Lyrics by The Fray - Never Say Never

He had never been so hungry in his life. After his father's passing, his mother was officially broke as they huddled together in some alleyway downtown.

They needed food, but what could they possibly eat? His eyes lingered on a stray dog that happened to cross their path, wondering if he possibly could.

~Some things we don't talk about
Rather do without
And just hold the smile
Falling in and out of love
Same damn problem
Together all the while~

Sam was in the kitchen eating a bowl of stale cereal when Danny decided to come up beside her and lightly kiss her cheek. She flung her spoon in the air in surprise. Danny caught the utensil mid-air, receiving a scowl from the goth when he handed it back. "Do you have a problem with personal space?" she demanded, grabbing the spoon in annoyance.

"It's a thank you," Danny stated, grabbing the box of cereal and pouring his own bowl.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Thank you?"

Danny took a seat across from her, running his hand through obvious bed head. "For yesterday. My mom told me you prepared my dinner. I'm just returning the favor."

Where on earth did he think a kiss was equivalent to her cooking? Danny certainly was full of himself. And the way he acted-like it wasn't a big deal. Sam glared, trying to cover up her embarrassment. "I was just helping your mom out," she grumbled.

"Aw, you had no problem telling me last night that you cared about me," Danny cooed. "Why the cold shoulder now?"

Sam sent Danny a nasty glare when Maddie walked in. "Danny! Don't you think you could dress a little more appropriate in front of Sam?"

He blinked, looking down at his outfit. He was walking around in his boxers and a plain gray tank that clung onto developed muscles, but Sam wasn't even going to go there. She nonchalantly took another spoonful of cereal when Danny smirked at her.

"Sorry, I'm not used to having company around." He noted the tight purple sweat shirt Sam wore and tried not to get turned on. "Where are you going?"

"I usually like to take a morning jog around this time," she said, getting up to quickly wash her bowl.

Danny cheerfully nodded. "I'll join you."

"I'd rather you not."

Maddie popped into the conversation, standing between the two teens. "Actually, Sam, I think this would be a good opportunity for Danny to get some fresh air. Plus, the Guys in White are still dealing with the ghost matter. I think I'd prefer it if you didn't go alone."

Sam turned to Danny, annoyed at his victory grin. "Can you keep up?"

He sent her a challenging smirk. "I think you'd be surprised at what I can do."

Two blocks into the jog and Danny was gasping for air. They had already taken two breaks, in which Danny looked as though he were going to hyperventilate for hours. Sam crossed her arms on the sidewalk, annoyed.

"You said you could keep up!"

"You're running way too much."

"That wasn't even half a mile!" Sam grumbled. "Jeez, how can you be so toned and not have any stamina?"

Danny glanced up at her from his hunched over hands-on-knees position. "Did you just imply that I'm hot?"

"I said you were fit. Don't let it get to your head." She offered her water bottle to him, seeing as Danny had devoured his drink after the first block.

Danny gulped down the water and then collapsed onto the grass. Sam took a seat beside him, crossing her legs. "You know, I'm still curious." He looked up at her. "Why you approached me in the first place."

A slight breeze came between them, ruffling the grass beneath them. Sam sighed when Danny merely watched her from the ground. "You're really frustrating, you know. You may have moved here back in grade school, but you never bothered to talk to me until last month. And you somehow knew I had bruises on my neck." She blinked. "Is that why you spoke to me? Because you pitied me?"

Danny sat up beside her, looking out into the street. "You deserve answers." Danny sighed, brushing a hand through his jet black hair. "I just don't know where to start."

"The beginning is usually the best bet."

Danny laughed at Sam's remark, staring at the clear sky. "I just wish you wouldn't hate me after this."

"Hate you?" Sam blinked. "Why would I-"

"Danny?"

Both teens looked up to see Tucker appearing down the road. "I haven't seen you in a while. Oh, hey Sam."

