It'd be wicked cool to own Danny Phantom

They were still talking about him. Dash Baxter hiked his backpack strap further up his shoulder as he listened to Kwan, Star and Paulina prattle on about Fenton. And how ridiculous was that? The A-listers, Casper High royalty, were gushing over Danny flipping Fenton and his so called "courage". Dash knew he wasn't the brightest bulb in the shed but he was pretty sure that running into a burning building qualified as stupid rather than courageous. And yet they just kept talking and talking and talking.

"Would you guys cut it out already," he snapped suddenly cutting off Paulina as she did yet another retelling of the same story. "It's just Fenton! He's a loser! A nobody! Guy was probably running from a ghost or something and got himself caught in a burning building. Would you stop acting like everything has suddenly changed!" He griped as he stormed on a bit ahead well aware of the angry looks the others were giving him.

Dash's already aggravated mood only increased as he stepped into school where he now had to listen to everyone talking about how 'great' and 'cool' Fenton was. This was going to be a long day, he could already tell. And it was, period in and period out it all 'Fenton this' or 'Fenton that' but Dash wasn't sure if he was relieved or annoyed not to see the kid himself. By the time last period rolled around, Dash was about ready to dish some serious pain as he heard yet another girl gush about Fenton's heroism.

He scoffed, Fenton? A hero? It was nuts. It wasn't as if anyone paid the kid any attention the rest of the time, other than when he was being a complete freak with his loser friends and now they couldn't get enough of him. Dash ground his teeth as he stomped down the halls. His eyes narrowed as he came as he came upon a large crowd surrounding what Dash knew to be Fenton's locker and before he could think any further, he was pushing his way through.

Of course at the center was Fenton, looking embarrassed and mildly put-out by the sudden attention as he tried to talk people away from his locker so he could grab his books. A quick scan told him that no teachers, overprotective friends or sisters were within sight. Perfect.

As soon as Dash made his way to the center the rest of Fenton's newfound groupies suddenly found somewhere else to be. The dweeb didn't even look up as everyone around him suddenly scattered, looking almost relieved that he could now reach his locker seemingly unafraid of the beat-down that was about to happen. And that's perhaps what annoyed the quarterback most of all. Without hesitation he grabbed the smaller boy by the front of his shirt and thrust him into the lockers glaring down at him for all he was worth. Fenton didn't even look concerned.

"Hey Dash, while I appreciate you driving the bloodsuckers away I really need to get to English. Lancer will kill me if I'm late to class and I really don't want another detention." Dash snarled, unbelievable. He eyed the remnants of bandages on the boy's arm and could see another wrapped around his chest as further proof of the impossible. This kid, this small, wimpy brat that Dash picked on daily, had willingly run into a building that was on fire to save some kids. Pause, rewind, when had the world stopped making sense? When did Fenton stop acting like Fenton?

"You think you're hot stuff Fenton? You think just because everyone thinks you're some sort of hero that I'll just leave you alone? Well you've got another thing coming." He said shoving the kid harder into the lockers. Fenton gave the barest flinch of pain before turning to scowl at Dash. What was happening? Fenton didn't give him defiant looks, didn't save kids, didn't change Dash's opinions on people.

"Lay off will you? I don't need any more bruises after yesterday or my mom will go nuts." Fenton tilted his head as if studying the larger teen. "And no, I don't. I didn't do anything that anyone else wouldn't do. I'd really wish people would quit bugging me about it and just let it go. Everyone is safe, isn't that all that matters?" Dash's fist slammed hard into the locker beside him, just inches from Fenton's face and the loser didn't so much as blink. "Come on, the bell's gonna ring soon." With a frustrated growl, Dash threw Fenton into the lockers stepping back as the geek landed gracefully on his feet before turning to undo the lock. Dash continued to glare holes into the back of his head.

"I'm not any different than I was yesterday Dash when you threw me into the lockers, or last week when you punched me in the gut after gym. Nothing has changed; I'm the same as I've always been. Maybe it's just you who has missed something." Fenton turned and gave what almost appeared to be an admonishing glare. "Can we do this later; I really wasn't kidding about English." When he didn't reply, Fenton shrugged and stepped around him to walk in the direction of Lancer's room while Dash just watched on in confusion, trying to figure out this latest puzzle.

"Why don't you fight back then?" Dash asked just before Fenton was out of range, he stopped but did not turn to face the boy, the bully, who had abused him the last year or so. "It took serious guts to do what you did yesterday, I don't even know if I'd have done that. You're crazy Fenton, absolutely bonkers for trying something like that." Dash paused to suck in his breath. "So why don't you fight back all those times I wailed on you, gave you a hard time. You carried like five kids out a building that was on fire, I bet you can throw a punch so why don't you?"

The hallway was empty, leaving Dash's question to echo in a way that upset because it reminded him that he'd said it. But it had bothered him all night as his mom and dad sat up half the night watching as the loser kid he regularly beat on save the day. Because he realized that there was more to Fenton than Dash had ever thought, that the geek was maybe more than just a convenient punching bag. That maybe, just maybe, this wimp had more in common with the ghostly hero Dash aspired to be more than he did himself. Fenton shrugged before he started walking again.

"Because there wouldn't be any point in fighting you Dash." And just like that he turned the corner and was gone leaving Dash Baxter, star quarterback, the king of Casper High, in the dust. He stood there even as the bell rung signaling the start of class before he managed to find his footing and head to the main office for a late pass on the excuse that he had a headache which wasn't a complete lie. Dash was… confused now, a bit unsure as to what at happened but he did know one thing.

By the end of the week when this whole thing had blown over and Fenton was back to his loser status, Dash was going to go back to beating him. But things just might be a different from now on. He'll be sure to be careful with the freak until those bandages come off but then he'll hit back twice as hard. That defiance that had lit up the loser's eyes, he's never seen such boldness especially from Fenton. Maybe a little tough love would toughen up the geek, bring out that nerve that had so shocked Dash. And maybe, just maybe, one day Fenton will throw that punch and make things right.

Hey guys, I know this is kind of late, okay really late. I've had this chapter done for a while now but I didn't want to post it until I had at least started the next chapter so the gap wouldn't be so large. I certainly have one more chapter I want to write which is about 1/3 done now and I'm thinking of doing a final wrap up chapter. I don't know, I'll have to see. Thank you so much for the overwhelming support! I usually try to update quicker but this past year has been exhausting. This is why I usually finish stories before I publish them. Hope this will sate you guys while I finish up the next part!