Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom, no matter how much I wished I did…
Warning! This is my first DP fanfiction. I'm also not a native speaker and so my language might not be as good as I wished it to be. Any advice is welcomed with open arms. ^ ^°
By the way this will most likely be DannyxPaulina later on. I don't like Paulina and I know a lot of you feel the same and won't like his paring but give me a chance, I will try to make it reasonable.
So have much fun reading. ^^
Paulina sighed and scrutinised her nails. They were painted in a soft pink which had just the slightest metallic touch to it. She had found that specific colour last weekend when she had made a shopping trip with Star and now thought it suited her quite well. It wasn't such a terribly bright colour like the other ones she had at home and she found herself contemplating about whether she should or shouldn't buy a few more lighter coloured ones.
They where actually quite pretty and gave a more grown up impression.
Maybe Phantom would like them. Then again, he would most likely never notice.
She sighed at that thought and turned back to the actual matter at hand. Ugh, how she hated tests - especially in maths. She hadn't really studied and the questions were ridiculous difficult. And aside from that, what use could it possible have for her to be able to solve a bunch of mathematical problems?
After scowling at her mostly blanc answer sheet, she glanced at the clock watching one of its hand move a few millimetres every second. She soon found herself tapping her pencil lightly at the table in the same tact.
54 seconds to go until lunch.
She let her gaze wander through the classroom. A few students where frantically trying to write down at least one more answer before the bell would announce the end of the lesson, others just stared in space and some –namely the geeks- were simply proofreading their papers for what seemed to be the tenth time. She just wondered if she should make one of them do some extra homework for her so that she could later give it to her teacher for extra credit as compensation for the screwed up test, as the bell finally rung.
Everybody hastily packed their things, gave in their worksheets and exited the room, happy to finally get something to eat and possibly a little bit of rest before the next period would begin. Quickly doing the same Paulina was soon on her way to the cafeteria where the other A-Lister where surely already waiting for her.
As she strode through the hallways she was well aware of all the second glances or open stares she got and even if she didn't show it, she relished in them. Being the most popular girl in school was definitely something too be proud of in her opinion. It wasn't enough to simply be pretty and rich, one also had to have the social skills required. That also included the ability to behave and present yourself in such a superior manner, that it doesn't leave room for discussion about your social status, and being able to tell with whom association would have benefits and with whom not.
Luckily Paulina Sanchez had all that - She was gorgeous, well-off in the money department and knew how to act and whom to befriend.
All in all her life was pretty darn perfect. Or would be at least, if it wasn't for two mayor issues - namely her grades and her lack of a boyfriend. The first was something that was constantly giving her headaches, especially since her parents didn't approve of her C - Average and seeing that her senior year was slowly nearing its end, they had started bugging her about it.
The second problem was a little more delicate and she preferred not having to think about it.
"Paulina! Oh gosh! You wouldn't believe what happened!" a voice suddenly called out just as she entered the lunchroom.
Star, a girl with bright, blond hair and blue eyes, was at her side in a matter of seconds, accompanying her on her way to the tables which were occupied by the `popular kids´. Obviously the blond had been waiting for her at the entrance and it seemed like she was just about to burst if she couldn't relieve herself of the newest gossip which she had most likely heard in the halls.
"Tell me." was all the encouragement the girl needed to start rambling.
Normally Paulina tuned the girl out. It wasn't that she didn't like gossip, - hell she loved it! - , it was just that everything that didn't concern her directly wasn't truly worth her full attention. Other people's problems tended to be rather boring and it was rare that something outrageous enough happened to keep her interested. "…and then he said he couldn't go to the party with you!"
This last sentence got Star the Hispanics full attention.
"What?!" she shrieked.
To say Danny was annoyed would be an understatement. He guessed he should most likely be used to Tuckers constant banter with the chess-dude by now, but it sill got on his nerves. Ever since Sam left they had been sitting at the table of the chess- and math-club-geeks.
Two years ago, shortly before the end of their firs high-school year, Sam had told them the bad news. The goth's parents had finally had enough after she came back from a ghost hunting trip at 3 am. They got all the more irritated when their daughter refused to tell them where she had been. Fearing that she might have gotten in the wrong circles, they decided to put an end to their worries by sending her off to some boarding school for wealthy children.
Sam had thought that the term `Holding facility for arrogant, spoiled, rich, little bastards´, was more accurate. To be simple: She wasn't happy about her parent's decision.
Danny and Tucker had been devastated at first, trying everything they could to help their friend persuade her parents into letting her stay. Needless to say their attempts had been futile. And even worse, they couldn't even visit her, since the Mansons had obviously thought it would be best to send their daughter away s far as possible from the bad influence of Amity Park and her two best friends.
England. Not even with the Spectre Speeder they would be able to travel that far. And so Sam was gone, there was no way of visiting her and the only communication they had was when she managed to sneak into an internet-café and write them a mail. Every few months so to speak.
Turning back to the problem at hand, Danny's left eye twitched. After Sam had gone Tucker had made friends with the captain of the chess-club. Seeing how he and Tucker occupied a whole table alone, the techno-geek had decided it would be a great idea to share their table with them.
Too bad that they had picked up a habit which had originally belonged to Sam and Tucker: bickering.
And whereas Danny had been used to such, he wasn't used to one which was completely senseless. The problem with his best friend and the chess-dude was, that they argued over every little thing, no matter how unimportant and no matter if there was a disagreement in the first place or not. Even after having heard it hundreds of times the youngest Fenton was still mesmerized by the sheer stupidity of the whole orderal.
