Chapter Text
Everyone was in denial.
That had to be it, Wes thought, as he peered around his classroom at the thirty or so teenagers and one oblivious, droning middle-aged teacher.
There was no way they didn't see it. That puff of air, more than a puff really, a CLOUD of blue vapor that emerged from Danny Fenton's mouth, right before he'd made up some lame excuse about needing the nurse and ran off?
Wes's hands gripped the sides of his desk tightly, bracing himself for it. He'd noticed the connection.
And sure enough, the ghost alarm bell went off, signalling all students to evacuate the premises.
He'd observed carefully the pattern (his eyes were like lasers glaring at the back of Danny's head in every class they shared) and had told everyone he knew.
But even when he texted them before the ghost alarm went off, telling them that Danny had left the class and so there was sure to be a ghost attack, they still mocked him. Some even commented on his "suspicious" foreknowledge.
There were more people that believed he was in cahoots with the ghosts than there were that believed Fenton was Phantom. It was maddening. He wished he could go into denial over the whole thing...
He tried to put Fenton out of his mind for the rest of the day. Trying to convince everyone was getting him nowhere, just earning him a lot of funny looks and snickering.
He actually did a pretty good job of it, managing to ignore that one of his classmates was a creepy dead imitation playing at being human.
But when he got home from basketball practice, it was forcibly brought back to his mind.
"Son, your mother and I would like to talk to you about something."
Oh no, he knew what this was about.
He sat down at the dining table across from them, shooting wary looks at his mother's smiling, calm facade and at the concerned look on his father's face.
"I got a call from Jack Fenton this afternoon. Do you know what about?" his father asked.
Wes sighed.
"It's nothing you two need to worry about. He told me the anti-ghost ray he hit me with was totally harmless to human beings."
His father and mother exchanged glances, his father raising a brow. Oh great, that wasn't what they'd wanted to talk about.
"We're more concerned that you were caught in the bushes outside the Fenton home. For the fith time this month." his father said.
Wes gaped at them. "I was investigating a paranormal entity that haunts our school halls." he said slowly.
"Wes honey, it's okay if you like this boy. But you can't stalk him." his mother said, her voice gentle.
"I DON'T LIKE HIM! HE'S AN UNDEAD ABOMINATION!"
"Son, I know these feelings can be hard to deal with—"
"This is not—it's not that!" Wes spluttered.
"We just have to give him time, Charlie." his mother said. "He'll work it out on his own."
"I guess so." Wes's father said, casting a sad gaze on his son.
"We'll still love and support you no matter who you love. Even if that person is another boy. Or a 'ghost'", his mother made quotes in the air with her fingers. "We want you to know that." his mother said.
His father nodded. "But if you like this boy, you need to just ask him out. I don't want to hear about you being caught lurking outside Fentonworks again. A restraining order is no way to start a relationship."
Wes glared at his father.
"I'm not interested in a relationship with that thing—"
His father and mother exchanged pitying glances.
"Ugh!" Wes huffed.
"Just promise us you'll stay away from Fentonworks unless invited, okay sweetie?" his mom asked.
"FINE!" Wes snapped. Anything to shut them up and their ridiculous theories.
He grabbed his backpack from where he'd laid it next to the table, and stormed off to his room. There, he could be safe from his parents' weirdness. Safe to plan...now more than ever he had to prove that Fenton was Phantom. The ecto-entity did nothing but cause havoc in his life, making all his classmates think he was crazy and his parents think he was gay and in denial. Who knew what it would do next?
He started throwing gear into his bag: binoculars, a patented Fenton Ghost Tracker 2001, trail mix because it was going to be a long night.
He just needed to be more careful and not get caught in his observations this time...