Lights, Camera, Phantom!

by Jet Engine

A ghost decides to make a movie about Danny Phantom. Seeing this as an opportunity to show the world that not all ghosts are evil, Danny agrees to it, despite Dash and Paulina being cast as his co-stars. Against all odds, Danny enjoys his time on set, though he can't ignore the strange things that keep happening during production. Part Five of the "Friendly Phantoms" series.

4. Forest Chump

Chapter Four: Forest Chump

"Coffee has given me unrealistic expectations of my productivity." - Unknown

"Out of my way, Fen-tiara!" is what I hear as a large hand shoves me aside, knocking me into the hard linoleum floor.

I had just pulled everything I need for my homework out of my locker, and all my textbooks and notebooks slide across the floor. I'm splayed out on my stomach in a painful daze, and no one stops to help me. The final bell had just rung, and everyone is too busy leaving school to worry about the ugly loser on the floor. Not that they would worry, anyway…

I wasn't even in Dash's way. He just looks for any excuse to hit me.

Dash towers over me and proudly jabs his thumb at his chest. "I'm on my way to make a movie with a real Danny."

A real Danny? What does that even mean?

I'm about to get up when a shoe - much smaller than Dash's - presses me back down. "Careful, everyone," Paulina calls out. "Someone missed the trash can!"

They and a few other students laugh as Paulina walks over me. As in, she walks on top of me. I just lay there and sigh as the two of them head out the door. It's not like I hadn't expected this. Sure, we had a surprisingly great time together yesterday, but I'm not their town's protector right now.

I'm the shy, stupid kid who no one wants to be around.

No one except the goth girl who appears and helps to my feet. Or, the techno geek who gathers all my books.

"You okay, Danny?" Sam asks.

"Yeah," I say as Tucker hands me my books. "Thanks, guys." I close my locker and shove all my things in my backpack.

"I still can't believe you actually enjoyed spending time with those two," Tucker says.

I glare in the direction my tormentors went and try not to feel hurt. "No, Danny Phantom enjoyed it. Danny Fenton doesn't give a crap."

I march for the entrance because I suddenly need to move. My friends follow.

"Then, why do you look so upset?" Tucker asks.

"I'm not upset," I say because I'm definitely not upset. "I'm just annoyed. I knew this would happen. They fall over themselves to be nice and welcoming, then they go right back to treating me like garbage."

Sam puts her hand on my shoulder. "Just be careful, Danny. Remember who you're dealing with."

"As if I could forget-" I'm cut off when, too wrapped up in my thoughts to look where I'm going, I crash into someone as I leave the building. Luckily, I'd already made it down the stairs and we're both still standing. "Oh, I-I'm sorry."

Hutch Blairman - because who else would I bump into? - straightens his coat and readjusts his feather boa. He opens his mouth to speak, but Paulina, who had been standing next to him with Dash - cuts in.

"Watch where you're going, Unimportant Danny," she scolds. "You could have hurt the director of the ghost boy's movie!"

Dash lets out a cruel laugh. "As if this scrawny little wimp could do any real damage."

I hear Sam growling behind me, but it's Blairman who speaks. "Now, now. It was an honest mistake." Then he rests a hand under his chin and hums thoughtfully as he really looks at me. "Hold on. I think I've seen you before."

My heart stops. He couldn't possibly have figured it out already! He didn't seem to know I was a halfa yesterday, so how could-

"Were you that kid in the cereal commercial? The one who will only eat the cereal they're advertising?"

I stop myself from sighing in relief. "Uh, no."

"Oh. Well, you look like him." Blairman rubs his chin and squints. "You know…you kind of look like my star, too."

God, help me.

Sam forces a laugh. "You mean Danny Phantom? A ghost?"

Tucker pats me on the head. "This guy is one hundred percent human."

Blairman doesn't take his eyes off me. "Yes, I can see that. But, you do have the same haircut. And, you're about the same height and build. And considering Paulina's taunt, you obviously have the same first name."

Oh shit oh shit oh shit-

"Have you ever considered being a stunt double?"

This guy is going to drive me up a wall. "A stunt double?"

Blairman grins. "Yes! For Danny Phantom. Put on a wig and some makeup, and no one will know the difference."

