chapter 1

(rewrite 5/20/14)

"LORD OF THE FLIES, PEOPLE; Settle down!" The balding, overweight high school teacher screeched as I shifted uncomfortably behind him.

"Now, I know you're all excited- it's not every day we get a transfer student in the middle of the school year- but for the love of literacy, at least let me speak!" He stomped away from me and strode towards his desk as the room quieted. He waived me over, fluidly motioning for me to speak. Gulping in a deep breath of air, I held up my hand and bent my fingers; a timid greeting of sorts. I was painfully aware of all the judgmental teens looking my way, and honestly I'm not the most confidant person you'll ever meet; even if it's not my first day in a new school.

"Please, introduce yourself to the class."

"Umm, right. I'm Emma. Emma Mclain…I, uh… like to draw..."

I would have said more, but I didn't trust myself to not turn into a bumbling idiot.

"Thank you, Emma. Please find your seat in th-" Before he could continue he was cut off by a voice in the rear of the class.

"Any relation to Ember Mclain?"

My left eye twitched. I knew this would happen….

"Mr. Fenton, please refrain from interrupting my class any more than you already do."

…Fenton? As in… Danny Fenton?!

My brain melted for a moment.

…

Danny Phantom is in my class?!

…

"Uh… s-sorry… w-what did you ask?"

The dark haired teen lifted a brow.

"Are you related to the ghost singer Ember Mclain?"

I gulped, shaking quite visibly in my green-laced combat boots.

"I… um… I-"

I sent a pleading look over to the teacher, who seemed to be rather annoyed.

"Daniel! Stop making your new classmate quiver in fright. Emma, please go find your seat."

I scurried down the aisle quickly, sinking down into my chair as soon as I dropped my bag. I could feel Danny's eyes on me… maybe he hates me… maybe he thinks evil runs in the family- oh no! Maybe he thinks I'm my aunt in disguise!

I hyperventilated for a good five minutes, letting my panic attack take its course. Then, after that was over, I took a deep breath I calmed myself.

Ok, maybe he just wants to get to know me. I mean… ugh, I don't know what I mean! He probably does hate me… yeah, I may or may not have confidence issues...

The rest of the class period drawled by, and I caught Danny staring at me throughout the lectures, no doubt wondering about the obvious similarities that I share with the ghost. My hair is really similar to Ember's, though it's dark blue and…not made of fire. Or faces are practically the same, though I'm quite tan and tend not to wear makeup.

While Mr. Lancer continued droning on about Shakespeare and his amazing impacts on the world of literacy, the lunch bell rang and I stood up. With a long sigh of relief I gathered my things and headed outside; It's not like I don't love English- I do- but Danny is sort of creeping me out.

As I exited the building a pink-toed shoe stretched out and tripped me. I fell face first, skidded down the steps and landed on the ground as my lunchbox slammed onto the sidewalk besides me.

'Ouch.' I grimaced as I sat up and rubbed my elbow.

"Ooh, I'm so sorry! I'm such a klutz!"

'You don't say!' I thought sarcastically, observing the bubbly Hispanic girl towering over me.

"What a horrible way to introduce myself! I'm Paulina, the prettiest girl here at Casper high. What's your name?"

For a moment I just sat there, staring at her in shock. She was tall, sure, and tan skinned with no apparent acne, but… the prettiest? I looked around, spotting plenty of other girls with similar features who quite frankly seemed, well, kinder than her. She was obviously conceited, most likely had a posse of other "poplar's", and probably looked down on others… but she can't be that bad, right?

Right?

…

"Um, I'm Em-"

"Ooh, Em huh? That sounds like a name for a fish!"

" …" not knowing what to say to that, and miffed that she'd not let me finish my sentence, I stayed silent.

As she continued talking, virtually preening herself with words, I bit my lip and tried to look for an escape route.

"Right, well, I think I'll go eat lunch now…" I said quickly, sliding around her and making a break for one of the trees behind the school as I clutched my lunch to my chest. With a huff I sat down under the tree, thankful that Paulina hadn't followed me. It seems as if she dislikes me for some reason…

I blankly started to unpack my lunch and contemplated my day so far.

This is what I know:

1. Danny phantom's in my class.

2. He may or may not hate me...

3. A girl named Paulina has something against me.

Well…it's been a pretty interesting day, to say the least.

It was while I finished my lunch a shadow fell over me. I looked up, eyes squinting against the afternoon sun. "Hey, you must be that new girl everyone's been talking about."

"umm, yeah. I'm Emma. And you are..?" I asked.

"Sam Manson." the Goth replied as she entered the shaded area.

'Do I know her? Her name sounds familiar...'

"So, now that we're friends, can you tell me how you got Paulina so riled up? Might come in handy the next time she goes after Danny. That girl just can't seem to get it through her thick skull that he's not interested…." She muttered under her breath. My eyes grew wide when I realized just who I was talking to. This was Sam Manson, Danny phantom's…uh… Danny Fenton'sgirlfriend, the couple whose pictures have been all over the news ever since he saved the world.

"S-sorry, I can't help you there." I interjected, trying to regain my speech.

"Truthfully I have no idea why she hates me already, I mean, I only met her when I came out for lunch and she tripped me."

Sam nodded, her dark hair covering her eyes.

"Yeah, she's been that way ever since Danny's secret got out. Always picking fights and 'plotting to make him hers' or something like that. Hey, since you're sitting all by yourself and haven't made any other friends yet, why don't you sit with us? It's pretty empty right now with only Tucker, Danny and I… we'd love some company." I bit my lip. Why would she invite me to sit with them? Could I even? Although I wouldn't admit it to her, I was scared of Danny. I mean, he's HALF GHOST!

"Oh, come on!" Sam said when my silence stretched on longer than necessary. "We won't bite, I promise! Well, I might, but only a little!"

At this I smiled. Sam really was making an effort to be nice. Wait…she is a Goth, right? Aren't they all gloom and doom, or am I just misinformed?

Perhaps a little of both…

I sighed and stood up.

"Sure, I suppose I wouldn't mind having someone to talk to for the rest of the lunch break." "Cool, our table's over here, oh, and please ignore Tucker when he tries to flirt, ok?"

I blinked.

"What?"

She smiled darkly.

"Being mayor for a year hasn't changed him out of the lady's man he thinks he is."

I stopped mid-stride.

"MAYOR?!"