See look I had written another chapter too……
Chapter Three: Working It Out
"Oh geeze!" Sam groaned as she tried to pull her chin up over the bar for the twenty-fifth time. She conceded that she was lucky she got as far as she did. Upper body strength just wasn't her thing. She looked over at Valerie whose eyes were closed and was counting to herself as she did pull ups. "Forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty!" She let go of the bar and looked at Sam in triumph.
Sam held up her hands, "I admit it freely. You have me beat. I'm just no good at the upper body strength stuff."
"Yeah," Valerie said sadly. "But don't be so hard on yourself. You're really better than average, and with a little work you'll be doing as good as me in no time."
"Just don't expect me to try the flips and balancing again," Sam said sheepishly as she rubbed her back side. "There is a reason I'm the back up to the hero. An acrobat I am not."
Valerie laughed, "I can't figure out why you have such bad balance."
"It's the Goth in me," Sam replied with a straight face. "I am out of balance with the world, therefore I cannot balance upon it."
Valerie looked at her for a moment then cracked up laughing, "Ah you're too funny Sam." Sam only blinked at the girl.
Valerie paused. "You're not kidding?" Sam raised her eyebrows and looked sheepish.
"Geeze," Valerie said. "I'm sorry I…"
Sam cracked a smile and Valerie gave her a unsure look. "I am kidding," Sam said then laughed lightly causing Valerie to give her an even more unsure look which caused Sam herself to crack up laughing.
"Wow Val," Sam said. As she flopped down on a near by mat. "You're gullible. You need to get over that if you're ever going to handle Tuck and Danny's pranks."
Valerie narrowed her eyes at Sam feeling happy that the girl was including her with Tucker and Danny. "Why are you lounging around young lady!" She yelled. "We have stairs to run up and down."
"Ha!" Sam laughed. "When I deign to get up, I'll kick your butt at that and you know it."
"Come on lazy lump." Valerie said as she grabbed Sam's arm and pulled her up off the floor. "I'm not like Tucker and Danny. We're not going to spend our time lounging around playing video games all day."
"Ugh!" Sam groaned as she rolled her eyes then followed Valerie outside of the school gym where they began running up and down bleachers. Sam began to feel better, but her thoughts moved on to Danny and what happened last night.
He showed up right after the fight was over. The ghost in the park was just a small minor annoyance. It wasn't a big deal at all. In fact, Valerie didn't really need Sam there to dispatch it at all, but both girls discussed the situation and thought it would be better to work out the communication kinks, and that every ghost had the potential to be major.
It was half an hour after Valerie and she had parted ways and Sam entered her room and was blown off her feet by an invisible force that Sam encountered a very different and difficult ghost.
"Danny," Sam said in exasperation as she floated near the ceiling. "Let me go."
"What are you up to Sam?" Danny asked almost angrily as he put her down on the ground.
Sam straightened her clothing then sat at her desk. "I'm not going to talk to you until you become visible," she said.
Danny appeared standing at the end of her bed and she smiled at him as he looked back his white hair still mussed with the speed of flight and his green eyes looking at her questioningly and obviously a bit embarrassed.
"So Jazz covering for you?" Sam asked as she folded her arms across her chest and smirked at him.
"Yeah," Danny said as he sat. "I guess that ghost wasn't much of a big deal huh?"
"Val and I handled it just fine without you," Sam said almost smugly. "Does that bother you Danny?"
"No," Danny said angrily. "In some ways it's kind of a relief. I'd like to take a break from all this ghost hunting. But not at the risk of my best friend."
"I'm not at risk," Sam said not quite understanding Danny's meaning. "You know Valerie is really good at ghost fighting and as long as I stay out of the way, like I am used to doing, and watch her back for her, everything will be fine."
"But what happens when you do get into trouble?" Danny asked. "Valerie isn't a ghost, she doesn't have ghost powers. She can't save you if you're falling off a building Sam. She can't phase you through walls you've been thrown through. She can't block ectoplasmic blasts sent your way.
Sam smiled slightly at Danny. "You can't always protect me either. Unless you've suddenly mastered the trick of multiplying yourself. I've been shot at and fallen so many times, I'm not even scared of it anymore."
"And you should be!" Danny said angrily. "Why do you think I do the ghost fighting alone these days Sam? I have nightmares. Literal nightmares where I make a mistake and you get killed."
Sam walked over and sat next to Danny. "I'm sorry you have nightmares Danny," she said. "But you're not responsible for me and my choices."
