them that the jock was fond of her though he'd never gotten the guts to ask her out, since she usually turned down anyone who did so.
"Yeah she is you could come hang out with us if you want." Ideas already forming in Adrian's head how to make his friend finally stop being shy around her. "When's your shift over?"
Hugo seemed to consider it. "It's over in a few minutes actually. I suppose I could come…"
"Go for it my friend. Speaking of Alicia though… she won the bet."
"Ah I see where this is going." Hugo nodded all too familiar with his crush's antics. "The usual then?" He asked taking out a data pad from his drawer.
"You got it one strawberry milkshake for her and…" Adrian eyed the menu carefully.
Briskly entering the order Hugo looked up with a sly smirk. "Let me guess chocolate for you Adrian Sweets?" Teasing his friend with his own made up nickname for the strange sweet tooth he possessed.
Although his usual reaction would be to glare at his friend's teasing Adrian couldn't help but wince, and reluctantly shook his head. "Nah can't right now I'm banned from sweets. Make it a sugar free iced tea I guess." As tempting as that would be. Adrian could swear his mother followed him everywhere because he rarely got away with anything.
"Harsh." Hugo remarked looking sympathetic knowing how hard it was for his buddy to give up something he craved full time.
Ignoring the look Adrian shrugged. Then he watched as his friend worked on the two beverages slightly drifting off into his own world thinking about his issue with his father.
Across town Danny was doing the same thing only his point of view was different from his son's. He worked a little too vigorously on wrapping a package as he pondered the problem at hand.
"Daddy this thing isn't stic- it won't fit."
Danny Fenton glanced up from the packaged he was wrapping only to smile at his littlest daughter completely wrapped in bits and pieces of tape and ribbon. "It's okay Lilith. Looks like you got a little stuck." He begun to gently pull the pieces of tape off her face. "Are you helping dad wrap your brother's gifts?"
She nodded proudly. "Yup. I'm ex -… happy for brother's party!" Lilith held up a poorly wrapped package that was a mesh of different kinds of colorful paper. She looked up to her dad with expectant cute eyes. "Do you think he'll like it Daddy?"
"I'm sure he'll love it sweetheart." He said receiving a beaming smile from his child in turn. If there was one thing Danny knew he was sucker when it came to his youngest were her expressions they were downright adorable, always with this air of innocence. It almost made him forget about the incident he'd left just then. Almost…
Why were things so strained around Adrian? They'd always been so close when his son was younger but as time went by he became more distant. 'He seemed hostile too' Danny thought absently as he put is finger on top the ribbon so Lilith could tie a bow. This was a thing to be concerned about because Adrian rarely showed that much emotion, and very few people could bring it out of him. 'So why is it me whom he unloads his bottled problems on?'
"All fin-…. fin…. done daddy."
Glancing up yet again he saw a pile of neatly wrapped packages and Lilith's patched up ones in two organized piles. 'How did it get like that?' He raised an eyebrow. Remembering a room scattered with gifts.
Lilith giggled. "Jenn came by while you were thi-thin- in thought. She or-… org-… made them neat."
Danny shook his head. His middle daughter was a neat freak, and a bit of an organizer. 'I still don't know where she got that from.' Though she did possess some of his and Sam's traits she was definitely her own person.
"Where's your mother Lily-Ann?" he asked (using the pet name he gave her that she only allowed him and a handful of others to use) as he begun picking up the scissors, tape, and other things. He needed to talk to Sam about this issue with their oldest before it drove him mad and he begun loosing control of his powers again. Which seemed to happen when he thought too much even with all his training.
Ever cheerful his daughter eagerly helped by picking up the scraps and throwing them in the trash. "She's prettying the cake. I think brother will like it!" she exclaimed.
Danny nodded with a smile Lilith was so naïve to any turmoil he was feeling. She rarely reacted to the emotions of others unless they were extreme. Other then that she was miss happy go lucky but she had her moments. Still she was young it was good she wasn't weighed down by the problems of life.
Stepping into the kitchen the welcoming sweet aroma of baked goods filled his senses as he entered. Danny silently approached Sam and wrapped his arms around his unsuspecting wife kissing her on the cheek. "Mmm that smells delicious honey."