"Oh, no!" Paulina snaps. "I am not working with that."

"You're not paying us enough for that kind of torture," Dash adds.

"I'm not paying you at all," Blairman says.

Sam steps forward. "As if Danny would want to work with you two."

"Why would Phantom need a stunt double, anyway?" Tucker asks. "Can't he duplicate himself?"

"Can he?" Blairman asks. Now I wonder if he knows anything about me. "Well, nevermind then." Out of nowhere, he roughly grabs my face and pulls it toward his, his fingers and thumb squishing my cheeks. "But, you do have a nice face, if you'd still like to-"

I rip myself out of his grasp. "A-actually, I'm, like, super camera-shy, so you all have fun without me."

As I jog away with Sam and Tucker close behind, Blairman calls out, "If you change your mind, let me know."

The three of us stop once we round the corner and are hidden behind a nearby building.

"Man," Tucker says to me, "you weren't kidding about Blairman. He seems like a major creep."

"Amen to that," I say then rub my cheek. "My face still hurts."

Sam glances in the direction of the school. "Are you really sure about this, Danny?"

"I don't know," I say honestly, "but it's too late to back out."

"Just let us know if you need us to jump in," Tucker says. "We got you."

"I appreciate that," I say. "I really do."

With that, I check for witnesses then hide behind some garbage cans to go ghost before flying back to school. Dash and Paulina greet me with cheerful waves. Blairman turns around and purses his lips at me when I land. At this point, we are the only ones still here.

"There you are," Blairman scolds. He taps his index finger on his wrist even though he's not wearing a watch. "I thought I made our meeting time clear."

"Sorry," I say. "I, uh, got held up by the Box Ghost."

"Man, you should have been here a few minutes sooner," Dash chuckles. "Blairman tried to recruit Danny Fenton to be in the movie."

"Did he, now?" I say cautiously.

Paulina stifles her own laughter. "An ugly loser like that standing next to all of us? The ratings would tank!"

My ectoplasm boils, but Blairman saves me from strangling both A-listers at once. "You all can gossip on your own time. It's time to show you where we'll be filming. Now, who is carrying whom? Flying will get us there sooner, and I'm fairly certain that only two of us are capable of such a thing."

"I call Phantom!" Paulina pipes before grabbing my arm and nuzzling me with an eager grin.

Where is fourteen-year-old me right now?

Blairman grabs Dash from behind and comments, "Oh, you're so firm! Do you work out a lot?"

Paulina and I cringe sympathetically. Dash grits his teeth and gives me a "help me" look. Given everything Dash has put me through, and despite how nice he was to me yesterday, I know I shouldn't care. But, that's just not who I am.

So, I summon a duplicate who pulls Dash away with an indignant, "I'll take that."

Dash mouths a "thank you" as Blairman shrugs and leads us to the set.

---

Calling this place a "set" might be overdoing it. By a lot. Blairman led us out of town and just outside of the forest. Apart from a chair, an old film camera, and two trailers - one of which has a sign on the door that reads, "Director's Office - Private" - nothing here says "movie set" to me. But then, what do I know about the film industry?

Evidently, Dash knows more than I do. As soon as we land and I retract my duplicate, Dash says, "Is this it? I thought movie sets were supposed to have greenscreens and lots of equipment."

Blairman laughs and waves off the comment. "I'm a ghost who's Obsessed with movies, my boy! I am not bound by your human limitations. Besides, we aren't doing anything flashy today." He holds out a hand, and his camera levitates, floating toward us with the lens passing over each of our faces. The film reels on it are spinning, so I think we're already being recorded. "Today, I will be conducting a brief interview with each of you. Something simple to get the ball rolling."

As the camera continues to hover in front of us, Paulina asks, "We are heading into makeup first, right?" She fluffs her hair self-consciously. "As much as I loved being carried by the ghost boy," oh brother, "I don't think that flight did anything for my hair."

"Oh, you look fine," Blairman assures. "Truly stunning! Although your boobs are a bit lacking. But, that's what push-up bras are for."

"Hey!" Paulina snaps.

"Ignore him," I tell her. "Your boobs are fine." Suddenly, Dash busts up laughing. "What?"

He grins at me. "You just told Paulina her boobs are fine!"

