Woof! 16 Pages of DP Goodness. Or Badness. It's really your call.

Starting School Part 4: Afterschool

Dani continued through classes, but she only had a few after lunch. After a short meeting with Lily and Alex (Lily ranting on her for leaving them with Gabriella, and Alex trying to calm her down), and more copying of notes, it was rather uneventful.

"Well this is weird…" Dani looked up from her notes and realized for the first time since lunch everyone was still staring at her.

"I already got used to this? Talk about a fast adaptation." Dani rolled her eyes and went back to notes.

Time passed, and then everyone was returned to homeroom for dismissal (A/N: It will help me GREATLY if the schedule actually works this way, so just pretend that's what you do in middle school, okay?)

Dani looked around at the faces. Some looked down at the eye contact, some met her gaze squarely. Dani sighed and rubbed her head as she sat down at her desk. She ached slightly, and she couldn't wait to return to her human form.

"Alright everyone, you can relax for the next few minutes until the bell rings. After school clubs will be starting up again, so all the regular ones for today will be happening. Also-"

"Whooo-oooh-oooh, ooo-oooooooh" Came a ghost-like song. It was definitely a ring-tone. Everyone turned to Dani, who laughed nervously before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a cellphone.

Everyone's eyes got wide as she looked to Ms. Sanderson for permission. She nodded kindly, and Dani smiled gratefully before flipping up the phone and holding it to her ear.

"Hey Dani?" Everyone gasped at Danny's voice, coming through loud and clear. Ms. Sanderson shushed them.

"Hey bro, what's up?" Dani asked.

"Uh, we've got a hold up here at the intersection, so I might be a little late." While everyone stored that piece of information for later, Dani sighed, then demanded in a no-nonsense voice,

"How much late?"

"Hehe, about that…" The girls swooned. Handsome Danny was acting so nervously cute! They almost fainted from mental images of his puppy eyes. Dani rolled hers.

"Danny..." She growled. The class stared at her in shock. How disrespectful could you be. Ms. Sanderson smiled. It reminded her of how she and her brother had acted in their younger days. Hey, they still acted that way!

"If I can reach her, I'll send the Red Huntress to pick you up, okay?"

"Danny, you spout out one more thing and my classmates' eyes will never return to their rightful place. Ever heard of the phrase "Eyes on me"? Don't make it that literal. bro. Besides, I'll be fine for a while."

A few kids quickly averted their eyes. So she had noticed their ogling.

"I'm guessing you got an overly warm reaction?"

Dani rolled her eyes.

"Either too hot or too cold, who knows?" Dani shrugged into the phone.

Danny chuckled through the phone, and a few girls felt dizzy. Some responded by giggling back. Ms. Sanderson shushed them again.

"So then, no Red Huntress?" Dani rolled her eyes and noticed several of the boys were getting rather excited.

"Um, for Red's sake, I think I have to cancel. Just fly by when you get a chance."

"Thanks Dani."

"Whatever." Dani rolled her eyes again.

"Danny?" Dani's features softened.

"Yeah?"

"Be careful, k? I don't want to have to ask directions to the nearest hospital." She covered up her concern, but the edge was gone.

Danny's tone was gentle.

"I'll be fine. Later Sis."

Dani snapped the phone shut and slipped it into her pocket. Her eyes met with 90% of the class, most of who were surprised to see the nicer side of her.

Ms. Sanderson smiled softly.

"Class, there is one more thing:"

"Everyone here, and especially the Phantoms would be indebted to you if you keep it a secret that Dani is going to school here, at least for a little while, alright?" The class looked at her and started to groan and grumble, protesting.

"Let me rephrase that: Danny Phantom and the Red Huntress would very much be grateful to all of you." Ms. Sanderson's eyes flicked over all of their faces individually.

Dani's eyes widened at her teacher's method, but Ms. Sanderson winked at her. It seemed her teacher was mischievous as well.

"Well, that's all. Class dismissed." Ms. Sanderson said, waving them off. Everyone left the classroom, a few loitering around, eyes on Dani to see what she would do.

"Hey Ms. Sanderson?"

"Hmmmm?" Ms. Sanderson looked up from her desk, crossing her arms.

"What is it Dani?"

