Author's note: I decided it was time to give Danny a little more conflict lol.

Ghost on the Couch

April 17

"Nope, you're wrong," said Tucker.

"Oh, I'm definitely right, tech boy," said Sam.

The bell had not yet rung for homeroom to begin. Danny slumped at his desk next to Sam and Tucker and stared straight ahead. Students all around them chattered and laughed with each other. Their homeroom teacher was up at the front of the room, a glazed look in her eyes as she stared at something on her computer screen.

"Nothing beats the first two Mars Emperor films," said Tucker firmly, sitting up straighter as he glared at Sam.

"Mars Emperor III is absolutely superior," said Sam with a toss of her hair. "The first two movies were just so straightforward and simple, there was no substance to them. The third one explored social commentary about regressives and problematic norms. It was relevant and fresh."

"But that's exactly why it ruined the franchise," said Tucker, his tone heated. "The first two movies captured the heart and essence of the original comics. The third one made it political for no reason."

"The first two movies were for children." Sam shrugged. "So I'm not surprised you'd like them more."

"They are not for children, they are straight masterpieces." Tucker nudged Danny. "Dude, back me up here."

Danny blinked and fixed his gaze on Tucker. "Hmm? What?"

"Mars Emperor I and II," said Tucker. "They were better than the third one, right?"

"Don't let him pressure you into saying something you don't believe, Danny," said Sam. "You know the third one blows the first two out of the water."

Danny's eyelids fluttered as he tried to remember what those movies were even about. He shook his head. "I don't know, guys. I honestly didn't really like any of them."

He sighed and slumped even more in his seat. Sam and Tucker exchanged looks.

"You know how I can tell it's Monday?" asked Tucker with a grin.

"How?" asked Sam with a smile.

Tucker leaned over and clapped his hands on Danny's shoulders. "Because Danny's in a bad mood again!" he sang.

Sam snickered while Tucker playfully rocked him. Danny shrugged him off.

"Very funny," grumbled Danny.

"Hey, I'm just trying to lighten things up," said Tucker, holding up his hands with palms out. "And you can't deny that it's true. You've been crabby the past few Mondays."

"So therapy isn't getting even a little more tolerable for you?" asked Sam.

"Shh!" Danny raised a finger to his lips, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest as Dash strutted into the room, shoulders back and chest puffed out. He caught Danny's eye and smirked at him before strolling to the back of the room and taking a seat.

"Sorry." Sam spoke in a whisper now. "I didn't mean to say that so loud."

Dash was looking at him again. Danny ducked his head and pretended to scribble something important in his notebook. His racing heart did not slow until the bell rang and the teacher began the homeroom hour.

Danny had nearly forgotten about Dash by the time homeroom ended and the next bell signaled the start of the first passing period.

"Was anyone else falling asleep in there?" asked Tucker with a yawn out in the hall.

"Were you up all night playing Doomed again?" teased Sam.

"Why do you always assume that?" whined Tucker. "I'll have you know, I'm a very responsible student."

Jumping to conclusions, Danny thought to himself. Only this time, it wasn't his own thinking error he was identifying. He chuckled.

"What's so funny?" demanded Tucker with mock offense.

"Nothing." Danny shook his head. "I'm just glad I can always count on you two to act the same. Makes Monday feel more normal."

Sam put her arm around him and patted his shoulder. "We're glad to help, friendo."

Danny smiled, feeling warm and light in her embrace.

"Hey, Fentonoid," called a voice behind him.

The pleasant warmth vanished, replaced by a chill. Danny turned to find Dash in a power stance with his arms folded, smirking at him.

"What is it, Dash?" asked Danny in flat monotone.

"My buddy Mitch told me about your new job," said Dash, his words sounding far more like a taunt than a statement.

Danny creased his brow, exchanging glances with Sam and Tucker before going back to Dash. "My new job?"

"Yeah. The pizza place on River Road," said Dash. "What was it, Amity Pizza Parlor?"

Danny's heart pounded, the rest of his body iced over. Oh, God. That was the name of the pizza restaurant right below the therapy offices.

