Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, I still don't own Danny Phantom, and this is sad but true.

Author's Notes: Enjoy!

Chapter 4: The Schoolboy Strut

"Ahhh!" yelped Danny as he sat up.

He panted as he put a hand to his forehead. His eyes widened slightly when he felt the sweat on his brow.

"It was just a dream," Danny said to the emptiness of his room.

Two short beeps replied back. Danny's brow furrowed in confusion as he looked at his left arm. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the metallic blue digital watch on his wrist. Twelve o'clock flashed repeatedly on the blue G.R.I.M insignia, while a small blue light glowed from the inside.

Danny fingered the watch for a minute, trying to find a button that would stop the flashing. His thumb brushed up against a small lever and moved it slowly. The top lid lifted up and stopped glowing as it revealed the inside. Danny saw the inside design was like the other one, but in red. A message in neat writing was on it followed by a completely different digital time being displayed.

"Your time now is...90 days, 20 hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds," Danny read aloud. "Oh no, this isn't good. All that stuff really did happen and what's worse is that I really did sign that contract and now I have...90 days, 20 hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds to help Dash Baxter, of all people, find true love."

Danny groaned as he fell backwards on his bed.

Sam and Tucker sat down at their usual booth as they waited for their orders to be brought to them. Tucker quickly glanced at his watch to see that it was 10 minutes till noon. The waitress finally came and carefully placed the drinks in front of them. He took a sip through his straw, enjoying the sweet strawberry taste. Sam set aside Danny's vanilla shake and took a sip of her own protein one. The waitress smiled at them once before leaving the two alone. Tucker turned his head to look out the window watching people pass by. He turned his attention back to Sam at the sound of her nails drumming the table top.

Sam looked at his face and followed his gaze to her hand, immediately stopping the nervous habit. She let out an uncomfortable sigh and moved a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She watched him take another sip of his milkshake, before he turned his attention back to the window and thus avoiding her. Out of nowhere her fists hit the table loudly and snapped him out of his reverie.

"Ok that's it, I've had it. We've been together for 10 minutes and you've spoken less than 5 words to me? How are we going to fix this if we don't talk to each other?" Sam said aggravated.

"I'm sorry Sam, I just...feel really weird right now," said Tucker nervously. "I'm really confused and I don't know what to do, ya know?"

He looked at the tabletop as if all the answers were written there.

Her resolve began to unravel slightly, "Yeah, I know what you mean." She took a deep breath before speaking again, "Look Tuck, I don't know what happened yesterday between us. I just know that, that you're one of my best friends and I don't want us to be uncomfortable around each other."

"Are we just best friends?" Tucker asked in a serious tone.

She'd never heard him sound like that before. Her eyes widened the more she looked into his, but before she could answer his question the bell at the top of the door rang loudly as Danny rushed through. He stood there for a second before quickly walking toward their booth and plopping down next to Tucker.

"Thanks...for meeting me here...you guys," Danny said nearly out of breath.

"Whoa, take a breath dude," Tucker said surprised.

"Drink some of your milkshake," said Sam while pushing the drink toward him. Sam and Tucker looked at each other in concern as their friend took a big sip of his drink.

"Is something wrong Danny?" asked Sam when he was done.

Danny lay his forehead on the tabletop as he dejectedly said, "Guys, my life is officially over."

"Oh come man, it can't be that bad," Tucker said reassuringly.

"Yeah Danny, I'm sure we can help you," said Sam. "Just tell us what happened."

Danny took a deep breath before he relayed the whole story to his friends. He mentioned the violent incident with Griffith at Dash's house. Their eyes widened as they heard him briefly describe the fight he had at the hospital. They listened intently as he described his experience in the ghost city and told them about G.R.I.M. With a heavy heart, he finished by telling them about the contract challenge and the consequences of failing.

"I don't even remember what happened afterwards, but when I woke up I found this weird watch on my wrist," said Danny as he showed it to his friends. He lifted up the top lid for them to see.

Tucker read the inscription aloud, "Your time now is...90 days, 8 hours, 15 minutes and 3 seconds. What's that mean?"

"That's how much time I have to help Dash. The worst part is I don't even know where to start. Geez, I just wish I had some sort of sign," said Danny frustrated.

"Hey Fenton!"

Danny looked up to see Kwan and some of the other football players come toward them.

"We need to talk to you."

"Me?" Danny asked nervously.

Sam and Tucker looked on in surprise as one of the football players picked up their friend and threw him over his shoulder like it was nothing. Danny protested as he was carried away, much to the amusement of the other teenagers inside the diner. Sam and Tucker were about to get up, but Kwan held up a hand to stop them.

"Don't worry, we're not here to hurt the geek," said Kwan smoothly. He started to walk away but Sam's question stopped him.

"What do you want with Danny?"

"We have a message to deliver," Kwan said, as he continued walking out with the rest of his friends.

"Hey! Stop! Let me go!" Danny said protesting.

His panic grew as he was carried to the alley next to the diner. Danny yelled as he was unceremoniously dropped onto the floor. He sat up and held his head in pain. He heard them laughing and gave them a defiant look.

"Hope you don't bruise easily," Kwan said mocking him. The other boys laughed slightly. Kwan bent down in front of him, getting in his face. The two glared at each other until a smirk suddenly appeared on Kwan's face.

"Hmph, I still don't get why Dash thinks it's fun to pick on you. If you ask me, you're way too boring," Kwan said jokingly.

"Sorry to disappoint," Danny replied sarcastically as he got up. "Now what do you want?"

