Yay for chapter 3!
Ah, I'm happy with this so far.
While writing this chapter, I decided to use other songs in this as well as Within Temptation. Mainly because there are so many flipping awesome songs out there that will most likely fit some of the events in this fanfiction very well. c:
Warning: This chapter mentions self-harm and abuse.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.
03: The Silence
"...Memories they take her back
Every moment fades to black
Every kiss and every taste
She wishes time would ease the pain..."
-The Silence, Mayday Parade
I took a deep breath as I walked into the school yard, toward the normal spot that I meet my friends at. The memories from last night kept playing through my mind.
Danny likes me.
He really...he really likes me.
I walked over to my friends and they greeted me like normal. "Hey Rach." Sam said with a smile. "Rachel." Tucker said with a nod. He looked from me to his PDA before continuing to play the game he was playing. Danny smiled at me. "Hey Rachel."
My throat felt dry and I replied with a quiet, "Hey."
I sat with my friends and Danny tapped my shoulder. I looked at him, only to find a note in front of me on the table.
"I won't tell the others about last night if you promise to get better."
I swallowed and looked at Danny, nodding. Personally, I had no idea if I would even be able to keep this promise. I scribbled a simple phrase and passed it back to him. "I'll try."
Danny sent the note back. "Thank you."
My friends fell into conversation with each other and I sat there just listening to it. Sam was bugging Tucker about his eating habits, Tucker was telling that she needs to start eating meat, and Danny was trying to keep them from throwing stuff at each other.
Yeah, just a normal Wednesday.
After my last class, I was walking home when Danny walked over to me. "Hey." he greeted, a smile on his face.
I nodded back in reply, sending him a tiny smile. "Can I walk with you for a bit?" Danny asked. I shrugged. "I don't control what you do." I said. Danny walked beside me and started talking about a TV show that he thought I would like and I nodded along, not feeling like talking.
Danny suddenly stopped. "Rach, are you okay?" he asked. "I just don't feel like talking." I said with a slight shrug. Danny sighed, running a hand through his hair. He gently set his hands on my shoulders and turned me to face him, before pulling me into a hug.
I felt my cheeks burn as Danny hugged me and I bit my lip before resting my chin on his shoulder. Danny let out a sigh. "Please...talk to me if you need someone." he said quietly. He released me and I stepped back, looking at him. I shifted my step and tucked a strand of hair behind my right ear. I nodded.
"I will." I said quietly. Danny smiled at me; one of his smiles that felt contagious. I smiled a tiny smile back, which made him smile even more. "H-Hey, Danny?" I asked. "Yeah?" Danny asked. "I...I thought about what you asked me last night..." I started. Danny looked at me in anticipation. I took a deep breath. "I would...really like to go with you. To the movies."
Danny grinned and pumped his fists in the air. "Yes!" he said happily. I felt my smile grow, and my cheeks get warmer as well. Danny looked at me happily. He suddenly hugged me again, but this time picking me up and swinging me around in a circle. "Thank you Rachel! I promise that you won't regret this!" he said. Danny set me on the ground and I looked down, feeling my face burning. "S-Sorry..." he said nervously. I looked to see him rubbing his neck nervously.
"It's...alright. I can see why you're excited." I said, moving more hair behind my right ear. Danny turned to face the direction that my house was in. "Alright, let's get you home now, okay?" he asked happily. I nodded as we continued walking.
We stood in front of my house. "I'll see you later, alright?" Danny asked, smiling. I nodded. Danny reached forward and hugged me. When he pulled away, I felt him kiss my forehead and he grinned at my blush. "Bye Rachel!" he said as he started walking toward his own house. He waved and I waved back.
I walked inside of the house and I noticed my father was awake. "H-Hi dad." I said quietly. He turned to look at me. "Rachel." he started, and he got up to walk over to me. "Y-Yes?" I asked.
My father stopped in front of me. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I saw you with the Fenton kid, outside." he said. I nodded, understanding what he was trying to say before he had even said it. "I know that you've...gotten hurt in the past, really badly by other people. I'm not saying that I think he's like that. I am asking you to be careful, alright?"
I nodded again and a faint smile grew on my father's face. He put his hand on my head before he grabbed his coat from the coat hanger. "I'm going to get something for dinner. Do you have any preferences?" he asked. I shook my head and started toward my room. I heard my dad sigh. "Rachel...I kow that your mother works a lot and...and I drink...a lot...but you know we're both here for you, right?"
"Y-Yes..." I said quietly. "Alright. I'll be back with food." Dad said before he left.
I sat on my bed, staring at the razor in my hand.
It had been about a week since I had last held the razor. I looked at the last mark I had left on my wrist and my fingers started trembling. I reached over and set the razor on my nightstand, swallowing. I couldn't afford to have more of these ugly scars on my body.
Heck, if it wasn't for the incident four years ago, I wouldn't have even thought about hurting myself.
I need to do it though.
I buried my face in my pillow and felt tears slide through. I looked at the razor, gleaming in the light of my lamp.
Like it was calling out to me.
I started to reach toward it. It felt like my heart was pounding; almost like I was doing something that I'd get in trouble for. I grabbed the razor and I placed it above my wrist. I slid it across, watching as a fresh line of blood came forward.
Tears dotted at my eyes as I thought of the memory my father had oh-so-innocently reminded me of earlier. Everything that I had felt at that time came back full force. The pain, the sorrow...
I dropped my razor on my blanket as I started sobbing. I covered my mouth with my hand and squeezed my eyes shut. "Why?!"
"...Rachel...?"
I gasped when I heard the voice and looked to see Danny, in his ghost form, looking at me with wide eyes. "D-D-Danny..."
I tried to wipe the tears from my face but they kept falling. I attempted to hide my face in my pillow, but I felt Danny's hand on my shoulder. I slowly looked at him and his expression was a sad one. I started crying again and he pulled me close, hugging me. I responded by letting myself cry on his shoulder.
After I had finally stopped, Danny looked at me. "Rach, why did you do this?" he asked softly, holding my wrist. I shook my head. "I...I..."
Danny softly put his other hand on my cheek. "Rachel, you can talk to me." he said quietly. "I...I want it to stop, Danny..." I whispered. "What do you want to stop Rachel?" Danny asked. I felt more tears in my eyes. "The pain."
Danny sighed. He looked at Rachel's now sleeping form on her bed and he ran a hand through his hair. "Oh man Rachel..."
Rachel had cried herself to sleep and Danny did his best to comfort the girl. He floated into the air and leaned over, kissing Rachel on the top of her head. "Goodnight Rachel."
As Danny floated to the ceiling, he heard a faint whisper. "Night Danny..."
Just a normal Wednesday.