Darling (Danny Phantom exe Fanfic)

7

The shrill sound of my phone ringing jolted me awake. Groaning, I fumbled for the device and pressed it to my ear. "Hello?"

"Good morning, sleepyhead. Time to get up," Danny's voice greeted me, his chuckle warm and familiar.

I mumbled something unintelligible, already drifting back to sleep. "But I want to sleep more," I murmured, snuggling deeper into my blankets.

"Nope! Get up, or I'm coming over to drag you out of bed myself," he warned, his tone playful but with an edge of seriousness.

Rolling my eyes, I reluctantly sat up. "Okay, okay, I'm up," I grumbled, stumbling toward the bathroom.

"Good. Do you have any plans today?" Danny asked casually as I grabbed my toothbrush.

"Not really. You?"

"Yeah, I'm meeting some friends later," he replied. I could hear the sound of clattering dishes in the background, probably him making breakfast.

"Alright, talk to you later," I said, finishing our conversation with a quick goodbye. As I set the phone down, a thought popped into my head. 'I'm going clubbing tonight, even if it means going alone.' With that resolve, I continued my morning routine, determined to have some fun.

I stood outside the club, staring at the neon sign glowing in the night. 'Why the hell did I come alone?' I thought, a wave of self-doubt washing over me. I was dressed in a sleek black dress that hugged my figure, paired with matching boots. My hair fell in loose waves around my shoulders, and I had applied just enough makeup to feel confident. But as I took a deep breath and stepped inside, the pounding music and flashing lights made me question my decision all over again.

I wasn't a fan of crowds, and this place was packed. 'Of course, you'd feel out of place,' my inner voice taunted. I had been toying with the idea of going to a club for days, thinking it might be fun. But now that I was here, I felt out of my element. 'Just a few drinks and then I'll leave,' I told myself, heading straight for the bar.

I perched on a stool and ordered a beer, trying to blend in. The bartender handed me my drink, and I took a sip, scanning the room. The dance floor behind me was a chaotic swirl of bodies moving in sync to the music. 'How do they not mind the sweaty bodies pressed against each other?' I mused, shaking my head.

As I continued to sip my drink, my eyes wandered to the upper level, where a group of people were laughing and chatting. My heart skipped a beat. Was that... Danny? I blinked, thinking I must be seeing things. But no, it was definitely him, surrounded by friends. And then my gaze landed on her—Crystal. The girl I least wanted to see.

Crystal was seated right beside Danny, too close for comfort, her hand resting on his thigh. A flash of anger surged through me. Even I hadn't been that forward with him in public. Before I knew it, I was on my feet, heading toward them.

As I climbed the stairs, I saw Danny and Crystal standing up, moving toward a more private area. I quickened my pace, but before I could reach them, someone blocked my path. "Hey, Ashley! Didn't know you were coming," Brandon, one of Danny's friends, greeted me with a surprised smile.

"Yeah, I just... need to take care of something," I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I sidestepped him. I hurried after Danny and Crystal, but by the time I reached the corner, I froze at the sight before me.

They were kissing.

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. "How could you?" The words escaped my lips in a broken whisper.

Danny jerked away from Crystal, his eyes wide with panic when he saw me. "Ashley! It's not what it looks like," he started, his voice desperate.

But the tears had already begun to blur my vision. Without another word, I turned and fled, pushing past a bewildered Brandon. "Hey! What happened? Why are you crying?" he called after me, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. My thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and hurt. 'Why? Why would he do that? Didn't he love me?'

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the two men in front of me until I collided with one of them. I muttered an apology, trying to move past, but a strong hand gripped my wrist, holding me in place. The man was tall, with a scruffy beard and the stench of alcohol clinging to him. Another man stood beside him, watching me with a smirk.

"Hey, baby, why are you alone?" the first man slurred, his grip tightening painfully on my wrist. "Need some company?"

"No, leave me alone," I said, my voice shaking as I tried to pull away.

"I don't think so," he sneered, starting to drag me toward a dark alley. Despite his drunken state, he was disturbingly strong, and I struggled against him, fear clawing at my throat. Tears streamed down my face. "Please, let me go!"

But they just laughed, their intentions clear. Just as panic was about to overwhelm me, a voice shouted from behind us, "Hey! Leave her alone!"

The men stopped, turning to face the voice. It was Danny, his face a mix of anger and determination.