Here we are with a really fast chapter! It looks like things may be speeding up again now that the roadblock that was Skulker is out of the way. It's a shorter one this time around, but it's also got some bonding and stuff, so hopefully that makes the shorter read worth it, haha.
Because of the disruption Skulker had posed, everyone was allowed to skip first period while the mayor's people repaired the school. Nobody was sure how everything looked brand new in less than an hour, but no one questioned it. All that mattered was that they lived in a town where a ghost demolishing half the building somehow didn't warrant going home. No questions, but lots of complaints.
Wes stayed quiet all through second and third period, absently picking at the scab that had already formed on his shin. He stared at the bruises that littered his arms, already mottled purple, and most well on their way to yellowing. Occasionally he prodded at one to see if it was tender. It wasn't. It was strange, how he felt almost no physical pain. Even his leg had stopped throbbing before second period was over. Even without his powers, it was odd to see such undeniable proof that he was something other than human.
Not that it had done anyone much good.
He wasn't very hungry by the time lunch rolled around, but he still grabbed himself a gray burger and a rubbery salad. Across the cafeteria, he could see Danny talking to Sam and Tucker. He couldn't tell what they were talking about from this distance, but whatever it was, Tucker seemed to find it funny. However, he could still clearly see the stripes and splotches of brown dotting Danny's arms and disappearing into his shirt sleeves. Bruises. Bruises he probably wouldn't have ended up with, if Wes hadn't gotten in his way.
The jock sighed through his nose, glancing back at his usual table. The rest of his team ate heartily, pieces of food flying during their own rowdy conversation. Then he looked at Danny's table, hunched his shoulders, and began walking.
He approached the group with uncertain footsteps, stopping a scant few feet away. He didn't sit down. They were a clique, and he had his own. To blatantly breach such a barrier without permission was practically taboo. And even if it wasn't, he didn't think they would want someone like him sitting anywhere near them.
Just as he was rethinking his decision, Sam looked up and noticed him, a guarded frown on her face. Then Danny looked up, and then Tucker, wearing twin expressions of curiosity. Wes clammed up under their scrutiny, and he shifted his tray over to one hand so that the other could muss his hair.
"...I'm sorry."
Sam and Tucker blinked, and Danny thoughtfully pursed his lips. Nobody said anything, but Wes chose to elaborate anyway. "...You had Skulker handled back there, and I jumped in and made things worse. I thought my powers would be enough, and they weren't, and I almost got you in trouble because of it. So I'm sorry."
Danny tilted his head, quirking one brow. "You're... apologizing?"
Wes huffed. "Yeah. I messed up bad, and I'm owning up to it."
"What did you do?" asked Tucker, wearing the ready smile of one eager for gossip.
"This idiot tried to punch out Skulker," Danny replied. Tucker chuckled, and Sam hid her face behind one hand, though it failed to cover the smirk she was fighting off. "But get this. He had this whole dramatic moment, with a James Bond introduction and everything. And that was after he picked himself off the ground because he hurt his hand."
That had Tucker and Sam both bust out laughing, Danny wearing a grin as he told them what happened. Wes spluttered, going red in the face. "...You're making fun of me! I apologized to you, and you're making fun of me!"
"Yeah? You deserve it," said Danny, as cheeky as ever. Wes frowned, scrunching up his nose, but he couldn't find it in him to be too upset. However he searched, he couldn't find any lingering irritation on Danny's face, so maybe, just maybe, that was Danny's way of forgiving him.
Danny must have noticed his uncertainty, because his smile lost its teasing edge and softened, and he tipped his head to indicate he should sit down. Tucker scooted over to make some room. Wes's brows shot up, and he opened and closed his mouth. When he didn't move, Danny nodded to the open seat again. This time Wes took the invitation and sat down across from him, suddenly finding his food really interesting.
"...So. Wattson Wraith, huh?" Danny prompted after a while.
Wes hummed and looked up, pausing in his attempts to stab a tomato with his fork. "Hm? Yeah, that's gonna be my ghost name."
"What inspired a name like that?" Sam droned. "Any chance you took it from a certain mystery book?"
"What, you mean like the sidekick? No way," Wes snorted. "I just knew it had to be something that started with a W. It's got that name-ghost thing going on, has nothing to do with my actual name, because that would be dumb," he gave Danny a pointed look, who smiled and shrugged good-naturedly, "and it's alliterative. So it's basically the best hero name ever."
"Wait, so you mean Wattson isn't supposed to sound like Weston?" Tucker inquired.
Wes furrowed his brows, frowned, then slammed his forehead against the edge of the table. "...The idiocy in this town is contagious," he groaned.
"You could always change it," Sam pointed out.
"No I can't, I already told Skulker that was my name," Wes whined in reply. Tucker reassuringly pat him on the back.
The group ate their meals in peaceful silence for a few minutes before Wes blurted out a question. "Hey Fenton. What did-"
"You can call me Danny, you know," the teen cut him off.
Wes blinked. "...Okay... Danny," he tested the name. "What did Skulker mean by obsession?"
"Really? I'd think you would know all about that," Sam teased. Wes scowled and flushed.
Danny rubbed the back of his head, looking a tad sheepish. "Oh, I didn't realize you caught onto that."
"Of course I did, I always pay attention," Wes replied. "What did he mean by that? You never struck me as someone who would be obsessed with anything. Except space, maybe."
