-- Author's Note -- Hello to one and all! See Saikyo, I told you I would get it up tonight! haha! Anyway, second week of school down, and again I have a chapter to post. Hurray! Have you all heard that 'Shades of Gray' is supposed to be airing on the 24th? I can't wait! Of course, I sadly will not be home to watch it for I have other plans already. I did consider skipping that night, but I just cannot miss one single event for Schoolgirls and Mobile Suits. That's a sort of anime convention that my school holds every year. Friday night is a cosplay ball, Saturday is lectures, and Sunday is workshops. Lots of people in the anime/manga business come in and talk. One of the Tokyopop editors is even going to be there looking at portfolios! Last year was lots of fun, and I got in the top five for the costume contest as Belldandy from Oh! My Goddess. Anyway, this year I'm volunteering to help out, mainly so that I can meet all the guests coming! Is that wrong of me? All right, so mainly I want to meet the Tokyopop editor. Sue me! LoL. It's lots of fun and open to anyone who wants to go. You can even earn a college credit for going! If you'd like to learn more about SGMS, or would like to go, please visit the website. http : www . mcad . edu / anime It's in Minneapolis, but lots of people come from out of state. Okay, so that's my selling of SGMS. Please come! LoL. Anyway, this chapter almost strikes me as a filler chapter, even though it really isn't. It's just that I have so many big things planned for next chapter! We're even going to get an idea of what's happening to Sam, for those of you who haven't figured it out yet. I told you that you'd find out sooner or later. Anyway, that's all I have for now. Please keep reading, reviewing, and please check out SGMS!

Chapter 12 Dancing With Yourself

Sam watched on as the three friends walked off, deep in conversation. She was still in shock as to what had happened today.

Figuring that she had nothing to lose, she had decided to talk to that boy. Using the incident in the hall she approached him. The boy, Danny, was overly delighted to be speaking with her. What she found strange though was how it almost seemed like he was talking to an old friend, only very careful about what was said.

When she looked into his blue eyes there was that familiar pain in her heart. However she didn't have time to think about it for long.

He asked her to hang out with them, go to the mall after school, like a normal teenager. That was something she hadn't planned on. Fearful she quickly turned down the offer with a lie and ran.

Inside the bathroom that nagging voice popped up again.

I thought that's what you wanted, it had said. You wanted to hang out and go to the mall, like everyone else, to forget about being a Halfa.

Of course she wanted that, but this was way to fast. She couldn't go from talking to no one and then hanging out with a group of people in one day.

She had thought that was the end of it. However that boy seemed as though he wished to save her. Again he had invited her to come with.

Thankfully she was able to remember the lie she had told him earlier and continued with that story. He seemed to buy it, even though he looked slightly heartbroken. How strange, she thought.

Not willing to leave well enough alone he told her that she was welcome to hang out with them. "Ha, like I would ever hang out with a bunch of humans," she gaffed. She pushed off the tree that she was leaning on and began to walk to the park.

For someone who sure seems to want to be one, you sure hate humans, don't you?

Damn that voice again. "Why shouldn't I hate them? They changed me into this freak of nature."

Didn't we already go over this? They, as you like to call them, did not change you. The other Halfa did, but how do you think he feels about what he did?

"He probably thinks of me as a threat, or an annoyance. Never seemed to care much about me before now, did he?"

You don't know that. Maybe he was watching you the whole time from a far.

"Okay, so say if he was watching me, then why not approach me before now?"

Do you think it likely that he was afraid or nervous?

"I don't care what he thinks."

But you would like to know why he looks at you with that sense of longing, correct?

"No," she lied.

Is it really that hard to admit the truth to yourself?

Sam crossed her arms and fell silent for a moment. "Fine. Yes, I want to know what he looks at me the way he does, why he knows so much about me, what he never seemed to care about me before, why he changed me and left me, and why it hurts to look him in the eye. And his name, I want to know his name."

Well, I can help you with that last one right now.

"You have to be kidding me. Are you—I mean am I psychic or something?"

You would know if you were psychic. I am only a part of you.

"Oh."

Are you finished acting like Tucker now?

"Excuse me?" she said slightly offended.

Never mind. I should have known you wouldn't get it. That's because you're being stubborn.

"Yeah, yeah. Now what were you saying before that?"

Oh, yes. Thank you. The Halfa goes by Danny Phantom.

"That sounds kind of familiar."

And it should. Sheesh. I think I'm finally getting through to you.

"Gee, thanks. So now that I have admitted I have issues with this Phantom character, isn't this the part where you tell me what I'm supposed to do?"

Why should I? I am a part of you, so you know somewhere.

"You're so much help, thanks."

