Quick note: I changed the title from "Anything But" to "Flaws of a Lie." Sorry for any confusion and the title will remain this way.

Danny was already trying to avoid me. I could tell from all of my unanswered text messages last night. I had only tried calling him once and it went straight to voicemail. I tried telling myself that he was too busy off fighting ghost, but I knew that wasn't true.

We had all of our morning classes together so he couldn't hide from me forever.

When I first entered the classroom, Danny was nowhere in sight. I wasn't surprised though. It was early and my best friend was always running late.

I quickly took a seat next to Tucker.

"Hey, girlfriend," he said casually, not glancing up at me from his gameboy.

I punched his upper arm, hoping that I had affected his game in some way. First two words out of his mouth and I was already annoyed.

"What?" Tucker replied rather defensively, "You're a girl and my friend."

I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one had heard. I really didn't want a rumor spreading around. I kept thinking over the night about what Danny and Valerie could possibly be talking about, praying that he had not mentioned anything about Tucker and I dating.

They couldn't have spent that much time together, Valerie usually spent her evenings in a red suit attacking him. The thought of them going back to being all gushy with each other already made me want to hurl. And my chest ache a little.

"Don't get smart with me." I sat down next to Tucker. There was an empty seat on my other side, Danny would be sitting there hopefully soon. Speaking of which, "Has he talked to you since school yesterday?"

Tucker shrugged while stuffing his game away in his pocket. "Not really. I mean we messaged a little but he just kept giving those annoying one worded answers. Eventually I just didn't respond and neither did he."

"Do you think he's mad?" I frowned. A part of me already knew that he was. I already felt guilty for bringing Tucker into this. I didn't want Danny to feel betrayed by both of his best friends.

Tucker smiled at me. I didn't feel comforted by how calm he was. I, on the other hand, was becoming more anxious with every passing moment. "He may be, Sam, but we aren't actually dating. Danny is my best friend, and so are you, but I can't lie to him for a long time. I suggest you think of what you're going to say to him."

I didn't want to lie to Danny either. It was wrong, almost as wrong as pretending to date Tucker. "What should I tell him then?" I dropped my voice as more people came into the classroom, "It would be weird telling him that I just lied about dating you for the heck of it. He wouldn't buy it."

"That's why you tell him you love him," Tucker casually pointed out.

I tried not to flinch at the use of the word "love." I know I loved Danny to a certain extent, but I couldn't use that word to describe and romantic feelings towards him. That would be too powerful.

"I don't love him," I grumbled while making a point to glare at Tucker.

Mr. Lancer stood at the front of the classroom. He closed the door and locked it so that no students could sneak into class late without getting a detention for being late. I felt bad for the ones who would come in seconds past the door closing who would receive no mercy. Sometimes that man took his job too seriously.

With a quick glance to my other side I saw the seat still remained empty.

"Yes you do," Tucker quietly sang back to me.

"No I don't."

"He feels the same way," Tucker insisted.

I could hear Mr. Lancer begin to read off the roll call. No one really paid attention other than a split second to respond.

"Dash Baxter."

"Pineapple!" Some people thought that they were funny by calling out a random fruit when they heard their name instead of "here!" At times I was simply surrounded by morons.

"Danny does not," I whispered sharply, hoping to get the last word and end this conversation all together. Tucker just blinked at me before facing the front.

A couple more names were called out, mostly people that I've never talked to or just shouted "Goth Girl" at me when they tried to make fun of whoever they thought were considered losers. I call myself goth, I really don't see how it's an insult.

"Daniel Fenton."

"Here," an breathy voice right out of my line of sight responded. I jumped slightly, surprised that I hadn't noticed Danny come in. He must've phased in through the back of the room when no one was looking.

Danny leaned back in his chair with his hands stuffed in his pockets. His hair looked extra soft today and his dark bangs hung over his forehead. I noticed large lines underneath both of his eyes. I wondered why he hadn't slept much last night. If there really were that many ghosts that kept him up all night he would've called for help. The thought of him losing sleep over Tucker and I was ridiculous though.

His t-shirt and jeans were wrinkled and looked as if they had been already worn from the day before. I could just imagine him oversleeping and having to go ghost to just barely make it to school in time, it was something he did at least once a week.

Danny didn't look back at me. It was almost as if he was making a point to keep his eyes straight.

"Tucker Foley."

"Here."

Danny didn't even glance in our direction the entire time. As soon as class ended he was gone. As if that wasn't uncomfortable enough, I spent every morning class with Danny.

