After the date between Danny and Val, the couple was finally official. No more awkward flirting, stalling, or interference. The two hunters were finally together after all these years and it felt right.
Danny came back to his dorm apartment and gushed about his date with Valerie with Tucker. Tucker teased his friend about his date but was happy for both for finally getting together. High school Tucker would have been crushed about the news but now in college, he looked back on how he acted and laugh at his teen self.
After Tucker graduated high school, his then girlfriend at the time decided it was best for them to take a break since they were going to different schools. Tucker missed Monica but he knew she was right. They are both young and have much time to explore other people and opportunities. And if one day they met again, then they can continue where they left off.
Tucker and Danny continue to talk until they both realized they were tired, and both went to their separate rooms. Danny fell asleep with happiness while Tucker slept with content.
With Valerie, she could not stop smiling when she came home. Star immediately questioned her about her date, making sure Fenton didn't scare her friend off.
Val laughed at her friend but was touched that she cared for her safety. Living in a town full of ghost, you must know when to expect the unexpected Val told her friend.
The former ghost huntress told her friend about the events of that night. While Valerie went on about her date, Star beamed at her friend's happiness. Now that they were finally official, Valerie was on Cloud 9. Star knew her friend went through a hard time in high school but now seeing the beautiful young woman in front of her, Star couldn't be prouder of her friend. And the fact she found someone who feels the same way about is even better.
Due to being in the popular crowd in high school, Star always thought Danny and his friends where losers. Manson had enough money to belong with her crowd, but she didn't. Deep down inside Star respected the goth for not being a follower and going her own path. Though she would never tell anyone this.
She had gotten to know Danny and Tucker more as they hung around Valerie. Tucker wasn't that bad, and they had a lot in common, especially technology. Danny and Star shared AP math classes in high school, which slowly brought them together as friends. And the fact he spends the night every couple of days, the two got along even better.
As always, the odd man out was Sam. Star understood why but like Valerie said, it's time to grow up. All of them are in college, and popularity doesn't even matter anymore on campus. Sam still sees both her and Valerie as the same mean-spirited freshman instead of evolving college sophomores. The less she saw the goth, the better.
Looking at Valerie, Star thought back to high school which seemed so long ago. The A-listers, now they barley interact with each other. In high school, having money and being mean towards others really bonded them together. But since the beginning of college, nobody cared about being rich or being mean. Well, being mean usually resulted in a fight or threats some of the former listers couldn't handle.
Paulina joined a sorority and hung with her dance friends and Dash joined the football team and they haven't crossed his path since freshmen year.
Throughout the A-listers, Star is glad she remained close to Valerie and vice versa.
-Three Weeks Later-
Valerie sat in her News Writing and Reporting class, writing down notes from her professor. He wanted them to write a report on a current event going on around the town or campus. It wasn't too hard of a report and Valerie had a lot of ideas she could go from; ghost sighting in the library, sorority party on campus, or the protesting led by Sam Manson.
Valerie rolled her eyes at the thought of Sam. She knows that Sam doesn't have to forgive her and vice versa but since her and Danny were officially dating, Valerie is trying. That doesn't mean if the goth claps back she wouldn't either. That's just not in her nature to let some gothy vegan girl get under her skin like that.
But Valerie knows that whatever the goth is protesting could be very useful for her report. It'll give her a good grade and a bit of press, depending on how well she writes the report.
After writing more notes, the class ended with the professor yelling out a chant of good luck before going to his next class. Since this was Valerie's last class of the day, she decided to shoot Danny a text as she walked out the classroom.
Smiling to herself, Valerie went to the bathroom, checked her makeup and headed to a empty bench waiting for Sam. She pulled out of her bag a bag of chips with a Arizona Tea and began eating while waiting for the goth. She was probably getting out of class and debating if this was a trap or not.
Val chuckled at her thoughts of the goth. Quickly, she got up to throw away her trash and pulled some hand sanitizer from her bag to use.
Putting away after serving its use, Valerie scrolled her Twitter feed and texted Danny and Star until she heard hard thumps of gothic boots.
Finally, she shows up, Valerie thought to herself as she watched the goth plop down in the seat across from her.
Sam gave her a tight-lipped smile as she crossed her legs away from her. Val gave one right back and gave the vegan girl a once over. The goth's outfit choice was interesting; a black crop top with a childish skull, black skinny jeans accompanied with most likely vegan goth boots and of course she was wearing dark purple shades upon her head, hair in two ponytails.
Compared to what Valerie was wearing; a blood red halter top, black shorts and matching red converse. The weather decided to work with her hair today as it was down and curled to perfection.
While Valerie was giving her a once over, Sam was doing to the same thing. Although each girl would never admit that that sort of like the outfit each one had on.
Valerie cleared her throat and took out some pen and paper, her phone set up for the voice recording app. Sam watched carefully as Valerie set up for the makeshift interview. When she got Danny's message, she thought it was a joke and meant for Tucker. Unfortunately, it wasn't, it did take convincing and a week of Danny not eating meat for her to meet up with his girlfriend.
Girlfriend, Sam cringed inside. She knew it was going to happy but didn't want to. If she had her way, in another world maybe they could have been together.
It's hard getting over someone, it's worse when they're with someone you hate. Even though Valerie had almost killed Danny (and her and Tucker to some degree) it was hard to see the change. The goth was very stubborn and stuck in her ways and watching her best friend/crush date the person she despised the most was painful.
And now she asked Danny to request this meet up for an interview in her class like their best friends. In high school, Sam would never agree to this but now she's doing this for Danny.
Before Valerie pressed ON, Sam decided to speak.