Let's not get snippy here. What do you think you should do?

"Kill him," she said simply.

All right, back away from the anger and tell me again what you think you should do.

"No idea."

On the other hand, maybe you are hopeless.

"Hey!"

Well, you sure are acting that way. What did I tell you last time?

She thought for a moment. "Talk to him?"

Very good! Would you like a cookie now?

"No, I do not want a cookie."

Good, because I didn't have any to give you anyway. Hahaha!

Sam sat down on one of the swings and watched the sky slowly change colors. "There's a reason you popped up now, isn't there?"

What do you mean?

"Well, I know I'm not going crazy, so there has to be a reason you're hanging around. Right? I mean I never heard voices before."

I'm here because you needed me.

"I don't understand why though."

Something is wrong; I was created to fix it. I'll be here until everything returns to normal. Think of me as your guide.

"Oh," Sam said quietly even though she didn't understand. Maybe she wasn't meant to.

Her eyes wandered the park. Everything was silent. On the other side of the park something moved. Sam's reaction was to transform but then she realized what, or who really, it was.

Danny was walking through the park alone. Without realizing it Sam had gotten up and started towards him. "Uh, hi Danny."

He froze and looked up from what he was carrying. "Sam. Uh, hey. What are you doing out here?"

"Just getting some fresh air. Where are your two friends?" How odd, she thought. I always seem to know what he's around, same with that Halfa boy.

"Tucker and Jessica? They're still at Jessica's house, probably making out by now," he joked. Sam didn't laugh. "Um, yeah. We decided to watch some movies. I cut out early because I have some homework to do."

"Understandable. Are you jealous of them?"

"Why would I be?"

She shrugged. "They're happy. You don't seem very happy. You seem... alone."

Danny fingered his cell phone. She noticed it had a ghost faceplate. "I guess. Maybe I am. I never thought I was alone before now."

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

He paused, "Yeah, but you don't know her."

"Oh. Are you guys fighting?"

"I guess you could say that."

"I'm sorry. I hope you guys work things out."

"I think we will." His eyes seemed to get slightly brighter.

Sam looked up and noticed the sky had gone black. Drat, I missed the sunset, she thought. Of course worse things could distract me. Not that she would admit it, but she was starting to enjoy this boy's company.

He seemed to notice that the sun had gone down too. "Oh man! I'm sorry. I guess I didn't realize how late it was. You probably have better things to do than talk to me."

"Not really."

"Well, since it is my fault that you're out so late would you like me to walk you home? It's not really safe to be out alone after dark. Lots of weirdo's you know."

And I'm one of them, Sam mused to herself. "Sure, I mean if it's not out of your way," she said surprising herself.

"No, in fact it's right on the way."

"All right. I would like that."

The two teenagers set off down the street. Sam had a nagging feeling that she really wasn't leading him at all. She didn't really care. For once she was almost normal as they walked down the empty street talking about homework and teachers.

"Goodnight Danny," she called after him as he headed down the street. Then she made a dash for her room. She didn't much feel like being bothered by the butler right now.

After she had shut the door behind her, Sam walked over to her stereo and turned her CD on. Swaying slowly she let the music was over her.

You enjoyed that.

"Enjoyed what?" she asked closing her eyes.

Talking with him. You like him, don't you?

"No!" she nearly shouted opening her eyes now.

Touchy. Fine, you keep on lying to yourself.

"I'm not lying to myself. Even if I did like him, it wouldn't work out. I'm a freak, remember?"

What do you think he'd do if you told him?

"He'd probably think that I was crazy."

You could always show him.

"Oh yes, so he can run screaming into the night. Great, that's just what I want."

Aw, come on. Let's go show him. I bet he'd like it.

"No one would like to find out someone's a freak of nature."

Oh well. I wonder what he thinks of himself as.

"Who cares?"

No idea. What are you doing?

"Dancing," she stated, still swaying to the music.

Dancing with yourself. Have you really sunk that low?

"It's not low. I just like dancing."

And singing.

"Yes, and singing. Is that a crime?"

No, not at all. But don't you think that cleaning your room would be a better use of your time?

Sam sighed. "No. Why should I clean my room? The maid will do it in the morning."

I think you lost something though.

"I haven't lost anything."

I beg to differ.

"Fine, I'll humor you. Where am I looking?"

Under the bed.

Simple enough. Sam knew for a fact that there was nothing under there. She dropped onto her knees and reached blindly under the bed. After feeling around for a couple minutes her fingers connected with something hard.

"What's that?"

Pulling it out she noticed it was something small and black. She turned it over and saw what it was. A cell phone. And it had the same faceplate as Danny's phone did.