Slightly AU, the story picks up one year after episode 1x09 (Lacey and Danny's break up). The story assumes that their relationship was never exposed and there was no tape of Lacey and Danny's hook up floating around the town.

Lacey sat pondering, contemplating her decisions over the past year, and her current decision to return to Greengrove. She knew that going back would be different. Lacey had intentionally distanced herself from all of her friends: Sarita, Phoebe, Scott, Archie...Danny. Jo too, but she knew that her relationship with Jo never warranted much contact or communication. Unfortunately their friendship never fully recovered from the years they lost as a result of the trauma of Danny's ordeal with his aunt Tara.

Lacey recalled why she'd left Greengrove to begin with. This memory she recalled quite vividly. After being skeptical of Danny when he first got out of juvie, Lacey grew warm to him. Although most of the town was convinced otherwise, Lacey tried to believe in Danny's innocence when Regina Crane was murdered and alongside he and Jo, even made efforts to clear Danny's name. But Regina was her best friend, so from fear, Lacey was not quick to embrace Danny with a warm and friendly welcome at first. She just wanted to forget all he put her through the years prior, and all the drama that attached itself to the name of Daniel Desai. But Lacey knew the 11 year old boy who she once called best friend. She knew his character, and that although he'd made a mistake with his aunt before, he did not kill Regina. So she stood by him. She allowed herself to fall slowly, reluctantly and then fully and helplessly in love with him.

Lacey risked a lot to be with Danny, even though their union remained a secret. She had to look at her friends, friends who were mutually friends of Regina, Regina's own mother, Lacey's mother, everyone in town who knew and loved Regina suspected - with good reason - that Danny killed the girl. When they were together at the time, not a day went by that Lacey did not feel guilty for keeping their relationship a secret. She did regret making him feel as if she were embarrassed to be with him. She was not embarrassed of him, but she was afraid. Selfish as it may sound, Lacey had worked hard to make a name for herself in that town while Danny was in juvie. A reputable name, she had to reinvent herself to get rid of the stigma of being friends with a boy who murdered his aunt. She did not want to be identified as a victim, a weak, defenseless and scared victim wallowing in self-pity. No, Lacey worked hard to erase that label, and she did not want her name tainted again by being associated with an alleged two-time killer, not if the allegations had any ounce of truth, and especially not if Danny proved not to deserve her love.

Lacey did not plan to keep them a secret forever. If things had gone smoothly, she was prepared to risk her name for the sake of the sake of being with him, but when she found out that Danny had lied about having had Regina Crane's necklace, one that connected him to the crime, she was crushed, ruined. Lacey could not bear to look at him let alone be near him, so she moved with her dad in New York City where she comfortably evaded the past, that is up until now. Although staring intently out of the window, Lacey had not been paying attention to her surroundings. What did cause her to take a snap back into the reality was a sign that made her stomach churn with nervous anxiety. It read: 'Welcome to Greengrove.'

…

Gossip in the halls of Greengrove High

-"So Sara heard from Jenny who heard Katie's best friend Emily tell Mileena's cousin Kristin that Lacey Porter is coming back to Greengrove...But you didn't hear it from me."

-"Have you heard, Lacey Porter is back?"

- Lacey Porter? Wasn't she a bitch?

-No, that was Regina Crane...she's dead.

- Oh, Lacey, wow, she's back?

-"I heard she went to boarding school."

-"I thought she got signed with some modeling agency in New York."

-"I heard she just got out of rehab for a sex addiction."

"Funny, I have to find out from social media that my old best friend, who went completely AWOL for an entire year, without warning, is back in town."

"I'm sorry Sarita," Lacey said genuinely, "I wanted it to be a surprise."

Sarita rolled her eyes. Not really buying into her friend's story.

"I got you a Nicole Farhi original gown modeled by Coco Rocha at fashion week in New York." Lacey smiled hopefully.

