Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom or any of the characters. Danny Phantom is the sole property of Butch Hartman, Nickelodeon and Viacom International.
Trapped
Chapter 9: Two Steps Back
Previously
The computer went out.
Both teens stared at it in disbelief.
"What just happened?" Star asked as Danny started clicking on the mouse, but the computer still wouldn't turn on.
"That's... not supposed to happen..." Danny said, pointing out the obvious.
Danny pressed the on button to turn it on.
Nothing happened.
"What happened...Did it crash?" Star asked.
"I don't know...try turning on the other computers." He suggested.
Star did so, walking to the computers and pressing their on buttons.
Nothing happened.
"It's not working, Fenton!..." Star shouted.
Now Danny started to get suspicious.
"Okay, locking the doors I can get... cell phones not working is pretty much a guarantee...the fuse box was unexpected, losing the bobby pins, also unexpected... but now this?" He started scratching his chin.
"What's the problem?..." She asked as Danny suddenly looked around in suspicion.
It made Star nervous to say the least.
"Fenton?...'She asked, and then Danny turned to her, before speaking to her in a low whisper.
"I'm starting to think something... or someone... is messing with us..."Danny said and Star's eyes widened.
Elsewhere
It's been almost an hour since Team Phantom began its search for Danny, having split up to cover more ground.
"Where is he?..."Sam said as she already covered the docks and most of the west side of Amity Park.
She sighed and hoped that Jazz and Tucker had better luck.
The Gothic girl pulled out her cell phone to call Jazz and then add Tucker, making it a three way call.
"Any luck?...'Sam asked.
"He's not at the mall or the park…"Jazz said in disappointed tone on her end.
"He's not at the Nasty Burger or near it…'Tucker said in a frustrated tone of voice.
He's not the only one.
"Let's keep looking…"Sam ordered before explaining more to the other two and then hanging up.
"Just where are you Danny…'Sam muttered as she hopped on her scooter and continued her search for her missing friend.
Back at Casper High
"What's the problem?..." She asked as Danny suddenly looked around in suspicion.
It made Star nervous to say the least.
"Fenton?...'She asked, and then Danny turned to her, before speaking to her in a low whisper.
"I'm starting to think something... or someone... is messing with us..."Danny said and Star's eyes widened.
"What?..."Star said in disbelief.
"Think about it Star…the emergency doors, the lights going off, the windows not opening, the bobby pin going missing…it's like someone is making sure we CAN'T leave the school.."Danny said and Star gulped, starting to believe him.
"W-Who would d-do that?..."Star said, getting really worried right now.
"Who indeed and why?..."Danny said as he tried to think.
He has a long list of enemies, but which one is it and why are they trying to keep him from leaving the school?
Suddenly, the heard the sound of a crash happening from the lower level and Star suddenly paled, as she heard a noise now…making it very clear that Danny's theory was right.
They are not alone in this school tonight…
Suddenly they heard that noise again….that noise is getting closer and closer and Star, who was still reeling from the experience on Specter Island and all of the stress from this evening, suddenly turned to Danny.
"RUN!...'Star shouted as she started running.
"Star!...'Danny shouted as he ran after her to make sure she didn't wind up running into
Regardless of what has happened between them, Star's safety is still his responsibility. He has to make sure she gets some place safe before he could sneak and deal with whoever was foolish enough to try and trap them here.
At the Strong Residence
Johnathan Strong has just returned home, after a long hard day of helping the parents sue Captain Angus and Mr. Lancer.
Bad news, the judge decided to have Lancer go off with a warning and community service, while Captain Angus lost his business, so at least that was something.
No one endangers his child and her friends and gets away with it.
Speaking of which…
"Star, I'm home…I brought some take out….."Johnathan called as he entered his home, but saw that his only daughter wasn't there.
"Star…"He called as he looked around.
"Star…Star…Estelle!...'He suddenly shouted but he couldn't find his daughter anywhere, making it clear that she is not home right now.
He glanced at the clock and frowned. It was close to ten, her curfew and she is still not home. He pulled out his phone and tried calling her, no answer.
He called again…and again and was getting more and more worried each time he called and got no answer.
"Star!..."Johnathan said.
Just where is his daughter and why is she not answering her phone?!
Back at Casper High
Danny and Star kept running, trying to get away from the noise of whatever it is that is keeping them trapped here. Or Star was running away and Danny was making sure she didn't end up getting herself killed.
