I'm so sorry that this took a while. The first of many irregular updates to come...

Unfortunately, I have recently been distracted by learning how to use Unreal Engine 4, and so my weekend has been... full.

Anyway, It's here! And that's all that matter's in the end, right?

Chapter 4

The silence was deafening as all five of them sat around the table.

Val seemed to be having some sort of one-sided staring contest with Danny as she shoveled pizza in her mouth while he avoided her glare. Sam thought that if any of them even breathed wrong, the girl was going to bring out her guns and shoot the person closest to her. Which was, unfortunately, Tucker.

They were still quiet even as Val gulped down her last piece of pizza and- holy shit, where did that all go?- she turned to look at all of them. There were a few moments where they were all awkwardly looking around at each other, catching each other's gazes before turning away.

Jazz decided to take one for the team and start talking first. "So, Valerie, how are you-"

"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?"

Well, that is certainly one way to react.

Across the table, Sam could see Danny wince, and she wasn't sure if it was because of the volume or the statement itself. Probably both.

Valerie had slammed her hands on the table, now stood up and had her eyes trained on the halfa, who was shifting very uncomfortably in his seat. Sam wondered for a moment if they would be able to pass it all off as just a really weird dream that Valerie had had, or a just a vivid hallucination after taking drugs or something. But then, she wasn't how they would explain why Danny was covered in bandages, his shirt looking like a poor attempt at Christmas tie-dye.

Oh well, looks like they would be doing this the hard way, then.

"I don't know, Val." Tucker started. "What did happen last night?"

Oh, they were playing this game…

Valerie looked just about ready to explode. "You mean that he hasn't told you yet?"

She pointed at Danny, who was trying to look as innocent as possible and like he wanted to just disappear. Which, yes, he could do, but that was unlikely to help their current situation.

"I have no idea what happened." Danny said, still not looking her in the eye. "Pretty sure I was unconscious the entire time…"

Though he spoke rather nonchalantly, Sam could see that there was a heaviness in his eyes, guilt and worry starting to eat him away. Damn, this isn't the ideal situation for such a secret to come out…

There was conflict in Valerie's eyes, and they could all see that it was taking all her self control to stop herself from lashing out. No, instead she took in a deep breath and sat back down, placing her head in her hands.

"I-I don't understand." She confessed. "You're my friend, and yet, you are also someone I absolutely hated up until recently. And even then, my feelings on the matter are still so complicated!"

She groaned, taking her hands away from her face, revealing watery eyes. "Just- how? How is this possible? How can you be…?"

"Dead?" Sam couldn't help but wince at the bluntness of Danny's reply, but Val only mutely nodded her head.

Danny sighed, slumping down in his chair. Despite being able to move around so easily, he looked extremely tired. "I suppose it would be easiest if we started from the beginning."

He looked to the rest of them when he said so, a silent question in his eyes.

They all agreed, and began to tell their story.

{~}

"Do you think she's alright?" Tucker asked quietly, looking towards Valerie.

The girl sat slumped in her chair, having not said a word since they had told her everything that had happened and she had recounted the events of the night before. She was still dressed in her odd get up, staring at her hands which rested on the table. Jazz had gone to clear away the pizza boxes, leaving Sam, Tucker and Danny alone in the room with Val, the awkwardness increasing as every moment passed.

"Tuck, she just found out that one of closest friends has been dead this entire time. I doubt she's feeling anywhere near 'alright'." Sam murmured back.

Danny huffed in agreement beside her, picking at the bandages that weren't covered by his ruined shirt. He had also been rather quiet, continuing to stare off into the distance like he was deep in thought.

Tucker gave her a look, but didn't say anything more when Jazz came bustling back into the room, placing glasses in front of everyone and filling them from a jug of water. She then placed herself back down with a sigh, looking more tired than Sam felt.

"None of you have anything to do today, do you?" The red-head enquired.

The three shook their heads, but Val lifted hers, speaking for the first time in ages. "My dad-he's probably wondering where I am."

"Oh! Don't worry." Jazz assured her. "We already messaged him."

Val looked confused, raising an eyebrow. "I… didn't know any of you had his number…"

"We don't."

"Then how did you…?" Realisation hit her, and she turned her gaze to Tucker, who was trying and failing to look as innocent as possible.

He squirmed under her stare, looking extremely guilty and as if he wanted to run out of there as quickly as possible. Thankfully, Danny came to his rescue before Val could reach over the table and throttle the little hacker to death.

"Hey, uh, talking about parents." He looked towards Jazz. "What are we gonna tell ours about not being home right now."

His sister waved her hand. "No need to worry, I went home before you woke up just to get some stuff. Mum and dad were passed out on the couch. I just wrote them a quick note saying I had taken you to school and that I was going out for the day."

This made him pause. "But… it's the beginning of the holiday."

She gave a 'tch' sound. "Like they're ever gonna think too hard on that kinda thing, especially after what happened after last night."

Sam wondered what was worse, parents that paid too much to anything you were doing, or ones that couldn't care less. Hers and Danny's parents were very different, and yet also quite similar in a way. None of them understand their own children, never asking about how they were or what happened during the day, only giving attention to what was important to them. Which, unfortunately, wasn't the actual wellbeing of their children.

It was even worse when Danny didn't show a hint of surprise at Jazz's words. She envied Tucker and Val, for their worrying and kind parents. Though she didn't know much about Val's dad, Sam knew that he did everything he could for his daughter, placing her before anything. Tucker's parents were wonderful, always kind to Sam and willing to let her stay however long she wants.

Danny brushed a hand through his thick, black hair, which Sam had noticed was getting longer. He usually kept it at the same length and style, but recently, it had just seemed to be doing whatever the hell it wanted. It was hanging low now, almost reaching his jaw and easily covering his eyes. Sam wondered how long it would be until she had to start offering him hairbands to keep it out of his face.

"I suppose you aren't wrong about that." He spoke so quietly that it was barely audible. Then, suddenly, he stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "Well! I don't know about you guys, but I am bored and need something to do before I start bouncing off the walls."

Quite literally, Sam thought. "I still have the old Wii that you and Tucker bought me for my last birthday."

Probably one of the best presents she had been given. Her parents had never allowed her to have any sort of thing like that, and when her friends found out, they started acting like it was the end of the world. So, they bought her a Wii, barely being able to afford the thing, but she cherished it nonetheless. She kept it hidden in her room so that her mother would never find it whenever she went snooping around Sam's room.

"Yes!" Tucker cried. "I cannot wait to beat you suckers in Mario Kart."

"You keep telling yourself that." Danny grinned as he followed after Tucker who was sprinting towards the door.

Sam smiled at the both of them, amused by their enthusiasm. She looked back towards Jazz and Val. "You two gonna join?"

Jazz shook her head. "I will leave it up to you guys for now, I should probably catch up on some studying."

Jasmine Fenton, the most studious person Sam thinks she had ever met.

Valerie looked uncomfortable as she shifted in her chair. "There's still a lot we need to talk about."

Damn right they do. "And you can do that while screaming in satisfaction as we beat both Tucker and Danny at Mario Kart. besides, it'll help you loosen up a little, and Danny talks more when he's not completely focused on you."

I was true. The best way to needle information out of the guy was to interrogate him while he was fixated on something else. Sam had learned some pretty interesting stuff with that tactic.

Val gave a hint of a smile, nodded, and followed Sam out of the door.