Chapter 14

A/N: Don't own Danny Phantom or any of the characters.

Sam's POV

I can't believe this! I got suspended from school for two weeks. It should have been six days, three days for each offense. Why two weeks then? Because Paulina freaking Sanchez is on the A-list so she got a week. Mr. Lancer, acting as stand-in principal, didn't want to be called on for playing favorites by just doing the standard three days for Danny, therefore; another week. Dash is bringing me my homework every day after school after football gets over, then we do it together, and he takes it and turns it in the next day. That way I won't fall behind in classes.

I could just strangle anyone and everyone. I'm at my wit's end because I'm so absolutely bored. The worst part is that it's only 10 am. For some reason, I just can't get back to sleep. Two glorious weeks to sleep in and I wake up at 6 am like usual. My life sucks right now. It could be worse I guess, I mean my parents could be home. That would be real torture. Their in Spain this month. You know, I don't actually know what it is that my parents actually do, I just know it takes them all over the world and pays a lot.

I'm so bored that I'm going to go see my grandmother in the home and spend the day with her. That means having to play 'Canasta' and 'Bingo.' My grandma doesn't even like those games, but I suppose it's better than the alternative which is basically staring at a wall for eight hours with a couple of meal breaks. Yep, that's the life. My parents should have at least had the decency to send her to someplace with a garden so she could sit outside.

I guess I could watch TV or read a book or play a video game, but none of those sound like a good idea. If I was sixteen I could drive somewhere, but my birthday's not until next month. I wonder when Dash's birthday is? I'll have to ask him. Grr... This is so frustrating and it's only the second day of my sentence. I guess I'll watch a couple movies and then see what I want to do.

Same chapter – Switch POVs – Dash's POV

Not having Sam here is like missing part of myself. That must have been one of the sappiest things I've ever thought. Definitely not voicing that one out loud. The only one to listen would be Tucker and he isn't exactly known for subtlety or tact.

Tucker said he'd sit with me at lunch while Sam's gone. Danny's basically been exiled until he apologizes. The A-listers don't want anything to do with him since he's still considered a loser. The band geeks and nerds don't want him because he betrayed his friend in the worst way by humiliating her in front of the whole school, and Tucker told him not to talk to him until he realizes what friendship actually means and where his loyalties lie. It's ironic really the way things work out. See on one hand everyone I've bullied over the years felt that I deserve retribution for what I've done, but they also feel that Sam didn't deserve it even the ones who don't like her. They think that calling her a tramp because she's dating me is crossing a line that friends shouldn't cross. They also think she's crazy for dating me, but that's besides the point.

She's nice to everyone and stands up to the bullies and for the bullied. In fact, that's one of the things that first made me notice her. I was about to shove Tucker into a locker and all of a sudden this girl gets in between me and the locker. She gave a very commendable speech about how beating up the weak, which Tucker yelled an indignant hey at, didn't make me any more of a man. She got right up in my face and told me that she'd be happy to kick me where the sun don't shine to see whether I thought I was a man then. I think we must have been in fifth grade at the time.

I didn't know if she was serious or not, but I wasn't about to take that chance, I mean I like my junk intact. Anyway, I pulled Kwan aside later and asked who she was because I didn't recognize her. That was the start of me paying closer attention to her. Some of the guys were ragging on Tucker and Danny saying that they needed a girl to protect them so they pretty much banned Sam from sticking up for them since it seemed to make it worse.

I really started in on Danny as my main target when I saw him make Sam cry. Sam, the strong girl who stood up to me with fire in her eyes. They probably don't remember this because it was seventh grade. I was heading out to football practice when I noticed Danny and Sam yelling at each other down a hallway. Danny stormed off and Sam slid down the wall with tears running down her cheeks. It made me want to hug her and take care of her. I don't know what they were fighting about, but after not talking to each other for a couple days they were best friends again. However, Danny was still my target. I might have been a jerk and a bully, but there's no excuse for making a girl cry.

