WoM- 'running around like a chicken with it's head cut off' AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 'collapses to the floor,' I think I'm overworking myself. Especially since I'm only allowed on the Internet an hour a day at home, and I can't skip lunch at school cuz I'm hypoglycemic… 'sulks' life really stinks sometimes. Especially considering the horrible, unspeakable crime that occurred the last time I updated this fic. 'cries'
"You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war."
-Albert Einstein
Hope
"Matt!" I squeaked out, "…Ah… Hi?" His frown darkening, my brother pulled me aside to hide in the shadow of some freakishly pink drapery.
"What are you thinking?" Matt growled, glowering down at me, "This had better be a joke, Sam."
"If I tell you it is, will you spare me a lecture?" I asked hopefully.
"Sam…" Matt said warningly.
Yeah, didn't think that'd work…
"I'm just here with some friends is all," I said defensively.
"Who?" Matt demanded.
"You know… Jazz… Liz… DannyTuckerandValerie…" Matt's look went from dark and 'ticked off older brother,' to very, very confused.
"What was that last one?" He asked, bewildered, "You said it way too fast, Sam,"
"Point is, I said it," I chirped, "Anyone up for pizza?" I tried to duck away, but Matt caught me before I could make it.
"Nice try, Sam," He said dryly, "Now what's going on here?" I cringed, wondering how I was gonna get out of this one…
"Uh…"
"Oh, Matt, there you are!" My cringe kicked up a notch. "Who's your- Sam?" I smiled sheepishly into Jazz's wide eyed.
"Wow, what a surprise!" I laughed, "How did I get here? Those pesky ghosts must've overshadowed me and made me come!" Jazz glared.
"Nice try, Sam," She said coolly, crossing her arms. "What's going on here? Didn't I tell you not to come?"
"Not technically," I reminded her all you said was-!"
"That's not the point!" Jazz hissed, "I specifically said that you should wait until things are less complicated to say anything to my brother!"
"Your brother?" Matt repeated, even more confused. "What's Danny got to do with any of this?" Okay, now it was my turn to be surprised.
"You didn't tell him?" I asked Jazz.
"I thought you did," Jazz countered. I frowned, sensing the lie in her words. She knew I wouldn't tell Matt if he threatened me with a rabbit-skin coat that had been dyed neon pink, so what…?
"Well is someone going to tell me now or do I have to guess?" Matt asked irritably.
Jazz glanced at me again, before she turned back to Matt and reluctantly started talking, "Well, it turns out my brother is your sister's roommate," She said slowly. Matt frowned relaxing slightly.
"So?" He asked, "Dan's a good kid. He won't rat Sam out even if he does find out."
"Yeah, I know, but SOMEBODY decided to risk her secret by getting a part time job at Yin/Yang Pharmacy," Jazz continued. Matt's face darkened.
"That's a joke right?" He asked me. I didn't respond, and my brother cursed under his breath, "Sam, what were you-?"
"I don't know, okay?" I snapped, tired of them treating me like what I was doing was criminal. So I liked Danny and he liked me back, what the heck was the big deal? "I don't know, I just did it. It was instinct."
"And where was common sense when instinct made you do this, huh?" Matt asked.
"Why are you guys freaking out about this?" I asked. "It's my secret, I'll tell whoever I want!"
"You told him?" Jazz asked, surprised.
"Told who what?" Matt asked, starting to get annoyed.
"I haven't told anyone anything," I said.
"But you were going to, weren't you?" Jazz accused, "What has gotten into you, Sam? And Danny! He's never broken a promise to me before!" I cringed at the pain in Jazz's tone as she said this, a fresh wave of guilt hitting me.
"He didn't break any promises." I told her quickly. "I just showed up here and practically forced him to pretend to be my date so Lancer wouldn't have a cow." I felt a little offended that Jazz actually made Danny promise not to see me, but brushed it aside. That wasn't the big issue right now, after all…
"You girls are just doing this to annoy me, aren't you?" Matt accused, glaring between us. "Now what is going on between you and Danny that has Jazz so upset."
"Nothing." I sighed. "…Yet," Matt's eyebrow kicked up.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He demanded sharply.
"Well, Danny and I have gotten to know each other, and…" Why was it that whenever someone asked me to talk about something personal, I suddenly lost the ability to create coherent sentences?
Still, Matt's sharp gasp told me that he got the message.
"Are you nuts?" He hissed, "You want to risk getting caught over a crush?"
"I'm not going to get caught," I told them irritably, "And if I do, I won't tell anyone you guys helped me." I knew Matt wouldn't get into too much trouble, being my brother and all, but Jazz was a stranger. God only knew what my parents would try and sue out of her…
'Then again, her guardian is Vlad Masters' I reminded myself, 'He can afford even better lawyers then mom and dad, and that's only if they don't try to use this as a chance to get buddy-buddy with him…'
"That's not what we're worried about, Sam" Jazz said in exasperation.
