Marrin looked across Amity Park. It was a gloomy day and no one seemed to be out frolicking in the snow. A snowman from last night was glistening by the fountain. She threw a rock at it. "I hate the holidays..." She mumbled slightly. Marrins' short ruby colored hair gleaming as she turned to the snowman and shook her head.
"You're lucky, you know," She muttered to the frozen air, but looking at the snowman. "--That you don't have to deal with the ever-present threat of social interaction."
Danny looked over Amity Park's grass. It was glazed, like the warm doughnut he held in his hand. Almost no one was around except that new girl from school. What was her name? Oh, yeah. Marrin. He took a bite of his steamy doughnut. Danny loved early morning walks, but latley more and more people seemed to be up at 6:30, so he wasn't able to fly around without risking something. Shrugging, he wandered over the fountain and tossed in a bit of spare change. His wish? Well...
Marrin smelled a wonderful scent of pastry. She sat back and closed her eyes, thinking of the wonderful pastries her mother had once made. The delightful scent brought back so many wonderful and painful memories.
Danny, secretly, had always wanted to visit a place that was preserved; a meadow, or a forest; completely unsoiled with footprints and hidden from the sun. A dark place, a magical place. He would be alone with his thoughts. And it would be his place; even in the summer, it would be abundant in beauty and grace. Of course, these thoughts would cross Danny's mind just barley every winter, but it crossed Marrins' every moment. A perfect ice palace.
A haven.
No.
A heaven.
Marrin saw Danny toss his coin into the fountain. She sighed and wished she had a penny to make a wish with. If she did, she'd wish for a ice-palace. A perfect home. A heaven for her. And if she had anothet, she'd wish for a soul-mate. Someone who understood her. But she always put the ice palace first, knowing that no one would ever be her soul-mate. No one liked her that way. She felt like a shell; a walking, breathing shell. Many parts of her where numb, but other parts of her just hurt; They where her center, where the darkest of her thoughts bred ghosts of depression to fill her mind. Whispers. She heard whispers and swirved around to see a couple popular girls on their way to school.
Anger filled her thoughts. God, she hated emotions… Her hands glowed purple and the streetlight shook all of it's snow off onto them. She smirked a bit. But it didn't really mean anything; it was just an empty vengeance.
Turning away, she noticed how shiny the snowman's nose was, and proceeded towards it. Inside, preserved, was a penny, glazed over in ice. It reminded her about the ice palace she would never have, and a wish she should've made a long time ago.
Marrin flipped the coin into the fountain and wished for her palace.
Danny watched her. I wonder what she wished for...
"Hi," He said coolly, but a nervous smile began to take over his lips, "I'm….Danny. You're Marrin, right?"
Marrin nodded, then hid her face in the top of her coat. Suddenly, she felt a little nauseous.
"Erm..Nice to meet you, Danny."
Danny kicked a bit of snow nervously. It landed on her boot. He grinned. "Sorry. So, your new here to Amity, right?"
"Yes," She shook it off.
School didn't start for another hour, so before he could catch was he was saying, he blurted out, "Do you want to go to the Nasty Burger before school? I'm meeting some friends there."
Marrin let a slight blush cross her cheeks. "Oh-- Um, really? I guess-- Sure-- I'd... Like that. Thanks." Her cheeks burned and her face flushed. Her heart was beating at one hundred miles for hour. "I'll be there."

SONG
Crashed on the floor when I met them
At the Nasty Burger with some strange new friends
I'm worried, am I too gaunt, I'm too thin?
We promise each other it's till the end
Now we're laughing like best friends
It's just the four of us
With a pretty eyed boy girls die to trust
I can't resist the day
No, I can't resist the day
Tucker screams out and it's no pose
'Cause when he goes crazy, he goes and goes
Diet soda through the nose on an inside joke
I'm so excited, I haven't spoken
And she's so pretty, and she's so sure
Maybe I'm more clever than a girl like her
This relationship's all in bloom
Is it ending soon?
It's alright and it's nice not to be so alone
But I hold on to your secrets in white houses
END THAT PART OF THE SONG

