The End Of The NeverEnding (Book #1)
Chapter 1 *The Beginning of the End*
"No, Danny. That's absolutely stupid!" Sam denied, crossing her arms defiantly and closing her eyes.
Danny spread his hands out pleadingly and said, "Oh, come on! At least it's not as stupid as Tucker's idea! You've gotta admit, that was pretty bad."
"Hey! Was not! Selling your parent's old, junky ghost lab stuff was a great idea!" Tucker chimed in, also folding his arms indignantly.
"Yes, it is a bad idea. First of all, my parents would murder me if I sold all of their ghost hunting equipment. Second of all, remember the last garage sale we had? Yeah, that ended well," Danny reminded.
Tucker tapped his chin in concentration. "Oh, yeah. With the whole Technus and destruction and stuff? Yup, now I remember."
"Off the subject of Tucker and his idiocy, you're suggestion isn't much better. For the tenth time, no," Sam said firmly.
"But your parents are rich! Surely they could just lend us a little bit of money. Please?" Danny raised his eyebrows in frustration.
Sam shook her head, sharing his frustration. "My parents don't even like you in the first place, so what do you think they'll say when you ask for money?"
"That's why you'll be asking. We really need the money! If Danny can't get enough money to fix the Assault Vehicle, then he can't bring us on the trip with him and his family!" Tucker begged annoyingly. Sam glared daggers at him.
"Oh, that's real fair. Make the girl do the work. Whatever! I'll ask, but you both owe me. And I've got a few ideas." She smiled knowingly and clasped her hands together, as if planning an evil scheme.
Danny and Tucker took a step back apprehensively.
"Uh, ye-ah," they said in unison, already dreading what Sam had in mind. The bell cut through their conversation with a shrill ringing that reverberated throughout the nearly empty hallway, signaling the start of their weekend freedom. Sam spun on her heel.
"See ya later! I'm not promising anything about the money," she called over her shoulder.
"Meet at Danny's in an hour!" Tucker hollered back to her.
Danny gave him a confused look.
"Why do we have to meet at my house?" he asked. Tucker began walking down the hall with his hands in his pockets and Danny almost thought he hadn't heard him.
But he finally answered when he caught up with him.
"So I can figure out how much your Spectre-Deflector sells for."
"Haha, very funny. You're not selling any of our stuff, so drop it. Besides, what's the real reason you want to meet at my house?" Danny implored, getting impatient with Tucker's evasiveness.
Tucker looked uncomfortable, fidgety even. Hesitantly, he muttered, "Because I heard the new girl was stopping by your house for tutoring, and I wanted to see if I had a chance with her." Tucker avoided looking at Danny, staring at the walls, floor, trashcans, anything.
Danny managed to stifle a laugh, if barely. He played it off as an awkward cough. "The new girl? Really? Tuck, I know you're desperate, but hitting on the new girl on her very first day is going to be seen as pathetic."
Tucker stared at him blankly. "Ouch. That hurt."
Danny shrugged his shoulders dismissively. "Sorry, dude. We both know it's true. That's why I'm waiting till next week. Jazz tutors her three times a week."
Tucker shook his head as if he couldn't figure out which one of them was right. "Fine. But when I'm hangin' with her tomorrow, you'll see I was right!" Danny just rolled his eyes in annoyance. Without warning, his ghost-sense went off, but he didn't seem to notice as he turned to the sound of his name.
"Hey, Danny!" a female voice called. They turned to the general direction of the voice and found a 14-year-old girl quickly walking towards them, her reddish, brown curls bouncing. When she met them, she pushed a stray lock behind her ear shyly. Her eyes were a deep lilac and her curly hair was a dark brown with natural red tints and hung loosely around her shoulders. Her outfit consisted of a plain white tank top, carmine ruffle skirt, and black high-heel boots that came up to her knees. She was the same height as Danny. Danny forgot all about the supposed ghost wherever it was.
"Hi, I'm Violet. Violet Prickston. I was told to walk home with you for tutoring. You're Danny Fenton, right?" Violet asked sweetly in a smooth voice.
"Yeah, so you're the new girl? Nice to meet you, Violet. This is my best friend, Tucker Foley."
"Nice to meet you," Tucker said in a low voice, trying to win her over, but to no avail. She seemed to have her heart set on someone else.
"Um, hi. Well, I better hurry if I don't want to upset you're sister. Jasmine, is it?" Violet asked innocently, her lavender eyes looking straight into Danny's electric blue ones.
