WoM- I'm ba-ack! 'giggles' YAYNESS! I'll keep this short, to get to the story faster, which it the only part you people are interested in, I'm sure… 'winks playfully,'

Oh, and a special shout out to DannysGirlForever for not getting mad at me even though I accidentally skipped her name on my shout out list like three times now. 'cringing guiltily' SORRY!


"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society."

-Mark Twain


'First' Meetings

"Do I know you?" I asked carefully, cursing my body for betraying my nervousness in small ways. If my hands didn't stop shaking soon…

"Yeah…" Danny said. Then, his eyes widening, he quickly added, "I mean no! I mean uhh…" I can't help but smile as my roomie shifts nervously from foot to foot. "…I was at the Nasty Burger yesterday. I saw you save that kid." I felt my eyes widen at that, and my blue eyed companion quickly added, "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I was the only one who saw you!"

"Uhh, Thanks?" I said, uncertain of what else to say. I think Danny was expecting more, since his face fell slightly, so I couldn't help but add, "And could you not tell anyone else about that?" To my surprise, Danny smiled slightly.

"Don't want anyone to know you go around battling ghosts in your free time?" He asked playfully.

'…Is he flirting with me?' I wondered, my cheeks heating up as I met his smile with a grin of my own.

Hey, far be it from me to disappoint the guy, right?

"Of course not," I quipped, "You know how that sort of thing kills a social life," Danny bellowed with laugher.

"You have NO idea…" He chuckled, grinning at me. He hesitated a moment longer before heading over to pile things into a basket. Hiding a blush, I made my way back to the cash register, the floors all but forgotten.

It didn't take Danny long to finish, though his basket was full when he came up to the register to pay. Apparently, he knew his way around the Pharmacy much better then I did…

"Anyways…" He paused for a moment as I began to ring him up, his eyes shifting down to read my nametag, "Samantha? Wow, THAT'S a weird coincidence, my roomie's name is Sam…" Flinch on my part here as I put away the fifth roll of gauze. (Why he was buying so many was anyone's guess…) Luckily, Danny was so busy mulling over this 'coincidence,' he never even noticed.

"Yeah, you know how some names are nowadays," I said in a casual tone, "There's four Sams at the school I go to now, and don't get me started on how many Samanthas there are."

"Guess so…" Danny said, shaking himself out of his thoughts. "What do you prefer?"

"Sam," I answered at once. Then, realizing my mistake, I added, "Of course, if it gets too confusing for you-!"

"Relax," Danny chuckled, "He'll just be my friend Sam, and you'll be the pretty Sam," You know it can't be healthy for someone's face to get as hot as mine is right now… "Anyways, my art teacher told me before that life's nothing without confusion. It's what keeps us awake."

'…Good old Mr. Marchez…' I grinned, recognizing the quote as something he'd say. Something told me it's been edited a bit, though…

"So, you're an art student, huh?" I asked innocently, "Any good?"

"I can only hope," Danny replied, shaking his head, "Then again, it seems to be against some unwritten code of the cosmos for an artist to find perfection in their work, even when others see it." I laughed.

"All too true…" I agreed. "So what brings a fit young kid like you to a place like this on a weekend buying enough stuff to take care of a small army of wounded soldiers?"

Danny flinched slightly as I eyed his three plastic bags, filled with 6 rolls of gauze, 7 boxes of Band-Aids, 3 bottles of rubbing alcohol, and a ton of other odds and ends, most of which I'd never heard of in my life. I knew for a fact that our bathroom was nowhere near this stocked.

"Let's just say I'm not always fit and keep it simple for both of us," He responded. "I'm in here pretty much every week, sometimes more. Speaking of which, I've never seen you face around before… other then at the Nasty Burger thing, I mean."

"I just moved here at the beginning of the school year," I said casually. "And I just started working here today. I don't get out much… That's $98.75."

"Do you go to Wendy?" Danny asked, cocking his head cutely as he handed me his money. I smacked back a sudden urge to randomly hug him.

