Hello! I'm NOT dead!

Just... been writing for a while.

I have this thing where I write the WHOLE story before posting.

Don't know why. Don't care.

ANYWHO.

Here's my new story.

I hope it is enjoyed by all kinds of people. Like you.

Yeah you. Right there. :P

Disclaimer: *sigh* Everytime... You know, funny story actually. I tried to steal the rights to Danny Phantom from Butch and I...

Wait none of you are cops right?

Oh damn...

A small, black figure on horseback rode through the darkest and most demonic part of the Ghost Zone. He had been on the hunt for three days now, and he was getting tired of searching.

It had to be here somewhere; that he knew. But he couldn't keep flying around in search of something that moves soundlessly and unknown.

His search began when he was once again released from his prison that held him for so many years. The most unlikely, but familiar, of ghosts had come to his rescue, and for that he was grateful. He had reward the young ghost with something that was very rare and precious in the Ghost Zone.

He reined in his steed at the sound of moving fog. He reared his horse to see a swirling circle of smoke. It moved cautiously.

"Exactly what I was looking for," he mumbled. Digging his heels into the horse's sides, he galloped into the mist and disappeared, the portal going with him.

"So, are you coming over Saturday or what?" 17 year old Danny Fenton asked his best friend, Tucker Foley.

The 17 year old African American was digging through his locker, looking for his History textbook. "I don't know, man. Its only 3rd period and I've got a ton of homework already."

"Yeah, so do I, but I'll probably won't do it until Sunday," said Danny.

"What about ghost hunting?" asked Tucker.

"The ghosts will just have to wait."

"Dude, you're the protector of Amity Park! Evil waits for no one." Tucker pulled out his History book from under piles of random technology. "Aha! Found you!" he stuffed it in his backpack and zipped it up.

"Maybe Sam will come…" Danny said. They both started walking down the hall toward the history room.

Tucker laughed. "She is your best friend. She can't say no."

"She can say or do whatever she wants," Danny said defensively. They took their seats in the back of the class like they always do. "Not that I have a choice. She's just like that."

"Whatever she wants?" Tucker asked. His gaze seemed to have shifted to something behind Danny. "Like flirting with another guy?"

"What?" Danny turned around, and his jaw dropped.

Sam, his Sam, was talking to some new guy. Danny hadn't seen him before so he must have been new to the school. He had pale skin, cloudy gray eyes, and wore a black shirt, a leather jacket, baggy jeans and sneakers. He was pretty much dressed entirely in black, except for the strange necklace he wore around his neck that reached his stomach right where his ribs ended. A silver skull with green emeralds for eyes hung on it, and he had on spiked bracelets. He looked strangely familiar…

He was sitting in a chair, eye level with Sam's stomach. She stood with her spider backpack slung over one shoulder. She was laughing.

Danny got up and walked over to them. "Am I interrupting?"

Sam smiled at him. "Not at all."

The guy's eyes grew darker. "No."

"So, uh, Sam," Danny said. "You gonna introduce us to your new friend?"

The new guy stood up and held out his hand. "I'm Devon Knight," he said.

Danny shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"The feeling's mutual."

Sam smiled again, a strange thing for a Goth to do. "I was showing Devon around the school earlier. He looked lost so I decided to help him. Turns out we have some classes together."

"It was very kind of you, Sam," said Devon. "Thank you."

"No problem," she shrugged.

Danny watched his best friend and the new guy Devon. He seemed nice, almost like Sam in a way. He saw how he made her laugh with just a random comment, and how he made her smile by just looking at her.

Danny didn't like it. At all.

Their teacher, Mr. Kurtz, called for attention and they went back to their seats, Sam and Danny next to each other, and Tucker in front of them. Sam thought he couldn't tell, but Danny caught her a few times sneaking glances at Devon, who sat alone.

It was 5th period. Lunch time. Sam had brought a salad from home, as she always does. Danny and Tucker bought a somewhat edible lunch from the cafeteria. While Tucker shoveled it down his throat, Danny swore he saw it move.

"Tucker, I don't know how you can eat that," Sam said.

"It's easy. You stab it with your fork, and put it in your mouth." He did just that.

"Ugh…" Sam groaned and turned away.

Danny looked at his friend. "Tucker, take it easy."

He shrugged it off and continued to eat. After a few minutes of silence Tucker said, "So, what's with that new guy?"

Sam stopped eating. "What about him?"

Danny glared at Tucker for bringing him up again.

"Oh, I don't know. You seem to get along well with him."

