...three weeks later…
I woke up in a cold sweat. That was my third nightmare this week. Stella stirred in bed next to me. I stopped breathing and waited for her to go back to sleep. When she eventually did, I got up out of bed and pulled on some clothes and went into the bathroom. The moon was high in the sky and it lit up Amity Park's landscape. All the street lights were off and the city was quiet. I splashed some water on my face and tried to slow my breathing.
My nightmares have consisted of Dan coming back. I don't know what they mean, but all I know is that I'm not in a stable condition to fight him. If these are foreshadowings from Clockwork...I hope that I'm ready.
I sat down on the cool tile floor, letting the coolness soak into my heated skin. I could tell I was getting sick. My immune system had always been kind of shitty. My stomach was all over the place and I was dizzy. I didn't know what to do, so I just rushed my aching body over to the toilet and hurled up everything I had eaten that day, and lately that wasn't much.
I heard my bed squeak and suddenly cool hands were pulling my hair away from the sick. "Shh." Stella said, rubbing my back calmly. I don't know how she dealt with me honestly. We had been together a month and I was already in love with her. Hell, I fell hard the first time I saw her.
"Shh, its okay." She whispered, kissing my temple. When I was done, I shakily flushed the toilet and Stella helped me to my feet, letting me lean on her as we walked back into my room.
"You aren't supposed to be sick during Fall Break silly!" She smiled, kissing my forehead. "I would kiss you if I didn't taste like vomit." I muttered. She giggled. "I'm going to get you some water and some mouthwash so you can." She winked, putting on a hoodie over her bra and boxers, leaving my room. I checked the time. 2 AM. Perfect.
"Oh, hello Mrs. Fenton." I heard Stella greet. My sickness made it hard for me to tune into what they were saying, and it was giving me a headache, so I just laid down on my bed and closed my eyes. Images from my dreams plagued my thoughts and I wish that I could call Tucker or Sam and tell them about it. Or at least tell them that I think Dan could be coming back.
Even so, they probably wouldn't pick up the phone this late at night.
I still really wanted to try.
"Okay babe, here you go." Stella said, walking into the room with a cup of water and mouthwash. I gurgled the mouthwash first before downing the bottle of water. Stella laughed at me, but took the used mouthwash and empty bottle out of my hands and exiting the room again. I smiled as I watched her leave.
"Okay, so. Are you going to be okay?" She asked. "Cause, we are leaving in the morning for Florida…." She reminded me. My parents had given me permission to go to Florida with Stella and her parents and we leave tomorrow. I sighed. "I'll be fine, I'm just going to sleep it off." I mumbled. Stella smiled.
"Okay, babe." She said, getting back into bed with me and wrapping her arms around my waist, putting her face in my neck.
Yes, I'm the little spoon. Nothing wrong with that.
...
When I woke up, I was feeling worse. Stella was frowning down at me, the back of her hand on my forehead. "You're not going, sweetie." She said. She was already dressed and ready, wearing shorts, a white tank top and black flip flops. Her hair was in a bun.
"No...I can go." I said, kicking off the covers and standing. As soon as I planted my feet on the ground, I was too lightheaded to stand up. "No, sweetheart you can't." Stella smiled sadly.
"It's fine, I'll see you soon...okay? Call me if you need anything." Stella said, kissing me on the forehead and hugging me tightly. I smiled into her neck. She pulled away smiling. "I'll see you when I get back. Text me if you need anything okay?" Stella warned. I knew what she meant by anything, so I nodded, not looking forward to my Fall Break alone.
"Bye honey." Stella smiled, before exiting my room. I fell back onto my bed and sighed. What was I going to do without Stella here? I don't have anymore friends. Unless I want to talk about everything with Tucker and Sam, I can't hang out with them. I miss them. So much.
It was about an hour after Stella left that I gained an appetite. "Danny? Sweetie? I made you some chicken noodle soup!" My mom called. I prepared myself for the dizziness as I stood up. There was none surprisingly. I felt much better than I had when Stella left. "Hey mom." I rasped, my throat sore.
"I'm so sorry you couldn't go on vacation with Stella…" My mom hugged me, kissing my cheek. I smiled. "It's fine. I'll just miss her a lot." I shrugged. My mom smirked. "Do you love her?"
I choked on a noodle.
"Whaat? What gives you that idea?" I coughed. "The way you look at her, like she saved your life." My mom waved off the question. I blushed, shrugging. "I know she doesn't love me back, or at least not yet…" I said.
Mom laughed. "Yeah, she's a teenage girl. She's a sweetheart, and she cares for you a lot."
I nodded. That I knew for fact. I finished my soup and got up, stretching my muscles. "I'm going to go for a walk...maybe get some orange juice." I said. It hurt to talk, but I knew my mom wouldn't let me leave without explaining myself. "Okay. Hurry back." My mom said hesitantly. I didn't usually leave the house nowadays, because Stella was always at mine, or we were having dinner with her family.
I went up to my room first, pulling on some jeans and a black sweatshirt and my navy blue converse. I grabbed my wallet with my just-in-case cash and headed out into the cold October weather. I couldn't wait until Halloween, then Tucker, Sam, and I could have our annual…
Thats right. No annual Halloween, Scary Movie Marathon this year. No thanksgiving dinner at Tuck's house after mine.