"No," I answered, turning away to busy myself with the cash register as I answered, "I go to Stretch Academy," I knew that was the name of another local private school, less renown then the Casper district, but thankfully Co-ed with no uniforms. "And you're a Casper boy, huh?"

Danny flinched, glancing down at his uniform. As much as I hated the concept of uniforms, since they rob people of their dignity as individuals, I had to admit Danny looked really cute in his…

'Easy, girl, take it slow,' I reminded myself as I handed Danny his change, 'We don't want him thinking we're an obsessive, creepy stalker type that spies on him in the shower.'

…The fact that I'd already seen him getting out of the shower aside, of course…

"Ah, yeah," He admitted in a tense sort of voice as he took his money, "But my legal guardian wants me to be home schooled."

"That doesn't sound so bad," I said.

"Maybe not to you…" Danny said, a touch of bitterness entering his tone before he sighed it away. "Anyways, we've already paid for the full Casper enrollment, so…" My eyes widened at that.

"You're a full enrollment student?" I said, my voice going up an octave in genuine shock. Danny flinched, belatedly realizing his slip.

Full enrollment was a whole package deal, meaning Danny's parents had already paid for his entire schooling, from preschool to senior year.

In college.

It got you a lot of neat extras, like the chance to choose your classes months before anyone else, first pick on anything new that came to the school and a freer reign on what you did on school grounds. However, it was also 'extremely expensive' in MY parents eyes, meaning you probably had to stop just short of selling your soul to get it.

"Uh, yes?" Danny said meekly, giving me a sheepish smile.

"You're not one of those rich playboys, are you?" I asked. I already knew the answer, but any respectable girl with an ounce of pride would've asked, and anyways I was wondering what else he wasn't telling Samuel…

"No!" Danny said hastily, "No, I'm nothing like that! I'm just a normal kid who got dragged into a rich guy's life."

"And the rich guy is…?"

"Do you always ask complete strangers this many questions?" I flinched as his eyes hardened, realizing that I was toeing the line.

"Sorry." I said. "you don't have to answer that, I was just… trying to make conversation!" I laughed nervously, kicking myself for how lame that sounded. My first chance to talk to Danny as a girl, and he was probably gonna leave thinking I was a nosey Gothic moron.

"Really?" Danny smiled, his eyes softening again into an amused look, "Well, I'm not much for talking, but I'm a pretty good listener. You want me to tell you so much about myself, I need to know more about you," I smiled back at the boy.

"Fair enough," I acknowledged, "Ask me any question."

"Why are you working here?" Danny started off, crossing his arms and fixing me with a smug smile.

"I felt a little sorry for Dr. Jeerings." I admitted. "And anyways, I figured I could use a little extra money now and then…"

"Why did you save that kid yesterday?" Danny asked.

"Instinct, I guess," I shrugged, "I didn't want to sit around and do nothing while a little kid was in danger." Not that I was any help whatsoever…

"And Phantom? Why did you go with him?"

"I dunno," I sighed, "I just got the feeling I could trust him. I'm a pretty good judge of character,"

"Really?" Danny said, grinning, "What did you think of Phantom?" I couldn't stop the blush from rising in my cheeks as The ghost's vivid green eyes flashed in my memory yet again.

"He's… interesting," I answered vaguely.

"Is that good or bad," Danny asked, blinking.

"Figure it out for yourself," I answered with a playful grin. Danny laughed.

"Well, do you like him?" Danny asked, crossing his arms.

"I think he's an honest, loyal guy who needs a few trustworthy friends," Sam answered, "Other then that, I couldn't say. I've only met him once."

"Maybe," Danny said, sounding amused.

"Maybe?" I repeated, placing a hand on my hip and giving Danny a pointed look. Seeing I wanted him to elaborate on that, he met it with the same I-Know-Something-And-You-Don't smile Jazz had given my brother before I'd enrolled into Casper. Who knew something like that was genetic…

"For all you know, Phantom could have loyal and trustworthy friends," Danny told me, "Maybe only a handful, but more then enough to keep him safe and happy. Maybe he's looking for something different… something he sees in you that he's never seen in anyone else…" My cheeks when red again at what my roommate was implying. Phantom, interested in me? When Queen of Popularity Paulina was out to sink her claws in him?

