Thanks goes to Nom de Plume for editing this chapter

Chapter Two

It was seven in the evening and Sam was in a bad mood as she sat at her computer and talked to Danny and Tucker. They were skirting the issue of Dash. It was difficult because Sam really needed to talk to someone about it;, someone who could possibly understand how she was feeling. The closest person to that she had was Tucker, and after his insulting gum flapping this afternoon, she didn't feel like confiding in him.

Danny messaged Sam privately. She stared at the text box for a long while before answering.

"I'm fine, Danny. Really," she told him when he asked how she was.

"Can I come see you?" he asked.

Sam paused and half laughed. She said out loud, to herself. "Can you come see me for what? To tell me you love me? To tell me that you want us to be together? To tell me that you think I'm beautiful? Yeah right."

"Sam?" he asked.

"I guess," Sam responded. "I don't see any point. I'm still going to be upset at you."

"Yeah, but it's easier for you to be upset at me to my on the computer than to my face," Danny typed.

"Well, thait's because I'm weak," Sam said to herself.

""Go ahead," Sam told him. "Come over."

It didn't take long for Danny in his ghost form to show up in Sam's room. She looked at him tiredly as he changed to his human self and walked toward her sheepishly.

"I'm really sorry for about this afternoon, Sam," he said gently. "I didn't mean for you to think you're not good enough for someone to ask out or anything." He looked at her as he rubbed the back of his neck then looked down sadly.

"I know what you meant," Sam replied. "It's not that I'm unattractive;, you just don't see me as girlfriend material, and therefore imagine anyone seeing me like that is unthinkable."

Danny looked up at Sam with wide eyes. "I never said that," he gasped and a slight flush rushed across his cheeks. "I think you'd make a wonderful girlfriend."

"Oh yeah?" Sam asked curiously as she raised one eyebrow.

"Sure," Danny said then sat down. "I just don't think that going out with Dash is wise. I mean, he's Dash. Known for beating up every dork, geek, loser or weakling in Casper High. He's on the A-list. He's a sadistic jerk. I think he's playing you."

"But you do acknowledge that it's possible for a guy to like me, right?" Sam asked softly as she looked down at her hands.

"Sure!" Danny said almost happily, as he felt he was going to be able to talk Sam out of going on a date with Dash. "Because you are the most wonderful girl I know."

Sam smiled at Danny for a moment and he smiled back, feeling a little more brave at compliementing Sam. "You really feel that way?" Sam asked.

"Yeah," Danny replied. "But I don't want you to go on a date with that jerk just to prove a point to Tucker and I. You know our mouths get ahead of our brains sometimes and we say things we don't mean."

"Yeah," Sam said softly. "You're right. I'd already made up my mind to turn him down."

Danny laughed,. "So you were just going to let Tuck and I stew in our worry?"

"I think you deserve it," Sam told him almost angrily. "I mean, it is entirely possible that he could like me;, I just got this feeling from the look in his eyes. It wasn't his usual cocky Dash expression."

Danny frowned as he watched Sam picking at her fingers. She looked up at him and smiled slightly. He hoped he was right, —that Dash was playing a game. He didn't want to see Sam get hurt, in fact— he was pretty sure she wouldn't, because she wouldn't fall for any tricks, but he couldn't fight the worry. PlusBesides, a relationship of any kind between Dash and Sam would be like a sign of the Apocalypse.

"You don't have to worry," Sam finally said. "I won't go out with him, and yes, I forgive you."

""Good," Danny said as he settled himself on the floor. "Now, will you help me with my mMath homework, Sammykins?"

Sam rolled her eyes. "Call me Sammykins again and I'll kick your butt times two."


"You what?" Paulina asked Dash in shock. The rest of the A-listers at the table gasped.

"I said I really like Sam Manson, and I asked her out on a date with me on Friday, and I'm asking you all to lay off her.," Dash repeated.

Star shook her head. "Wait," she said. "You have a crush on Samantha Manson? The girl who hangs out with those losers Fenton and Foley? Why? She's not even pretty. She's like Goth!"

Paulina waggled a perfectly manicured finger at Star. "No no no. She's pretty, but she purposefully tries not to be pretty. It's like some kind of political statement or something like that. She says that she is rebelling against sexist ideals and the cooperate idea of beauty forced on us by cosmetic companies in general… or something stupid like that."

Star rolled her eyes. "What ever. All I know is when I see her I want to attack her overgrown eyebrows with a pair of tweezers."

"I know," Paulina laughed. "I mean, it's like two fuzzy black fuzzy caterpillars took up residence on her forehead. It's just pure luck that she doesn't have a uni-brow." The two girls tittered to themselves, then looked at Dash— who was looking regarding at them blankly.