"Yeah, Mitch said he's seen you there a few times now. Like last Monday," said Dash. "Is that your shift? Every Monday?"

Jumping to conclusions.

"I don't work there," said Danny.

"Then why have you been there so much this past month? 'Cause God knows you're not eating there. You're a twig."

Labeling.

"Your friend was mistaken," said Danny, trying to keep his voice calm but his lips were trembling. "Whoever he saw, it wasn't me."

"Nah, he said he saw your mom with you, and there's no mistaking her. Your mom's one of the hottest MILFs in town."

Danny growled and clenched a fist. Sam grabbed his wrist before he could raise it and whispered in his ear, "Don't, Danny."

"Did your mom make you get a job at the pizza place?" asked Dash. "She was picking you up after your shift, wasn't she? 'Cause you can't even drive yet and still need your mommy to do everything for you."

Danny shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He started to walk away, but Dash moved in front of him. Danny was only a couple inches shorter than Dash now and didn't even have to tilt his head to make eye contact like he used to.

"I need to get to my next class, Dash," said Danny irritably.

"Today's Monday," said Dash. "Would I see you at the pizza place if I went there after school?"

Danny's heart nearly stopped.

"Don't you think it'd be fun?" asked Dash. "I'd love to have you wait on me, Fentina. Please tell me you're a server there. Or a busboy, I can work with that, too."

"I don't work there, Dash," said Danny firmly, but he couldn't get his voice to stop shaking.

"Then why are you there every Monday?" demanded Dash with a sneer.

"Lay off already, Dash." Sam stepped in front of Danny, balling a fist. "How many times does he have to tell you he doesn't work there?"

Dash raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, cool it, Fenton's girlfriend. I'm not trying to start any fights here."

"Then run along." Sam waved a hand to dismiss him. "Go to class."

"All right, all right, I'm going." Dash gave Danny a final look, a slight waggle of his eyebrows. "See you this afternoon, Fentgeek." And then he was gone, down the hall and around a corner.

Danny waited until Dash was completely out of sight before clutching at the front of his shirt. "Oh, God. He's going to find out. Oh, God—"

"Hey, take it easy," said Tucker, holding onto his shoulder.

"But what am I going to do?" asked Danny. "If he really does show up, then he'll see me going up to the therapy offices. And you know he'd never let me live that down."

"Relax," said Sam. "Tucker and I will figure something out."

"Yeah." Tucker nodded. "Maybe we could head over there too and keep him busy so he doesn't see you."

"That could work. I do have my car," said Sam. "That's actually a really good idea, Tucker."

"Hey, why'd you say it that way? All my ideas are good," whined Tucker.

Personalization.

"I don't know, guys," said Danny, rubbing his arm.

"Don't sweat it right now, Danny," said Sam. "We still have hours to figure this out."

Danny grumbled his agreement. But worry and panic continued to gnaw at his nerves during his next class and all through lunch and right up until the final bell signaled the end of the school day.

"Don't worry," said Sam. "Seriously. We'll find a way to take care of Dash for you."

"Yeah. You just go and have fun," said Tucker with a wry smile.

"Fun. Right." Danny groaned. "Guess I can't keep my mom waiting."

He left Sam and Tucker behind, heading toward the parent pickup area. He kept his eyes to the ground, hoping against hope that Dash wasn't around and wouldn't see him, please don't see him and come up to him and harass him, please just leave him alone and let him get through another agonizing hour of therapy in peace because there were only four more sessions, just four more and then he'd be free—

"Danny!" someone called out to him. A buoyant, gorgeous voice that always made his heart quiver. Paulina's voice.

Danny stopped as Paulina ran up to him, wearing her cheerleading uniform and flashing the pearliest, sweetest smile. Star was by her side, arms crossed and scowling.

"Oh, hey, Paulina," said Danny, trying to sound casual and not at all like a total dweeb still crushing on her. "Hey, Star," he said more warily.

"Hey, freak," said Star coolly.

Labeling.

