A/N - Good evening! So I am deciding if I should just keep uploading this every week...or every four days. There's a lack of reviews and I dunno if it's because I was uploading too fast or If I just suck at writing. xD If you want every four days then let me know in a review! If not then I will just update every week. To everyone who is reviewing and such I totally thank you. c:

Anyway this chapter will [cough cough] finally focus a bit more on Dash and Paulina! I have secretly looked forward to it~ Enjoy!

Chapter Five: Royal Backgrounds

Dash was sitting in his living room, feet propped up on the coffee table, while holding his cell phone to his ear. When he was sent to the answering machine again, he growled in annoyance. After the beep he said

"Fenton! How fucking long am I supposed to wait for your ass to get here! You and your emo girlfriend can make out on your own time! Me and Paulina are coming over now!" He slammed down the lid harshly.

He flipped the phone back open and dialed another number. "Yo Paulina, you almost here...alright...alright...yeah I have booze." He laughed gently. "Hurry your ass over here and maybe I won't drink it all...alright. See you." He smiled to himself and closed the lid gently. This was going to be the longest evening known to mankind.

The blonde jock kept his bottom parked in his seat. Everything today just happened way too fast. At first he was arguing with Fenton...then he kicked him in the chest...and now they have to breath the same air for the next week over a dumb project. It was ridiculous. Lancer knows that he and Danny Fenton have never been on good terms. Dash might be a C student, but he even knows this whole plan was a BAD IDEA!

Regret crept into Dash's conscious at this point. This was really starting to look like his fault from all angles. He'd been bullying Danny since the start of high school. Of course it was all going to come back to bite him right in the ass in the future. Karma has really sharp teeth.

Thinking back a bit, he remembered Danny from middle school. They didn't speak or associate in any forms of way. They just had the same gym class together. Their lockers side by side. There was even a time when Dash had forgotten deodorant and Danny happily let him keep a spear he had in his locker.

Was that a trigger? He pondered. A trigger...something the consular talked to him about once or twice before...those sessions were mandatory thanks to his bullying problems. A trigger or something that provoked him into bullying other students. Dash bullied everyone lower than him...but everyone noticed he picked at Danny a lot more than the rest. What the hell could have provoked Dash into bullying Fenton? Could it be the fact he's so weak and puny? Could it be how he had a sarcastic remark for every thing ever said? It wasn't because he was better looking...well Fenton was handsome in his own way. Dark hair, light skin, light blue eyes...it was an exotic combination...on a girl. No homo...

Dash sighed heavily, letting his feet hit the floor. The time he spent with his mother this summer should have taught him a lesson at the very least. His mother was a woman of business. She traveled all the time so he rarely got to see her.

The previous summer, he took a trip with her to France. He had a chance to sit down and really talk with his mother. Something he could never do with his father. She knew about Dash's bullying troubles. She tried to get him to change for the better, at least for the last year of school. Dash was supposed to have returned a changed man. Putting his bullying past behind him...then reality stuck the moment he walked through those doors. He had a reputation to uphold. This was his role. He had to play it. Or be a nobody.

If he had just listened to her..or maybe if she stayed home once in a while. No, it wasn't her fault. It was...his fault? Fenton's fault?

"Hey. Hey you...come over here!"

Paulina walked down the street with her head held high. Her hair was tied in pigtails...in case Manson wanted to have another go at her head the witch wouldn't grab a whole hand full of her gorgeous locks. The tan skinned girl looked across the street out of the corner of her eye at who was calling her. Some guy with a group of friends starting at her like she was meat. She ignored them and continued walking.

When she was younger, she LOVED this kind of attention. She would walk over and tease them. Play with their minds...but now it was just obnoxious. Back then it was harmless flirting...maybe a car ride and some hanging out late at night. Now it's just sex. Sex sex sex sex. The fun stops when you start to look legal enough to bone. You have to worry about creeps and STDs and all kinds of bullshit. Paulina was a flirtatious girl. She was not a whore.