He has to get her some place safe, then make an excuse to go "check it out", when he really plans on going ghost, deal with whatever creep is keeping them here and then get them out of here.
But first…he has to get Star someplace safe….
"IS IT BEHIND US?!...'Star shouted in a panic.
"Just keep running…'Danny said as they soon turned the corner and made it to another hall, which was a dead end as they made it to a wall.
"Now what do we do?...'Star exclaimed, freaking out.
"I'm thinking…"Danny said as he looked around and then saw a row of lockers and suddenly got an idea.
Two minutes later
Danny and Star now found themselves in a place that he's very used to but it's also something Star never imagined she'd ever be in her life.
A locker…
Danny, out of desperation, managed to open up a locker and made Star go in inside with him and closed the door. Lockers were already uncomfortable enough for one person but it's even worse with the two of it in, making it a very uncomfortable experience, especially for the blonde popular girl.
"It's so cramped!" Star complained, finding any and all movement to be near impossible right now.
"Welcome to the world of everyone not in the A-List." Danny said in an annoyed tone.
That stopped Star's squirming, as she heard this, dropped her annoyed expression and soon looked a bit….guilty…to say the least.
"O-oh…yeah…I... keep forgetting Dash does this…."She thought with a hint of regret.
They remained silent, neither knew how much time has passed until Star spoke up again, making sure to whisper as to not alert whoever it is that is after them.
"How long are we going to be here?..."Star whispered to him.
"I don't know…look, we wait until that thing goes back downstairs or another part of the school..I'll check to make sure…and then we go back to finding an escape…'Danny whispered back to her and Star's eyes widened, before they returned back to normal.
"I guess I can't be too surprised…with how brave he is being…'Star thought, before she squirmed again, and felt a little awkward, due to how close she is to the boy due to the uncomfortably small but necessary hiding place of their.
Danny saw her expression and took pity on her.
"Here…It might be less crowded if you took your backpack off." Danny suggested and Star blinked, before she looked back.
With all that has happened, she actually forgot that she still had that on. She did what he said, managing…with some difficulty to remove it despite the cramped space.
However, something fell out of the backpack and Danny managed to catch it, despite himself…
"Crud!..." She cursed, still remaining low in her voice while Danny eyed curiously the item that fell out.
It's looks like a sketchbook…
He had caught it and it opened, and thanks to the light coming in from the small holes of the locker, he could see what's inside of it. Star looked dismayed that something so personal was now in his hands and he is looking at it.
"Don't…!" She said but Danny didn't listen as he still looked at the sketchbook.
He saw some rather impressive drawings of flowers, dogs and a bit of the island they were trapped on. However, before he could continue, Star grabbed the book from him, closed it and sent him a glare.
"I said don't!..."Star said, upset that he looked at something so personal…and embarrassed and grateful that he didn't see the other things she drew in it...
He can never see those things…No one can….
Danny however, just blinked, before answering her.
"Did-Did you really draw those?" Danny asked, in a pleasantly surprised tone of voice.
"So…what if I did?..."Star said in an annoyed tone of voice.
Danny smiled, despite her attitude.
"That's really cool…'He said, sounding really impressed.
Star was taken back by the sudden compliment, before blushing and turning away from him.
"No, it's not…" Star said as she looked away from him, with a tone of frustration… "My friends tell me it's too dorky!..."
Star has been drawing since she was a little girl, she always loved drawing and sketching, it was a hobby and it helped her relax a lot. She's always gotten A's in art class, which is also her favorite class too. However, since this had nothing to do with money, sports, clothes or celebrities, her friends didn't care for it and Star never sketch in front of them, since they deemed it too dorky for someone of the A-listers.
Another price to pay for popularity….
As Star was in her moment of frustration, Danny looked puzzled by this revelation and then spoke up…
"Who cares what they think?...'Danny asked and Star got mad at that.
"I care…"Star said.
"Why?...'Danny asked.
"Because they are my friends…'Star said and Danny just glared.
"Some friends…" Danny said in distaste and Star got mad.
"Not this again, look Danny…things are different in the A-Listers and-
"It doesn't change the fact that they are jerks…Geez Star, I thought you might have gotten more sense since the island but yours still refusing to accept that they aren't good friends…I mean, come on…friends would tell you something like that aren't cool?..." Danny said.