"Ought to it took three hours to make." Sam said sighed then turned ever so slightly to glance at him. "Okay what's bugging you Ghost Boy?"
Danny flinched he hadn't wanted to jump into that conversation right away. In fact he'd rather not speak about it. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Don't give me that Danny…" she said with a sly smirk. "I've been around you long enough to know when there is something on your mind."
"Nothing is on my mind." He protested.
Sam looked him straight in the eye with doubtful expression.
"Okay fine you've got me." Slumping into an open chair nearby Danny gave into his emotions. He grabbed a cookie off the tray and fiddling with it as he tried to find the right words. "I'm worried about Adrian he's acting different now. And since it is his birthday…"
"You're beginning to notice more." She finished with a nod as she squirted icing on the cake and worked to make swirls around it. "Well he's going through a rebellious phase of life most teenagers do…"
"Just like you did." He teased but shut up when he saw the pointed look she gave him.
"Don't push it." Sam warned then concentrated on the finishing touches of her masterpiece. "Anyway we both know its bigger then that. I'm not completely sure either, what's up but I have a feeling it has to do with your lack of bonding."
Danny nibbled at the cookie it tasted a bit bitter or maybe it was just his mood. Swallowing the treat he came to the conclusion it was the lateral. "I've tried to bond with him especially now that I have more time. But I feel as if he just gives me the cold shoulder." It was true no matter how many times he tried to strike up a conversation or ask his son to hang out there was always this void, usually Adrian just made an excuse that he had no time to hang out.
Finally done with the cake Sam sighed and walked over to wrap her arms around her husband's neck in a comforting gesture. "Trust me Danny you need to keep trying sooner or later he'll cave. You're not the complete reason for his attitude. You're apart of it but not the main…"
"What is the main?" Danny asked finding his curiosity getting the better of him as he reached up to clasp one of her dangling hands with his own.
Squeezing his hand lightly his wife smirked. "It's not my place to say. Sooner or later he'll come around."
"I guess your right. Thanks Sam I needed that." He said finding his appreciation for the woman he loved ever growing by the days. He didn't know what he'd do if he ever was without her. She completed him.
Sam smiled genuinely kissing him on the cheek before she let go and went back to packaging the cake for the trip to their purposed party site. "I married you and we had three kids somewhere along the line I needed to learn how to be there for the four of you."
Danny blushed embarrassed but shrugged his shoulders. It was true. His kids were just as much a handful as he was minus the ghosts powers. Heaven forbid what it would be like if they had them. "Hopefully Adrian likes the party we're throwing him."
"He will." She said giving his hand a tight squeeze. "It might be a little more then he's used to but I think that this will be a day he'll always remember."
"Ouch!" yelped Butch as he felt the sting of the ointment evaporate into his skin. He seethed inside emotions as his fingers begun to glow with electric blue energy. This was not how things were supposed to happen. He was supposed to take care of Phantom's Spawn then leave his dear old dad to deal with a traumatized teen.
Instead he was nursing a black eye in an alley way at the edge of the city, and being subjected to Rook's minimal first aid experience as he worked quickly to stop the swelling. "Be more careful." he snapped at his goon.
Rook only rolled his eyes adjusting his spectacles. "You know I could just leave you to rot but then your eye might get infected being exposed to the human realm. And since you refuse to go the Ghost Zone…"
"I have some unfinished business." Butch snapped cutting his underling off.
But like always Rook was barely affected. "You might as well get the basic treatment to protect against the UV rays of the sun. Usually we are protected by a thin coating of energy but yours was broken into when you got hit so…"
"Blah… blah… blah." Butch said mimicking him with a hand like a puppet. "I don't care the reason I'm the boss and I don't like this." He hissed as Rook finished applying one more layer. "That smarts."
Rook sighed screwing the cap back on and letting his hand with the jar glow till it became intangible and he was able to store the item in a pocket of energy for easy use later. Turning objects into tiny molecules he could then gather, and later restore was one of the only abilities he possessed, and the reason Butch recruited him. "You know if you'd just left instead of engaging Phantom… Thee Phantom… you probably wouldn't have came away from this such a mess."