"I should have known you would notice something like that," Danny chuckled. "Well, it's sort of a ghost thing. Every ghost has something they're obsessed with. I'm not sure why, it's kind of just how they are. Maybe it has to do with whatever they were interested in when they were alive, at least for the ones who used to be. Or maybe it acts as something to focus on to help them hold their form. I have no idea."
"Really?" Wes hummed, resting his elbows on the table. "And you have an obsession, too? Even though you already have a form?"
"...Yeah," said Danny. "I don't think it's exactly the same, though."
"Are you gonna tell me what it is?" Wes asked, leaning closer to listen.
Danny leaned back, wrinkling his nose. "Okay, asking a ghost about their obsession is really rude. But, it's not like you would know that," he sighed. "I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I think it has something to do with heroics."
Wes snorted. "Gee, maybe the jumpsuit should have clued me in."
That pulled a quiet chuckle out of Danny. "Nah, that's just sheer coincidence. Ghost hunter family, remember? We all have jumpsuits. Mine just has a logo on it."
"You're welcome," Sam harrumphed, smirking.
"...Do I have an obsession?" Wes wondered aloud.
"Definitely," Tucker interjected. "Every ghost has one, and even though you shouldn't ever really ask a ghost what theirs is, it's usually something pretty obvious. If you haven't figured yours out already, then you probably will pretty soon."
"I bet it's Danny," Sam snarked, taking a bite of her veggie burger.
Wes choked on his chocolate milk, most of it spraying out of his nose. He was blushing so hard he was almost purple. "WHAT?! I am not obsessed with Fen... Danny!"
"Could have fooled me," tittered Tucker. "It's not like you were popping out of bushes snapping pictures of him all last year."
"I wasn't obsessed, and I'm still not!" Wes hissed, somehow turning even redder.
Danny was hiding his face behind his arms. The tips of his ears were a bright pink. "You guys are going to kill me," he moaned.
"You're already halfway there. We're going to finish you off," Sam corrected him. Danny groaned louder.
"In all seriousness though, figuring out your ghostly obsession is probably a good idea," Tucker said, wiping a stray tear from his eye. "It's supposed to be good for you."
"I swear to god if you try to tell me spending time with Danny will be good for me," Wes growled.
"I didn't say it," Tucker singsonged.
"Tucker, do us all a favor and shut up," Danny warned. His friend cackled. "But, he's kind of right. Indulging in an obsession is... therapeutic, in a way. It's soothing. It even makes some ghosts stronger. And of course, it's way easier if you already know what your obsession is."
"Woah," breathed Wes, leaning back in his seat. "No wonder you're so strong, then. Your thing is heroics, and you save the city almost every day."
"It might be a Halfa thing, too," Danny said. "Obsession or not, ghosts don't usually develop so many different powers. They're usually connected to the obsession somehow."
"You have a power for almost any situation you could possibly end up in, which is great if you want to save people," Sam pointed out. "I would say that's pretty connected." Danny shrugged sheepishly.
"So if I figure out my obsession, I'm gonna get stronger?" asked Wes.
"Not all at once," Danny replied. "You're already going to be getting stronger just because your core hasn't fully developed yet. After that, any sort of development is slow going, if it happens at all. But at least you'll have a go-to if you feel stressed out or whatever."
"A good place to start is paying attention to your habits," Tucker informed him. "If you notice yourself doing anything out of character, especially if it's consistent, that's usually a pretty big clue."
Wes nodded in understanding. "I haven't really noticed anything so far, but I'll definitely be paying attention."
The bell signaling the end of lunch sounded off, and Danny let out a low whistle, holding up his empty tray. "Man, how lucky is that? No ghosts interrupting my lunch. When does that ever happen?"
"Not nearly often enough," said Sam, rounding up her waste in a paper sack.
"Maybe it's because we've got a good luck charm at our table now," Tucker grinned, elbowing Wes's side. "Wherever this guy is, ghosts sure aren't."
"Oh, shut up," Wes huffed, shoving his shoulder. "But... you're really okay with me sitting with you guys?"
Danny shrugged. "I don't mind. You're actually not too bad when you aren't trying to expose me."
"And hey, if you're willing to commit social suicide just by being seen around us, that's on you," Tucker added.
Wes looked back to his regular table, where his teammates were in the midst of cleaning up their trash. If they had noticed his absence, none of them showed it. Wes's smile was lopsided, small. "...I doubt anyone really cares who I hang out with, anyway."
"At least you'll never have a boring day ever again," said Sam.
"Pfft, like there's such thing as a boring day at Amity Park."
"True that," Tucker agreed.
And with that, the four made their way to their separate classes. Wes grinned to himself in the hallway as he thought about his interaction with the group. He had never had anyone to hang out with at school that wasn't part of a sports team, anyone who would talk to him outside of obligation. But those three, despite a very rocky start, had welcomed him to their table without question. They spoke to him how they spoke to each other, like a mutual rather than a third wheel. They teased and poked fun at him, but it didn't feel mean. Even Sam hadn't outright cursed him. They treated him with a kindness he had learned not to expect. If he dared to think it, it looked like he might have made actual friends.
Things were really starting to look up.
Truth be told, I had this fully written yesterday, but I made myself wait to post it so it wouldn't come out immediately after 13, haha.
I have a couple ideas to pull from for chapter 15, but I've got a biggish chapter planned 3 or 4 chapters from now that I'm looking forward to showing you guys. So I'll keep chugging away, and hope to see you again soon!