Teacher's Threat

by Jet Engine

There's a new teacher at school, and Danny discovers that she is a ghost. When he confronts her, she turns out to be benevolent. The two agree to keep each other's secrets, especially when she offers to help Danny balance schoolwork and ghost fighting. Unfortunately, Danny's parents are on the prowl, putting both secrets in jeopardy. Part Two of the "Friendly Phantoms" series.

4. Friends and Foes

Chapter Four: Friends and Foes

"Pros of wearing all black: I look badass. Cons of wearing all black: everyone knows I had powdered donuts." - Unknown

The next month is a whirlwind.

Every training session starts out with Eileen and I meditating together. I don't know if it's because of the new pentagram on my jumpsuit or because I'd unloaded all those bottled up feelings, but meditation slowly gets easier. We started with doing it for three minutes. Then, we slowly increased the time spent on it. We're up to twenty minutes now. Eileen was ecstatic when I told her I'd started doing it at home as a human. When my parents caught me and asked what I was doing, I said it was some "new age teacher thing" that Ms. Mae said would help me focus. Their response was essentially, "Hey, whatever works." I told Jazz the truth about it, leaving out where I got the idea.

After meditating, Eileen has me step outside and summon a duplicate to the room with her. She had it perform simple tasks at first, things like math problems, crossword puzzles, anything that required actual thought beyond "punch the bad guy." The first time, my copy just sat there. The second time as well. Eileen was always patient and encouraging when I got frustrated. Once my copy was able to do the worksheets (as well as I would be able to at least), she started having it do similar things while I focused on my homework.

The Box Ghost pops in every now and again, checking on his Haunt and giving me the stink eye. I think he's worried I'll blow up the building or something. Coincidentally, or not, the team says that Larry - he screamed at me the first time I called him that, so naturally I'm going to keep doing it - has been in rare form around town. Tucker complains that he's started hearing "Beware!" in his sleep.

Eventually, Eileen thought I was ready to try fighting. She and I went outside while our copies duked it out in the warehouse, with Box Ghost watching to make sure we didn't break anything. If her copies are anything to go by, Eileen is right that she really does stink at fighting, but these aren't meant to be real fights anyway. And, if any stray shots head the Box Ghost's way, well, blame it on faulty copies!

It took some time before my duplicates could go out on their own. Thankfully, ghost attacks were pretty sparse after that disastrous first month of school. Apart from Larry, but you can mostly ignore him.

Then came the day a demon I didn't know decided to harass the school. I had gym class outside at the time, so I couldn't hide among the chaos to go ghost like I usually would. I took a chance and summoned a duplicate to handle the problem. I was half-confident and half-freaking-out about it, and for once I was grateful to have some physical exertion in my less than athletic human form.

It wasn't long before my copy vanished. Not because it was beaten, but because it felt that it's job was done. Memories of the fight, of victory, came to me in an instant. We happened to be running the mile in class that day, so luckily everyone thought the water on my cheeks was sweat. When I told Eileen, who had been busy helping get the students out of the building, that it wasn't me, but a copy who had saved the day, she was as thrilled as I was.

My copies still don't talk, still act more like robots than people, but they're getting really good at handling themselves. And, I have Eileen Merryweather to thank for it.

---

"Okay," Eileen says after a round of meditation. "You ready to take on multiple enemies at once?"

I crack my knuckles and switch back to human-form. "You know it," I say before pulling my phone out of my pocket and dialing.

Box Ghost hovers next to Eileen and gripes, "I still don't know why I agreed to this."

"I beat you up all the time," I remind him. "The only difference is that now you're letting me." He huffs and crosses his arms. Eileen snorts and covers her grin with her hand.

But, she wasn't the only one who recruited a friend for this, and mine has a new power.

A familiar voice answers my phone. "Is it time?"

"It's time, Mira," I say.

"Sweet! Make some room!"