Oh. Oh… A cold blush spreads over my face. "Uh, no, what I meant was- Whoops, my hand slipped."

I fire a ghost ray at him, one that's small enough to not cause any real damage but big enough to knock him over. Beside me, an amused Paulina mutters something about boys. I have to make sure none of that ends up in the movie.

Blairman just smiles that too-big smile of his as Dash stands up and the camera repositions itself in front of the chair. "You're gonna be a fun group to work with. I can already tell. Phantom, you're up first. Take a seat in front of the camera. You humans can wait in your trailer. These interviews go much more smoothly with minimal distractions. I'll come and get you when it's your turn. Places, people!" he adds when no one moves. "Only half of us are immortal!"

Blairman walks over to the camera. Dash, Paulina, and I just look at each other and shrug. They head for the trailer, and I walk to the chair and sit down, not sure what to expect.

Blairman fiddles with the camera for a moment. "Ready, Phantom?"

"I guess," I say. "Now remember, I'm the one who decides what gets in the movie. Which means that if I don't want to answer a question, I'm not going to answer it."

"Of course, of course," Blairman says. I don't think he was listening. The reels start spinning again, and the director pulls a paper out of his trench coat and starts reading. "First question. I understand you used to go by the name 'Inviso-Bill.' Why the change?"

The real question is, why is that the first thing he asks? Unrelated, but suddenly my head feels foggy and the base of my skull itches again. I hope I'm not getting a rash.

I clutch my knees to avoid scratching and groan at the director's question. "I never went by 'Inviso-Bill.' That was just a stupid name the humans gave me, and I couldn't shake it!"

"Ah, that makes more sense," Blairman comments. "That is a terrible name. Who came up with it?"

"I don't know, but if I ever find out, I will fly to their house and smack them."

"Moving on. Why do you protect humans? You're a ghost, yet you care so much for humanity. Why is that?"

This one gives me pause. I want to be honest, but I need to phrase this in a way that doesn't imply that I'm still partially a human. The itch turns into a pins-and-needles sensation I try my best to ignore.

"I used to be a human," I reply, "and I haven't forgotten how I felt back then. I was happy overall, but I was so meek and timid. Sure, I've grown a lot since gaining my powers, but I haven't forgotten that boy. He's still here, even if he isn't as prevalent." Against my will, my hand finds my heart, feels that beat in my chest, so slow that you wouldn't notice it if you weren't trying to. "What I'm trying to say is…is that I care because…because I still feel like a human even if I'm not one anymore. And, helping others is my Obsession anyway, so why not combine the two?"

Blairman huffs a laugh. "Mr. I'm-Not-A-Superhero over here."

I glare at him. "I'm not! Didn't I just say that helping others is my Obsession? I'm just keeping my core healthy. I'm selfish, not selfless."

Blairman purses his lips at my admission, grabbing his feather boa with his free hand and twirling it thoughtfully. "A ghost's Obsession is a reflection of what they like or who they are as a person. One does not choose their Obsession, but they can choose how to fulfill it."

"I know," I respond, wondering where this is going.

"An Obsession as broad as yours could be fulfilled in any way you choose, yet you choose to save lives, Phantom." Blairman winks. "I wouldn't call that being selfish."

I never thought of it that way. I've always loved seeing justice served, seeing the sense of security that comes with having a hand to hold, feeling like I have a purpose. But, since becoming a halfa and discovering my Obsession and learning what exactly that meant, I just saw my actions more as self-care than anything. Oh, I'm not blind. I know I do a lot for this town, and I know people appreciate it. But because of my Obsession, it felt less like a choice and more like a necessity.

But, Blairman's right. I could get just as much of a fix helping Mom with the dishes as I could saving the town from a crazy plant-demon. I shouldn't let my guard down, not yet, but his words are oddly comforting.

Blairman clears his throat and moves on from that. "So, why Amity Park? What's so special about this town?"

This one is easier to answer. "Well, I was born here. Grew up here. Died here." I raise my hands in a shrug. "It's my home. Plain and simple." No one needs to know the rest.

Blairman hums. "Now, here's the big question. Why do you beat up other ghosts?"

"Oh, I don't beat up all ghosts," I clarify. "Just the ones who cause trouble. Even then, I try to reason with people if I can. Most of the time, they just don't listen. Contrary to popular belief I don't always throw the first punch."