Second period came around and I had no Tucker to sit by. When I entered the classroom, all the seats around Danny were already taken. I knew it was on purpose. I wanted to be accepting and give him space, which also gave me time to think of how I could talk my way out of this mess, but something about seeing Valerie right by his side made me want to throw myself out the window.

I plopped down next to a kid named Mikey. I don't remember what I learned in 2nd period, I spent it staring at the back of Danny's head.

It wasn't until right before lunch I had gotten a chance to talk to Danny. He had successfully managed to avoid me in every class so far. Tucker had sneaked his way in to sit next to him but no words were said between the two.

Before Danny could run off again I grabbed him by his shoulder. I pulled him back into the classroom as everyone vacated. It was just Danny, Tucker and I, three best friends, talking to one another as always.

"How come you haven't answered any of my messages?" I pressed, wondering what excuse he was going to make up.

Danny's blue eyes darted away from Tucker and I. I could already tell he was uncomfortable. It had slipped my mind that to Danny Tucker and I were in a relationship. That idea made me uncomfortable.

"I was busy catching ghosts all night," he shrugged. I could tell by the strain in his face that he was stifling a yawn.

"You could've asked for our help," I tried to reason.

Danny looked at Tucker. He didn't smile at all. Danny was really upset with Tucker right now. My feeling of guilt deepened. "I don't need it." I was half expecting for him to say that he didn't need us. I almost sighed in relief when he didn't.

"What's wrong?" I stepped forward, reaching my hand out to touch Danny's arm. It was instinctive to give him some sort of physical contact. He was quick to step back so that he was just out of my reach.

Danny's eyes darted between Tucker and I.

Tucker was uncharacteristically quiet. He was looking directly at me. I knew in my head already that he was giving me a lecture that will probably be said aloud later.

"You guys-" Danny finally began to speak after a couple moments, but was interrupted.

I looked around Danny to see Valerie peeking in through the doorway. "Are you coming to lunch?" she asked, oblivious to our trouble in paradise.

"Yeah I'll be there in a second," Danny flashed a smile at her. I internally groaned at the amount of life that seemed to be added to his mood. I don't want to be a horrible friend, but something about his happiness around Valerie was really aggravating.

"I'll see you guys later," Danny quickly mumbled before turning away. Valerie hooked her arm on his elbow.

The two vanished from the room before I could stop Danny without sounding desperate.

"So much for talking," I muttered.

Tucker sighed from beside me. "You gotta tell him."

"That we aren't actually dating?" I suggested, even though I knew what Tucker meant.

"That you like him," Tucker shook me, probably literally trying to shake some sense into him.

I pushed him away. "That won't happen," I gave a humorless laugh. I was really pitying myself right now.

Tucker rolled his eyes at me. "He clearly likes you too!" Tucker gestured in the direction that Danny had disappeared to. "And this is already messing up our friendship Sam."

I was messing up our friendship. Not just mine, but Tucker's and Danny's. "I'm sorry, Tucker," I said with a huge weight in my chest.

He waved me off, not seeming bothered at all. "Like I said, we aren't actually dating. I just think you should really tell Danny the truth," Tucker sighed. He really wanted me to open up to Danny about my feelings. Funny. "Or at least inform Danny that you and I aren't actually dating," Tucker added.

"He likes Valerie," I pointed out the obvious. "Telling him that I have a tiny crush is unnecessary then." My feelings were very unnecessary.

"Valeries come and go, Sam," Tucker said, I knew he was trying to make me feel better. I felt somewhat honored that he wasn't talking up about how perfect Valerie was, I knew of his history with crushes on every pretty girl. "You're the girl who has been with Danny through it all."

I didn't want to comment on Tucker's reasoning. Maybe if it was anyone else, I'd agree about how much that makes sense. "What should I tell him then?"

"That you like him."

I rolled my eyes. Tucker wouldn't lighten up about it. "That isn't an option," I almost yelled to him.

"Think about it," Tucker was about to say something that made sense, I could just feel it, "if he didn't like you he'd just be grossed out about us dating. Danny would be making jokes and bothering us. Instead he's all mad and ignoring both of us. I'd be mad too if one of my best friends started dating the girl I liked for awhile."

"He doesn't like me," I mumbled, "he likes Valerie." I knew I was being stubborn, but Tucker was just imagining things. Not that I would mind if Danny liked me, but he doesn't. It's always been another girl. Right now that girl is Valerie.