"Y-yes. You're right, we better go," he stuttered, at a loss for words for a moment. Without a word Violet slid her hand into Danny's, a completely oblivious smile on her burnt-red-lipstick lips. Danny glanced back at Tucker for a half-second but was tugged along by Violet. Tucker didn't even try to hide his disappointment as he tagged along after them.
As they walked down the sidewalk to Fenton Works, they noticed a few details about Violet. She was outspoken but polite, very graceful compared to both Danny and Tucker combined, and was obviously taking a special liking to Danny. But only Tucker seemed to notice these things, because as with everyone who was close with Danny, they all knew he was clueless. He was smart, nevertheless, but clueless.
"So I heard your parents fight ghosts for a living. Is it true?" Violet asked quietly, twirling a lock of hair unconsciously around her index finger.
Answering one of the hundreds of questions Violet had already asked, Danny said, "Yes, but don't listen to the rumors you hear about them, they're actually pretty good." But as he told her this, an explosion came from Fenton Works and shook the ground. A series of shouts could be heard coming from Jazz as she scolded Jack and Maddie Fenton for blowing up the kitchen counter.
Danny face palmed. "Most of the time," he mumbled.
"Huh?" Violet said.
"They're good, most of the time," Danny confirmed. Violet nodded nervously and Tucker swooped in and used her uneasiness to his advantage.
"It's okay, Violet. I'm used to this kind of thing. Danny's parents are kind of...crazy."
"Are not!" Danny defended.
"Loony," Tucker supplied.
"No."
"Psycho," he suggested.
"No! They're, um...eccentric. Yup, that's the word I'm looking for."
"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night. Anyway, follow me, if you would." Tucker grasped Violet's hand and led her inside. Danny trailed behind silently.
"Oh, hello, sweetie! I see you've brought a friend! Well, don't just stand there, bring her in," Maddie Fenton cheered, her blue suit singed and her goggles lopsided. Jack Fenton poked his head in around the kitchen doorway, his vivid orange jumpsuit now darkened with ash.
"Who's this, Danny?" he asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at Violet with evident distrust. "She's not a ghost, is she? You know how I feel about ghosts." Jack ran into the room and stuck his face into Violet's personal space, examining for any ghost-like abilities or traits.
Jazz sped into the room and pushed her dad back to the kitchen before he could run any tests, apologizing to Violet repeatedly. She came back with a stack of books and a handful of worksheets, balancing it as she hurried to get Violet away from her delusional family. She quickly took notice of Danny and Violet's linked hands, which had interlinked once again without Danny even realizing it. Violet didn't seem to think she was being clingy at all.
"Oh, I am so sorry! My brother is such a doof sometimes!" Jazz said, stepping between the two. "Maybe you should leave us to work, Danny. We don't need your distractions."
Danny scowled at his overprotective sister but didn't argue. Violet gave him a sympathetic smile and allowed herself to be led away by Jazz. When they were sitting on the couch in the living room and out of earshot, Tucker elbowed Danny in the side.
"What?" he snapped, rubbing his rib angrily.
"She totally likes you, man!" Tucker whispered excitedly. Danny ignored this comment and went to check the damage his parents had caused to the kitchen. When he walked in Maddie grabbed him by the wrist and yanked him down to the lab.
"Ow! Mom, would you mind to explain the hostility? And put that ghost ray down!" Danny yelled as his mom jerked him down the stairs two steps at a time. Jack Fenton was already downstairs, waiting.
"Danny my boy, is that "girl" upstairs," on the word "girl" he made quotations with his fingers, "a ghost? And if so, what are her powers, weaknesses, and dangerousness on a scale from one to 27?"
"Why 27?"
"Because it's an uneven number. And tell me, how powerful are her ghostly abilities? And did she brainwash you? Are you under her control right now? Oh! Are you even Danny? And if so, prove it," Jack Fenton said, questioned, and accused all in one breath. He waited expectantly but impatiently.
"Dad, she's a new girl from school that Jazz is tutoring," Danny said simply. Maddie let go of her son's wrist hastily and an awkward silence befell them.
Jack broke the silence first. "Oh. In that case, you may go and do whatever it is you normally do." Danny sighed wearily and plodded back up the stairs.
"What was that all about? I came into the kitchen and you were gone," Tucker asked when he saw Danny come upstairs.
"Parents. Ghosts. No explanation needed," Danny replied flatly, walking past Tucker and to the door as the doorbell went off. He opened it and Sam rushed in.
"I asked and, can't believe I'm saying this, they said yes! They're going to lend you money!" Sam exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Seriously?" Danny asked in amazement.
"Awesome!" Tucker triumphed, punching his fist in the air.
Jazz walked out of the living room with Violet right on her tail.
