Hello! Well, the chapter number keeps changing for some odd reason. I lost my original copy of the lyrics that go at the beginning of the chapter (which by the way had like a bunch of things I needed; lucky I can remember all of it). It started out as 32, but then somehow when I redid it, it became 31…So, I'm not real sure which one's right, but I got the lyrics from the same place… Right now, I'm going with 31.

Hee hee, even though you know, we're only one…chapter eight. Ha ha! Thanks to my reviewers!

Shorty, Karaway, passing4insane, cutereviewgirl, Annabelle Carte x2, vanillalillies, Fantastic Bouncy Girl, Indigo Bluu, AlisSilly, XxFadedxMemoriesxX, The Sleep Warrior, Galateagirl, kpandron x7, Leppers, The Raven of The Night

Enjoy!

Chapter Eight

Never Let It Go

I don't want to run away, but I can't take it, I don't understand

"So, want the tour?" Sam asked, spinning around once. "I can probably tell you I have no idea where anything is besides the bathroom, kitchen, and my own room is."

"Well, really, we only need one of those," Danny said. "Your room."

She stared, trying not to laugh. "Danny that--"

"—really didn't come out right," he finished, cringing. He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. "Anyway…"

"Come on; the kitchen's this way," she said, leading him into another room.

Besides a few boxes lying out of the way, everything seemed to be unpacked and put away. The kitchen was a light blue color with white cabinets and floor tiling. A fridge was parked next to the counter and a table was set up against the far wall. White, ruffled curtains lined the fairly large windows and a fan was spinning above them on the ceiling. The sink was stainless steel and about five feet away from the fridge, underneath a dishwashing machine.

Sam peered into the fridge and he stared around. "Where are your parents?" he suddenly wondered, looking back as if they'd walk around the corner and walk right in.

"Meetings. Getting everything set up and paid for," she said. "Grandma's with her new bowling team."

The thought made him laugh and he sat down at the table, stretching out. She grabbed a few glasses from the cabinet and joined him.

"So Lancer caught you doing what exactly?" she asked, pouring them both some lemonade.

"Well, you know how I called you this morning?"

"Yeah, all too well," she teased.

"I kind of…skipped the beginning of second hour," he said. "And Lancer walked in. First day of school and I've got a week of detention."

"Oh, darn Danny. Usually you last at least four hours," Sam said, in a mock surprised voice. He laughed. "Detention…whoo…got me beat there."

"What did you do?"

"Daspi and I pretty much told off a teacher who's…pretty in pink we could say," she answered, taking a drink.

"Such a little black angel, aren't you?"

She laughed. "I may be pretty black inside, but I'm no angel." He stared at her oddly and she suddenly felt very self conscious, sighing nervously. "So, what about this creepy new teacher?"

He shrugged, shaking his head. "I have no idea…His name is Mr. C."

For a moment, Sam thought that name sounded familiar, but she couldn't remember where she'd heard it before.

"I had him first hour," he continued. "We played this game and…I felt like he was…really kind of psychic."

"What did he say?" she asked, sitting down next to him, one eyebrow raised.

"Just really got into everyone's head quickly. We played that game where someone says a word and you say the next thing that comes to your head…and just by playing that game all hour, he seemed to know us all. He chose a few people and just said some things that he'd already gotten off of them…Including me."

"What did he say about you?" she asked.

"Something about having all these good ideas that get me out of trouble, but I don't use that for school and that I'm a supporter of Danny Phantom."

"Well, he got most of that right. Obviously he didn't guess that you're a supporter of Danny Phantom because you are him, right?" She laughed. "So, do you think he's a ghost."

"See, that's the thing. I was thinking about it all day. My ghost sense never went off when I walked into the room. But sometimes it doesn't even go off…Maybe this was one of those times. That or…I could just be paranoid and he's just really good…" He trailed off. "I don't know."

"Hmm…" She wasn't sure what to say either.

"He even knew who you were and he knew that we played that game all the time," he recalled.

"I don't know," she said softly.

"I think that I'm just going to make myself paranoid if I keep thinking about it. Knowing me, he's probably just some regular guy who's really good at what he does," he said.

"Well, I've got a few things in mind we can do to get your mind off of it," she offered.

He grinned, then tried not to, clearing his throat. "Really?"

"Danny, you are so nasty," she said, shoving him playfully. He laughed and made her do so as well. "How was flying here? Get lost?"

"Surprisingly, no," he said. "Although I had to stay invisible the whole time. I think it would freak people out to see a white haired guy flying in the sky."

