Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom… credit goes to the talented Butch Hartman. The song "She's No You" doesn't belong to me either, credit goes to Jesse McCartney.

"She's No You"

Chapter 1

"So you guys have any plans for the weekend?" asked the almost sixteen year old Goth girl, Samantha Manson who was

walking in between her two best friends, Daniel Fenton and Tucker Foley. The three just got out of school and were now walking to Danny's house to hang out for a while.

"Nope, I'm free." Tucker replied after checking his practically empty schedule in his PDA.

"Don't think so." Danny replied after some thought.

"Do you guys want to come over on Satur-"

"Oh Danny!" an annoyingly high pitched voice called from behind them.

Sam had an annoyed look on her face as she was rudely interrupted by Casper High's "miss popularity" herself, Paulina. Danny rolled his eyes as he turned to face Paulina which didn't go unnoticed by Tucker. 'Wow, did he really get over Paulina?'

Paulina handed Danny a small card "My parents are away for the weekend and I have the house all to myself so I'm throwing a party this Saturday. Can you do me a big favor and bring your friend with you?" Paulina winked while she held onto Danny's arm and attempted to put on the sweetest smile she could muster. She didn't really want to invite this 'loser' to her party, which was only for her popular and rich friends and not to mention a particular 'ghost' that she had her eye on.

Danny looked skeptical and somewhat confused while Sam kept her usual annoyed expression on her face, the face she always made whenever she was in "miss popularity's" presence or whenever Tucker and Danny ogled her while she passed by acting all high and mighty.

"We wouldn't be caught dead at one of your parties, Paulina" Sam answered for Danny while she pulled Paulina's arm off of his. She knew Paulina all too well and knew that the only reason that Paulina wanted to invite Danny to her party was because she wanted Danny Phantom to be there. Most likely because he was a 'no-show' at her 15th two years ago, freshman year.

Paulina glared daggers at Sam "One: Was I talking to you, freak? No, so shut it and two: You and that techno geek aren't even invited so you have no say in this conversation."

Danny saw Sam about ready to jump her but stopped her by standing in between the two girls and holding Sam back with one hand. He didn't want things to start becoming violent.

"There's no need for name calling Paulina." Danny said in a serious tone. "If Sam and Tucker aren't invited, then what 'friend' are you talking about?"

She sighed, "Well, the truth is I'm only inviting you because you're the closest I can get to inviting the ghost boy. So I figured,"

Sam interrupted her for a change "Wow, you actually 'figured' something out by yourself? It's a miracle!" She commented sarcastically and smirked seeing the annoyed expression on her face.

"Excuse me? And what was that suppose to mean?"

"Exactly what I said."

This time Danny had to stop Paulina from attacking Sam. "Alright, as you were saying?"

"As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted… I need you to give this invite to the ghost boy and invite him to my party. I would invite him myself," she continued "but he's difficult to find when he's not saving me…" Paulina had hearts in her eyes as became sidetracked and began talking about how her situation resembled that of a princess in distress and her 'knight in shinning armor' coming to her rescue… or wasn't it more like 'knight in spandex'?

Sam didn't put much effort in shrouding her disgust as she crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes in annoyance. 'Oh gosh, here she goes again… I'm going to be sick. I'm glad she didn't invite me this time. I've got better things to do with my Saturdays than to go to a party at her house.' Actually, Sam too, was planning a party of her own this Saturday. Not one as fancy and as big as "miss conceited" but a small one with just her best friends. It was her 16th birthday and since her parents weren't going to be home for her birthday, again, she planned to have them over so she wouldn't be alone with just her maids.

"Yeah, yeah, ok, Paulina. We've gotta get going" Danny just wanted to stop her rambling. It was driving him insane with boredom. Before she got a chance to remind him he continued "Yes, I'll make sure he gets this invite."

"And… make sure he comes this time! I told my friends that I know the ghost boy personally and they're expecting him to be at my party. So don't blow it or you are so dead on Monday, you got that?"

"Don't worry, Paulina. He'll be there. Saturday, 8pm ."

Sam stopped walking as she stared at the back of Danny's head.

'Did Danny just say that he'll go to her party?'

"That was surprising, man."

