Chapter 2

It was just another day at Casper High. The Unpopulars were crowded around Danny and Emily's lockers, which were right next to each other, talking about who-knows-what. They were unaware of the rest of the world swirling around them. Dash was beating up someone else for once, and Paulina and Star were comparing notes on hairstyles. As for the rest of the school, they either talked, or listened to various IPods. Some of them studied for a last minute test, oblivious to the fact that this was the day that would set off a complicated chain of mistrust and confusion. Last minute test...Danny thought...that reminds me. He dug a slightly crushed algebra notebook out of his overstuffed backpack and opened it, trying his best to concentrate. He was so focused, he didn't hear Melissa until she was at his shoulder, peering over him like he wasn't even there, looking straight at Sam.

"Hey, Sam?" Melissa interrupted the conversation without even apologizing. "Can I talk to you for a second?" The group fell completely silent with shock and confusion, and Danny knew exactly why. Melissa was the leader of a group called the Goth Girls. They were made up of dark, vegetarian Goth Girls-like Sam, only not as nice. The Goth Girls held ultimate power over the school, even more than the popular crowd. Even the cheerleaders conformed to the Goth Girls. Though everyone wanted to have that amount of power over the student body, only a select few could. The Goth Girls were extremely exclusive, and only the darkest, meanest Goths could get in. Danny suspected the reason why Sam wasn't invited into the group was because she was too nice-and because she hung out with geeks like Danny, Tucker, and Emily.

"Um..OK..." Sam said, clearly confused. Danny noticed that Emily was staring at Melissa with her mouth slightly open, and Tucker had finally stopped fiddling with his PDA. He suspected he must have an expression on his face similar to his friends': an expression of complete shock and confusion. A Goth Girl was talking. To them, no less! And it wasn't making a snide remark, either! It was-dare he say it?-almost...civil! Melissa led Sam away into a corner, where they began murmuring quietly.

"Should I eavesdrop on them?" Danny asked his friends, without thinking. This was major! His friends just gazed back at him in complete shock. Finally, Emily opened her mouth, perhaps to remind him that Sam was sure to kill him if she caught him eavesdropping on an important conversation, but was cut off by a stream of blue mist coming out of Danny's own mouth.

"Aw, crud, not now!" Danny groaned. "Cover me." he added quietly to his two best friends. Tucker and Emily obediently shielded Danny from view as he changed into ghost form. A second later, Danny was in the air, looking for the ghost. Just as he was about to give up and change back into human form, he heard a loud cry.

"I am the Box Ghost!" A minute later, Danny was face-to-face with who was possibly the most annoying ghost of all time.

"Why do you keep showing up at the most important moments?" The Box Ghost looked bemused.

"I will abduct all boxes in this palace of square-ness!" Danny rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I think I could've figured that out." The Box Ghost, apparently deciding words were useless, summoned an abandoned cardboard box lying on the floor by a bank of lockers. He threw it at Danny, who dodged it easily.

"Is that the best you can do?" Danny gasped out through hysterical laughter. Taking advantage of his enemy's weakness, the Box Ghost took the opportunity to aim another box at him. This one hit Danny head-on, causing him to do several backwards somersaults through the air.

"Woah!" he yelled, putting his hands up in a back off sign. "I better finish this before you actually win this fight! Jeez, how embarrassing would that be if I lost to the Box Ghost!" And with that, he whipped out the Fenton Thermos and uncapped it.

"Bewaaaareeeeee!" the Box Ghost screamed as he was sucked into the depths of the thermos. Danny quickly capped the thermos again and went human just in time to see Sam running towards him. She looked happier than Danny had ever seen her.

"Danny!" she screamed in jubilation, sprinting towards him. She stopped just short of skidding into the lockers.

"What is it, Sam?" Danny asked, interested. Tucker and Emily gathered around Sam, eager to hear the news. Sam took a deep breath.

"Well," she said, collecting her thoughts. "Melissa asked me to sit with the Goth Girls at lunch today!" All three of her friend's jaws dropped open. Sam giggled.

"Yeah, I know, isn't it great?" Noticing the upset look on Danny's face, she sobered.

"Aren't you happy for me?" Danny nodded quickly.

"Oh yeah...yeah I'm happy for you." he assured her not-too-convincingly. Sam looked skeptical, but let the subject go.

"Anyway, I gotta go, have a math test to study for!" And not even a goodbye, she raced down the hall.

"Really...I'm happy for you." Danny murmured as he watched her retreating back. "I'm happy for you."

Filling up my empty days with red wine
Wonder what you think of me?
Lying in the grass alone and wasted
Nothing's how it used to be

I wanna be the first to call and tell you
Yesterday I heard the news
I hear you oughtta be congratulated
So I guess that's what I'll do

I'm so happy for you
I could cry
Yeah, I'm so elated
Cross my heart and hope to die
I don't think about you every night
Before I close my eyes
I'm so happy for you baby,
I could cry.

Listen to the sound of my head pounding
Wish that it was make-believe
Praying for the skies to open up and
Wash away your memory

I can walk around with a pretty face on
Even when I'm black and blue
What's the point in telling everybody
I'm not over you.

I'm so happy for you
I could cry
Yeah, I'm so elated
Cross my heart and hope to die
I don't think about you every night
Before I close my eyes
I'm so happy for you baby,
I could cry.

Cry about the love we used to have
Cry that I won't ever get you back

Filling up my empty days with red wine
Wonder what you think of me?

I'm so happy for you
I could cry
Yeah, I'm so elated
Cross my heart and hope to die
I'm so happy for you
So, so happy for you
I don't think about you every night
Before I close my eyes
I'm so happy for you baby,
I could cry.

A/N: That was kinda a slow chapter to write even though it sets the stage for the rest of the fic. The song is "Happy" by Saving Jane. I do not own the song, or any other songs I may use in this fic. Read and review!