Author's Note: enjoy...


In a week, summer was over and school started up again. In a week, Danny would be a Junior at Casper High School and one step closer to graduation. In a week... his sister left for college.

"You're leaving?" He couldn't believe what he'd overheard in the kitchen.

"You knew this day would come, Danny. Don't act all surprised as if this was sudden."

"But...! I thought you were staying here and studying at Amity U!"

"That was before, Danny."

Danny's back went rigid. There is was again, thatpersistent reminder that he was no longer phantom. His parents turned to look at each other, neither understanding the implications of what 'before' exactly meant. Danny, however, felt insulted.

'What, and I don't matter now? I don't matter now that I'm normal again?' he wanted to shout at her, but he bit his tongue. He wasn't going to win this battle, heck, she had already made up her mind. She was leaving him behind.


Danny morosely made his way up the front steps into the building that had become the bane of his existence since entering freshman year. Only this year, he didn't have the support of his two best friends by his side.

The hallways were crowded more than anyone could naturally feel comfortable as students talked excitedly in large groups of people about their summers, or the latest hot topic still in people's heads, the disasteroid incident. Danny growled inwardly as he shouldered his way through a wall of teenagers. A minute later, he was in his first period class, with, to his disgruntlement, was English with Mr. Lancer.

"Midsummer's night dream! Mr. Fenton, you're early!" Somehow, the familiar shocked tone forced a small laugh out of Danny.

"Hey, Mr. Lancer, how was your summer?" the overweight teacher blinked, a smile slowly presenting itself on the aged face.

"It's been good, Mr. Fenton. After the Disasteroid fiasco, I was able to get some extreme discounts for some Shakespeare conventions I've always wanted to see."

Danny nodded, swallowing back the groan he felt at hearing about the disasteroid incident again.

"That's... good," he commented dully.

Honestly, he couldn't understand Mr. Lancer's obsession with Shakesphere. He had a feeling that should they ever meet, Mr. Lancer would get along amazingly well with the ghost writer. He chuckled darkly at the random thought, moving to sit in the seat by the window.

Mr. Lancer seemed to take the hint that Danny wasn't really in a conversation mood and resumed whatever lesson planning he had been working on previous to Danny's arrival. Danny leaned on his elbow, head propped up lazily in his hand as he stared at one of the trees outside. There was hardly anybody outside today, allowing the trees to gain a sort of surreal quality to them as they swayed softly with the wind left and right. The leaves were just starting to change color, it's usual green transforming into a beautiful array of crimson, gold, mauve, and orange.

"Look! It's Tucker Foley!" some girl squealed. Danny sat up straighter, torn away from his drifting thoughts to realize that he wasn't the only student in the classroom anymore.

"Oh my gosh! He's so cute. Do you think he'll go out with me?" asked an overly preppy new girl. She looked like she was on the verge of hyperventilating.

Danny glanced towards the door to see what the commotion was about and finally clued in to Tucker standing in the doorway, now swarmed by fans who were excitedly praising him for his heroics during the disasteroid panic. He watched as Tucker's face carefully lit up as he tried to look neutral to the attention he was receiving. Danny also noted that Tucker had the slightest curve of an arrogant smile on his lips. Said boy maneuvered to a chair next to Star and gave a somewhat suave grin as he offered autographs. His fans crowded in closer. Danny just sighed and shook his head.

He seriously needed a change of scenery.


"An exchange student program?" his mother looked at him critically, trying to judge his true motives, "but honey, your friends are here, do you really want to leave them?"

"Yeah, Danny-Boy! And besides, you don't even speak Japanese!" Jack added loudly, almost shouting, as the orange-clad man searched for the hidden stash of fudge.

Maddie chuckled slightly at her husband's logic.

"Jack, dear, not all exchange programs are with Japan," she smiled affectionately at him.

Danny sighed, "Yeah, plus I found a lot of schools who offer an exchange program right here in the US."

Jack paused, momentarily stopping his search to regard Danny with a confused expression.

"But Danny-boy, what's the point of an exchange student program if your still in the same country?"

Maddie nudged Jack in the ribs.

"What he means, Danny, is that something like this takes a lot of preparation. I've never heard of a domestic exchange student program, but if you're really set on this, you need to figure out which school you're going to, where you'll live, how you will pay for expenses..." she ticked off the points on her fingers.

"Well... I was kinda hoping you'd talk to Principle Ishiyama for me about signing up..."

Maddie raised an eyebrow.

"And what of the other stuff, Danny?"

Danny shifted on his feet uncomfortably.

"I'll get a job?" he asked.

His mother sighed and walked over to him, slinging an arm around his shoulders.

"Come on, let's go figure this out together."


The principle stared blankly at the Fentons.

"I suppose it is possible for your son to be transferred into our exchange student program..." she said uncertainly, "but I've never heard of a student choosing to exchange into another school within the same country before... most teenagers try to get into schools as far away from home as possible, like in Japan or even Norway..."

"But it is possible, right?" asked Maddie.

The woman hesitated before nodding slowly.

"Yes, of course. The only problem is finding a willing volunteer for Daniel to exchange with. We should be able to get back to you with information within a couple days."

Maddie nodded, still considering the options.

"How will this effect Danny academically?"

The principal nodded approvingly at Maddie's question.

"Most students tend to thrive in the exchange student program. New environments coupled with added responsibilities tend to help young teenagers become more social, aware, independent, self- sufficient, and increase their work ethic. Trouble students tend to come back with outstanding improvements in task management and work production." She smiled winningly.

"Will that be all, Mrs. Fenton... Mr. Fenton?"

Maddie nodded, smiling approvingly at Principal Ishiyama's words. Jack grinned goofily as he thumped Danny hard on the back.

"My son's so smart," he said proudly, "My son's a true Fenton!"

Danny smiled softly at his father's strong words on behalf of his decision. His mother and principal both nodded in agreement for different reasons. The secretary in the next room just rolled her eyes.


Two days and a whole lot of watching Tucker's squealing fangirls and some fanguys later...


The telephone rang. Maddie answered the phone.

"This is the Fenton Residence, may I ask who is speaking?" she said professionally. She paused to listen to the person on the other side of the connection.

"Principal Ishiyama? Yes, of course," again, Maddie paused.

Danny wandered into the room just in time to hear Maddie's next words, half exclaimed, half whispered.

"Jump City?!" he heard her say.

And watching her face, he couldn't tell whether she spoke out of excitement or pure worry...


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