Marrin looked up at the Nasty Burger sign. "...Okay..." She stepped inside and looked for Danny.
Sam was talking about 'how controversial Christmas has become' and Tucker was trying to argue. Danny sat down with three bags from the counter, and four drinks.
"Marrin!" He called, and waved her over.
"Marrin? Whos' Marrin?" Tucker questioned, and then his face brightened. "Someone I might have a chance with?!"
"The new kid at school," Sam said with a sigh. "As if we need another hopeless addition to the student body at Casper High. The population never stops growing here at Amity."
Danny felt a firey feeling inside when Tucker said that. He suddenly got up and walked towards her. Tucker looked after him, then mouthed 'What's his deal?!'. Sam nodded her head and mouthed back 'I dunno'. She had a firey feeling inside, too.
"I got you a diet soda," He explained, hoping against hope she liked diet. He felt really weird around her; like when he first tried to talk to Paulina.
Marrin took the soda. "...Thanks." She sat down beside Tucker. I hate diet... Oh well. She took a sip and shuddered inside.
"So, your new? Where'd you move from?" Sam asked, drinking her Chocolate milkshake. Tucker suddenly jumped up and pulled a plastic bag out of his meal.
"YES! I have the last in the Lord of the Rings: Minis' COLLECTION! WHOO! Prepare yourself world for-" He ripped open the bag and slammed the creature on the table. "MINI ARAGORN!"
"Oooooooookay…" Marrin blinked.
Suddenly, Sam stood up and spoke.
"I have to go guys. I haven't done any of the things I told my parents I'd do while they where out of town on their Second Honeymoon. If I get it all done before school at 8:05, we could hang out tonight." She tried to put on a fake smile, but Danny knew better. Something was wrong. Grabbing her backpack and milkshake, Sam tried very casually to wave to Danny as she wandered out. When Sam was about halfway home, she sighed, pushing a black lock of hair out of her eyes. She hadn't kept her bangs down in years, and she knew she hated them down. But she didn't care right now. For some reason, she felt sick.
Danny still didn't know she was rich, and with the new girl around, Sam was really feeling nervous about telling Danny anything. She didn't know why, this new girl…was just…so different.
"…Is it me?" Marrin asked.
Danny looked at Sam as she waved, then turned to Marrin.
"Nah. She's been acting really down lately."
Tucker jumped in, and it became apparent he had thought they were listening to him. He was talking really fast.
"…With super jit-su action! LOOKIT IT! Aragorn doesn't REALLY practice Chinese fighting teqniques, but hey, what the heck! IS IT NOT AWESOME?!"
Marrin looked to Danny. "...Wanna leave him?"
Very quickly, Danny replied, "Oh yeah."
He ducked under the table and around to the door. Tucker didn't seem to notice.
Marrin felt very shy as she walked outside. She swung her hands at her sides. Danny suddenly found his hand grasping hers. She blushed, but didn't move it.
Danny tugged at her and he ran. He wasn't sure where he was going, but it seemed...Right.
Like he would miss something if he didn't.
"Where are we going?" Called Marrin, running with him.
He suddenly stopped, and became aware. ".......Away from Tucker before he starts singing lyrics to the Lord of the Rings theme music...thing?" He became very conscious of the fact her was holding her hand, and giggled nervously as he let go. His foot phased through his shoe, and suddenly he toppled backwards.
She gasped as he fell back. "Are you okay?!" She leaned down to help him up.

SONG AGAIN
Maybe I'm a little bit over my head
I come undone at the things he said
And he's so funny in his white and red shirt
We were all in love and we all got hurt
I sneak into his car's cracked leather seat
The smell of gasoline in the summer heat
Boy, we're going way too fast
It's all too sweet to last
It's alright
And I put myself in his hands
But I hold on to your secrets in white houses
Love, or something ignites in my veins
And I pray it never fades in white houses
END THAT PART

