Disclaimer: Still haven't found Desiree, so DP belongs to the amazing Butch Hartman. And what an amazing episode last Friday night!

Oh,on that note, I already have most of my story written out on my trusty notebook. So if in some upcoming episode there's a huge plot twist or something, then just pretend that that never happened when you are reading this. Yep.

Oh man, reviews! You guys rock my socks off! (Brr, my feet are cold...) Sorry I didn't post the other chapter one reviewers, but this site must upload slowly or something, I didn't see them till today. I'll do all of that stuff at the bottom, though, they're better at the end, I think.

Hey-o! Chapter three!

Walking to school with Sam, Danny kept noticing strange things that were really starting to unnerve him. Like how Sam swung her hips back and forth when she walked, and the faint smell of perfume that drifted over to Danny with the slightest breeze, and how her hair… Whoa, hey, whoa! Sam is my friend! …who is a girl… but not my girlfriend!

Danny scowled. Sam would probably punch me if she knew what I was thinking about right now. He glanced quickly over at Sam, who was walking along quietly beside him.

What about Paulina? He thought suddenly, turning his thoughts towards her. It had been great when she had gone out with him, even though it was only because she was possessed. He sighed, his mind turning once again to Sam. But Sam, she's so independent and strong… and beautiful. Danny remembered the dress she had worn to the dance, an unknown smile spread across his face.

"Danny?" Danny realized he had been staring at Sam. Quickly looking away, Danny mumbled an excuse as he felt himself blush. But what if she doesn't like me like that? What if I told her and she turned me down. Danny thought nervously. Getting turned down by Paulina almost every day is hard enough, but if Sam turned me down…? He suddenly felt sympathetic for Vlad.

And then what about our friendship, huh? He asked himself. He knew what would happen, they'd be awkward around each other and he'd feel lost and depressed every time that he looked at her and remembered that she had said no… But what if she does like me?

Danny continued to argue with himself as Sam looked at the trees rustling in the fall wind. The leaves are so beautiful in the fall. Glancing back at Danny, who still seemed to be lost somewhere between Earth and Mars, Sam wondered what he had been thinking about.

Probably the ghost that he fought last night. She rolled her eyes, he worries too much, he needs to relax. She looked at the ground, thinking about Danny's fight last night. …poor guy. She blinked at the unexpected thought, quickly turning her gaze back to the trees.

It's not like he wants some girl constantly worrying about him, praying that he doesn't get hurt every time a ghost comes around. She thought suddenly, an unbidden feeling of jealousy rising up. Well, unless it was Paulina. Sam thought bitterly.

She began to think about Paulina and how shallow and stupid and, geeze, why would any guy like her anyway? But Danny does. Sam looked back at the ground.

Trying desperately to think of other things, she remembered the movie they had all watched last night. It really was a great movie. It was even scary the second time, except for when Danny held me. I felt so safe in his arms… Sam shook her head, glaring at the ground. No! He likes Paulina! Pull yourself together Sam.

Sam looked over at Danny just as he happened looked over at her. Their eyes locked, both looking longingly into the others. Unbidden, the memory of her and Danny kissing replayed (in slow motion) in her mind. Her hands itched to reach out and hold his hand, let him wrap his arm around her shoulder and protect her from the world.

I really do love him. She finally admitted to herself. Her mouth opened, the words ready to spill out, when Danny blinked and then looked away. Choking, Sam looked back at the ground, her world crashing down on her. Wiping her eyes, she reminded herself with a heartbroken sigh, He likes Paulina…

Danny continued to argue with himself, completely oblivious to the heartbroken sigh coming from his friend. He wanted to look at Sam again, see her beautiful face framed by her silky hair. His eyes started to wander back towards Sam. Catching himself, he glared instead at the grey concrete.

Sam saw me looking at her last time! He yelled at himself. He really didn't want to make things awkward between him and Sam. He loved hanging out with her.

Oh yeah, and Tucker, too. He added as an afterthought.

It didn't matter to Sam that he was considered a geeky outcast of high school society, or that he was a strange hybrid of ghost and human. Danny straightened his back and held his head a little higher. Sometimes it even felt like she considered him a hero! A dorky smile spread across his face. Him, a hero!