"Well, did you mention there were some clubs open today?"

"Yes, yes there are. Are you planning on looking at them while you wait for your brother?

"Pretty much." Ms. Sanderson smiled.

"I believe Kevin Lanshaw is in the Guitar Club in the band room. Why not ask him to show you around? I saw you two earlier, I'd show you around myself but-" She gestured to the pile of work on her desk.

"You think that the end of the world would leave me with less work to do, like a long vacation. Guess not." Dani giggled.

"But there's one more thing, be careful in the halls." She winked at the confused Danny.

"Even if you're late for gym, watch or you just might be caught." Then Ms. Sanderson turned to her work, picking up a pencil and writing in her beautiful script.

Dani turned scarlet, and flashed out of the room, taking care to open the door first and also murmur her thanks, instead of phasing through it.

Dani walked down the hall, trying to layout the school in front of her and remember where the band room was. She passed down the lockers, suddenly feeling alone. The floor seemed to stretch out longer, and without the crowds of people she instantly felt lost.

Dani walked onward, swallowing down the oncoming fear. She was in a school! The only thing she had to fear was homework, a few choice teachers, and rabid fans.

Dani scowled as her pace quickened. This wasn't working.

Dani sighed and tried to get her bearings. At that moment, she heard faint noises.

Following the trail, the faint flickers formed together, smoothing out and flowing alongside each other, connecting, becoming a gentle melody. Dani's feet led her, walking faster as she was attracted by the sweet harmony, the beautiful song that she immediately loved.

A door. Her mind registered that it was in the way. She threw it upon with a slam, shocking the occupants so that the tune, hitting a sour note abruptly stopped. Dani sighed, so morose and regretful, yearning, needing the song to finish. It didn't.

"D-Danielle!" Dani's eyes snapped upward, staring at the shocked eyes of Kevin. She must've been standing there, looking blank and dazed, because he looked both panicked and slightly concerned.

"Oh, uh," Dani looked and realized she had not been the only one listening. Several other people sat around Kevin, who was holding a nice, old-fashioned looking guitar, now staring at her in surprise.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me!" Dani said, her panicked expression showing the kids enough to confirm she was telling the truth.

"Don't worry about it." An adult said, coming around. He was obviously either very brave or very stupid, for he clamped a hand on Dani's shoulder, steering her towards Kevin without a second thought.

"Looks like that playing of yours is enchanting for all types of people." The guy said, grinning. He was rather laid-back, wearing faded jeans and a green sweater that hung loosely around his waist. He had a few faded freckles surrounding his noise, and chocolate brown eyes. His hair was dark brown though.

Dani felt the mood lighten dramatically. She grinned too.

"Yeah, have you ever considered a path in séances?" She asked. Kevin blushed.

"Hey, you're Danielle right?" Another kid said, getting up. Slowly the other kids introduced themselves. Then the adult did.

"My name is Sam. I'm Kevin's older brother and the supervisor for the club." He said, smiling a toothy smile. Dani smiled politely back.

"So, what brings you here, besides my little bro's awesome playing?" Kevin blushed again.

"Um, I was hoping for a guide, and since I was already familiar with Kevin, and Ms. Sanderson said he was in the guitar club, I" Dani stumbled over her words. Did it make her sound like she expected him to help her? She didn't want to tear him away from the club.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Sam's loud hoot.

"So you got to her first, eh? How come you never tell me things anymore?" Sam ruffled Kevin's hair playfully, whom Dani was starting to think would have a permanent flushed color on his face.

"W-We just met in the hall, that's all!" Kevin squeaked, waving his hands as if to banish the thought. Dani gave them a puzzled look, not entirely sure what was going on.

"Well, go show her around, don't let us hold you down!" Kevin was pushed by his big hand toward Dani, stumbling before coming up right next to her. Dani then opened the door, gesturing for Kevin to go through and flashing Sam a grateful glance.

Kevin blushed harder, but walked into the hall, Dani faithfully following.

"Um, so there's the Science Club, the Magic Club, the Girl Scouts-"

"Anything where I won't be dissected, be too good at, or die (again) from cheesiness?"

"Well…"

"What is it?" Dani asked eagerly. Kevin bit his lip.

"Your brother does have a fan club-Whoa!"