"Don't mind her." Paulina waved a dismissive hand in Star's direction. "Danny, where are you going?"

"Uh…" Danny looked off in the direction of the parent pickup area. "Nowhere."

"Oh, good! So then can you fill in for the mascot at the game tonight?" Paulina clasped her hands. "Please? You were so good at it last time, and Jamie broke his ankle, so he can't do it."

Danny inwardly groaned. He actually hated donning the Casper High Raven mascot suit. He had been reduced to a sweaty bruised mess the last time he wore it.

But he couldn't just say no. Not to Paulina's protruding bottom lip and pretty teal eyes.

"Tonight? What time?" asked Danny.

"The game's at six," said Paulina. "We're trying to show more support for the volleyball team."

"Volleyball? Not football?" asked Danny.

Star snorted and shook her head.

"Oh, my God, you're so cute." Paulina lightly grazed his upper arm with her fingers. "No, it's not football season right now. It's spring."

Her touch made him melt, but he forced strength into his legs to stay upright.

"Oh, sure. Obviously." Danny rubbed his neck. "I knew that. No football in spring. Of course."

"So will you do it?" asked Paulina eagerly.

"Uh…" Danny scratched his head and looked at his shoes, kicking at the ground. He looked up again at her beautiful pouty expression. "Yeah. Six. Okay, I'll be there."

Paulina squealed. "Thank you, thank you!"

She threw her arms around him. Danny felt himself burning up in her embrace, her chest pressed to his. He saw Star roll her eyes.

"Okay, let's get going!" Paulina tugged on his arm and started leading him back to the school.

"What?" Danny held his position. "Didn't you say six?"

"Yes, the game's at six," said Paulina, her tone now sounding urgent. "But we need to practice our routine first. You only have a couple hours to learn it!"

"But I…" Danny looked off toward parent pickup again. "I can't go with you right now."

"Why not?" Paulina's eyes were round.

"My mom's, um… She's waiting for me. She's picking me up."

"To go where?"

"To go…shopping. For clothes." Danny groaned as soon as the words were out. His go-to lame excuse of shopping for clothes with his mom, great. Too late to come up with something better and not completely embarrassing now.

"Aww." Star smirked. "You still go shopping with your mom? That's adorable."

"Uh. Yeah." Danny could feel sweat prickling the back of his neck. "And I really need to get going to meet her, so—"

"Can't she take you tomorrow?" cut in Paulina.

Danny blinked. "Tomorrow? Uh, no, she can't. She's busy the rest of the week, so it has to be today."

"Well, then can't she wait until next week?" asked Paulina, sounding more desperate. "Look, the girls are all counting on me to find someone, and you're the only other guy who has experience wearing the mascot suit. We need you, Danny! Our routine will be a total bust without you."

Polarized thinking.

She was still holding his arm. Danny wished he could say yes, yes, Paulina, of course he would do it just for her. He would so much rather hang out with her and all the cheerleaders than talk for a whole hour with that guy again.

"I don't think she'll let me get out of this," said Danny. "Sorry."

"Where is your mom? Let me ask her," said Paulina.

Danny grimaced and was about to tell her it wasn't a good idea but stopped short, remembering how Dash said he was going to show up at the pizza restaurant to possibly catch Danny there.

Paulina puckered her lips and batted her eyes. "I can be very persuasive."

Oh, yes. He knew that about her. So very well.

And what if she could somehow use her bubbly Paulina charm to convince his mom to let him practice the cheer routine with the rest of her squad? What if he could avoid Dash easily by simply not being there at all today?

"It's worth a try," said Danny with a slow nod.

"Yes, it is!" Paulina tugged his arm again. "Is she at parent pickup? Let's go!"

Star laughed but did not follow them as Paulina led Danny by the arm to the parent pickup area. Maddie's car was at the curb in a line of other cars with parents at the wheel.

"Wait. Paulina." Danny pulled his arm out of Paulina's hold. She stopped and turned back to him, waiting. "Let me talk to her first, okay? I'll try to explain it to her."