She felt a little awkward that he addressed her so casually, but decided it was best. "Hey again," she answered back.

Danny looked between the two. "You know each other?"

"Kind of." Tucker smiled, hitting Danny on the back of the head. "Thanks for texting me that you were awake, douche."

Danny laughed. "Stop acting like such a girl." He relaxed into a more comfortable position. "So what's up?"

Tucker looked at Danny then Sam then back again. "I kind of wanted to talk to you about some stuff."

"I can hear you, you know," Sam stated, as if she was supposed to pretend that she wasn't welcome.

"It's okay." Danny grinned at Sam. "She already knows, Tucker."

He raised his eyebrows. "Everything? Even Valerie?"

"Valerie?" Sam's eyes narrowed. She remembered that name after they sent her to a mental hospital.

Danny glared at Tucker. "Not that."

"Oops."

Danny stood up, sighing. "I guess I owe you an apology." He glanced down at Sam, who was still sitting cross-legged on the grass. "Tell my mom I went out with Tucker, okay?"

Sam glared as the two boys walked away. She'd have to do some research about this Valerie girl.

Sam ended up running all the way to the public library. She ignored the glares she received from the librarian over her heavy breathing, trying to calm her racing heart. She sat herself in-front of a computer and began researching.

She started by typing in Valerie Grey into the search engine but several people popped up. Sam then added Casper High and only a few articles appeared. She clicked the first link. The article was dated four years ago.

Tragic news hits Amity Park when high school freshman Valerie Grey was admitted into Wisconsin's Mental Institute for strange behavior. Her friends and family claimed she had been acting different for a while, before turning aggressive and violent. She had also been claiming surreal encounters with a white haired monster. No one knows for certain whether this man is to blame for her outrageous behavior or if Miss Grey made the whole thing up. Casper High students had an after school activity in her honor...

Sam clicked on a photo of Valerie, confused. What did Danny have to do with her? Maybe she was his past girlfriend, she thought bitterly. Danny's face had gone pale when Tucker brought up the subject and he immediately left her. Sam sighed. He must have cared about her a lot.

So Danny was suffering from a broken heart, Sam figured. Valerie must be partly to blame for why Danny was always on edge. For some reason, she felt as though Danny would never be able to open up to her unless this Valerie business was taken care of.

Sam shut down her computer, determined to get an answer, not seeing the pair of eyes across the room that had been staring at her monitor the whole time.

"I said I was sorry!" Tucker squeaked as Danny smacked the back of his head. "How was I supposed to know she didn't know about Valerie?"

"There are certain things I don't tell others."

"You said she knows!"

"Not everything."

Tucker took the beating, even though it was more of a bitch slap in his case, and wrapped up his injured pride. "So let me get this straight. She knows about your "condition" but she doesn't know what you are."

Danny nodded, staring at the asphalt. "I don't want her to know about that. Ever."

Tucker glanced back at his buddy. "Are you guys close now?"

Danny shrugged. "I wouldn't really say that." But regardless of his words, a deep blush was beginning to form across his cheeks.

"Dude, take it easy. I'm happy for you. I thought you'd given up on girls for life!" He laughed. "Although Sam Manson was the last person I expected you to be attracted to."

Danny nodded. "Me too." He stared back at the area he left her, and whispered, "Do you think I'll hurt her?"

"I think you're a lot more careful now than freshman year." He watched his friend with consideration. "That wasn't your fault, you know."

Danny shut his eyes as the memories returned. "She kept saying it was."

Tucker watched as his face twisted in guilt. "You know what I think? You need to do something nice for Sam."

Danny blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, from the looks of it you really annoy her. You should have seen your faces when you were lying on the grass." Tucker laughed. "I have to go to the library anyway, so I'll catch you later."

Something nice? Danny contemplated, snatching Tucker's red beret. The techno geek whined in response as Danny held the cap over his face like a mask, smiling behind it. "I suppose it's time for Phantom to make an appearance."