"Where?!" Dani asked, having grabbed Kevin by the collar of his shirt. He held up a shaking hand, pointing and squeaking out,

"The next room down on the left!" Dani took his hand, ignored his blush, and they sped down, where she flung the door open, and gasped in surprise.

There were about 14 girls in the room. The room had every poster that had Danny Phantom on it strewn across the walls, held up by tape. Black, green and White ribbons were thrown across the floor, and in many cases, in their hair as well. One girl, with dark chocolate skin and beautiful black hair was on a pedestal, wearing a DP shirt, similar to everyone else's except this one was highlighted with neon green.

"Order! Order! Now, at exactly 20.3 Minutes past 8:00 target entered the building, followed by younger sibling. At 24.6 Minutes past, target knocked on door of Room 416! Yes #748?" The girl said, pointing to someone with their hand raised.

"Is it possible to get any strands of DNA left from contact with doorknob?"

The girl shook her head.

"Negative. By now it's been used by all of the occupants several times, overlapping His wonderful touch." The girls swooned.

"How did you get that information?" Dani asked, Kevin cowering behind her. The girl looked at her, clearly startled, then her eyes narrowed, becoming cool and collected.

"We have our sources. Now, are you the sister of the Beloved One?" The girl asked, walking up to Dani and silencing all the other girls with a raised hand.

Dani scrutinized her carefully.

"It depends. Who wants to know?" She asked softly.

"We are the Phantom Pherocity Phan Club. My name is Sarah, #317 of Global Phantom. We welcome you, Sister of the Savior." Sarah, bowed her head, sweeping her arm forward. The others bowed their head too.

"Oooookkkkaaay. I'm officially nauseous." Dani said to Kevin, looking pretty freaked out.

"Uh, can we get out of here now?"

"Girls!" Sarah snapped her fingers and two of the girls were by a startled Kevin's side.

"Show the non-believer out." She said, glaring at him. Dani watched wide eyed as Kevin was…escorted out of the room.

"So, we only ask of you one thing, Danielle Phantom."

"The name's Dani first of all."

"We only ask of you one thing, Dani Phantom then."

"What is it?" Dani said, feeling apprehensive. Sarah got close, whispering in Dani's ear softly.

"Do you really have his boxers?" Dani felt herself blushing on Danny's behalf, and lost her visibility for a moment, the girls oohing and aahing.

"Th-That was a joke!" Dani spluttered, covering her mouth as if she might get contaminated, she pressed against the wall across from Sarah, shocked senseless.

"You expect me to give you his underpants? And how did you find that out anyway?!"

"We have our sources." She said again. Dani shivered violently. This club was giving her the heebie-jeebies.

"But we need an item of clothing if we are to purify ourselves!" Sarah said desperately.

"He is our savior, is he not?" Dani raised an eyebrow, mouth open. She couldn't form any words.

"Not to mention he's hot! That guy just works in hazmat, that's all I'm saying!" Another girl said. This one had auburn hair, and dark green eyes, not to mention a truck full of attitude.

"Who?" Dani stuttered.

"Micky, Vice President of Phantom Pherocity Phan Club and #437 of Global Phantom. Nice to meet you." She grinned. Dani weakly smiled.

"I'm sorry to have scared you. They are just a little enthusiastic is all. We haven't gotten an info source this good in a very long time." This girl tall and lean. She had black hair pulled into a tight pony tail, and pale white skin. Her eyes were dark blue she wore no-border glasses.

"My name is Julie, and I'm the Treasurer of this club, along with #156 in Global Phantom. You must be rather disoriented and surprised. Why don't you sit down?" Dani sat down after a moment, blinking dazedly at the chair offered to her.

After a moment, Dani realized they weren't saying anything. She looked up and the girls blinked, staring.

"You look so much like him." Micky said, taking a pinch of Dani's hair and rubbing it between her fingers.

"Hey, stop that!"

"Kinda sound like him too." Sarah noted, taking her hand, and looking at the pale skin. Dani blanched, and snatched her hand and hair back.

"Would you guys stop! I'm my own person! Stop affiliating me with my brother!"

"Dani, Dani." Julie said in a calming tone. Dani turned to her.