Star blinked, seeing the same strong look of conviction she saw on the island and Star didn't speak right now.
She couldn't. Danny kept speaking, with that same look in his eyes, which she could still vaguely see, due to the small light in this locker.
"Those eyes…'Star thought, as she felt something she felt, from the last time she saw those eyes when they were on that island together.
"Star, these drawings are beautiful, you have an amazing talent here…." Danny said and Star looked surprised.
"You…really think that?...'Star said in a stunned sounding voice.
'Duh, anyone can see that you have a gift here and there is nothing dorky about it…besides, no real friends would make fun of a hobby that you love and makes you happy… My best friends are either obsessed with technology or into dark depressing music that I only pretend to like to make her happy. If it makes them happy, I won't discourage them and it's not cool that you are letting them discourage you…"Danny said.
Star's expression softened. The only person who knew of her drawing and didn't think it was dorky was Valerie…and now…Danny it seems.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yeah…."Danny said in a sincere tone of voice, before continuing.
"Star, you like drawing don't you?...'Danny asked.
"Yes…I love drawing…ever since I was a kid …"Star admitted.
"Then draw, anytime and anyplace, don't care about what they think…heck, for all we know, they are probably just jealous that you can make something amazing like those drawing and they can't…'Danny said and Star turned away.
Danny couldn't see her expression right now, but she then turned back to him, a look of uncertainty in her eyes.
"If I do that…what do I do about…the A-listers?..."Star asked in an insecure tone of voice and Danny rolled his eyes.
"Who cares about that? Star, in 10 years, do you think your husband or kids or working buddies care if you were popular in high school? Dash doesn't bother trying to have a life after Senior year, Paulina is going to either remain the same shallow doll she is now or get forced to find a job when her parents wise up, while I want to be an astronaut, Sam will probably join some environmental organization and Tucker will probably end up going to MIT like he's always dreamed…" Danny continued.
Star looked surprised by this.
'Star…I might not know you that well…but I can tell that you aren't like the other A-Listers…I saw it on the island…I know that you are more than just a girl with fashion on the brain…" Danny said and Star looked down, not being able to look him in the eyes any more.
Eventually, she answered him and Danny didn't expect her to say this…
"I-I do like drawing... and video games... and reading….I also do some writing and I…like collecting antique dolls too…" She said, looking down…."I really love drawing and I want to do it as a job someday, I want to sketch artist….'Star said, finally telling him the things she wished she told him earlier today, when they did that interview together.
Danny was pleased to hear this…
"See?..." Danny said with a smile. "You don't have to be like them... at all. Star, I don't think anything you said right now is dorky at all…in fact…look, I don't need you to be like me but…I think I like this Star, the one named Estelle, much more than the Star that belongs to the A-listers…'Danny admitted, giving her a true blue smile right now.
Star gasped before a blush to form on her face. Never in all her life has a boy said such things to her. She started feeling something strange that made her smile right now, a smile very akin to how they fought off the monster on the island.
Danny smiled back.
Somehow, this made Star feel like she's seeing this boy the first time.
"Danny…"Star thought, feeling some right now as she kept smiling and looking into his eyes.
She had that feeling back, from the moment before she ended up kissing him on the cheek. Only it wasn't his cheek she was aiming for.
"D-Danny…"Star whispered out, getting his attention.
She didn't realize what has come over and she didn't notice or she just didn't mind but she started to move her head closer, leaning towards him.
Danny's eyes widened and before anything could happen….a blue mist escaped from his mouth and the locker door was forced open.
Uh Oh….
-To be continued-
Next time on Trapped
From Bad To Worse
A/N: I would like to thank and dedicate NeoMark for helping me with some scenes in this chapter and suggesting the scene in the lockers, you rock, man :)
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:
Wiseguy2415: I guess as a backup in case the astronaut thing doesn't fall through…
Qazse: Yes, indeed…
Sebas12: How's this?
Fatcatjohn: Interesting, huh?
Invader Johnny: We will find out in the next chapter…
Guest: I will, thanks.
devilzxknight86 and SofiPhan29 : We will find out who our villain is in the next chapter
sguimba, cg037 Kilikani-Ebbets, biginferno, Necrogod, EarthShock and Guest: Thank you : )
SoundVenom: We shall see how this turns out…
:) I hope you enjoyed this! Remember to read and review :)
