Danny was almost arrested the night the Police Department found the "murder weapon" which was used to kill Regina Crane. But then hours later some other kind of "evidence" was found that does not accuse Danny. What could it be?
It's been weeks since he has talked to Jo or Lacey. He has tried to reach out to Jo, but she never receives him. He can't let this be the end of their friendship; he cares for her so much. He hasn't attempted to talk to Lacey, she was very clear the last time they spoke, she wished he had never come back. It hurts him, just thinking about it. He thinks about her all the time, he wants to be near her, know what she's doing, who is she with; what she's thinking.
He had agreed with Cole they were going to meet up at Johnny Cakes for some lunch. As he went inside Johnny Cakes, he saw a familiar face on one of the booths, it was Rico.
Rico looked up and waved; Danny smiled and went towards him, "Hey Rico, What's up long time no see". Rico sets his chemistry notebook on the side and says "yeah yeah i haven't been out too much, you know go to school, go home, study, go to school, study". Danny chuckles "Isn't that what you always do". Rico nods his head and says "but i haven't come here for a while, trying to not see Jo, but now thinking of it, she wouldn't be here when she has this hot new shark boyfriend who takes her to different "cool" places and stuff".
Dannys sits down on the booth asks him "So she's still hangning out with Tyler?".
"Yeah yeah" Rico replies. As Rico was going to ask him what he was doing here, Cole comes right up to the booth. "Hey man sorry i was running a little late" Cole and Danny give each other fives. Danny slides down the booth and says "No Problem". Rico sits there awkwardly. "Hey Cole you haven't met Rico yet have you?" "Yeah hey Rico, I think I had you last year in one of my classes' right?",
"um um yeah a Few Classes I think". "Cool" danny said. "So what are you guys gonna order?", all of a sudden some guy flicks Cole's head, Cole turns defensively and then laughs "Chris brother what a surprise!"they give each other a pat in the back.
"What are you doing in the Green Grove territory?" Cole continues.
"Just visiting". Chris looked a couple years older, his voice was very deep, very defined biceps.
"Cool, let me present you to my friends here, this is Rico, and this Danny." Chris nods his head up and down "what's up, ready to get some lunch I see". Danny politely offers "do you want to join us?" .
"Thanks man, but (looks at Cole) I'm suppose to meet here with Sarita and Lacey".
Danny's mind goes blank, is like his stomach sank to the floor; that name. The name of the person he's been trying to avoid thinking about. Rico looks at Danny. Danny looks at Rico. And Cole answers with an "oh". Chris turns his head "here they come... I'll catch up with you later Cole, nice to meet you Rico, Danny". Rico awkwardly nods his head. Danny stays silent just looking at him. Cole says "see you later".
Danny didn't know what to do, should he turn around, leave, he couldn't believe she was here, after not seeing her all the past weeks; he didn't know how to react. Cole leaves the booth to go to the bathroom.
"So... Have you, have you talked to Lacey?". Danny looks up at Rico "no". "So this is weird right?" Rico says. Having no time to answer he hears Sarita's voice saying "I don't want to sit so close to the entrance, let's sit in the back booth". He hears the steps coming behind him, Sarita passes by him, not realizing he was there. Then he sees Rico's face awkwardly smiling looking up, "Hi Rico!" Her voice said. She got closer to the booth and then she saw him, he saw her. It's like the word stop moving for both of them. "Lacey" he finally was able to spill out.
Lacey was still shocked to see him there, after such a long time, and everything going down with the murder case. "Hey .. Danny". She said his name kind of cold, he didn't like it. She smiles and continued "so um, how's everything going?" . "Great" Danny replied, both knowing that wasn't true.
Cole came back to the booth and said "Hey Lacey" , Lacey smiled and said "Hey Cole, saw you at practice yesterday, you were great!". "Thanks, been working hard" he replied. "Yes, so I'll see you guys around" looking at Cole then at Rico. "Yep" Cole said. Lacey goes and sits with Sarita and Chris.
Danny saw her walk away, she moved so gracefully. Lacey sat next to Sarita both facing Chris, who was giving his back to Danny's booth.
"So that wasn't that awkward right?" Rico interrupts Danny's thoughts. Cole laughs and asks "so did you and Lacey finally have an understanding after that whole drama with the video?". Danny looks confused, "What do you mean an understanding?". Cole continues "well i mean she seems like she's cool with everything now, so i thought you guys talked it out". "Not really" Danny said. Danny's mind couldn't help but think what Cole meant.
Trying to get Lacey out of his mind Danny asks Cole how does he know Chris, Cole says he knew him because they used to practice soccer together, he used to live in Green Grove but moved an hour away to the town Lakeview. "so when he used to live here he met lacey and her friends? Danny asked curiously. "Well actually Chris is Sarita's cousin, so I guess that's how Lacey knows him, Chris is nowhere near devilries like his cousin, only when it comes to Soccer is when his claws come out, he's a chill dude." ...through the whole lunch he kept glancing at Lacey, not even once she looked his away. It didn't even seem like she was avoiding him.