His smile widened as a blush creeped onto his face. He was Sam's hero.

He suddenly wished a ghost would show up so that he could show Sam a new fighting technique he had learned last weekend. He tried to visualize how her face would look as he stood over his defeated foe, his hair blowing in the wind. Ok, hold up there, Danny, He thought, feeling stupid as he realized what he had been thinking about. Try as he might, he still couldn't banish the smile that spread across his face as he and Sam walked up the steps to Casper High.

Tucker greeted him and Sam as they reached the front entrance to their jail, I mean school! Feeling better then usual with his essay securely in his backpack, and ...other things on his mind, Danny followed his two friends to their first class, a bounce in his step.

"Now class, please take out your finished essays and pass them forward." Lancer glared at Danny, assuming that, once again, Danny had failed to complete the assignment.

Wiping drool from his face after his quick nap, Danny cracked open his bleary eyes and reached for his backpack. His mind buzzing with meaningless dates and fragmented sentences that had managed to make it into his tired mind.

He blinked, feeling a familiar tingling. His heart sped up and his muscles tensed, but his brain was still drawing a blank.

What…! Finally realizing what it was, Danny sat up instantly, his eyes darting around. The remaining blue smoke disappeared as Danny jumped to his feet.

Stumbling for an excuse, Danny was halfway to the door before he managed to blurt out, "My essay! Yeah! I left my essay in my locker." Not even hearing Lancer's reply, Danny stumbled into the hallway and sprinted towards his locker.

Reaching it, he phased his hand through and grabbed the Fenton Thermos. Oh yes, this time he was going to catch whatever ghost decided to bother him.

Glancing around and seeing no one, he quickly changed and flew through the roof, sensing the ghost above the school. Well, it's either Skulker or that creepy ghost girl… I hope its Skulker. He thought as his head phased through the roof.

Skulker floated next to a vent, grinning as Danny floated up to eye level. Danny sighed with relief.

"I have a present for you." Skulker smirked, sounding different then he usually did.

"I have a thermos for you." Danny countered, grinning as he took the cap off of the thermos.

Realizing that Skulker was pointing something very sinister looking at him, Danny decided it was about time he moved. Flying up over Skulker's head, Danny aimed the thermos down at him. Skulker swung his arm around, once again pointing the sinister thing at him. A beam of black light shot out towards Danny. Abandoning the thermos, Danny leapt up, doing the split in midair to avoid being hit.

That was almost too close.

"What kind of present is that!" He yelled, his eyes searching for where the thermos had landed. Skulker ignored him and once again took aim.

Danny was becoming a little unnerved by Skulker's unnatural silence. This is where you tell me how amazing of a hunter you are, Skulker! Danny thought, diving as another beam shot by. "I am Skulker! Ghost zones GREATEST hunter!" Danny spotted the thermos next to the vent Skulker was standing by. "You will all fear me!" He continued his dive, grinning as he picked up the thermos and whirled around.

"Say goodbye, Sk-" Stopping short, Danny gulped as he came face to face with Skulker's weapon.

"Say goodbye, ghost boy." Skulker's finger tightened. His heart racing, Danny shoved the thermos onto Skulker's chest and turned it on. I have one chance… He heard the thermos power up as he saw the weapon draw in dark energy. Danny watched as the dark energy built, hisinstincts screaming at him to run. His mind on the thermos shoved onto Skulker's stomach, Danny stood there, watching the dark orb with a horrible fascination.

Fully charged, the Fenton Thermos and Skulker's weapon both fired at the same time. Danny felt the beam hit him in the chest, lifting him off of his feet. Black lightning danced across his body as he flew backwards, his mind grasping what had just happened.

Danny finally caught himself in midair and blinked. That didn't hurt at all. He held up his hand as some black sparks jumped between his fingers. No pain, he flexed his fingers. Nothing happened.

What…? He patted himself down, feeling some pain in his chest where the beam had hit, but nothing else. Danny shrugged, he'd think about it later.

