Seeing Double

Ghosted - Part 1

At first she thought it was stupid that her mom wanted to buy her a dress for the dance. She assumed it would be a horrific thing, pink and frilly, and that she'd have to douse it in black paint. Then hope the material didn't stiffen.

Not that Sam wanted to go the dance in the first place. What was a school dance anyway, but a strange ritual designed to pit teenagers against each other? Comparing clothes, comparing dates, and scrutinizing each other as they shook their butts around like monkeys looking for a mate. No thank you.

But her mom found a store online that was Sam's style. She scrolled through the website and was charmed by the selection. Not everything was black, but it all had this cool Victorian vibe. At least that's what she thought at first, but then she kept looking and realized the dresses were a hodgepodge of different time periods.

Some of the dresses looked like they belonged on a doll at a tea party. Sam understood where her mother had found the appeal. Yet there were options for punk or goth dresses that looked badass. It was a Japanese style, the website said, called Gothic Lolita.

When Sam pointed at her favorite dress, a massive bundle of black and purple silk laid over a hoop skirt the size of a small bus, she expected her mom to say no.

Her mom surprised her though. She said she was just happy to see her Sammykins finally take an interest in something feminine.

"You'll look wonderful!" she said, clapping her hands. "Now all you need is a date."

At lunch the next day Sam was still fuming over the assumption that she needed a date to have a good time at a school dance. How sexist! How archaic!

Tucker was telling them about the list of girls he was asking while they grabbed their lunch trays. As they headed towards their table Danny was laughing at Tucker's impression of his latest rejection, looking back towards him to say something.

He didn't notice Paulina standing in his path until it was too late.

"Excuse me," he told her. "Sorry, I didn't see you." He'd managed to save his tray from falling, but he dropped his applesauce. It landed on her foot, the lid ajar.

"Ew!" she shrieked. "These are my favorite shoes!" she whined. Sam rolled her eyes.

What a drama queen.

Danny handed his tray to Tucker. "Sorry," he said with a shrug. "Let me get that."

Sam blinked as, in one smooth motion, Danny knelt and picked up the cup. He used his hand to scoop as much of the sauce off Paulina's shoe as he could. Then he wiped the residue off with the edge of his shirt and shrugged again. "Best I can do."

Paulina stared at him, flabbergasted. Sam was equally baffled. Since when had Danny ever been able to deal with the cheerleader in such a nonchalant way?

Danny stood and took his tray back from Tucker, who was staring at him with his mouth hanging open. If Danny noticed the reaction, he didn't say anything. He just walked off towards their usual table. Sam and Tucker exchanged a what the hell look and then followed after him.

As soon as they sat down Tucker clapped Danny on the back. "Dude! You're my hero!"

"What?" Danny was frowning at his soiled applesauce. "Why."

Tucker sputtered. "You just- you just," he turned to Sam. "Tell him what he did!"

She sighed. "You talked to Paulina Sanchez as if she weren't Paulina. Sanchez." Sam could tell by the look on his face that the name meant nothing to him and she felt her throat tighten. She tried to swallow the feeling. Baring her teeth in what was meant to be a casual smirk, but what was probably a manic grin, Sam chuckled.