"You didn't answer my question," Blairman says with a certain weight. "Why target ghosts? Do you resent what you are, or is it something else?"

He's implying something. I don't know what it is, but I don't like it. "I don't target ghosts specifically. I target anyone or anything that threatens innocents. It just so happens to be ghosts a lot of the time."

"So, you don't resent your death?"

Is this guy trying to tick me off? I ball my fists in my lap. "Of course not. I mean, I did at first. Who wouldn't? It's not like I chose this. But, I've grown to love it. And now, I can't imagine being anything else."

Blairman frowns and squints intently at his camera, muttering something I can't make out.

"Problem?" I ask.

Blairman gives his camera an experimental smack. "Oh, my friend, Vlad, outfitted my equipment with some new features, but I don't think they're working."

"Oh. That sucks." Then I realize what he said, and my guard triples. "Your friend's name is Vlad?"

"Oh, yes. He and I go way back," Blairman says, half-listening as he continues playing with his camera. "He's a charming fellow, but far too serious."

Funny how Vlad Plasmius showed up out of the blue yesterday… "So, just curious. What kind of features did he add?"

I'd hoped to get some more information while he was distracted, but Blairman only says, "Features that aren't working. But, he did say he'd never done anything like this before." He sighs through his nose. "I guess he was wrong. There are limitations to what you can do with a lock of hair."

I sit up a little straighter. A lock of hair? Whose hair? And, what is it being used for?

My skull stopped itching when Blairman started messing with the camera. And, the itch was there when I was talking to Vlad yesterday and stopped when I sucked him into the Thermos. Had Vlad been testing something on me? Something for Blairman?

Oblivious to my racing thoughts, Blairman tosses his hands at his sides. "Oh, whatever. I got some good footage at least. Head for the trailer and send in…" He pulls a coin out of his pocket, flips it into the air, and lets it land in the palm of his hand. "Send in Paulina, would you?"

"Sure," I say even though I don't want her to be alone with this guy.

As I walk to the trailer, I summon a duplicate to watch the interviews from a safe distance and while invisible. It's official; Hutch Blairman can't be trusted, and I need to make Dash and Paulina aware of this. Whatever my feelings toward them are, I won't sit around and watch them get hurt. Not when I can at least make them aware of the danger.

When I let myself into the trailer, the first thing I notice is how much bigger it is on the inside than the outside. There's enough room for the three of us, along with some chairs, a mini fridge, a vanity, and a dresser. It's still a little cramped, but at least we can move around without bumping into each other.

I step on to the shag carpet - They still make that? - and Dash and Paulina ambush me as I close the door.

"How'd it go?" Paulina asks me.

"Fine up to a point," I say quietly. That gets their attention. I lean in and lower my voice even more, just in case. Am I being paranoid? Maybe, but better safe than sorry. "I think Blairman and Plasmius are working together."

Paulina pales, but Dash asks, "Who's Plasmius?"

"The Wisconsin Ghost," Paulina whispers. "Remember?"

"Oh, yeah." To me, Dash asks, "How do you know they're working together?"

"Just now," I say, "Blairman mentioned a friend named Vlad who added some kind of features to the equipment."

Paulina frowns. "That doesn't mean anything. I know Vlad isn't a common name, but it could still be someone else."

I shake my head. "That's not all." I tell them about the weird itch I felt both during the interview and when Plasmius showed up at Paulina's house.

Dash asks skeptically, "Are you sure you're not just getting a rash?"

I narrow my eyes. "I have a gut feeling, Dash. And, my gut is usually right."

Paulina lowers her gaze and taps a finger to her chin worriedly. "It does seem like a strange coincidence." She raises her head. "So, what do we do?"

"I'm not sure," I say honestly. "It's not like I can just ask either one of them about it." I cross my arms. "I guess all we can really do is play along and hope for the best. But, listen. I've got a duplicate outside, watching the interviews. You won't see it, but it's there in case anything happens. And, if either of you feels anything unusual while talking to Blairman, let me know. And, not just during the interviews."

Suddenly, the door slams into me and throws me face-first into the carpet. As I process what just happened, I hear a sing-song, "I'm dying of old age."