"Look, I appreciate that you guys want to help, I really do, but how about leaving us to settle our problems on our own?" I demanded.
"Uh, are you guys alright?" Sighing in relief, I turned to take Danny's hand, smiling at him tensely as he glanced nervously from his sister to me.
"No," I lied, "Everything's fine. Let's go." I ignored his yelp as I dragged him away toward the outdoors, listening keenly to what Jazz and Matt were saying to each other.
"You want to give me all the details already?" Matt asked irritably. Jazz sighed.
"You might want to sit down." She advised. "It's a long story…"
The air outside was cool, so there were only one or two couples other then me and Danny, and most of them were… otherwise occupied. (Ahem,)
"Look, If Jazz said anything to you, I'm sorry," Danny said quickly, giving me a worried look. I smiled.
"It's okay," I assured him, "She's your family. I know how family can be." Danny laughed, and I felt all my anger and irritation melt away. I couldn't help it, it was such a warm, friendly sound.
"Well, I'm still sorry," He said between chuckles, "And no matter what she told you to try and scare you off, she really does like you."
"She does?" I asked skeptically.
'Could've fooled me…'
"Yeah," Danny sighed, "She's just worried because I'm such a freak, and, well…" Nice to see Danny and I had something else in common.
"You're not a freak," I told him, rolling my eyes, "Your different. Different's good." Danny shook his head and smiled secretively.
"Thanks," He said, "You're different too,"
"Good," I said, crossing my arms and smiling at him slightly. Relaxing in the chill of the fallen night, I turned to count the stars above us.
"You look beautiful tonight," Danny blurted out suddenly, making me turn to look at him in surprise. He went a brilliant shade of red, obviously thinking he'd erred. "I mean, you always look beautiful, it's jest that tonight you- well I-!" Danny broke off in favor of a sheepish grin, rubbing his head awkwardly to make a very cute picture. My eyebrow kicked up as behind him the couple making out on the bench suddenly found themselves lying on the cement. Obviously some ghost was having fun pulling pranks…
"I get it," I said when I turned back to Danny, smiling at him before he could turn and see the problem the two young lovers were having. "You look really great tonight too, Danny. You're an awesome Phantom,"
"What?" Danny asked looking a little alarmed. Then he was hit by realization and laughed at some private joke I didn't get, "Oh, yeah, that… Sorry, I thought you meant…" Danny glanced at me again then cleared his throat nervously. "Ah, never mind." I shrugged, brushing the comment aside.
"Really, though, thanks for noticing," I said, "I worked really hard to make this dress so it's nice to know you like it," As soon as I realized what I'd said, I wanted desperately to take it back.
"You made that dress?" Danny asked, surprised, "For me?" My cheeks heated up as I cursed myself out in my head.
"Of course not!" I said at once, "I mean, it was something I had hanging in the closet and I thought I'd spruce it up a bit, you know? And when heard about the party here…"
"Sam…" Danny said, giving me an unconvinced look. I sighed.
'There's no way I haven't convinced him I'm a stalker by now,' I thought bitterly in my head. After all, how was I supposed to explain everything without telling him I was his roommate or making myself seem like some freak who went picking through his garbage?
"Yeah, I made it for you," I admitted, "I know it's a little much, but I really like you, Danny and I thought maybe you liked me too, and when you stopped coming around I thought-!"
"Easy," Danny said, holding a finger against my lips to quiet my nervous babbling. He gave me a gentle, searching look with those piercing blue eyes and suddenly I found I couldn't speak even if I wanted to.
But he could.
"It's not too much, Sam," He told me firmly, "I'm really flattered you'd do something like that for me. And I do like you, it's just…" He sighed and a new look overcame him, determined and a little fearful. "Sam, there's something I've got to tell you,"
"I'm listening," I said, blinking back curiously.
"You know Phantom?" Danny asked me, surprising me with such an abrupt change of subject. When did the Ghost boy enter the conversation?
"Yes…" I said, not completely sure if this was a subject I was comfortable talking with him about. After all, I'd just told him I liked him, but I liked Phantom, too. Even if he suddenly decided to drop off the face of the earth.
'Maybe Jazz scared him off too,' I joked dryly in my head.
"Well, you see, my parents were- are sort of ghost hunters…" I didn't miss the correction, but more then that I didn't like the direction this conversation was going in. Especially went I remembered the ghost hunting gear scattered on Danny's floor and the way he was always badly beaten up whenever he came home…
"What's that got to do with-?"
