Hey hey people!
OMG! I'm uber excited today! Guess why?
MY BRACES ARE COMING OFF!
These damn things have been in my mouth for three years to the day!
I can't wait!
But then the doctor said I need a permanent retainer which stays in until my 20s or something... Boo...
So enough about me. Oh, just a heads up about this chapter. For those who don't like Mac and Starr, there's quite a lot of them in this chapter. I'm sorry!
Disclaimer: Do I look like Butch Hartman to you? (Not with these braces LOL)
Mac's blue-gray body shimmered in the moonlight as he flew over town toward the park. His mind drifted to Starr. If what she said was true, then Danny could be in danger. Devon could be a ghost or someone working for the government who's after Danny Phantom. Maybe the Guys in White are acting up again.
When the first couple trees came into view, Mac started to descend. He ducked below the branches and wound his way through the undergrowth. A beautiful waterfall came into view. It brought back great memories.
"Catch me if you can!" shouted Starr. She zipped across the meadow of the park, Mac in hot pursuit.
It was just a lazy day where the ghosts decided to take a break from terrorizing the town. Danny and Sam were hanging out at the park and they brought along their pets. Mac, being the annoying dog he is, started a game of Tag with them all. He had tagged Starr, who tagged him back and flew away.
Starr launched herself away from her pursuer. The twigs tore at her fur, but she kept moving.
"I can smell you!" called Mac from behind. He was following her scent, and unless she wanted to be tagged again, she would have to find a source of water to throw him off.
Using her nose she changed course and bolted to the right. Fast, running water echoed around her. A waterfall must be close. She couldn't measure how far away the water actually was and slipped on the wet rocks while trying to come to a stop. The momentum of her run was too much and she crashed straight threw the waterfall and into a cave behind it.
She sat dazed for a few seconds. Then she sat up and looked around. The sunlight glared off the water and lit up the cavern so beautifully it took Starr's breath away. Little crystals embedded into the wall sparkled and made it look like the night sky. She wondered how great it would look at night.
Mac pushed his way through the water. "Thought you could hide from me, huh?" He laughed and came closer. When she didn't move as he poked her, making her "it", he glanced around. "Wow," he breathed.
"I know, right?" Starr said. She moved and faced the dog. "What other waterfall do you know that has a hidden cave behind it?"
He laughed again. "None."
The rushing water came into view and Mac slowed down fully to a stop and landed carefully among the slippery rocks. He looked around for Starr. She wasn't here.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed past the waterfall and into the cave behind. Starr was curled up in the farthest corner. She lifted her head at the sight of him. "You're here."
"Of course," he said. "Anything that puts Danny in danger is by business. Now what about Devon?" He settled down next to her and watched as the crystals reflected small bits of light on her fur.
"I overheard him talking to someone, saying that he couldn't find Phantom, but had an idea about who he could be. He knows he's a halfa." Starr's amethyst eyes were full of worry.
Mac pushed his nose into her fur. "What else did he say?"
"Nothing after that. Sam came out." She explained the whole story to him, Devon getting close to Sam, him asking questions about ghosts and Phantom.
"So it seems like he has a knack for ghosts," Mac said when she was done. He pulled back his head. "Danny was pissed when he came home. He didn't like the idea of Devon going over Sam's house to study. He said he wants to be there to protect her."
Starr sighed. "Devon is ruining our plans!" she said. "How are we supposed to continue with 'Operation: Get Danny and Sam Together' now?"
"Well Danny is showing more signs of loving Sam," said Mac. And it was true. Danny had been in love with Sam since freshman year, though he never knew. Ever since then, Starr and Mac had decided to create a plan to bring them closer. Tucker, being in on it too, had been making bets, knowing full well that this plan would succeed.
"I'm not so sure about Sam anymore. Devon keeps trying to get close to her and it may be affecting her."
"So then keep an eye on her." Mac got to his paws and shook himself. "We may have to follow them to school tomorrow."
Starr nodded. "Sam's going to Danny's on Saturday," she stated.
"Depending on how tomorrow goes, that may or may not happen," Mac said.
The next day, Sam was at her locker getting her books for her next class. A shadow passed over her and she turned around. Devon was standing there.
"Hey, thanks for yesterday," he said. "I'd never have passed that test if it weren't for you." He held up a piece of paper with the giant red A on it.
"Good job," Sam said. She still felt shaky about when Devon had asked her about Danny. What would he want with Danny Phantom?