"Getting testy aren't we Fenton?" Kwan replied smiling. "Anyway, let's cut to the chase. Dash told us about that fire at his house yesterday. Imagine our surprise when we found out it was dorky Fenton that...saved him and his mom."

Danny's body relaxed slightly, his blue eyes looking up at Kwan in curiosity.

"You know, you're all right Fenton. Some of us just wanted to tell you..." Kwan said, his voice struggling to say the words.

"Thank you," said a deep voice.

Danny turned his attention to the bulky football player that had picked him earlier. The other boy smiled at him and Danny slowly returned the gesture.

The other boys piped in, "Yeah, thanks Fenton."

"That was cool, man."

"You're an ok dude."

Kwan spoke up again, "Yeah, thanks."

Kwan held out his fist. Danny made his own hand into a fist and awkwardly pounded his against Kwan's.

"Well alright, maybe you're not such a loser after all, maybe."

"Uh thanks, I think," said Danny. He didn't believe any of this was actually happening.

"Listen Fenton, me and the guys agreed that if one day you needed a favor like a date for the dance, answers to a test, teacher's car destroyed whatever, we'll help you out."

The other boys nodded their heads in agreement.

"Thanks?" said Danny.

He stood uncomfortably as he watched them walk away. They all nodded their goodbyes at him as they moved out of the alleyway. Danny saw Tucker and Sam maneuver their way through to him.

"Danny, are you ok?" Sam asked quickly.

"Yeah, did they do anything to you?" Tucker asked, his eyes looking at Danny's body for any visible signs of injury.

"I'm fine," Danny said distractedly, his eyes on the retreating forms of the football players.

Suddenly a smile appeared on his face and he ran past his two friends and caught up with the boys again. Sam and Tucker looked on in confusion as they saw Danny catch their attention and talk quickly. Kwan seemed surprised at what Danny said, a look of amusement in his eyes. Danny finished what he was saying with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. Kwan turned back and said something to the rest of the boys, all of them laughing but nodding their heads in agreement.

Danny's smirk became a big smile as he walked back toward his two friends, "Guys, I just did one of the smartest things in my life."

"Ahhh! Oof!"

Danny groaned as he was tackled down for the 6th time today. 'This is the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life.' Danny thought tiredly. Some of the football players began to snicker as they saw their coach drop his hat for the 6th time today in anger. He stalked onto the field and quickly grabbed Danny by the helmet, pulling him aside.

"Fenton, just what the hell are you doing out there?" the coach yelled into Danny's helmet. Danny winced in a mix of anger and terror. "I know you can do damn better than this boy, now catch the ball and run the play correctly."

"I'll try coach," Danny said, his voice cracking slightly.

"No, don't try boy, do it. Listen, I understand that it's your first week, but I agreed to put your sorry butt on my team because my players said you could handle it. From what I'm seeing, the only thing you might be able to handle is the water boy! Now unless you want that job, I suggest you get your butt in gear and run the damn play!"

He looked as Danny's eyes shifted to the side and the coach turned his attention back to the other players who were snickering.

"Is there something funny ladies? Cause if there is then let me in on the joke," the coach said glaring at all of them.

When no one said anything, he gave Danny one last glance as he walked off angrily. Danny saw Kwan jog up next to him.

"Hey dude, what gives? You said you wanted us to get you on this team. We did our part, but now it's time you did yours. If you want to stay on this team, you better shape up quick," warned Kwan. "Now come on, show the coach what you're made of."

The other boy moved back into position next to Dash. Danny looked over to see the blond giving him a strange look before he too moved back into position.

What I'm made of? That's it!'

Danny got back into position and waited. The coach blew the whistle loudly.

"33, 42, 18, hike!" Dash called out just before the ball was snapped to him.

He looked over to see Danny moving and threw the ball at him. Danny caught the ball easily and turned to run. His full form uniform shielded the transformation as he went ghost. He looked to his left at the two defense players that were about to tackle him, but he merely pushed through them. The rest of the opposing players chased after him, but he easily outran them using his speed. When he finally reached the end zone he threw down the ball in triumph and did a victory dance.

Some of the players cheered with him, while the coach could be seen with a small satisfied smile on his face. Danny changed back as he grabbed the ball and brought it back with him. He tossed it to Dash, feeling somewhat pleased about the surprised look on the other boy's face. Kwan and several of the players patted him on the back in congratulations. They all lined up to get ready again.

"Alright men, now let's play some real football!" the coach yelled as he loudly blew his whistle again.

Griffith sat comfortably from his vantage point in the bleachers. He looked down at the scene before him with contempt. 'So he thinks he can win by finding common ground with the meathead? It shouldn't be too hard to crush his pathetic attempts. Then again, maybe someone else can do it for me,' he thought with his trademark smirk.

End of Chapter 4

Author's End Notes: Danny's using his powers to play football...? Oh don't worry he won't always have to. Please review! Thanks!

Spider's Shout Outs:
(because sometimes Hallmark's "Thank You" cards just don't cut it)

katy kreger: lol, you're too cool dude. You're e-mails sure were an interesting twist. Thanks again for all the direct reviews. :-)

Dela the Hidden: Yay. You're not sick of this story yet. lol. I hope you like my twist of kooky fairytales. As far as that mystery girl goes, all will be revealed with time. Hope you dug the latest update. Thanks!

KimuraSato: Coolio! Glad you liked the update. Yup it was pretty obvious Danny was going to accept the deal, but the funny thing is that G.R.I.M. isn't pulling all the strings with Danny. Thanks for the review!