1"Thank you, Mr. Webster, for that lovely rendition of 'Sound of Music' on your tuba." Mr. Lancer's monotone voice rang out throughout the gymnasium, do nothing to startle the students residing in the seats. For today, was Casper's annual talent show, which was being held in the most hated parted in the school (to the un-athletic kids of coarse,) since due to recent ghost attacks, the auditorium was closed for further repair. Sun was poring through the windows, warming the students to a comfortable level. Everyone went willing, not really caring about what they did. Except for one individual.
"Why are we sitting through this piece of garbage, Danny? We could be out, catching a ghost who might be taking over the world by sucking up all the technology as a ransom or making it illegal to eat meat except for in the North Pole."
A young African-American boy, wearing a red beret and glasses over green eyes. Another young man with jet-black hair and shining blue eyes, narrowed his gaze at his red-hatted friend, in disapproval.
"Oh, come on, Tucker! Quit complaining! The reason we are here, is because Sam wants us to be. That's more important than some ghost." Much to all Casper High student's surprise, Goth loser, Sam Manson actually signed up for the talent show. No one, not even Danny or Tucker knew what talent she was to attempt. Danny's eyebrows rose as Tucker grinned at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was support your fellow lovebird day." Danny blushed at Tucker as his eyes widened at the accusation. Not that he didn't want it to be true.
"Shut up, Tuck! She's our friend, we should support her." Non-the less, Danny was still blushing at the implement that he was here for something more than just friendly support.
"Oh, come on, Danny! You and I both know that you love Sam. Dude, you even admitted it to me after the Ember thing, so quit fooling yourself, man. Just tell her, Danny. It's not like she's going to kill you." Danny's blush deepened as Tucker spoke, his eyes shifting from side to side in a nervous manner, making shushing movements at him.
It was true. Danny Fenton, secretly known as resident ghost hero, Danny Phantom and Casper High loser, was in love with his best friend and resident Goth princess, Sam Manson. To the average person, Danny only treated her like a good friend, nothing more, nothing less. They just saw an average guy who was hoping to be excepted by the other members of the opposite sex, such as Paulina or Valerie. But to the people that were close to him, such as Tucker or Jazz, his sister, they could see Danny's true devotion and love was only to Sam, and Sam alone. He was just afraid to show her, not wanting to ruin a perfect friendship by creeping her out with wanting to love her and be her only one. Totally. Utterly. Hopelessly. Clueless. Danny sighed, blush still heavy on his cheeks, as he looked at Tucker pitifully.
"Quit kidding around Tucker. She probably doesn't feel that way. All I need to do is watch and be supportive like any friend should be. That's all that I can do." Danny put his head in his hands, eyes looking in the ground in sadness. Even though Tucker was irritated by Danny's cowardice, he felt his gaze soften as he looked at his down trodden friend.
'What a sad web we weave, when those that love can't reveal what they feel to the other out of fear of losing a friendship to want to gain a relationship.' Tucker sighed a heavy sigh as he turned his attention to the center of the gym. Soon a large arm looped around his neck and from the corner of his eye, so was Danny. Both boys were yanked up into uncomfortable head-locks by fellow jocks/bullies, Kwan and Dash, both grinning at the two struggling boys. Dash laughed at Danny's feeble attempts to free himself.
"Why so glum, loser? Missing your creepy girlfriend?" Danny's face redden again, his mouth forming a scowl.
"She's not my girlfriend! And she's not creepy, she just happens to be an cool individual with her own viewpoints, where as you are nothing but a jerk with shallow values." Dash glared at the snarling boy.
"Oh, so know you think your tough stuff now? Calling me shallow? That's where you're wrong, geek." He let go of Danny's neck, only to pull him up by the front of his white shirt, facing him.
"I happen to be better and stronger than you and your loser friends, so you don't have the privilege to diss me, Fen-toad." He smirked, hoping to intimidate the skinny boy. Only to be shocked to see Danny glaring at him hatefully, fists clenched.
"I think the only privilege you deserve is to have your ugly face beaten in, just like the other people you wail on all day." Danny began to struggle more, hoping to loosen Dash's hold. Kwan, along with Tucker, still in a headlock, stopped to watch the display with interest. Dash growled.
