Chapter Four

Casper High, April 20, 2006

(ordinary universe)

Who or what's Clockwork and what's Danny learned from he/it?

Valerie was officially confused, as she watched a gothic Samantha Manson play basketball with Danny Fenton (him having a last name still sort of creeped her out), and some boy she didn't recognize, but was obviously one of the unpopular kids.

Samantha Manson didn't associate with these sorts of people. She was just as preppy as Paulina and -

"Hey, Valerie, wanna come over here?" Danny called. "We're starting a new game and Tuck's tired of playing two against one."

Why the nerve of him . . . she opened her mouth to call him impudent, then realized this wasn't the world she was used to for the umpteenth time.

Tucker scowled visibly from across the gym, and said something to Danny. Giving a last fleeting glance at Paulina and her group of friends, who were trying out the balance beam, Valerie stood up and yelled back,. "Fine!"

As she drew nearer, she heard Samantha say something to Danny. "Are you sure you want to get her near you? You said she knows your secret and that she's been acting crazy."

Danny shrugged. "None of the popular kids'll believe her. Besides, Clockwork told me . . ."

Valerie walked up and tapped his shoulder. "Who's Clockwork?"

Gulping, Danny pointed to Tucker, and said, "That's what we call Tucker . . . yeah."

Shrugging nonchalantly, though not fully convinced, Valerie turned to Sam. She had another question in mind. "What's up with you? Usually you're so . . . pink . . ."

Sam's reaction was much like Jazz's had been when Val had suggested she was crazy. "What?" she asked simply.

"Well . . . when did you become so . . . not Paulina?"

"What?" Sam asked again, though much more forcefully.

"Usually you're hanging around her . . . Danny and . . . erm . . . 'Clockwork' haven't even talked to you since, like, junior high, when you shunned them for the eighth grade end-of-the-year dance . . ." Valerie replied, completely unaware of her grave error. "Though Danny hasn't talked to too many people in a while . . ." she mumbled under her breath. "Or at least, he shouldn't have."

Sam's eyes twitched, and Danny and Tucker were caught between staring at their now-furious friend and Val. "I wouldn't get near Paulina," the goth spat, "unless it was to throw her in the sunlight and watch her burn."

Valerie took a step back, more confused than she was when she entered gym class this morning. Danny stepped in between the two, and whispered to Sam, "She's not herself, lately, Sam . . . Don't get too . . ."

Pushing Danny aside, she replied, "Survey says, too late."

Suddenly, Ms. Testlaff walked up, and put a hand on each of the girls' shoulders. "Break it up, Manson, Gray. We don't want a repeat of the Fenton Anti-Creep Stick incident."

Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "When are people going to forget that?" he muttered. "It's not like anyone got hurt . . . much . . ."

Valerie just looked at Sam, shocked by her reaction, as Sam shot her multiple murderous glances. "Crazy or not, I'm gonna . . ."

"Manson . . ." Testlaff growled.

"Breaking it up now," Sam said, taking a step back from the over-muscled gym teacher.

Ms. Testlaff glared at them. "Get back to your game. If I catch you fighting again, it'll be two months detention."

Blinking, Team Phantom and the dimension-hopper stared as Testlaff left them. "That was . . . interesting . . ." Valerie said, breaking the ice. "She never acted that way towards me before . . ."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Well, first, you were popular, and your dad donated heaps of money to the school, and then you were, 'look at me, I'm in peak physical condition!'" Everyone stared at her blankly. "Hello? She's always had some reason for Testlaff to love her." she sighed.

Shrugging, Danny changed the subject. "Who's on who's team? I'm thinking me with Val and then you and Tuck - . . . erm . . . Clockwork . . . together."

"Fine by me," or "Sure," was the response.

They lined up, and Tucker threw up the ball. Diving in, Sam grabbed it, shooting just above Danny's head, aiming for the goal. Danny jumped up and just barely missed it. Sam pumped her fist.

Valerie dove behind Danny and caught the ball.

Scowling, Tucker rushed at Valerie, attempting to grab the orb from her. He succeeded, though just barely, and shot the ball into the net. "Yes!" he yelled.

Sam and Danny, who both remained at half-court, glared at each other. Danny smirked playfully, then ran ahead to grab the bouncing ball. Sam darted forward as well, right past the rejoicing Tucker and Val, who was staring at Danny. He was still acting way too much like a normal teenager. A slightly weird normal teenager, but still.

Not inferior at all.

And it just annoyed her.

Kauffman Apartments, April 20, 2006

(alternate universe)

After they'd gotten back in the house, the doctors had arrived, preventing Damon from questioning her further. For awhile. Just until the next morning.

"Daddy, please. Don't hurt Danny. I told him to . . ."

He raised a hand. "I got that. He never does anything without permission. I want to know about that ghost-fighting weaponry of yours. You know, you could get in serious trouble for that, it's animal abuse . . ."

Valerie closed her eyes, and breathed in deeply. "Please tell me you didn't just say that."

"Say what?"

"That it's animal abuse to be hunting ghosts. Ghosts are bad and all, but they're pretty intelligent as far as I've seen."

"Valerie . . ." Damon's voice was reproachful. "What's going on? You're not acting like yourself."

Suddenly, she exploded. "You're calling Danny, that boy over there," she gestured to the boy standing quietly, obediently, in a corner of the kitchen, "an animal. A completely unintelligent animal. Maybe, Dad, that's all you've reduced him into thinking he is. Through your abuse. But you know something? He's half human. He's also one of the smartest people I've met, in this world or any other . . ." she trailed off. Her little theory had just been spilled.

Damon gave her a long, hard glare all other parts of her Sam-like speech forgotten. "And, what, exactly, do you mean by that, young lady?"

"I . . .erm . . . yeah. Okay, if I can't tell you, who can I tell? I don't think I'm your Valerie, Dad. I convinced myself this wasn't a dream awhile ago, when I didn't wake up, so I think . . . I think I might be from an alternate reality."

Damien almost choked on his own saliva. "What? Valerie, are you feeling okay?"

Valerie slammed her fist down on the table. "I wish people would stop asking me that!" she exclaimed, then buried her head in her arms. "I'm not going crazy. I couldn't have made up such a complicated story for myself if I was crazy."

Her 'father' nodded, and sighed. "Why don't you tell me all about it?"