Dannies, Death, and Dates

Chapter 15

"I think we got off on the wrong foot," Gage mumbled through his nasty burger. Dani nodded emphatically, her mouth too full to respond. 

"I mean-" he began, giving an enormous swallow, "things were fine on the lift. But then the whole leg breaking thing kind of ruined the day."

"Yeah... coming to my window in the dead of night was also not a stellar follow up," Dani elaborated. 

"And then the whole thermos thing-" Gage continued.

"The haunting mix up,"

"The interrogations,"

"Man!" Dani laughed. "You sure know how to show a girl a good time."

Gage snorted, then choked on his mouthful of burger. Heads turned at the wheezing cough fest that followed. Dani blushed as she handed over napkins, trying to avoid eye contact with the starers. Gage finally managed to get a full breath of air to wheeze,

"Let's get outta here."

They raced each other to the roof of Casper High, Gage zipping through solid objects on his skateboard, Dani soaring overhead. The familiar school drew nearer, and they both arrived on the roof at the same time. 

"It's nice to see your ghost form when you're not trying to shove me into that tin can," Gage said, staring at her admiringly. "That suit looks good," 

He flushed, and looked away. 

Dani laughed at his discomfort, through secretly glowed with pride at the compliment. They went to the roof edge and sat with their legs dangling into thin air. 

"So..." Gage said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "About last time... I never said thanks. I wasn't as honest as I should have been about why I was here."

Dani shrugged.

"Trust me. As far as guys go you're one of the more honest."

And for some reason, a secret was welling up inside of her. Something she didn't like, and didn't like to talk about. But it was swelling, screaming, fighting to get out. She looked away from Gage and mumbled,

"And if you want to keep hanging out with me then there's probably something you should know."

She waited. Maybe she was just being presumptuous and Gage was just saying hi. He leaned into her line of vision and said,

"Of course I want to keep hanging out! You're like the coolest girl I've ever met."

Dani took a deep breath. 

"You know my brother Danny?"

Gage nodded.

"He's not... Well he's not actually my brother." 

His face collapsed into confusion. Dani felt herself talking, the words spilling out in a rush. 

"Well there was this guy a few years back. He's like Danny, a half ghost, and always wanted a son. And so he kept trying to clone him and failing. And then one of them finally worked, but it still wasn't enough. I still wasn't enough!" 

Dani felt unwanted tears welling in her eyes. 

"I tried everything. I did everything he ever asked. But he only wanted a perfect Danny. Not a half stable Dani. He would have killed me if it hadn't been for Danny and his friends. I... I'm not normal Gage. I've only been alive for four years, and sometimes it still feels like I don't belong in this world. Maybe I don't."

She out her face in her hands and took a long gasping breath. Why was she telling him this? Why drive away the only guy who showed any interest? Was he even still here? Why couldn't she keep it together like she-

An hand slid around her shoulders. Gage's arms surrounded her in a calming hug. He was making soft, comforting sounds like to a wounded animal. 

Dani let the tears flow and leaned into his arms. She felt so vulnerable. So exposed. But the arms around her shoulders were keeping her together. Those were arms that thought she belonged in this world. 

And that meant more than she could ever express.