"We don't mean to insult you. In fact, we're jealous of you. Many of us would kill to be Danny Phantom's sister. Not to mention all the…nice things that come along with it." Dani raised an eyebrow as Julie's eyes got a faraway look in them, her tongue licking her lips satisfactorily.

"The popularity…the funds." She shook her head as if to ward the thoughts.

"But we all understand you have your own position. Besides, I want a sister-in-law!"

"What?" Dani asked alarmed.

"Nothing!" Julie quickly amended. Dani looked at her suspiciously and she just smiled.

"But we would all be so grateful if you could give us something, anything to remind us of Danny." The girls all batted their eyelids and puppy pouted.

"Hey, we Phantoms invented that move, no stealing!" Dani said, wagging her finger. She thought to herself, then sighed, digging into her pocket. There she pulled out a small sized pocketbook.

The girls watched in eager silent anticipation as she carefully pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

"I knew this would come in handy at some point. Good thing I made copies." Dani muttered softly.

"Here!" She tossed it to Julie.

The girls crowded around her, eyes wide. The small wallet sized picture showed Danny. This one, unlike the other heroic ones, was undeniably cute.

His eyes closed, he was clearly lying on a pillow or something. Just his face, his hair sprawled beneath his head, mouth opened ever so softly, eyes closed. He looked like an angel. At least he did to the girls. Toss it into the ghost zone and it'd last about two seconds.

What erupted then was a fight for the photo. Dani snuck out quietly, sighing in relief at the empty hallway.

Hey Dani!" Dani jumped, yelling and the girl shrieked shrilly. As Dani regained breath, she saw it was Gabriella.

"Oh, sorry! I've…had a rough day." Dani said. Gabriella held a hand to her heart, but smiled uncertainly.

"It's fine, I shouldn't have startled you." Dani grinned.

"Lucky I didn't ectoblast you into next week." There was stunned silence. Dani laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.

"That was a joke." Gabriella laughed hollowly.

"Um, so…what was it exactly, I mean-" Dani stumbled for what seemed the millionth time that day.

"Oh! Your response, you know, to my invitation?" Gabriella prodded, smiling hopefully.

"Oh…about that." Dani smiled weakly.

"You guys seem really nice and all, but I think I'm gonna stick with Lily and Alex. Just my type of people I guess." She shrugged. For a moment Gabriella's smile vanished, then reappeared.

"Well, I'm not going to force you or anything. I'd…just be careful around Lily. She can be very…volatile at times." Dani nodded, trying to remember what exactly volatile meant.

"Well, my offer will always stand Dani. If you need me, I'll be there." Gabriella smiled sweetly and she smiled hesitantly back.

Gabriella turned around, but stopped, frozen.

"Gabriella?"

No response.

"Yoo-hoo?"

Nothing.

"Dani! Little help here!" Someone yelled from down the hall. Dani looked around the stunned Gabriella, eyes going wide and jaw going slack.

There, running from a huge crowd of little mini middle-schoolers, was Danny Phantom.

"Hey! A little help would be very much appreciated!" Danny said, passing the Dazed Dani and skidding around the corner, the kids following.

Dani snapped back to reality and rolled her eyes.

"Why not just use your powers?" Dani yelled back. Danny came around the same bend again, hand outstretched as he skidded across the floor to stop himself. He slid across however, shoulder smacking into the door.

He rested for a moment, wincing in pain before yelping as the door opened, landing with his cheek pressed against the floor, and his hair flopping down in front of his eyes, on the floor and his legs up on the door for support, basically upside down.

Dani strolled to Danny, a smirk present on her face.

"Danny, meet your Phan Club." Dani pointed to Dani, who looked at her upside-down, and then pointed to the girls who were staring in shock (happy shock, not indignant shock) at Danny, whose eyes then followed and got wider.

"Of all the places to land." He muttered.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The girls screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" Danny screamed back, righting himself and tearing through the halls. Unfortunately, the other group that had been chasing him came around at that same moment, meeting with Danny, who turned tail the other way.

Even more unfortunately (in Danny's case of course) the Phan girls had blocked the other way. Danny pressed up against the lockers as both parties closed in…

"For crying out loud!" Everyone gasped, eyes coming from above the panicked Danny's head. There Dani floated, the first public display of her powers anyone had really seen her use. It was the only proof all day that she was an actual ghost.