"And you're suggesting I just flee like a coward?" Butch asked advancing on his minion backing him into a corner with a threatening look on his face. "Shame the name of the Ghost Punks?" he pointed to his shoulder tattoo of a G intertwined with a P. Their signature mark. "And allow that half breed to get away with telling me what to do?"
His underling gulped backing away. "No… no… of course not…" Usually when things like this happen Rook was calm and used to his leader's temper. But there was something unstable in the way his eyes flashed as if he would do something really drastic to get his way. "But you should…"
"I'm back boss!" Chorused a voice Butch turned slightly away from Rook to glance at his ever faithful minion Lol.
Butch grunted shoving Rook away who landed in a nearby mud puddle so surprised he didn't have time to turn intangible. "Fine did you get what I wanted?"
Lol clapped his hands excitedly as he trotted towards them. "Absolutely I gotcha a nice hot beverage of ecto energy and as an added bonus some cookies!" He trotted towards him only to loose his footing, causing some of drink to slosh onto his leader's face. "Whoops."
Roaring in pain still sore from the treatment Butch attacked his minion with glowing hands. "Why you!" He grabbed Lol by collar just about to lay a punch.
"Ahem…" said a strange voice from behind. The trio turned to see a shadow figure with only red eyes showing not far off. "I couldn't help but hear you gentlemen had a run in with the renowned Danny Phantom?"
"Maybe…" Butch glared distrustingly at the figure. "What's it to you?"
"Yeah we did!" chirped Lol before Butch could shut him up. "He smacked us good… Even Butch's secret skills weren't a match for him."
"Secret skills?" the shadow said in an almost amused voice.
Lol nodded vigorously. "Yeah... he mph…" Cut off by Rook's hand the smart ghost gave his friend an apologetic look.
"He got the drop on me. I almost had his kid if he didn't show up my revenge would have been complete." Butch amended.
"Ah but it wasn't and they got away with only a few scratches. You know that was barely one day I'm sure if you had the right timing and equipment you'd be able to make him suffer along with his offspring."
Butch couldn't help but take the bait. "I'm listening…"
"How would you boys like to attend a party?"
Lol clapped his hands excitedly. "Oh goody I love parties. Do you we need to bring a present?"
"Oh yes and I have just what you need to make this party a real blast…"
After getting the beverages, Adrian and Hugo walked over to see Alicia. They chatted for a while and caught up on this and that. Then out of the blue Hugo asked if they wanted to go to the park and shoot some hoops. Adrian didn't really see the whole fun in that plus he needed to get home to do his daily poetry writing. But Alicia was all for it and soon the two were ganging up on him to actually go. Outnumbered and tired of arguing Adrian agreed.
Which led to where they were now walking down the cement path to the old basketball hoop. There had been a newer high tech one installed but nostalgia came with the rusty old hoop for Hugo so they had used that one.
"So I said he should take his own advice and make himself the goal."
Alicia giggled in an unnatural way drawing out Adrian's suspicion. She never laughed this hard at Hugo's jokes when she did it just to humor him. Something was up. 'Now the only question is what?'
"So what happened next?"
"Well…"
Adrian couldn't take it anymore he intervened before the conversation got any further. "As interesting as this all is can we just do what we came here to accomplish and leave?"
"You seem to be in a big hurry." Hugo said raising an eyebrow.
Alicia giggled knowing what was up exactly. "He doesn't want to miss writing before his dad comes home."
"'Licia!" he hissed.
Alicia shrugged innocently. "Well that's the truth."
Hugo couldn't take the silence much more and cleared his throat. Gaining Alicia attention he looked at her and gestured towards a direction that definitely went away from the basketball court. Alicia nodded and with a smile. Adrian watched their exchange getting more weirded out by the moments, a sound of rustling in the bushes made him turn slightly away from his friends. When he looked back expecting to see them there he saw the strangest sight Hugo and Alicia sprinting away.