Hutch Blairman. A.K.A., the man I am rapidly developing a hatred of.

"I thought you were already dead," Paulina says, sounding like she, too, is processing.

"And, I'm not getting any more alive," Blairman retorts.

Thoroughly annoyed, I pick myself up while snarking, "Are you okay, Phantom? I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

Just like at school, my pain and humiliation is ignored. Blairman hooks a finger toward Paulina and says, "Come, my dear. We're burning daylight."

Paulina gives us a hesitant look before following him out. I hope she'll be okay.

Dash chuckles, and I ask him, "What's so funny?"

"I was just thinking of Danny Fenton," he says. "When you were all sprawled out like that, I thought of how he looked before we left when I pushed him." Why is that where his mind is right now? He laughs again. "You should have seen him! He was all dazed and his books flew out of his hands. He looked even more weak and puny than usual!" When I don't look amused, he cringes and waves his hands in front of him. "Oh, I-I'm not comparing you to him. I would never do that." Say nothing, Phantom. "It's just a similar situation, you know?"

I should leave it at that. I should focus on the possible alliance between Blairman and Plasmius.

But…when will I get another opportunity like this?

"Can I ask you something?" I say. "You and Paulina, um, seem to really hate…the Fenton-kid. I guess I'm just wondering why. Did he do something to you guys, or…?"

Dash is briefly thrown off by the question. He sticks his hands in the pockets of his letterman and says, "Well, I can't speak for Paulina. But for me…" He gathers his thoughts. "When I first met Fenton in our freshman year, he was just another nervous, awkward, shrimpy guy to pick on. Then, something changed."

"What was it?" I prompt when he doesn't continue.

He leans against the wall. "I'm not sure. He just got…weirder. I don't know how else to describe it. He got clumsier and started skipping class all the time and falling asleep in class when he was there. Things like that. He made more of a name for himself. In a bad way."

I couldn't breathe even if I was in human-form. Freshman year. That's when I got my ghost powers. That's when I was constantly phasing through objects because I couldn't control it yet. That's when I realized that I could make something of my powers by protecting innocents, even if it meant missing class and foregoing sleep.

Dash goes on. "It just made him more of a target, you know? Besides, he only had two friends, and one of them was and still is just as wimpy as him. Fenton is that bottom-of-the-barrel loser who no one can count on for anything, so no one wants to be around him. That makes it easier because you can avoid the only ones who would try to stop you. No middle man to cut out, you know?"

I am floored. "You-you pick on m- him because it's…easy?"

Dash shrugs like we're having the most boring conversation imaginable. "I guess so. To be honest, I never thought that hard about it. Gotta take out your frustrations on something, right? Why not the guy nobody likes?"

The guy nobody likes. The guy who has so many admirers that there's a movie being made about him.

The loser who can't be counted on for anything. The halfa who protects those who need protecting.

I love being a ghost. My powers changed me in so many ways. I became braver, bolder, stronger in every sense of the word.

But, my powers have caused me a lot of grief too, and not just at home. My schoolwork has gotten better, but if Dash is anything to go by, the damage has been done.

I'm the guy nobody likes. The guy no one can count on unless they need a punching bag.

When I speak, my voice is miraculously steady. "You mentioned him being nervous and awkward. I was kind of like that yesterday, wasn't I? At Paulina's, I mean. And, you guys didn't make fun of me for it."

"Honestly, we were wondering if you would be like that," Dash confesses. "You probably don't spend a lot of time with humans. Just casual hangouts, I mean." He smiles and puts his hands behind his head. "Then once you got comfortable, you proved beyond a shred of doubt that you're nothing like that loser-Danny."

"Huh?" is all I can get out.

"Yeah. You're tough and nice and clever. Fenton is just a mess! The only thing you two have in common is your first name." He gives me a once-over. "And, you're both pretty scrawny, no offense. But, at least you have the superpowers to make up for it."

I think my brain just destabilized.

Luckily, Paulina opens the door and steps into the trailer, saving me from having to respond to that. "You're up, Dash," she says.

"Did you feel anything weird?" I ask her.

"Not a thing," Paulina replies. "It was pretty basic, actually. He just asked me some general questions about what I thought of you and stuff. Maybe he didn't do…whatever he did to you to me."

