Chapter 11: Is this friend behavior ? NoPe
I end up wandering around for the rest of lunch. I don't know what anyone else heard of our conversation, and I'm not interested in finding out. With timing and invisibility, it's easy to avoid everybody. Nevertheless, my mind keeps going to their accusation. It echoes through my mind, "..dragging us into your messes!" Anger, I feel nothing but anger. How could they think that! What started all this in the first place was Sam. She just couldn't take no for an answer, " It's just one picture, Danny; what's the hurt?" The hurt, oh, nothing much, just around one million watts of electricity.
I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't go against them. Peer pressure can be a bitch like that sometimes, but I tried to do it safely. I wore a hazmat suit, rubber sole shoes, and all; not that it made a difference.
There is still a massive hole leading to the afterlife in the FENTONWORKS™ basement. They've complained about the outcome enough for me to understand their feelings. The ghosts are " annoying, an inconvenience, scary," but the abilities that come with being one? Apparently, to them, my "Superpowers" are fun. Something to be used as entertainment, for playing the "Hero." Not what I'd call what this is, but they're not really superpowers now, are they? I thought they understood what this meant to me.
I thought I was their friend, but nowadays, it seems like I'm nothing but " some creepy little boy with creepy little powers," not that I can tell anyone the truth. It's one thing to think it to myself, to think of the possibility that what Spectra had said all that time ago to be true.
But nowadays, accepting the implications of what's happened seems closer to fact than anything else. So far, I've only ever tentatively brought this stuff up to Frostbite and Clockwork, and from the looks of it, what's going on isn't good. Or at least not good for a human.
I don't look any older since the accident. I haven't grown a millimeter. All the clothes Jazz thought I could grow into are still baggy on me, and my shoes still have room to grow into. I'm practically swimming in them. Not to mention my voice. Everyone elses' has started to change. The girls no longer sound like they are imitating Barbie or Minny Mouse, and the guys' voices are beginning to crack and become lower and smother. In comparison, I sound like Micky Mouse on helium.
Frostbite said I need to spend more time in the realms, not just when I feel the need, but for relaxation and leisure. That it's not healthy for my core– I'm probably going to need to spend more time there since my core type has changed, damn– that it needs the heavy, rich ectoplasm to be healthy. Not just that either; he's even suggested that I try to start eating some of it. Not that it's ever turned out great doing that unintentionally in the past. Jazz can verify that she still remembers the turkey incident of 20XX.
I'm not what I was before. Which just doesn't make sense. Vlad has aged since the time he was in college. So why is it that my body has practically become frozen in time, but changes, aging, have continued for him?
Why does—
I lose my train of thought as the school bell shrieks, releasing everyone to the next class. I go and hide in the bathroom, then once it's clear, I release my invisibility. Releasing the ability gives my core relief that I did not know I needed. Almost as if I was catching my breath after a marathon. I check my phone for any messages when I notice the time. It's been about 20 minutes since our fight in the cafeteria, meaning I kept up invisibility for almost 20 minutes. We've measured things like strength of ectoblasts and flight speed, but we never tested endurance for invisibility and intangibility.
What else can I can do?
Now isn't the time to think about this. I leave the bathroom and walk slowly toward my next class. I'm almost there when an announcement comes over the PA, " Daniel Fenton to the office. I repeat Daniel Fenton to the office." I make my way there, and once I enter, I get directed to Mr. Lancer's office.
I knock a couple times on the door until I get a signal to come in. The office is still as dingey and outdated as the last time I was here. He motions for me to take a seat, and we are encased in silence once I do. He doesn't say anything at first, just looks at me as if a secret message is hidden in my appearance. Finally, he lets out a huff before asking, " Why do you think you're here today, Mr. Fenton?"
I can't help but stare at the wall, " if I had to guess, it's because of the cafeteria. We were a bit loud," I admit.
He snorts, " loud is a bit of an understatement." He waits until he can catch my eye as he continues, " We understand you kids get loud, and arguments happen, but one of the comments we heard has given us some cause for concern." I brace for the inevitable for Tuckers' words, "... first the superpowers," to come to light. Then, for our connection to Phantom, myself to come up with, "it's not like I pushed a thermos into your hands and forced you into anything!"
He looks disappointed in me as he says," we have to check. Have you been drinking alcohol on school grounds?"
What, " no, of course not, Mr. Lancer." He doesn't look convinced, " Then, in that case, you wouldn't mind showing me the thermos in question." I shrug and dig through my bag, looking for a thermos. Once Jazz learned about it being a capture device, she advised me to keep a spare on me to use as an extra. I never thought I would have to use it like this. Once I find the right one, I hand it over to Mr.Lancer for him to inspect it. He opens it to see what I know to be just plain water and smells it.
He immediately closes it, then hands it back, " I'm sorry for the confusion, but I hope you understand I had to make sure." I reassured him that I understood why and was dismissed from his office.
I go straight to class and do my best to ignore Sam and Tucker for the rest of the day. When the final bell shrieks to release us, I rush to gather my things and make my way out of the building. It only takes me a moment to spot Jazz's car and even less for me to phase into it. I start getting incoming calls and texts from the two of them, but I ignore them all And wait for Jazz to come. The parking lot is about empty when she comes out of the building. Trailing behind her are Sam and Tucker talking to her about something, probably our argument . Before they can spot me, I turn invisible and shoot Jazz a text, ' Plz don't give them a ride home.' I can see her confused face the moment she sees it but goes along with my request.
She tells them goodbye and then gets in the car.
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