But something was more important than whether or not Danny liked me back. With just one lie I tampered with our friendship. I liked the way things were, and I wanted them to stay the same.

"I'll talk to Danny, Tucker," I forced a small smile. I was going to make things right.

"Please do it soon." Tucker grimaced, "Danny looked like he was going to punch me earlier. I can't have any damage to this." Tucker gestured to his face.

"You mean you always look like that?" I joked. It was easy to mess with Tucker. As a friend, I loved him for that. He never took our highschool days too seriously and for the most part was a simple person. For the most part.

When Tucker and I finally made it to the cafeteria, Danny was nowhere in sight. Valerie sat with a few popular kids, not as popular as Paulina's table. She didn't seem upset. It was weird. I always see her walk off with Danny yet they're never spending much time actually hanging out. I wonder if they even hung out much last night.

Tucker and I found our own table. It was strange, just being the two of us. Tucker and I always hung out alone but it was different when Danny was purposely avoiding us.

I couldn't stop thinking about Danny. Tucker still didn't seem bothered. It was strange. I even made Danny mad at him as well but Tucker looked unaffected. I noticed by the random conversation Tucker kept attempting to start that he was trying to take my mind off of Danny.

"...that's why you never leave your underwear-"

"I still don't know what I'm going to say to Danny," I blurted, cutting off Tucker. I hadn't even heard half of what he was saying and I didn't care much to hear the rest.

Tucker shrugged, "I still think you should just tell him that you like him." He leaned in close and began to raise a fist. "Team Sam," he chanted in a whisper.

"There aren't any teams," I grumbled. I banged my head on the lunch table.

"How about this," Tucker tapped on my skull, causing me to look up at him, "for a week, just a week, we pretend to be a couple." He raised his finger, pretending like he was interrupting me about to speak. I wasn't. "Buuut you have to clear the air with Danny. I won't tell him a thing about us or your crush. You have to do that all on your own next Friday."

"Why a week?" I wondered, eyeing him.

Tucker smirked at me, "If you don't, then I will."

I was sure to give Tucker the death look. He knew better than to cross me. "Do that and you'll be joining Skulker in the Ghost Zone," I threatened, wholeheartedly meaning it.

He didn't flinch at me. "I'm tired of you and Danny dancing around your feelings," he grimaced slightly at the word "feelings." It was as if he was allergic to real emotions, not computers. "You wouldn't do a thing," Tucker smirked when I realized he may have the upper hand. "In fact," he added, "I could tell Danny right now. You get all weird around him sometimes, ya know. I'm not going to do that though, I'll give you a week."

I chewed on the inside of my cheek while thinking up multiple ways to stuff Tucker in the Fenton thermos.

I ditched Tucker 20 minutes before class to find Danny, and no it was not to pour my heart out to him.

The halls were empty save for a couple vigorously making out. I recognized them as one of the ones that will most likely have already be broken up by Monday. Not that it was much of my business, but part of me figured that drifting from person to person seemed somewhat empty. I never understood how Tucker developed a crush on every girl he laid his eyes on, disincluding me.

I barely saw the clanging of lockers as each door suddenly burst open. I instinctively raised my arm to block my head as scraps of metal flew across the room from broken locks. At least a dozen people were going to be POed when they discover that they'll have to buy new ones. I'm pretty sure one of those were Tucker's.

A gust of cold air blew across me. Goosebumps covered my exposed arms.

There was a ghost, and probably Phantom as well.

I lowered my arm and looked over my shoulder. No one was insight, and I doubted I was in the middle of an intangible ghost fight.

The two lovers seemed to not have even noticed. What is wrong with teenagers these days?

I was beginning to sound like Mr. Lancer.

I continued to glance around the hallway, slowly doing a 360. It was eerily calm throughout the area. Something felt very wrong.

I flipped out my phone. I speed dialed Danny- number 1- and listened to the generic ring. Was he really still ignoring me? We were still best friends. A tiny part of me wondered, or hoped, that Tucker could be right, I'll never say that out loud. For some reason, as annoying as it was, I wouldn't mind if Danny was mad because Tucker was dating some girl he liked.

Not to get too full of myself, but I wasn't just some girl, I was his best friend. We grew up together since school. I was basically one of the guys, not a love interest. It was the truth and I couldn't kid myself.

