Dannies, Death, and Dates

Chapter 9

Dani clomped down the stairs to the basement, thermos gripped firmly in her hand. Danny was already out patrolling, and Mr. and Mrs. Fenton had gone out to investigate reports of ghost activity at the mall. She was alone.

Dani activated the ghost cell and tossed the thermos inside. It clicked open and Gage tumbled out. For a moment he just sat on the floor, looking completely wrong footed. Then he twisted to stare incredulously at Dani.

"You heard that we're the Fentons," she said cooly. "I think you've heard of the family business."

He stood up slowly, arching his back. Dani could see the differences more clearly. His eyes definitely were glowing faintly yellow now. 

"You really need to work on those containers," he groaned. "It's giving me serious back pains."

She glared at him silently. 

"Alright! I'm sorry," he relented. "It's not like I lied to you!"

"You're a ghost."

"Well that's not the best conversation starter around this town," Gage snapped. "All everyone can think about is the hauntings and the attacks. People like you are always out to hunt us down. So no, forgive me if I didn't shout that from the rooftops."

Dani stepped closer to the pulsing green shield. 

"Our family hunts ghosts. So why did you keep coming back? Why not just stay away?"

Gage folded his arms stubbornly and refused to answer. 

Dani folded her arms too. For a long moment, they just stared at each other. 

"What are you doing here?" Dani finally said. 

"Well an ever so charming girl stuffed me into a can and dragged-"

"No, what are you doing in the human world?" Dani clarified. Gage shoved his hands into the pocket of his hoodie and gave a noncommittal shrug. But his eyes said that he knew exactly why he was here. 

"All I know is that one day I was skateboarding along, saw a truck at the last second, and the next thing I know I'm floating around like a freakin butterfly," he said. 

Dani stared at him. A slow pity began to wash over her.

"You were in a car crash?"

He gave a humorless laugh. "Yep. Wherein a car crashed into me." He began to pace the small cell, examining the pulsing green walls. 

"As much as I love retelling my death story, I've got places to be," Gage said, poking gingerly at the wall. "Any chance of us picking this up another time?"

"Not way," Dani said coldly. "I'm not going to have you hovering around my room anytime you feel like it. I know what teenage boys are like."

For the first time, Gage looked truly disgusted.

"I would never do anything like that!" he said angrily. "I may not get perfect grades, but I'm not some peeping Tom! I... I!" he was at a loss for words in his indignity. 

Dani barely resisted a laugh at his reaction. She was almost tempted to let him stick around a little longer, see what was keeping him here. But there was a protocol. Gage was a ghost, and ghosts belonged in the ghost zone. 

"Nothing personal man," she said, flipping a switch. "You seem like a good enough guy, but it's a family rule. No letting ghosts run free when they won't tell you their motive. I just don't know what to think"

"Get to know me a little better, and then  see what you think," Gage said. 

Dani gave a little smile.

"Did you just ask me out skater boy?"

He gave a little shrug, eyes crinkling in a smile. 

"I really do need to get somewhere though," he said, an edge of worry creeping into his voice. "Could you please just-"

She pushed the switch, shooting him back into the ghost zone.

"What? Didn't catch that last part!" she laughed, stumping back upstairs. She almost felt bad. Hopefully he didn't actually have to go somewhere. But with all the ghost zone leakage, he was sure to get out soon enough.

And then they'd see what happened.