"Okay," Paulina said in near exasperation. "So you want to date Sam. Do you want us to give her a make- over or something? Make her like more acceptable to your parents? Because your dad is going to flip when he sees you're dating a Goth girl."

"Dude," Kwan said. "I mean, why her? She's kinda nice and funny sometimes, but not like a girl friend."

"No, I do not want you to give her a make -over," Dash told Paulina and Star angrily. "I like her how she is, and if my father has a cow, well, I guess he'll get over it." Paulina opened and closed her mouth a few times, then looked at Star.

"Dash," Star said gently, —it was obvious that she thought Dash had lost his mind. "Have you even asked her out? Because the only response I can imagine Sam giving you is a large telling off. You haven't been very nice to her or her loser friends in the past."

"It's true," Paulina said. "She's gonna tell you to go straight to he…"

"I already asked her," Dash interrupted. "She said she'd think about it."

"She's just stringing him along," Kwan said as he looked at the ice- cream sundae in front of him. "There is no way she'd say yes. No way."

Dash took an angry breath. "I was hoping you guys would help me out, you know. Be nicer to her than usual. Make her feel comfortable saying yes to me."

"Dash," Paulina said softly as she put her hand on the Jock's shoulder. "You know she's friends with those two geeks. We all know she's half in love with Fenton, as crazy as that is. If she says yes, it's only going to be to get back at you for beating up on her friends all the time." Dash frowned and closed his eyes, feeling bad for his past in a way he never had before.

Paulina took a deep breath. "I mean, if you really like her we'll all support you, but I'd hate to see you get hurt."

Dash shook his head. "Like I would allow a girl to hurt me," he muttered,said then smiled at Paulina.

"I think it's crazy," Star whispered as she wound her finger on the side of her head, "but if it's what you want, Dash, then fine." All eyes turned to Kwan who was busy digging into hisa hot fudge sundae.

"What?" he asked as he looked up. "Oh," he said. "I have no opinion. Your love -life is none of my business."

"Then it's settled," Dash said. "I'm gonna date Sam." A happy grin settled across his face.

"As if you could actually convince her to date you," Star said almost sarcastically.

Paulina grabbed Dash by the lapel of his jacket and said, "And don't you dare try to make her prom queen or home coming queen or something, or else I'll scratch out her pretty little eyes. Got that?"

"Got it," Dash said in amusement. In his mind, Sam was already his. But then, Dash was a very positive thinker.


Errol laughed to himself as he surveyed the scene between Dash and his friends. He didn't need to influence Dash anymore,; the boy embraced his feelings for the Goth girl without looking back. The boy was fearless in that respect. He was completely socially confidaent, or at least he seemed to be.

Unfortunately, Errol was aware of the margin for error in this case and he intended to be fully present in Dash's mind as he convinced Sam to go out with him. He could tell that Dash's battle plan was to completely overwhelm. The ghost had a feeling that such tactics would go over very poorly with a girl like Sam.

He left Dash and ended up at Sam's house, where he and was nearly caught by Danny. He was nothadn't expectinged the ghost boy to be at Sam's house. Why was he there? Errol narrowed his eyes and pushed himself in the effort to remain intangible. There was a definite vibe of affection in the air. This was not good.

It was an extreme strain, but he managed to stay intangible until Danny left. Errol made sure the boy was far enough away that he wouldn't detect him, then relaxed, easing into invisibility. He watched without regard for modesty as Sam readied herself for bed. He frowned as he witnessed her pick up a picture of Danny, kiss it and hug it happily, then place it back by her bedside. He could see that wresting the girl's affections from the ghost boy was going to be difficult;, but the challenge it was worth the challengeit.

He waited for her to fall asleep;, that's when she would be vulnerable and less apt to fight him for control. He sank down into her mind slowly,. sStopping when he experienced resistance, then pressing forward again until he could see into her mind.

The girl was a lost cause. How could someone who was so fiercely independent, so strong, be so completely besotted with a person who didn't return her feelings? He really hadn't had too much experience with the intricacies and bitter sweetness of unrequited love, but it made his heart ache for the girl;, and he almost changed his plan. Almost, but not quite.

"I'm doing you a favor, young lady," he said sternly. "A huge favor. Now, just trust me. Trust me. Let me show you the way."

Errol changed her dreams subtly. Putting an image of Dash before her eyes, then retracting it until she relaxed into acceptance of his presence in her dreams. Then he attacked full force, giving her a dream of an intensity the likes of which the girl had never experienced. Of course, he kept back the most tantalizing of events;. T torturing her with the anticipation of what it would be like to kiss Dash.