"Or, maybe I'm right," Dash straightens and nudges me playfully, "and this guy's just getting a rash."

I narrow my eyes. "Just be careful. Rash or no rash, I still don't trust Blairman."

Dash gives me a wink and a finger gun on his way out.

Once he's gone, Paulina places her folded hands to her cheek and bats her eyes at me. "Oh, look. We're alone."

"Before we get flirty," I say with an eye roll, "I have a question for you."

I swear I can see tiny hearts floating around her head. "My answer is yes!"

"Could you drop the fangirl for a few minutes?"

Finally noting my lack of interest, Paulina blushes with an embarrassed grin.

Before I lose my nerve, I ask, "What do you think of Danny Fenton?" She blinks in surprise, and I add, "Dash and I were just talking about him. Sounds like you two have kind of a beef with him. I'm just…curious, you know?"

Paulina hums in understanding. "Because his parents hunt ghosts, right? Know thy enemy and all."

"Uh, yeah. That's it. So, what's up?"

"Well," Paulina taps her chin, "I'm not sure how to explain this. At first, I didn't really notice him unless Dash was messing with him."

"Dash mentioned that-that Fenton developed a reputation," I say, keeping the bitterness out of my voice. "Skipping school, sleeping in class…being a general loser."

Paulina puts her hands on her hips. "Yeah. No one seems to know what happened there. But looking back, it was pretty early in the school year. I don't know how long it's been since you went to school, Phantom, but I've noticed that the first few months are when a person's true colors start to show. Some people treat a new school year as a time to reinvent yourself or at least be a better version of you. But, most people slip away from that over time."

"So, you think that Fenton just stopped caring?" Which couldn't be further from the truth. "How do you know it was because of school? It could have something else. Something…totally unrelated to school."

"That's possible. But, that's not the only issue. No, the main problem, at least in my opinion, is that Danny Fenton is selfish."

So, I'm not the only one who's ever seen me that way. "Selfish?" I ask nonchalantly. "How so?"

Paulina absently checks her nails. "Mm, maybe that's not the right word. I just can't think of a better one." She flips her hair over her shoulder and puts her hand back on her hip. "Anyway, Phantom, do you know Tucker Foley and Sam Manson?"

Now she really has my attention, but I school my expression as I rub the back of my neck. "I'm sure I've seen them around town."

"They were two of the losers you sent in the school after the rats showed up. The black guy and the goth girl."

I pretend a light bulb went off. "Ah, them. What about them?"

"They hang out with Fenton, stick to him like glue. Or rather, he sticks to them."

She makes it sound like a bad thing. "So, they're friends. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal, ghost boy-"

"Could you stop calling me 'ghost boy?'" I request, looking away and grabbing my bicep. "I-it's a little condescending."

Paulina cringes. "Oh. I-I'm sorry. I never meant anything by it."

"It's cool. Just use my name from now on, okay?"

"Yeah, sure, gho- Phantom." She clears her throat. "Back on topic. I think Fenton is holding Tucker and Sam back."

"What?" That came out too sharp. I soften my tone and ask, "Uh, how do you mean?"

"Let me tell you what I've seen as a casual observer. Tucker is smart and friendly. And, Sam is outspoken and doesn't suffer fools. While I don't see those two ever being popular, they could easily find a crowd they'd fit in with."

This is the first time I've ever heard her say nice things about my friends. "So, you don't really hate Sam? Or, Tucker?" I add at the last minute.

Paulina huffs a laugh. "Oh, I could never get along with Sam. She and I are just too different. And, Tucker can be pretty annoying." I swallow an argument. Though I confess that Tucker doesn't always think before he speaks. "What I'm getting at is that those two are at the bottom of the high school food chain. But, only because they hang with Danny Fenton, who doesn't have anything going for him like they do."

Nothing going for me? No, that's not true. I have my ghost-half.

A ghost-half that puts my friends in immediate danger all the time…

"I-I'm sure Fenton has a few positive traits."

Paulina rolls her eyes. "I mean, he can be nice and, admittedly, kind of cute in a dorky way, but that's not enough. Especially since he's a slacker who nobody really likes and who has a crazy family on top of everything else. His older sister is cool, but it seems her brother didn't get any of the good genes in that family. No, Danny Fenton is about as wanted as gum on the bottom of your shoe." Ouch. "And, he's dragging Sam and Tucker down with him."