Sarita, too superficial to deny the gift, accepted her apology with reluctance. "Fine. Welcome back, but you're still not off the hook." She hugged Lacey graciously.

"Oh. My. Gosh. Oh my gosh!" Phoebe dashed across the courtyard to greet Lacey and Sarita as they made their way into the school building.

"Pheebs!"

"Lacey! What are you doing here? You look ah-mazing!"

"You look good too!" Lacey enthused.

"Oh please, I look like a fat lard in this skirt...It's wash day." Phoebe noted. Lacey chuckled to herself. "Anyway, we have so much to catch up on!"

"Um, excuse you." Sarita butted in. "Lacey and I have Physics first period, you're in Home Ec. Buh-bye now." Sarita had clearly become annoyed within the thirty seconds Phoebe had been in her presence. It was nice to see that some things never changed, Lacey thought to herself, but she did not feel like listening to the two girls bicker amongst themselves.

"We were having a conversation. Who put you in charge?"

"God." Sarita remarked, her arms crossed wearing an unmoved cynical expression on her face that was reminiscent of an angry cat.

"I'll disregard the rudeness since I know you're under a whole lot of pressure with Lacey being back and all, and since you have to now go back to being the lowly sidekick again."

"I am not a lowly sidekick! What does that make you then Phoebe? The nameless bitch who's only popular through association?"

"Hey, I'm gonna go catch up with someone." Neither of them heard Lacey say. They were too busy attacking each other verbally. Lacey saw Danny retrieving books from his locker at the end of the hall. He looked good, laid back and kind of rugged with his long hair pulled back under an ash grey slouchy beanie, a rusty green button up, undone with his favorite Nirvana t-shirt underneath. Lacey hadn't a clue what she would say once she approached him, but she wanted more than anything to speak to him. Danny was wearing earplugs and had yet to look into her direction, still she continued to make her way near him.

"Lacey." She was stopped in her tracks. "I was hoping we could uh- talk." A boy said shyly.

"Archie-"

"Look, I know that you ended things and I know it's been a while since you've been gone. But I've really...really missed you." He spoke softly pleading with his eyes for another chance with her. "Whatever I did to make you-"

"Arch.." Lacey was caught off guard by his insinuation. She had not spoken to Archie she'd broken up with him to be with Danny over a year ago. She started to tell him that she had no interest in being anything more than just friends, as she peered over his shoulder, Lacey noticed that Danny was walking in the opposite direction down the hall, heading to his next class. "I have to get to class. I'm sorry."

…

As he was walking to his first period class, Danny was snatched but a young woman who led him into a broom closet nearby. Jo pinned Danny into a corner, breathing heavily, she began to assault him with passionate kisses. She pulled herself from him only to say.

"I want you, now."

"Now?" Danny was caught off guard but pleasantly surprised by his girlfriend's impromptu decision to lose her virginity to him in the spur of the moment...and at school…in a broom closet. It was totally unconventional which turned him on even more. He and Jo had been dating for three months and had yet to do the deed. Danny hadn't pressured her about it nor did he even mentioned the subject because he he did not want to complicate things and he knew it would be weird for her if she knew they would not be losing their virginities together. He and Jo had been through so much together. Best friends since their childhood. They told each other everything. Well, almost everything.

Jo unfastened his belt, not giving him a chance to respond. And Danny didn't stop her. He became lost in the moment, ready to completely surrender himself in that moment, until he heard footsteps in the hallway. He opened his eyes to see an auburn skinned beauty with glossy black hair and a strut of confidence and aloofness.

"Lacey." His heart dropped when he saw her walk by.

"What?" Jo could barely hear what he said.

"I um. I said "baby." We shouldn't do this, not here. Not now. I want your first time to be special." He caressed Jo on the cheek.

"Our first time," she corrected him with a smile.

"Right," Danny cleared his throat and avoided eye contact at all cost. "We should probably get to class."