Ah! I finally finished! I'm so so so so sorry this took so long. once again,school got in the way and swim season started so that took a huge chunk out of my free time. But this chapter is fairly long this time!

Annnyywayyy, I basically have the rest of this story planned out. So far it's only going to be nine chapters, But I'm trying to think of a way to add another to make it ten.

As always, I don't own Danny Phantom, and thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, or favorited!

Enjoy! :)

Chapter 5- Complications

I was back in school the next day, despite pleading with Clockwork to let me go home. And to make it even worse, I was now being followed around by the Frootloop's son that no one even knew he had.

His name was Matt Masters. He had black hair, like I'd heard Vlad had before the accident, that had strange golden streaks in it, and the strangest colored eyes: a bluish-green-grey, that I assumed were inherited from his mother, whoever she was. He seemed like the overprotective type. I was constantly reminding him that just because Clockwork had asked him to keep an eye on me, didn't mean I couldn't take care of myself.

Clockwork had helped me in one other way, as well. He'd given me a small gold ring that would only fit on my pinkie finger. It was supposed to help restrain my power, but it wouldn't completely negate them. It sure came in handy.

First thing in the morning, I discovered Paulina and Dash hadn't given up on my becoming their "friend." When our group, now consisting of Danny, Sam, Tucker, Jazz, myself, and now Matt, walked into the school, they were waiting to ambush us. Paulina grabbed my arm, pulling me along with her. "Come on, Chelsea. You need to stop hanging out with the loser crowd." She said in her superior tone.

A low snarl escaped my throat. The ring started to glow a ghostly green, and I clenched my fingers together to hide it. I was probably lucky that my eyes were the same color in my human and ghost forms,or they would have changed color, like I'd seen my father's do so many times. "Paulina." I said slowly, empathizing each word to get her attention. "Why can't you take a hint? I. Do. Not. Want. To. Be. Your. Friend."

There was suddenly an arm around my waist, and a cheek leaning against mine. The skin was a little cooler than an average person's "Come on, Chels. You can be a little nicer about it, can't you?"

I raised an eyebrow at Matt. "No."

Paulina eyed the two of us. "Is he your boyfriend?"

I opened my mouth to deny, but Matt beat me. "Yes."

This time I know my eyes flashed as I glared at him.

Then at Paulina, as she stupidly, again, had to put her two cents in, elbowing me and saying "Good catch" with the stupidest, most annoying smirk on her face. I got the satisfaction of watching her jump back with wide eyes as she met mine. I felt the slightest bit bad about it, but it didn't help ease the annoyance.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" I demanded more than asked. We made our way to a hallway that was empty. I grabbed him by his shirt and slammed him against the lockers. "What the hell was that?"

His response was fairly calm. "Do you have to be so violent? Let me go and I'll explain." I dropped my grip on him and crossed my arms.

"I'm listening."

"Don't you think that will be easier to explain why I'm always around you than saying 'The master of time sent me to keep an eye on her because I have mastered my ghost powers and she hasn't?' I'm sure you want to keep your powers a secret." He smirked.

My eyes narrowed. "You're just as manipulative as your father, aren't you?"

He winced. "I am nothing like Vlad." He growled, then turned and stalked away.

I was between classes. Suddenly, a ectoplasmic blast hit me from behind, burning my skin. I fell to the ground. Dan landed behind me. "So, little girl, I've figured out out how to get rid of you. If one of your parents isn't around when you're supposed to be born, you can't be born, right? And since I can't fix my future if I destroy myself, I'll just have to find out who your mother is."

I was in too much pain from the injury to my shoulder to be able to get up and face him, but I could still see him out of the corner if my eye. He was sneering, as if daring me to try to stop him.

I wouldn't just try. I would.

I was still unsuccessfully trying to glare at him when he was hit by a golden ectoplasmic blast. Matt landed between us. "Don't touch her." He snarled.

I realized, not being entirely coherent, that I'd never seen Matt in his ghost form. His hair was pale, pale golden, and from what I could see from the ground, it looked like he was wearing a golden yellow vest (A/N: think Eugene from Tangled) over what seemed to be a black jumpsuit with paler yellow gloves and boots.

Dan's sneer faded. "Another one? How busy were your parents?"

"Not my brother." I gasped, finally able to stand. Matt grabbed me, keeping me upright. "Not your business. And, not going to happen." I stretched out my hand, letting the flames appear between my fingers. "Leave. Now."

The sneer returned. "I was just leaving. I have a job to do." He turned and flew away. I started to fall forward, but Matt caught me.

"You okay?" I looked at him with questioning eyes. "Sorry. Stupid question."

Neither of us had noticed Paulina approaching. She tapped on Matt's shoulder. He turned to look at her, seeming annoyed. "Can I help you?"

She smiled sickeningly sweetly. "I just wanted to let you know. You'd better be careful. She has a boyfriend."

Dash was not far behind her and quick to make a claim. "Yeah, and when she's done with him, I'm next in line." His smirk was classic Dash- as arrogant as was humanly possible. I wanted so badly to put them both in their places, but I had no energy to do it.

Matt seemed like he was just as furious with them as I was. He glared at them as he snapped, "I just so happen to have a girlfriend. Neither of you should be making assumptions. Now, make yourselves useful and go tell a teacher and her cousins that she was attacked by a ghost and is going home."

They ran off, reacting in fear to his glare. He started to fly me toward Fenton Works. "I'm starting to see why you don't like them." He murmured.

I grinned best I could. "Yeah? So do I still have to be nice to them?"

He rolled his eyes, but then he laughed. "It's probably a good idea, but I won't hold you to it."

We were lucky. Flying home from the school was so much faster than walking or riding the bus. We reached Fenton Works in a matter of seconds. Matt phased me through the ceiling and set me down on the bed.

"Here." He placed his hand over the burn, and the pain began to fade.

"Thanks." I said, lifting my arm, testing it. There was no pain now. "How long have you been able to do that?"

"All my life." He sighed and looked around. "You're lucky, you know."

"What?"

"You have a place to stay. I can't exactly go to Vlad's." He said the name with audible distaste.

I shook my head. "You can stay here."

"You think Jack and Maddie will go for that?"

"They don't have to know." He raised an eyebrow at me. "What? It's not like we're doing anything we're not supposed to. I'm just giving you a place to stay."

Matt rolled his eyes. "Okay. Fine. I guess I have a better chance at pulling this off than most, eh?"

"Yup. " I grinned. Maybe having him here wouldn't be so bad after all.