Is that true? Do my friends - my best friends in the world, whom I love like a brother and sister - get picked on because of proximity? "If that's the case…why would they hang out with m- him?"

Paulina shrugs. "What else can they do? They're stuck. Even if they ditched him, they're already social pariahs thanks to him. I honestly pity them for that- Uh, is black a normal eye color for you?"

Not again. Every now and then lately, my eyes will turn completely black for a short time. I still don't know what's up with that. Jazz's theory is that it's an emotional thing, like when my eyes glow brighter when I'm angry, as it only seems to happen when I'm particularly upset.

"It happens sometimes," I say flippantly. "So, that's why you don't like Fenton? 'Cause he…drags people down with him?"

"And, he doesn't even care. Take my old friend, Valerie Gray - the other kid you sent into school. She used to be in my and Dash's clique. Then, her family went broke, she started hanging out with Fenton, and it was all downhill from there. Being around Danny Fenton is a social disaster just waiting to happen. That's why no one with any sense likes him."

…

…It's…not true.

It can't be true.

I know I'm not perfect, but…am I really that awful? Am I really dragging the people I care about down with me?

Valerie was ditched by her "friends" after her Dad lost his job…because of me. And then, she and I became friends - and at one point, almost a couple - and she got bullied even more. Is there a correlation?

But, I've known Sam and Tucker since elementary school! Yeah, we got picked on, but no more than any other kids, right? But, then I got my powers, and they started helping me. And, making the same powerful, deadly enemies that I did. Jazz too, once she found out and joined the team. And, I'm still not entirely convinced that she didn't pick the college here in town to stay close to me.

Is it true? Do I really hold everyone back?

"Phantom?" Paulina sounds like she's been saying my name for a while. "Are you okay? You got kind of spacey there."

Luckily - or not - the door slams into me, and I am once again lying in a bruised heap on the floor. At least I won't have to come up with a response now.

"Oh, uh, sorry, Phantom," Dash stammers, peeking out from behind the door. "You good?"

I sigh and pray this doesn't become a regular thing. "Either you people need to learn to knock, or I need to stop standing so close to doors."

Paulina helps me to my feet as Blairman steps into the trailer. He claps his hands twice. "Attention, please! You all did an excellent job with the interviews. That will be all for today."

"That's it?" Dash asks. "But, we barely did anything."

"Like I said," Blairman counters. "Today was just about getting warmed up. We could do more, but I know you human-kids have things like homework and sleep to deal with. Besides, now that I'm a ghost, I can work at my own pace instead of worrying about those pesky deadlines. I want this documentary to be perfect, so I plan on taking my sweet, sweet time."

Great…

Blairman goes on. "But, I hope you folks don't do anything on weekends, because I'm going to need you all day for those."

"I have football practice," Dash says.

Paulina raises her hand. "And, cheerleading."

I raise mine. "And, I have obligations on Sundays." Technically, Reaper just said I could help them out if I wanted to and if I was available, no pressure whatsoever, but I'm not going to tell Blairman that.

Blairman purses his lips at us, and his bright yellow gaze rests on me just a hair too long. "I can work with that. Just give me your schedules," he adds, pulling a notepad and pen out of his coat. We tell him how long our obligations last - he doesn't seem happy that mine lasts "however long I'm there" and that I refuse to tell him what I actually do on Sundays - and says, "We aren't that far out of town. I assume you humans can get home from here." Dash and Paulina confirm that they can. "Lovely! I'll stay for a spell and look over the footage."

"Shouldn't I look over it with you?" I ask. "We did agree that I had to approve everything."

"What did I say about frowning, Phantom?" he teases. I resist the urge to hit him. "I'm just going to do a few quick edits. I'd like to get all the shooting done before showing you anything. Then, I'll let you pick out the scenes you want, and we can splice them together for the movie. Sound good?" He puts two thumbs up.

I squint at him and say, "I wanna see something tomorrow, Blairman. I don't care how unfinished it is."

Blairman slumps over with a groan. "Such a diva! Fine. Now, all of you get plenty of rest. Those rats aren't the only action shots I plan on using. Phantom," he presses two fingers together and points them at me, "do you have any ghost friends? If so, would they be willing to partake in a mock battle or two tomorrow?"