"Before we start, I just want to say I'm not happy about you guys being together but since Danny is my best friend I'll put up with this thing, for now." Sam spoke with distaste towards the African American girl.
Valerie felt her eye twitched and spoke, "Thank you Sam, I appreciate your honesty. I'm not happy that you think your entitled to my man and our relationship, but I'll put up with it for Danny and Tucker's sake." She gave another tight-lipped smile towards the goth, daring her to speak once again.
"Your man? How possessive of you! He is his own person you know!" Sam snapped back at the former huntress.
"Oh, but him being your 'best friend' is okay? Girl please, find a hobby or someone else to pine after!" Valerie scoffed at Sam's accusation. He literally is her boyfriend, her man!
"I do have hobbies! Unlike you I actually do something worthwhile." Sam spat with a smug look on her face.
"Oh yes, complaining about the lack of vegan options is real cause worthy. Or trying to cancel the cheer squad, dance team or anything that doesn't fit into your agenda." Val sarcastically replied, already fed up with the goth's attitude. If she didn't love Danny, she would never put up with this.
"There really isn't a purpose for cheerleading or dance team! A bunch of girls dancing with clothes that barley cover their bodies all for entertainment!" Sam replied sharply, not believing the former ghost huntress couldn't see her point.
"Are you fucking serious? Sam, some of those girls are on scholarships because of them being 'half naked' and its good exercise! You're a fucking privileged brat, your almost like Paulina but goth!" Valerie exploded.
Sam opened her mouth in shock, not believing Valerie compared her to all people, Paulina! It made Sam sick to her stomach to know that she was compared to the girl who gave them hell in their school years.
While Sam stared in shock, Valerie continued her rant. A few students watched the interaction of both young women.
"You complain and bitch about the animals, how we need more vegetarian options, how they should the cut this and that! The wild part is, when you don't get your way you use your privilege and money to bulldoze your point! Our junior trip was replaced because you bulldozed your way again! You are so fucking selfish and stuck up that nobody really wants to be around you!" Val ranted toward Sam, each word getting sharper and louder.
Sam, finally closing her mouth after Valerie's rant, gave Val an angry look.
"You only care about materialistic things! Animals are harmless and someone must stick up from them! I use my money for good unlike you, I give back to charity, zoos, shelters and everything else. Sorry I don't buy $100 socks, or spend time being a fucking vapid dumbass without an original thought in your head!" Sam shot back at her. Both girls were now face to face, unaware of the small crows forming.
"So, what, I can't buy quality items? Unlike you, my fashion is impeccable! Girl we get it, you're not like other girls! It's been the same shit for the last 10 years, damn! Newsflash, you are like other girls! You're catty, you gossip, and you hate me over a boy, you fucking hypocrite!" Valerie got in the goth's face even more. A look of enragement showed across her facial features.
"I hate you for many reasons, but it is not over Danny! He's my best friend and I know what or who is best for him! You may have them fooled but I see right through your act! Why can't you see you're not good enough for him?!" Sam seethed towards Valerie, now in her face. Their faces were so close, it looked like they were almost kissing.
Before they both began to yell at each other, a figure walked over to them, putting their hands over each girl's mouth.
"And that is from the upcoming play this fall! Almost looked real, didn't it? Thank you all for watching but move along." The person told the crowd of people gathering to watch an almost fight between each woman.
And in a snap, the crowd disbanded and went on about their day like nothing happened. The figure gave a winning smile to those who still lingered around, pretending it was all an act from the theater group.
Once the remaining college students left, the figure dropped their hands from each mouth in disgust. Both women were disgusted as they tried to rub off the figure's hand from their mouth.
"Ew, loser germs! Can't you two not make a fool of each other in public? Especially you, Val, it's embarrassing enough to fight with the
demonio." The person said, their accent laced with disgusted with their former classmate and ex friend.
"Paulina do you have a death wish? You're lucky I know you have an intense hand care regime." Valerie spoke as she grabbed a mint from her bag. She knew Paulina's nighttime routine even after their falling out and vice versa.
Sam groaned, "Oh great, an Amity high reunion with another person I detest, great day." Danny is so going to owe her hard after this encounter.
Paulina looked over toward the vegan goth and rolled her eyes. "Well it's not like you're my favorite person either, Manson! I was saving you two the embarrassment in public." Paulina answered back, accepting some hand sanitizer from Valerie. Although the two aren't friends anymore, Sam being a common enemy always brought them together.
"You two are so full of it, no wonder why you were best friends!" Sam sneered towards the former A-listers.
"Oh, face it Manson, you're no better than we were in high school! At least we knew we were awful!" Valerie shot back at the goth, bookbag in hand.
"And fabulous!" Interjected Paulina, gesturing towards her and Val's outfits. Paulina was currently wearing a peach t-shirt, short white skirt and white wedges.
Sam rolled her eyes at the former friends and proceed to leave without a word. Walking away from the former A-listers, she couldn't get what Valerie said about her and Danny.
Was she really fighting Valerie over Danny? And was she really like the girls she hated in high school?
Sure, her family had money, and she always used her money for good causes. Donating to shelters, feeding the homeless and a push for more healthier options shouldn't be a crime! At least she was doing something useful unlike shopping for clothes and makeup all day. Outside her goth friends she met on campus, she only had Danny and Tucker. And then they decided to befriend Valerie, again and let her into their lives.
Were she and Valerie the same? Despite money and ghost hunting, there was quite a difference but still similarities. Danny seeming to be their common factor as well.
'Is Valerie right about me focusing all my time on Danny?' Sam thought as she walked on the path towards her Poetry club meeting.