I didn't really start having a crush on Sam at a noticeable level until eighth grade. She organized her first protest. It was very impressive. I was amazed at the sheer commitment she had to standing up for what she believed. She'd never been overly popular, but the nerds, band geeks, and losers would say hi to her. After this protest though, Paulina turned her into a social pariah. The only two people still willing to talk to her at all were Danny and Tucker. She came to school everyday with her head held high even though people were gossiping about her loud enough for her to hear. Her strength still astounds me.

That was also the year that she became an Ultra-Recyclo vegetarian. That also caused quite a stir at first. By now people are used to it so it isn't a big issue. When she became a Goth, it was the same thing. Although Paulina made it a big deal and still calls her 'Goth geek' and 'Goth loser.' Star and some of the other cheerleaders picked up on it and do it too, me and the guys just called her and Danny lovebirds, not that I'm condoning that, I'm just saying.

I kind of understand why Sam's always after Tucker when he eats. I mean I eat meat, but he pretty much inhales it while massacring it. It's kind of disgusting. I almost can't stomach my own food. I was able to because I have to, I mean football players have to eat lots.

The rest of the day past quite quickly. The football players still talk to me after school, I don't hold it against them that they don't during it, I would have done the same thing. Kwan still hung out with me outside of school. He's nothing if not loyal. When I kicked him out of the A-listers for that one week last year, we still hung out everyday after football practice. He's been my best friend since kindergarten.

Football practice was absolutely insane. We're going to the big playoffs so the coach is working us to death. I'm worked harder than the rest since I'm the star quarterback. I was the only freshman to play on varsity last year. In fact, I'm the only one in the history of Casper High. I guess I can thank my dad for one thing. I think without having him push me to be the very best, I probably wouldn't have been nearly as successful. I'm sore in places that I didn't even know had the ability to get sore.

I got to Sam's house and knocked on her door. I was immediately pulled inside, my bag taken and dropped, shoved against the door, and jumped on. I was about to ask what was going on, but my lips were currently otherwise occupied. After being thoroughly ravaged and ravaging in return, Sam finally looked me in the eye and says "hi," like she didn't just makeout with me like her life depended on it, not that I'm complaining mind you. I just thought it was strange, but I just said, "hey."

She unwound her legs from around my waist and slid down. Then she walked into the other room and called in to me, "Hey, let's do some homework." This left me with a serious problem, which is usual around Sam, but quite obvious in these particular pants.

I thought of different unappealing thoughts to make it go away. Then I thought of Danny Fenton, and voila – problem solved. I guess he can be good for something. I grabbed my bag and went into the other room with Sam. We ended up doing homework for about two hours.

My curiosity finally got the better of me and I had to ask why I got such an enthusiastic greeting. She told me I was the first person she'd seen in about twenty-four hours, she would have kissed anybody, just not as ardently as she did with me. She said she probably would have even laid one on Paulina. She saw the look on my face, which was probably in a state of shock, she started laughing. She said she was just kidding, she just missed me, and since I was the first face she'd seen in almost twenty-four hours is why her 'hello' kiss was a little more heated than usual. I told her it was a nice surprise and I was happily distracted from the horrible practice I'd had.

"I know that the guy in the relationship is usually the one to decide and ask which dates to go on, but I've always been known to defy tradition. Would you go on a picnic with me at five on Saturday?" she asked fidgeting nervously and blushing.

"I could never deny such a beautiful woman a request to spend more time with me. I'd love to."

"Do you want to stay for dinner? I can order a mean pizza."

"Sure, it's not like I have to ask anybody for permission."

"Speaking of which, I was meaning to ask you, when's your birthday? And how old are you? I figure these are some things I should know."

"I turned sixteen on July 7th. What about you? When's your birthday?"

"I turn sixteen next month on December 15th. Are you okay with veggie pizza or did you want half and half?"

"Veggie's okay with me, I'll eat anything." We ordered pizza and then watched a movie while we ate. I kissed Sam goodnight and then walked home with a smile on my face.

A/N: Let me know what you think. Did I disappoint or did you like it?