Huh. That was odd.

He'd asked it in a hopefully offhand way, but the answer Valerie gave him was low. Portal shut or not, Amity Park had always been...thin. It was part of why his parents choose to live there. After the portal opening, it'd been more so. Weaker, easier to cross.

It wasn't like he was Tucker.

Tucker.

Danny squeezed his eyes and shook his head, staring determinedly at the computer screen.

Tucker had been the stats and numbers guy, keeping track of factors like that, but even Danny knew that number Valerie gave was low.

Weird.

What was-

"Hey."

The voice was lowered, quiet, and surprising. Danny quickly minimized his email. Familiar at least. He breathed out a small sigh of relief at it not being the librarian with the eyes.

"Hey."

Elizabeth's mouth moved uncomfortably and she shifted in her seat beside him. Then she puffed out a sharp burst of air and fully turned to him, annoyance and aggravation clear.

"Let's just get through this. I've already given my opinion, but they want to be sure." Her eyes rolled and she huffed, muttering. "They easily could have just asked you directly, but no, I'm friendly with you, we live together."

"Uh. What?"

Danny's confusion cleared up very quickly.

"I've been sent to ask if you like anyone. Yeah. That face. I told all of them you weren't interested or looking at anyone. That you probably didn't even plan on going to the Homecoming dance, which none of them believed."

Elizabeth bit at her lip, holding back on something, then raised her eyebrow at him.

"Was I right?"

He nodded.

That answered a whole lot about interest in him not fading but feeling more and strange, gossiping girls gathering around him as late.

"Good." She stood. "I'll tell them, again, but as it's now 'from you' everyone will know and leave you alone about a date."

"How does word travel so fast here?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "Going to question not being asked as a date to Homecoming?"

Oh. Right.

"Good point. No."

"I didn't think so. Um, uh."

Elizabeth hesitated. Danny peered up at her, waiting. She shook her head.

"Nevermind. I'm not going to do the same. See ya."

With that she was gone. Danny stared at the school library doors for a minute, puzzling that out in his head. Then shook it. Girls were a whole big confusing mess at times. And this time, he had a heads up as to why.

Tucker would have loved it.

But Tucker wasn't here.

Danny would keep toward the guys or Elizabeth to sit beside in class and Matt's table at lunch until Homecoming was over.

Which was fine. Good. Except.

Date was off the table. But not going as a group and the cross country guys didn't even ask, they just started making plans, including Danny in them like he'd actually agreed to it. Didn't matter when he tried voicing protest or excuses. He was one of them.

Not his fault they failed to listen when he clearly informed them he wasn't planning on going. Because he wasn't going. Not at all.