"DANNY!" Both I and my date jumped as Tucker seemed to appear out of nowhere, grabbing Danny away, "Hi Sam, can I borrow him for a second? Thanks! See ya!" And before I could say anything, the tech geek hauled Danny away mid confession. I steamed, making a mental promise to murder the boy as soon as I found a place for the body.
"Yeah, they do that," Blinking slightly, I turned to face Valerie as she came up beside me, eyeing the boys in exasperation. "Disappear like that for no reason, I mean. Always come up with weird excuses, too." Valerie sighed, "Still, you learn to live with it, I guess, and they are great guys."
"Yeah," I said, shaking my head. "But I think Tucker timed that just to tick me off,"
"Don't count on that," Valerie laughed, "He's always had the worst timing imaginable. He's had a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As a matter of fact, for a long time everyone thought he was a jinx. They used to call him Bad Luck Tuck." I laughed at that.
"So have you two been dating long?" I asked.
"We're not dating," Valerie said, "I've got a part time job that takes up a lot of time, so I refuse to make anything official."
"Why not?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"The way I see it, why do something if you're not giving it your all?" Valerie asked. "A hundred percent or nothing, right? Besides, my job might make Tucker's life a little more… complicated."
"Complicated how?" I asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Valerie sighed. I rolled my eyes. What was with all the secrets?
'I'm starting to think this place would be perfect for a soap opera or something,' I thought dryly as I saw the boys coming back.
"Hey there!" Tucker said cheerfully, "False alarm!" Shaking my head, I turned back to my date, who looked troubled.
"Danny?" I said, "You okay," Danny blinked and sighed before looking away.
"Fine," he muttered. I frowned, glancing suspiciously at Tucker, who suddenly wouldn't meet my eyes either.
'Not him too…' I thought in exasperation. Narrowing my eyes in determination, I grabbed Danny's hand.
"Come on!" I said, pulling him towards the dance floor, "I love this song!"
I didn't even notice until then that it was a slow song, no words or anything, just a steady, soothing beat for couples to dance to. I didn't care. Anything to get me and Danny away from everyone who was so against us being together.
"Sam," Danny said in a serious tone, "I don't think-!"
"Good," I said, grinning, "Too much of that can hurt you, you know. Especially If you don't do it often." I got a ghost of a smile for a second before it was replaced with that solemn look again.
"I'm being serious, Sam," Danny said.
"So am I," I told him. And, before he could protest again, I blurted out, "Dance with me,"
"What?" Danny asked, surprised.
"Come on," I pleaded, "Just one dance, Danny, please?" Sighing in defeat, Danny took me by the waist and led me to the dance floor, where I slipped my arms around his shoulders, once again puzzling over how his skin was so chilled compared to mine. It was almost like the guy was a freakin' snowman…
I sighed happily as Danny started to lead me in the dance, resting my forehead on his shoulder.
"I shouldn't be doing this, Sam," He sighed in a tired voice.
"I know," I told him.
"…But I can't stop," He continued. I lifted my head, looking him right in the eyes.
"I know," I repeated. Swallowing, I steadied myself for what I was about to say, "Danny… If you want, I could disappear, you know. Leave you alone completely. I know your friends and family don't want us together, and I really don't care too much, but if you want, I'll walk away and never look back." I'd live a life of what-ifs, sure but look back? Nah… "Just say the word, Danny. Yes or no."
A second of silence passed. Then two. Three… It felt like a decade to me though, as I looked into his eyes, trying so hard to find his answer…
"No," Danny said at least, "I don't want that," I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, grinning sheepishly up at him.
"I just ticked off everyone you care about, huh?" I asked.
"No, I did," Danny said, "It was my choice Sam, I made it." He smiled back at me warmly, and then his eyes moved down from my eyes to my lips and my heart skipped.
'Is he gonna…?' I didn't even have to finish the thought, Danny stopped dancing and just stood there for a moment watching me. I felt my heart pound as he leaned in closer, my lips parting as I leaned in to meet him half way and my eyes going heavy…
Then, without warning, he jerked away, his eyes fixed on a point somewhere behind me filled with fear, horror and anger.
"Danny?" I said, concerned.
"I've got to go," He muttered, slipping away through the crowd.
"Danny!" I called after him, but he didn't respond. Puzzled, I turned to see what had gotten a reaction like that from Danny, and my eyes widened when they fell on the retreating back of the infamous Vlad Masters…
WoM- I've really got to learn the meaning of rest, 'pouts' Today was Fitness Tuesday, too, so I hope you all appreciate this! 'moans in pain,' I've gotta go get some ice or something…
Thanks to;
Lateraina Wolf
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Next update; Feb 7th
See you then!
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