"No duh, Star's hair has the beauty and brilliance of the sun!"
"No way! Her hair twinkles like a thousand stars! The sun is ways to bright, she isn't platin-blond!"
"A star's light is way to dim to be compared to her perfect hair!"
"Obviously her parents agree with me though, seeing as how she is named Star!"
"Nonsense! Do you truly think…."
Danny groaned. Right, the reason why they had become friends in the first place - they shared an obsession, namely Star, and where obviously death bound on driving him insane with it. Seriously, who the heck cared if her hair twinkled like stars, or shined like the sun?!
For a moment he wondered if he should remind them, that those two things where the same anyway.
Then again, he was tired and didn't really have the nerve to get involved at the moment, so he kept that bit of information to himself. They would notice it anyway. Eventually.
The black haired teenager put his head on his folded arms, rearranged his hood and closed his eyes. He had had a long night out ghost fighting, and was more than just a little groggy. If he could get a good portion of sleep now, maybe he could manage to stay awake in his next class after lunch, English with Lancer. He really had had enough detention already. Just as he slowly drifted off to sleep, he heard a high-pitched, furious "What?!" echo through the room, startling him completely awake again.
`Great now I'm not even allowed to sleep in my free time anymore. Not that that is new, thought…´
Paulina seethed, she couldn't believe this! ´How can that moron refuse to go out with me, just because his girlfriend got a little bitchy over it?!`
She was sitting at her usual place between Star and Dash. Glaring at her diet-soda she contemplated her options. Now that Star's stupid cousin wouldn't accompany her anymore, she needed to find a replacement. `Simpler said then done, though.´
Ever since Paulina discovered that going out with only one guy put her into situations she would rather evade, she had created her own `dating system´. For certain occasions she would choose a certain guy. Of course those dates never went as far as kissing or similar. She wouldn't want to count as `cheap´ now, would she?
She preferred the word courting anyway.
Her system had been flawless. If she wanted to go swimming she would take a jockey with her, since those had the right upper bodies to show off. If she was going to the cinema it would be with someone who knew how to act like a gentleman and opened her doors, paid her ticket, reserved heir seats in advance, drove her home and so on. Shopping was something she mostly did with the rich guys. Not that her papa wouldn't let her buy whatever she wanted anyway, but why use your own money if you could use others?
But then there had been the party. Her parents where having a garden-party and as always she had chosen someone with a nice face for it. Since all she needed to do was showing off a `good looking´ guy she had thought it would be enough. That was until a few of the guests decided to talk to him.
Seeing that most of the invited people where business partners of her father, the boy hadn't even been able to get a decent conversation going. He too had been part of the A-List, but this sadly disqualified him in the knowledge apartment, meaning he had no idea what others where talking about.
For Paulina it had been really embarrassing and she decided to be more careful in the future.
From here on she hadn't found a single person who she could take to such events, since they more or less demanded more than just good looks or full pockets.
It was custom for the males and females to separate at some point at the party and star talking in groups. She herself never had had any complications with this, she had grown up in that environment after all. But she had to admit, that it might be a little more difficult for the guys.
Her father and his friends normally talked about politics and economy. Sometimes they ended up with topics like sport or cars, though. Finding somebody who could possibly keep up there and wasn't the personification of geek-ness seemed impossible.
Until she met Stars cousin Frederick, that is.
In her opinion he had been perfect for the job. He had been someone, one could call a male version of Jasmine Fenton. Smart, good looking, popular and in college. Paulina had been overjoyed when she found out that his main interest was politic.
Frederick had agreed to accompany her to the next event, which just so happened to be one of the bigger charity galas. He had also made it clear that he only did it as a favour and that it was not a date. Apparently he already had a girlfriend and she wouldn't be all too thrilled about the whole thing anyway.
Too bad that this very girlfriend hadn't been as cooperative and had told him to cancel the whole thing. `Stupid bitch´
"Oh, I'm so sorry for you. What will you do now Paulina?" asked another girl at her table.
Paulina looked up from her drink and put on a confident mask. "It's alright it is not as if I couldn't find someone else to go out with after all." she said sounding as relaxed as possible. "The party is in two weeks, I've got more than enough time." she waved her hand, dismissing he theme.
The disappointment in he other girls eyes was obvious as they started debating other themes. Paulina scoffed. She wasn't stupid, she knew that everyone was hoping for her to slip and fall, even if only once. If she had shown how much this truly bothered her, all that it would have caused was satisfaction for the others and a lot of false pity towards her. In order for someone to rise in the ranks of popularity, another has to sink.
`Luck is when the bad luck hits the others, eh?´, she thought sourly.
Not that anyone could truly rival her, she did run the school. Popular were only those who she wanted to be. That didn't mean she could completely ignore looks, behaviour and money, the three most important points for one of her crowd, but she could sure as hell circumvent them.
The rest of the break continued without any mayor happenings, not even a ghost attacked. After having said their goodbye to her friends, Paulina and Star walked to their next lesson together, since they both had English next. Dash and Kwan didn't go with them since they made a small detour, wanting to stuff someone in a locker before classes started.
As they arrived in their classroom Paulina took her seat next to Star, looking out of the window in thought. She was really worried about the Frederick thing. Having already announced to come with company, it would be humiliating to arrive alone and she really didn't want to be the centre of the other girl's gossip.
`I need to find a replacement. And fast.´
