Hey everyone! Thanks for reviewing! I hope the characters aren't too out of character, but if you have any suggestions or constructive criticism, please let me know.

Sorry updating has been really random. Schoolwork's tough junior year and right now I'm in the middle of exams. Wish me luck on US History tomorrow!

Here's chapter 3. I'm dedicating this chapter to Tello whose review has been the most enthusiastic and encouraging (thanks!). This chapter's super angsty and finally answers your questions of why Valerie has snapped. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I totally wish I owned Danny Phantom, but if I did, I wouldn't have canceled the show. Obviously, but sadly, he's not mine and he never will be.

Previously:

"You can't hide in this classroom forever, Danny," Valerie's sharp voice sounded too close to Danny for comfort. He scrambled out from beneath the desk where he had been hiding and made a break for the door.

He didn't even make it halfway there before slammed into a chalkboard by a blast from Valerie's ectogun. The board broke upon impact and the tiny shards fell down upon Danny's bruised head. He couldn't move beneath the pile of rubble and he was forced to watch helplessly as Valerie stalked over to his trapped form with a victorious smile plastered across her face…

"Although I am certain that you are exaggerating, I probably should assist young Daniel if I should expect him to ever trust me. Very well, I suppose the board members can wait a few minutes while I clear up this matter quickly. Good day." With that sharp and obviously disgruntled comment, Vlad promptly snapped his phone shut.

One Call

A Danny Phantom Fic

Danny felt a gloved hand plow through the rubble of the destroyed chalkboard and close around his throat. Valerie yanked him out from beneath the dust and debris. Before he knew it, he was pressed up against the wall by his throat. Valerie's death grip was preventing him from getting much air, so he started struggling fruitlessly. Danny was sure he would suffocate when Valerie's death grip suddenly loosened. She was searching for something, but when she couldn't find it on her belt, she turned her frantic eyes upon Danny.

Valerie began mumbling to herself and glanced quickly around the room. "I can't find it… got to be here somewhere…get it later…make him pay…finally my turn," was some of the jumbled mess that Danny could make out amidst her rambling. After her quick scan of the now-destroyed classroom, Valerie turned to look at Danny again and he finally got a good look at her wild expression. Her normally smooth hair was a mess, with dark scraggly pieces sticking out of her sloppy bun in every direction. Her lips were dry and chapped; she kept licking them either in pleasure at her accomplishment or in a harmless attempt to keep them moist. Scratches littered her previously flawless skin and moist and slimy nose was running, causing her to sniffle constantly. Most disturbing were her eyes. Her peaceful teal orbs had been overrun by a tornado of fierce green. The frantic, blood-shot eyes barely blinked and were open so wide Danny thought they might come out. Overall, Valerie looked crazy.

Valerie pulled her face closer to Danny's. He tried to shrink away from her terrifying gaze, but her grip on his neck prevented his escape. He could feel her breathing; it was short and shallow. Her heart was pumping audibly—a sure sign of her nervousness and excitement. Finally, with her nose almost touching his, she broke the tense silence, "You're disgusted. I can tell, Phantom. You're disgusted by me and what I've become, but you have no right to be. You're the one that did this to me! You did! It was all your fault! You know, I was starting to forget about it. About you and your stupid dog that lost my dad his job. We were doing fine; the apartment was small, but bearable. But yesterday, that all changed. My dad lost his job…again. We have no money, and soon we won't even have a place to live. I was wallowing in my miserable self-pity when I remembered whose fault this was originally. I know whose fault it was. Do you Phantom?" Valerie inquired accusingly.

Danny trembled beneath her grasp, but didn't reply. He was too shocked by her sudden change in circumstances. Before, he had convinced himself that none of Valerie's troubles were caused by him, and that she was only mad because he was present when her life was destroyed. But now, he wasn't so sure. He may not have caused it directly, but if it weren't for him, none of this would have happened. Danny couldn't even admit it yet, but he finally recognized that Valerie's suffering was partially his fault.

"Do you, Phantom?" Valerie said more forcefully this time. Danny shook his head, unable to admit it.

"Yes you do!" Valerie almost shrieked. "It was you! How can you deny it! There's no doubt about it; it was you who did this to me!" she spit in his face.

Danny looked away, hiding his shame, leaving her fuming in front of him. Miraculously, after a few seconds, Valerie calmed herself. She took a deep breath, and let it out ever-so-slowly. When she was composed again, she continued, "Anyway, I shouldn't be too mad at you right now."

Danny's head shot up and he stared at shocked. He half-hoped that she had chosen to forgive him, even though he knew that Valerie's situation had gone miles into the realm of the unforgivable. He knew it couldn't be true, but he still hoped because of her seemingly sincere statement.

Valerie chuckled darkly at his surprise and naïve hope. "I shouldn't be too mad at you now, because you deserve everything that's coming to you later. I will make you pay in ways you couldn't even imagine in your darkest nightmares. And at the end, you will be truly sorry for everything that you've done…that is of course, if you're still living."

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Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me:

1. what I could do to make characters more believable

2. where I should go with this story (I hate to admit it, but I've just been blindly writing - help me!)

3. any random suggestion, comments, etc.