"Come back tomorrow and make sure you have all of your books with you, too. Sorry this session was so short. I promise you'll get your full two hours tomorrow. Goodbye!" Jazz dismissed Violet with a final wave and opened the door for her.
Violet gathered her book bag off of the floor and said, "Thank you, and I'll make sure I have the books." Then turning to Danny, she said with her alluring voice, "And I'll see you tomorrow. Walk me here?"
"Uh, sure," Danny said with a smile.
"Great! Bye." And she left with one last glance over her shoulder at Danny. Sam looked after her with disdain and folded her arms crossly once again that day. She hated her already, but didn't know why.
"Who's that?" she asked no one in particular, but seemed to direct the question at Danny.
"That's Violet, from school. She's new," Danny said absently, not thinking much of it. Apparently he hadn't noticed Sam's discernible distaste for Violet. Clueless.
"And she likes Danny," Tucker mocked, drawing out the word "likes" in a teasing way. Danny punched him playfully on the arm.
"Shut up, Tuck." Danny gestured towards his sister, who was trying to eavesdrop. Jazz laughed nervously, realizing they had noticed her, and dashed upstairs.
"Oh, does she? Well, that's great," Sam said with false happiness. The three set off for Danny's room, but as they went up, Tucker smirked at Sam.
Eventually, she got paranoid and snapped at him. "What?"
"You're jealous." It wasn't a question, but a statement.
"Huh, what? Come on, Tuck, if you're going to insult me, at least make it intelligent."
"I'm not insulting you. You're jealous of Violet, aren't you? It's plain as day!" Tucker stage-whispered.
"It is?" Sam sounded nervous, her eyes wide. But she regained her composure quickly. "I mean, really? That would have to involve something to be jealous of."
"And we both know what that is...or should I say; who that is."
Sam stopped short on the step. "What? Tucker, don't be so ridiculous! If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, then you should stop suggesting."
"And what do you think I'm suggesting?"
"That I...," she paused, glancing at Danny's back to make sure he wasn't listening. "That I...you know!"
"Oh, so you don't?" he asked, confusion tainting his words.
"I never said...maybe...no. I don't," she said more confidently, still trying to determine her feelings at the moment, contrary to her words.
"Guys? What're you talking about?" Danny asked, already at the top of the stairs.
"Sam's-"
"Nothing!" Sam interrupted, mentally vowing to kill Tucker later. Danny gave them wary a glance but continued to his room, not waiting for them to catch up. Sam gave Tucker the death glare, but he counteracted with a cocky grin and bounded up the steps. Sam groaned loudly and followed solemnly after.
When they were all finally in the room, Sam spoke up. "Okay, so why are we all here? Was there a reason you wanted us to come, Danny?"
Danny side glanced at Tucker, which caused curiosity to arise in Sam.
"No reason. Unless Tucker would care to say otherwise," Danny confessed, still looking at Tucker keenly.
"Yeah, Tuck. What's up?" Sam taunted.
Tucker pretended to be interested in something on his PDA, then looked up and saw they were both still looking at him. He glanced down at his wrist as if there was a watch there and acted like he was late for an event. "Oh, dear! I'm late for...that thing! Heh, heh...Bye!" And he bolted out of the room.
"Well?" Sam asked.
"He has a crush on Violet," Danny explained immediately, not even looking up from his homework.
Sam was secretly cheering. Now she had something against him. But she pushed the scheme from her mind at the moment. "So, now what?"
But before Danny could even open his mouth, Jazz walked into the room without knocking.
"Danny, may I speak to you?" she said primly, her nose stuck up in the air haughtily.
"Sure?" he said, doubt etched in his voice.
"Excuse us, Sam," Jazz ushered her out. Gently closing the door, Jazz turned back to Danny. "As for you, please stay away from Violet. She needs to focus on her education!"
"What do you mean? I'm not distracting her!"
"She seemed to think you were," Jazz informed sharply, pursing her bright pink lips and placing her hands on her hips.
"Really? Her, or you?" Danny challenged.
Jazz's guard went down. She stuttered, but caught herself. "Fine, I'll admit it. Me. But either way you're to stay away from her! I mean it." And she left in a huff.
Danny stood up to slam the door in Jazz's wake, but noticed Sam was gone. Hanging his head in irritation, Danny slammed the door so his parents knew to leave him alone. He dropped back onto his bed and resumed his homework unwillingly.
***
'Stupid Tucker and his stupid ideas, I most certainly do not like Danny that way! And he doesn't like me that way, that much is obvious," Sam thought irately, slinging her book bag strap over her shoulder as she stomped down the street.
'And stupid Violet and her stupid face," came an afterthought.