I hold my phone away from me, and my fellow ghosts hang back as harmless yellow-green sparks roll over my phone, creating a loud staticky sound. A shapeless green mass shoots out from the screen, forming into a spirit with green skin, perpetually tangled dark green hair, and blood-red eyes.

Mira Scott lands beside me and almost knocks me over in a hug. "It's been too long since I could see you outside of a screen!"

I laugh and wrap one arm around her. "Well, now that you can teleport through electronics, we can do this a lot more often."

I'd told Mira what I'd been up to in one of our video chats, and she offered to help me out so that she could practice her powers more. I still don't like the idea of hurting her - as far as I know, she can't use Duplication - but at least this gives her the chance to make some ghost friends. Well, a ghost friend. I'm not sure how she'll feel about the Box Ghost.

Mira releases me and turns to the others. "You're the ghosts helping Danny, right? I'm Mira."

Eileen nods. "I'm Eileen. And, this is-"

"I am the Box Ghost!" he screams with his arms in the air and a not-exactly-intimidating expression on his face. "I have power over all containers cardboard and square!"

I'm guessing I looked the same way Mira does right now back when I first met this guy. "Nice to meet you," Mira drawls. She leans toward me and whispers. "He's the one you warned me about?"

"I heard that!" Box Ghost snaps.

I hold up my hands. "Chill, Larry the Cable Guy."

"Cease thy nicknames!"

"Alright," Eileen interrupts, raising her hands. "Here's the plan. Danny's copies not only need to be able to fight multiple foes at once, but they also need to be able to rescue people directly. So," she shifts into Ms. Mae and lets gravity set her down, "today, I am the classic damsel in distress."

Mira floats to her with an awed expression. "Whoa! You can turn into a human? Are you a half-ghost like Danny?"

Eileen smiles proudly and puts her fists on her hips. "Nope. Just good at Shapeshifting. Mira, you and Lawrence are going to be the bad guys Danny's copy has to save me from."

Mira turns to Box Ghost. "Your name is Lawrence?"

Before Box Ghost can respond, I point to him and taunt, "No, his name is Larry the Cucumber."

Scary Larry - oh, I've got to use that some time - glares daggers at me and screams, "I am the Bo-"

"Danny," Eileen says with her stern teacher voice. She points to the door. "Out. You know what to do."

I give her a military salute, hike up my backpack for effect, and see myself out. I close the rusted old door behind me and summon a duplicate inside the warehouse. I am about to sit down and start my homework when I spot a van in the distance. My first thought is that it belongs to hikers or maybe some travelers who got lost. Then, I actually look at the silver vehicle and see the big green F on the side.

This can't be happening.

I run to the Ghost Assault Vehicle, racking my brain for something that will get my parents far away from here. But, I end up plowing face-first into them. When we all recover from the shock, I see that they are both carrying ray guns and their belts are loaded up.

Not good. Very, very not good.

"Mom, Dad," I say, trying not to let my panic show. "What are you doing here?"

"We've detected a lot of ecto-activity in this area," Dad explains. He holds up the ray gun with an eager grin that gives me chills. "So, we're checking it out!"

Mom narrows her eyes at me, understandably suspicious. "What are you doing here, young man? Shouldn't you be at tutoring?"

Before I can babble out an excuse, Eileen cries out, "Help! Help! Save me from the ghosts!" at the worst moment possible.

"Was that your teacher?" Mom confirms, she and Dad now on high alert.

As the saying goes, play the hand you're dealt. "Yeah. Uh, some ghosts captured us and brought us here. But, I escaped and went to get help."

Dad pushes me behind him. "You stay here, son. Let your mother and I handle this."

Like hell I will. It just dawned on me that I've sicced my parents on Mira. Oh, and the Box Ghost. Him, too.

