Hey, yes another chapter. But unlike other chapters you probably begin to figure out what's going on...I was pushing the rating in the dream sequence, but I don't feel like I have gone over it. Enjoy.
Some day I just keep pretending
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom
That you'll stay dreaming of a diffrent ending
I wanna hold on but it hurts so bad
And I can't keep something that I never had
Sam was glad that she was going out shopping. Not like she liked what they were shopping for, but it was a chance to get away from Danny. She had avoided him all week. Jazz and Val had had escorted her to the mall and other small shops in search of bride's maids dresses. A thought occurred to her.
"Shouldn't the bride be with us?"
"She is really busy." Jazz told her.
"Is she sure she wants me to pick the colors?" Val and Jazz exchanged looks.
"Of course."
"But she never met me."
"She trusts you."
"How is it that I haven't seen her, but everyone else has?"
"You have bad timing." Val pointed out before pulling her into a little French dress shop.
"Hello. How may I help you?"
"I'm looking for a purple bride's maid dress." She had settled on purple and silver as the colors. Silver was Danny's color. She figure that whoever she is had to except the fact that he was Danny Phantom sooner of later.
"What about this one?" Jazz asked. The dress itself was a lilac color with a laced V neck that draped to the floor.
"It's beautiful, but I wouldn't want to overshadow the bride. I mean it is her day."
"Trust me, you could never overshadow her." That confirmed it. The bride was beautiful, whey else would they say that. Sam looked from her dress to the corner that Jazz and Val had huddled into. Their dresses weren't as elegant. She started to wonder what was truly going on. Both Jazz and Val were hiding something from her. Whatever it was she didn't like it one bit.
"I don't like lying to her."
"And you think I do?" Jazz hissed. This is all Danny's fault for not opening up to Sam in the first place. If only he wasn't so stubborn then we wouldn't be in this position right now. Val looked back at Sam who was currently staring at her dress.
"Do you think she knows?" She asked fearfully.
"Sam is smart." Jazz pointed out.
"But I don't think she fully understands what's happening here, and as far as I know Danny wants to keep it that way till the time is right."
Danny sat down in his comfortable chair in his study before hearing a knock on his door.
"Come in." he called out. The door opened and shut quickly. Tucker didn't know why he was acting like this; maybe it was the part of him that really wanted to tell Sam what was going on.
"How is the plan going?"
"I don't think she suspects a thing."
"What did you mean don't think. How could she possibly find out?" Danny's eyes fell to his desk.
"Danny, don't tell me…you"-
"I sort of lost control."
"Is that why Sam has been avoiding you?"
"She's been avoiding me on purpose?"
"What do you think?" Tucker said sarcastically.
"You have to be careful, if you're not she'll see right through your plan."
Five Days before the Wedding.
Sam grabbed the white sheets as she tossed and turned in bed. In her dream she saw Danny standing at the alter with his bride. This was the second time she had this dream since she was here. The first time the dream was different. The last dream there was pink everywhere which was a nightmare in itself. She saw herself once again sunning towards Danny.
"Don't do this."
"What are you doing?" Danny hissed like he had done before.
"Danny, you can't marry her."
"Why not, I love her."
"You can't because, I love you." She couldn't believe she would say that. The bride turned around at her confession. The bride had changed. Instead of being Paulina like last time, it was Valerie in the dress. The image suddenly disappeared. At least it was Val instead of Paulina. She was in a dark room, what happened to the wedding, and why was she in a wedding dress?
"I love you Sammy." A husky voice whispered in her ear. It made a shiver go down her spine. She recognized the voice, but she couldn't believe it.
"Danny?" She asked the darkness.
"Yes, Sammy." She felt her wedding gown slip to her feet.
"I don't understand." She felt him place a kiss on her collar bone.
"What is there to understand?" He answered wrapping his arms around her almost nude body.
Danny watched Sam toss and turn. His heart wrenched upon it. If only he knew what her nightmare was about. She was avoiding him; all he wanted to do was make everything right again
"Danny, don't." He heard her scream out. She was dreaming about him? As he watched her twist in pain he wished he knew why.
"Why?" She whispered. Perhaps his dark side was infesting her dreams. If that was the case, he would kill him. He was about to leave for the ghost zone when he saw Sam's mood suddenly change.
"Danny." She called out. He floated over her.
"Yes Sammy."
"I don't understand." Escaped her lips.
"I'm here Sammy, I'm here." He pushed one hair strand out of her face which was risky. If she woke up and saw him, she would never trust him again.
"Sam, I need to go."
"No stay." She pleaded in her sleep. A couple of groans and moans escaped her lips, and Danny couldn't take it anymore. He bent down and kissed her forehead then turned invisible in fear that she might wake up.
"It's better this way. I can't control myself around you." He floated to the door.
"Goodnight Sammy." Her name just rolled off his tongue. It was the way it was meant to be. Sam snuggled into her pillow now relaxed.
"I love you Danny." Danny's mouth fell slightly agape then went back into a smile. He flew through the ceiling and back into his bed. Whether she had meant love you like a friend or not it made him feel warm inside. A happy feeling he hadn't felt in so long. He knew her feelings for him. She had confessed it to him without knowing; now it was only fair for him to keep his plan in action.