They'd been trying to distract him that was the only explanation. Adrian growled in annoyance and took off after the two but was not able to match their pace. Alicia moved like a deer gracefully dodging all his attempts at getting near, and Hugo wasn't doing too bad himself probably thanks to being a dedicated soccer player at Casper High. Finally they stopped at the clearing in the middle of the park.
Panting a little out of breath being more inclined to use his head than his muscles Adrian finally caught up. "Alright…" he took a deep breath. "What was that… about?"
Both of them seemed to be sitting down Alicia was in a meditative stance and Hugo seemed to be ignoring his comment because he just yawned and tossed about the basketball he brought. "Took you long enough mi amigo."
"Why are you both on the ground?" Adrian asked folding his arms over his chest with a irritated look on his face.
"To distract you." Hugo said but then slapped his hands over his mouth with a deep red color coming to his tan face.
Alicia glared at him. So it was obvious that he wasn't supposed to say that.
"Huh?" Adrian asked raising an eyebrow perplexed.
"SURPRISE!" chorused many voice startling him. He looked around to find himself surrounded by his parents, his siblings, his relatives, and the Foleys. Silly string and streamers hit him in the face causing him to have to duck. Out came many decorations including a big banner that read. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADRIAN!" they shouted. Soon he was enveloped with many hugs.
"What?" he looked at them like they were insane. "It's not my Birthday."
Everyone laughed at this. His mother Sam hugged him tightly before moving away with a little smirk. "I'll never forget the day you came into the world my little man."
"But today is the 29th." Adrian said trying to get through to them.
His grandmother Maddie Fenton smiled gently. "Sweetie it's the 30th today now why would you think it's the 29th?"
Pulling his touch phone out his pocket he looked again at the date sure enough it still read the 29th. "My phone says it's the 29th." He paused looking harder the day was wrong while it said Saturday today was obviously a Sunday. Glancing about he noticed the obvious culprit his sister Jennifer whistling to herself with her eyes gazing upwards. He glared directly at her.
She glanced at him with a frown. "What I didn't do anything?"
"Sure Jenn." He said dryly rolling his eyes. Then glanced about at the party there was a smorgasbord of food, many decorations, loud music playing from the sound system an area set up with games that had already caught the Youngblood Twins attention.
'This is too much.' He thought to himself. After all he had been hoping no pushing for a small birthday with just a handful of people but it seemed all of his relatives were here along with the Foleys. Yet it could be worse for the most part people just handed him gifts and went off to do some activity he was pretty much left to enjoy himself.
Alicia came over and punched his arm. "See this isn't so bad."
Adrian shrugged rubbing his growing sore spot from her continues punching. "I guess it's okay."
"Happy Birthday Adrian." Came a series of completely new voices.
"Or not." Adrian said turning around to find that his mild Birthday come to pieces.
The central building towered over the pedestrians like a skyscraper reaching almost the uppermost height a building could in the city limits. The pristine tower shined like a large pearl in the business district of Amity Park. New Tech was known for producing some of the best software and business technology money could buy at affordable prices with its occasional expensive models. Once known as Dalv Corporation it had been bought out and reintroduced with a new focus. Since then it had become very profitable and all of this thanks to its founder Tucker Foley who not only ran the company for a number of years till he became mayor but took part in building the many inventions too.
Business was quiet today with it's CEO taking some time off to attend his best friend's son's birthday. Tucker being the laid back guy he was also allowed his coworkers some time off. All that remained in the building were the security agents who kept the company safe. Although he relied on technology for a lot things the techno geek found it was safer to have someone with a real intellect to safely guard his many plans, data, and papers from hostile competition.
Two men stood guard outside the front entrance dressed in unique armor, prepared for any threats. Which they highly doubted because despite many people wanting a piece of New Tech's design and technology the fact that Tucker was best friend's with world renowned half ghost Danny Phantom discouraged them from doing anything funny. That and the CEO's wife ran The G.P.A Program.
So it was a real surprise when a middle aged woman with a few streaks of white hair approached them. She came with slow steps slightly limping most of the way as if her hips were about to give out. Both raised an eye brow glancing from each other back to the lady before they both nodded and one of them approached her.