Right before my phone cut to voicemail, blue streak flew past me. I took a few steps back as a woman formed from the cloud. She hovered above me, almost on top of the ceiling. She carried the ghostly glow, making her pale skin shine in an almost blinding manner. Her thick, red hair swayed in tight curls that barely graced her shoulders. Her green eyes almost matched those of Danny Phantom's. Her body was engulfed in an oversized sweater of a similar color.

She glanced over with an innocent grin at the couple that was now going back and forth about who loved the other more.

Suddenly, the boy halted in his sentence. He went stiff as if he was a robot that had just been reset. "Your sister is hotter than you," he blurted out to the girl. Promptly he earned a solid slap across the face. As the girl stalked off down the hallway, he remained in his place with one hand cradling his cheek. I could tell by the expression on his face that he seemed confused as to what had just happened.

I gaped at the scene that had just played out before looking up at the ghost, who seemed pleasantly satisfied with herself.

"Now we couldn't have a relationship built up on lies, now could we?" she giggled to herself.

Another gust of wind brushed past me. I was relieved to see Danny, the Phantom one, appear right before me. My arm felt tingly where his hand had almost grabbed me. He stood in a protective stance, even though I was more than capable of handling myself, right in front of me.

"Stop there, you uhh," Danny's words awkwardly trailed off, "whoever you are."

This was a new ghost, or at least it was her first time visiting Amity Park from the Ghost Zone. Danny didn't know who she was and neither did I. Usually ghosts would announce their names upon arrival.

"What is your name?" I asked from behind Danny. He turned his head towards me for a brief moment. I was able to get a clear view of his green eyes that seemed to shine in the already lit hallway. He didn't look as mad as he had before, but something was still off. It made my heart hurt when he seemed to just look over me before turning around again.

The girl twisted a curl around her index finger. "Serena Valentine," she grinned.

It was just a simple name, nothing that stood out. She looked like a normal person with a normal name, despite that fact that she was dead.

I was about to ask her another question, but a sudden feeling of my throat swelling over came me. It all happened too quick. I couldn't even comprehend what was happening when I felt myself blurt, "I accidentally kicked a squirrel at an animals' rights protect and blamed it on the guy next to me." My eyes widened.

Danny turned towards me with a raise eyebrow. I had never told anyone that. I did feel bad when they chased the other guy out, but I had panicked at the time. Why did I say that? I wasn't even thinking about that incident. It was years ago.

"Sam, are you okay?" Danny awkwardly asked me. I tried giving him a smile while shrugging.

Serena laughed with a sudden glare in her eyes. Her red hair flared up around her shoulders. "I cannot stand a liar," she half growled.

"I thought you just had something against squirrels," Danny deadpanned.

Serena narrowed her eyes at Danny. I saw he was about to attempt at another witty line, notice my use of the word attempt, but I saw a sudden halt in his motion. For a split second he was wide eyed and solid as a rock. "I peed my pants next to the hot teacher in 3rd grade."

Did he really just say that? "Uhh," Danny trailed on while frantically looking between me and Serena. The ghost was snickering behind her hand.

It didn't take long for either of use to put two and two together. She was somehow doing this. From the boy earlier, to me and to Danny, she was making people… say things?

"Well," Danny regained his composure and tried to look intimidating once more, "Sam won't be the only one kicking rabid animals." I couldn't help but roll my eyes. It was one time!

Danny's hand began to glow as he charged right for Serena. He shot an ectoblast for her head, which she expertly dodged.

"You almost hit me!" she screeched in a high-pitched, bratty tone. Serena glared at Danny.

Danny shot another blast at her, this one knocking her back into the wall of opened lockers. He whipped out the Fenton Thermos, pointing it directly at the ghost girl.

Before she could get sucked in, Serena swung her hand to the left. Simultaneously, an invisible force knocked the thermos from Danny. I dove and caught the thermos before it could fall to the ground.

When I looked up I saw Serena pushing herself off the lockers. She turned her focus from Danny to me. "Give me that!" Serena suddenly showed how sharp her nails were. I didn't have enough time to aim the thermos at her.

"Sam!"

A cold arm wrapped itself around my waist. Just as Serena's nail barely managed to scratch me, Danny yanked me out of the way with him. We tumbled through a wall and landed in a thankfully empty classroom.

"Danny," I gasped as he held me somewhat closer to him than usual.

He looked down at me and blinked as if he had just woken up from a daydream. He awkwardly let me go. I could tell he purposely kept me at least an arm's length away. It had crossed my mind once more that in Danny's world Tucker and I were dating. That's something that would never actually happen.

Danny stuck his head into the hallway. "She's gone," he said, although I think it was more so to himself than I.

