Phantom Phamily

Chapter 6

Dani went on ahead to the cafeteria and ordered some chicken, vegetable soup, salad, and rice while Zack went on ahead and grabbed a sit for them while also taking out his own lunchbox.

"Sorry I'm late Zack" Dani said in a rather joking manner with an innocent smile to boot.

"I didn't wait for long, I just got here as well and even if I have to wait for a thousand years I will gladly if it is for you~" Zack said some classic lines in a slightly flirty manner, going along with Dani's little shenanigans like old times which made the two of them giggle.

Dani placed her cafeteria bought lunch on the table and took her seat. She started to eat her lunch when she noticed Zack's lunchbox having the same contents as it did back when she first saw him.

"You really like rice don't you?" Dani asked with a smile as she ate some of her salad gracefully which honestly surprised the trio who are quietly watching behind a pillar.

"It's not like I like it, it just feels weird when you eat something all the time then stop eating it and I can't be dishonest about this, you on the other hand is trying to be healthier now that your back here? Since I seem to remember a certain someone practically eating all of the meat based items in a buffet restaurant back at my country" Zack said slightly poking fun of Dani's insatiable hunger back then.

Zack then remembered the extra hard work that he pulled in order to let Dani stay with them which caused his body to ache everyday at night, he had been taking part time work in order to earn money for Dani so she can stay with them since he doesn't know what other people might do if she met anyone else. Yes Zack's family earns just enough money for all of them in the house if Dani is excluded.

"Hey!! You also ate a lot of sushi and maki to the point that the chef and owner were crying tears of blood!!!" Dani hit Zack's frail spot while having one of her cheeks puffed up which dealt critical damage to the pour guy since he was still healing from the wound the GIW gave him, Danny did a poor job in giving him first aid.

"By the way Zack how is our little sister and brother?" Dani asked curious about the wellbeing of the two little rascals.

"They are doing fine is what I would have said but honestly they are not, ever since you left they became a lot more timid while asking me repeatedly about when you will come back and how you were doing" Zack said with a gentle smile.

"Heh~ so even the great older brother of that town is unable to replace me~" Dani teased Zack while slightly feeling touched about the worry that someone else is harboring to her.

"Of course I can't replace you, that's how important you became to us especially to me" Zack accidentally muttered with a gentle yet pained smile, thinking that he only thought about it.

Dani who was busy with her own thoughts didn't hear him but the trio hiding behind a pillar certainly did.

"..." The trio didn't know what to say and sure Danny wanted to rip Zack to shreds when Dani showed interest to him and his family but now that he kind of heard the whole story or conveniently interpreted it, he now has second thoughts.

"I could feel the emotions placed on that one sentence alone" Tucker said while having a shocked expression.

"I wonder what Jazz would have done if she was here when Zack said that" Sam wondered but immediately came to a conclusion that Jazz would have let Zack and Dani get together or even instigate it for that matter.

Danny continued to be silent which made Tucker get ready to restrain Danny even if it was just for a moment while Sam had a smile plastered on her face and no it is not the scary smile expression.

"I will allow him to get close as a friend but anything more than that is not allowed" Danny said firmly then he saw Dani teasing Zack as she pointed her spoon to Zack only for its contents to be eaten by Zack which made Dani angry and flustered. Danny had a second thought about his decision when he saw that but he rationalized that the three of them did that quite often.

"Zack, what is your next subject?" Dani asked Zack who is enjoying his creamy mushroom soup.

"Let me check" Zack replied then took a piece of paper out of his jacket.

"It's Science or more specifically biology" Zack answered plainly without any hint of emotion.

"Three" Dani started counting down.

"Two" Dani continued.

"One" Dani continued her countdown.

"Zero" Dani finished and snapped her fingers.

"YESSSS!!! I was right to go here at this time!!!" Zack shouted with joy while pumping his fists in the air.

"Zack! stop that! it's embarrassing!!" Dani desperately tried to stop Zack seemingly embarrassed but her smile told otherwise.

Sam decided to stop hiding and went beside her daughter.

"Is this seat occupied?" Sam asked with a smile which was quite weird in Zack's opinion since she dresses up as a Goth but is smiling warmly like a mother or a kind big sister type.

"Of course" Dani and Zack said with a smile so Sam sat beside Dani.

"Can I take this seat?" Tucker asked Zack while Zack nodded with a smile but is still slightly confused on the inside since he had never heard of a goth and a geek eating on the same table.

'I guess reality really is different from fiction' Zack thought with a small smile.

"Ellie is this seat occupied?" Danny asked Dani who is slightly tense due to the stern fatherly aura that Danny is giving off.

The five sat there and ate their lunches together however the tense atmosphere is so dense that Zack swore that he might be able to touch it.

'This is so awkward... and why do I feel like I am introducing my boyfriend to my parents for the first time?!' Dani complained inside her head.

'Why do I feel like I am facing the family of the girl I am trying to hit on?' Zack started to wonder what is happening right now as cold sweat trickled down his spine.