"Uh mam." He said with as much sincerity as he could muster from his powerful and usually forceful voice. "Here let me help you." He held out his left hand which she accepted with a nod which was the only form of gratitude he could get from her.
Approaching the other guard the man dipped his head slightly and stared at the women with a serious look devoid of any gentleness unlike his partner. "Mam this is a high security facility I must ask you to state your business."
She glanced up and he saw a pale face that seemed wrinkled with stress, and exhaustion. How she had the energy to keep standing he could not guess. "Of course Officer." The woman spoke in a scratchy voice that almost seemed to pause and continue after each syllable. "I'm here to see my son Julian he started working today in security I just wanted to know how he was doing." A small smile creased on her face.
The man relaxed his stance and grinned finally understanding why she seemed to be close to collapsing with exhaustion. Obviously she was worried about her son it made sense since it was a common case with some men. He didn't know Julian's mother lived in the area though. "Ah he's doing fine Mrs. Myers." As the last name of their newest recruits popped into his head. "I have to say he's a top notch young man always alert and ready for anything."
A wheezy chuckle came from the lady that didn't completely fit her she may be a mother of a thirty year old but she didn't look older then fifty. "That's my boy he takes after his father. Anywho do you think you could bring him down to see his old mother."
"Well... it's kind of against regulation to leave your post and he's not partnered with anyone currently." The officer tapped his chin thoughtfully then shrugged. "I suppose Drew here…" he pointed to the slightly more polite man. "Could show you to where he's stationed and you could meet him there."
The other man gently guided her towards the entrance. "Please step this way mam." They approach a large scanner that blocked the entrance. Getting a blank look from the lady the man shrugged. "Standard procedure for safety precautions is that we are both scanned for spectral anomalies." He demonstrated by walking through the entrance where another man was at the computer keeping watch. The machine beeped once in approval and the men gave him two thumbs up. He gestured for her to go through too.
Hesitantly the woman limped through the entrance. The machine gave off another beep of approval. After passing her driver's license to the officer for examination, lady turned around to glance at the entrance studying it a little more closely than just an average person then shrugged and turned back to him after retrieving her card. "I didn't know they still had that around. Didn't the peace treaty between ghosts and human eliminate those?"
"Yeah…" he raised an eyebrow surprised by her words. "But we got special permission from the council to keep stuff like this around being that New Tech is attacked by so many ghosts and all." Why was she asking this? Most average citizens couldn't care their time of day they just went with the flow. It impressed him a bit to see her thinking so critically. 'Julian's got one interesting mom.'
They walked carefully half the time he had to guide her. Soon they came to a large door labeled control room with a glass window through it was a room completely filled with holo projections of every room inside New Tech even an outside surveillance. One young man sat in the middle with head phones tapping at different images as they went by while speaking into the mike. Telling the lady gently to wait outside the officer entered the room.
"Julian." He greeted the young man who glanced up. "How goes it?"
"Everything is peachy keen Drew no problems to report thus far." Julian grinned slightly turning back to his work. He was specifically hired by Tucker to takeover the job and the young man seemed to have a complex brain that thought things through. "But you could have paged me about that question, what's really up?"
Drew shrugged slightly with a smile. "Nothing much just a surprise for you?"
"Already getting into the initiation ritual?" Julian asked his eyes completely focused on the screen.
The man blinked. "You knew about that?"
"Had my suspicions." He shrugged innocently.
Finally the man shook his head. "Nah actually I have a surprise visitor for you."
"Who?"
"Your mother."
Julian stopped for a minute and silence enveloped the room till he turned around to face him. "You're serious?" After receiving a nod from the other man he continued. "There is no way she came back as a ghost. She lived a healthy happy life."
"You mean your mother is dead?" Drew asked stunned.
"Yeah she died three years ago… of heart attack." Julian turned back to his screen without saying another word acting very solemn.
"But who is that woman then?"
"What woman?" He asked.
"The woman right…" Drew pointed outside only to find. "She's gone." The lady whoever she was had left the area.
"Huh?" Julian asked confused.
Drew pushed him aside and begun tapping buttons. "A woman came here claiming she was your mother Mrs. Myers. She wanted to see you…" He grunted in frustration finding it difficult to get a response to come through.