She shrugged. "I guess." Sam stuffed lettuce in her mouth.

"He seems kinda Gothic, you know. And that skull he wears is weird. Don't you think, Danny?"

Danny wasn't listening. He had spotted a dark figure making his way through the crowd toward their table. He let out a long breath in annoyance.

"Danny?"

"Speak of the devil," Danny muttered.

Sam and Tucker were about to ask what he was talking about when Devon plopped his tray next to Sam. "Mind if I sit here?"

"Yes," said Danny.

Sam elbowed him. "Its fine, Devon."

"Cool."

Another silence passed over them. Tucker broke it again. "How you liking the school so far, Devon?"

"It's okay. I'm not big on the whole learning process though. I might need help with history, so maybe you could tutor me?"

Danny almost choked on his lunch.

"Sure," said Sam. "My house after school?"

"Perfect." Devon pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. He looked at the time. "Hey, see you later. I have to… call home to make sure everything's been unpacked." He jumped up and left, leaving his half eaten lunch on the table.

"He seemed in a hurry," Tucker said.

"Yeah, I wonder if everything is okay," said Sam.

Danny narrowed his eyes. "I'm sure he's fine." Then he perked up at something he remembered he wanted to do. "Hey, Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"You wanna come over Saturday? Tucker can't and I was hoping to have some company…" He trailed off, not sure what she would say.

Sam's eyes lit up. "Of course, Danny. I'd love to."

"Great." The three went back to eating.

Danny couldn't help but replay the image of that Devon kid making Sam laugh. What did Devon have that Danny didn't? Good looks? Charms? A chance with Sam? Maybe the first two but he could never have a chance with Sam. That's why being best friends with the love of your life really sucked.

Danny never thought that being in love would be so difficult. With all the couples around, it seemed easy to be able to get a date. But those couples didn't fall for their best friend.

And they weren't half-ghost.

Danny walked up the stairs to his house. He pushed the door open and walked inside. It was dark and it looked like no one had been home for a while.

He went up to his room only to be attacked by a small blue-gray blur.

"Hey, Danny! How was school?" Mac asked. The small beagle-mutt mixed breed dog (A/N: Description in my profile) had his muzzle right in Danny's face.

"Same as every day," Danny said. He tossed his backpack to the side, its contents spilling out.

"Same crap? Or…" Mac started.

"Sort of." Danny laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. "There's this new guy and he… well he was hitting on Sam."

"Ah. There lays the problem," Mac said. He climbed up next to Danny. "So, what's he look like."

"Goth," Danny said sadly. "He's got this pale skin and he wears all black."

"Could be emo," Mac said.

Danny shrugged. "Don't think so. Anyway, he's also got this strange skull necklace with these green emeralds for eyes. Kinda creepy."

Mac raised his head. "What?"

"I said he has this necklace with a skull and emeralds for eyes."

"Are… are you sure? Like were they real emeralds or fake?"

Danny looked at his dog like he was crazy. He'd seen a lot of jewels in his lifetime but these seemed so real. "Real, I guess. Why?"

"Oh, no reason."

They fell silent. Danny wondered what was going on in that little doggie head of his. He reached out and ran a hand down his side. Mac relaxed and put his head down on the bed.

"He also asked Sam to tutor him," Danny said quietly.

"You don't seem happy."

"Of course not! Why would I be happy when Sam could be in danger! I mean she just met him today and he's already going to her house? Is she not paranoid? What if he turns out to be a bad guy? What then? I won't be there to protect her." Danny said the last part quietly. "And he seems almost familiar."

Mac twitched an ear. "Familiar how?"

"I don't know."

"Ghost?"

"My ghost sense didn't go off."

Mac was quiet. He got up and dragged Danny's backpack over to where he was sitting. "Start your homework and relax. I'll get you something to eat." The dog ran down the stairs.

Danny laid back on his bed. His thoughts constantly drifted from Sam to Mac and back to Sam.

WHOOO! Its awesome being back!

So whatcha think so far? As you already know, I have the whole story already and I will post the next chapter IF AND ONLY IF I get at least... oh I don't know... ONE REVIEW on this bad boy. I worked uber hard on this and I think that I derserve SOMETHING.

Oh and I apologize for the my own characters. I sometimes fantasize about them being there and what kind of adventures they'd have. And they actually play a critical part in this story, that I will tell you now.

So PLEASE WIF SUGAR ON TOP REVIEW!

Thank you!

Crystalbearer out. PEACE!