"Shut up, Fenton! You don't have the right to talk to me that way." Danny smirked darkly, as he continued to struggle.
"Oh, and you do? Oh forgive me, all-mighty moron for my obvious attempts to show what a frickin' idiot you are." Dash clenched his fists tighter on Danny's shirt.
"You know what, Fenton? I think a little beating is required for your attitude. And you know what? I think I'll let your stupid, ugly little girlfriend join the party, (Danny's eyes shrunk). I'm sure she'd enjoy that. What, with her freaky ways, she might find it fun." Dash's smirk grew, as Danny's shrunken blue optics narrowed in obvious rage, teeth barred in a menacing manner.
Danny's shaking hands snatched both of Dash's fist that were still clasped to his shirt, and squeezed. Hard. Dash's eyes widened as he felt his hands being crushed in Danny's grasp. Danny pried Dash's hands from his shirt, bending the fingers in a near breaking position. Dash did everything in his power to not whimper. Danny spoke again, this time his voice came out cold and menacing.
"YOU listen to me, Dash Baxter. If you ever insult or come near me or my friends again, I will break off every one of your fingers and feed them to rabid dogs, do you understand me?" Dash's head shook violently.
" And one more thing. Sam happens to be the most beautiful and most intelligent person I've ever known. If you dare as say one bad thing to her or threaten her or even touch her wrong, I will hunt you down and make sure you won't be able to reproduce any offspring. EVER. Do you understand?" Dash shook his head violently again.
"Good. Now leave me and my friend alone." Finally he let go of Dash's hands, re-seating himself in his seat. Dash glowered at the back of Danny's head, absently blowing on his sore fingers. Kwan and Tucker stared at Danny in shock. Kwan slowly released his hold on Tucker, while Tucker sat down next to Danny. Danny's gaze was out watching Paulina, who was attempting to show off her talent of cheerleading. But he wasn't really focused on the act. He was more likely looking at the floor, eye's now glowing a bright green. Tucker eye's grew concerned as he reached out and touched Danny's shoulder, shaking him slightly. Danny closed his eyes. He reopened them, revealing bright blue eyes. He turned back to Tucker, eyes questioning, as Tucker smiled at him, mischievously.
"What?" Tucker chuckled.
" So I was right about you loving Sam, wasn't I?" Danny eye's widened as his entire head turned and interesting shade of maroon Tucker had ever seen. Danny stood in his seat, eye's wild, shaking in embarrassed rage, fists clenched, sputtering unintelligibly. Tucker gave an all-knowing smirk.
" What was that, Danny? 'Oh, Tucker, how did you know that I'm in love with Sam, I thought it wasn't so obvious since I have shrine of everything involved with her in my closet that you found in your last visit to my house. What a relief that you could help get the confidence to tell her that I capital L-O-V-E her, with your amazing lady skills.'"
Danny's eyes began to glow green as his entire body glowed red. If you looked closer, you could see a little steam rise from his ears. Finally, he spoke. Very loud and very clearly.
"TUCKER, SHUT UP!" Danny glared down at the now-laughing Techno geek.
"AHEM!" Danny's gaze swung around to see Mr. Lancer in the center of the gym floor, microphone in hand. Mr. Lancer's face held irritation, but also some amusement at seeing young Fenton so red. Even though he worried about the young man's well-being at the moment, the look on face, along with the bright color of his skin was peculiarly entertaining.
"Mr. Fenton, I would please ask you to put your conversation on pause, for I have to introduce the next talent. Or would you prefer to share a talent, preferably your tendency to interrupt my lectures with your antics?" The gym was enveloped with snickers and giggles, as Danny smiled uncomfortable, face still bright red, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.
From behind Danny's form, Dash was laughing heartily at Fenton, who still stood in front of Dash in embarrassed shock, until his tiny brain got an idea. 'Oh you got it coming to you, Fenton.' He readied himself for action. Mr. Lancer continued his introduction of the next talent.
"For this next talent, we have a new star of singing theatrics for you. Our next performer will be..."
Dash then shoved the still standing Danny down the bleachers. Danny yelled out as he fell, smacking into sitting students, finally hitting the center of the gym floor in flourish, face first. Mr. Lancer glanced down at Danny. Then he continued finishing his introduction.