Errol could feel Sam's heart rejecting his ideas vehemently. I love Danny. I love Danny,. sShe repeated, so strongly it nearly blew Errol out of her mind. He dug in deeper; then sifted through her memory, looking for any hurtful or bad things Danny had done,. Hhe was in luck that there were many instances in the girl had unwittingly filed away. and Hhe played them for her like a musical montage of, he's a jerk, a cad, a fool, unworthy of someone as great wonderful as you.

She tried to fight back with all the good points about Danny— but Errol put forth a mighty effort of holdingmanaged to hold those memories and reasons back, making her argument seem weak in comparison to his.

Sadly, she never quite conceded, and Errol was left feeling a terrible heartache for the girl. He decided that he would manipulate the situation to einsure that she would always be loved and cared for, if he could.

It was putting Dash forward in her mind with a sense of tenderness and kindness that seemingly pushed through the barriers; and a tiny seed was planted. Given enough energy and effort that little seed would bloom and grow, choking off the weeds which represented her love for Danny and replacing themselves with the glory of loving someone who could return her affection.


Sam woke up with a bitter taste in her mouth. She showered, and shuddered as she recalled her dreams. Dreams of almost kissing Dash. Why in the world would she have dreams about kissing Dash? She didn't particularly like Dash;, most of the time she hated him. The last person she wanted in her mind was the idiot and his nearly- violet blue eyes.

"Danny," she said as she combed her hair. "Danny Danny Danny Danny." She smiled slightly, then grabbed her book bag and headed to meet her two friends so they could walk to school together.

Tucker eyed Sam a moment then remarked, "We're in a cheerful mood this morning. This morning, …before noon. Cheerful. Before noon. Morning. You. Why?"

Sam eyed the tTechno-g Geek for a moment, then rolled her eyes. "I'm not allowed to be happy?" she asked.

"Who says," Danny asked as he appeared beside them.

"Tuck," Sam answered.

"I didn't say that!" Tucker growled in frustration. "I was just wondering why she's so chipper this morning when usually she's Ms. Gloom and Doom in the mornings. Sheesh."

Danny looked at Sam a moment and she smiled at him weakly. Her cheerful mood was a put on. She worried that Danny could see through her façade. Yes, he was clueless,; but when he wanted to be, he was sharply perceptive. He gave her a questioning look and she shrugged her shoulders. She gave him a look which told him not to worry, and he sighed.

They parted their ways to go to their lockers. Sam was getting her books together for first period when a rose dangled in front of her. She frowned deeply, then turned around and came face to face with Dash.

"What's this?" she asked as she looked from the rose to Dash and back to the rose.

"A flower," Dash answered. "For you."

"Why?" Sam asked warily, not taking the offered rose.

"Because you deserve beautiful things," Dash said sweetly. Sam smirked at him and he laughed then leaned against the locker beside Sam's.

"Really," he said. "I got it in a cheesy attempt to talk you into going out with me."

Sam laughed and closed her locker. For reasons she couldn't figure out, it was impossible to drag her gaze away from Dash's. He took the rose and lightly caressed the side of her face with it and she blinked in surprise, but didn't move away.

"Sam!" Danny called impatiently. "We're going to be late to class."

Dash opened his mouth to tell Fenton to shut his trap, but the little voice in his head stopped him. Instead he smiled as he brought the rose to his own lips and kissed it.

"See ya in third period," he said to Sam and walked away, taking the rose with him, as she stared after him in stunned silence.

"What was that?" Danny asked as he walked up beside Sam. He looked back at Dash. "Did you tell him no? 'Cause he walked away too happy."

Sam shook her head and cast an irritated look at Danny. "He didn't ask. He tried to give me a flower in a lame attempt to get me to change my mind."

"You want us to protect you?" Tucker asked worriedly. Danny had obviously talked to Tucker after talking to her and he had decided not to tease. Sam felt like she was carrying a large weight on her back. She was tired and fighting it hard, or maybe she was tired because she was fighting so hard.

"Sam?" Danny asked. She snapped out of her daze and shook her head.

"I'm sorry. I didn't sleep very well last night," she finally admitted, letting her guard down slightly as Danny watched her closely. "Lots of nightmares."

"Nightmares?" Tucker asked as he picked up on the conversation. "About what? Kissing Dash?" Sam gave Tucker a strange look and he smiled cheerfully at her.

She narrowed her eyes at him and he continued to smile. "I don't even want to think about something so horrible," Sam finally said.

"We'll stick by you today if you want," Danny said as he put his arm around Sam in a comforting gesture.

Sam smiled at Danny. "Thanks for the offer, but I can take care of myself. Besides, if I keep avoiding him, it will just build the pressure for when I say no."

