Happy Birthday Kas!

So this is more of a sneak peek for something I might be planning in From the Beginning. In which Andrew is a romantic, Danny blushes more than is healthy, and his friends are little shits.

Dedicated in Words

:: (Established Iambic Prose)

"Isn't it illegal to record people without their permission?" Danny asked dully, watching as Tucker fiddled with his new glasses. He had taken apart a pair of Google Glass and fitted them into his own glasses, improving it as he could. He was currently testing the recording feature that sent the files straight to his PDA, which acted as a wireless, external holding device.

"That rule is negated when it comes to brothers and best friends," Tucker grinned, Danny giving him another flat look. Slightly stumbling as Sam slung an arm around his shoulders he sighed, feeling the concerned questioning ready to begin.

"Alright. Ask your questions, although I make no guarantee that I won't lie- In fact, being honest, I probably will."

"You're being honest about lying?" Tucker asked, Danny only shrugging his shoulders. "It's reached the point where I can't tell if you're being dramatic over being depressed or you just really are that depressed."

"Glad to see dramatics is an option," Danny grumbled, shaking off Sam's arm as he entered the nearest book store, the two teens behind him sharing a look. "Alright. Ask your questions."

"Question one, why are you so...dead." Seeing her friend's look Sam gave a half-shrug. "More so than usual at least. I mean, on the average day you have more energy than a five-year-old on a sugar high."

"Gee, thanks for such a flattering description." Adjusting his course for new best-sellers Danny let his eyes browse the books halfheartedly, shoulders drooping even more. "It's nothing to worry about guys, just...nn..." Not having the right words he fell silent, sighing again as he felt both friends sling an arm around him. "Here comes the pep talk."

"Damn right here it comes," Sam huffed, keeping Danny from escaping with Tucker's help. "Is your trouble family trouble or boyfriend trouble?" Seeing her friend become even more depressed than before Sam let out a slight wince. "Right. Boyfriend trouble."

"Do we have to kick Ghostwriter's ass?" Tucker asked, sounding defensive. At the dual looks from his friends he shrugged, "What? You're like my brother man, if anyone screws you over they're gonna get a visit from my stun gun, which I may or may not have modified past state regulations."

"Oh, so you mean that illegal stun gun that isn't sanctified," Sam snorted, rubbing her friend's back. "And don't worry Danny, I'm sure whatever it is you two can work through it, and if you don't we'll be right here to lock him into a Fenton Thermos for the rest of his unnatural lifespan."

"Oh my god guys, you're worse than Jazz," Danny blushed, taking one of the books from the shelf that seemed to stick out to him and glancing through it, still feeling his friends wrapped around him. "It's nothing Andrew's done it's what I've done, or, well, haven't done..." Sam and Tucker shared a look, both equally confused.

"You're gonna have to go into a little more detail there," Tucker finally spoke, steering all three of them towards a small sitting area. "Because really, that's just- That's confusing."

"I agree with the tech kid wonder over here," Sam snorted, ignoring her friend's overly dramatic pout. "What exactly have you- Or, uh, what haven't you done." Seeing the teen blush and let out a few mumbles Sam rolled her eyes, sitting beside him. "Not all of us have enhanced ghost hearing. Speak up."

"I...haven't..." he trailed off in mumbles again, this time Tucker giving him a stare that finally had him throwing his hands up in defeat. "I haven't told him I loved him yet, okay?! Months of knowing him and months of dating him and I know I'm falling in love with him and I adore him and he's the world to me and I haven't told him yet." Clinging to Sam and hiding his face after his rant the girl only rubbed his back gently, Tucker making shooing expressions to the people who had looked up in concern at the sudden yelling.

"Go back to your shopping, nothing to see here. Just a love-struck teenager with no willpower." Seeing the small crowd disperse Tucker took a seat beside his friends, trying to think of what to say. "Okay dude, the best thing I can say is that, well, love takes time, and commitment. And, I mean, you two really care about each other, right? You can see it, he can see it, everyone can see it. If he sees even half the things you do for him, or say about him, then he already knows how you feel, and I know you know how he feels. The best thing for you to do right now is to continue as you have been, caring for and about him and waiting for the words to come naturally."

Hearing still and complete silence he looked to his two friends, both having shocked and stunned expressions on their faces as they stared at him. Finally getting annoyed Tucker raised an eyebrow in question, Sam only shaking her head. "Tucker I don't know how but that was the best advice you have ever given him."

"I'm a romantic at heart," Tucker smirked, patting his friend's back. "I guess I just have a talent-"

"Yeah, don't ruin it," Sam cut off, Danny chuckling as he flipped the book he was holding back over to the front. "So, feeling better."

"Surprisingly yes, and even more surprisingly Tuck's right. It'll come in time," Danny smiled, fingers trailing the edge of the cover. "I mean, sure it may not be today, or tomorrow, or even months from now...but one day I'll be able to tell him just how I feel about him."

"That's right buddy, you just hold on," Tucker patted his friend's back again, finally looking down at the book, "Isn't that the new book everyone's talking about?" Danny only shrugged, Sam flicking open the book to read the description. "You need to watch the news more." Danny rolled his eyes as Sam grinned.

"Oh hey it is! Man, everyone's talking about this, the author's been inactive and missing for about twenty or thirty years, and after swearing he'd never make a sequel to his most popular book he did." Danny blinked, turning back to see the title. "It's called 'The Ticking Hands'."

"Huh, sounds familiar," Danny muttered, seeing the author. When he did he blinked, squinting his eyes. "Okay, I don't have my reading glasses so someone tell me that I'm hallucinating and that the author name isn't M.J. Anderson."

"Nope, it is, why?" Tucker asked, blinking as Danny quickly flipped to the dedication page. "Oh hey, dedications. Man, I don't even read those."

"You don't even read," Sam snorted, looking down at the page and not noticing Danny's rapidly growing blush. "Let's see here, 'I swore years ago that I would never write a sequel to a story that I had thought complete. Years later I realized that both 'The Soundless Clock' and my own story were just beginning. As such this book is dedicated to the one who showed me what it meant to be happy again. I love you, my sweet Phantom-' Oh my god, is that- Is this Andrew's book?! The sequel to that book you're obsessed with-"

Looking to her friend for confirmation she blinked at seeing he had fainted. Sam and Tucker shared a silent look, Sam finally speaking, "Please tell me you were recording this whole time and got his fainting on camera."

"Sam, please. Of course I did." Sam nodded, standing up to go purchase the book as Tucker carefully dragged his friend out of the store, waving off others' concerns. Meeting back up at the entrance Tucker suddenly grinned, "How long do you think it will take him to confess after this?"

"As long as it takes for him to read the book."

Danny doesn't leave the library for days after he finally finishes the book.

Days.