They didn't get to say anymore before Danny walked up behind Sam and put an arm around her waist, pulling her away from Devon. Danny cornered her. "What happened yesterday?"
Sam, surprised from the sudden gesture, shook her head to clear it. "Nothing. We just studied and talked."
"About what?"
"Nothing. Just about homework."
"Are you sure? He didn't do anything?"
"Danny, relax. Everything was fine."
"Don't lie to me."
"How could you even think that? Why would I lie to you?" Then realization dawned on her. "Danny Fenton, are you jealous?" Sam said in astonishment.
"What? I am not jealous!" Danny exploded.
"Then why do you keep asking me all these questions?" Sam asked.
"I… I just don't want you to get hurt." His baby blue eyes stared deep into her amethyst ones. She could see the worry clouding those deep ocean pools that she loved so much. But she started to see red in her anger. How could Danny not trust her?
"I won't get hurt! Why do you not like Devon?"
"I never said that."
"But the way you keep pulling me away from him…"
Danny's voice got really low. "I just don't trust him," he growled.
"Well I do. But I don't know if I can trust you anymore, Danny. Goodbye." Sam pushed past him and ran to Devon, who snuck and arm around her shoulders and led her away. But not before glancing back over his shoulder to give Danny an evil glare.
"Great!" Mac shouted. He and Starr were currently floating outside of the windows to Casper High, keeping a close eye on Danny, Sam, and Devon. They had just witnessed the fight between Danny and Sam. "This totally ruins our plans!" he threw his paws in the air in desperation.
"I know. Why would Sam all of a sudden trust Devon and not Danny?" asked Starr.
"Who cares! All we know is that Danny and Sam are fighting and Devon is sticking his ass where it doesn't belong. This wasn't supposed to happen." Mac floated back down the ground. Starr followed him. "I can't believe this is happening. I mean, we finally get them close, then BAM! This random dude pops up outta nowhere and ruins everything."
"He had to come from somewhere, right?" Starr asked.
"You mean like from his mother's womb?" Mac asked sarcastically.
Starr sighed. "No. I think we should start our search with where he came from. That could give us a huge clue to why he's now here."
Mac shrugged. "Sure why not? Let's come back after hours, okay?"
"Of course," Starr said and they touched tails, their own secret handshake.
"So then she got all pissed and ran away to Devon," Danny said. He had just gotten finished telling Tucker the whole story at lunch.
"Wow. You got it rough, dude," he said, slapping his friend on the back.
"Thanks for the self-esteem boost," Danny huffed.
"Well maybe you should have just left her alone. Maybe Devon isn't such a bad guy."
"You don't get it, Tuck," Danny said. "There's something about him that seems wrong. I can't tell what it is, but I know it's something."
"A ghost?"
"Don't think so. My ghost sense never went off."
"An alien? One of those underground mole-people?"
Danny sighed and shook his head. He continued to eat his lunch in silence, staring around the room. He was looking for Sam who decided not to show up.
She's probably with Devon, Danny thought bitterly. He glanced down for just a second when an angelic sound rang in his ears. His head shot up to see Sam, sitting down at another table. Behind her was Devon. He was making her laugh, again.
In all his rage, Danny's eyes went green and he broke his plastic fork.
"Dude," Tucker warned.
Danny jutted his chin toward Sam and Devon, who had chosen a table behind Tucker. The African American turned around slightly and saw them. He turned back and whistled.
"Wow, she must be really mad at you if she's not even sitting with us," he commented.
Danny couldn't help but sit and stare at the raven-haired girl sitting only a few tables away. Now, with a threat to their relationship, he felt like pulling her close and never letting go. He wanted nothing more than to hold her and protect her and make her his. Lately, he had discovered that his "little high school crush" wasn't just a crush, but full-blown love. Yes, Danny Fenton had fallen in love with Samantha Manson, his best friend. How stupid could he be? She was never going to see him the way he sees her. Especially with Devon in the way.
Tucker waved a hand in Danny's face. "Yo, Danny, you alright? You kinda spaced out for a while. The bell already rang."
Danny looked around and sure enough, students were getting up and throwing out their half-eaten lunches, due to rushing to finish their homework.
Danny looked down and saw his own uneaten lunch. He tossed it in the trash and grabbed his bag. Slinging it over his shoulder and giving Sam and Devon one last sad look, he headed out of the cafeteria to his next class.
I really like this one! It makes me all .
*Ahem* Anyway.
Braces come off. ELA Summer Project DONE. And chapter 3 is up.
My day is complete.
Crystalbearer out.
