Author's note: To my guest reviewer, the meaning behind Sam's seriously? look about Tucker correcting Dash's use of literally was a mixture of both "I'm sure Dash knows that" and "are you trying to piss him off more?"

As an aside, as a linguist, I really hate when people try to correct my use of literally, as if they seriously think I don't know the correct way to use it. I like to use language humorously, especially as a writer. Further, language changes, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Well, I could rant about linguistics for pages and pages (and I have in my Master's thesis, haha), but on with the story!

The Luckiest Girl in the World -Remastered-

Phantom's Keeper

Sitting in the shade of her favorite tree in the schoolyard, Paulina inspected her make-up in her pocket mirror. She had to be sure she looked good for Danny when he arrived. If she was going to manipulate him, she had to be completely mesmerizing.

She observed the fullness of her lips, made sure there were no smudges.

Lips that almost got to meet the ghost boy's…

Danny's reflection appeared in the mirror. She turned it so that she could see him better. She watched him look around for her with the cutest expression, one out to make a discovery. His eyes finally found her. She watched him approach in her mirror but did not turn just yet.

Mmm, that face…

She snapped her mirror shut. She couldn't be thinking about other boys that way, certainly not Danny Fenton.

But why did his nervous smile have to be so adorable?

"Hey," Danny said as he sat down next to her under the tree.

Paulina frowned when she saw that he was empty-handed. "Did you already eat?"

"I'm not really that hungry today."

"Danny, you can't skip meals." Paulina reached into her bag and pulled out half of her sandwich. "Here. Eat this."

He looked at it for just a moment. "No, thanks. I'm okay."

A thought crossed Paulina's mind, memories of what she had gone through not too long ago. "You're not anorexic, are you?"

Danny furrowed his brow in bewilderment.

"Listen, I went through an anorexic stage last year, and it really wasn't fun." Paulina held the sandwich out to him. "So just eat this. For me."

Hesitantly, Danny finally reached out and took it from her. "Thanks."

"I want you to eat that whole thing, got it?"

Danny laughed. "Wow, if I didn't know you better, I would think you actually cared about me."

"Hey, now, I do care! You're already so thin."

"Uh…okay."

"Oh, no, sorry." Paulina flashed him a smile. "I don't mean to say you look bad." She leaned into him. "Quite the opposite, actually. You know you're one of the cutest boys in our grade, right?"

"Just in our grade, huh?" he asked with an amused smirk.

Paulina reached out and took his arm in both hands. She felt him up, squeezed and groped his swelling bicep. She could see his face out of the corner of her eye, his wide eyes and reddening cheeks. "Well, at the rate you're putting on all this muscle, I think it's safe to say you'll be one of the hottest guys in the whole school soon enough."

He was responding so marvelously to her flirtation. A little more, and he'd be completely hers to command.

"So, Danny." Paulina purposely used his first name. Boys loved hearing pretty girls use their names so casually and affectionately, and Danny certainly seemed to be no exception with the way he softened as she continued to hold onto his arm. "Have you spoken to the ghost boy since Saturday night?"

His body tensed. "Have I…? What?"

"You two are friends, aren't you?"

Danny pulled his arm out of her grasp. "Ah, why would you think—?"

"He told me," said Paulina. "In fact, we talked about you. I know all about how you help him out sometimes, give him your parents' inventions to help him fight ghosts, and in exchange, he acts like your wingman."

Danny's face went completely red. She could practically feel his temperature rise, the heat radiating from him.

"You know, Danny, I seem to recall the ghost boy telling me that I should totally make out with you." Paulina inched closer to him so that their thighs were touching. "What do you think, Danny? Should I?"

"He didn't…I mean, I didn't tell him to…" Danny shook his head, noticeably flustered.

She put her fingers in his hair, soft and dense. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed, Danny." She could feel him melting, that key moment she knew so well, that moment when she could get any guy to do anything for her.

She knew she didn't need to go any further than this to get him to do what she wanted, to get him to tell her about the ghost boy. She knew that, but…some part of her actually wanted to kiss Danny. He really did look so cute, and she was sure he'd be a pleasant experience.

She just wouldn't tell Star.

She closed her eyes and moved in, but to her surprise, she didn't feel Danny move in toward her.

"Paulina, stop."

Paulina opened her eyes to see Danny with a hand up to prevent her from getting any closer.

"What are you doing?" he asked quietly.

This confused Paulina. She never had a guy stop her like this before. She tried moving into him again. "Isn't it obvious?"

Danny backed away, enough that Paulina had to pull her hand away from his hair. "Paulina." He gave her a small smile. "Why don't you just tell me what it is you need from me?"

Paulina blinked.

"Really, I don't mind helping you if you just ask." Danny looked at her kindly. "You don't have to try to seduce it from me."

Paulina backed away from him in astonishment. He saw right through her ploy, was able to resist her wiles, and yet he wasn't upset at all, was even willing to still help her out despite her underhanded attempt to toy with his emotions.

And the way he gazed at her now with those lovely blue eyes…

Paulina bit her lip and looked down at her hands. "Well, truthfully, I wanted to ask you about the ghost boy."

"I'm not surprised. You've been obsessed with him for awhile now," remarked Danny.

"You are a friend of his, right?" Paulina looked up at him again. "I mean, he had a thermos that had your last name on it, and he really did say that to me once, you know, about how I should make out with you."

Danny groaned. "If he really did say that, then I'm sorry. I'm completely mortified that you remember it so well."

Paulina laughed. "It's fine. I'm used to it."

"I'm sure you are." Danny also laughed, but it was a gentle laugh. "I mean, you are the prettiest girl I've ever seen." His smile quickly disappeared, as if he was afraid that he had said too much. He looked away.

"Aw, well, thank you. That's so sweet." Paulina beamed. She was well aware of her beauty, but it was always nice to hear it confirmed, even from someone unpopular like Danny.

Well…maybe especially from him. He really seemed to mean it, like he wasn't trying to get anything from her.

"But anyway, Danny, do you think you could tell me about the ghost boy?" Her eyes lit up with hope. "Please, can you tell me where I can find him? He really seemed to be into me Saturday night, even called me his 'date,' but I don't have any way to contact him. Do you know how I could get in touch with him?"

Danny was quiet for a moment. Paulina watched him, could see that he was debating something in his mind. He finally looked at her, apparently reaching a decision. He stood, a movement that Paulina instantly knew was not in her favor.

"You're right, Paulina. I'm…his friend." He gave her an affable smile, his cheeks still tinged with a bit of pink. "That means I have to keep his secrets."

Paulina gazed up at him from the grass. Was this real? Was a guy actually declining to grant her request?

He held up the still uneaten sandwich she had given him. "Thanks again. See you in class, okay?"

He walked away, leaving her alone under the tree to ponder what secrets Danny Fenton knew about Danny Phantom.

Original reviews

Invader Johnny: Well this is really REALLY unexpected of Danny, not that I'm complaining of course, remember I'm not a fan of Danny/Paulina.

L'ange-Sans-Ailes: awesome chapter, poor tree

Balkoth: Ha! You really can write I'll give you that. There are many many names/words that could describe Paulina's behavior in this chapter but none of them at the front of my mind are polite so we'll let it go.

ChildrenAreMySoulFood: side note: Paulina having dealt with anorexia makes so much sense. I applaud you.