"Stop acting like their prey and come on already!" Dani tugged on his sleeve, clearly annoyed.

"I just thought I shouldn't use my powers in this school, if you aren't allowed and everything." Danny said, but he too floated, the crowd aahing in amazement. Dani rolled her eyes.

"Let's just go." So they did, much to the dissapointment of the crowd. Gabriella merely smirked after them.

"So, how was your first day?" Danny asked. Dani shrugged.

"You know, the usual mobs, stares, not to mention the gossiping!" Dani grinned. Danny smiled weakly back.

"Something wrong?"

"No, just…been a pretty rough day too."

"How?" Dani asked suspiciously.

Danny sighed and rubbed the back of his neck tiredly.

"Well, when we came out publicly with the plan for the Disasteroid, I was in ghost form…"

"Uh-huh…" Dani prodded.

"And Tucker, Sam, and Jazz were all there too…"

"Uh-huh…"

"It implied we knew each other, or at least had contact…"

"Where are you going with this?"

"So it was like telling the whole world we're friends!" Danny burst out finally.

Dani stared at him, raising an eyebrow. Danny sighed, palm hitting forehead.

"Well that and the whole "Two Lovebirds finally going out" thing.

"Ah-hah." Dani said, smirking and nodding in understanding. Danny glared, blushing embarrassedly.

"Am I really like that?" He asked, wincing. Dani glared back. They flew on for a little while.

"Make any friends?" Danny asked suddenly. Dani smiled slightly.

"A few. Freaked out a lot, but made a few." Danny looked at her suspiciously.

"How exactly did you freak them out?"

Dani grinned evilly.

"That girl will be having nightmares for a few nights."

"Dani!"

"What?! I didn't harm her! Maybe strained her sanity a little, but didn't harm her!" Dani said, outraged. Danny sighed.

"What am I going to do with you?"

Dani grinned.

"Hopefully you won't disown me Daddy." They glared at each other for a very long time, then just started laughing. Maybe it was the stress, but they kept laughing, clutching their stomachs, a few loose tears trailing down their faces and landing on the gravel (and some unfortunate heads) way below.

"So…wanna go drown our self-anxiety at the nasty burger?" Dani offered, jabbing her thumb.

"I'm paying?"

"Who's the one getting the allowance?"

"Right." They both smiled at each other and flew towards the restaurant.

None of them noticed the mechanical structure poised on the roof, whose mouth and eyes whirred to life with green energy. Somehow the metal lips smoothly slid into place, creating a blissfully happy expression, yet with an undertone of cruelty.

"You thought things would be finished with the meteor whelp, didn't you?" He pressed a button on his wrist, and within moments a small portal to the ghost zone opened in front of him. He put his leg through.

"Well you were wrong. Both of you were."

He stepped through with the undeniably cliché words, but ones that fit the situation perfectly.

"You were dead wrong."

The portal snapped close, but no one was around to witness it. Skulker had returned to the ghost zone after retrieving the information he seeked. Now he would simply spread it around…and let the rest unfold on its own.

Two clueless Phantoms munched on their 'To go' Burgers.

Wow. This is LATE. But, last week was my birthday (Thanks to GeekGirl, for noticing and sending a Happy Birthday message!), and this week I've been puking from the stomach flu. Before I receive your pity, first rant at me at how late this chapter is so I don't feel like an illness-prone idiot. Ever heard the phrase "Idiots don't catch colds"? I don't think it's working in my case. Never had great luck.

Also, if anyone thinks I'm making Dani into a Mary Sue (which I completely and utterly hope against) don't just tell me I am! Tell me how to FIX it, cuz I am totally clueless here!!!

Anyway, I wanted to state (and get it over with here and now) that I may make fun of fangirls, and fanguys, and so on and so forth, but I DO NOT mean any of it. DO NOT. So I hope none of you take it offensively and then pelt my house with DP Plushies. Cuz, it would hurt the plushies! Tee-hee! Also, in the previous chapter Nicol"i" ranted about some greek mumbo-jumbo and Shakespeare stuff. I only have a faint grasp on that, so if I'm wrong about it, I apologize.

Yay! Painkillers! Good night everybody!