I race after my parents. Dad kicks the door, and it slams on to the floor. He and Mom burst into the room, aiming their guns. All the ghosts, including my copy, see the danger and freeze in surprise. My copy is locked in an aerial fighting stance. Box Ghost has a heavy-looking container floating over his head. Mira's hands are encased in lightning. "Ms. Mae" is trapped in a cubic, magenta-colored barrier.

All in all, it really doesn't look good.

"It's Phantom!" Dad calls out.

"And, his little electric friend is back," Mom notes. "Release that responsible member of the American education system!"

"Uh, hello?" Box Ghost waves his hands in the air. "You forgot about me, the Box Ghost."

Mom and Dad look at each other and shrug with an uninterested, "Eh." Box Ghost just scowls at them. The whole scene would be a lot more amusing if I wasn't so terrified.

I do the only thing I can think of and remove my copy. This signals Mira and Box Ghost to get out while they can, which they smartly do by phasing through the wall. Of course, Box Ghost sticks his head back in and cries, "Beware!" before leaving because he's like that. Then, he sticks his head in again and points to the fallen door. "You better fix that." Mom responds by blasting him with the ray gun, knocking him back through the wall. I don't think that door is getting fixed.

The barrier dissolves around Eileen, and my parents and I run up to her. Since she still looks shell-shocked, I start her off. "Ms. Mae, are you okay? I brought help just like I said I would."

"Um, yes," Eileen says, playing along. To my parents, she adds, "Thank goodness Danny ran into you two, or who knows what could have happened."

"We're just glad both of you are safe," Mom says. Then, she takes my chin in her hand. "Especially you, sweetie." She kisses my cheek, and I duck away in an odd blend of pain and embarrassment.

Dad looks around wearily. "Still, I'd expected more of a fight."

Eileen shrugs with a secret smile. "Well, maybe those other ghosts thought that taking on Danny Phantom and two ghost hunters was a little too much."

What is she doing?

"Come again?" Mom asks.

"Phantom came in shortly before you guys and tried to save us. How do you think your son managed to escape? That was Phantom's doing."

My heart stops, waiting for my parents' reactions. Surely, they can't say that Phantom is evil when he supposedly rescued their son, right?

But, my hopes are dashed when Mom waves off the story. "You must be mistaken. Danny said he ran off to get help. Why would he have to do that if Phantom really was trying to protect you two? Besides, Phantom was the first one to flee the scene."

Eileen grits her teeth, realizing her mistake.

Don't say anything, Danny. Don't say a damn word.

"Francesca," Dad says to my teacher, "you're still kind of new in town, so let us be frank. Danny Phantom may seem like a friendly guy, but ghosts are nothing but trouble."

"It's only a matter of time before Phantom drops the hero act and shows his true colors," Mom adds. "Watch your back around that ghost. That's my advice to you." Dad nods in agreement.

They offer to drive us both back to "Ms. Mae's" house, but with a little Compulsion, Eileen convinces them to go home. Meanwhile, I stand here, biting the knuckle of my index finger, an old habit that shows up when I'm trying to hold it together.

"You okay?" Eileen asks after a while, shifting back to her normal self.

I don't respond. I don't know how. What will it take for my parents to realize that I'm not a bad ghost?

Mira and Box Ghost poke their heads back in through the wall. "Is it safe?" Mira asks.

"All clear," Eileen assures.

Mira and Box Ghost phase through fully. Box Ghost glances in the direction my parents went, uncharacteristically subdued. "So, those were your parents? Wow."

Great. Even the Box Ghost pities me. "It's not as bad as it looks, Larry the Platypus." The fact that he doesn't get mad at me for the taunt says that he knows my heart's not in it.

"I'm starting to see why you never told them who you are," Mira says. "I mean, you told me why, but…it's different."

"You've seen them in action," I remind her.

Mira tugs on her denim jacket. "Yeah, but…it's different."

Memories of her parents' discussion of whether or not to adopt me fill my mind. "It's nothing I can't handle," I assure despite the aching in my chest. I gesture to myself. "They love this half of me, and that's all that matters." So, why do I want to scream?