"Yeah, right," I snorted, "A superhero like that can do way better then me,"

"Well, if he did like you, would you be interested?" Danny asked, "Hypothetically."

"Well hypothetically," I repeated, smirking, "I'd have to say that I don't know him well enough to decide something like that,"

'Liar,' A voice snorted in the back of my head, 'You'd say yes in a heartbeat. To either him OR Danny…' I suddenly felt very guilty, but it melted away from confusion when I saw Danny's face. He had this weird look in his eye…

"I see," I said airily.

"Why so interested in my opinion on the ghost-boy, anyways?" I asked curiously. Danny went red.

"No reason!" He said hastily, chuckling nervously "Just… ah… just trying to make conversation!" I shook my head and smiled, wondering how I could have such a huge crush on such a bad lair.

"Well, do you have any more questions?" I asked, "Or is this conversation over?" Danny hesitated.

"Actually, there is once more thing…" He said slowly, shifting from one foot to another. "Ah, look, this may be a little… bold… but see there's a dance coming up soon…" Suddenly Danny gasped sharply, shivering. I blinked in surprise as my roomie groaned. "Not now…"

"What?" I asked, jerking back slightly, belatedly realizing I'd been leaning forward in anticipation.

"Nothing," Danny said hastily, gathering his bags, "I gotta go. See you around, Sam!" and before I could say anything, Danny was out the door.

"Okay," I said scowling, "We need to work on his habit of running out in the middle of a conversation."

"You have no idea, sweetie," A strange voice agreed. I froze.

'Please, please, PLEASE tell me someone came in while I was talking to Danny and I didn't notice…' I thought, my stomach even as I slowly turned to meet this stranger. I already knew that my luck wasn't that good.

Sure enough, I came face to face with the glowing red eyes of what looked like a grinning green version of a bald Cousin It.

'Greeeat…'


For once in my life, I wasn't sure how to react.

I mean, here I was alone in a store with a freaking GHOST and absolutely no way to defend myself. Danny was gone (Not that he probably could've done too much better in the current situation,) so all I could do was pray that this ghost wasn't as evil as he looked.

'Sure he isn't,' My inner sarcasm responded without fail, 'And Tucker's actually the Fairy Queen of France.'

"So, you're the kid's newest buddy, huh?" Blobby said, inspecting me, "Hmm… And here I thought he couldn't do worse then his last girlfriend…"

'…Did he just-? Ooooh-!' My fear was immediately replaced with blind fury.

"Ex-cuse me?" I snapped, "And who are you do decide something like that on appearance, huh?" I blinked, "Uh, who are you talking about, anyways?" He couldn't mean Danny, could he? There was no way this ghost knew my roomie!

…Right?

Before the ghost could answer, a black-and white blur nailed him from the side, sending them both through the wall and into the Storage Room, where a loud crashing noise was heard.

Curiosity (And a petty desire to make sure the ghost was hurting for that earlier comment,) quickly won out over good judgment, and a flung the door open to see what was going on inside.

It wasn't much of a surprise to see the increasingly familiar Phantom hovering a good five feet off the ground, watching the green guy as he shook off the surprise attack.

"Bertrand," Phantom said coolly, "I thought you and Spectra went packing after the Fenton Peeler thing." The ghost grinned in response.

"Times chance, kiddo," He said airily, "And plans change with them! Not that you'll figure that out until it's too late…"

"So you just came here to attack me?" Phantom said doubtfully.

"Of course not." Bertrand said, disappearing. Phantom stiffened, prepared for an onslaught. I tensed too, looking frantically to see where the ghost would pop back up when suddenly something jerked me backwards, covering my mouth with I tried to scream. By my left ear, I heard the glowing green ghost call to Phantom, "We just wanted to borrow your little girlfriend for a bit," Phantom jerked around, his eyes widening.

"SAM!" He yelled. Bertrand laughed.

"If you want her back, meet us at the abandoned hospital!" Bertrand called. "Ta!" and just like that, the world began to melt around me in a blur of lights and colors, until everything faded back into sight in a room so dark I couldn't see the nose at the end of my face.

