WoM- I was a little surprised at the response the picture I drew for this one got. I only had about three or four people threaten to gouge out their own eyes, while everyone else was giddy with anticipation. Apparently, the thought of Paulina as a ghost hunter amuses some people, for some reason or another…

As usual, I don't own anyone or anything other then my own creativity, which isn't up for sale, trade or theft. I find anyone responsible for the third one, and my boot goes up their butt, got it?

Paulina: Hi, I'm Paulina. I'm cute, swell, and full of bigheaded anime goodness!

Lesson 1

Paulina sighed heavily as she poured over the magazine, carefully studying each dress before finding some reason or another to dismiss it and move on to the next. After a while, she lost her patience and threw the magazine across the room with a shriek of anger. On the other side of the Latina's bed, Star flinched at what promised to be the start of another tantrum.

"Nothing!" Paulina snapped hotly, her aqua-colored eyes flashing angrily. "None of those dresses would work!"

"Come on, Paulina." Star soothed her friend, picking the magazine up from where it had landed. "I'm sure you'd look great in any one of these!"

"I don't want to look great!" Paulina huffed. "I want to look perfect! I want everyone's eyes on me! And no plain old dress will do that for me… I need a dress that no one's ever seen before, something so gorgeous people can't help but stare!"

"Wow, you're really going all out for this, aren't you, Paulina?" Star said, raising an eyebrow at her friend.

"It's Prom." Paulina responded haughtily, sticking her nose up at another of her many fashion magazines. "Which means it's my last chance to make a lasting impression."

"Well, I'm sure we'll find something before long. We still have two months, after all…"

"You mean we only have two months." Paulina corrected glumly, collapsing on her bed in a very dramatic fashion. "Two months to find a dress and my date!"

"Aren't you going with Dash?" Star asked, a little surprised. "I mean, you two have been dating for nearly two years now…"

"That's just casual." Paulina said absently. "We're not serious or anything. It's just one of those time killing things."

"You're the only girl in the world who will date someone casually for a whole two years, Paulina." Star sighed, rolling her eyes. "I mean, Kwan and I went steady after a week!"

"Dash knows I don't love him." Paulina said, annoyed that she had to explain this to her friend. "He's seen my locker, he knows my heart belongs to Phantom, so he knows I'm not serious, and he's totally okay with that." The blonde frowned thoughtfully at that remark before sighing a little.

"Does Phantom have anything to do with you not going to Prom with Dash, Paulina?" Star asked, looking as though she already knew the answer.

"What do you think?" Paulina asked, scoffing slightly in distain. "Prom is my last chance to be with the ghost boy before I go off to college!"

"Which college are you going to?" Star asked curiously.

"Who cares?" Paulina responded absently, waving the question aside. "Somewhere that'll teach me how to be a model or an actress, I guess."

"That'll be a great career for you!" Star gushed enthusiastically, brightening at the thought. "And just think of how famous you'll become! Not to mention that you'll get to hang out with other famous people all the time…"

"Yeah, but first things first." Paulina reminded the girl firmly, picking up a new magazine and opening it. "I have to find the perfect dress!"

"Well, as much as I'd love to help, I'd better get home. I told mom I'd be back before dinner…"

"Whatever." Paulina responded, not looking up from flipping through the magazine. "See you later, Star."

"Bye Paulina!" Star called before shutting the Latina's door behind her. Sighing, Paulina continued to skim through the magazine until one page caught her eye…

Paulina brightened at that, sitting up a little straighter. Though she'd never admit it to any of her friends, she'd always taken her horoscopes seriously, ever since her abuela used to read them to her when she was a little girl. She knew they'd only tease her if they knew, like they used to tease her about being superstitious back in middle school (She still was, but thankfully people had forgotten that over time.)

Brushing these thoughts away, Paulina ran a perfectly manicured nail down the page until she got to her sign, squealing when she read it.

Expect drama in your love life this month. You will have a fateful encounter with the guy you like, and someone will confess their love to you. Keep a clear head and follow your heart and things will work out to your favor.

"A fateful encounter with Phantom!" Paulina giggled, hugging her pillow in excitement. "Maybe he'll save me again! And afterwards, I can ask him to go to Prom with me!" Shrieking in excitement at the thought, Paulina almost missed the pounding on her door.

"Hey, Primera!" A boy called out in annoyance before entering the room. "Keep it down already! I've gotta killer test tomorrow, and your squealing is giving me a migraine." Annoyed, Paulina made a face at her cousin.

Diego Sanchez was twenty-two, five years older then Paulina. He was attending Minerva University, a nearby college, and was studying to be a doctor. Unfortunately, the cost of living in the dorm proved too steep for Diego's minimum wage job to handle, so Paulina's father graciously invited his nephew into their home.