"My mother's last name was Keys as is mine." Julian remarked.
"No you don't understand thanks to a careless mistake we could possibly have a potential threat in the building." Drew said. "Get on the com and let everyone know we have an intruder."
Julian nodded and begun speaking. "Code red we have a breach in security initiate program Hydrid now, now, now," he received only static. "No one's responding."
"What?"
"I can't get through to any of our officers." Julian typed again only for everything to suddenly go pitch black. "She jammed the transmission…" But his eyes averted to the darkness where two red eyes emerged. He gulped. "Drew I think there's a… gho-"
He didn't finish his words before a large dome orb fell between them and two separate gasses one blue and the other yellow emerged making him drowsy. Drew only had enough time to see the body of Mrs. Myers on the ground and a large black shadow with red eyes floating over it.
"You securities really should stop being to soft hearted. Looks are always deceiving." A deep voice said with a wicked chuckle. "Two prey just ripe for the picking how can I resist." It took an ape like stance then sprang at them like a cat with a hiss. They didn't have time to even scream before everything went black.
This just wasn't Adrian's day. Everything would have been fine if it wasn't for a few tiny details and when he said tiny he meant big ones.
First the park area had been turned into teen hangout. There were decorations plastered over every inch of the tables, trees and just about anywhere they could get their hands on. A whole area was dedicated to games, and another had a big boombox set up that was just booming with music. True that a lot of the things were stuff that he enjoyed but that wasn't the point. The point was it was too much pizzazz not enough comfort.
Then there was the real downside, the park was completely over ran with people. Just about every member of his class was there including the ones that usually gave him grief. But then again he should have expected this seeing how anyone who was anybody would want to be invited to a Danny Phantom party regardless if it was thrown for the least popular person in the Casper High freshmen group. He barely even associated with half of these people only knew them vaguely by name. Why did they all have to come here?
Adrian was very much an introvert he had a set of friends and he didn't allow many others in his circle till he had time to judge whether they were trustworthy or not. He personally did not like the idea of having those whom he'd seen as the enemy or just not wanted to associate with there. If anything he'd wanted a birthday just with his family and a handful of people. That was it.
His sister Jennifer noticed the look of disgust on her brother's face and knew despite his grumpy mood he didn't show his emotions this outwardly. It concerned her. "Something wrong brother?"
"Why are there so many people here?" he asked staring on at the crowd.
"Oh dad invited them." Jennifer said with a shrug not really seeing what was wrong with it personally she thought her brother should be grateful for the attention. He acted like too much of an outcast as it was this was his chance to shine.
Adrian stared at her in disbelief he couldn't believe his dad would stoop to this level. "WHAT?"
She rolled her eyes. "Chill it wasn't his idea Aunt Jazz talked him into it."
"Oh that makes so much more sense." Adrian remarked dryly. His Aunt always seemed to be putting her nose in business she didn't belong in. She continued to insist he needed more physical contact that it wasn't enough to have his friends Alicia, and Hugo he needed more people in his life. Even though he'd been trying to make it clear to her that he was fine just the way he was.
Jennifer smiled slyly. "Just get with it this could land you on the A-list in no time Adri'! Quit being such a stick in the mud and have some fun." Getting no response she shrugged and trotted off to play with her best friend Chloe Baxter leaving him to stew over her words.
To which he barley did having ignored half of what she said. Knowing this would not get him on the A-list or anywhere near it. 'It's not like I want to be with that stuck up bunch anyways.' He thought to himself. Then turned to the matter at hand walking directly up to his two friends who were in the middle of getting refreshments, he knew they were just trying to avoid him about this.
Glancing up Alicia looked innocently at him. "Hey Adri… so what do you think?" Hugo too seemed to look at him expectantly.
Too caught up in his irritation to notice Adrian looked at the two of them critically. "That depends you two knew about this party the whole time?"
Glancing at each other as if sharing a private conversation with their eyes they nodded at each other then replied as one. "Yes." "Sí."
"And you helped with the festivities, and decorations…"
"Sí." Hugo replied proudly having been the one to put up a bunch of them.
