Disclaimer- I do not, in any way, own Danny Phantom and am not making any money from this at all. So please, I beg you, don't sue.

Part One: Dark Eyes

Chapter Five: Broken Awakening

The object of my affection

is the object of my obsession.

She looks at me, but doesn't see my eyes.

I hide in the shadows of lies,

of self-doubt and darkness.

Yet seeing her gives me never ending bliss.

But not being able to touch, to be,

she doesn't even really know me.

She's always around.

I wish she had never been found.

I would never feel this,

such a yearn for just one kiss.

The music at Casper High could be heard for at least a block away. Couples were lining up and the doorway was packed. Danny hopped off and held out his hand. Sam accepted it and they headed for the line. A few people looked their way and began to whisper and point.

"Danny!" Paulina came walking up, Dash behind her. She frowned at Sam immediately. "I see that you have a date for the evening?"

"Um…yeah." He gripped Sam's hand tighter. "We thought we'd go together. Um…I see you're with Dash?"

It was more a question because he was so nervous. Dash lifted up a fist, threatening. Danny cowered a little. Sam rolled her eyes, with more than enough obvious disgust. When would everyone grow up and forget about the pettiness that high school held?

"Well, I hope you stay for the dance!" Paulina smiled. "Bye, Danny." She threw him a flirtatious smile.

She and Dash walked into the building, blending into the large crowd.

"What was that all about?" he asked Sam.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know…She probably just wants to catch a glimpse of the "ghost boy" she loves so much."

"How do you think she would react?"

"React? React how?" Realization dawned on her face. "You can't be serious! Danny. She's a shallow little puddle of nothing! She couldn't keep the secret and you know it!"

"I know, I know," he said. "I was kidding. Jeez. Calm down."

"Whatever." She tugged him along. "Let's go have some fun!"

"You guys having fun?" Tucker asked as he walked up to Danny and Sam. They glared at his date. "You all know Valerie, right?"

"I really wish I didn't," Sam muttered.

"So…Danny." Valerie knocked Sam out of the way. "Have your parents found anything out about the ghost boy yet?"

"No," he replied, "and I doubt they will." A slow song started and he breathed a sigh of relief. "If you'll excuse me, I have a dance to attend."

He grabbed Sam and whisked her out onto the dance floor. He looked back to see Valerie fuming, and Tucker trying to take advantage by asking to dance. She left him and went for the restroom. Danny couldn't help but grin at his good luck.

He turned his attention to Sam. "So…having a good time?" She looked so gorgeous in that black dress. "You look really…pretty." He winced at the lack of words.

"T- thanks." She blushed. "You really think so?"

"Definitely. It's perfect for you." He bit back a gulp.

Sam looked up at the clock and looked a bit surprised. He followed her gaze and saw that it was already midnight. That was sort of strange. The dance had gone a lot faster than he'd thought it would. In fact, this evening was just about perfect…except for one thing.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked. "Alone?"

She nodded and he led them both to the football field. Sam looked around, confused at the change of mood in the air. Danny took a breath and turned around to face her.

"Sam I kind of wanted to ask you this for a while…" He trailed off, embarrassed. It was as if he couldn't find the words. "What I wanted to ask is—"

"Look out!" She knocked him to the ground and they both looked up into the sky. "Shade," she whispered.

"What the hell…" Danny was surprised. No, shocked was a better word to describe his state of mind. What he saw, floating in the air was none other than his ghost self, except he knew it wasn't him, was it? "Who are you?"

He got up, pulling Sam with him. He could feel her trembling. That was strange. He could understand her being confused or surprised, but it was almost as if she was trembling in fear. What was going on?

"Yet seeing her gives me never ending bliss," he said. Danny felt Sam stumble back, gasp in terror. "Little Danny Fenton…You should know better than to mess with someone's girl."

It took Danny a moment to understand that he was talking about Sam. Danny instantly went on the defensive and allowed the change to happen. He felt anger coursing through him now, a rage that was growing, especially when the look alike smirked at him.

"Who are you?" he repeated.

"I'm the deepest darkness in a soul. I'm the thing that keeps you awake at night and fearful of unknown corners. I'm the hunger, the shadow that one never admits, but harbors it. If you give me a name, why don't we make it Shade?" He smiled, cruelly. While the introduction had been basically the same as with Sam, it still served to cause the amount of desired tension. "Since we all know each other, why don't you let Sam come with me?"

"No way!" Danny turned back to Sam. He grasped her shoulders. "I want you to run and hide, got it?"

"It won't matter." She shook her head. "He always finds me. He never goes away!"

"Sam…" He let go of her shoulders. "What are you talking about?"

"Too slow." Danny barely had his head turned around before he got a punch in the gut. He fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Shade smiled as he kicked at the fallen ghost boy. "You're quite the weakling. I don't know what Sam sees in you." He laughed as he got a cry of pain from Danny.

"Get away!" Danny let fly an endoplasmic beam, hitting Shade in the chest. The ghost went flying and hit the bleachers. "Now who's the weakling?"

Shade appeared before Danny. There wasn't any flash or smoke, but he was just there. It was as if he had been in one place on second and then another the next. He let fly another punch, but Danny turned intangible and the shot was no good.

Shade fell to the ground and growled. "It appears that this fight might get serious." An endoplasmic sword appeared in his hand. "Game start."

End Part One

Author's Notes- Sooo…what did all you readers think? Was this okay? I hope so, because this ends part one, because Sam isn't dreaming about this any more! Cool! Chapter one for part two should be up and on its way very soon, so I hope you keep an eye out for it. As always, I really, really, REALLY appreciate C&C! I hope that more and more people read this, because what's the point of writing something if nobody reads it? Coming soon: Part Two: Shadow Man. Stay tuned! Ciao.