"But Sam…" Danny started.
"No," Sam said gruffly. "You have really been trying to shut Tucker and I out lately. You've been crushing over Valerie and I honestly don't feel like I have a place in your life anymore Dan. Maybe…Maybe it's just time for us to move on."
Danny closed his eyes and leaned forward, supporting his head in his hands. "I don't mean to shut you guys out. Really. It's just I have enough to worry about without constantly being on watch for you guys. And now Jazz has jumped into the whole ghost fighting thing and…"
"You've been thinking about your future evil self aren't you?" Sam asked. "And the fact that you couldn't rescue us at the Nasty Burger even after defeating him."
"Well yeah," Danny said. "That was a huge wakeup call. I can't lose the people that mean the most to me Sam. You and Tucker are my family too!"
Sam put her hand on Danny's back and rubbed soothing circles as she spoke, "Danny. I like ghost hunting. I like the action. I like being in the thick of things. I like Valerie too. She and I have a lot in common."
Danny sighed deeply, "I don't want to lose you Sam. You're my best friend. Mine. Not Val's."
"Possessive aren't we?" Sam asked as she laughed she closed her eyes and grew serious for a moment. "Danny," she said softly. "I know you very well. We've been friends forever. I know that even though Valerie told you that she didn't have time for a relationship, that you intend on changing her mind."
Danny sat up straight and looked at Sam. He opened and closed his mouth a few times and his eyes saddened as he looked into Sam's own emotions filled eyes. "Yeah but what does that have to do with ghost hunting?"
"Nothing," Sam answered. "But what girlfriend is going to want their boyfriend to have another girl for a very best friend? Hmm? I know I wouldn't stand for it."
"But you know Valerie," Danny argued. "She's not like that she's…"
"A girl!" Sam said as she laughed bitterly. "Man, Danny you are so clueless sometimes!"
"Why?" Danny asked feeling confused and irritated. "How?"
Sam gave him a tired look. "I'm working at keeping you in my life. If I'm friends with Valerie she's not going to have a cow if she finds out you fell asleep here one afternoon while doing homework. If I'm friends with Val then you have more difficulty shutting me out. I've planned my strategy well."
"You talk as if you're going to war," Danny said almost angrily.
"I am!" Sam growled. "I'm fighting to keep my best friend! I'm fighting to protect you as well."
"Protect me?" Danny asked in outrage as he sat up and looked at Sam. "I don't need…."
"Yes!" Sam answered as she cut Danny off. "I've always done everything I could to protect you. I hide your secret. I cover for you. And now things are getting really complicated."
"Complicated how?" Danny asked. "I can just drop the whole liking Val thing. I can just let it go."
Sam sighed heavily and bent forward with her head in her hands, mimicking Danny's prior pose. Man it would be so easy to say okay. Things might even go back to the way they were. Just Danny, Tuck and her. She could go back to her crush on Danny and live securely in denial that she was going to lose him to another girl someday. But, Sam was smarter than that.
"Danny," she said softly as she shook her head. "Don't be stupid."
Danny tentatively put his hand on Sam's back and she nearly jumped out of her skin. Turning to look up him with wide purple eyes. He winced away like he was expecting a beating.
Sam looked into the green eyes she loved just as much as the blue and smiled with such tenderness that Danny's breath caught in his throat. He swallowed hard and was at a loss for words. Sam's smile widened into a grin and she reached over and smoothed his wayward hair out of his eyes.
"Someday," She said tenderly. "Either you're going to want to tell her or something is going to happen and Valerie is going to find out your secret. And the event is going to go one of two ways. First scenario is she's going to be so angry that she's going to try and kill you. Second scenario she accepts you for how you are and this whole vendetta against your ghost half is dropped."
"The second one hardly seems likely," Danny said as he watched Sam's expression fade to her normal bland expression and he relaxed a little. "And I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that if you are friends with Val that you can some how soften the blow, make her more receptive to the fact that I'm Danny Phantom. But the truth is, she'll probably just turn on you too because you've known all along. I don't think Valerie is a person who accepts betrayal too well."
"We all have to take chances I guess," Sam said as she looked down at her shoes. "If you can take chances. I can take chances."
"But you're taking chances with my safety too," Danny argued. "And it kinda sucks that you are trying to be friends with someone you don't like to stay friends with someone else."
Sam gave Danny a very irritated look. "Ok it's time to deflate your ego a little Mr. Big Shot." She smiled bitterly then said, "I like Val. A lot. She's fun. We have a lot in common."