Jazz walked down the garden path waiting for the sun to rise further up into the sky. She felt a ghostly presence surrounding her.
"Do you always have to be nosy this early in the morning Danny?" Danny appeared next to her.
"Do you always have to be right?" He shot back with a grin.
"So what wakes you up before the sun, if I remember correctly you love to sleep in."
"I couldn't sleep." He confessed bowing his head.
"Sam troubles?" Jazz asked already knowing the answer. She thought she heard him mumble something that sounded like I hate it when you're right under his breath.
"I heard Sam shouting."
"Was anything wrong?"
"She was having nightmares about me." The older sister fell quiet.
"But then…" He debated whether to tell her about all the moans that Sam had made.
"Then she said that she loved me." Jazz's eyes lit up.
"What are you going to do?"
"What can I do? She was sleeping."
"So, she didn't, and you- when are you going to tell her?"
"Soon." He promised.
"Danny, I think she is figuring it out." Danny cursed under his breath.
"Don't worry I have a plan."
"Danny, be careful."
"What is there to worry about?" He flew off leaving her behind.
"I'm afraid you'll break her heart in the process."
Tucker was surprised to hear a knock on his door.
"Who is it?"
"Sam. Can we talk?" Tucker yelled back.
"Sure." The door opened and shut quickly.
"Tucker, I don't think I can stay here…" Tucker jumped off his bed.
"What did he do Sam?"
"Why does it always have to do with Danny?"
"Because you like him." A smirk was spread across his lips.
"I do not like him like that." She hissed.
"You of all people should know that." She chided.
"Or know when you're lying." She wanted to lash out against him. Here she was trying to be serious while he was off cracking jokes about her feelings.
"He kissed me." She said quietly.
"He did what?!" A wide spread of panic danced across his face, this was not good; not good at all. Danny wasn't supposed to make his move, not yet.
"Did you like it?"
"I shouldn't have."-
"But you did." Tucker finished for her.
"I don't want anymore awkwardness between Danny. It's only a couple of days till the wedding. Danny wouldn't miss little old me."
"You can't just leave."
"Do you know how hard this is, waiting for Danny to get married to another girl who he has not introduced to me or anything?! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't go."
"Sam, I can't- Just stay. The wedding is soon."
"I don't think I can do that. All these old feelings are resurfacing." She started to leave, Tucker started to get desperate.
"This is important to Danny; doesn't that mean anything to you?" Sam stopped in her tracts. That was low. Her arms closed in across her font, her hands gripping her shoulders.
"I would rather have Danny mad at me for not coming to his wedding than for something awkward to happen and ruin my friendship with him forever."
"Sam, please reconsider."
"Tuck, I've done thinking about this. I've already made up my mind. I'm going home." Tucker saw that it was no use, so he did nothing as he watched her leave.
"The only thing I have left to do is go tell Danny…" She closed the door, and Tucker let out a sigh. He had tried his best.
"For both your sakes Sam, I hope that he convinces you to stay." He whispered under his breath. They were this close, and Sam might go off and ruin everything they had set up without realizing it. He desperately hoped that Danny had something to get him out of the hole he had dug for himself.
Sam didn't know how she managed to gather enough courage to face Danny that afternoon, but as soon as she reached the greenhouses she felt all of it flee her. She found him among the flowers, but mainly the lilac trees. Sam didn't even speak, but was in awe of the plants.
"You're here." His eyes met hers.
"I thought you were avoiding me." Why did he make her sound like the bad guy when he said it, but when she thought it sounded logical?
"Danny." She had a feeling that leaving would be harder than she thought.
"I can't stay Danny." His back was turned which made it easier. She didn't feel trapped by his blue eyes.
"I know."
"H-How." She stuttered.
"Tucker." Danny simply said. Sam's face drained of color.
"What else did he tell you?" Tucker knew better than to go around babbling her personal life around, especially to Danny. But then again, if Tucker wanted something bad enough he would do anything for it.
"Not much. Just that you wanted to leave. Was it something I did?" She couldn't tell him the truth, so she quickly made up a lie.
"No, it's just that I'm homesick…"
"Stop lying to me Sam." Sam suddenly found Danny turning around facing her.
"What's the real reason you want to go?" He invaded her personal space by his closeness. Sam tried to talk, but only found herself stuttering.
"Because I-I feel like things are becoming awkward between us." She had lost all skill to talk straight because of his closeness. Danny didn't seem to mind.
"Why do you say that?" Sam opened her mouth to say anything, but nothing came out. She thanked God when the door suddenly burst open. Danny jerked back as if he was almost afraid of her.
"Danny sweetie!" Maddie yelled.
"We're here for the wedding."
"Where's the lucky bride." Danny stood completely still. He saw Sam hold back a laugh. He didn't expect that they would show up yet. Things would be so much harder from now on.
Yes, another chapter completed. So what did you think? I thought Danny was a little ooc in the last section, but other than that I liked it. I don't know when I'll update. I will put spoilers in my profile on Sunday, or maybe tomorrow...it all depends. So review please.