"You don't speak English? Mami! Ben aqui! Uh...come-o, here-o, por flavor!"

"Pendejos!" Paulina spat out to them angrily. "Figure that one out, you animals!"

"What? WHOA. You're an ugly whore anyway."

"Yeah fix your fucking hair!"

"Your ass is flat as hell!"

"You don't even have boobs. You're a dude!"

Stopping dead in her tracks, Paulina just looked at them in disgust. Her arms up in the air in utter disbelief. What the hell was wrong with today? Everyone was such a bitch. Was the world on their period? She flipped the animals off and continued on down the street. She just couldn't get to Dash's house any sooner!

Flip flops clanked hard down the road. Paulina's choice of attire wasn't exactly as high fashion as usual. She carried her gigantic red purse on her arm that didn't match anything she was wearing. A gray sweater to shield her arms from the sudden drop in temperature. Not to mention that gross bruise. Underneath, the baby tee and short shorts she had kept on from school.

She didn't have time to shower or anything fancy. She had to fix dinner for her Dad since he was working late once again. His little mistress was too good to cook dinner, so Paulina had to do it herself. In a matter of an hour and a half she fixed some good old fried chicken with rice and beans. Simple yet effective. She made sure to make enough so everyone could eat...if she only makes enough for herself and her father...that fat bitch would eat his food and play dumb.

Paulina rolled her eyes at the thought. Cheerleading season was over until the winter. So instead of having something to do after school she'd go home and put up with the bruja. She hoped this week would be fun filled with Dash, Kwan, and Star. Her little posse of friends...but nope. Sam and Danny were going to suck the fun out of everything. Especially Sam. Sam was always a debbie downer. Even if Danny would want to have fun she'd force him onto her side, as always. Stupid goth. She needs to go cut her wrists and pry to Satan like normal goths.

BEEP!

The young woman turned to the sound behind her. It was a white van. A white van...that was driving really slow. She looked around and saw no one in sight. She was right in Dash's neighborhood. Which was a relief. Paulina picked up the pace of her walk. Dash's house was another block away...but the neighborhood was so damn empty and quiet.

She turned around and saw the van was still slowly following her. The girl let out a sharp gasp as she dug in her purse for her phone. She'd just call Dash and have him stand outside for her. he turned again and her heart jumped. The van stopped. The sound of side door opening was all the fuel Paulina need to take off in a sprint down the street. She ran for her life down the street in those Old Navy flip flops as if those were a pair Nike's.

The brunette did not stop until she was in front of Dash's house. She nearly fell up the stairs to his porch and rung the door bell. Her heart raced in her chest as she dared to look down the street. The van made a u-turn and drove back the other way. "Thank you, Jesus." She exhaled slowly. That could have ended badly if she were...fat.

"Paulina." Dash stood there with the door open studying the girl who obviously looked shaken. Dash already figured it out. "No more. I'm picking you up from your house from now on. Get inside."

Paulina turned to Dash, heading in through the door he held open for her. "I'm fine, Dash. Nothing happened. I just freaked out over nothing." She dismissed.

Dash closed the door when they were both inside. "Something could have happened. You need to stop being so beautiful."

Paulina rolled her eyes and pointed to herself. "I look like crap."

"Guys like it when girls look bummy." Dash teased with a long smile. He headed into his kitchen.

"Oh now I'm a bum? I think that ranks lower than crap." Paulina sighed. She threw her purse on the couch and followed after. Once in the kitchen she was greeted with an ice cold beer. "I suddenly feel so much better about everything." She grabbed the bottle from Dash's hand. She popped the cap and downed the beer like it were water.

"Beer makes everything better." Dash said wisely as he too drank up. "After this we're heading to Fenton's. He and his girl aren't answering the Fenton's house so we gotta go find them."

"Yay." Paulina rolled her eyes. Her arms crossed...then an idea clicked into her mind. "Bring two beers!"

