Edit: I've had to reupload this chapter three times... I'll probably end up doing it again.

Please don't hate me... I've actually had this written for a couple months, I just didn't upload it. I'm a junior in high school, life in general is kicking my ass. Also, um... a not-so-shameless (because I seriously feel guilty) self promotion. If you haven't already, you should check out my other DP AU, Mirrors. The first chapter is already up.

Amity Park, Illinois - Modern Day

Sam's parents were already gone by the time she woke up. Her father had gone golfing with a business partner while her mother went to the country club with a bunch of her rich friends.
Sam scoffed at the note they had left her. We'll talk when we get home. Yeah, right. They'd all avoid each other like usual.
Sam got ready for the day and drove herself to school in her small hybrid. The parking lot was mostly empty, and she didn't see Paulina's cherry red Ferrari, so Sam felt as if she might get through the morning without an encounter with the Queen B.
As Sam entered the school through the wide double doors, that hope was crushed. Paulina was standing in the main hallway, hanging onto Dash provocatively while the rest of the A-list surrounded her. Her many scratches and bruises were covered up with multiple layers of concealer, but her split lip was still visible. Sam grinned despite herself. Doing as much damage as she did was definitely worth getting in trouble with the police.
Sam stalked past the group of populars towards her locker, her head held high. As she entered her combination, the front doors opening caught her attention.
A tall boy walked into the main hall, looking around in slight nervousness. He wore a red T-shirt under a white sleeveless hoodie, and faded blue jeans with red and white Converse hightops. A silver hollow gear-shaped pendant with a glass hourglass inside hung on a chain around his neck. His hair was black and unruly, the bangs covering the top of his left eye, while shining with a blue sheen. But what caught Sam's attention were his glittering, ice blue eyes.
Sam raised an eyebrow and turned back to her locker, trying to ignore the strange fluttering in her heart. She heard his footsteps come closer, and she prayed to every higher power she could think of that he wasn't coming to talk to her.
At the sound of someone clearing their throat, she looked towards where his feet would be. Dammit, she thought, recognizing the sneakers as the ones that the boy wore. She raised her head to look him in the eyes, and felt herself stop breathing for a heartbeat. His eyes were even more captivating up close.
Sam blinked and composed herself, shaking her head slightly. "Can I help you?"
The boy grinned, showing off glowing white teeth. "Hello," he said with an accent she couldn't quite place. "I'm Danny, I'm new here. Do you think you could point me towards the office?"
Sam struggled to speak. "Y-yeah. It's just around that corner." she said, pointing.
Danny beamed. "Thank you so very much." He bowed his head slightly and walked in the direction Sam had indicated.
Sam stared after him for a moment, trying to calm her speeding heart. She snapped out of her trance at the sound of pounding feet, running towards her location. She turned to find Jazz and Tucker dashing to her side, skidding to a stop.
"Hey Sam." Tucker grinned.
Jazz looked at where Danny had disappeared around the corner. "Who was that?"
Sam turned to look as well. "...I'm not sure."
Tucker and Jazz shared a knowing look at seeing the faraway expression in their friend's eyes.

