Drowning In Power (Book 2 of Danny Phantom Trilogy)

Summer Shopping Gone Awry

Maddie would always love her son-both of her children-without hesitation. All the love that she felt often led to concern over what they were doing in private. When Danny had been going through that horrible rebellious phase at fourteen, Maddie had been terrified that he was heading-more like running-down the wrong path and she couldn't stop him, let alone pull him back. She'd lost a lot of sleep at night worrying about her son and how much time he was spending with friends over family. She would never admit it to Jack, but she'd actually searched his room in a moment of weakness. But she hadn't been able to find anything! There was nothing to signal to the world that Danny was struggling. No drugs (thank God). No (God forbid) condoms. Although, she was debating if that meant something worse altogether. She hadn't even found a collection of adult magazines under his bed. She'd been at least expecting those. Instead, she had found one of her lipstick ecto-rays. That had brought out a whole other level of concern.

But, that was all worry for fourteen and fifteen-year-old Danny. Sixteen and seventeen-year-old Danny had been an abrupt change of pace. Danny had brought his grades up. Maddie was sure that he at least had a B in most classes. He'd stopped missing curfew. They'd actually gotten to regularly eat dinner together as a family. And Danny just looked healthier. He'd always been on the thinner side and exhausted. But Maddie could see that Danny was taking on a leaner frame that filled out his clothes better than his fourteen-year-old self could. She'd already taken him shopping for new clothes a few months ago. There was something about this Danny that gave Maddie a sense of hope for her son as well as guilt that she hadn't been the cause of his 180 degree change in lifestyle.

"See you later, mom. I'm gonna go pick up Kagome before we head to the arcade," Danny said as he placed his empty cereal bowl in the dishwasher. To his credit, he even kissed her cheek before quickly dashing towards the exit.

"Danny?" Maddie called out behind him. Danny froze in the doorway mid-step before looking back at her in question. "Just you and Kagome are going out today?"

"No. Tucker and Sam are meeting us there. Why?" Danny replied.

Once upon a time, Maddie had been sure that Danny's relationship with Sam had been more than platonic. It just made sense with how much time the two spent together along with the interest they had shown in each other. But, now? Maddie was more concerned about Danny's relationship with Kagome. Kagome was a nice girl- smart, kind, and very polite. Maddie had no issues with the two dating. Though Danny had never admit it and probably never would. (He could get so embarrassed.) But, Maddie could see it as plain as day how much her son cared about that petite, Japanese girl.

"Oh. Well, enjoy your date, sweetheart," Maddie replied while pouring herself a cup of coffee. She smiled as she took a sip from the steaming mug.

"It-It's not a date, mom. We're just hanging out. Sam and Tucker will be there!" Danny objected. Maddie could see the tenseness in his posture and the way a blush was creeping up to his cheeks and out to his ears. He couldn't even look directly at her!

"I didn't say, "date". I said, "day", sweetheart. I know that you and Kagome are just friends," Maddie lied to save face.

"Good... Because we are..."

What did that sound like? Nervousness? Anxiety? It almost sounded a little sad. Or maybe it was disappointment? Maddie laughed into her hand. Now she knew where Jazz got her interest in psychology and examining others from.

"Don't laugh, mom!" Danny exclaimed in a tone that reeked of embarrassment. "I gotta go," he rushed before dashing out of the kitchen. Seconds later, Maddie heard the front door shut.

"Did Danny just leave? I wanted to show him something down in the lab," Maddie heard Jack say.

Turning around, Maddie spotted her husband towering in the doorway. She smiled softly at him. "He left to pick up Kagome. They're going to the arcade with Sam and Tucker," Maddie informed.