This chapter focuses almost entirly and Valerie's feelings. I tried to make it as true to what she would feel as possible.

Disclaimer:I don't own Danny Phantom or any of the characters in this fanfic

After school, Valerie left quickly and quietly, not wanting to talk to anyone, yet wanting to scream out to the heavens. I especially don't want to talk to Danny. It'd be too crazy. He's already getting suspicious. But then again, maybe leaving early will look more so. As she was hurrying away, Danny, Sam, and Tucker noticed her.

"Dude, she's acting really weird. Ever since you and her ran off to the modeling agency." Danny smiled at his odd friend but was too worried about Val to laugh.

"I'm gonna go find out what's wrong. Sam, Tuck, I'll catch up with you guys at the dance." He ran off, leaving his friends behind.

"What do you think is wrong with her?"

"Probably vegetables. It's a wonder you guys don't die from too much vitamin C or something."Sam glared at Tucker before rolling her eyes.

"I've got to get ready for tonight, so I'll see you later too. Bye!" She ran off in the direction of her house, leaving Tucker to go home and get ready as well.

Valerie was staring at the ground, unaware that she was being followed until her detector vibrated slightly, letting her know there was a ghost in the range. She looked at it, and sighed. It's only Danny's dot. I hope he isn't coming to talk to me, because I'm really embarrassed. She turned just as Danny stopped right next to her, slightly out of breath. "Hey Val, I thought I'd walk with you, if you don't mind." She smiled a little.

"I don't mind, I'm just trying to figure something out." She continued walking. Danny looked at her expression, serious yet embarrassed. Yeah, that's pretty obvious Val.

"Seriously though, something is obviously on your mind. Does it have to do with that article you printed?" Her eyes widened, and started to tear up a little. Not wanting to see, Val turned away.

"Yeah." With that, she ran towards her house, tears falling like rivers from her eyes. She didn't stop until she got to her room. There, she sat on her bed, sobbing into her pillow. If my father comes home and finds me like this, he'll demand an explanation, which I can't give. I'd better stop crying, he'll be home in ten minutes or so. Sitting up, she wiped her eyes. At least Danny didn't follow me. He's probably in need of an explanation. It'll take me a while to work up the courage to tell him, but I will.

She looked out her bedroom window and watched the world go by. All this time I've been hunting one of my best friends. I guess he couldn't really tell me, because we didn't become friends until after I started hating him. Even so, he gave me a chance. She looked down at the picture she'd drawn earlier that day, then across her room to her other picture. Without thinking twice, she walking over, picked up the other picture, and tore it down the center. After that, she kept tearing it, releasing all her pent up feelings. She watched the small shreds of paper slowly falling and hitting the floor. I want to forget all that. I want to be a better friend. After checking to make sure she couldn't rip the pieces any more, she placed the new picture in place of the old one. I love the fact that we all got A's as long as we liked our art. It means I could get rid of that ugly reminder as soon as possible. She started tearing up all the other ghost-related stuff in her room. She was tearing a wanted picture of Danny in half when her father walked into her room.

"Valerie, how was your…what's all this pa….isn't that all your ghost hunting stuff?" Val looked at the pile of torn papers in the corner, and some of her more dangerous weapons as well.

"Yea, I'm not hunting them any more. I'm sick of it." In reality, she did feel sick. Of course, it wasn;t because of ghost hunting, it was because of her friend.

"That's great Valer…have you been crying?" Is it that obvious? "I don't think I've seen you cry in a long time." She looked at her father, feeling her eyes well up again. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him, seeking comfort. Even though he wasn't sure what had happened to his daughter, he put his arm around her as well.

"Can you tell me what happened? You didn't hurt anyone, did you?" She looked at him, hot tears running down her cheeks onto her shirt.

"No, thankfully I stopped before I could. I might've hurt someone close to me if I'd continued. I just can't believe how close I was." He looked at her, now drying her eyes with a tissue.

"You're not giving me the whole story, I can tell." She nodded.

"I can't, not yet. Maybe in the future." She smiled at him. "I'm going to the dance tonight. Tucker asked me."

"I thought you really liked that Danny kid." She used every ounce of control in her body not to wince at this. I do like him, but I doubt he likes me like that. Though that time when we were together was wonderful.

"I do, Dad, but Danny and Sam are going together as friends." Anyways, I don't think I'd be able to look him in the eye.

Damon glanced around the room, noticing how different his daughter's bedroom looked compared to normal. He especially noticed the new watercolor. "Interesting choice of colors on this one. I know you don't paint something like that unless it means something, what does this one mean?" She glanced at it.

"It shows how everything may appear one way, but in an instant it can change. Especially in a town like this, where ghost attacks are getting so common that people barely notice."

"Oh yeah, wasn't Danny kidnapped a few times today?" She nodded.

"Yeah, but he's fine. He handles it even better than most people. Probably because his parents are ghost hunters. Plus, the ghosts generally come from their ghost portal." Damon nodded, and left his daughter to consider her own thoughts alone.

One more chapter! Check back tomorrow! And I know this doesn't have much to do with April Fools day any more, but I'm no good with mixing fun and drama. Sorry:)