"Ever since the Disasteroid Incident, life had changed a great deal for Amity Park and its residents. One, the city has become a popular tourist attraction. Two, ghosts had become less troublesome than the time before the incident... well a small portion did anyway. And three, Danny Phantom had probably become the most celebrated individual in all the world. Also, there was that whole Fruit Loop floating in outer space thing, but who cares right?"
Drifting around Jupiter for the millionth time, Vlad Plasmius shouted "I care!"
"For crying out loud...YOU DON'T COUNT! Ehm. Excuse my sudden lack of social grace. Where was I...? Oh right. I was about to tell you what Danny Phantom and his close ones were up to. Starting with Danny, he was in his second or third year of high school(idk to be honest). His grades had improved somewhat due to the fact of his teachers now knowing about the responsibilities he had taken upon himself thus resulting in the halfa having more time to study and/or make up missed assignments/tests. Oh how saving the world had its perks. Not to mention he no longer had to hide his other identity from his Ghost Hunting Parents. Which basically was a double- edged sword in his opinion. On the one hand they understood that there son was a hero. On the other hand, they UNDERSTOOD that there son was a hero. By "UNDERSTOOD" I mean overly protective and always keeping a sharp eye out for him."
The halfa in question let out a sigh before saying, "Geez... I never thought I'd prefer to have the parents that wanted to dissect and study me over treating me like a fragile little baby..."
"Its ok Danny. Once you go to Astronaut College or whatever its called, you'll be free at last."
"Thanks Shadow," smiled Danny. "That helps."
"Don't mention it. By the way, what have you and Sam been up to lately?"
"Oh right. I almost forgot that we were supposed to meet up at the mall after school today."
"What are you gonna do there?"
"I dunno. Hang out I guess."
"Sounds like fun. Mind if I come along?"
"Actually... its just going to be the two of us so..."
"What? Got a problem with Shadows?"
"No! I don't have a problem with..."
All of a sudden, Danny's Ghost sense went off and the ghost boy looked around...
"A ghost is nearby. But who...?"
In the next moment, a shadow sucker punches Danny in the face and the halfa is sent flying halfway down the hall.
"Ack!"
Shaking his head clear, Danny stood up and recognized the shadow.
"Johnny 13's shadow! That can only mean...!"
On cue, Johnny 13 came cutting down the hallway on his bike and stopped to gaze at Danny with an angry stare.
"There you are!" growled Johnny 13.
Danny transformed into his ghost self and asked, "Yeah. What do you want?"
"Don't pretend like you don't know! Shadow, fetch!"
Shadow on command motioned to attack Danny, but the ghost teen managed to evade it.
"What are you talking about?" questioned the halfa.
"Still playing dumb huh?" said Johnny. "Well fine! I'll humor you! You sent Kitty back to the Ghost Zone!"
"Seriously? You're attacking me because I sent your girl back home?"
"Exactly!"
Johnny pressed a button on the handlebars of his bike and a blast of energy fired from it striking Danny in the chest.
"Agh!" cried Danny before crashing through several walls until landing outside on the grass.
Picking himself up after a few seconds, the halfa shook his head clear.
"Note to self... his bike is tricked out. Gotta watch for that."
After shadow had returned to him, Johnny came riding through the wall in an attempt to run Danny over but the hero was quick to fly into the air.
"Hey Johnny! Didn't anyone ever tell you that there's no speeding in a school zone!"
In the middle of that quip, Danny fired a one handed ghost ray striking Johnny 13's tire causing it to blow and resulting in the biker spinning out of control eventually crashing into a tree. Upside down, the biker groaned as three Danny Phantoms approached the scene of the accident with a smirk.
"See? This is what happens when you don't have training wheels and a helmet on your head."
Dizzy beyond belief, Johnny groaned, "Always the smart little punks... aren't you... ugh..."
The unlucky numbered ghost fell unconscious. Danny reached behind his back to grab his Fenton Thermos but it wasn't there.
"Oh right," he said. "I left it at the lab."
"Well you could fly him back to your place and throw him into the ghost portal," suggested Shadow.
"What about his bike though? I'm not sure I want to leave it hanging around here."
"Destroy it."
"I can't do that. He'll just come back and try to kick my butt if I did! Except he'd be a lot angrier."
"Call your mom and dad."
"You kidding? Don't you know what time it is? They're in the middle of watching their Soap Operas. They definitely wouldn't want to miss The Ghost and the Lifeless or The Ghoul and the Frightful. You'd have better luck jumping into a lake and not getting wet."
"Wake Johnny up with a bucket of cold water and ask why he attacked you...?"
"Now you're speaking my language."
Danny flew off into the school and returned a minute later with the bucket of ice cold water.
"Wakey wakey!"
After the splash, Johnny awoke instantly.
"W-what t-the...!?" shivered the unlucky numbered ghost.
Focusing on Danny, he raised a suspicious angry brow.
"D-did y-you j-just t-throw a-a b-bucket o-of w-water o-on m-me!?"
Raising a finger with a smile, the halfa answered, "Technically, I threw a bucket of ice cold water on you but yeah."
"Y-you're g-gonna p-pay f-for...!"