Dash lifted an eyebrow "Why?"

"A peace offering! We offer them beer and then they'll get along with us better!" Paulina said oh so sure this was the grand solution to all the fighting and drama. There was a small silence.

"You offer those losers your own booze." Dash shot in disgust.

Paulina put one hand on her hip. "The wicked witch of the west was all up in the kitchen. I couldn't sneak any! I'll pay you back if that makes you feel better. I am not going to fail this at all. I'm going to TRY to get along with Danny and what's her face!"

"Sam."

"I know! Don't throw me off topic!" Paulina growled, much to Dash's amusement. "Anyway, yeah. I'm going to try hard to get along with them. I am not ruining my chance to leave my house and go to the cosmetology collage of my dreams. You can't ruin your dreams of becoming a Personal Trainer. Dash. I know you hate Danny ALOT. But I hate Manson ALOT...I'm just not going to start with her. Don't start with Danny. We can make it up to them after we get a solid B- or above."

Dash looked down to Paulina...great not only was his mom counting on him, so was his best friend. Letting them both down is just something he couldn't begin to imagine dealing with. The blonde slicked his hair back and turned to the fridge to grab two more beers. Behind him, Paulina clapped to herself for making her friend give in.

"You owe me." Dash said simply handing her the bottles. She gave him a cheerful smile, taking the beers in her arms, and went to throw them in her purse. Dash grabbed one of his name brand jackets today. Not really wanting to show off his Casper High pride right now.

After finishing their alcohol for the afternoon, the duo left Dash's house to head for the Fenton household. Dash bringing along a draw string backpack with a notebook and a pen, since they had no idea what they were doing. As for Paulina, she brought her whole entire house in that ridiculously huge purse of hers. The two chatted about things going on in their little network of friends at school along with what was happening down in Jersey Shore. Paulina super amazed at Snooki's weight loss while Dash wondered if his skin was healthy enough to get a decent tan without turning into a gigantic lobster.

Paulina and Dash's relationship did nothing but grow in the last four years. Honestly, in Freshman year they weren't really friends. They tolerated each other. Paulina hated how the blonde thought he could hook up with her that easily. Dash hating how high maintenance the tanned girl was. It wasn't until the following year the two had started to become close. Thanks to Star and Kwan being a couple, the two satellites dragged their planets along when they went out.

The King and Queen of Casper High finally found some common ground. The fact they have the shittiest fathers ever made. Paulina's father did care for the girl, but when his new woman came into the picture two years ago, Paulina was no longer the apple of his eyes. It was something like Cinderella without the evil step sisters or the death of her mom and dad. Her papa believed in everything the older beautiful woman said...and concluded that Paulina was a spoiled teenager. Well he did make her that way!

Dash on the other hand, his father was always this high and mighty lawyer. He had high hopes for his only son to follow in his footsteps...until Dash actually started school and wasn't at all good at it. He tried to get tutors for his son which helped, but he never got report cards that averaged over a C. Which won't do in any high class law school. Dash's father pretty much gave up on him. Never goes to his games...never looks at his report cards. Just gives him the money to do whatever his son felt like. He stopped caring...and it hurt Dash. It hurt him more than he let on. It hurt worse than being flat out ignored.

The two stuck together. Going out together getting into anything they could to distract themselves from their busted family lives. Partying, loitering, five finger discounting...as long as they were together. They understood each other. In school, they were who everyone wanted to be. Outside the school, they just wanted to be anyone except themselves. The King and Queen of Casper High weren't as glamorous as everyone thought.

Despite the clichés, Dash and Paulina were never interested in each other romantically or physically. They have a laugh at each other when people thought they were dating. They were both interested in completely different types of people. Not that they didn't find each other attractive. Their relationship was like two siblings, very good friends. Never lovers.