Box Ghost points to my face with a startled expression. "Are black eyes normal for you?"

What?

"I've seen that happen before," Mira adds, staring curiously at me, "but it didn't last this long."

What?

The day I took down my space decor comes to mind. When I saw myself in the mirror-

Don't freak out. One thing at a time. "Can we stay on topic? I'm okay, and I know what I'm doing. Alright? Alright."

Eileen clears her throat. "Maybe we should try this again another time. Just to be safe."

"But, you compelled them to go home," I say. "So, that means they're on their way home, right?"

"Well, yeah, but…" There's something else on her mind. I can tell, and I have a pretty good idea of what it is. "Well, alright. I can see you're determined." To my surprise, she sends out a duplicate that's already disguised as Ms. Mae. "You all practice while Danny and I talk."

Oh, boy. I form my own copy, and Eileen leads me outside. I can already hear sounds of fighting by the time we're out of the warehouse.

I start talking before she can. "I know what you're thinking, and I'm fine. I've been doing this long enough that I know how to handle Mom and Dad. And, Jazz helps me anyway, so I'm totally fine."

But, Eileen knows I'm full of hot air. She takes my shoulders and kneels(?) down in front of me. She regards me with a kind but firm expression. "Danny, I have no doubt that you know how to…navigate your parents. But, I'm going to ask you a question that you're not gonna like. You don't have to answer it, but if you don't, you understand if I make my own assumptions, especially since you've all but implied it in the past."

I don't know what she's about to say, but I nod and brace myself for the question.

"Daniel Fenton. Are you afraid of your parents?"

No one's ever asked me that before.

I think about my parents. They aren't perfect. They get so deep into their work that you could make a case for neglect. Frankly, there were times when Jazz was more of a parent, and she's only two years older than me. Still, Mom and Dad are endlessly kind and caring. They'll throw themselves in harm's way to keep me and Jazz safe. They love us with every fiber of their beings, and that's the most important thing when it comes to parenting, isn't it?

But, my parents' hatred of ghosts knows no bounds. How many times have I come home from school and listened to them rant about some new device meant to detect and/or capture and/or destroy ghosts? How many times have they scoffed at a news story about Danny Phantom saving lives and said it was part of some facade? How many times have I snuck into the lab to free an innocent ghost who had simply been minding their own business when they were captured?

How many times have I listened to them go on about what they would do to Danny Phantom when they finally got their hands on him?

How many times have they kissed Danny Fenton goodnight and told him they loved him and meant it?

My throat tightens. "I don't know."

Eileen looks like she'd expected that answer. "Danny, I've been worried about you since I found out you were a halfa with ghost hunter parents. But lately, I'm wondering if I'd worried enough."

"I love them."

Eileen's red eyes soften, and she smiles sadly. "I know that, kid. I just want you to be safe. And, I'm not saying that as your teacher. I'm saying that as your friend."

I lower my head and squeeze my eyes shut. A tear falls out. God, I'm a mess.

"Danny." I force myself to look at her. "This, I'm saying as your friend and your teacher. You come to me if you need anything, okay? I told you that on the first day of school, but it applies now more than ever. Let me be here for you, Danny. Okay?"

Heart in pieces, I can only nod as more tears spill down my cheeks and I fight to keep my sobs in.

"Hey, we need another Phantom-" Box Ghost had appeared in the doorway and is now gawking at the scene before him. He coughs into his fist and looks anywhere else. "So…we destroyed the Phantom-copy, and we need a new one. But, take your time. No rush."

And now the Box Ghost has seen me cry. Insult to injury.

---

"Are Mom and Dad home?" I ask upon stepping into our living room.

Jazz had been lying back on the couch with a book when I came in. "Not yet." She marks her place, closes the book, and sits up. "You okay?"

I must look as horrible as I feel. "Well, Larry-an the Librarian saw me cry, so that's fun."

