Chapter 13: The Favor

Happy Thanksgiving you Americans

Despite going to the same school, Jazz didn't know Valerie too well. She thought she did, but when she started talking to Valerie about ghosts it quickly became apparent that this pretty blonde in Jazz's grade was the wrong Valerie.

"S-so you're telling me there r-really is such things a-as g-ghosts?" The blonde Valerie asked while shivering in fear.

"Well of course. Haven't you noticed? Our school is haunted practically every day. Some days you can't even go to the washroom without finding a Moaning Myrtle in the toilet."

"A what?"

"It's a reference to another series. You wouldn't get it."

"Oh, alright,"

"So do you know a uh... Valerie Gray?"

The blonde Valerie shook her head. "Sorry, I haven't got a clue."

"Did you say Valerie Gray?" A male's voice asked. Danny's friend Tucker walked up beside Jazz and the blonde Valerie, smiling wide.

"Yeah, what do you know about her?" Jazz asked, eying Tucker skeptically.

"We're pretty close. If you haven't noticed I'm super popular." Tucker explained.

Jazz gave a snort of laughter. "You popular?"

The blonde Valerie laughed too. "I don't even know you and I find this hard to believe."

"Ladies, ladies, have I ever lied to you before?" Tucker asked, putting his arms around Valerie and Jazz.

"No... But we hardly even talk." Jazz said.

"I'm a minor character so I wouldn't know." Valerie said.

"Just trust me." Tucker said with a wink. "I'll have you talking with Valerie Gray in no time."

Jazz met up with Tucker at lunch. He sat at a table with Danny, and Sam. "So where's Valerie?" Jazz demanded. "I thought you said you two were close."

"Patience young one." Tucker said with a smile. "Not just anyone can meet Valerie."

"Wait, Valerie? Valerie Gray?" Sam asked, looking up from her food. "Why would you want to meet her?"

"Yeah," Danny agreed. "Valerie's bad news. Jazz, as your brother, I forbid you to even talk to her."

"Wait, what's wrong with her?" Jazz asked.

"A better question to ask is what isn't wrong with her." Sam said with a disgusted look. "She's shallow, rude, and not to mention she wants nothing to do with us."

"Which works just fine with me," Danny said. "I want nothing to do with her either."

"Don't listen to them." Tucker said. "Valerie's really a sweet girl." He glared at Danny and Sam. "Some people just don't understand."

"Yeah, that's the problem." Sam said with an eye roll.

"Can I just meet her?" Jazz asked. "I need to see her now and don't have time to explain my reasons."

Certainly," Tucker said bitterly while still glaring at Danny and Sam. "In fact, I think Valerie may keep better company than two others who shall not be mentioned."

"Fine Tucker, just go." Sam said hotly.

"Yeah, but if Valerie does something to hurt you, don't come complaining to us." Danny added.

"Um... Shouldn't you make up with them?" Jazz whispered as soon as Tucker's friends were out of earshot.

"I'm fine." Tucker said, still clearly angry. "They never liked Valerie so it's no surprise that they'll act like this now." Tucker pointed Jazz to a table where a dark skinned girl was eating alone. "That's her." He said.

"Thanks," Jazz said, smiling slightly. "Now um... I hate to say this, but would you mind if I talked to her alone?"

"What? Why?"

"Only for a minute," Jazz clarified, ignoring Tucker's question.

Tucker shrugged. "Sure, I guess, but only for a minute."

Jazz wasn't sure what happened to Tucker after that and to be honest she didn't care, perhaps he went back to make up with Danny and Sam. The group's friendship was far from over, especially since the only reason Sam and Danny were upset in the first place was because they were worried about Tucker. For now the only thing on Jazz's mind was confronting Valerie.

"Is this seat taken?" Jazz asked. She took the seat beside Valerie without waiting for an answer.

"It's not taken, but that doesn't mean you can sit here." Valerie said. "Who are you anyway?"

"That's not important." Jazz said quickly. "I've only got a minute to ask. Do you have those ecto-samples that Vlad asked you to collect?"

"Huh? How do you kn-..."

"Yes or no." Jazz demanded.

"Yes, I do but-..."

"Do you have the sample from the ghost boy?"

"You mean that annoying white haired ghost? Yeah, I have his."

"Well we need that sample."

"Okay, I'll get it to you tomorrow. Now tell me-..." Valerie's eyes scanned the room, but somehow Jazz had disappeared as soon as Valerie promised the ecto-sample. She's an odd girl. Valerie thought to herself and continued eating as if nothing happened.

Jazz met Vlad again the following day after school in the same alley which had somehow become their new meeting spot.

"I've got the sample. What should I do now?" Jazz asked the man, still in ghost form.

"Very good. Pass it here." Vlad said with a large smile. "Let me get a better look." Jazz obeyed and reached in her pocket for a jar of glowing green goo. Vlad held the jar up to his eyes. "Yes," He said smiling. "I have no doubt that this is Danny's ectoplasm. I did some experiments on his ectoplasm before, but never bothered keeping the samples. He's type AB if I'm not mistaken."

"Type AB? Does ectoplasm work like blood types?"

"Yeah, ghosts can only donate ectoplasm to other ones with the same type." Vlad's smile slowly grew larger. "You want to know something else?"

"What?" Jazz asked. She wasn't sure why, but she found this ghost trivia really interesting.

"Danny and I are the same type." Vlad said, his smile turning into laughter.

"So why couldn't you have just given Danny his powers back by using a bit of your ectoplasm?"

Vlad's laughter grew harder. This time Jazz was beginning to wonder if Vlad was really alright. "B-because J-Jazz," Vlad stammered as he began to slowly regain self-control. "I need this sample for myself."

~ phantom130 5 (November 2013)