Chapter 41

For the past hour, Danny had been trying to think of a reason as to why he needed to stay at one of his friends' houses. As a ghost, they probably assumed he just lived in the Ghost Zone – despite what the Box Ghost had told them.

He wondered if maybe he should just go there for the time being…but getting there was another problem. His parents' lab was off limits with the new ghost protocol in place, and it wasn't like he was a welcome visitor in Vlad's mansion. He certainly didn't want to test the limits of what Vlad might do – nor did he want Vlad to know the dilemma he was in. It was way too risky.

And besides, he needed to be in the human world so he could fight Desiree as soon as she appeared again.

Danny texted his friends.

Hey, you guys, Phantom wanted me to tell you that he needs to talk. Meet him in the alleyway by my house.

He gulped after he sent the message, completely aware of how strange it would be for him to send that message but be uninvolved, otherwise.

They arrived half an hour later.

"Danny?" Sam asked, seeing a silhouette in the alleyway.

He stood and came towards them, revealing himself.

"Oh! Hey," she said, eyes lighting up when she realized it was Phantom.

"Hey, man," Tucker said. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I kind of…need a place to stay tonight."

"Huh?" Sam said.

"But wait…don't you live in the Ghost Zone?" Tucker asked.

"I'm having trouble getting back…and I'd like to stay close to Amity Park in case that ghost comes back."

"What ghost?"

"Her name's Desiree. She grants people's wishes and kind of made a mess at the festival today."

"So that's what happened!"

"Yep."

"I'd love to help, but my mom said no visitors until I get a B in history class. Otherwise, I'm grounded," Tucker said.

"I guess that means you're stuck with me," Sam said, slightly blushing. "I hope you like horror movies!"

Danny smiled slightly.

As they entered the movie room, Danny gasped. The place was massive with a huge screen, big seats with cup holders, and even a popcorn machine in the back. How had he never been in this place?

"Whoa. This is incredible! Wait. Why do we always have movie night at my –" Before Danny finished that thought, he stopped himself. "I mean, what a cool hangout!"

She shrugged her shoulders. "If we could just keep this between you and me, I'd appreciate it. I just don't want my friends to know how rich my family is. It's kind of a lot."

"Your secret's safe with me," Danny said, settling into one of the chairs.

"Okay, so we have Bram Stoker's Dracula or The Quiet Place. Or are you feeling something with ghosts? I mean, you are a ghost, so I figured you get tired of that sometimes."

Danny chuckled. "You choose."

She smiled. "Dracula, it is! The book is peak supernatural fiction. I love old, gothic stories."

"I know."

She looked at him funny, and he corrected.

"I mean, I thought you might."

"Soup for the goth soul," she said, placing the blu-ray disc in the player.

She sat down next to him and handed him a soda. "I wasn't sure if you drank, well, anything," she said, awkwardly.

"Oh," he chuckled. "I do. Thanks," he said, as he popped it open.

"Can you taste it?" Sam asked curiously.

He didn't feel particularly qualified to answer these questions. He hadn't even thought about the fact that true ghosts probably couldn't. It was as if he had imposter syndrome. And in some sense, he was an imposter…masquerading as Danny Phantom when he was, in fact, Danny Fenton. But at this given moment, Danny Phantom was the only Danny he could be anyway…

"Um…can we talk about something else?"

"Sorry. Sure. Actually. I'll just start the movie!" She said, dimming the lights and hitting the play button.

Throughout the movie, Sam would glance at Phantom to see if he liked it. She really hoped he did, because it was one of her favorite movies. She couldn't get a good read on him. They shared a bowl of popcorn. Every time their hands touched, they blushed.

After they finished it, Danny said. "That was really good!"

"Right? One of my favorite iterations of Dracula. It follows the book pretty well too."

"Vampire stories are always interesting."

"Seeing as you're a ghost…do vampires exist?"

Danny widened his eyes. "I hope not."

Sam laughed, checking her phone. "Oh wow! It's getting kind of late. I've got some homework to do. Do you mind?"

Danny grimaced. "Right. Homework."

"I guess you don't miss that, right?" She chuckled.

He rubbed his neck, thinking about how if this went on much longer, he'd have to come up with a really good excuse as to where Danny Fenton was.

She got up from her seat and stretched, yawning loudly. "I'm gonna need to find a second wind in me," she remarked.

Danny smiled thoughtfully, putting his hand out to her. "I know just the thing."

She looked into his eyes excitedly as she took his hand. He turned them intangible and flew them up. Eventually, they were outside.

As he flew them up into the sky, he adjusted his arm to wrap around her waist, so she was more secure. She looked at him in awe as he smiled, flying them both over the city. The crisp autumn air felt amazing as it brushed through her hair. She wasn't sure how long they were up in the sky, but she did notice places she had never seen from this vantage before. Everything seemed so small below them.

They eventually landed back on her balcony.

"That was…" She said, shaking her head. "Amazing."

Danny smiled then sighed. "The truth is, Sam, I'm not sure how long I might need to stay here. Until I can deal with that ghost."

"I think I can manage," she said, walking closer to him.

"I'm not sure I can," he said, sadly.

"Oh…" She said, dejectedly.

"No! It's not you. I just –"

"Want to go home. I know. I get it."

"Home…Right," Danny said, looking down at the ground, trying to hide the fact that he had tears welling up in his eyes.

"Phantom, are you okay?" Sam asked, placing her hand on his cold face. When she met his green eyes, she saw that he was crying. She was astonished. After the surprise wore off, she hugged him.

He hugged her back. After a few minutes, they pulled away. Then Sam looked him in the eyes before kissing him.

At first, he was shocked, but then he realized he really liked it. And before he knew it, he was making out with her too.