Alicia started feeling a little nervous more used to her best friend's emotions then Hugo. "You do like that part right Adrian?"
"Oh sure that's fine." It wasn't completely but it wouldn't have been so bad... "But all of my least favorite people are here also? You two couldn't just make sure to warn my parents about this?"
"But we thought you didn't want them involved with your social life." Hugo replied puzzled.
"Well yeah sure but you guys know what I mean…" he glared directly at his enemy Malcolm who was currently dancing with a cute brunette from his group Debbie Storm. He sighed slumping down on a nearby picnic table with his face in his palms looking utterly miserable. "This is going to be the worst birthday I've ever had."
Okay that was it Alicia wasn't not going to put up with anymore of his junk. Getting in his face she grabbed him by the collar completely abandoning her usual cheery disposition even throwing him into shock.
"Listen here Adrian Fenton your parents…" she motioned to Danny and Sam who were currently accepting gifts for him and welcoming everyone. "Worked really hard on this birthday party they put a lot of effort and time into this. It wasn't just some random event they put their hearts into everything. Sure Mrs. Rivers…" she pointed Jazz along with her husband Lawrence or better known as Lars who was busy hosting the games for the kids. "gave them some ideas but that's no reason to treat them this way. You better get your act together and get positive or I'm going to make your day even less enjoyable…" she said giving him a threatening glare.
Hugo through this whole confrontation was a bit taken a back by her forwardness from the usually sweet Alicia he knew. He was not used to see her in such a fiery way it seemed so unlike her. He glanced about trying to decide whether to leave Adrian to his beating or stay by his side as a loyal friend should.
But Adrian made the choice for him. 'She's right I just need to buck up and ignore what I don't like. I guess I should be happy they put so much effort.' And yet he couldn't say he was. Still he did care about his parents... "Alright let's just get on with it."
She didn't seem thoroughly convinced. "So you'll stop being a sour puss and try to be more open today?"
"Yes." He said with a sigh admitting defeat there was no way he'd win against Alicia when she set her mind to something like this.
Alicia's face morphed abruptly taking Hugo off guard even more. She let go of him and gave him a big hug before smiling. "That's the spirit now let's go see what games they have to play."
'Well at least she didn't recommend the dance area.' Adrian thought to himself wanting to stay as far away from Malcolm and his posy as he could.
Without another moment to think Adrian was dragged away by Alicia towards the game area. Though she tried to talk him into playing with her he declined knowing this would be a good chance to get the two lovebirds to notice each other. So he left Alicia and Hugo to a game of horseshoes and soon he found himself paired up with someone who looked familiar. He blinked no it couldn't be he hadn't really seen her since junior high. "Paige is that you?"
Putting on small smile the girl with blond hair a little past her shoulder, strongly tan skin and soft green eyes peaking out from beneath her bangs, shrugged her shoulders. "That's me. Hi Adrian isn't it?"
Adrian nodded. "Yeah it is." He liked her somewhat even though she wasn't a part of his circle she had a nice personality and a general sweetness that he appreciated when they were partners. If it wasn't for her he probably wouldn't have made it through home ec. 'Maybe this day won't be so bad.'
"Ready to play?" She asked expectantly.
"Well Alicia roped me into this without any chance of freewill in the matter. So sure I'm game." Adrian shrugged then looked about trying to get an idea of what they were doing. He asked her just this.
"Water Balloon toss." Paige said gathering a big pile of multi color balloons in her arms. They were noticeably squishy.
Adrian groaned in his head. 'Could this day get any worse?' The fact that he didn't like to mention was he was a little afraid of water. Not completely but having it thrown on him could send him into a state of panic quicker then anything. But there was no way he'd admit it to her. "Oh."
His partner looked at him analytically like she was trying to see right through his façade. Thankfully Paige couldn't he'd only met one person who could and that was Alicia. She smiled holding out a basket full of few balloons.
Slowly they begun tossing them back and forth. Paige seemed to put a lot of work in keep precision as they played against Jenn and Chloe. His little sister continued to look on at him with concern which he ignored the best he could. Adrian was so uncomfortable with the jiggly balloons he tossed them back his partner in record time never letting them stay in his hands too long. It was more of a game of hot potato if anything.