Much to the horror of Paulina, who still hadn't forgiven Diego for putting snakes in her bed when she was six…

"So what?" Paulina snapped back, sneering at him. "You're gonna fail, anyways. You spend more time with your girlfriend then your books!"

"Look who's talking, Little Miss Vain USA." Diego shot back, crossing his arms. "At least I can keep a steady girl. You've had more boys marching through that living room then the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade."

"That's because it's harder for you to find a girl, thanks to those Dumbo ears of yours." Paulina replied sweetly as she brushed past her cousin and headed down the stairs.

Diego's response to her in Spanish was hardly flattering.

"I'm going out for a walk, Papa!" Paulina said as she walked through the living room, kissing her father on the forehead as she passed him.

"Be back before dark, baby!" Mr. Sanchez told her with an affectionate smile before he turned back to the Pay-Per-View movie he was watching with his wife.

"Papa…" Paulina sighed heavily. "I'm almost 18!"

"Don't remind him, Paulina." Mrs. Sanchez chuckled, winking at her daughter. "Otherwise, you'll never get out of the house!" Grinning in return, Paulina ducked away, giggling when she heard her father protest the accusation.

The cool night air felt good against her skin as Paulina stepped out to the street, heading towards the park. She smirked slightly the whistling and cat calls of a group of boys crowded around a car on the other side of the street, winking coyly at them before she continued on her way.

It's good to be the best… She thought with a toss of her long black mane, giggling as the boys argued vigorously amongst themselves about who the wink was meant for. She could care less about any of them, but it was funny that they'd all go so far to impress her… Not that they could. She added in her head. None of them could ever hold a candle to the ghost boy…

The thought of her ghostly love brought a blush to Paulina's cheeks, her pace slowing slightly as she got lost in her memories of him… his intense green eyes, almost hidden by the unruly silver hair she'd kill to run her fingers through… his deep, soothing voice echoing softly every time he spoke… The lithe, muscular build just visible through his skintight hazmat…

He's perfect. Paulina sighed, smiling as she closed her eyes. She could almost hear his voice, as if he was right there with her…

"Give it up already, Skulker! I've got better places to be right now, you know…"

Wait a second… Her eyes snapping open, Paulina crept closer to a nearby bush, peeking through it and containing a gleeful squeal at the sight of her ghost boy locked in a stand off again one of his enemies. It's him! He's really here!

"Please!" The other ghost (Phantom called him Skulker, right?) scoffed in a scornful sort of way. "What else could you possibly have planned to do tonight, ghost child?"

"Hey!" Phantom said as he blasted at the ghost a couple times. "I have a life other then ghost hunting! Who do you think I am, my dad?" Paulina blinked at that.

…Huh?

"Oh really?" Skulker grinned, dodging the blasts. "And what else could you make time for, hmm? Dating? The ghost hunter girl already left you out in the cold, and your utter obliviousness prevents you from seeking advantage of the interests of the other female!" Paulina froze at that, her heart skipping a beat.

…WHAT? She shrieked in her mind. The ghost hunter? She'd devoted all of her love to a boy who was in love with someone else? And one of his kind's mortal enemies at that! Eyes wide, Paulina turned her attention to Phantom, hoping and praying that he'd deny what the other ghost had just said.

"What?" Phantom jerked back, looking at the other ghost in surprise. "How did you… wait, what?"

"Everybody knows." Skulker said, amused at how flustered the ghost boy was acting. "Technus isn't what you'd call cautious with information, after all…"

"Meaning he's a huge gossip." Phantom clarified dryly.

"More or less." Skulker shrugged.

"Well can't you guys talk about something other than my love life?" Phantom asked, sounding annoyed.

"Naturally." Skulker said with a malicious grin. "We also discuss ways to destroy you." And, to emphasize his point, the ghost blasted Phantom while he was off guard, charging up his jet packs to pursue the younger ghost's fall.

Neither ghosts even noticed the stunned Hispanic girl hiding behind the bushes.

As many times as Paulina has asked herself that in the last hour (while downing seven cups of strong coffee to soothe her frazzled nerves) she still didn't have an answer she was satisfied with. The thought of Phantom being in love with any girl but her made her angry, but knowing that he was in love with a ghost hunter, of all things, made her blood freeze in her veins.

Then there was the hunter herself. Process of elimination had already told Paulina that it couldn't be anyone other then the mysterious Red Hunter, who was by far the best of all the ghost hunters. She also seemed to carry something of a grudge against the ghost boy though, so Paulina had never really considered her a threat romance-wise.

Big mistake… Paulina thought, narrowing her eyes and clenching her fist. If she had any idea where Red Hunter was right now, she'd probably hunt her down and scratch her eyes out with her perfectly manicured nails.