"Yeah," she said, giggling. "At least they won't say, "It's a bird, no, it's a plane, no, it's superman!"

He laughed. "Hey, that's a classic."

"Superheroes," she grumbled. "So strange."

"Oh, thanks," he said.

"Speaking of, any ghost troubles lately?"

"Not really…Although I had the strangest encounter with the Lunch Lady and the Box Ghost yesterday…" He shuddered. "Still brings up really bad images…"

Sam burst into laughter. "The look you just had on your face was priceless…"

Time slowed for the second time, blending into a slow motioned world, where every second was that of a single heartbeat.

A shadowed figure stood, up against the wall, holding his hand up, a bright red ring placed on his finger.

"It's moments like these that so many people take for granted. The ability to talk and make jokes and really enjoy each other's company. Friendship is to be valued and create a special memory that will last a lifetime. But yet when you stare into each other's eyes, you feel so much more than friendship and you both know it. Whether you admit your feelings…well, that's up to you, isn't it? So, really think about it. Find somewhere you'll both be together…It doesn't have to be alone. Sometimes in a crowd, you can still find each other. Spending time will be the first tie that bonds you together. Just never forget to never let it go."

He grinned and closed his eyes, time reforming around them fast. Sam blinked several times and ran a hand through her hair. Danny sighed and then had an idea.

"Want to go somewhere with me?" he asked suddenly.

"Where?" she asked, thinking along the same lines. A few hours with him would set her mind free for a while of everything that had been stressing her out lately.

"I don't know. Just…anywhere…"

"I'd love to," she replied.

………………………………

Sam stared out at the landscape beneath them, thrilled to see what she was seeing. She leaned up against the concrete pillars, staring out at the river beneath them. The sun setting cast a beautiful glow against the rippling waters. The buildings around them reflected in it, sending a blur of light against the mirrored image.

It was nearly dusk there, the sun setting on the horizon, a few couple hundred yards away. Back home it was only three, yet there, it was ten at night. People still bustled around, rushing to finish up last minute shopping.

The Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy was home to not only a bridge full of marvelous, expensive jewelry stores, but was in one of the most beautiful countries Sam had ever dreamed going to.

"Danny…this is wonderful," she breathed. She turned, expecting to see him by her side, but there was no one there. She looked around, her eyes narrowing and searched behind her for him. "Danny?" she called, figuring he couldn't possibly hear her over the shoppers and tourists.

"For you," said a voice behind her. Jumping at first, she whirled around to see Danny standing there and felt the softest touch against her cheek as a rose petal gently brushed her skin.

He handed her something. "Both are for you."

She took the rose and then took the small glass of red wine he'd brought her, raising an eyebrow.

"The age limit's different here," he said with a grin.

"Hmm," she said. "So where's yours?" She took a sip and a rush of warmth flooded over her; she could taste a deep flavor of grape and cranberry.

"I'm your designated flyer," he said, staring out at the view as well.

She laughed. "This…is wonderful…"

"I thought you might like it." He glanced back at her. "Italy...Let's see, since we're in Tuscany today, we could go see Venice tomorrow and then Verona, and then Rome, and then…we'll find some other country…Like France or Ireland or Mexico…Mexico's only because I know how to speak Spanish…"

She laughed again. "Thank you so much. Flying here was fun enough. Spending time here was a definite treat."

"Anytime," he replied.

Sam took another drink and then offered him a tiny sip. "You won't get drunk, I promise." She took her hand and raised it to his lips and he took a small drink, making a face. "Not a wine lover, huh?"

"The first drink…not really," he said, blinking several times.

She took Danny's hand in hers, both of them facing each other. For a moment, neither of them spoke as they just stared into each other's eyes. Night finally fell in Italy and candlelight flickered around them.

And he grabbed her hand in his and held on.


Ah…Can you believe the whole Italy thing? Hee hee…You'd never believe where I got the details from though!

Please R&R! Here's your sneak peek!

Chapter Nine: Lingering

"What did you and Sam do last night?" Tucker asked.

"I flew her to Tuscany and we ate Italian pasta until it started raining and we had to go back home cause it was getting late here," Danny replied, closing his eyes and resting for a moment.

"So let me get this straight," he said, with a grin. "You went all the way to Florida, then took Sam to Italy and then flew back, took her back to Florida, and then came back here? All that for her?"

"Yeah, why?" he asked, opening one eye and staring up at him questioningly.

"Because I'm just starting to wonder if you're actually hearing yourself," he replied.

Lateraina Wolf