I'd rather not hurt someone I actually care about. (I do that enough with my human friends…) Still, Blairman did say mock battle. "I could ask," I say noncommittally.

"Do that. If they say yes, great! If not, we'll figure something out." He finger-waves on his way out. "Toodles, my darlings! Phantom and I will pick you up at the same time tomorrow."

With that, he leaves me alone with my co-stars and, little does he know, my endless suspicions. I have half a mind to ask him about his friend, Vlad, but I don't want to seem too interested-

"Well, it seems we have the rest of the day free," Paulina cuts into my thoughts. "What do you wanna do?"

"We could go to my place," Dash suggests, "and test out my new Nintendo Wii. Phantom, you said you like video games, right? Wanna help me kick Paulina's butt at 'Super Smash Bros'?"

Paulina narrows her eyes playfully. "Hey, I may suck at that game, but at least I'm having fun."

"Maybe you're just using the wrong character," I suggest. "You gotta find one that plays to your strengths."

"But, I play as Princess Peach," Paulina argues, "and she suits me just fine."

"Suiting your personality and suiting your fighting style isn't the same thing," I explain. "Example, my strengths lie in speed and agility, and I totally crush it as Pikachu, even if he isn't the hardest hitter or the most durable."

Dash claps my back approvingly. "Amen, brother. That's why I main as Bowser. 'Cause he can wail on people!"

"I can see that," I snark. Paulina fights a laugh.

Oh, wow. I'm having a casual conversation about video games with these guys, even giving advice! It's almost like we're friends. Which is ridiculous, because they wouldn't be like this if they knew who I really am.

And, what I do to anyone who gets close to me…

But, it's not true! I don't drag people down! I'm not a social disaster!

Am I?

Suddenly, I can't stand the idea of being around people. Feigning nonchalance, I say, "Actually, I just remembered I have to take care of some ghost stuff."

Dash and Paulina deflate, disappointed, and my heart hurts more than it should. But, they both recover quickly enough. "Okay," Paulina says. "So, we'll see you tomorrow then."

Dash smirks. "Try not to stand so close to doors."

Just to prove how perfectly fine I am, give him a little grin and say, "Only if you learn to knock."

I step out of the trailer and shoot into the sky before my bravado crumbles. I have to put this out of my mind.

Blairman. Focus on Blairman. What's he up to, and is Plasmius really involved in it? If so, how? What does he gain from this? What does Blairman gain? Or, is the whole thing completely innocent, and I'm just more jaded than I thought? I can't rule out anything at this point.

My randomized flight path takes me over the park, and I spot two familiar figures sitting at a bench. I should fill them in.

I turn invisible and descend behind a tree, check for witnesses, and change back to human-form. I come out from my hiding place. Sam and Tucker haven't noticed me yet, too enveloped in their conversation. I'm about to approach, but something stops me. Instead, I just stand there and listen.

"You can't make me, Sam," Tucker argues, pushing away the plastic container that sits on the table between them.

Sam rolls her eyes. "Tucker, one bite isn't gonna kill you."

Tucker crosses his arms and turns his head. "I am not eating cookies made with fake butter. I respect your dietary choices, but that doesn't mean I have to stray from mine."

Sam sighs through her nose. "I'll cut you a deal. If you eat one vegan cookie, I will…eat a container of real yogurt."

Tucker's head snaps toward her. "But, you've been vegan for months! Won't you get sick?"

"I'll be fine. I promise. Do we have a deal?"

Tucker eyes the container then blows out a breath. "Well, if you're willing, then I guess I am." He takes a cookie out of the container and takes a bite. And, his face lights up. "Mm! That's not bad."

"See?" Sam says with a smug grin. "It's good to broaden your horizons."

Tucker waves the cookie at her. "You win this round, Samantha Manson, but you still can't get me to eat salad."

"I know how to pick my battles. Just make sure you save some for Danny."

"We'll see."

I watch the exchange with a heavy heart and a lump in my throat. Do those two smile that broadly when I'm with them? Is their banter that easy with me? Or, have they been forcing it all this time and I've been too selfish to notice?

They can have the cookies. I've lost my appetite.