No Christmas's with Tucker, or Hanukkah's with Sam. I leaned against a light post and steadied my breathing. I felt like I was going to throw up suddenly. I hadn't thought about Tucker and Sam like that in a while, so now that I did...it was eating me up on the inside.
I shouldn't be this afraid to talk to them about how I'm feeling, but I'm afraid that I'm going to make them feel guilty.
How do I tell them that I don't feel like being alive anymore or that I want to give up? How do I tell them that I don't see myself living until I'm thirty or having kids or getting married?
In five years, I see myself six feet under the ground, finally away from all the troubles that I call my life.
"Hey look, its fenturd! Where's your little girlfriend, Fenton?" Dash sneered behind me. I froze. "On vacation? Why?" I answered nonchalantly.
"Well, now that you don't have the dynamic duo, and you don't have your precious little Stella to protect you...I can make up for a months worth of wailing." Dash smirked, grabbing me by my hair and dragging me into the alley.
"Dash, dude! Come on, let go!" I coughed. Dash scoffed. "As if."
Dash kicked me in the stomach, making me almost lose my lunch. I coughed harder, curling into the fetal position. "Come on, Fenton. You are so pathetic!" Dash sneered, kicking me in my ribs. I swore I felt something crack.
He stepped on my arm and grabbed the collar of my shirt, dragging me up to face him. "You are nothing, no one really care about you. No one would be too upset to find you gone." Dash spat, hitting me in the face hard enough that I saw stars.
He had a point though.
"Stella doesn't love you. Sam and Tucker don't care about you. You mean nothing." Dash added, kicking me several times in the ribs and shoulder. I was just taking it now.
Dash reached into my pocket, pulling out my wallet and taking the cash, before landing two sharp kicks to my leg and arm before leaving. "See you later, you fucking freak. Actually, just kill yourself and do the world a favor."
I just laid there. The sky darkened and I could feel the cold ground through my sweatshirt. I could feel a warm sticky liquid on my head, and everywhere else. I knew from experience that I was bleeding, a lot, but I didn't care. I just laid there and looked up at the sky. I laid there all day, until it was nighttime and the city went quiet. I had forgotten my phone at home and I was 99% sure that I had a few broken bones.
"Yeah Sam, I'll be there shortly." I heard a familiar voice say. There was a muffled sound, like a voice coming through the phone. I could hear footsteps and I willed myself to go invisible. Tucker rounded the corner and spotted the blood, paling slightly before muttering something on the phone and walking away. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and became visible.
My ghost sense went off a couple minutes later. I forced myself to stand, which hurt like a bitch, and transformed, propelling myself into the night sky.
Immediately I was hit by a heat seeking rocket. "I knew I find you whelp. Man, you don't look good at all." Skulker tisked. I rolled my eyes, turning to face him. "I look better than you. I'm surprised Ember hasn't left you yet." I smirked, letting my witty banter distract him from my injuries. He glared, growling slightly before launching himself in my direction, throwing me to the ground.
I hit the ground with a yelp and felt my head wound reopen. I could feel all my broken bones now, which was good because Skulker was already at me, throwing me into a different alley. My body fought the urge to transform as Skulker beat up what was left of my body. As he turned to grab what I thought was a hunting knife, I sucked him into the Thermos, happy that even in my condition, I could still beat 'the Ghost Zone's greatest hunter'.
I sighed, letting my body transform, and then I couldn't breathe. Oh god.
I could feel everything, 2x worse than usual. My ribs were probably shattered, and I probably punctured a lunge. I coughed into my hand, tasting a coppery taste on my tongue. I pulled my hand back to look, and yeah, there was blood. A lot of it. I looked around at my surroundings. I was in the alley by Sam's house.
Probably the last place I wanted to be. I didn't want to go to them for help. I couldn't go to them for help. But if I was going to die, I wanted it to be by my own hand, not Skulker with a hint of Dash.
I stood, coughing more blood. I could feel it on my lower lip, steadily dripping down my chin. I tried not to breath as I limped my broken body to the Manson Mansion's front door.
I knocked, wincing when it jolted the broken bone. I heard Sam's laughter before she got to the door. "Is it the pizza?" I heard Tucker yell from the kitchen. I leaned against the fence, rolling my eyes. No, not the pizza.
"I don't know! Lemme actually answer the door!" Sam said, sarcastically opening the door, and paling visibly when she saw me. Her hands went to cover her mouth as she gasped. "Oh my god." She whispered, catching me as I tripped.
"Can't breathe." I wheezed. Sam nodded. "Tucker! Call 911." She yelled. He came into the room and gasped as well, his phone already dialled. "Oh my god, what the hell happened?" He said.
I was getting really tired and it was so painful to stay awake. Sam slapped me on the cheek as I tried to close my eyes. "Keep your eyes open, Fenton." She snapped. "What happned?" She demanded.
"Dash..then-cough-Skulker." I got out weakly, letting my eyes clothes. "Danny, you gotta stay awake."
