Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom. A majority of the characters in the story are owned by Nickelodeon.

Double Clique

Chapter 12: Who I Am

The first school day of the week started off as any other school day would. As students were either making their way to class, mingling with their peers, or frantically finishing their math homework they should have started on days ago, one student seemed distracted by something else. Paulina was given an ultimatum for today: follow Star and keep her social standing, or do nothing and risk being labeled a freak. Despite her options, whatever she would choose, each step felt like a march toward the gallows.

As she was approaching Sam's locker, she swallowed hard at seeing that Sam was there, getting supplies for her first class in her backpack. There was an odd sense of relief that she saw her alone. She took a breath and leaned back against the locker next to her, Sam's locker door acting as something of a barrier to make it look like they weren't really communicating with each other.

"Sam, hey," Paulina said, nervously looking forward, but keeping Sam in her peripheral vision through the door's vents.

"Hey, Paulina, what's-" was all Sam could get out as she was closing her locker.

"Keep the door open," Paulina quickly let out. "Make it look like we're not really talking. Like, to each other."

Sam let out an annoyed sigh as she continued to just fiddle around with the inside of her locker. "Whatever works for you, I guess."

"Look," Paulina said, "there's something I want to talk to you about, but we have to be alone."

"We can't just talk about it here?" Sam asked.

"Too many people," Paulina quickly informed. "Just meet me under the bleachers in the gym."

"Can you at least tell me what it's about?" Sam said, noting the nervous tone in Paulina's voice.

"It's about us, okay?!" Paulina said, her voice down and sounding irritable. Noticing she almost lost it, Paulina breathed and calmed down.

Sam also noticed Paulina's erratic behavior and had to ask, "Paulina, is everything-"

"Just follow me to the gym," Paulina instructed. She quickly added, "But not right now. Like... count to fifty after I leave or something." She left before Sam could get another word in.

Sam finally peeked behind her locker door as Paulina rushed away from her. She couldn't help but notice how distressed she sounded. Sam, still finding it hard to believe she's caring, decided she wasn't gonna wait as long as Paulina wanted and started to follow her from a fair distance.

She followed Paulina up until the gym, who quickly entered. Sam didn't enter right away. She gave just enough time to be inconspicuous before opening the doors and letting herself in.

Sam only made it two steps inside before she suddenly found herself in darkness.

There was a soft clang as a light metal bucket perfectly found her head, its contents soaking her in something not quite liquid. It was cold, thick and had a slightly grainy texture. It was only when the substance passed her lips that Sam realized she had just covered in barbecue sauce.

Sam was initially shocked. Not just from the cold of the sauce, but because she knew that the only reason this happened to her was because she followed Paulina. The shock slowly morphed into anger as she heard the tinny echoing of laughter from beneath the bucket.

"Perfect shot, Star!" Kwan cheered as Star descended a stepladder beside the doorway.

"What do you guys say we see if our little goth geek is well done?" Star asked.

Star removed the bucket from Sam's head, revealing a face covered in barbecue sauce and absolutely furious. She saw Star, Dash, and Kwan cruelly laughing at her misfortune. Standing just behind them all was Paulina, looking morose while avoiding direct eye contact with Sam.

"What's the matter, Manson?" Star taunted. "I thought that for someone who wants us to treat animals more like humans, you'd be perfectly fine with us treating you like an animal."

"Yeah!" Dash added. "Now you look just like a co-" Dash stopped himself from completing that joke, and thought hard. "Like a pi-" He stopped himself again and thought harder. He finally gave up and complained, "Man, why do all the tasty animals have to make me sound like a chauvinist?"

"It's a good thing you're wearing black," Star continued to goad. "I hear that stuff staaaains."

Sam didn't move. She continued looking forward with fury in her eyes. Her fists clenched and shaking with rage, it took every ounce of restraint to keep her from grabbing Star and throwing her into the sauce puddle at her feet.

"Let's get out of here, everyone," Star said. "I think she's about to spoil." Dash and Kwan both laughed at Star's joke as the three exited the gym.

It was just Paulina and Sam in the gym now, but Paulina was just about to make her way out to follow Star. She avoided looking at Sam the entire time she walked toward the door. She stopped just before the entryway. She turned around to try to talk to her.

"Sam," Paulina tried to say, "I-"

"Paulina," Sam interrupted, her voice low, quiet, and trembling. She didn't look back to Paulina as she continued, "I never want to see you again."

"If you just let me explain-" Paulina tried to reason.

"Go away right now or I will scream!" Sam warned, her voice cracking.

Paulina found no way to get to Sam. She simply did as she asked, giving her one last look before she exited the gym, closing the door behind her.

With the click of the door behind her confirming it had closed, Sam's furious face finally crumpled with sadness. She fell to her hands and knees and just bawled. Paulina had been a terror in skinny jeans long before she had been captured and experimented on. Just as it seemed they were making a breakthrough, she betrays her to the popular clique. It took too much restraint to not lash out and sink to their level, but with everyone gone, she could no longer hold back her emotions.