"Oof!" I grunted as the ghost gave me a hard shove onto a cloth covered surface that smelled dusty and diseased.

"That was fast." A strange female voice said, sounding pleased.

"Ah, the kid was a cinch to find," Bertrand responded. I looked up, freezing when I found a black, shadow-like figure with glowing red eyes inches from my face. The ghost frowned slightly, looking irritated.

"I thought you were going to bring his sister or his loser friend with the PDA?" She said coldly. Her glowing green companion shrugged.

"Yeah, but he seems pretty attached to her, too." Bertrand said airily. "And there's less of a chance that SHE has an ecto-gun hidden away anywhere. Or that blasted thermos."

"Hmm, good point," the shadowy ghost said after contemplating this. It was obvious she was in charge of the green ghost, but that didn't tell me anything else about her…

"Okay, who are you?" I demanded, glaring at her, "And will someone tell me what's going ON around here?" the female ghost laughed.

"Oh yes," She smirked, "This is a MUCH better hostage. Much more helpless…" I stiffened glaring at her.

"Who are you calling helpless?" I growled. The ghost grinned.

"Why, you of course," She purred, "It's true after all, isn't it? I mean, how can you, a normal teenage girl, defeat so much as the ghost of a fly on your own, let alone a pair of powerful kinetic-based ghosts? Face it, sweetie, you're as helpless as they come," I growled, trying to keep my fear and desperation from showing.

"Even if that's true," I called out, "Phantom can beat a pair of weaklings like you any day! After all, he has once before, hasn't he?" Anger and annoyance flashed in those red eyes for a moment, giving me a flicker of triumph which faded when the ghost started to laugh.

"I'm sorry," She said between chuckles, "It's just… it's so cute! A weak and captive princess waiting for her noble prince, her knight in shining armor. Or in this case, Hazmat… just like in the story books!"

"I'm NOT weak!" I protested heatedly.

"Of course not," The ghost said, smirking. She began to pet my hair in a false show of affection. "That's why you have to rely on the ghost kid. And can you honestly say he's the first person to save you?" My depression became more pronounced, and a part of me knew it was showing but a bigger part of me didn't care anymore. It was like I was suffocating, drowning…

'She's right,' I thought numbly, 'I can never save myself… if anything, I just put myself in more danger… Danny, Phantom, Matt, Jazz… No matter what I do, someone else always has to save me from my own stupid mistakes…' I groaned, starting to feel very tired.

"That's right, sweetie…" The ghost said. I barely heard her, my eyes getting heavier and heavier… "Your anger, your doubt, your misery… give it allll to Spectra…" As she said that, she began to laugh coldly, the sound echoing around us. It was the last thing I heard before I blacked out…


When I came to, I wasn't in that Dark, dingy room anymore, but some kind of forest. I opened my eyes to see a clear, star-filled sky, with the silver of moon to light the trees around me.

My heavy eyes were drawn to the shadowy black figure looming overhead. It swooped down, landing on the ground new to me and staring at me with a piercing golden eye…

That was all it took to get me wide awake and panicking ever so slightly.

"It's alright," a voice soothed me, "Spook won't hurt you," I turned, relaxing when I found Phantom lounging in a nearby tree.

"Spook?" I repeated, blinking at the bird. He blinked back before flying silently back to his pasty-faced master. "He's beautiful."

"Isn't he?" Phantom said, a tint of pride coloring his tone, "I found him about a year ago, in these woods. He was half dead thanks to some dumb jock who broke his wing by throwing stones at him." My face darkened at that thought, and Phantom grinned at me, "Don't worry," He told me, "I made the jerk pay, believe me," I smiled wryly at that.

"Did you save me again?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. Still, Phantom shrugged, smiling at me.

"Spectra's not that big a deal," He told me casually.

"Do you say that about all the ghosts who attack you?" I asked. Phantom grinned.

"Honestly? No," He chuckled, "There are some that are smarter and stronger then ghosts like Spectra and the Lunch Lady."