When Danny replied, he held his head in his hand dizzily. "Um...No major damage, I think."
Marrin reached her hand out to help him up, but for a moment it went intangible. Marrin was confused, and since she was looking at Danny's face, she didn't notice his hand. When she realized she didn't touch it, Danny's face dawned a look of panic and he hid the hand behind his back and offered her the other one.
She took it suspiciously, but pulled him up nonetheless. "Are you SURE your you...hand me my shoe?" He asked, making sure his intangible hand stayed out of sight. Why won't it change back?!
She handed him his shoe. "Danny, is there something wrong with you? Or is it me?"
"Well," He began, shoving his shoe onto his foot, and wobbling as he stood. "Lets just say I'm a lot... more supernatural than you know right now." He winked at her, but nearly fell over and grabbed her arm to save himself from tumbling. He felt himself blush feverishly as his arm suddenly came back into view.
She felt a slight blush cross her face. "...What about Sam? She really didn't seem to like me, and she walked out so quickly."
Danny shrugged, suddenly feeling guilty. "Sams probably still…warming up to you. A lot of her friends…Before she met Tucker and me…Were kinda…" He searched for a word. "Jerks. She just doesn't trust people right away, you'll just need to give her some time. As for her leaving, I don't think it was you. I bet she just had stuff to do for her parents before they get home tomorrow. Don't beat yourself up about it."
"...If you say so." She looked over Amity Park. "I'm so new here. I want to fit in, be a normal kid. But I just can't be. I'm different in many ways, too many to count."
"Don't think of it as 'different'," Danny tried to conclude, "Think of it as 'unique'. Take me for example. For one, I'm banned from handling any fragile school…things. I possessed a supposedly "haunted" locker that one time…My parents are ghost hunters. And my best friends are a goth ultra-recyclo vegetarian and techno geek. But I don't think of it as 'different' or a reason to label me a 'loser'. I think of it as 'unique.' Unique is good." He shuddered to himself. Sams' opinions where rubbing off.
She smiled. "That is a really, really good way of putting it."
"You think? Take it from Sam. She's the one who taught us—Me and Tucker—That fitting in doesn't matter." He grinned and looked at her eyes. Then turned away and blushed.
"HEY FENTON!"
"Oh no…"
Dash rounded the corner with his groupies.
Marrin felt fear in her heart, then bravery. "What do you want, BAXTER?!"
Dash, quite simply, began laughing. "Fenton must've finally dumped that goth geek for THIS loser!"
Kwan and his other croonies joined in, chanting, "LOSER! LOSERS!" Repeatadly. Dannys eyes glowed green and he narrowed then darkly in his rage.
Marrin felt her hands sparking. She growled. "Oh, you're going to wish you'd never said anything, Dash Baxter..."
Dash just laughed even more, and Danny allowed his eyes to turn blue again. "WHY!? Whacha gunna do about it, LOSER?!"
Kwan tapped his leader on the shoulder.
"I think she's serious," He nearly whispered. "Dude, lets just go."
Marrin pointed her hand at the streetlight nearby. It came undone and teetered towards Dash and his groupies. "I told you! NOW GO!"
In shock, Dash and his group began running and screaming. "FREAK! FENTONS DATING A FREAK!" He yelled, but he meant 'freak' to be the insult, not 'dating'.
Danny watched in shock, opening his mouth to say something but not able. Finally, he was able to choke out, "How the heck did you--"
"HEY GUYS! You left the Nasty Burger so I ate all your stuff! Except Sams. It was.. .A salad." Tucker shuddered. "Anyway, its 7:30, we should head over to school now."
"I told you I was weird!" Tears stung Marrin's eyes and they rolled down her cheeks. She ran off, hiccuping like mad.
"Ah great. Tucker, can you help me--"
"Hmmmmm?" Tucker had been zoned in on his pda. He then gasped. "LOOKIT! A street pole is following Dash! ....Isn't that dangerous?"
"I think so. But look, Marrin--"
"THAT IS SO COOL! How did you--"
"I didn't," Danny interrupted sharply. "Marrin did, and now she's crying."
Sam rejoined them. "HEY, GUYS! What'd I miss?"
Tucker began to laugh. "Sam, whats WRONG with you?!"
Her hair was mussed as if she'd been running and she was breathing harshly. "A FREAKING HUGE DOG CHASED ME THREE BLOCKS HERE. DON'T ASK." She then brightened again. "Okay, I'm tired. Where's the new kid?" Her stomach trembled as she spoke.
"She....Lifted a street pole."
"WHAT?!" Sam's face grew paler then normal. "...What do you mean?! As in, strength, or powers?!"
Tuckers eyes widened.
"Its obviously not strength..."
"Why do WE always find the angsty paranormal ones?!" Sam complained. "No offense, Danny."
"None taken." He replied, but it was clear he was deep in thought. "We should go talk to her."
"As long as we're not late for class!" Tucker interjected. And they began on their way to the school.
Marrin was hunched over her math, finishing some homework. She scribbled some equasions on the paper and solved then very fast.
It was completley empty; the Teacher wasn't even in yet. Which was good news for the group, because that meant they might be able to have a quick conversation.
"HI!" Tucker said really loudly, and Danny elbowed him. "You're rather ANNOYING," Sam concluded in Tuckers face.
Danny walked over to Marrin. "Hey, Marrin." He began, feeling back his hair. "Want to talk for..." He looked up at the clock, "Fifteen minutes? Then I'll leave you alone. I promise, Mmkay?"
"Don't you think I'm a freak?"
He considered telling Marrin about his powers, but...It wasn't the right time. Not yet. "Erm, Marrin, my parents are GHOST HUNTERS. I think I know what 'freaks' are. And your just..."
"Unique," Sam finished for him. "Can someone give me a simile to explain it?"
"Whats a simile again?" Tucker asked immediatly.
"Ugh, no WONDER your failing english."
"So?! I've been a social and physical outcast all my life. All because of my powers. Danny, you were the first good thing that my powers didn't ruin in Amity."
Tucker grinned. "Well that makes sense, because of his pow--OW!"
Sam kicked him hard in the shin. "Shut it!" She warned him through her clenched teeth.
"Oh come on...There has to be something else. Like pasteries," He suggested.
She nodded her head. "This is my 27th home I've tried. I'm praying I don't ruin everything. Again..."
"WOW, you must have a heckuva lot of soviniers!" Tucker began, but was cut off by Dannys glare. "Erm, sorry. I'm trying to look on the brightside...Again."
Before Danny had a chance to respond, yelling was heard from down the hall.
"I AM...THE BOX GHOST!"
"Oh no.."
Marrin peered into the hall. The Box Ghost grabbed her. She screamed and tried to break away from the ghost. "I am the Box Ghost! Surrender, or I will bury this girl under the squarish squariness of..." He squinted. "MR. LANCER, BIOLOGY TEACHER, ROOM 112!"
Danny ran into the room the box ghost WASN'T in. "I guess I have to battle the box ghost...Again." He murmured angrily. "Goin' Ghost!" Two white rings began to form at Dannys feet and head, slowly changing his hair and eye color. Those two white rings met in the middle, completing his transformation. Danny Phantom phased through the wall and floated infront of the box ghost angrily.
Marrin looked at him. Something suddenly clicked. She closed her eyes and recapped something. "Lets just say I'm a lot... more supernatural than you know right now..." She looked again at the ghost boy. "Danny..."
"Erm...H-Hi." He stuttered, but the Box Ghost interrupted him.
"I AM THE BOX GHOST! I CONTROL ALL THINGS SQUARE AND CARDBOARD!"
"Please. I don't have time for your Box Puns."
"...DO YOU THINK YOUR CYCLINDRICAL CONTAINER COULD HOLD ME?!"
"You mean the FENTON THERMOS?!"
Marrin looked to Danny helplessly. She saw him looking back at her. She muttered a few words under her breath and two copiers from nearby picked up and threw themselves at the box ghost. He went intangible and avoided her copiers. She laid down on the ground, weakened by the box ghost holding her in his grip.
Danny sighed, shaking his head. He reached to his side fo the Fenton Thermos, and twisted open the cap. A green light enveloped the Box Ghost, and Danny wondered aloud "How does that guy keep getting out?!"
Marrin turned over, looking at her arms. There were weird bruises from the Box Ghost's grip on her arms. "He's got a strong grip..."
"BEWWAAARE!" Was the last sound they heard before he Box Ghost dissapeared inside the Thermos.
Marrin pulled herself up and ran towards Danny, throwing her arms around him. "Danny, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I feel like I can leave all my bad memories behind and start fresh." Tears rolled down her cheeks.