Loathe as she was to admit it, she could sort of see why the ghost boy might like the girl. She didn't exactly hide the fact that she had a killer figure underneath that hazmat she flew around in…

But I'm so much cuter then she could ever be! Paulina wailed in her head. And I don't want to kill him! That has to be worth something!

"Excuse me, miss." The acne-covered assistant manager squeaked out nervously as he approached Paulina, a faint blush on his cheeks. "But it's time for us to close up for the day… Um, I-if it's not too much to ask, could you… ah… go home or something?" Sighing and rolling her eyes, Paulina stood up, tossing her trash and heading out the door, not even acknowledging when the boy squeaked a "Thank you!" at her retreat.

Why would he like her? Paulina wondered as she walked strolled down the side walk at a leisurely pace. She's trying to hurt him! It doesn't make sense that a ghost would fall in love with a ghost hunter…

Try as she might, Paulina couldn't think of any reason Danny Phantom might fall for some second rate ghost hunting hussy over her. So, she did the only thing that she could think to do in her current situation.

Whipping out her cell phone, Paulina dialed her best friend's number, waiting impatiently for her to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Star, it's me." Paulina said, stopping at a crosswalk as she spoke.

"Paulina? Hey, can this wait? Kwan and I are kinda watching a movie right now…"

"No this can't wait!" Paulina snapped, irritated that her so-called friend found watching a movie more important then helping her through a life crisis. "The ghost boy's in love, Star! And not with me!"

"…What?" Paulina heard Star murmur something to someone (presumably Kwan.) before she returned to the phone. "How did you find that out? Did he tell you? Who is she?"

"I heard him and some other ghost talking about it." Paulina said glumly, crossing the street. "It's that Red Hunter, Star. Can you believe it? He chose some gung-ho stalker over me!"

"Well, maybe he doesn't know you like him that way…" Star responded. "I mean think about it Paulina, he's always busy fighting some ghost whenever you see him, so he really doesn't have much time to notice what's going on around him…"

"But we have a connection!" Paulina wailed. "I could feel it the first time he saved me, and the second time I knew for sure! And why a ghost hunter, anyways? She's trying to kill him!"

"Actually, I don't think you can kill a ghost…"

"Star!" Paulina growled, her eyes narrowing. "Focus!"

"Right, sorry!" Star said hastily. "Well, maybe its just 'cause he knows her better. I mean, The only people he's really around enough to decide whether or not he likes them are ghosts or ghost hunters. Everything considered, it's kinda obvious why he'd pick a ghost hunter over some of the ghosts we've seen…" Paulina slowed her pace to think about what her friend had just said.

It was true that the ghost boy only ever really seemed to have proper conversations with the ghost hunters or the ghosts that he fought. She'd only ever actually talked to him a handful of times herself, and no one else seemed to get any attention from him at all…

Meaning I have more of a chance then any of them, if I can just get him to notice me a little more… Paulina realized, smirking slightly. Remembering that she was on the phone, Paulina decided to tie up a loose end before she did anymore planning.

"Thanks Star." She said. "I think I know how to fix this… but you can't tell anyone what we just talked about, okay?"

"What?" Star said, aghast. "Why not?"

"If it gets around that the ghost boy is in love with that wicked girl, she might try to use it again him to kill him." Paulina explained soundly, a smirk playing at her lips. "You don't want to be responsible for the death of someone who did so much good, do you Star?"

"Of course not!" Star said quickly, sounding horrified.

"Then you'll keep quiet." Paulina smiled. "You won't tell a single soul what we just spoke of here tonight. Not Kwan, not Valerie, not your own family!"

"Alright, Paulina." Star sighed. "You have my word, I won't tell anyone a thing, I swear."

"Great!" Paulina responded happily. "Thanks again, Star, talk to you later!"

"Hey! Aren't you gonna tell me?" Paulina hung up before Star finished her question, altering her path with a determined look set on her face.

Phantom's the best thing that ever happened to me… Paulina thought, her fists clenched at her side. And I'm not going to give him up without a fight.

The rest of her walk, Paulina carefully planned out every detail of how she was going to handle her newest dilemma, including what she'd tell who and how she'd approach certain people. Upon reaching her destination, Paulina knocked on the door, blinking slightly when she received loud barking in response.

"Down boy, down! Oh honestly, Cerberus…" The door opened at last, to an older brunette woman in blue hazmat holding back a German Shepard pup by the black and white bandana tied around his neck. The woman blinked down at Paulina in surprise for a second before she recovered enough to remember her manners. "Hello there! Can I help you?"

"Yes, Mrs. Fenton…" Paulina said with her best winning smile. "My name's Paulina Sanchez. I was just wondering… are you interested in taking any students?"

If it's a ghost hunter Phantom wants, it's a ghost hunter Phantom will get…