SWNOVELXO Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Star couldn't believe how much her life had changed in such a short span of time. It was like something out of a dream—or a nightmare, depending on how she looked at it. She, Star, the popular girl who always got what she wanted, was harboring a crush on Danny Fenton. Danny. Fenton. The so-called loser of their class, the butt of every joke, and the target of Dash's bullying for as long as she could remember.
But now, everything about him was different.
It was hard to pinpoint when she started to notice. Maybe it was that one moment when he stood up to Dash without flinching, or the day she saw him casually lift something heavy with a strength he hadn't shown before. His transformation had been fast—too fast—and yet it seemed so natural. Danny had gone from being the quiet, awkward kid in the corner to someone who walked with a confidence that turned heads, his once-slouched posture replaced by an upright stride that demanded attention.
His clothes had changed too. Gone were the oversized white shirts and worn-out jeans that screamed "background character." Now he wore fitted clothes that showcased his lean, athletic build. The transformation was subtle at first, but by the end of the week, it was undeniable. He wasn't just the same old Danny anymore—he was someone entirely new. And Star couldn't look away.
She tried to ignore it. She really did. After all, this was Danny Fenton, the guy who used to trip over his own shoelaces. But every time she saw him now, her heart skipped a beat. The way he carried himself, the intensity in his eyes when he spoke—it was magnetic. And for some reason, Star felt like he was looking right through her, like he knew exactly what she was thinking.
It all came to a head that fateful afternoon after school. Star had been walking past the gym when she noticed Danny heading toward the locker rooms. She didn't think much of it at first, but something made her pause. Maybe it was the way he looked over his shoulder, or the fact that she couldn't stop herself from following him.
Before she knew it, she was standing outside the boy's shower area. Her heart pounded in her chest as the sound of running water filled her ears. What am I doing? she thought, but the question did nothing to stop her from stepping inside.
The sight before her made her breath catch in her throat. There he was, steam curling around him as water cascaded over his toned frame. His back was to her, and for a moment, she just stood there, unable to move.
"Star?" His voice cut through the haze, low and calm, but tinged with surprise.
She froze, her cheeks flushing a deep red. "I—uh—I didn't mean to—"
Danny turned, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist in one smooth motion. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
"Is there... something you need?" he asked, his tone unreadable.
Star opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. This was insane. What was she supposed to say? That she couldn't stop thinking about him? That she had no idea why she was even here? She felt completely out of her depth.
"I just—" She took a deep breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I couldn't ignore it anymore. You've changed, Danny. And I... I think I like it. I think I like you."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Danny's expression softened, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"Well," he said, his voice low and steady, "that's unexpected."
Star felt her cheeks burn even hotter, but she refused to back down. She had taken the leap, and there was no turning back now. Whether this ended in humiliation or something more, she was determined to see it through.
For the first time in her life, Star felt completely out of control. And yet, standing there in front of Danny, she couldn't help but feel that it was exactly where she was meant to be.
Star's morning began like most others—rushed, solitary, and devoid of familial warmth. She stepped out of the shower, drying her golden locks with practiced ease as she prepared for the day ahead. Her schedule was simple: breakfast, a quick chat with Paulina, and then school. Yet, this morning felt heavier. Something gnawed at her mind, though she couldn't quite place it.
Descending the grand staircase, Star moved into the dining room, where a beautifully set table awaited her. The servants had already laid out breakfast—sausages, eggs, toast, and freshly squeezed orange juice. She sat down, as she always did, in the quiet expanse of the dining room. The absence of her parents was nothing new.
Her father, a globe-trotting businessman, was more of a myth than a man in her life. Star could count on one hand the number of times they'd had a meaningful conversation. His focus was always on his work, and Star knew she ranked low on his list of priorities. To him, she was more of an extension of his legacy than a daughter. Outsiders probably knew more about him than she did.
Her mother, on the other hand, was a different story. As her father's second wife, she had entered the marriage for practical reasons—business acumen and connections—not love. Star had inherited her mother's beauty and intelligence, but they shared little else. Her mother ran a successful marketing and accounting firm and was perpetually busy. Even when she was home, her mind seemed miles away.
Star had grown accustomed to their absence, but today, she felt the weight of it a little more than usual.
As she ate her breakfast, a thought nagged at her. "Hey, how did I get home last night?" she asked the maid casually, popping a piece of sausage into her mouth.
The maid paused before answering, "A young man brought you home, miss. He identified himself as Danny, a friend from school."
Star froze, her fork hovering in mid-air. "Could you repeat that?"
The maid, unfazed, repeated, "A boy named Danny brought you home."