"Okay," said Paulina. "But if she doesn't go for it, tag me in, got it?"

Danny headed for the car. Maddie rolled down the passenger side window as he approached.

"Who's that girl you were with?" asked Maddie with a smile. "A cheerleader? She's cute."

"Oh. Yeah, she is," said Danny, trying to keep his tone casual.

"Is she a friend of yours? Or something more?"

"Um. Neither, really."

"But she was holding your arm pretty tight there."

Danny glanced back at Paulina. She waved at him. "Actually, she was just asking me for a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

Danny rested his elbows on the window sill, leaning inside. "That's what I want to talk to you about."

"Well, get in and we can talk about it on the way," said Maddie, putting her hand on the gear selector.

"But this favor is something she wants me to do right now."

"Right now? But you can't. You have therapy today."

Danny's heart raced with panic as he spoke in a low whisper, hoping Paulina didn't hear anything. "I know, I know, but she says there's no one else to fill in for the mascot and she's desperate."

"Fill in for the mascot?"

"Yes. See, she's the cheer captain, and there's a volleyball game tonight that the cheer squad is going to be at, and I guess their normal mascot guy broke his foot or his arm—I don't remember what exactly—and I've filled in for the mascot before, so she wants me to do it tonight."

"Okay. Well, I can drop you off later tonight."

"She says I have to practice first." Danny was losing this battle. He knew he was. He wasn't sure why he was still trying except God he really didn't want to go to therapy right now and even more so he really really didn't want Dash to catch him there. "I guess there's a whole routine and I need to be part of it. Like I'm not just going to wear the costume, I guess."

"You're going to be one of the cheerleaders?" Maddie gave him a very wry smile.

Danny's neck started burning and he really hoped it was just the sun. "No—I mean, just for today—if you let me go, that is." He looked at her weakly, hopefully. "It'd be good exercise."

"And you get to hang out with a bunch of pretty girls," Maddie teased.

Now Danny's face was burning. "Well, that's certainly a perk." He smiled sheepishly, not bothering to deny it because maybe that would somehow be enough to convince her. She was always asking him why he never went on any dates.

Maddie chuckled and looked out the front window for a moment before turning back to him to say something. But at that point, Paulina bounded up next to Danny, also leaning in through the window.

"Hi, Mrs. Fenton!" Paulina's tone was extra bright. "I'm Paulina Sanchez, one of Danny's classmates and the captain of the cheerleading team. I don't think we've ever met, but I of course know all about you already. You're the town's leading ghost expert."

Paulina extended her open hand to Maddie. Maddie shook it, looking a little bewildered.

"So we really need Danny here—" Paulina placed her hands on Danny's shoulders and lightly shook him. "—to fill in for our mascot since our normal mascot person broke his ankle in a freak cheerleading accident."

"Oh, my," said Maddie, clutching at her jumpsuit zipper.

"Oh, don't worry, the girls and I will be very gentle with Danny." Paulina giggled. "If you let him do it, I mean. I know you're here to take him shopping, but I'm just really hoping that maybe you could wait and take him next week instead? He'd be such a big help."

Maddie furrowed her brow. "Shopping?" she echoed.

Danny gave her a pleading look, mouthing for her to please just go along with his lame excuse, please please please don't tell the prettiest and most popular girl in school that he was supposed to go to therapy that afternoon.

Maddie gave him a knowing smile.

"Please say he can come practice with us right now, Mrs. Fenton," said Paulina.

She clasped her hands in supplication. Maddie studied her for several quiet moments before releasing a long sigh.

"I know you're just trying to get out of shopping," said Maddie, raising a brow as she looked at Danny. "Because I know how much you hate it even though you really need to do it."

"Oh, totally agree with you there, Mrs. Fenton," said Paulina, pinching Danny's sleeve. "Danny always wears such baggy clothes. He really needs something more stylish and that fits him better."

Danny held in a pout and tried not to personalize her comment.

"But it can wait until next week, can't it?" asked Paulina. "Please?"

Maddie was looking at only Danny now. He gave her his best hopeful, pleading smile.

