I don't own DP.

Okay, brain, can I work on my big story instead of having more ideas for little ones?

Y'all I tried SO hard to get this uploaded at the beginning of the day but it was just not meant to be. But good news, I wrote four one shots in the last week, which is the most I've done in a while so this month you're getting two stories instead of one. Also— unless I keep writing as much as I am— I will be uploading probably one story/chapter a month.

Enjoy! Oh, and this one takes place post reveal.

1032 words Rated K

—

The utensils bounced on the platter as the plastic tray clacked against the metal. Sam slid into the bench, looking around the cafeteria for her boyfriend. She propped her bag on the table next to her meal.

"Is Danny still in the showers?"

"Mr. Modesty? Of course he is." Tucker put his PDA on the table and slid it over to the goth. "Did you see the trailer for the new Doomed game?"

"Yea, the graphics look killer, but trying to have that level of detail at the average speed of gameplay is going to lower the quality of the game overall. Most people speed run the Doomed franchise, so I'll be interested to see how they slow people down. The rumor that the ranked competition they're adding is dependent on the details would help with that."

Sam picked at her salad, watching the video play. When it ended Tucker reached over and slid the website towards himself, showing her the comments.

"Some people think they're going for two or three different game play versions all together, kind of like CoD. They claim the clip at the end of the trailer is for an online competition and the beginning is for solo exploration or local campaign."

The rest of his thought was lost on her as the jocks rushed in through the hallway laughing and talking rambunctiously. Tucker trailed off, realizing she wasn't listening and joined her in watching Dash throw something bulky into the trash. He settled into the table bench next to his friends while they took turns looking to the eatery's entrance. Briefly following their gaze to the open doors, Sam whistled, and the high-pitched tune caught the entire cafeteria's attention.

"Dash, what are you looking for?"

"I finally pranked Fenton. But I still have three hours left if this doesn't work." He snickered, mumbling something to his table and the boys laughed.

"Didn't he catch you yesterday putting itching powder in his gym clothes?" Tucker asked, looking over his glasses as he pulled the PDA back in front of him. Sam leaned back, judgmentally folding her arms in front of her.

"And on Tuesday, when you tried to fill his locker with glitter?"

"Nah, those were my decoys. I knew he'd lower his guard if I pretended to pull something."

"What did you do?" She asked. The boys laughed again. Dash grinned back at her, shrugging instead of answering the question. He turned back to his table and ignored the looks that most of the present student body now sent him. Sam shook her head, returning to her meal.

"Danny should've never taken him up on that bet. Ten dollars is not worth a week of headaches."

She stabbed at her remaining lunch throughout the rest of the break, listening to Tucker describe the leaked mechanics and coding of the upcoming release.

A scream pierced the air five minutes before the bell, echoing down the hallway and into the cafeteria. Dread filled Tucker and Sam's stomachs, and everyone still in the cafeteria turned to the jock. He grinned at the two teenage ghost-hunters.

"What did you do?"

"DASH!"

The cafeteria lights shut off, shrouding them in darkness as the cold chill of an angry half-ghost filled the room. Students snapped their heads around to peer at the boy standing in the threshold; his light, damp hair flung across his forehead and neck when he twisted around looking for the quarterback. With the lights still out, it was impossible to see more than what surrounded the glow emanating from his bright eyes, but to the prankster, the bright green light was all he needed to know he won. Dash's laugh filled the silence, and in a moment of brilliance he slapped his hands over his mouth to stifle his glee.

Danny slunk in, gliding through the air the way only he could. The lights turned back on as he passed under them and the students behind got a full view of the yellow-orange hair dripping ice down the boys' back. He reached the table and glared at the jocks, shutting them up despite his pink-cheeked embarrassment. Having won the bet, Dash took an incalculable risk.

"Don't worry Fentonio, it'll grow out."

He smacked a crisp ten-dollar bill on the table, frosting the metal underneath his hand. Throwing one more dramatic glare towards the jocks, Danny dropped into the seat next to Sam and slapped his backpack onto the bench next to him. He smacked his head down on the table covering his head with his hands. Background noise drove him deeper into his arms as he tried to hide from the commentary roaring around them.

She smirked, poking his shoulder as Tucker laughed.

"And what did we learn?"

"Don't bet on my powers?"

"Humans can still get the jump on him?" Tucker provided, not even looking up from his PDA. Danny griped something incoherent into his arm, glaring at the boy, and then turned his head to face the goth— big, blue eyes pleading to his girlfriend through the bend of his elbow.

"Can you dye my hair back?"

Sam patted his head, shaking the chilly water off her hand afterwards.

"No, I think you need to experience the consequences of your actions."

— forty-five minutes later, in English class —

Danny raised his hand before the mist even escaped his core.

"Mr. Lancer?"

"Go on, Mr. Fenton. Everyone, prepare to evacuate."

Danny stood, transforming as he got out of his seat. Following his ghost sense, he turned to phase through the wall, but a bit of stark, vibrant hair drifted into his eyes. His jaw dropped and he pulled the strand further down, as if to prove to himself it really was his. Dash pointed and gasped, drawing the ghost boys – and the classes— attention.

"Ha! It did work!"

Danny looked between the hair and the quarterback's face several times until a roar pulled him out of his stupor. He shook his head, resigning himself to his fate.

"You know what, I'm not even going to ask."

But he did ask— and later that day Kitty and Johnny had a very irate, very blue Danny Phantom at their Lair door.

—

I'll have the next story up by Thursday. Hopefully.

—Goose :)