Kate's P.O.V.

We're three fourths of the way through the school year at Casper High. My sophomore year has gone pretty well for a newcomer.

When the time came at the beginning of the year, I immediately tried out for cheerleading. I had always been in gymnastics since I was little and figured I'd give cheerleading a try. Plus, my parents always envisioned me following after my older sister. That day at try-outs, I was told that I made the squad. I guess you could say I made it into the popular group.

Being the newcomer was definitely new to me. It was the first time I had ever moved out of the school district I had begun school in. This was all new territory. I didn't realize how shy I was until I came here. Basically, the only friends I have are the populars just because I haven't attempted befriending anyone else.

There is one thing about Casper High, though, that my other school didn't have. I bet you're thinking I'm going to say cute guys, but no. Well, yes, but that's not what I was talking about. It seems that everywhere you look, there's always something you weren't expecting or an adventure. Not one day is ever the same. Some days may have their extremes and others, their lows. You never know what's coming. You just have to take what comes and keep on going.

Anyway, lunch came around and I grabbed my food before sitting down with the rest of the group. They were talking about something when I got situated and two words were caught in my mind: 'three losers'. Those 'three losers' are Sam Manson, Danny Fenton, and Tucker Foley. They're an odd group of friends, but seem really close to each other. Really, they don't seem much like losers. Heck, I don't even know them, so who am I to judge?

"Kate? Yoohoo?" Paulina snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Sorry."

"Now that you're here, I can tell you about what we have planned."

"And what is it that you have planned?" I asked, a little uninterested.

"Humiliating Fenturd," Dash responded, smiling.

"You're going to ask him out on a date sometime this week and just stick with him for awhile. Then, you dump him in front of the whole school!" Nearly spitting out the water in my mouth, I suddenly became interested in the subject. Paulina sounded so cheerful when she was saying that, is she considering Danny's feelings at all? Oh, who am I kidding? I should know she isn't. Although, this is a new low for her.

"Don't you think that's a bit harsh?"

"Nope! And you better go through with it or I can get you kicked off the squad." I can't believe she's resulting to blackmail to get what she wants! Wait, yes I can. That's besides the point. I don't wanna leave the squad, I finally feel like I can live up to my parents' expectations of me compared to my sister... and if I was dropped off the squad, I'm sure my mom would have my head.

"Fine," I grumbled.

See, I don't have a problem going out with Danny- I actually have a bit of a crush on him- it's just the part about dumping him in public that I don't like. I'm not the mean type of person that enjoys watching everyone else suffer.

"So when are you going to ask him?" Star leaned over and inquired.

"I don't know." I shrugged. Honestly, I have no clue what to even say to him. When I get home, I'll probably go nuts until I do know what I'm gonna say.

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. It's a good thing I had a big breakfast, because I didn't even get a third of my food eaten. How could I eat when I kept having questions thrown at me?

Exiting the cafeteria, I made my way to the end of the hall before turning left and walking about nine more feet to my art class. This was the class I loved the most. I was free to do what I do most often: doodle, sketch, paint, and more.

Our assignment for the week is to take a snapshot of an event occurring around you and, based on the photo, draw or paint the scene.

I actually got a good picture of Danny Phantom, Amity Park's protector from ghost attacks, fighting off an octopus-like ghost. I decided to paint it, figuring it would be easier to get the color shades right with paint. But for today, making the outlines in pencil was my plan.

Using my time wisely, I got a majority of the more difficult outlining finished. Since it was only Tuesday, I thought I'd done pretty good so far. There's still plenty of time to finish the assignment.

The rest of the day went by slowly. Partially, I think it was slow due to the fact I was still thinking about what I'm going to say to Danny. I know I can't tell him about Paulina blackmailing me. She'd eventually find out and get me kicked off the squad.

If only I was back at my old school. All of my friends that I had made back in kindergarten were there and I was comfortable in that kind of environment. I wasn't shy then. It also doesn't help that I have a crush on Danny. I remember the day my crush on him first started to blossom like it was just an hour ago.

~FLASHBACK~

The first day of school... has officially become a nightmare. A new school, new people, it's all new.

I walked up the few steps to the front doors and stopped. Taking a deep breath, I entered Casper High. I've never been so nervous in my entire life. I feel as if I'm going to pass out.

No one's noticed me since I came through the doors, thankfully. All I did was keep looking and walking forward through the hall with what little confidence I had left in me. Every so often, I would give a small smile to someone, only for it to fade seconds later.

Now in front of my assigned locker, I twisted the lock a few times in order to open it. Digging through my red backpack, I pulled out some magnetic picture frames and pictures of my friends and I before I moved. I placed them in my locker and smiled yearningly.

Closing my locker, I took yet another deep sigh, then turned around and tried to find my first class. While I was looking back and forth between both sides of the hallway, reading the room numbers, I saw groups of friends talking with each other before class began. Some groups were small, others quite large.

One of the boys with pitch black hair from a group of three saw me looking around and softly smiled at me while still listening to his friends. I shot him a friendly smile before looking away.

~END OF FLASHBACK~

That memory has stayed with me ever since. My crush on Danny has only grown little by little and he's still just as cute as he was earlier in the school year.

Arriving home, I shouted out that I was home and hustled up the wooden stairs to my bedroom. I threw my backpack down on the floor, against the foot of my bed and plopped into the chair at my desk. Well, I better get to thinking.

Three hours later, the paper I was trying to fill up with ideas only had one sentence on it. Kill me.

How was it? Don't be afraid to comment!

If any of you are Rushers, did you catch onto the Halfway There reference in the fourth paragraph?