"Like what?" Danny asked skeptically. He couldn't think of one thing that Sam and Valerie had in common, except a like of ghost hunting.
"Well we're both girls for one thing," Sam said as she laughed. "I know you forget that I'm a girl half the time, but yeah. I am female."
"I know you're a girl!" Danny said in outrage then blushed.
"It's fun to have someone to be feminine with," Sam said much to Danny's shock. "To actually share the female perspective with who understand girl things. Plus she doesn't want to just lie around all day playing video games and veg out. I like her style too. She's not shallow or anything. She's fun."
Danny sighed. "There's nothing I can do to change your mind?"
"I can't change yours. Why should you be able to change mine?" Sam asked.
Danny sighed deeply. "I need to get back before Mom and Dad miss me and Jazz runs out of explanations about where I went. I can just imagine Dad getting lost in the wilderness looking for me."
"Don't worry about Val and I," Sam said as she stood and walked to her window. "We'll be fine. Just enjoy your vacation."
"Yeah," Danny sighed. "Like that's possible." He looked at Sam and thought about hugging her. They hugged often. It wasn't a weird thing to do, but by the look on her face, Danny was scared to touch her.
"I'll see you Saturday," he finally said
Sam smiled and waved at him. He gave her a doubtful look then flew away. Sam watched out the window for a little bit then let a sad expression fall across her face.
"Earth to Sam," Valerie said as she waved her hand past the Goth girl's face. "Are you there? Zoning out on me?"
Sam blinked a few times as she pushed the argument she'd had with Danny from her mind, then looked at Valerie. "I guess I'm just tired. I was up late last night reading that book you leant me.
"Ahhh!" Valerie said as she teased. "I knew you wouldn't be able to put it down."
"I've never been much for suspense novels," Sam admitted. "But the book was really good."
The two girls, finished with their work out, walked home discussing books and then movies. They sat up in Sam's room for several hours laughing over what Sam would normally term silly, fluffy girl things.
Sam looked at the clock and sighed, "I have to go meet Tucker. He probably feels like I've totally abandoned him."
"Poor Tuck," Valerie said as she shook her head. "No Danny. No Sam. What do you think he's been doing with himself?"
"Internet," Sam said as she smiled. "He's playing his favorite online game, having completely forgotten the time and oblivious to the world around him. He'll only start feeling lonely and neglected when he looks around and realizes what time it is."
Sam was relieved that Tucker wasn't upset with her when she stopped by his house after Valerie left. He actually encouraged her to spend time with Valerie instead of worrying about what he was doing.
"I have a lot of computer upgrading to catch up with," Tucker told her. "On top of all the chores my mom has lined up for me I'd like to get some rest. You know?"
"Yeah," Sam said as she sighed and picked at a hole in the knee of her purple leggings.
The two friends sat in silence for awhile before Sam asked. "Have you heard from Danny?"
Tucker looked at Sam for a moment, attempting fruitlessly to read the girl's expression. "Yeah," Tucker answered. "He wanted me to try to talk some sort of sense into you. I figure your friends are your business. It's not like we all have some kind of bond keeping us all together. You know."
Sam gave Tucker a thoughtful look. She couldn't tell if Tucker was being sarcastic or supportive. She decided she didn't care what he thought. Sam had made a habit in life to care little for what other people thought of her actions or beliefs.
"Sam," Tucker said softly. "All good things come to an end right? Regardless of what Danny thinks, I believe you should do what you want. I mean, I hate losing you…but."
Sam rolled her eyes and gave a tsk of exasperation. "Just because I've become good friends with Valerie doesn't mean you've lost me Tuck! Nothing is changing. I'm just broadening my horizons."
Tucker nodded. "Like I said, everything changes. Things end. It was nice being just us three while it lasted, but I knew it wouldn't be forever."
He was more hurt than he was letting himself on to. Sam could tell she narrowed her eyes and leaned close to Tucker. He smiled slightly and she shook her head. "You're a really jerk you know that?" Sam asked.
Tucker put his arm around Sam and laughed. "I try really hard," he answered. "Just be aware that Danny's going to want to talk to you when he gets back."
"I know," Sam sighed. "But you're right Tuck. Things change." Tucker nodded his head sadly.
Valerie chewed on her thumbnail as she listened to the phone ring. She was nervous. She didn't know how her benefactor was going to take the news that she had someone helping her hunt Danny Phantom. She hoped he wouldn't be angry.