Looking up, he saw Skulker brushing himself off. The Fenton Thermos was lying on the ground a few feet from him, right where Danny had dropped it when Skulker blasted him. It must have turned off when he had let go.

Seeing an opening, Danny leapt forward and punched the weapon from Skulker's hand. The sinister thing shattered against the ground.

"I didn't think very much of your present, Skulker." Danny gloated, his arms crossed as he floated in front of him.

Growling, Skulker jumped towards Danny, his hands grasping for his neck.

"Ack!" Danny reacted instantly by phasing through the roof. What is wrong with Skulker! He looked up at the ceiling to see Skulker's face burst through, his eyes narrowed in hatred.

"Ahh! Skulker!" Danny yelped as he dodged punch after punch that Skulker threw at him. "Look, I didn't know- eep!" Skulker's fist passed within inches of his face. "that you liked that weapon so much! Oof!" Skulker finally connected a punch right to Danny's stomach.

Danny doubled over, gasping. He felt Skulker's steel boot slam into his back, knocking the rest of his breath from him. Blinking away stars, he winced as feeling returned in his back, sending fire throughout his body.

Run! His brain screamed above the pain. Danny dove towards the floor. But instead of going through it, he connected painfully with cold tile. Stars exploded in his vision once again and he wondered dully if ghosts could break their noses.

He saw Skulker's boot land next to where he lay curled on the floor cradling his nose. He felt his heart beat racing against the cool floor.

Phase through the floor. He willed himself, but nothing happened. Skulker's boot lifted up, moving until it was right over Danny's head.

PHASE THROUGH THE FLOOR! His mind screamed. His body stubbornly stayed solid.

Just as Danny was preparing himself for the worst, he heard the most unexpected sound… the school bell ringing. Doors slammed open all around him as students burst into the hallway. Danny could see the feet of the students as they stopped dead, circling around him and Skulker. The normal chatter died down as whispers raced through the halls like wildfire.

"It's that ghost boy, what's his name?"

"It's Danny Phantom."

"Danny Phantom." His name seemed to echo throughout the school.

Not good, not good… The thought circled around Danny's head as his heart sank. He had to get out of here, and fast! He looked up slowly to see Skulker's boot still poised above his head. Really not good!

"Hey, shouldn't we help him?" Someone asked, tentatively. Danny's hopes soared. Yes, please help! Danny thought desperately, wondering why Skulker hadn't done anything yet.

Maybe he's shy…He thought with what little sense of humor he had left at this point.

Sensing movement, Danny wrapped his arms around his head. The crowd gasped right before Danny felt Skulker kick him in the stomach, hard.

Flying back, Danny smashed into a wall of lockers, his head connecting painfully with solid, very solid, metal. Danny slid down to the floor with a gasp of pain, his vision returning shortly after blacking out.

For a horrible moment, Danny thought he was going to change back to Danny Fenton in front of all of the students. Concentrating on staying in ghost mode, a horrible thought flooded his mind. What if that's what Skulker's trying to do? He couldn't take much more, his whole body ached with every movement, and he knew Skulker could tell. He cursed under his breath as he saw a blurry shape step closer. The crowd drew back, to scared to interfere.

"Skulker…" Danny muttered, tasting green blood from his nose. "Don't do this Skulker." Skulker leaned in close to Danny, his flaming hair hurting Danny's eyes. Danny squinted up at him, still concentrating on staying in ghost mode.

A look of intense curiosity crossed Skulker's face, then vanished as suddenly as it had come as Skulker swung his fist back.

What the…? Thought's on Skulker's weird behavior vanished as he saw Skulker's fist fly forward. Danny shut his eyes. Don't change back!

"Danny?" Sam's voice broke through the crowd, but it was too late.

Danny screamed as Skulker rammed his fist into his shoulder. He felt bones snap and the pain intensified tenfold.

Don't change back. He felt two rings appear.

Don't change back! He heard the students gasp as the two rings moved apart. His face, he could still cover his identity! He felt the rings move slowly up and down his chest, revealing his trademark shirt.

