A/N: Alrighty! First 100% new chapter in a long time! Sorry that my update speed is so slow now. Thankfully, I'm beginning to get back into my groove with this story, so the update speed should increase a little! Kind of a light chapter - go figure, with this title, huh? But in the next chapter...things start tumbling downhill! A BIG THANKS to all of you who patiently waited for 2 years! I hope I meet your expectations at the end!^^ Well, without further ado: Read on! Don't forget to review/fav/etc! It keeps me motivated to know that y'all still care!

Ch. 19: Calm Before the Storm

I wish they'd tell me what's going on, Dani inwardly grumbles as she inhales her lunch. She'd been sent home earlier than Valerie and the others, but there'd apparently been some huge commotion in the middle of the night - one that neither Jack nor Maddie would tell her about. Danny hadn't even been at breakfast that morning. That alone, was strange.

"ani? ...Danielle…" Ashton's waving his hand in front of her face, "What's up? Something eating at you?"

"Nothing you need to worry about," she sighs, trying to change the subject, "So...your mom's a tailor?"

"Y-yeah," he nods, "S-she's always liked sewing, so…"

She hums.

"So, uh...did they stop after I left?"

"Stop what?"

"...teasing you," he answers quietly, "I-I mean, when she got home, Mom was...relentless, to say the least...It's just...Um…"

"With the way they go on, you'd think a girl and boy can't just be friends," she sighs, "Geez. I mean...you're the only one I've got at this stupid school."

"Y-yeah, and you're the best friend I've made. Connor talks to me a little, but…"

"...Do I really seem that out-of-place?" she asks quietly, more to herself than to him in particular.

"N-no, I think…" he won't meet her eyes, "I think they're just...i-in-intimidated."

She raises an eyebrow.

His eyes flick up briefly, catching her expression, "Well...you're pretty, and good at sports...ghosts don't scare you...it's just...you're really cool, Dani," he's relaxing a little, a small smile pulling at his lips, "There's really no other way to describe it."

Silence hangs in the air for a moment, and Ashton's cheeks flush pink.

"I-I mean-! Um…!"

Dani laughs, "Thanks, Ashton," she picks up her tray, "Let's get going, huh?"

"Y-yeah," he replies with a relieved smile, picking up his tray.

~ Little did they know, it would be the last day they could sit so carefree under the sun.~

"Here's your coffee," the waitress smiles, "Good to see you, Jazz. Who's your friend?"

"This is Darren. We met on the way into town."

"Oh?" She smiles, turning to him, "Nice to meet you. I'm Sandra Kearney. Staying in town long?"

"Just a few days," he smiles back politely.

"What're you here for?"

"Sightseeing, mostly," he answers, "I wanted somewhere unique."

"Well, it's definitely that," Jazz laughs lightly.

"So, Jazz, what've you been up to?"

"Studying," she chuckles, "What else?"

"Girl!" she sighs in exasperation, "Your baby brother is getting married!"

"Girl! Everybody knew he and Sam would end up together!" Jazz teases back, "Geez, what's everyone's problem?! There isn't some law stating that the older sibling has to get married first!"

"...Do you even date?"

"...Um…" She glances briefly at Darren, is this a…?

He doesn't notice her glance; he's far too busy stifling his laughter.

"I mean...regularly? Have you ever had a steady boyfriend?"

"Uh…" Way to be elegant, Jazz, "No. Not that I can think of. I don't have time!"

"You never had time," she laughs, "When are you going to make some? Love requires a little sacrifice, y'know!"

"Sandra!" Someone calls from the counter, "Stop chatting and get back to work!"

"Oh! Sorry! Talk to you later?" She waves, dashing to serve an order.

They wave back and turn to their coffees for a brief moment of silence.

"...so..." he clears his throat, "What are you studying?"

"Ecto-Psycology and Paranormal Relations at Ripperton Univeristy," she answers, "I'm writing a thesis about how compulsions and powers are decided. What turns a normal human spirit into a ghost? Why an obsession?"

"Oh? And what's your theory?"

"I'm still looking into some things, but…" she shifts, "A violent death is one factor. Old age doesn't seem to do it. I wonder if it's because there's so much life left in someone when their death is so unexpected, or...they just have more drive for their dreams...I don't know. Someone told me once that the reason power is such a common obsession is because in the moment you die, you wish you could just have the power to change it. I think that may also be part of what decides a ghost's core and powers. I think some of it has to do with the way the Infinite Realms were formed, but there isn't exactly a clear history."

"...where would you even research that?!"

"I...know a librarian," she smiles.

"A…? Like, a ghost librarian?"

"Something like that," she laughs, "But enough about that, you said you wanted to know about some of the locals?"

"Y-yeah," he nods, "So...who shows up the most?"

"Probably the Box Ghost," she dismisses, "But he's not scary at all."

"Who IS dangerous?" He presses.

She hums, unsure, "Skulker is more common, but he prefers to just test his skill against The Phantoms...Ember is pretty dangerous too, if is just annoying...I don't know."

"Who was the most dangerous ghost ever in Amity?" He asks, leaning forward.

"Pariah Dark," she answers after a moment. After all, Dan was a different timeline, and as for Vlad...thankfully, most of the citizens have nearly forgotten the halfa millionaire. No one has asked around about it for a long while. They were quick to dismiss his claims of being half-human and now view him as a powerful ghost who overshadowed an unfortunate man. No need to revive the debate here.

"Not Phantom?" He questions.

"No!" She responds quickly, "He's strong, but not dangerous, per se. He protects us."

"Why?" There's something in his eyes, something sharp, "is it a territorial thing? An act to gain your trust?"

"He saved the world from that disasteroid-"

"He was protecting the Ghost Zone too, though," he counters gently.

"He cares about both worlds. What's wrong with that?"

"I just want to know what'll happen when he has to choose one over the other," he shrugs.

A chill runs down her spine, recalling the night before. The sirens blaring, the red emergency light reflecting on Danny's face, pale and drawn.

"I don't think he could choose," she finds herself whispering quietly.

It's a few seconds before he speaks up again with a light smile, "Sorry. With everything going on with ghosts, I just wanted to know what a real ghost-town girl thinks. Some people are having conniption fits about them, and others just shrug it off."

"Well," she begins, "There are really dangerous ghosts out there, it's just...most of them aren't purposely malicious. They just have their compulsions."

"I see," he hums.

"Where do you stand on the issue?"

"Well…" he sighs, "I...honestly, I don't like them," the light in his eyes sinks away, "But...lately," he smiles wryly, "I find myself wavering a little. I think that's why I came here. I need to know."

"Know…?"

"What side I'm on."