"...Miss. Sam Manson." Danny's head snapped up, blinking wide eyes as Mr. Lancer walked off to the side, leaving Danny lying on the floor.
Tucker stood up from his seat slightly, blinking repeatively, still taking in both Danny's fall and Lancer's introduction.
"Wait. Did he say 'singing theatrics?' Sam's going to sing!" His eye's widen as he saw Danny stand, eyes still big, his mouth a straight line, look right at Tuck, his expression saying, 'What the hell!' Silence was ringing out throughout the gym. Until everything in the gym went black. Screams and shouts rang out from the students. Then, suddenly a bright, white light shined down onto the center of the gym. Right where Danny Fenton stood, eyes scanning around the gym nervously. He heard whispers surround him as he stood. Eyes of all shapes and sizes were watching him. Danny gulped loudly, the sound echoing across the gym.
From the darkened bleachers, Tucker's green eyes looked at Danny, worrying about what might happen. He heard nervous laughter ring behind him. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see Dash and Kwan cower in their seats in fear. He smirked. 'Serves right.' Suddenly, he felt a hands on his shoulders. He squeaked turning to see a four pairs of eyes. One pair aqua-blue, the other emerald green.
"Jazz? Val? Is that you guys?" The aqua-eyes shook up and down.
"Yeah, Tucker. It's us."
"What's up?" The emerald eyes got a little closer, making Tucker's face heat up slightly.
"Do you know what's going on, Tucker? I have to say this is a little weird." Valerie's eyes narrowed slightly, shifting from off from side to side. As if she where expecting an attack.
"I have no idea. I guess Sam was planning something big for this thing, though I'm not sure what."
"You mean Sam didn't tell what she was doing?" Jazz sounded worried.
"Nope. Not a thing. She didn't even tell Danny." Valerie's eyes widened before narrowing down, but not in a angry manner. More like a playful manner.
"Oooo, that girl is so sly! I can't believe it! She's actually taking my advice! And with pinnace too!" Both Tucker and Jazz stared at her.
"Uhhh... What are you talking about Val?" Tucker was confused. As was Jazz.
"And what 'advice' did you give her?" Val was smirking largely, her teeth shining in the bright light's glow.
"Oh, to actually tell Danny how she felt in a big way. I never would of thought she would tell by performance." Jazz and Tucker's eyes widened. But not out of shock, but out of awe and gratefulness.
"You... actually got Sam to admit she loves Danny?" Val's smirk grew.
"All bow before me, for I have done the impossible." Tucker was about to question her when a noise rang out throughout the gym.
From the center of the gym, Danny stood there frozen in fear. He didn't understand what was going on.
'Okay, so I'm sitting in the bleachers, now I'm in the middle of a dark gym, with a bright headlight shining on me, as if I'm about to be interrogated. What is wrong with this picture?' Suddenly a noise caught his attention. He turned around quickly, in fighting stance, his face uneasy. Soon the speakers on the ceiling began to produce chilling music, one that brought shivers down his spine. But not in a bad way, more like a shiver of when someone you love touches your face. He looked down to see a mist crawl over his red sneakers.
'Ooookkay, this just screams darkness, but nothing ghost-like. More like...Sam.' He heard gasps and shrieks from behind, causing him to turn and discover something...unusual. A giant light figure, a amethyst raven, with red eyes that peered down at him and only him. His eyes were transfixed. The glowing bird soon disaparated into wisping clouds. By then, the chilling music rang throughout the floor. Danny began to slowly back away, turning to walk back to the bleachers. Piercing eyes with black cat-like slits stared back at him.
"AHHH!" He jumped back in shock, falling on his rear, staring at the glowing eyes. The eyes narrowed, but not with hate, but with wanton adoration. He gulped heavily, his breath coming out in pants. Soon, the eyes came closer to the light, revealing a darkly caped form, it's eyes still staring at him. The hood of the cape was pulled back a bit to reveal a pair of lips, two fangs hung down across the bottom lip. The lips formed a seductive smile.
"Hello, my love."
Whoooooooohohohooooooooo! I already love this fic. I hope you enjoy it to.