Sam had her heart stomped on by what she thought would be her first real female friend. The last thing she wanted to do now was give her the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

The rest of the day wasn't any better for Paulina. She spent it doing everything she could to avoid Danny. It mostly consisted of heading to each class as early as she could. It got her plenty of praise from her teachers, thinking she was becoming a much more diligent student. She even got an uncomfortable talk with Mr. Lancer about his own personal struggles with hair loss.

The gossip about Sam didn't make things any easier. Word spread around that she was sent home after being found crying in the gym. Paulina assumed Sam hadn't given any names to Principal Ishiyama, otherwise she'd would have gotten an earful along with Star, Dash, and Kwan. The fact that she heard Sam was found crying made her want to avoid sitting with the popular clique so she wouldn't have to see Star mock her. It was the first time she had ever eaten her lunch in a bathroom stall.

But finally, the final bell had rung. Paulina just had to make it to her locker, get her things, and get out before Danny or Tucker could get to her.

"Paulina!"

That was Danny's voice! It caused Paulina to keep looking forward and walk slightly faster. Danny finally caught up, carrying the duffle she had given Tucker during the weekend.

"Paulina, we have to talk," Danny said, noticeably angry.

"I can't," Paulina quickly said, knowing full well what Danny wanted to talk about.

Danny looked around to see if anyone was noticing them. When it appeared clear, Danny grabbed Paulina's arm and pushed both of them through a wall via intangibility into the girls' bathroom.

"What the heck, Danny?!" Paulina asked, annoyed.

"What do you know about what happened to Sam?" Danny asked.

"The same as everyone else," Paulina replied, trying to avoid the harsh details.

"Were you involved with what happened?" Danny asked.

Paulina, feeling the guilt pile onto her, tried deflecting the question. "Why is it whenever something bad happens to one of your friends, you're always asking me?"

"Stop avoiding this!" Danny said, growing fed up. "I know you've been avoiding me, and this is exactly the reason why, isn't it?"

Paulina couldn't think of another excuse. After everything Danny did for her, he deserved the truth.

"Star caught Sam and me hanging out over the weekend," Paulina quickly explained.

"Oh my gosh," Danny rolled his eyes.

"She had pictures that she was gonna share with everyone unless I did what she asked. If those pictures got out, no one would think of me the same way again!"

"You're trying to tell me the only reason you did that to Sam was because you wanted to stay popular?!"

"What was I supposed to do?!" Paulina asked, shame appearing in her voice.

"How about say 'no'?!" Danny said, frustrated. "What happened to the Paulina who wanted to help people after we stopped Aragon? What about the Paulina who talked so much about wanting a fresh start? Because all of this? This is the exact opposite of that!"

"I can't have everyone thinking I'm some weirdo, okay?! What else do you want me to say?!"

How about "I'm sorry"?! It's what was right of the tip of Danny's tongue, but he just stopped himself from saying it. He agreed with Sam that an apology right now, like this, wouldn't mean anything.

"I think you know," Danny said to Paulina. "I think you know exactly what to say. You're just not saying it because you think it'll ruin your precious reputation! Why do you care so much about what others think about you?!"

"I need this, Danny!" Paulina defended herself. "Being the popular girl is the only way I can survive right now! You don't know what it's like to be like me!"

"Funny," Danny said, disappointed, "because I think I know better than anyone what it's like to be you."

Paulina knew exactly what Danny was talking about. It only caused her to get angry and call back, "I'm not a- a..." Even in her intense emotional state, she couldn't bring herself to finish her thought out loud.

"A what?" Danny caught on. "Go on, Paulina. Finish that sentence. Because whatever you have to say about me, you're saying about yourself, too."

"Danny, do not go there," Paulina warned, her voice quiet and low.

"No, I'm going there," Danny said, ignoring Paulina's rising frustration. "I'm going there because I need to go there! What am I?! What are you?!"

That was the last straw. Danny pushed too hard, so Paulina felt the need to push back. Literally. She liquified her arm and blasted a stream at Danny hard enough to take him off of his feet and into a wall. After Danny dropped back to the floor, drenched in water, he looked up, shocked, at the stand Paulina was making.

"Let me tell you who I am!" Paulina said, defiantly. "I am Paulina Sanchez! I am the hottest girl in this school! I hang out with the coolest people! I'm not a weirdo, I'm not a freak, I'm not a monster, and I'm definitely not a loser! So forgive me if I stop hanging out with losers!"

Danny was hurt. Physically and emotionally. He thought Paulina would make a strong ally after everything that's happened, but this is apparently who Paulina wanted to be now.

"You weren't a good person," Danny muttered.

"Excuse me?" Paulina said, almost like a threat.

