A/N: Thanks Terra89, the sleep warrior, Ginger Guardian Angel, Sam-n-Danny1, Love Sucks, thephantomgal10, Samantha-Girl Scout and Me The Anon One.

Chapter 3: Bully

DJ grabbed the kid standing before him. He was a freshman and didn't "know his place" yet. "I asked for your lunch, shorty," he growled.

"B-but what am I going to eat?"

"Hm, you know, I don't know." DJ grinned. "And I really don't care either." He grabbed the lunch from the kid and stuffed him in a locker.

"That was awesome, dude," one of his friends said. "Wanna split the spoils?"

"Aw, come on, guys. Get your own nerd to pick on," DJ said, heading for the cafeteria.

"Hey, I'm the one housing you since your old lady kicked you out," another said.

"Fine, Eric, here." DJ stuffed the lunch into his friend's hand. "I'm not hungry, anyway."

Why did he hang out with those losers, anyway? He was stronger than them, and they were all crack heads and alcoholics anyway. He didn't need their help dealing with these freshmen. He was stopped as someone ran into him. The nerd stumbled back before falling on his butt.

"Watch where you're going, nerd." DJ grabbed the nerd and shoved him into a wall full of lockers. "What's wrong with you? You blind or something?"

"N-no, sir, I'm just… I wasn't paying attention. I didn't mean to run into you."

DJ rolled his eyes. "Loser." He opened a locker and shoved the nerd into it. "Take this as a warning." Then he slammed the door shut.

DJ stepped back from the Nasty Burger, examining his work. The wall was covered in graffiti. He smirked and tossed the can before heading off to one of his favorite stores. If he was lucky, he could grab something and sell it to get a hotel room. He was sick of hanging out with Eric, and he definitely didn't want to hang out at a drug joint.

"Hey, you."

DJ didn't even turn around. He didn't know if they were even talking to him. Someone suddenly grabbed his shoulder and whirled him around. "What the—Who the hell do you think you are?" DJ suddenly wished he'd kept his mouth shut.

Two college guys stood in front of him. DJ got the impression they were football stars, and he suddenly felt really, really small. "We heard you've been picking on our little brother."

Oh, shit... "Um…"

"You're gunna pay."

The next thing DJ knew, his face was against a brick wall, his cheek pressed hard against it as one of the football stars held his arm behind his back in an extremely uncomfortable position. His left eye was now blackened and swollen shut, and there was a constricting pain in his chest.

"You're not so tough now, are you bully?" the other said.

"Get off me, assholes," DJ growled then winced as he was shoved harder into the wall. "I don't even know your fucking brother."

"Hey, why don't you jerks go pick on someone your own size?" a feminine voice yelled.

They released him, and DJ felt himself slide to the floor, grunting as pain greeted him.

"Hey, he's the bully," the bigger of the two said. "He's just getting what he deserves. He sent my brother home with a black eye and bruises all over him."

"The dumb ass deserved it," DJ muttered from where he lay on the floor. He grunted as one of the guys kicked him.

"Two wrongs don't make a right, and I don't see either one of you giving him a chance to defend himself!"

DJ managed to turn his head, managing to look at the speaker for the first time. She was slender with chestnut hair and emerald eyes. He recognized her from school. Why was she helping him? He groaned and closed his eyes as one of the guys stood on him.

"Get off me, you overweight bag of—" His sentence was cut off as the jock stepped harder on him. He decided to keep his mouth shut.

"Let him go," the girl demanded.

"Ah, he's not worth it. 'Take this as a warning,'" he mocked.The guy kicked him again then he and his brother left.

"Ow…" He painfully got to his knees, holding his chest.

"I'm Cassy, by the way." The girl helped him to his feet. "Are you okay?"

He pulled away from her. "Why are you helping me, anyway?" She didn't answer. "It's because I'm the "hero's kid," isn't it?"

"No, I don't care who your father is. I just saw someone that needed help and decided to help him." She pulled out a tissue and began dabbing at his bloody lip.

He shrugged her off. "I don't need your help."

"I didn't ask if you needed it." She brushed some dirt off his shirt.

"Stop helping me!" He stepped away from her. He was a jerk, sure, but he didn't hit girls.

She shrugged and walked away. "I used to think you'd end up to be a great kid, but that was a long time ago. Maybe you've changed."

A/N: Dear fans, as I was writing this chapter, I received terrible and depressing news that has hurt even a 17 ½ year old heart like mine. (takes a deep breath) Danny Phantom…has been…cancelled! Yes, my dearest fans. It has. If you don't believe me, you can check out the official Butch Hartman Website and go to the forum. There, under the "News from Butch" you will find the sorrowful post that will explain all. Please, if you don't want Danny to leave us, write! Write to them, my friends! Tell them we refuse to let Danny go!

Cyma Zharghami or Marjorie Cohn

Attn: Programming

Nickelodeon

1515 Broadway

New York, NY

10036

USA

If you want to send them an email, check out my profile for the link. DON'T LET DANNY DIE!