Girl Talk

Danny was jostled awake a few hours later by Andrew, who was shaking him. "Unless you're staying for dinner, I should have mother drive you home."

He rubbed his eyes, Vidya leaping down from her rather comfortable spot. "Ugh, what time is it?"

"It's nearly seven o'clock." Danny leapt up from the bed, throwing his backpack on.

"Aw, crud! They're gonna kill me if they realize I was gone! I gotta go, I gotta run, literally, I-"

Andrew put a hand on his shoulder, and he paused. "Danny, it's fine. You can tell them you were studying with a friend, and my mother will be taking you home."

"Your… your mom?"

He nodded, "Yes, we figured it would cause less problems that way, since we already know where you live. Unless that house with the giant Fenton Works sign isn't yours?"

Danny slowly nodded, "Yeah, but, I… why would your mom do that? She barely knows me."

Andrew gave him a strange look. "While that may be true, you are going to be coming over more often. It makes sense. And after all, you say she barely knows you. Maybe this is her wanting to get to know you."

He nodded. He followed Andrew down the stairs, seeing Sylvia put on her jacket. "Alright, come on, then. I'm sure your parents are missing you."

He restrained himself from rolling his eyes, though a mutter did slip out. "As if they ever would."

Sylvia gave him a small smile. "Come on. We better get you home. The faster you get there, the faster tomorrow will come, and the faster you can come back." Danny nodded, looking at Andrew, then at Sylvia.

He flung himself at Andrew, squeezing him into a hug. Through a grin, he mumbled, "Your mom… your mom is great." He let go, looking back up at Sylvia, refusing to acknowledge the pin pricks at the corners of his eyes. Nope. They were not there, he was not about to start crying, not at all. "Yeah, I… I should go."

Sylvia opened the door, ruffling his hair on his way out. She turned to Andrew, "I'll only be a minute." He nodded, and she gently closed the door behind them. Danny followed her skittishly. He waited until he saw her getting in, and got in on the passenger side. He buckled in his seat belt, and sat quietly with his hands in his lap, his leg bouncing no matter how hard he tried to keep it still. They drove in silence, until Sylvia cleared her throat. "So, Danny. What is it your parents do?"

"Oh, uh, they're scientists. They study ghosts."

"Well, it sounds like they're rather busy." He nodded, tilting his head down to hide behind his hair. He heard her make a disappointed tsk. "Apparently a little too busy. Why would they let your hair get so long? It covers your pretty blue eyes."

He gave a small smile, "Actually, my sister is the one that cuts my hair. I'm just lucky I've been able to avoid her for the past few months. Everytime I turn a corner, I keep thinking she's going to jump out with scissors and styling cream."

She gave a small chuckle, and to Danny, it reminded him of sun on a rainy day. "Sounds like you never have a dull day."

He shook his head. "Not really, no." He looked out the window, seeing the green glow slowly approaching. "But maybe a dull day wouldn't be so bad…" The car slowly came to a stop, and he grabbed his backpack, exiting. "Thanks for the ride, Ms. Riter."

She smiled at him, "Any time, Danny. Whenever you need anything, our door is open."

He gave her a wider smile. "Thanks. I'll remember that." He closed the door behind him, and walked up to the door, knocking.

The door was thrown open by a redhead that Sylvia had maybe seen around town, or at the school once. Jazz gasped. "Danny!" She brought her brother in for a hug, nagging his ear off with everything and how she was worried about him, dragging him inside, and shutting the door. Sylvia smiled, and drove back home, now that Danny was safe at home, with someone who loved him. At least there was two good Fentons.