Her mind raced. Danny Fenton? The Danny Fenton? The thought was absurd, yet the pieces began to fit together. The fragments of last night were a blur, but this revelation sent shockwaves through her. She tried to recall the sequence of events.
She had been at the mall with Paulina, Hannah, Dash, and Kwan. It had been a typical day of shopping, gossiping, and harmless flirting. Afterward, she'd decided to head home on her own instead of waiting for her usual ride. That's when she met him—a handsome stranger who had charmed her into going to a nearby party. It had seemed harmless at the time.
Her memories beyond that were murky at best. There had been drinks, loud music, and unfamiliar faces. Then chaos. She recalled fear, shouting, and Danny—yes, Danny—fighting for her. The details were fuzzy, but the impression was clear. He had saved her. From what, exactly, she wasn't entirely sure, but the thought of what could have happened made her stomach churn.
Star sat back, her appetite forgotten as the realization sunk in. Danny Fenton, the boy she had barely noticed a few weeks ago, had risked himself for her. She hadn't seen him the same since his sudden transformation. The quiet, awkward boy had become confident and undeniably attractive. Even Dash, the school's golden boy and her former crush, seemed diminished in comparison.
Danny was different now, and Star couldn't help but notice. His strength, his demeanor, the way he carried himself—it was magnetic. She found her gaze drifting toward him in class, lingering a little too long. She had even caught herself walking toward him once or twice before Paulina intervened.
But what unsettled her most was the nagging feeling that Paulina wanted him back. Star wasn't blind. Her best friend was playing a waiting game, hoping Danny would come to her. And while Paulina had always been the center of attention, Star wasn't so sure Danny would fall into her trap this time.
Paulina was always prideful—her confidence radiated wherever she went. She had a way of commanding attention effortlessly, something even Star envied at times. But Star wasn't one to shy away from challenges. Unlike Paulina, who used charm and beauty as her primary tools, Star preferred directness and control over her life. This situation with Danny, however, had thrown her off balance. She hated the uncertainty and decided to tackle it head-on.
Danny's transformation over the past few days had been nothing short of astounding. It had been only two days since the incident with the ghost portal, and his life had shifted in ways he couldn't have imagined. The changes were more profound than Naruto's mere presence—now Danny wasn't just a boy with potential; he was something extraordinary. An alien. A halfling. A being connected to the supernatural.
But did Danny care about the labels? Not at all. His new powers were incredible, and he reveled in them. He could fly, turn invisible, phase through objects, possess people, and fire energy blasts. It was like every dream of having superpowers had come true, and the grin on his face seemed permanently etched.
Of course, these newfound abilities came with their own set of challenges. Danny had little control over them at first. He often found himself slipping through floors without intending to or hovering a few inches above the ground when he wasn't concentrating. Flying was an exhilarating but frustrating endeavor—half the time, he ended up crashing into walls or trees.
Naruto's guidance was invaluable, but Danny wasn't a prodigy. Naruto had given him the basic knowledge of controlling his powers, enough to avoid detection by others, but mastery would take time. Danny's friends, Tucker and Sam, along with his sister Jazz, were the only ones who knew about his abilities for now. Naruto had advised him to keep it that way until he was comfortable and ready to approach his parents.
Determined to improve, Danny threw himself into training, focusing on flight. His early attempts were chaotic—he crashed into buildings and ricocheted off rooftops. Still, he persevered. By the end of a grueling session, he managed to achieve a stable, basic level of flight. It wasn't perfect; he lacked the experience to fight effectively in the air, but it was a start. Danny realized Naruto's teaching philosophy: provide the foundation, and let the student build upon it through effort and experience.
After hours of training, Danny was covered in dirt and sweat. Fortunately, he was near the school, so he decided to use the athletic facilities to shower. The warm water cascading over his skin was a welcome relief after such an exhausting workout. Flying might have been thrilling, but it was also physically demanding, especially for someone still learning the ropes.
Danny found he preferred having something solid under his feet while flying, at least for now. To address this, Naruto had designed a shield platform—a marvel of engineering. It consisted of interlocking smaller shields connected to a gauntlet on Danny's left hand. The platform was controlled magnetically, allowing Danny to use it as a flying base. While effective, the shield was initially impractical due to its high energy consumption. But with Danny's transformation, his new energy reserves made the equipment viable again.
As he dried off and got dressed, Danny couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He was growing stronger every day, both physically and mentally. His powers, once uncontrollable and chaotic, were slowly becoming extensions of himself. The journey ahead was daunting, but Danny was ready to face it with unwavering determination.
Unbeknownst to him, Star had been watching his transformation from afar. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, admiration, and curiosity. For better or worse, Danny Fenton was no longer the boy she once overlooked. And she wasn't the only one taking notice.