Johnny was about to attack again but Danny put his hands out in front of him.
"Hold on a second Johnny!" pleaded Danny.
The ghost biker halted but was still angry.
"Um... tell me why you're mad about me sending Kitty back to the Ghost Zone?"
Johnny narrowed his eyes at the halfa without a word.
"Look. This isn't the first time I sent her back so what gives?"
Johnny's anger died down a bit and he asked, "You're serious about not knowing aren't you?"
Danny nodded.
"Man, when was the last time you've been to the Ghost Zone?"
"Its... been a while."
"Basically you're the third most infamous ghost."
"Infamous? What does that mean? Besides the regular definition of the word."
It means you're third in line behind Pariah Dark and that ghost of time dude."
"Third in line?"
Ignoring Danny's question, Johnny continued with, "And not only that, all the babes talk about how cute and strong you are. Ever since your last run in with Kitty, she keeps yammering on about how you can do this and how you can do that while complaining that I should be more like you. She even tried to dress me up like you once. No way was I gonna do that. I'd rather rot in Walker's Prison for the rest of my afterlife."
Johnny folded his arms and looked away in the middle of that last sentence. Seeing his bike, he groaned.
"Great... my bike's totalled..."
The ghost biker went over to his bike and studied it up and down.
"Well at least I can get back to the Ghost Zone. See ya kid."
Johnny mashed the instant portal button on his wrecked bike and proceeded to drag the heap through it.
"What did he mean by third in line?" thought Danny aloud.
"Might I suggest... I don't know... you get back to class?" recommended Shadow.
"Right... Thanks."
Danny turned and flew off into the school building.
Later that day after school, at the food court in the mall, Sam waited for her halfa boyfriend to show up.
"All right Sam. You can do this," muttered the goth girl. "Just breathe... Phew. Okay that's better... I think..."
"What are you, pregnant?" asked Shadow.
"I'm not in the mood Shadow. Keep your comments to yourself."
"Seriously, are you preg...?"
"I SAID SHUT IT!"
The people around the goth girl stared at her like she was crazy and she picked up on it right away.
"Nothing to see here. Just um... practicing lines for a school play."
The goers continued about their business.
"Oh and here comes Danny," warned Shadow.
"I told you..." started the goth girl in anger before questioning with, "Really?"
She looked around and noticed the halfa walking over.
"Sorry about being late," apologized Danny as he closed the distance and pecked her on the cheek like he normally did. "Had to stay after school for some extra credit."
"Hey, no need to explain," said Sam waving it off. "I understand."
"So what do you want to do first today? Go to the arcade or get a bite?"
Sam looked down and frowned.
"Actually..." started the goth as she suddenly found it hard to look him in the eye while rubbing her arm. Not only that but it became difficult to say what was on her mind.
"Sam?" called Danny confused.
"I think... we should..."
Sam winced.
"Should what?" asked the halfa.
Sam let out an deep sigh and looked the teen boy dead in the eyes before saying, "Call it quits..."
Thinking his ears had played a trick on him, Danny had to ask her, "Did you just... break up with me?"
Sam closed her eyes and nodded somberly.
"I um... wow. But I thought we were um... in a good place."
"(I'm sorry Danny...)"
"So... why? Did I um... do something wrong?"
"(I'm so sorry Danny...)" thought Sam as she shook her with closed eyes.
"Then, what is it?"
"(I'm so so sorry Danny...)"
His eyes had begun to water the same time tears traced their way down the goth girl's face.
"Sam... please tell me," begged the halfa.
Sam turned around trying to fight back the oncoming emotions she was feeling.
"I'm begging you Sam."
Danny wiped his eyes dry trying to compose himself the best he could.
"Please I-I... need to know why."
"I love you Danny but..." she started as she wiped her eyes dry. "...we're two very different people and..."
"And what? We're different? Is that it?" questioned the halfa as he wiped his eyes dry before countering with, "Well, we were best friends and that didn't stop us from hanging out."
"I know but being friends and being in a relationship are two different things. And besides, look at your parents."
"My parents?"
"They're two peas in a ghost hunting pod and their marriage works because of it."
Hearing that made Danny want to argue that point with her. But he couldn't because she was right. His parents both had mutual common interests with one another involving ghosts.
"Even my parents, as snobbish as they could be, share common interests."
Danny shook his head trying to reject logic and reason.
"No... I... its... we...!" attempted Danny trying to form a complete sentence but nothing came. His eyes had glowed green for a brief second before returning to the pleading normal light blue. A thought came and he started to say, "C'mon Sam, we can at least try..."
"I have... for months," said Sam shooting down his idea. "But you're you and I'm me. In the end..."
The goth girl dried her tears once more.
"I can't ignore this anymore or fake being..."
"Happy?" the halfa cut in with his heart tearing to pieces. "Are you saying you're not happy with me?"
"No, I enjoy being with you Danny," Sam said with a warm smile. "I can't imagine a day where I don't imagine you as part of my life. But..."
She looked down at her feet as her smile faded.
"...I can't fake being the right girlfriend for you."
"Sam..." started Danny trying to reach out the a hand but the goth girl walked away before he could touch her.
He stayed there for a long time after she left.