He pulled the classroom door closed. Danny straightened up. He stared at me and I at him. His white hair was slightly disheveled. His eyes were round. The green in them seemed to captivate me. I couldn't look away from him, and for the first time since yesterday, Danny wasn't trying to avoid my gaze.

"Sam," Danny sighed. He was frustrated. Danny raked a hand through his hair, the white locks fell perfectly against his forehead once more. I remained silent. He sucked in a deep breath, "Sam I-." Danny never finished his sentence. He huffed in frustration before disappearing.

I raised my hand to reach out to the empty space that was once where Danny stood. "Danny," I frowned, "I'm sorry." I felt evaded of all energy. Now I just wanted to go home and sleep. If I could, I would go back to yesterday, where I should've just remained silent.

I slowly exited the classroom, dazed and confused. That was all thanks to a certain clueless, halfa, teenage boy. Yep, I'm calling Danny clueless, even though I was more than annoyed when Tucker had done it repeatedly yesterday.

A dozen of students, one of them being Tucker, were all complaining about the vandalization of their lockers.

"Hey Tucker," I said with a forced smile.

I noticed that in the short time span of 5 minutes someone had took the chance to spill all of the books and computers from Tucker's locker while it was opened. I wouldn't be surprised if it was Dash. I bent down to help him shove the load of crap back into his locker.

Tucker reached into his pocket and pulled out another lock. I raised my eyebrows at him, wondering why he would just carry around a lock with him. "What?" Tucker obliviously asked, "People always break my locks." Poor Tucker.

"Yeah well this time it wasn't a person," I groaned, thinking back to the ghost that had just gotten away.

"Was it the crazy lunch lady?" Tucker wondered. I strongly disliked the meat crazed, lunch lady ghost. Everytime I saw her she would drop some amount of meat onto me. The pure thought made me cringe. Thankfully it wasn't her.

I shook my head at Tucker, "No. New ghost." I chewed on the inside of my cheek, "I don't know what her motives were really." Casper High had always been a hotspot attack for ghosts. Out of all the places it had to be a building that smells like puberty.

"What's her name?" Tucker asked as we walked to class.

"Serena Valentine," I swiftly answered. I could perfectly imagine the pale girl with bright, red hair. She definitely didn't look like she was from this generation, but she didn't seem much older than myself. Just another teenager.

I was the first to enter the class. "It was weird thou-" I halted in the doorway. In an unusual change, Danny was sitting right next to Valerie. I didn't hear what they were talking about, but she was giggling up a storm. What could Danny have said that was so funny? Her hand rested on his bare arm below the sleeve of his t-shirt. And what happened to not wanting a boyfriend?

I felt Tucker pull me along with him to the back of the classroom. He was purposely trying to ignore Danny for my sake. It wasn't really working.

"What was weird?" Tucker pressed on.

"The ghost," I spoke without taking my eyes off of Danny, who had seemed genuinely happy himself now. "It's like she has this power to manipulate what you say."

It wasn't hard to notice that Danny went back to ignoring me, and probably Tucker too, again. He wouldn't spare a single glance in our direction. I hoped he wasn't too caught up in his conversation with Valerie that he wasn't even able to notice Tucker and I came in. I would usually be fine with being invisible to Danny while he talked to another girl, but now while we were in a fight. Or at least I think we're fighting right now.

"Sam." I felt Tucker poking my shoulder. I turned my head to see him giving me a sympathetic look. I hated that look. I wasn't someone who needed to be pitied. I had just put myself in a stressful situation that was beginning to ruin my friendship with a boy whom I may or may not have a crush on. I would also like to add the fact that Tucker wasn't willing to speak for me to help me out of this.

"Nothing's wrong," I laughed slightly while getting out my notebook for class.

"I never asked," Tucker's look of concern grew stronger.

I kept my eyes down on my desk, "Good because, as I already said, nothing is wrong."

I really had to get this lying thing under control.

Since I hadn't really done so in the first chapter I'll do a quick introduction. After a year long hiatus I have decided to create a new fanfiction account for a "fresh" start. I am currently struck with inspiration and will be updating a couple times a month.

If you haven't been able to tell yet, this is a DannyxSam story cause I love those guys and am a 16 year old obsessed with cartoons so I gotta get my creative outlet out there. It will remain in Sam's point of view throughout the entire story.

Thank you to everyone who has followed, faved or reviewed so far! I'm a little shy but I will work on checking and responding to your reviews!