"Hello Valerie," Vlad said as he answered the phone. "A little early for a progress report isn't it? I wasn't expecting to hear from you until next month.
"Hi Mr. Masters," Valerie said. "I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you. I was just wondering if you could send me another ghost detector."
"Why?" Vlad asked. "Did that rotten ghost boy destroy your other one?"
"Well no," Valerie said sheepishly. "I have someone helping me now and it would really help if she knew when ghosts were around."
"Someone helping you?" Vlad asked archly. "I wouldn't think that someone such as yourself would need assistance hunting one measly little ghost boy."
"Yeah well things are kinda complicated," Valerie said weakly. "I needed someone to share my secret with. Someone I could trust and well she's my best friend now and…"
"Is it that Star girl?" Vlad asked his voice filled with doubt. "I hardly think she's someone you can…"
"No," Valerie interrupted wondering who Vlad knew about Star. She didn't recall telling him about any of her friend. "It's not Star. It's Sam. Samantha Manson."
Vlad choked and coughed and sputtered. "Are you all right?" Valerie asked in concern.
"I'm fine," Vlad said as he regained control of himself.
"Sam's a really nice girl. She's not afraid of ghosts and well, you might know her. She's a friend of Danny's."
"Yes," Vlad said schooling his tone into one of less interest. "I know who Samantha Manson is. And now you and she are good friends?"
"Yes," Valerie answered. "She's even been on a few ghost hunts with me and…"
"Say no more," Vlad said as the wheels of diabolical thought spun in his wicked mind. "I will have everything your new friend-in-arms will need to help you carry out your task."
"Thank you so much Mr. Masters," Valerie said. "I don't know how to repay you!"
"I have only asked for one thing from you Miss Grey," Vlad said gently. "I hope you adhere to those terms."
"I will!" Valerie promised. "Thank you." She hung up the phone and decided that things hadn't gone as badly as she thought they would. She expected Mr. Masters to have all sorts of questions and objections. He was quick to agree and in so doing chased away all the qualms Valerie had about asking Sam to back her up in her ghost hunting work.
Valerie walked over to her Nasty Ned costume and dusted it off. She had to work on Saturday evening, but she was looking forward to spending the day with Sam. It was good to have friends again, and even better to have a good friend.
Sam never laughed at Valerie's opinions, though she objected from time to time and made jokes, Valerie knew that Sam didn't judge her, nor did she try to change her. Well no, that wasn't true. Sam was trying hard to rally her to the side of ultra recycle vegetarianism and her beliefs about the environment and cruelty to animals.
Valerie and Sam had quite a few arguments about the ethical treatment of animals regarding animal testing. Through it all, Sam had respected Valerie's right to disagree, even if she did think it was disgusting and irresponsible. Valerie never had a friend who didn't expect her to follow their lead or be lead by her, who treated her as a complete equal.
"I just hope our friendship holds up once school starts again," Valerie said to herself as she tied her shoes then jogged out the door to catch the bus that would take her to the park where she was meeting Sam to go running.
Sam was stretching as she waited for Valerie when Danny and Tucker showed up. She looked at them blankly, trying not to smile at the looks of determination on their faces.
"What are you up to guys?" Sam asked.
"We're going to run with you and Valerie," Tucker said hoarsely then cleared his throat and looked at Danny, who was staring Sam down.
Sam smirked at Danny. "How did you talk Tucker into this?" she asked then turned to Tuck. "Did he threaten you with something?"
"Yes," Tucker said then shot Danny an exasperated look.
"An you!" Sam said. "Didn't you just get back? Wouldn't you rather be at home resting?"
"I'm fine," Danny said stiffly.
"Okay," Sam said as she checked her shoe laces. She looked over her shoulder to see Valerie approaching.
"Hey guys," Valerie said, shooting Sam a look of confusion.
"Hey Val," Sam said then gestured to Danny and Tuck. "These to lumps of laziness think they can run with us, and keep up."
"Oh yeah?" Valerie said as she turned and looked at Tuck then at Danny in a way that made him blush. She laughed then turned to Sam.
"Ready?" Sam asked her eyes gleaming wickedly.
"Yup," Valerie said catching on to Sam's thought. She smiled again at Danny. "Eat our Dust boys." With that Valerie and Sam took off running.
"And no using your ghost powers," Tucker said as he glared at Danny. Danny frowned then followed after the girls, Tuck not far…then far behind.
I still say this story is dead in the water