Author Note: Hey guys. Okay, so I had this chapter 3/4 of the way done, but I was reading it over and realized I was totally screwing it up. So I deleted half of it, and re-did it. The first copy was so dramatic, and frankly, very unrealistic. So I re-did it this way, because I feel it's more effective then the first. Sometimes less is more, no? Okay so I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: Nope, Danny Phantom still doesn't belong to me...pity, really.
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The Manson Mansion was quiet as Sam made her way tentatively inside the cold house. She couldn't help but shudder...something just didn't feel right...but what was it? Her father's car had been in the parking lot and her stomach was nothing but a knot. Her mother's car was also home, meaning they had no doubt made contact, and who knew what had happened then. Sam was just thankful she hadn't been home when they crossed their paths.
Just as she hung up her coat on the rack by the door, she began to quickly ascend the stairway, hoping she wouldn't have to face her parents at all that night. It was later that day that she and Danny had fought and she felt horrible. Why had she gotten so defensive? It was ridiculous, that's what it was. Danny had only wanted to help her! Why had she put those damn barriers back up? They were horrible, those fucking barriers. She had problems. She couldn't even open up to her best friend about her parent's petty fighting, and yet she knew she was breaking inside. Damn teen angst, damn it all.
Just as she reached the top landing and was heading to the confines of her room, Sam heard her name being called from the kitchen. Grimacing, she turned around and slowly walked down the steps. What did her parents want with her? She wasn't anxious to see either of them, but she did want to find out which parent was hurt, or worse, what if it was serious? Loss of blood could be serious, what if one of her parents had struck a vein? Feeling sick, Sam sped up her face, suddenly anxious to see what her parents wanted with her, yet foreboding.
Sam entered the lavish kitchen and immediately the air hung thickly with tension, causing Sam's breathing to become haggard. She couldn't help it. Seeing her father sitting there at the kitchen table made her feel so distant, so alone...he hadn't been home for a few days, and seeing him there broke Sam's heart. She was never close to her parents in the first place, not having any special relationship with them. They were merely there for standard reasons, strictly. She couldn't talk to her mom about boys or anything, and her father she didn't even know. Sam had figured her parents were not cut out to be parents, and in fact, she was sure they hadn't even planned on having children. Sam came as an unexpected, and most likely unwelcome, surprise. Sam's mother was currently washing dishes at the sink, but Sam couldn't care less. She was staring at her father's forearm, a bandage wrapped around it, no doubt covering a wound...a wound which came from the crash she had heard last night. So her mother had thrown the plate...but why?
Sam stood there, almost in a trance, in front of her parents. When the awkward silence became too much and she thought she'd pass out from all the tension, Sam nervously cleared her throat. "You wanted me?"
Mr. Manson looked tiredly up at his daughter, with the hollow eyes Sam had inherited. Those hollow, those violet eyes that were so haunted, so tired, so lonely. Sam almost broke down right then and there. Her father didn't look pleased, but not necessarily angry either. More bothered, or annoyed than anything else. Sam tugged nervously at her low ponytail which spilled over her shoulder.
"We just got a call from your chemistry teacher," Mr. Manson began. "Mr. Bonsley, I think. He's concerned about your grades. According to him, they are slipping greatly...you went from an A- to a C in four weeks? When were you planning on telling us this, Samantha."
Sam frowned, shifting her feet and pulling at her hair. She'd dropped that much? She hadn't been aware of that...was it because of her parents fighting? Was it finally taking a toll on her studies? Sam didn't know if it was just because she was getting lazy, or she couldn't concentrate, but she knew neither was an answer her parents wanted.
"I didn't know," she said lamely. Honestly, she didn't care. She knew this was going to turn into her parents yelling at her, but she would just tune out and not listen...that way, she didn't get hurt, and her parents thought they had made a difference in Sam.
"What do you mean you didn't know?!" Her mother now turned around and glared down at her daughter. Sam just continued to stare ahead out the window above the sink. Her mother had a temper of her own, but she'd get over it. "Sam, you failed that chemistry test! Now, that's going to bring your lovely C down to a D. Sam, what's happening?"
Sam opened her mouth to protest, but her father cut her off.
"That's not all," he began, his anger suddenly sparked. Wonderful. So much for the 'bothered-annoyed' state of mind. Now he looked downright pissed. "He also informed me that your other grades are slipping. Hm! You dropped to a C also in math class, and a B in human studies. Human studies, Samantha! A B is not an exception. That is one of the easiest classes! What is wrong with you?"
Sam inwardly sighed. Will her parents ever shut up? So she's struggling in school, it's their fault anyway. Sam hated when her parents became all dramatic and morbid. It was enough to have them fighting, but when they got on her case continually, Sam grew annoyed and distant. No wonder her parents thought her to be some cold girl, they didn't even know her. They were either busy correcting her, or caught up in their own drama.
"Samantha Manson!" her father yelled angrily, spitting flecks of spit onto Sam's face. "You answer us right now! What is wrong with you?! Why are your grades slipping?! Is it drugs Samantha, are you smoking pot, is that it? Or are you having sex? That's it, isn't it, are you sneaking around behind our backs with boys—I knew I should have..."
Sam stopped listening to her father. Pot? Sex? What, was this some kind of after-school special? Sam felt like laughing out loud, but she just continued to stare lazily ahead. Her father was the most dramatic of all...what did he think of her? Some low-life scum? She wasn't that stupid.