She stares blankly at me. "Is that code for something?"

"Ah, forget it," I say with a dismissive wave.

I start for my room, but Jazz pats the spot next to her and says, "Come on, little brother. I can see that something's wrong."

I guess she'll hear about this from Mom and Dad, anyway. I plop down beside her. "There was…a ghost attack at Ms. Mae's house. No big deal. No one got hurt. But, Mom and Dad showed up and…and spouted the usual bull. I guess it's just bugging me."

Jazz hums sympathetically. "There's more to it, isn't there?"

Yeah, but that would involve revealing Eileen's secret. My teacher's words play through my mind. Am I safe here? On some level, I know I'm not, but I also feel like I am. To an extent. Oh God, that's horrible, isn't it? That I'm only safe in my own home to an extent. My knuckle finds my mouth, and Jazz puts her arm around me, waiting for me to confide in her. I'm so close to doing just that, to pouring out all my fears to my big sister, the woman who's been a parent to me when our real parents weren't, who may or may not have chosen a college nearby so that she wouldn't have to leave me alone in this house.

No. I can't tell her. She carries too much of my emotional baggage as it is.

But, she's waiting for me to say something, and she'll only worry more if I don't. Think of something. Think of anything-

I suddenly remember what the Box Ghost pointed out earlier. "Jazz have my eyes ever turned black?"

Jazz pulls away, stunned. "Come again?"

"Just something I noticed." Not a lie, though at the time, I thought I was seeing things. "So, uh, have they?"

Jazz gnaws on her lip, obliviously of the knot that forms in my stomach. "Yeah. They have."

Oh, shit. "And, you didn't think to tell me?"

"Well, it-it didn't seem to be hurting or anything," Jazz stammers guiltily. She pulls her hands through her hair. "I know. I should have told you. But, it was after the whole Mira-thing, and you were so upset already and it never happened again and- I-I don't know everything about your weird ghost biology, alright? I'm sorry."

I let my temper cool. I had been trying not to add to Jazz's burden, and now I made her feel bad. "It's okay, Jazz. But, when something weird happens to me, you have to tell me. I don't know everything about my biology either, so when something new happens, I need to be made aware of it."

"I know," she says somberly. "I'm sorry. I just assumed you knew about it. Like when your eyes glow when you're mad, I thought it was just a thing that happened when you were really upset."

That theory would fit with when it supposedly occurred. "With any luck, that's all it is." But, wouldn't I have known about it by now? Then again, it's not like I can see my own eyes.

When I head up to my room, I call Sam and Tucker and ask them if they've ever seen my eyes turn black. They haven't, but they promise to keep their own eyes open.

---

Mira and the Box Ghost (if that doesn't sound like a band name, I don't know what does) spend the next two weeks coming to the latter's Haunt to help me train. I'm happy to say that Mira is getting along great with Eileen, who offered to be another contact for when Mira has a question about her afterlife.

As for Boxy, Mira's gotten used to him, and that's about it. Not that I expected anything else. He is the Box Ghost, after all. Though the team was relieved to report that he'd finally stopped his month-long tirade. Or at least, he's taken a break.

All in all, my copies are doing great! I haven't lost one in a fight since the day my parents interrupted our session, and my Duplication is really coming along. Eileen says that I'll know I have it down pat when my copies start to talk and act like me. I can't wait until the day I hear them spout out some of my trademark quips!

Sam, Tucker, and I are sitting at our usual table outside at lunch as I inform of my progress, only mentioning Mira's help and not anything more specific.

At least, that's what I was doing when my Ghost Sense went off.

There is a startled cry at a table on the other side of the courtyard, where a girl's lunch box is glowing and shaking. It opens on its own, and a blue beam of light leaps out and-

"Beware! For, I am the Box Ghost!"

Why the hell not?

Sam groans loudly and puts her head in her hands. Tucker facepalms and gripes, "Oh, come on. I finally stopped having those dreams!"