"You're really good at throwing with aim." Paige said impressed. "Ever think about trying out for the baseball or football team?"
Now that was something he had an obvious answer to. "No I'm not really the sports type writing it more my thing."
"But your really good." She insisted with a genuine smile. "I think you'd have a good as chance as anyone."
"I'd rather use my brain than try to use muscles I don't obviously have." Adrian said dryly.
She rolled having took his answer as offensive. "Well whatever you say I guess. I was just try to compliment you. I didn't mean to offend you sheesh." Tossing the balloon in the air but missing him by a mile she walked off.
Adrian couldn't help but want to hit himself he didn't mean to sound so unfeeling. "P-" he begun but a voice broke into his thoughts.
"Brudder!" A bouncing mass of red hair got into his view jumping as high as she could to get his attention. "Mom sent me to get you..."
Not about to make his little sibling cry on accident he glanced down at his littlest sister with a sigh. "Why Lil?"
"It's cake time!" she exclaimed waving her arms in the air excitedly. "You need to get over there im-me… now!"
Without another word she took over towards a big table in the center of the park area. Adrian sighed knowing that there was no way was getting out of this. "Might as well go and get it over with." He said dryly trudging over to the area that was slowly drawing in a crowd.
Danny came right up to him and gave him a hug. Before smiling brightly. "Happy Birthday Add. This is a big day for you huh? Stepping up into teenage hood."
The preteen nodded trying his hardest not to flinch when his father hugged him. He looked about and saw his siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, Along with every classmate in his school, but there was one person missing from the mix. "Where's mom?"
Smiling a little mysteriously Danny patted his son on the back. "Oh she's coming just you wait."
"Happy Birthday my little man." Came his mother's strong voice from behind.
Turning around completely Adrian couldn't help but grin at the cake his mother was carrying. It was a rich chocolate cake with marshmallow filling and black liquorish frosting on top his favorite kind. Okay this day had gotten just a little better. After all his mother promised he could have sugar on his birthday but he hadn't expected his favorite cake. "Thanks mom." He said softly with a rare large smile.
Sam nodded with a wink. Out of his two parents she understood him the best. Perhaps that was one of the reason's he was a momma's boy.
His father turned to their nearly forgotten audience. "Come on everyone let's sing for his special day."
The others cheered and begun singing their chorus… "Happy Birthday to you… Happy Birthday to you…"
Adrian's eyes were glued on the cake but he smiled softly this wasn't so bad.
Sam smiled and whispered so barely anyone could hear. "Make a wish Adrian."
Adrian nodded closing his eyes. His mind thought of something he wanted with all his heart and let the wish become implanted in his mind as he waited for the singing to stop so he could blow out his candles.
"Happy Birthday dear Adrian…" the crowd continued.
A voice interrupted every one with a booming affect that broke the last line. "Happy Birthday to… youuuu."
Every single person turned to the left only to see the Ghost Punks minus Topkick all present. Butch smirked tossing the megaphone he had in his hands to Rook, it obvious from that alone that he'd been the one to breakup chorus. "Happy Birthday Phantom's Spawn." He said snarkily.
To Be continued in part 3 of
The Unluckiest Number
A/N:
Okay the real reason this chapter took so long was birthday parties. They are not easy to write about. I did not want it to be the main focus but I needed to bring out in some way. I started out having it at the water park but I thought a more realistic place and Adrian centric would be the park.
As for all the little things happening at New Tech *smiles mysteriously* Refer to the last chapter hee hee hee. No that ghost is not an old one from before actually he's new and entirely my own creation.
Oooh and as a special treat I have up full bios of my DxS kids
(take out the spaces to view them)
http : / / linariel. deviantart. com / art/ Adrian-Fenton-s-Profile-197704669
http : / / linariel. deviantart. com / art/ Jennifer-Fenton-s-Profile-192611015
http : / / linariel. deviantart. com / art/ Lilith-Fenton-s-Profile-193269555
Reviews are like little promises they help the story go along