"All right," said Maddie. "You can go practice with the cheerleaders and skip shopping today."

Paulina squealed and clapped her hands. "Thank you, thank you, Mrs. Fenton! Okay, Danny, let's get going, the girls are all waiting."

"Hang on, Paulina, I need to talk to Danny alone for a quick moment," said Maddie.

"Of course, sure." Paulina flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I'll meet you at the gym, Danny."

Paulina waved before running back toward the school. Danny stared after her, mesmerized by the shine in her hair as it swished behind her.

"Danny," said Maddie, bringing his attention back to her. "I'm only allowing this because I've been asking you to get involved in more extracurricular activities, and this one will give you some social interaction and exercise, too. But if you try to use this same excuse next week, I will just reschedule your appointment for a different day." She paused, thinking. "Maybe I should ask Brandan if he has any other openings this week."

"No!" said Danny quickly. "No, I won't skip next week. I promise."

Maddie studied him. "You know that I still expect you to see Brandan at least four more times if I allow you to skip today, right?"

"But that wasn't the deal!" cried Danny. "We never agreed on eight sessions. We agreed that I would attend therapy until the last week before school gets out."

"I know we did, but this changes our deal."

"No, it doesn't." Danny shook his head. "Please, Mom, just let me have this. Please just keep it until the week before school gets out. I swear I won't skip anymore after today."

Danny made his eyes as big as he could and stuck out his bottom lip. Maddie's mouth quivered until she broke into a snicker.

"Your dad gives me that same look." Maddie pressed a finger between her eyes. "He knows I have a hard time saying no to it."

"So yes?" Danny dropped the expression. "I still only have to attend therapy until the week before school gets out?"

Maddie sighed and stared out the front window for a moment before turning back to him, her face very serious.

"Answer me one question. Honestly." She looked right in his eyes. "Do you feel therapy might be helping you? Even just a little?"

Danny blinked and leaned away from the window. Did she really want an honest answer to that question? Was an honest answer the correct one to give?

And what even was his honest answer? Did he actually know?

"I… I'm not sure," stammered Danny. "It's certainly making me think about things differently." He pressed his lips and looked down, shaking his head. "I'm sorry. I don't know what answer you're hoping to hear. But I am trying to do what Brandan's been asking me to do."

He curled his fingers over the car windowsill, his eyes still down.

"If that's at all good enough for you," he murmured.

"Of course it is, sweetheart."

Danny looked up to see Maddie smiling kindly at him.

"All right, you win," she said. "You can stop going to therapy the week before school gets out. And I won't make you go any other day this week to make up for missing today."

Danny threw open the door and climbed into the car, wrapping his arms around Maddie and giving her a squeeze.

"Thank you, thank you!" Danny pressed his cheek to hers. "You're the best."

"Oh, how I've missed seeing you this happy." Maddie rubbed his back. "But if I do this for you, you need to promise you'll let me schedule your driving test for this weekend. You can't keep putting it off."

Danny groaned and pulled out of the hug. "Oh, Mom."

"Hey, whatever happened to me being the best?"

Maddie pouted playfully. Danny smiled and sighed.

"Okay, okay. I'll do the test this weekend," he said.

"Good to hear." Maddie stroked the hair right above his ear. "Now go on, get going. I need to call up Brandan to cancel the appointment."

"I'll get dinner on my own," said Danny, climbing out of the car and shutting the door. "I'll see you later tonight after the game."

Maddie was already dialing a number on her phone and waved to Danny as she rolled up the window. Danny watched her through the tinted glass a moment longer before turning and heading back to the school.

He pulled his own phone out of his pocket and typed a text to Sam and Tucker: Mom's letting me skip therapy today. No need to distract Dash anymore.

What? No way! texted Tucker.

Why is she letting you skip? texted Sam.

Danny ignored the question. No need to set Sam off by telling her that Paulina wanted him to join the cheer squad for the afternoon.

Still heading toward the gym, he opened his phone calendar and scrolled through the upcoming weeks.

Just three more therapy sessions now.