"What was?" Danny asked Tucker. They just arrived at Danny's house and were now in his room.
Sam had excused herself before they even reached his house saying that she had a report to do for her science class which confused Danny because he was in her science class and he didn't remember any report that was assigned to them.

"Earlier when Paulina was taking to you," Tucker continued "you didn't stutter or anything. Not you mention your pants didn't fall down."

"Hey, that only happened once! Besides, that was when I couldn't really control my powers."
Tucker laughed "Whatever… it's just that I didn't think you were serious when you told me that you got over Paulina. You've liked her since freshman year."

"Yeah, well… I guess I just finally realized how shallow and stuck-up she is."

"Or you finally realized that you're in love with Sam…" Tucker muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing" Tucker replied with a smile "So, I guess this means that you've finally 'seen the light' huh?" Tucker laughed as Danny threw a pillow at him from his bed. He was sitting on his bed while Tucker sat on the bean bag chair in the corner. "I was really surprised about one thing though…how could you, of all people, forget Sam's birthday? You never forgot before."

"Huh? I didn't forget Sam's birthday."

"Dude, if you didn't then why'd you just tell Paulina that Danny Phantom was going to be at her party?"

"To stop her rambling… a-and because I wasn't thinking clearly at the time… I was just looking for a way to leave without telling her to shut her mouth" Danny stated simply which elicited laughs from both boys.

"Well, man, if that's true, then you better find a way to make it up to Sam. I have a feeling that she actually believes that you completely forgot."

"What makes you say that?"

"Dude, we have her for science class, remember?"

"Yes…your point is?"

Tucker felt like smacking his head with his hand. "She just said that she had a report to work on for science class." Danny nodded slowly "She lied just to go home because she thinks that you forgot it's her birthday this Saturday! The same day as Paulina's party! The party that you said that you'd go to as Danny Phantom!"

Tucker relaxed after seeing Danny's eyes widen a bit in realization.

"Oh no…"

"Yeah" Tucker said while rolling his eyes.

Danny suddenly began to smile. 'Wait, I can make this work…'

"I've got an idea… Tucker, I need your help…"

A cool breeze softly blew the loose hair on Sam's face while she sat by her open window staring up at the night sky. She wasn't really looking at the stars or the constellations that they made but rather, she was deep in thought, thinking about the events that occurred after school.

'How could Danny forget that it's my birthday this Saturday?' was the main topic on her troubled mind. 'Wait a minute, why do I care whether or not Danny remembered my birthday… it's not like he's my boyfriend and he forgot our anniversary or something…' Sam blushed and shook her head to rid her mind of such thoughts. 'This is silly; I shouldn't be so upset just because he forgot my birthday… for the first time…' Sam sighed; she did a lot of that today. That and force herself to not cry but it was to no avail.

'Oh, who am I kidding? I know why I'm so upset…' She had known for a long time already actually, about the 'more-than-friends' feelings she harbored for her hybrid ghost friend. Maybe it was after the incident with Ember? No wait… even before that… maybe after their first 'fake-out make-out'? Exactly when it started, Sam didn't know. All she knew was that she probably felt this way even before he got his ghost powers and as time went on and their bond of friendship grew stronger, so did these hidden feelings.

Sam glanced at the clock and noticed that it was past

midnight already. She sniffed and wiped her face with her hands. After letting a final breeze dry her tears she closed her window and made sure it was locked then climbed into bed.

'I guess I'm going to be alone for my birthday this year…'

The lunch bell had just gone off which indicated two things: It was time for lunch, obviously, and that there were only two more classes left until the students were free of school, that is, until Monday morning. Yes, it was Friday, which meant that tomorrow was Saturday… the Saturday when two parties… or rather one party and one very lonely birthday celebration would take place…well, not if Danny could help it. He just hoped that everything he had planned would come out right…

"Are you sure you called her and she said yes for tomorrow, Tuck? I want this surprise to be perfect."

"For the millionth time, Danny, yes! I called her and she said that she'd do it. Gosh, have some
faith in me would ya?"

"Sorry, I'm just nervous I guess. I want everything to go as planned."

"Don't worry so much, Danny. I'm sure she'll love it."

"Who'll love what?" Sam was standing at the edge of their usual table holding her lunch tray. She had just overheard the last part of their conversation.

Danny and Tucker didn't notice her until then which made their heart rates accelerate out of sheer surprise.