Everyone else screams and runs for cover - a ghost attack is a ghost attack, no matter who it is - and I start to duck under the table, ready to transform. Then, I think, maybe I should try Duplication. It's just Larry Boy, after all.

I summon a copy, and my friends and I duck under the table and act scared.

Meanwhile, Box Ghost sends all the lunch boxes on the tables into the air. "Yes! Fear me, for I have been training! Tremble before the might of-"

"Larry, Larry, Quite Contrary! How did your training go?"

That was my voice.

But, it wasn't my mouth saying it.

Box Ghost scowls at my copy. "Really? Those are its first words?"

My copy descends but stays above ground. It rears back and readies a ghost ray. "You're just lucky I don't know the rest of that rhyme."

It's talking like me. My copy is acting like me. That means I did it. I've finally gotten Duplication down. I have to clutch the bench attached to the table to stop myself from running over and hugging my copy, from finding Eileen and hugging her.

"Danny," Sam says with a grin as we watch the fight, "did your duplicate just banter?"

A breathy laugh is the only response I can give.

"Dude, that is awesome!" Tucker praises, smacking me on the back. "But, why Larry?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you?" I ask when I can form sentences again. "Turns out the Box Ghost's name is Larry."

Somehow, Larry heard me and flies to my hiding spot to scream, "It is Lawrence!"

My copy appears behind him. "Dude, you are so not a Lawrence." It fires one last ghost ray to the butt, and Box Ghost decides he's had enough and flies away. "And, don't come back!"

Everyone in the courtyard leaps from their hiding spots and cheers for "Phantom," but not even Paulina Sanchez, who has a crush on my alter-ego, cheers louder than me. My copy tips an imaginary hat to the crowd, sneaks a meaningful glance at me, and flies off, disappearing behind a building before removing itself from existence. The pulsing of my core has nothing on the joy in my heart.

"I'm so glad he's bantering again," I hear Paulina say. She clasps her hands together and rests her cheek over them, swooning. "He's been so quiet lately. I've missed his witty remarks."

She's not the only one. My friends crush me in a group hug, which I return with even more enthusiasm, not caring who sees.

"You three look happy," Eileen comments.

My friends and I let go, slightly embarrassed. We hadn't heard Eileen walk up to us, and my Ghost Sense no longer appears around her now that I know what she is and expect her to be here.

Tucker chuckles awkwardly. "Just happy to survive a ghost attack."

"Always a good thing," Eileen agrees with a casual smile. She points to Sam. "Nice necklace, by the way."

Sam fingers the silver pentagram necklace resting over her dark purple shirt. "Oh, thanks. Danny bought it for me."

Eileen's smile is one only I can interpret. "Kid's got good taste. Mind if I borrow him for a minute?"

She leads me around the building for some privacy then breaks into a huge grin and holds out her arms. "Get over here!" she whisper-shouts.

I make an unmanly sound and throw my arms around her, fighting back tears but in a good way for once. "I'm so happy! I am so damn happy, Eileen!"

"Oh, Danny, I'm so proud of you!" She pulls back and takes me by the shoulders. "Nothing makes me happier than seeing a student smile like that."

"And knowing that you caused it?"

Eileen hems and haws then wiggles her fingers toward me. "There's a little ego involved, yes."

I laugh. "That's exactly how I feel when I help someone in need."

"Kid, that is so corny."

I laugh again. "But, seriously. This only happened because of you. I don't know how to thank you."

She pats me on the shoulder. "Just promise you won't send your duplicate to school in your place."

"I could do that?"

Her mouth falls open when realizes what she'd just put in my head. "Uh…no?"

I point to her and grin. "But, you said you retain your copy's memories, so technically-"

"Don't do it." Stern teacher voice on her end.

A louder laugh on mine. "I'm just kidding. Well, half-kidding."

Suddenly, there is a random beeping sound that's steadily getting faster and louder. We turn toward it, and my good mood shatters.

