Lyrics by Rihanna - Stay

Sam stood at the top of the stairs; scissors in one hand, a chunk of hair in the other. Her parents blew up at the scene, arguing over what a disgrace she was, what a horrible thing she'd done, and a lot of other words the seven year old couldn't comprehend.

But as the young child stood expressionless on the staircase with the furious adults yelling at her, she could only think one thing.

They're finally paying attention to me.

~Funny, you're the broken one

but I'm the only one who needed

saving

Cause when you never

see the lights

It's hard to know which one of us is

caving~

Sam did her best not to stare at the delinquent across the way or at least be caught doing so. For some reason, he always managed to feel her eyes on him. He'd turn around and smile, which made Sam frown and roll her eyes in disgust. They continued this routine for quite some time.

"Find something you like?"

Tom appeared behind her, giving Sam a goofy grin.

"If you're talking about that ape over there, no."

"Ah, I see. This is one of those love hate relationships. There's a lot of sexual tension, huh?"

She nearly paled at the thought. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"It's like my TV show-"

"You watch way too much TV, Tom."

"-The main characters loathe each other, but eventually are forced to work together and that anger bubbles into hot, steamy s-"

"Dash! You're late!" Sam screamed across the lot, effectively cutting Tom off.

"Sorry, I was held back." The jock glanced over his shoulder to glare at Fenton, accepting the construction hat from Sam with a sigh.

"Dash, I don't want any trouble," Sam hissed, catching where his gaze was directed to.

"Whatever," the boy mumbled, putting his hat on and walking toward Kwan.

Tom raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. This is the part where jock and delinquent get into a fight and you realize you've cared about him all along."

"Wrong," Sam sighed, checking over the foundation blue prints. "Danny got into a fight last week. It wasn't exactly earth shattering."

"But it did make you feel something, right?"

"Irritation." She turned around to glare at him. "Shouldn't you be working? You have an area full of testosterone and you don't think one of these morons is going to get in a fight?"

"Oh, I believe that all right. I'm waiting for the drama to enfold."

"Why exactly are you in this kind of business again?"

"The economy, Sammy. Now be a good girl and check on the new kid. I'd hate to interrupt the longing stares you have going on."

Sam glared, but glanced at Danny only to find him frowning at them.

Tom let out a nervous laugh. "He doesn't like me much, huh?"

"He doesn't like anyone." Sam rolled her eyes and approached the boy. "Stop glaring at everyone," she demanded when Danny looked up. "If you get in any fights, the house will be destroyed."

"I might lighten up," he smirked, "if I get some incentive."

She crossed her arms. "What do you want?"

The moment she said it she regretted it. Tom was right. Maybe Danny did have some crazy obsession with her and planned to use every moment trying to get in her pants.

He looked thoughtful, reaching his hand toward her. "Hmm...I want..." She nearly turned red as his touched her chin with his finger. "This scarf."

Sam blinked, feeling as Danny's hand moved down and tugged at the purple scarf around her neck. She clenched her jaw.

"Why?"

"Why not?" Danny asked. "It's not much. And I'm cold." He fake shivered in the seventy degree weather. Nobody could possibly be cold on a day like today.

"Forget it," Sam growled, stomping away.

"If you don't stop following me, I'm going to file a restraining order." She spent no time glancing back at the delinquent. And it wasn't like the last time she thought he was stalking her. His house was in the opposite direction.

"At least let me walk you home," he exclaimed with an unusually bright smile.

"You're a little cheery for a delinquent, don't you think?"

"I told you. I'm not a delinquent."

"Beating people up is just a hobby of yours, huh?"

"You could say that."

Sam raised an eyebrow at him and shook her head, too tired to deal with his nonsense. "I'm not about to lead you to my house." She stopped in her tracks. Had Danny not been paying attention, he probably would have ran into her.

"So you plan to stand here with me all night?"

"Could you be anymore cocky?"

She turned to him to glare with striking violet eyes. Sam took in those baby blue eyes and raven hair, wondering why his appearance was so innocent, when his attitude was the exact opposite.

Danny's mouth opened as if he were about to speak, but instead a cloud of cold air escaped his lips. Bird like claws gripped Sam's sides and before she knew it she was whisked into the air by a giant green creature. The scream stuck in her throat as the ground went farther and farther away from her. Wind engulfed her body as glowing feathered wings flapped in the night sky. She struggled to think straight, between what was happening and what she was going to do.

Milliseconds later, a green beam of light shot passed her. The bird cried out and the hold on Sam loosened until eventually she slipped. She couldn't scream. She couldn't cry. The ground was hurtling toward her impossibly fast, the speed sucking the air out of her.

Something else clasped her waist. For a moment Sam wished she had hit the cement. It probably would have been a less painful death compared to what this bird wanted to do, but when she chanced a glance up she was surprised to find nothing there. An invisible force carried her into the night, hovering only a few feet above the ground before dropping her. Before she could utter a sound, a door opened.

"Miss Manson, are you alright?" Her weekend maid asked from the doorway.

Sam gasped, holding her sides. "I...I'm home?"

"My God, you're white! Come inside." She grabbed Sam by the forearm, dragging the delirious teen into the mansion.

Great, just great. Try to do one nice act and end up screwing it up.

Danny remained invisible as he flew away from Sam's mansion; not that he was supposed to know where she lived. She was probably wondering how an invisible force knew where her house was, let alone drop her on the doorstep. She was probably in shock over the life threatening experience. He had put her in danger and for what? His curiosity?

He mentally beat himself up the entire way home, changing before entering his home. Upon walking in his mother frowned. "Danny, where have you been? Vlad's been worried-"

Danny clutched his stomach just before falling to his knees. He gripped his shirt in agony until eventually everything turned into darkness.