A/N: Sorry for the looong wait. I promise that won't happen again! Here's the next chapter. Enjoy.

(Latif - I Don't Want To Hurt You)

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Chemicals React

Chapter 5: I Don't Want To Hurt You

Danny walked up the many steps to the apartment where Valerie lived. It was already past seven, and he knew his whole plan would get screwed up if he didn't hurry up. So he picked up his pace and reached her door in a matter of seconds. Before he could knock, the door swung open and there stood a very pissed off Valerie Gray.

"Look Val, I'm sorry I'm late. It's just-"

"Save it Danny. I don't care that you're late." Danny raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Oh. Then what's wrong?" He asked, walking down the steps with her. She sighed, glancing at her right forearm. Danny noticed a long scratch there; she must've got it from ghost-hunting.

"It's nothing. Let's go. I really need to have a good time tonight." Danny felt a twinge of guilt, but quickly shook it off. They walked the rest of the way in silence. When they reached Paulina's house, they quickly walked inside and were greeted by hip-hop music blaring in their ears and Casper High students everywhere, dancing and grinding and laughing and smiling. Valerie spotted Star with Kwan near the food table and rushed over to say hi, dragging Danny along with her.

"Hey Star! Kwan." Star smiled at the sight of her friend, but the smile quickly turned to a frown when she saw Danny. She flipped her hair behind her shoulder and began talking to Kwan as if the other two teens weren't even there. Danny rolled his eyes. He was used to being ignored by everyone popular. Valerie wasn't. "Star. What's wrong?" Star rolled her eyes and flinched when she turned towards Valerie and Danny, as if it pained her that her best friend was dating a loser.

"Nothing Valerie. I'm just trying to imagine there isn't a loser standing two feet away from me." Star snapped. Danny rolled his eyes again and started searching for Tucker, who was sneaking in to help with the plan. Danny spotted him over by the stairs, and it looked like he was trying (and failing) to get a girl to dance with him.

"I'm gonna go talk to Tucker." Danny said, kissing Valerie's cheek and then walking towards his best friend, leaving Star and Valerie to argue about him. Danny made his way through the crowd of people dancing and talking. He finally reached Tucker and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey man. Where's Valerie?" Tucker asked, looking around for her.

"Talking to Star."

"Oh. I see. So, is the plan still going?" Danny nodded, then checked his watch. 7:30 blinked back at him in red. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a loud crash from over by the food table. "Maybe it won't have to…" Tucker said, watching with amusement as Valerie knocked over a bowl of chips in her anger.

"Star! You're supposed to be my best friend!" Valerie yelled. Star sighed.

"Val, I am!" Star said, putting her hands out in front of her to try and calm Valerie down.

"Then why are you so down on Danny? I really like him Star! You should be happy for me!" Star grabbed Kwan's arm and pulled him up next to her, hoping he would be some form of protection from the ferocious Valerie.

"Because he isn't one of us, he's one of them, He's a loser." Valerie's mouth dropped.

"Well, Star," Valerie's voice was shaky, and her hands were balled into fists. She unballed one fist and grabbed the pitcher of punch. "If he's one of them, then I'm one of them too." She splashed the punch onto Star's white shirt, staining it red. Everyone at the party gasped.

"Valerie, our friendship is over! You are so going to PAY!" Star yelled, running out of the home. Valerie smiled to herself, then walked over to Danny. "Danny, I'm gonna go home. I'll call you later." He nodded, and she kissed him goodbye, and then walked out of the house.

"Well dude, your plan just got a whole lot easier. And just in time too." Tucker said, pointing towards the stairs. Paulina was walking down in her every-day attire, but Danny thought she looked hotter than ever. Then Danny realized he needed to change into his ghost-self. He ran into a closet and, after checking to see that no one was in there making-out or anything, he changed into Danny Phantom, and then went intangible and flew to Paulina's room to wait.

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A/N: Yeah. This kind of a crappy chappy. lol. And it's really short. I was rushing to get it up, and then I had some problems getting it on. This was mainly a filler chapter, so it's real boring. But pay attention, 'cause some of the parts are important later on. Hope you liked it!