"Hi, my friend got mugged, he looks really bad." Tucker said into the phone.
My eyes shot open at friend. "I'm still your friend?" I whispered. Sam looked like she got slapped in the face when I said that. "Yes, Danny. You are still our friend." She said, tears in her eyes as she brushed my bangs out of my eyes.
I didn't feel so bad about dying anymore. I closed my eyes and let myself fall into a deep sleep. I wouldn't mind if I didn't wake up.
…
A shrill beeping noise woke me up harshly.
"Danny?" A worried voice said from next to me. I opened my eyes and looked to Tucker, who was gazing at me with remorse and relief in his eyes. I tried to sit up, but he quickly put his hand on my shoulder, stopping me.
"You'll regret that." He said sheepishly. I shook my head confused and just looked at him. I tried to sigh, but a sharp pain in my chest stopped me from doing so, and I burst into a coughing fit. Tucker watched me worriedly.
"Woah." I coughed. "What happened to me?" I asked, not remembering.
"You've been asleep for a couple days. You showed up at Sam's house beat up really bad. We honestly thought you were going to die before we made it to the hospital. The ambulance thought it wasn't as bad as I made it to seem, so it took its time." Tucker explained.
I nodded, and suddenly everything that had happened to me came rushing back, and I grimaced.
"So...is it still fall break?" I asked, smiling sheepishly. Tucker started laughing and nodded. "You should probably call your girlfriend, she's been trying to get ahold of you."
We sat there in an awkward silence for awhile before Tucker took a deep breath and looked at me. "I'm sorry." He mumbled.
I blinked. "For what?"
"For...giving up on you? I was a real dick, and you didn't deserve what I said to you. I probably made it worse, and that's not something I have done. I should have helped you through whatever you were going through. I'm not saying you have to forgive me, you can take your time. But I'm saying I'm here for you now. Anything you need or anything you want to talk about, just call me. No matter the time." Tucker said, closing his eyes to not see my reaction. I smiled widely at him.
He still had his eyes closed.
"...dude open your eyes." I laughed, not minding the pain. "Nope. You could be mad." Tucker said.
I laughed. "Dude, just bro hug it out with me." I said. He finally opened his eyes with a grin as I carefully lifted myself up and held my arms out. He hugged me gently, but enough for me to know that he cared.
"Now, I'm still kinda pissed, but I'm willing to sign a treaty." I mumbled into his shoulder. Tucker laughed and patted my back gently.
"Whatever." He rolled his eyes. "I'm going to go get your parents. They've been worried sick. Your mom regrets letting you go out." Tucker laughed. I chuckled along until he left the room.
I sighed. Honestly? I wished I hadn't woken up. I love having Tucker back in my life, and I'm sure Sam will be there as well...but Dash is right.
I'm basically a waste of space and no one really cares for me. Stella is probably just with me out of pity. She's probably going to realize that she can't fix me, and she's going to leave. Just like everyone else does.
One things for sure, I like the darkness that being asleep brings. I'm going to find a way to make the darkness permanent.
…
I had to stay in the hospital another day before I was allowed to be signed out. My parents were furious at me that I forgot my phone, but relieved that I was awake. I haven't called Stella yet, mostly because my parents kept forgetting to bring me my phone.
When I was propped up at home with TV and video games at my disposal, I finally checked it.
And Holy shit, Stella was pissed.
Stell [rec] hey babe.
Stell [rec] okay, its been a day and you havent contacted me?
Stell [rec] are you okay?
Stell [rec] danny this isn't funny at all.
Stell [rec] two days. havent heard a word.
Stell [rec] if your dead im going to kill you
Stell [rec] three days
Stell [rec] DANIEL FENTON ANSWER THE PHONE
Stell [rec] whatever.
That was only half of them. When I finally called her, she answered on the first ring and the first thing she said was "Give me one good reason to not break up with you right now?" in a very angry voice.
I could practically hear her plans on how to murder me.
I laughed. "Well," I croaked, my ribs not letting me take deep breaths yet to make my voice normal, "I just got out of the hospital from being mugged. Also that would be a shitty thing to do."
"Oh my god! What happened?" Stella was no longer angry. Yay.
"Oh, just Dash finally getting revenge on not having wailed on me in a month." I tried to sound nonchalant, but his words were still haunting me.
"...Are you okay?" Stella asked in a worried tone.
"I'm fine. A few broken bones and a lowered self-esteem but fine." I replied. Stella laughed and paused.
"...You scared me." She whispered.
I suddenly felt really guilty. "I'm sorry…" I said.
"...I love you…" She said hesitantly. My heart leapt into my throat and a large smile appeared on my lips as my mom walked in.
"I love you too." I said. I could hear Stella sigh in relief. "Thank god. I have to go...but I'll talk to you soon. Get some sleep….I love you." She giggled.
"I love you too…bye Stella." I smiled. My mom was smirking at me from the doorway and I feigned innocence.
"What?" I asked, feeling uncomfortable by her gaze. "Told you she loved you." She called as she walked away.
"Whatever mom!" I called back, but I could help but feel happy.
Genuinely happy for the first time in a long time.
Thank you Stella Hoover.