SONG
My first time, hard to explain
Rush of blood, oh, and a little bit of emotional pain
On a cloudy day, it's more common to crush
He's my first love
Maybe you were all faster than me
We gave secrets to each other up so easily
Now those silly little wounds will mend
I feel so far from where I've been
So I go, and I will be back here again
I'm gone as the day is fading on white houses
I lie, put my injuries all in the dust
In my heart is the four of us
In white houses
And you, maybe you'll remember me
What I gave is yours to keep
In white houses
In white houses
In white houses
END SONG COMPLETELY

Danny smiled, but was REALLY, REALLY blushing. "Erm…Thanks…"
Sam and Tucker walked back into class. Although Sam wore a smile, she felt sick inside. Her stomach was tied into animal balloon shapes.
But he did the right thing.
He did.
He was helping her.
She needed someone.But why Danny?! Why HER Danny?!
Calming herself inside, she told herself to stop thinking that way. Danny didn't like her that way. She didn't like him that way…
Did he like Marrin that way?
Marrin let her tears roll down slowly. "I've been hurt so many times, Danny. And I finally have a true friend."
"Marrin, Powers aren't what makes a person a trustworthy friend. Its who they are. Most people here aren't that bad...Stick with Tucker, Sam and Me. Stay away from Dash and those other jerks, and you'll be fine." He transformed back into his human form.
She nodded and let go of him, tears still glistening like crystals. Her hands shook as she wiped them away. "I'm finally accepted." But she liked Danny more then a friend. Inside she felt so much more.
Danny smiled. He had no idea she had hurt so much inside. "C'mon. Lets get to class. Three more periods to lunch!" He took her hand and walked with her to class.
She took took his hand in hers and they walked down the hall to Music Class. "Danny-- Thanks for being so much to me. I know I've said it alot, but it just means to much to finally have a friend and to be accepted in a town even though I'm a freak. But-- Well--" She thought of telling him. "...Never mind."
He smiled and sat down between Tucker and Sam, as usual.

And Marrin felt acceptance.

((NOTE: White Houses belongs to Vanessa Carlton, but the lyrics have been altered to fit Marrins POV. Butch Hartman owns Danny Phantom. EBC owns Marrin. Got it?! I own exactly 50 of this story, and that's about it.))