"What do those two score on the Ghost Scale?" I asked. Phantom blinked.

"You know about the Ghost Scale?" He asked in confusion, "I though you just moved here,"

"I did," I answered, happy I could be honest for once, "One of my classmates told me about it, and I asked around," Phantom grinned.

"Impressive," He complimented, Then he sighed thoughtfully, "I think Lunch Lady scored a 2.8, since she pretty much only controls meat." I shuddered at that, "Bertrand was a 4.1, a fairly weak shape-shifter and Spectra was a 6.12,"

"Nice to know that she was right about one thing," I said bitterly. Phantom looked alarmed.

"She spoke to you?" He asked sharply. Abandoning Spook, he flew down to my side, "What did she say?"

"Nothing that wasn't true," I sighed. To my surprise, Phantom grasped my chin in his gloved hand, forcing me to look into his vivid green eyes.

"Listen to me," He said in a serious tone, "Spectra was a psychologist when she was alive, and in death she keeps herself young by feeding off the misery of teenagers. She even tricked me that way at first. Even if you think whatever she told you was true, beating yourself up over it just means that she won," I blinked, taking all of this in. And, in a true 'Sam Moment,' I blurted out the first question his speech brought to my mind.

"Ghosts age?" Phantom's mouth twitched and I could tell he was trying not to smile.

"Some do," He answered, "It depends on how powerful they are. Powerful ghosts stay the age they died at for forever, while weaker ones will age."

"What's the cut off point?" I asked.

"Somewhere around 8.5. Don't change the subject."

"Who's changing the subject?" I asked "I'm not changing the subject."

"You still haven't told me what she said," Phantom reminded me. I flinched, half-hoping he had forgotten he asked. Phantom must've seen this. "You don't have to tell me if it's super personal, but if you really want me to trust you as someone I can talk to…" I huffed slightly, crossing my arms.

"Fine, fine!" I groaned. Then I got serious, "…She told me I was weak. She said… she said I was always getting in the way, always counting on other people to save me," Phantom frowned.

"You're not weak." He said firmly. I laughed, a bitter sound even to me.

"How do you know?" I asked him, "You don't know me, and we've only spoken what, one time?" Naturally, I wasn't including the two times I met him as Samuel.

"Still, I know you're not weak," Phantom insisted stubbornly, "Actually, I've never seen a girl as strong as you are, that's one of the things that makes you so interesting." I blinked.

"One of?" I repeated, smiling slightly as a blush played at my cheeks, "As in there are more things that make me interesting?"

"Of course," Phantom said, grinning, "Your courage, for one. I've never met anyone else who will dive into a ghost infested restaurant to save a kid they've never met,"

"You were the one who did all the real work," I reminded him.

"Yeah, but I have paranormal powers most people would only dream about," Phantom said, sounding slightly bitter. "Of course, when it comes to paying the price it takes for those powers, pretty much all of those people would rather go without 'em," I could most certainly understand that.

"How did you die?" I asked, flinching after the question left my lips. Phantom froze up.

"I'd rather not talk about that," He said softly.

"Right," I shifted around, feeling like a complete jerk. "Sorry."

'Of course he wouldn't want to talk about it, Dunce!' I scolded myself, 'Don't you think something like that's a LITTLE personal?'

"Hey, you're probably not the first person to wonder that." Phantom shrugged, "You ARE the first to have the guts to ask, though. Then again, most people scream and run when they see me."

"Paulina wouldn't," I said instantly, wanting to smack myself for bringing her into the conversation.

"Actually, she's the worse," Phantom said, flinching slightly. "It's just that she screams and runs TOWARDS me instead of away. In a way, that's worse, since she can come up out of nowhere and start attacking me like a rabid fangirl." I had to laugh at the mental image that summoned up, making Phantom smile. "You know, you've got a cute laugh," I felt myself go crimson at that, my gaze fixing on the ground.

"Can I just ask you one more question?" I asked the ghost nervously, not meeting his eyes.

"Shoot," Phantom responded.

"Why did that ghost kidnap me, of all people?" I asked. To my surprise, the ghost blushed ever so slightly, shifting uncomfortably.

