The dark figure was none other than Skulker.
"Soon, ghost child, soon." He said under his breath malevolently as he lowered his binoculars for a minute.
The next day at school, Danny walked the halls with Tucker.
"So…" Tucker prompted.
"So…what?" Danny inquired confused.
"So…How was last night?" Tucker finished.
"It was…nice." Danny answered sheepishly.
"How long have you guys been together for?" Tuck asked. He obviously lost count, not that Danny expected him to remember.
This question caught the attention of a figure residing behind a wall. The ex-most-popular-girl-in-school listened to the conversation intently.
"A month starting Friday." Danny replied proudly.
"Happy almost one month anniversary." Tucker congratulated.
"Thanks. Actually, I had an idea for our anniversary."
"What?"
"I'm going to get her this as an anniversary gift." Danny told Tucker as he pulled out a picture. It was an amethyst stone mounted on black. It had a metal piece at the top, it looked like it could attach onto a necklace or something.
"Woah. That's awesome, but it looks expensive." Tucker stated amazed.
"Well, it kinda is." Danny replied. "But I'll find a way."
Behind the wall, a plan was forming in the mind of the hiding girl. So...he needs money. I could give him that and then he'd have to repay me. The seed was planted.
Tucker then walked away. Danny turned a corner in the halls, lost in thought, and was met with a certain Latina girl.
"Hi Danny." Paulina greeted smoothly.
"Hi." Danny greeted dully. He wanted to escape from her. She would just not leave him alone.
"I overheard you and I think that it's really sweet what you're doing for Sam." She lied.
"Really?" Danny asked surprised.
"Yeah. I think I know a way to help you out with your problem too." The first step was being carried through.
"What does it involve for you?" Danny asked crossly. He folded his arms. He knew Paulina. She wouldn't help unless there was something in it for her.
"Why do you think that I'm such a bad person?" She asked, slightly shocked at this comment.
Danny wasn't giving in. He knew there must be something in it for her. Then, Danny, still knowing that she was not good news, realized how much he was willing to do to get that gift for Sam.
"Fine. What is it?" He asked irritated.
Paulina smirked.
"I could give you the money." She said.
"If…" Danny prompted.
"If…" she continued. "You take me flying."
Danny sighed. It was the only way that he'd be able to get the money fast enough.
"Okay." He replied, giving in. "But just quickly."
Paulina smiled. She got her way.
Danny transformed after checking that no one, especially Sam, was around. He didn't want to cause a scene.
He hastily grabbed Paulina's arm. Then he phased them out of the building. In a few moments, they were up in the air.
"This is…nice." Paulina said calmly.
Danny showed no reaction. The same look of determination and annoyance held onto his face as when they started. They flew over the land surrounding them below. The school building was close by. A single unnoticed figure stood outside of it. Unfortunately, the unnoticed figure was Sam.