Dash was WAY too lovey dovey and romantic. He was looking for someone to protect. Someone to hold and whisper sweet nothings into their ear. Someone who he could make melt into him like the charming guys do on his soaps. Not someone utterly helpless. That person better be able to stand on their own...but he wants that person to break at the touch of his fingers against their skin.

That was just nothing Paulina was interested in. She wanted someone as fierce as she was. She didn't need someone to take care of her. She needed someone who she can be on eye level with. Someone bold and not afraid of speaking up for what they believed in. That's the kind of person she wants. Someone with beauty and brains. One who won't just obey her because she's pretty. Paulina likes to put up a fight...she'll get bored without it.

"We should have drove." Paulina sighed whilst the two were now a few blocks away from Fenton Works.

"Then my car would have broken down from all the crap in your purse." Dash teased as he slipped his sunglasses on his face. It wasn't sunny in the least.

Paulina frowned. "You look like a crack head."

"You're still a bum."

"A cute bum." She corrected.

"Am I a cute crack head?" Dash lifted up the dark glasses and gave her a bright look.

"No such animal."

The two laughed lightly to each other until finally reaching the front of Fenton Works. There was no chance of going to knock at the door because both Sam and Danny were sitting on the front steps. The duo sat with a opened box of Cocoa Puffs. Not ashamed of how they were eating it right out of the box. Paulina and Dash continued studying the two.

Sam sat there in a black jacket, blue tee shirt underneath, black ripped pants, and unfashionable combat boots. Looking like something that crawled out of Hot Topic. Along with her signature purple spider backpack. Her makeup way too dark for her skin tone. Danny sat there looking paler than usual for some odd reason. He seemed to be fidgety sitting in his bright white tee and slightly baggy pants. His hands fondling each other as if to get some warmth or something to hold while Sam's hands were in the cereal box. Maybe he should have wore a jacket. It's chilly out.

There was an awkward silence as Paulina and Dash looked down at the two. They...didn't know what to say. Neither did the other two. Danny looked up to the two then back to the cereal box. He grabbed the box and held it up to them. Offering some of the chocolaty treat. Sam was staring at the two intensely. Waiting for one of them to say something smart.

Dash ignored Sam's attempts of a scary glare. He kindly took the box and grabbed a handful of the cereal in his hand. He held the box for Paulina, if she wanted some, and surprisingly she took a small handful for herself. Dash handed the box back. Sam stood up and took it from him.

"We'll bring it along. In case we get hungry." Danny said stiffly to the two.

Dash nodded to this. Paulina then said "I have beer...if you want some when people aren't watching us."

"That...sounds amazing." Danny lit up instantly.

"This is a truce then?" Sam dove in, not wanting Danny to get up his hopes.

Dash looked offended by the smaller girl and was about to shoot back, but Danny got to her first "Paulina offered us beer, Sam. That is very much a truce."

"Right...Sorry." Sam said looking to Paulina. It was awkward, the last time Sam apologized to this woman..she almost ate her. "And...sorry to both of you for today."

"I'm sorry too." Paulina said a bit too quickly. She held herself back and smiled. "I really am sorry, you guys"

"I am sorry Paulina...and I'm sorry Dash." Danny said looking back and forth. But mainly at Dash.

Dash's hardened look seemed to have soften a little bit "I am sorry Sam. I am...Fenton. I mean...I am sorry...Fen-toaster-strudel." He smiled a cocky smile at the shorter guy.

Danny couldn't help but smile a bit to himself "It's a start. All we need to do is go to Wal-Mart together and we'll be best friends."

"Votes to stay away from Wal-Mart together." Sam said quickly throwing her hand in the air. Dash and Paulina throwing their hands up as well. The three looked to Danny to join in as well.

The blue eyed boy threw his hand up as well. This temporary friendship might not be so bad. Now everyone just had to stick to it. Danny was naive but not that naive to believe there weren't going to be some disagreements. For now, it was nice to feel normal. "No Wal-Mart."