"Um, what are you guys doing here?" I ask when my parents see us and approach, my dad carrying a small cubic…beeping thing.

"We got a warrant, so we're free to roam around, searching for ghosts," Dad announces proudly.

"There's been more and more ecto-activity going on around here," Mom says. She pats my cheek. "Don't mind us, hun. We're just making sure everything's safe."

Eileen points to Dad's machine. "What is that thing?"

"This baby tells us when a ghost is using its powers," Dad explains. "Even if the ghost turns invisible or camouflages itself some other way, we'll know it's there."

He and Mom study the machine as it beeps faster and faster…the closer it gets to Eileen. My parents hum and stare at her with narrowed eyes. Eileen stares back with a strained smile. Thinking fast, I put my hands behind my back and channel some energy into them. Dad moves the still-beeping device toward me, and he and Mom frown at it.

"It must need recalibrated," Mom mutters.

Neither of them see the tension leave my and Eileen's bodies when Dad switches off the device.

Eileen clears her throat. "Honestly, I think you two are being paranoid. There are no ghosts at this school. Why don't you just call it a day?"

"Not until this school is free of any trace of ectoplasm," Mom states.

Eileen blinks in confusion then presses her hands together and points them at my parents. "I really think you should go home, because this place is perfectly safe."

"And, we're here to make sure of that," Dad says.

Eileen's eyes widen, and I realize that she was trying to compel them. Why didn't it work? Suddenly, I spot the odd-looking green earpieces they're wearing. "Uh, Mom, Dad? What are those?" I ask, pointing to the earpieces and hoping I'm wrong.

Mom cups her ear. "These? We finally got around to making replacement Fenton Phones."

Replacements for the ones the team and I…borrowed and never gave back.

"And, Fenton Phones are…?" Eileen asks.

"A little something that filters out ghost frequencies," Dad explains. "Basically, if a ghost tries to hypnotize us, it's in for a rude awakening."

"In other words, if a ghost tried to, let's say, compel you to do something, you wouldn't be affected?"

Dad points a finger gun at her. "Bingo!"

Good mood officially out the window. "You know, now that I think about it, I might have seen something weird," I fib. "There might be a ghost on the second floor."

My parents thank me and set off to investigate. I've just sent a huge disruption to those classes, but at the moment, I don't care.

"Okay," Eileen says once the coast is clear. "That was way too close."

"I'm so sorry," I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "This is my fault. I've been using Duplication during school, a-and that's probably what their dumb sensors picked up."

Eileen shakes her head. "Danny, don't forget that I'm not exactly human. They came here looking for ghosts long before you got good at Duplication." When this doesn't reassure me, she slices her hands in front of her. "Look. Forget them. Focus on the good. I saw your copy, and I liked what I saw. Like I said, I'm real proud of you, kid. And, I bet Lawrence is too, even if he won't tell you himself."

Heat creeps over my face. "You sent the Box Ghost here, didn't you?"

She flips her hair with a smug grin. "I don't know what you're talking about."

---

"What do you mean 'last session?'"

"Exactly what I said, Danny."

As soon as we'd arrived at the warehouse and meditated for thirty minutes, Eileen had dropped a bomb that I didn't even know would be a bomb. I'd gotten so used to our after-school meetings that I'd forgotten they were only until I mastered Duplication.

"Your copy today was flawless, Danny," Eileen praises. "We'll have one more practice session, but there's really nothing else to teach you."

"But, that was just one active copy," I argue. "I can make three at a time."

"And, now that one can mimic you so perfectly, the others will too. If you don't believe me, throw out three of them during battle, and you'll see what I mean."

I'm not going to tell her that I exchanged quips with three copies during free period as a test. I try to think of some counterargument, only to see the sly grin on Eileen's off-white face. "What's that look for?"

"You like our little meetings, don't you?"

