Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters (except my OC) or anything pertaining to Danny Phantom.

A/N: This is meant to be a new version of Mine. Different OC and a different plot. If you already read Mine, you can still read this one because it's not the same story. Lol. Okay enough rambling.

Chapter One (Opening)

"Just let your parents pay to get your bedroom window fixed," Tucker said to Sam, who was standing beside him as he rummaged through his locker. "They aren't filthy rich for nothing."

The Goth frowned at her friend. "Why?" she asked. "It's not like it's visibly broken or anything. It just won't lock."

"Yeah, and that thought isn't necessarily a comforting thought to have whenever I'm over at your house." The techno-geek glanced over at her. "The last thing I want is for someone to break in and smother me."

Sam raised an eyebrow before scoffing. "We've battled how many ghosts? Threw ourselves into harm's way how many times? No way you're actually worried about this of all things."

Tucker shook his head at her and resumed digging through his locker. "Just saying."

"Nobody's breaking in, Tuck," she told him, "especially not through a window on the top floor of a mansion." She straightened her posture and smirked. "Might want to leave all your beloved gadgets at your place in the meantime."

"Not funny, Sam." Tucker shut his locker door and cast his gaze down the hallway. "By the way, where's Danny? I thought he'd be here by now."

Sam pursed her lips, shrugging. "I don't know. Probably saving the world, as per usual. That's our cue to cover for him in Lancer's class." Upon seeing Tucker's eyes grow wide, she frowned. "What?"

"The partner project. I totally forgot that was due today," the boy told her. He raised his hands to his head with a groan. "I was too busy playing video games last night to even start on it."

"Well," Sam started, "it's a group project. Why would you be the only one working on it? Especially on the night before it's due?"

"I see you forgot I was partnered with Dash."

The Goth rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop herself from chuckling. "See, this is why I'm glad I was partnered up with Danny. We get things done pretty quickly. I mean, when I can actually get him to focus, that is."

Instead of agreeing, Tucker grinned teasingly at her. "Is that the only reason why you're glad you were partnered up with him?" he retorted, causing her smirk to fall flat.

"Of course. What other reason would there be?" She spun on her heels and marched down the hallway, ignoring her friend's chuckles as he trailed behind her.

"Oh, c'mon, Sam! Look who you're talking to." He narrowly avoided bumping into other students as he tried to match his friends pace. "Expert in the romance department, here!"

The first bell rang just as the pair arrived to Mr. Lancer's class. Once they stepped inside and sat down, Sam took that moment to respond. "Sorry to burst your bubble there, expert, but there's absolutely no romance going on. Danny's just my best friend."

"Yeah, but you like him," Tucker pointed out. Before she could chew him out, he raised his finger and abruptly added, "And I'm pretty sure he likes you. Both of you just have your love blinders on."

A light blush dusted Sam's cheeks as she cleared her throat. "Well, like I said, I don't like him like that and he doesn't like me." Trying to avoid Tucker's eye-waggling expression, she shifted her gaze over to the doorway just in time to witness Danny rushing in.

"Hey, guys." The Halfa plopped down in his seat with a sigh of relief. "I finally made it in time before the second bell."

"Yeah, you did," Sam agreed. "Where were you?"

"Dealing with the Box Ghost. That probably explains why I'm here on time."

Tucker leaned back in his seat, shaking his head. "Man, that guy is annoying. I wonder when he'll realize that he's not intimidating."

Sam's face scrunched up. "It's pretty sad that there are high schoolers here that are more intimidating than him, and he's a ghost." She eyed Dash, who caught sight of Tucker and started to storm over to them. "Speaking of said high schoolers."

"Hey, Foley! You got that project done?" The jock cracked his knuckles and glared Tucker down. "You'd better say yes."

"Um..." At a loss for words, the boy looked over at Danny for help, but received nothing more than a shrug in response. Sensing that Dash was growing impatient, Tucker flashed him a hesitant smile. "I... yes. It's done. I have it."

"That's what I thought," Dash snarled. "You're presenting it, not me. I'll just be in charge of changing the Powerpoint slides." He then swung his attention onto Danny, who blinked twice. "Hey, Fenton Ford Explorer. I'm having a bad morning, so I'm taking it out on you at lunch."

Danny sighed at the bully towering over him. "Whatever, Dash." The clearing of a throat caused Dash to halt in place, preventing him from unleashing any further verbal threats. He turned over his shoulder, catching Mr. Lancer's eye.

"To your seat, Mr. Baxter," the man said. The second bell rang and more students filed into the classroom, so Dash obliged and made a beeline for his seat. Danny let out a huff, raking his hands through his hair.

"This whole Dash thing is really getting old. He's seriously starting to make me hate this school." The classroom door swung open, and upon gawking at the person who entered, his eyes lit up. "Okay, I take that back."

In walked a brown-haired, blue-eyed beauty with tan skin. She strode over to Mr. Lancer, handing him what looked like her class schedule. As the man looked over the sheet of paper, her eyes panned around the room before resting on Danny, to which she proceeded to flash him a smile.

"Dude," Tucker whispered to his friend, "is she smiling at you?"

"I think she is, Tuck. I'm just as surprised as you are," Danny admitted, though he returned the smile. Unbeknownst to the two gawking teenagers, Sam rolled her eyes and muttered bitterly to herself.

Mr. Lancer nodded at the girl before moving to the center of the classroom. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new student joining us here today." He motioned the girl over. "This is Julia. I trust that you'll all do your best to make her feel at home here."

"Yeah, right," Sam grumbled to herself. "She'll probably turn into another washed up A-lister."

"Hey, loser, nice shoes!" Paulina jeered at Julia from her seat towards the back of the classroom. Star, Dash, and Kwan snickered, but Julia simply smiled at the cheerleader.

"Wow. I'm really jealous of all the people who have never experienced you. I just met you and I already wish I could be one of them," she retorted. The A-listers fell silent, with Paulina casting a dark scowl at Julia in response.

"On second thought, maybe this girl isn't half-bad," Sam murmured to herself, impressed.

Mr. Lancer rolled his eyes at the group of teens. "That's quite enough." He handed Julia her schedule and walked over to his desk, telling her to find a seat. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, heading in Danny's direction.

"Can I sit here?" she asked him, pointing to the empty desk beside him with a polite smile on her face. He eagerly nodded his head, still amazed that this girl was even addressing him.

As she sat down and made herself comfortable, Sam smacked her forehead and shook her head. "And," she drawled, "I retract that sentence."