"You asked me is you were a good person before all of this," Danny reminded. "You weren't. You were vain, shallow, cruel, and never thought about anyone but yourself! And it looks like that person's here to stay. Maybe there is no 'old Paulina' or 'new Paulina,' there's just... Paulina."

Paulina looked into Danny with a piercing stare. From the day she joined up with Danny, he had been completely honest with her. She knew that he meant every word he said. And it just made her more upset with him.

Danny slid the duffle bag he was carrying to Paulina's feet, stopping just in front of her toes. Danny got up and, still soaking wet, made his way to the door. He turned back to Paulina, still mad, and told her, "I really do hope you're happy." He left through the door, passing by a handful of students who snickered as he made his way to leave the school.

Paulina, meanwhile, looked down at the duffle. The same duffle that she handed Tucker. The duffle that had her super costume inside. She wasn't sure what to do with it now. After her fallout with Danny, she may as well just throw the duffle in a closet and never think about it again. She knew what Amity Park thought of Downpour, or Water Wendy, or whatever. Just another super powered freak. Paulina was never going to be called that.

Paulina finally left the bathroom, duffle in hand and still irritated from her fight with Danny. Her steps were more like stomps as she made her way to her locker. She passed several students with surprised looks on their faces, Dash and Kwan among them. Paulina paid them no mind until Dash spoke up about it.

"Paulina!" Dash called out, with Kwan in tow as the two followed Paulina. "We just saw Fenton come out there a minute ago! Did you swirlie him or something?"

"Sure!" Paulina said, not in the mood to talk bullying with Dash.

"That's so sick!" Dash praised. "If you need any help with spitball techniques-"

"Not now!" Paulina snapped, stopping Dash and Kwan in their tracks and leaving them behind.

"Jeez, what's her deal?" Dash asked Kwan as Paulina walked further away from them.

"Well, there's this one thing I heard in health class..." Kwan suggested.

Paulina finally got to her locker, now finding herself wishing she hadn't opened it. Her Danny Phantom shrine was still in place, further reminding her of her fight with Danny and just how angry he made her. She looked around for the nearest trash can and, after finding it brought it to her locker to cram every bit piece of Danny Phantom memorabilia into the garbage. She was done seeing his face.

As this was happening, Star happened to come across her, genuinely shocked that Paulina was trashing all her Danny Phantom stuff.

"Junking all your ghost boy merch?" Star asked, almost sounding impressed.

"I'm over him," Paulina coldly said, jamming another picture into the trash.

"Soooo," Star said, gleefully changing the subject, "the guys and I were planning on going to the movies later tonight and I thought maybe you'd wanna come with. You in?"

As she heard Star's offer, she gave a long look at the last photo of Danny Phantom in her hand. She thought back to how much Danny had helped her get back into Amity Park and how, in an effort to stay where she was, she burned all of her bridges. She just dropped it in the trash can as she realized how lonely she had become.

"I could use the company," Paulina answered, sullenly.

"Yay!" Star squealed. She held her hand out, her fingers and thumb forming an circle, and cheered "Beanie Buddies!"

Paulina wasn't sure what Star was doing. She assumed she was asking for a fist bump, so acted accordingly by joining knuckles.

"No, no, no," Star said, taking Paulina hand and shaping it how hers was just shaped. "You gotta do it like this." She then put Paulina's circled hand on top of her own. "There! Now it's like a 'B'. For 'Beanie Buddies'!"

Paulina looked at the hand gesture quizically. "It kinda looks more like an eight," Paulina said.

"It's a 'B'!" Star strongly insisted.

A lush jungle-like habitat floated in the sprawling abyss that is the Ghost Zone. Deep in that jungle, Skulker was working on his latest creation. After applying the finishing touches with a welding torch, he lifted his welder's mask from his face and admired his latest creation.

"At long last," Skulker said, smiling with glee, "it's finished!"

Skulker stepped back to observe his latest armor. The armor Skulker always wore gave his the aesthetic of a jungle poacher. This new armor didn't have such aesthetics. It appeared to be at least ten feet tall and was very bulky to account for weapons storage. This armor wasn't designed for hunting. It was designed for war.

"The ghost boy or the water girl won't be prepared for this," Skulker marveled. A thought then occurred to him. "Of course, if my weaponry completely decimates them, it'll be hard to collect them as trophies. Maybe I can make a handkerchief out of whatever's left of their skin."

Skulker suddenly shuddered at just how grisly his thought was. "Man, I think I have a problem."

Author's commentary: Danny and Paulina's argument had actually changed from what it was now. It originally had Paulina pleading to stay with Danny's team, but goes awry after she inadvertently calls Tucker "Techno-Geek". It's why I used the nickname so frequently in earlier chapters. In the end, it made Danny come off as too antagonistic and made Paulina too sympathetic. I'm much more pleased with how it is now. It ends with both characters mad at each other, it puts them both in the wrong, and they break up with each other instead of just Danny breaking off with Paulina.