Sam kicked the fallen leaves angrily and glanced up at the nearly bare trees. The air was crisp and a slight breeze blew across her cheeks, causing her her ink-black hair to blow in her face. But she'd known it would be chilly out and had brought her obsidian jacket, which she pulled snugly around herself. Autumn was approaching rapidly and in only a week she and Tucker were going on a trip to the woods with Danny's family. Sure, it was going to be exceedingly boring and no doubt unusual, but they had agreed to not leave Danny alone with his crazed parents and snoopy sister for a whole five days. He may live with them, but being cramped in the Fenton RV for that long with those particular people would be enough to put anyone on edge. Danny's family was trying to have a week away from the city, but at the same time they were bringing fully loaded ghost hunting equipment. Ironic. And Sam remembered past camping trips and just how chaotic those had turned out to be.
But just as Sam was thinking of annoying things, Violet appeared out of nowhere with her book bag still around her shoulders, even though it was about half an hour after her lesson with Jazz. She seemed to recognize Sam, because she put her hand up in a small wave. Sam was tempted to just ignore the friendly gesture and keep walking, but she had a few questions of her own.
"Hey, Violet! Can I talk to you for a moment?" Sam asked with artificial kindness.
"Sure! What is it...Cam, right?" Violet asked with uncertainty, tilting her head. Her auburn curls lifted in the soft breeze, intensifying her beauty. Sam all but slapped her upside the head.
"Sam," she replied curtly. But she slathered on the phony charm, forcing herself to stay nice, even if she ended up murdering someone after their conversation.
"I just wanted to ask you a few questions, you know, to get to know you," Sam said with mock cheeriness, but Violet either chose to ignore it or didn't notice.
"Go ahead, ask away!" Violet chirped, her orchid eyes sparkling. Sam almost thought she saw a flash of malice, but couldn't be sure.
"Anyway, I wanted to know, where are you from? Anywhere near?" Sam began, raising her eyebrows with sincere curiosity. Before Violet could answer, Sam walked casually over to a side bench and took a seat. Violet followed in pursuit.
Now seated comfortably and with a reasonable distance between each other, Violet said in her silky voice, "Where I'm from is nowhere near here. And yet very near. It's actually closer than you think, but farther than you can imagine."
Wow. What a cliffhanger. But that didn't deter Sam.
"Okay? Where do you live now?"
"Just on the outskirts of town."
"How many siblings do you have?"
"None."
"Why do you have to be tutored?"
"I could do better in some areas."
"What are you doing here?"
"I have a task to fulfill."
The girl never missed a beat. She had an answer to every question Sam threw at her, but she was vague and secretive about her responses all the same. Sam decided to try and get more personal information. She noticed the faster she interrogated her, the faster Violet answered without thinking.
"Just a few more questions. Did you want to come here?"
"You have no idea."
"Where are you heading now?"
"To speak with someone."
"What are your parent's names?"
"Penny Prickston."
"No father?"
"No. He's long gone. Well, technically, but that's getting complicated." Sam raised her eyebrows questioningly, but Violet didn't continue.
"Why're you hanging with Danny?"
Oh, no. That question had slipped out before she could even process what she had said. Why did she just ASK that out loud? She guessed the faster she asked questions, the less she thought about what she was asking.
Sam stiffened and stood up abruptly, clearing her throat. She had a futile shred of hope that Violet hadn't heard the last one. But of course, she had been very attentive the whole time. Violet stood slowly, a wicked grin spreading across her lips.
"Now that," she said sharply, a hint of amusement in her velvet voice, "is classified. It was great to stop and chat with you, Pam, but I have places to be. And don't worry, I won't tell him." She sauntered away, looking more confident than she had when Sam had first met her.
"Sam. It's Sam," Sam muttered under her breath. Sam wondered who she meant by "him", but was afraid she already knew. After Violet turned the corner Sam cursed herself for her stupidity. How could she have let that particular inside info slip from her mouth? Why couldn't she have been satisfied with the information she'd already gotten? Sam mentally kicked herself, then started for home, a sinking feeling in her stomach that wouldn't cease as she imagined what Violet would do with the fragment of a detail Sam had given her. But then she thought about all the other incidents and predicaments that have or would happen in her life and she figured it wasn't the worst of her worries. But then she thought of Danny and her nervousness fluttered back.
'Dang it! I've got to stop worrying! Why should I care if she likes Danny? I don't, that's why," she scolded herself. But then a new dread nagged at her. Why did she care? She concluded that the strange and alien feeling would pass in a few days, just in time for the trip. Yes, it was just a fleeting moment of insecurity, that's all.
Or so she thought.