Concentrate! Don't change back! He heard Sam yelling something, but it didn't matter. They were going to see, they were all going to know who he was!

No! Concentrate! He screamed at himself, he could still stop this, still save himself. The top ring was past his now bloody shoulder, the bottom heading towards his knees.

He heard the Fenton Thermos suck up Skulker.

The rings still moved slowly, past his mouth, his nose. NOOO! The crowd gasped in unison.

Danny Fenton opened his now baby blue eyes in fear and pain and looked around at the wide eyed crowd.

People whispered, "Fenton…?" to one another, others just sat there, staring with their mouths wide open.

Sam stepped forward, her face pale but determined, Fenton Thermos held with white knuckles. Tucker followed behind, looking nervous.

"Sam." Danny sobbed, feeling small and alone. He looked up at his best friend with wide, fearful eyes. Sam and Tucker stayed by me. He thought, grateful beyond belief.

"Don't worry Danny, we'll get you out of here." Sam whispered reassuringly, taking his uninjured arm. Danny nodded, his mind numb. Tucker stood blocking him from the crowd.

Danny tried to stand up, but even with Sam's help, it was too much for him. He tried again, wishing he could just run away. Jolts of pain shot through his body every time he moved, keeping him sitting there, trying not to look at the shocked faces of the students of Casper High.

Fortunately, Tucker stepped forward and he and Sam managed to lift Danny. Sam took his uninjured arm and put it over her shoulder. Danny groaned as Tucker bumped his injured arm, lifting it over his shoulder.

"Sorry buddy." Tucker whispered. Danny's mind started working again as he took in his classmates' shocked faces. This is all just a nightmare, Danny thought, laughing a little, I'll wake up and none of this will have happened.

They stepped forward, Danny supported between them. Danny's whole body ached, and his arm throbbed every time Tucker took a step.

You can't feel pain in a dream. A little voice whispered. He ignored it. He didn't want to believe it. It couldn't have happened. None of this was real!

The crowd stepped back, cold eyes staring, but dutifully parting to let them through. Danny watched the floor, every comment reaching his ears as his best friends carried him away from his living nightmare.

"Fenton is Phantom?"

"He's half ghost! Freak!" …freak.

"But he saved the town, didn't he?" Danny's hopes rose for a second. But another voice cut through harshly.

"He threatened the mayor, robbed banks!" It wasn't me, not my fault!

"Somebody should do something, y'know, stop him…"

For a second he was afraid that they were going to attack him. He almost welcomed an attack, he could deal with that, could handle that kind of pain.

Danny watched a single tear fall to the floor as he listened to his peers turn on him. He had protected them, he had done his best, wasn't that enough? Couldn't they at least leave him alone? You are a freak, Phantom. Not a boy, not a ghost… Spectra's words haunted him. Danny choked as more tears followed, marking his sad trail out of Casper High.

Sam opened the doors leading out of the school. The sound of birds and the slight rustle of the wind reached the trio. Danny kept his head hung, his two friends supporting him. He closed his eyes to block out the sun.

"Wait!" Danny's head shot up at the sound. Blinking, he looked behind him.

"Paulina?"

A cliffhanger! ...well, sort of.

Gasp! I've got plot! (laughs at my own joke) Err, anyway, this is where I actually start liking my story. Making Danny suffer, yeah! (Dodges deadly glare from Sam) Err, I mean, smiting Paulina off the side of the earth? ...woo hoo?

No, actually, I just got into it more when I was writing, had more fun in the process,and ended up liking how it turned out.

Oh, right, reviews! First of all, you all rock (my socks off) and if you want me to reply to you (either in my story, ignoring astupid rule, or with an e-mail) just tell me! So, this next part is just me being random... yeah, that's it.

Sooo...(takes a deep breath)Yay, someone liked my ghost! Cheese is good! (I'm gonna go eat some right now) BEWARE THE SPAM! (Ha, just kidding) Meat spam! Sounds gross. (I rock! WOO!) What's a siren? (feels stupid).And, finally, here's the update!...whew!

'k, done being random.

Reviews are asamazing as the movie Narnia! (Which is pretty darn amazing)