"Face your obstacles head on," Tucker said. "That's our Sam." Sam gave him an irritated look and he smiled. It wasn't as easy to forgive Tucker as it was Danny,; but, of course, Danny hadn't been as insulting as Tuck.


Dash watched with very unfamiliar ache in the pit of his stomach as he watched Sam walked down the hall with Tucker and Danny. When Danny put his arm around Sam it made him want to completely pound in Danny's face.

"Again," the voice in his head started up., "Hurting her friends will not win her affection."

Dash sighed. He'd never felt unsure about a girl before. Yeah, he'd been shot down a few times; but not by girls he really, really liked. Not that there had been a girl he really, really liked before. This was new to him.

"You need to write her a note and apologize for not being in third period," the voice in his head told him as soon as he sat at his desk for his first class.

"What do you mean?" he asked in his mind, wondering vaguely if maybe this wasn't the first sign that he was going insane.

"You need to keep her on the edge of anticipation. She's still intending ton turning you down. You need to give her a reason for to saying yes," the voice said. "You will not be in your third period class. Write her a note."

"I don't do notes," Dash thought to the voicesaid. "Especially love notes to any girl."

"You want to win her heart, don't you?" the voice asked.

Dash growled as he picked up his pen, opened his note book… and paused,. "What do I say?"

"I'll help," the voice told him. "Dear Sam." The voice in his head paused as he wrote. Dash felt it sigh. "It's d-e-a-r, not deer. She's a girl, not a woodland creature."

"Oops," Dash said, then moved to another piece of paper.

"Dear Sam," the voice began again and Dash started to write. "I am so sorry that (Ssorry has two rr's, Dash) I'm not going to be able to meet you in Social Studies (social is spelled s-o-c-i-a-l). I was really looking forward (f-o-r-w-a-r-d) to seeing your beautiful (no, no, it's b-e-a-u-t not bet. Don't you know how to spell at all, Dash?) face."

Dash growled in frustration. "This note makes me sound like a complete wimp."

"It's romantic, Dash," the voice said. "She'll love it. Trust me."

"Okay," Dash replied and readied himself to write more.

"I am sad at missing this chance to convince (c-o-n-v-i-n-c-e) you to go out with me on Friday. We don't have to go to a movie. We could go to that bookstore you like. I know they hold Friday night poetry readings. I'd love to hear some of your poems. (p-o-e-m-s). I really want to get to know you better, Sam. Please don't turn me down. You don't want to see me cry. It's not pretty when I cry. I mean, yeah, you have the total potential (p-o-t-e-n-t-i-a-l) to play this for optimal humiliation—" (Errol growled as he spelled out the rest of the larger words for Dash;, the kid needed help—), "but please, Sam. Please put me out of my misery and give me one chance. Please. Admiringly and lovingly, Dash."

"This note is like way lame," Dash said mentally as he folded it up and wrote Sam's name on it.

"Which of your friends shares thata class with you?" the voice asked.

"Star," Dash answered.

"Give it to her to give to Sam. Before class. You're spending third period in the nurse's office."

"My grade can't stand to miss Social Studies," Dash saidthought to the voice. "If I flunk Social Studies, I'm off the football team. If I'm off the football team, my father will kill me."

"You'll be able to ask Sam for her notes. She takes great notes," tThe voice responded.

"She's not going to give me her notes!" Dash said thought sadly.

"Yes she will," the voice replied. "Just trust me."

"Why should I? Who are you anyway?" Dash asked.

"I'm you, but smarter," tThe voice answered. "Trust me, follow my lead and Sam will be yours by the end of the week."

"Okay," Dash said. "But if not, I'm totally smashing your. M…my face in." He paused at the statement then shook his head. "I'm really losing my mind."

"What?" Kwan said as he looked at Dash. "Are you talking to yourself again, Dash? Are you sure that creepy Goth girl hasn't hexed you or something, 'cause you sure are acting weird."

"Yeah, I know," Dash sighed. "I think I might go to the nurse."

Kwan laughed,. "Yeah, tell her you're love sick and she might give you the antidote." Dash socked his friend in the arm, hard.

"Jeeze, Dash," Kwan complained. "Get a sense of humor." Dash didn't respond as he made his way to his second period class wearing a grim expression.


I have no A/N. Just review! Thanks!

Oh! Wait! One thing! If I should happen to have Sam and Dash kiss (I'm not saying it's gonna happen, I just say IF) then DO NOT stop reading, or you will be cutting off the really great things I have planned in future chapters. Of course I might not have them kiss so there may be no worries, I'm just keeping my options open.