"…That was my fault," He admitted, guilt coloring his tone, "She kidnapped you because Bertrand thought we have an… 'intimate relationship,' in his own words," I felt color rise in my own cheeks as I realized what the annoying green ghost had been hinting at.

"What could've given him that idea?" I asked nervously. Phantom's blushed deepened.

"Who knows," He said nervously, "Anyways, I understand if you want to take back what you said earlier. About wanting to listen to my problems, I mean,"

"Are you kidding?" I said, surprised, "Why would I do that?"

"Because my enemies have already started targeting you when we can count the number of conversations we've had on one hand," Phantom said as if it was the most obvious explanation in the world, "Sam, if I keep talking to you like thins, it'll only get you into more trouble."

"I'll be fine," I told him firmly. "I'm not going to let a screwed up Psychologist and her glowing lackey scare me into a corner, and I still want to be friends with you," I noticed Phantom got a strange look on his face after I said that, but it was gone so fast, I figured I imagined it.

'Besides,' I added silently, 'I'm only Samantha for about eight hours a week, anyways.'

"You honestly don't care that ghosts are going to try and attack you because of me?" Phantom asked, staring at me like I'd just said Mr. Lancer was the next Brad Pitt.

"Well, I am kinda mad that I can't protect myself from them," I admitted, "But no matter what Spectra says, I know you'll be there to help if things get out of hand, and I really appreciate that," Phantom smiled broadly at that, looking relieved and hopeful.

"Wow," He laughed, "I never thought any girl would be willing to stay in a ten foot radius of me once ghosts started attacking them for it," I blushed.

"Well the," I said, "I guess I'll have to prove you wrong," Phantom grinned at me.

"You do that," He said, hovering above the ground. "I'd better go…"

"Um, Phantom?" I said, uncertainly as he started away, "I'm working tomorrow. I come in at five," Phantom looked confused for a moment before realization hit him.

"I'll try to swing by," He said, smiling. "But you might wanna call your boss up first and make sure you weren't fired." I froze up at that as Phantom flew away.

'…Well, crap…'


I did call Dr. Jeerings up, and thankfully he wasn't mad at all. Actually, he was surprised I didn't want to quit then and there. Apparently he saw my kidnapping on the security camera when he got back to the store and flipped out. Nothing was stolen while the store was left unlocked and unmanaged, so there was no real harm done.

After repeatedly assuring the doctor that I was alright, I hung up and changed back into my Casper uniform, flinching when I saw what time it was. 'past curfew' didn't even begin to describe it. Hell, even Danny was usually home before it got this late!

Usually.

'Hey, Danny sneaks in unnoticed all the time,' I reminded myself as I slipped back onto campus, 'And you're nowhere near as clumsy as he can be when he's nervous! You can probably make it to the Dorm no sweat…'

That thought gave me the courage I needed, and I hastily started towards Dorm 13, using bushes and trees for cover whenever I saw a security guard. My confidence grew as I entered the Dorm, heading upstairs to my apartment, silent and unseen.

'This is easy,' I thought to myself, smirking, 'No wonder Danny gets away with it so often…'

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" I stopped dead as a flashlight blinded me, my face paling as Mr. Folupa came closer, frowning at me sternly.

'…Crap.'


WoM- Eek! 'dodges rotten fruit,' I know you guys probably saw that one coming as soon as you heard about the curfew thing, but I honestly couldn't help it! I'm a slave to my muses! 'glares at toga wearing men who are still being far too difficult for the authoress' well-being,' And before you ask, this chapter is in fact longer then chapter six. Actually, it's even a little longer then I first intended… 'shrugs' Ah, well! Also, I found out just how much I love now having DoD. Now I can explain things more thoroughly from two view ponts and opinions! 'dances around gleefully' Also, this story's up on DeviantArt now if you want to look for it over there. I'll have some artwork up for it (As well as all my other stories and several random things that smack me on the back of the head)as soon as I buy some plug for my new scanner, which should happen this weekend.

Thanks to;

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Next update; January 10th

See you then!