"It's that Danny kid isn't it!" he yelled angrily. "You're not to hang out with him!"
"Samantha, what is going on here?"
Blah...blah...blah.
"Sam, answer us now!"
Blah...blah...blah.
"This is humiliating, a D in chemistry?"
Blah...blah...blah.
"What is your problem?"
Blah...blah...blah.
"Is something mentally wrong with you?!"
Blah...blah...blah.
"Samantha Manson, answer us right now!"
Sam still didn't answer her parents. She just looked down at her feet, hoping they'd give up on her. It was a drag having to talk to her parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Manson looked at Sam angry, irritated, all of the above. Sam couldn't stand it, but she bit her tongue. Finally, Mrs. Manson sighed irritably.
"It's no wonder you don't have many friends," she sighed. "You don't talk, and you're out of it. Just...just go to your room. You're grounded."
Sam turned away from her parents and hurried up to her bedroom, glad they'd let her go, but suddenly extremely sad. Was something wrong with her? Maybe her Mom was right...she didn't talk very much, only with Danny and Tucker, but yet lately she had been having trouble talking to them. It was annoying the hell out of her, yet she just couldn't do it. Talking to Danny about her parents was hard...she thought he'd just think of her as stupid. Well, she was stupid, for letting her parents have an effect on her grades and her personal life. What was wrong with her?
Curling up on her bed with her knees close to her chest, Sam closed her eyes. She felt so alone and so guilty. It was her fault she was feeling alone, if she'd just swallowed her pride and told Danny about her parents fighting and how much it was killing her, she wouldn't have to feel so horrible. She knew he'd be there, she knew it, but she couldn't tell him, something inside her just wouldn't let him. Part of her was screaming at her, telling her she was being stupid and foolish, yet another part didn't want to bother her friend with her troubles. Danny was too busy; he didn't need Sam's melodramatic self wallowing after him.
A silver gleam caught her eye, coming from her desk. It was her sharp pencil blade—and it was almost teasing her, daring her to pick it up. For a moment she actually contemplated using it as a cheap way out, just a few cuts and maybe she'd feel better. But the thought quickly vanished from her mind. For one thing, she didn't have enough guts to cut, and for another, she found it somewhat stupid and foolish. Turning her back from the blade, she sighed a deep, shaky breath and closed her eyes.
She was nine and her parents and she had gone to one of those orchards during the fall. Her father had picked her up and put her on the hayride, then he helped her mother up and all three of them were on the hayride. Her mother laughed and a gentle breeze drifted Mrs. Manson into her Mr. Manson's arms. Sam tasted her candy apple, and all three of them smiled and were at peace for one long moment that seemed to last forever.
Crash. Scream. Yell. Cry. Swear. Slam. Gone.
A lone tear traveled down Sam's face as she hugged her knees closer to her chest, wishing she was little again. When things were easier, when playing princess was all that mattered. Back when she could tell Danny anything. Back when her parents were happy. Back when she was happy. Back when everything was...beautiful.
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Sam watched Danny from afar at his locker, putting his books away on Monday morning. He took of his head and shook his head, his black hair tousled and messy, making him look windswept. Sighing, she wished she hadn't been so mean to him Saturday night. He'd tried calling her on Sunday, but she wouldn't pick up, wanting to just be alone. She felt so guilty, so stupid. Taking a deep breath, she held her books under her right arm and made her way up to Danny, weaving in and out of the junior mass.
"Hey," she said softly, leaning against the lockers beside his locker. He looked at her and frowned, but his eyes lit up.
"Hey," he said, rather distantly. Sam inwardly cringed. He had every right to be pissed at her...she had acted like a total jerk and completely immature, hell, she'd even be furious with herself. But she knew Danny, and she knew he'd forgive her so quickly he'd forget why she was even mad. That's what she liked about Danny...he rarely held a grudge. Unlike her, who wasn't so forgiving.
"Listen," she started. "I'm sorry about the way I acted the other night. It was stupid of me to act that way. I—"
Danny held up his hand and sighed. "No, I'm sorry. I was totally in your space and I knew you didn't feel like talking about whatever was going on...I'm sorry I was so demanding. I can be thick-headed, and I was such a moron."
Sam shook her head stubbornly. "No, it's my fault, I'm sorry."
"Well, I'm sorry, so shut up," Danny said.
"No, I'M sorry, so you shut up," Sam snapped. Danny stood there a moment, kind of glaring at her, and then grinned, shaking his head and closing his locker. Sam grinned also; glad Danny wasn't mad at her anymore.
"You're retarded," he said, as they made their way to homeroom.
"Eh, what can you do, right," Sam laughed. Danny was glad to have Sam laughing. Even if it was for a second. He still wanted to know what was going on, but he'd wait until she was ready...or at least a few more hours. The bell rang, and Sam entered homeroom after Danny, glad she was talking to him again, but straining herself to smile. It was hard putting on a front, and Sam was afraid that front would be crumbling soon.
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Hey guys. Thanks so much for the reviews! I wasn't expecting that much feedback. Holler. Thanks to: getfuzzyfan04, Ryo's destiny, Moody Maud, Snow Owl Queen, Fox of Light, Danni-2005, lightning streak, Coldplayer813, Mujitsu Yume, RainbowSerenity. Thanks so much for reviewing, it keeps me writing! It's inspiration. Anyways, I hope you all liked this chapter, it was a bit shorter, yes, but I'm exhausted, worked all day today. :) Anyways, thanks again! Love and Strawberries, The Good Girl.