Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom – I never have and I never will, simple as that. All of that amazing creative talent goes to Butch Hartman. Nickelodeon just sucks, I'm sorry (no, I'm not).

Author's Note: Since these are just going to be drabbles, this challenge will be updated sporadically, with no set limit or deadline. They'll generally be one page long or however the hell long I feel like writing something. This challenge is for 25foods, and there are a various array of foods to choose from, so this challenge will be nothing less than interesting. I hope you enjoy, and I hope that you continue to come back for more!

Please, review when you're done! Reviews make me more eager to write, as I'm sure many other authors here would agree. You don't want me to beg, do you? Reviews make the world go 'round, my friend.

Note: This is before they started dating.

005 : Chocolate Syrup

Rating : PG

Theme : 002. Chocolate Syrup

October 14, 2007

Finding solace underneath an arch of a local building by the park, she sat underneath the cement structure on a bench, watching the rain fall methodically. Whenever she was feeling upset or alone, she would come here and watch nature around her. She found comfort in the images of beauty that may or may not be pleasing to the normal viewer.

Sitting as so her feet were also on the bench, she went from viewing the world around her to the book she had brought along with her. She felt the calming affect of being there flow to her nerves. Her jeans were constricting in this position, but the dark blue sweatshirt, which certainly wasn't hers, draped over her frame with much room left to spare, bringing comfort.

She leafed through her book, its pages worn from use. Her mind was swimming with different emotions, but she tried to focus on reading for the sake of changing her mood. He was constantly in her thoughts, though. No matter where he was or what he was doing, he was in her head.

Why was her mind in chaos?

She shuddered at the thought. She knew why.

After it had happened, she had to get out of his house as soon as she possibly could without being overly rude or embarrassed.

It had started out very simple and innocent. They had decided to stay in, watch a movie, and just bond. They hadn't had much time alone in a long while, and with finals and all that jazz coming up, they figured that there wouldn't be much time to spare in the upcoming days for just hanging out. In addition to their lounging, ice cream sundaes with the works were also in order. Sitting on Danny's livingroom couch was like sitting on the beach it was so warm and relaxing, especially with the cool ice cream to mellow out that feeling. In short? Sam was certainly in a good mood. Vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup was simple and sweet, just the way she liked it. She nearly devoured it.

Noticing her behavior, Danny turned to her with a smirk, "Wow, you give me a run for my money."

She rolled her eyes with a smile edging herself closer to him on the couch, "I haven't eaten much all day, and this is delicious. So sue me." She stuck out her tongue.

Pointing at her lips, he smirked, "You got a little..." trailing off as he neared in on her, she did the first and only thing that came to mind with him is such close proximity: she kissed him. When she pulled away, her eyes were wide, but not as wide as his. Clearing her throat, she turned back toward the television screen, hoping that he wouldn't hate her for the rest of their lives at what she had done. What she didn't notice, however, was the ever-growing smirk on his face.

About a half hour after the movie ended, she found herself nearly sprinting from his house, using the excuse that the promised her Grandma that she would help her with some chores. He saw right through that, since she didn't have to do any of her chores, especially with the help she had on call in her house. She let her have her excuse, though; he would find her later and weasel the truth from her black-painted, nail-polished grip.

So, at this moment in time, Sam found herself sitting and reading, trying to stray her mind from the fact that she had intentionally kissed her best friend. The one thing that confused her the most was that he didn't pull away, didn't say a word to her about it. Did he want it, too? Was she delusional? She shook her head, trying to focus on the words that were now blurring on the page. She had to stop thinking about him, especially in that manner. It wasn't fair to him, and it certainly wasn't fair to her heart to keep going on and on, beating that subject to death. She knew that she had this argument with her mind too many times to count.

She sighed.

"Why so sad?" a disembodied voice rang out in her ears, and her heart rate sped up.

"I'm not sad," she replied, trying to keep her focus on her book. Obviously, she was failing miserably.

Checking to see if the coast was clear, he came into focus, and then transformed back into his human counterpart. "I can always tell when you have something on your mind, so tell me," he said gently, sitting on the end of the bench that wasn't occupied by her legs.

"I do have something on my mind," she compromised, "but, this time I'm not sad."

"Oh?" he questioned, glancing over at her, watching her gaze as it was transfixed on a single spot on the page. "Can I know this? Or... is it a big secret?"

"I wish you could know, but it's something I've got to let stir for a bit longer, I guess. You have your own problems, and I have mine. To each his own."

"All right, I'll buy that for the time being," he said begrudgingly, a small sigh escaping past his lips.

After a pause, she asked, finally looking at him, "How did you find me?"

"You're always here when you're upset about something, and somehow the excuse of helping your Grandma with chores didn't sit too well with me."

"Oh," she trailed off, suddenly ashamed of her poor lie. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he said, then added nonchalantly, "I mean, if I had been the one to kiss my best friend and then suddenly bolt, I would feel awkward myself."

She blushed, now looking away from him. "I thought you were... but I... and then..." She sighed, "Forgive me? It can easily be taken back."

"There's nothing to be forgiven for. I don't want you to take it back," he said softly, looking out at the rain now.

"You don't?" she asked, suddenly very interested in where this conversation was going.

"No, I don't," he said, getting up. "I just wanted to check on you and see how you were doing. I gotta get going, though." Grateful that she was looking up at him now, he leaned down and placed a soft, but firm, kiss on her lips, then vanished.

Shocked beyond words, she sat there with a hand to her lips.

That boy was a mystery, and eventually... someday, she would figure him out.

End Note: Sorry about the wait, college has certainly been kicking my ass and it will continue to kick my ass through the next week. I hope you all have enjoyed this chapter, and the next one will hopefully be up soon.

Please review!

- A