I feel a cool blush spread over my cheeks and rub the back of my neck. "I mean…yeah. I just…like hanging out with you. Oh, wow. I actually want to hang out with my teacher. Is that weird?"

Eileen chuckles. "Of course not. I like you too. Nothing says this is the last time we have to hang out, you know."

"Really?"

Eileen grins and shakes her head. "Come on, kid. Sure, a teacher palling around with her sixteen-year-old student might look a little odd, but who says two random ghosts can't be friends?"

I duck my head and smile. "You mean that?"

She ruffles my white hair. "Sure I do. And besides, it's not like I don't see you at school every day."

"I know, but at school I have to pretend I don't care." Just then, my Ghost Sense goes off. A moment later, Box Ghost phases in through the wall. "What's up, Larry Berry?"

Box Ghost glares at me, and Eileen rolls her eyes (I think) and says, "Danny, will you stop with the nicknames? You know he hates them."

"Okay, I'll stop," I promise. "Just as soon as I run out of Larry puns."

They both sigh. Then, Box Ghost says to me, "Phantom, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Curious now, I glance at Eileen, who shrugs and phases outside. So, she doesn't know what this is about either. Box Ghost is knocking his fingers together almost shyly, and that's unusual for a guy who finds every opportunity to scream "beware" at the top of his lungs.

"Problem?" I ask.

"Uh, not for me… Look, I just wanna do this before I lose my nerve, okay?" Box Ghost plants his feet on the ground in front of me. I don't think I've ever seen him not float unless I've already knocked him to the ground. I forgot that I'm taller than him. "It's just… This is kind of awkward because we don't really like each other."

"I'm with you so far," I say, hoping he'll get to the point.

He fingers the strap of his overalls. "See, I've been thinking about what your parents were saying about you." My hands curl into fists at my sides. I struggle not to yell at him to shut up because I'm definitely fine. "Look, I know we're not friends, but…you're a kid, you know?"

"I'm sixteen," I say, my voice slightly strained. "Not six."

Box Ghost shrugs. "Still counts. I'll cut to the chase. I know you probably still live with your parents, being part-human and all, right?" I nod. "And, I know they don't know you're a ghost, but it still," he scratches the back of his head, "doesn't sit well. Leaving a kid with people who could hurt him or worse."

I'm floored. The Box Ghost - the motherfreaking Box Ghost - actually sounds like he…cares? About me? Eileen, sure. Mira and her parents, fine. But, one of my enemies? I have to be misinterpreting this.

Box Ghost goes on, sounding less nervous the more he speaks. "That's why…" He spreads his arms out in a bow. "I'm offering you my Haunt, Phantom."

My brain shuts down.

"I'm not giving it to you. It is mine! But, if you need to get away…you can come here. It'll be like-like neutral ground for us."

The Box Ghost just offered his Haunt - his Haunt - as a safe haven. For me, the guy who does nothing but beat him up. Not that he never deserves it, but still.

He's staring at me with a sincerity he's never directed at me before, waiting for my response. When my brain restarts, I give him one. "Why? You said it yourself. We aren't friends. All I do is hit you and call you names! I'll admit that my house isn't always the safest place for me, but why would you care?"

He blushes and ducks his head, playing with the other strap. "Well, like I said, you're a kid. Hey, I may be a jerk, but I have some standards."

"I have a lair, Larry." Ha ha. Lair Larry. Or, should it be Larry Lair?

If Box Ghost catches my lapse in focus, he doesn't comment on it. He just narrows his eyes at the name before letting it go. "I figured, but this would be more convenient. I assume. I don't know where your lair is."

Be cool, Danny. Be cool. "Boxy, I appreciate the offer, but I'm totally fine. I've doing this for two years. I've got it all figured out."

Box Ghost frowns and clicks his tongue. "Well, if you change your mind, the offer's on the table."

I just nod, pretending that I'm not reeling from this. Am I really so bad off that even my enemies want to protect me?