Danny grinned as he slipped around the corner towards the office. He had already known where it was, but it gave him an excuse to talk to the girl, Sam.
She played an important part in his task. In fact, the entire mission revolved around her. And to succeed, he needed her to trust him.
His mission was simple: protect her until the time was right. He knew exactly when and how the event would occur, he had seen it on Clockwork's Viewing Screen. Danny just needed to guide her.
And that was something he could do.
Danny was shaken from his thoughts when a tall, muscular blonde- Danny believed his name was Dashiel, or Dash, Baxter- shoved him towards the lockers. Danny grunted in surprise- he was too lost in thought to notice the jock approaching.
Dash grinned cheekily. He was upset that Paulina had dumped him because he didn't fight off the Goth freak. He needed to take his anger out on something- or someone. "Well, whatta we 'ave here? New kid, huh? Well, we better give ya the initiation!"
Danny cockily raised an eyebrow at the bad grammar. "Initiation, eh? And just what might that be?"
Dash faltered, startled at the boy's lack of fear. His eyes skimmed over the boy's frame, barely noticing the hint of muscle along his arms. Dash furrowed his brow. "D'you play?"
Danny blinked. "Pardon?"
"Football."
"No." Danny smirked, his eyes quickly turning cold. "But I am a black belt in multiple forms of martial arts and will beat your sorry ass if I ever witness you trying to harm someone again."
Dash sputtered. "Wha-? But how...? What do you-? Huh?"
"How do I know that you're the school bully?" Danny asked with a stoic expression. "I know a lot of things that I probably should not, Dashiel Baxter. You try to feel superior around your peers, because you are inferior at home. You have a sibling who is more accomplished in more areas than just sports, and you don't get paid a lot of attention from your family. So you bully your peers in an attempt to get attention, and make yourself appear more confident, when in fact, you are constantly afraid that someone will find out about your home life and you will lose your reputation."
Dash blinked, fear clouding his eyes. How did this new student, who had never been seen in Amity Park before, know everything about him? Nobody from his school even knew about his brother, who had been excepted into Harvard only a few years ago, before they moved to Illinois.
Danny's eyes met Dash's, and the jock felt terror creep into him, manifesting from the threat hidden deep in those icy blue eyes. "Now," he began, "I would highly appreciate it if you stayed out of my way."
Dash gave a curt nod, eyes wide, and backed away, giving the raven-haired teen room to walk away. Danny met his gaze before he silently stalked away.
Wide-eyed and pale-faced, Dash shuddered.

Sam quickly walked into her first period class and sat down in the closest empty desk, still pondering why her emotions had been so out of control before. She didn't want to admit that she might have a crush on the new kid because she had only just met him. She didn't want a repeat of what happened with Gregor/Elliot.
Her heart wouldn't be able to stand it.
Sam ducked her head down as more students walked into the room, Paulina and Dash included. Unfortunately, Jazz and Tucker had different first classes, so Sam was alone to deal with their bullshit. She tried to calm down and clear her thoughts by doodling in an empty notebook.
This worked for a moment until she realized that her drawing was taking shape of the boy's strange necklace. Growling, she tore the paper out of the notebook and crumpled it, stuffing it inside her backpack.
She looked around the room to find something to do, when she noticed the angry look on Paulina's face, and the terrified one on Dash's. Now, an angry Paulina can scare pretty much anyone, but not to the level of fear that Dash was showing. He was radiating terror. Sam quietly wondered what could've frightened him so badly, when the new kid -Danny, was it?- walked into the room and searched for an empty seat... and the only one was right next to Sam.
Sam mentally cursed as Danny set his stuff on the desk to her left and sat down, right as the bell rang.

Danny sighed when he found his path blocked once again. This time, however, it was a Latina heavily doused in makeup who stopped him.
"Hello, I don't believe we've met. I'm Paulina Sanchez. And you are?" She asked in a sugarcoated tone.
"Not interested." Danny deadpanned.
Paulina took a step back as if struck, her eyes widening momentarily before she regained control. "No, really. I would be honored to help you find your way around the campus. We might even have some classes together."
"I appreciate the offer, but I can find my own way around. And if I cannot, I will simply ask for directions. And yes, we may have certain classes together, but I fail to understand how that has any relation to you helping me." Danny's voice was filled with icy annoyance, matching his eyes.
"Well, we could sit together."
"I shall sit wherever I am assigned to." Danny said simply, and then turned and walked away. He briefly glanced back, smirking when he saw Paulina silently fuming. He didn't like to be rude, but he needed to keep her and the other "A-listers" far away if he wanted to get close to Sam.
With this in mind, Danny wandered around campus for a while before rushing to his first class, barely arriving in time.