Sam slowly pushed open her front door and stuck her head into the house to examine the front hall with her eyes. The house was quiet as always, and it didn't smell like burnt sweets. Her mother must not have been downstairs. Sam squeezed into the house, careful not to open the door to wide and let Vic see inside. Once she was safe inside, Sam poked her head out the door and smiled to Vic who smirked.

"Is it that bad? You don't have bodies lying in the front hall or something do you?"

Sam smiled weakly. "I wish it was that way. I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

Vic nodded and slide down the stair rail. She smiled up at Sam before sauntering across the street an into her house. Sam waited until Vic was gone to pull her head into the house and shut the door.

She unzipped her boots and padded up the stairs in her socks. She wanted so badly for her mother to not be home, but the hopes were dull and died completely when the teen peeked around her parents door frame and she spied her mother standing by the window watching Vic's house.

Sam bit the inside of her cheek to keep from having an angry outburst. Her mother was so nosy, Sam had no doubt that the woman had watched as the two girls had come around the corner and down the street on their way home today.

"Samantha! What are you doing hiding behind the door frame like a criminal?" Her mother plastered a bright smile on her face and Sam cringed at the sound of her full name. When Vic said it, it was just to get a reaction or because what she was saying was important. When Sam's mother said her full name, it was like she chewed on every syllable and sprinkled false cheer down all over it.

Sam stood fully as her mother came forward. She was taller than her mother and took advantage and made her mother tilt her head back to face her fully. "How was school Samantha?" Her mom stressed her name again. "Did you make any new friends?"

"It's the middle of the school year, Ma." Sam pretended not to notice her mother's glare. " Why would I have made new friends in the middle of the year?" The teenage girl started down the hall to her bedroom but she was stopped when her mother grabbed hold of her and began to pull the girl back down the stairs and into the kitchen where she finally released her daughter.

"You can always meet a new face. In fact, we have new neighbors! They've only been here for tow days."

Sam's eyes widened. Had she really met Vic only yesterday? When she recounted all their encounters, the goth was hard-pressed not to laugh out loud. Instead, she sighed audibly and dropped her boots on to the kitchen floor, then threw herself into a chair and kicked her feet up onto the table. With a tone that was clearly exasperated, she asked "What are you getting at, Ma? You know I don't like word games."

Sam's mother turned and, pausing to bat Sam's feet off the table, said "I would like for you to tell me what you know about the new neighbors."

"I know nothing," Sam said quickly. She stood to leave the kitchen but her mother pushed her back into the seat.

"Now Samantha-"

"Seriously Ma, you need to get out more. It's technically illegal to spy on people."

"I am not spying! I am the president of the Neighborhood Watch."

"Which is just old lady speak for ' I have no respect for people's privacy and take joy in shoving my nose in their business with binoculars'."

Sam's bit the inside of her cheek to avoid laughing out loud as her mother struggled to keep her composure.

"That's no way to speak to your mother and young ladies do not lie to their mothers."

"Just so we're clear, what age do ladies lie? Is it after graduation or a longer wait? Is it about the same time binoculars become fashionable?"

"Samantha!"

The two females were only inches from each others faces now, pure rage pouring from the two of them. A spectator would only think that they hate each other and may even wonder why they were left alone together.

Luckily, Sam's father came into the front door at that moment and called merrily into his home. In that instant, Sam's mother seemed to lose interest in their argument and she practically ran to meet her husband at the door. Sam couldn't help but let all her anger out in a gust of wind and a smile crept over her lips as she listened to her parents lovingly greet each other. No matter how much of a monster her mother seemed, her father loved her anyway and it, for some unexplained reason, warmed her heart.

Calm again, Sam gathered her boots and crept past her parents and up the stairs to her room. She paused at the top of the stairs and peeked down at her parents still by the front door. Her mother was blabbing on about something but her father was looking up at her. The two held eye contact for a moment before Sam waved and her father smiled. He winked, signaling he knew that his timing had been perfect and Sam could only laugh as she head to her room.

Locking both her doorknob and the chain lock of her door, Sam clicked on her stereo and turned the volume all the way up in an attempt to drown out her thoughts. However, the last c.d she'd been listening to was the latest Dumpty Humpty album that Danny had loaned to her. At first, Sam could only stand in the middle of her room s Danny's harsh words washed over her.

He'd grow increasingly more hostile since becoming Danny Phantom. Sam had chalked it up to the stress of being a high school student and a super hero tht no one appreciated; but now she wasn't sure what his problem was.

As she always did when trying to sort out her emotions, Sam started to clean. Cleaning was productive and mind numbing enough that she didn't have to pay attention to what she was doing. As she folded laundry and straightened her belongings, Sam pondered what she could have done to make Danny attack her the way he had. She came up with nothing.

Maybe he's just really jealous of Vic. Sam thought as her eyes passed over her bedroom window where Vic's house sat across the street. How can he hate her so much after only two days? Sam didn't understand it, but she didn't understand boys for the most part. So she turned her thoughts to Vic and how she was going to handle their friendship.

Vic was a vampire, a vampire that could cast spells and wanted to be something special to Sam without really knowing who she was. Sam thought it was kind of funny how Vic was clearly used to being the center of attention and yet made a point of befriending the outcasts like herself and Tucker. Sam had no doubt that Vic and Danny could be friends if only the two would stop jumping t each others throats.

Well, Danny did start before Vic got a chance to introduce herself. Sam sighed. Whatever Danny's issue is, I'm not going to be part of it. Sam decided with a determined nod. She kicked the dresser drawer shut with a grunt and folded her arms in front of her chest. I need more female friends anyway. So that's that. Sam ran both hands over her skirt as she chewed her lip. I'm going to hang out with Vic until Danny gets over himself. The goth girl shook her head as she reached into her pocket to grab her phone. She may not be hanging out with the boys, but she could always keep tabs on them through Tucker.