"Oh, uh…" Danny looked over to Tucker asking for help.

"Um, we were just talking about…uh, the gift that Danny got for…" Danny gave a 'what-in-the-world-are-you-saying' kind of face, thinking that Tucker was going to tell Sam about what he had planned. He relaxed somewhat when Tucker blurted out "Paulina!" Realizing the mistake, both boys slowly glanced at Sam who was now, in a worse mood than she was before.

All week she had been forcing herself to act normal around Danny. She didn't want him to find out that she was really torn up inside because he forgot her birthday. However, hearing that cursed name and finding out that Danny had gotten a gift for that witch only infuriated her more and almost caused her to loose her control on her anger. 'Why did he get her a gift when she's throwing this party for no reason!'

"Oh, ok then." Sam took a deep breath before she sat down, farther away from Danny than usual, which didn't go unnoticed by both boys.

"You are so smart and cunning Paulina!" exclaimed Star, Paulina's 'best friend' after they had kicked Valerie out of their group.

"I know, I know" Paulina smiled as she examined her perfectly manicured nails.

"What did Paulina do?" Kwan, Star's boyfriend, asked. He had just returned to their usual lunch table with Dash after taking some poor kid's lunch money.

"She invited that Fenton loser to her party tomorrow and do you know why?"

"You invited Fentoni? Why?" Dash asked while he counted the money.

"I only invited him so he could bring his friend over. It's not like he would even get a chance to step inside because when they come, I'll bring his friend inside and leave him for you and Kwan to deal with."

"Oh, sounds good to me." Dash said while Kwan nodded in understanding.

"Um hmm… plus, a little bird told me, that it's the Goth's birthday tomorrow too. See? Everything works out! I get what I want and make that freak miserable. Right now she's probably all depressed that I took her little boyfriend away from her so easily." Paulina and her friends laughed.

The rest of the lunch period continued in silence until the bell rang which caused the boys to relax a bit. Sam got up and threw her trash away, not even stopping to wait for her friends. Danny and Tucker walked slower and when she was out of earshot Danny pushed Tucker, but not enough to knock him to the ground.

"Tucker! Of all the names you could have said, why Paulina's? You could have said my mom, Jazz, or even my great-great grandmother who lives in New York ! Anything but her name!"

"You have a great-great grandmother who lives in New York ?" This only caused Danny to narrow his eyes at Tucker, telling him that this was no time to joke around. "Eh heh heh… I panicked?" Tucker laughed nervously as he and Danny continued walking to their next class.

Sunlight shown through the open curtains of a dark bedroom and hit the sleeping occupant. She squinted then pulled her blanket over her head and turned around so her back was facing towards the offending light.

'I thought I closed the curtains last night? Eh… whatever' Before she drifted back to sleep there were a couple knocks on her door.

"Miss Manson, it's time to get up! You've already missed breakfast and it's almost time for lunch!" called one of her maids through the door. 'Lunch? Did I really sleep in that late?' Sam sat up and checked the clock at her bedside drawer and it read '11:52 a.m.'

'Yep, guess so'

The maid knocked a couple more times before opening the door and poking her head through. "Oh! Miss, you're awake. Would you like for me to ask the cook to make you some lunch?" She asked as she came inside.

"Um, no thanks. I'll just ask him myself after I get changed." Sam said from her sitting position on her bed.

"Alright, miss. I'll just take your clothes and put them in the wash."

"Ok…" She made her way to her own personal restroom while combing her hair with her hands. Even though Sam didn't feel like waking up today she couldn't get back to sleep so she decided that she might as well get up and eat something.

"Oh, miss?" the maid said before leaving Sam's room. Sam poked her head out of her restroom.

"Yes?"

"Happy 16th Birthday" the maid said with a smile. Sam smiled back feeling somewhat better.

"Thank you." The maid nodded and left down the stairs.

After taking a shower, brushing her teeth and changing into a plaid black and purple skirt and a black tank top Sam went downstairs. Her house was warm compared to the chilling autumn air outside because the heater was on. While coming down the stairs the doorbell rang. Since she was right in front of the door she decided to answer it.

"I'll get it!" she shouted to no one in particular. She opened the door and was greeted by a cold rush of air which caused her to shiver. Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the person in front of her door.

"Hey Sam."

To be continued...

Always, Mina