Danny finally felt like he was beginning to fit in with the soccer team. It was one of the more pleasant experiences of his day: kicking, blocking, strategizing… and being really good at it. He liked that he was the top one or two players on the team. Its why he was surprised that the coach said he wanted to try out a new strategy and switch his position with Cole's. It didn't matter too much though - Danny would still be starting. After a promise to Cole to work out together again the next morning, Danny started walking over to where Archie and Lacey were talking near the edge of the field. From their body language it seemed that perhaps the couple were not in perfect sync this morning.
"Hello Lacey" Danny stepped up to them. "Did you walk all the way over here just to watch me practice?" He grinned at Lacey who looked gorgeous as usual clad in a navy hoodie and jeans, with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. That girl could be wearing dirty moldy rags and her beauty would undoubtedly shine through.
Archie immediately turned and snarled "Keep walking freak."
"Sorry captain, I was just being polite to your girlfriend." said Danny with a grin. "I didn't mean to upset you". Well, of course that wasn't quite true. Danny knew exactly what he was doing. He knew that Archie would get upset and lose his temper in front of Lacey. He knew that Lacey and Archie's relationship would crack just a tiny bit more. Keeping his voice light and slightly humorous, staying calm and unfazed - these were definitive choices on his part to act as a counter to Archie's hotheadedness. In juvie, Danny had been diagnosed as having sociopathic tendencies, which explained why he often didn't feel anything for anyone else. And so he didn't really care if he broke this couple up as long as he got what he wanted and that was for Lacey to be back in his life as a friend and also something more.
"Such BS" flared Archie. "You live to upset me." That, thought Danny, was not completely inaccurate. He venomously added "Psycho".
Before Danny could respond, he heard Lacey say "Archie stop it!" He turned to her, the casual smirk leaving his face. "Just, its enough. Enough with the psycho and the freak. Its all exhausting and kind of awful." Both Danny and Archie were stunned.
Archie muttered "I'm going to wash off because I'm all so sweaty" as he turned and stalked off towards the gym. Lacey watched him go.
Danny appeared thoughtful. This was a major development. Lacey had stood up to Archie for him - in public. That was progress and exactly what he had been waiting for. She was starting to see the jealous, insecure jerk jock that was the core of Archie. Soon, she would be habitually comparing Danny's calm self possession and sensitivity with Archie's typical BMOC demeanor.
"Thank you for saying that" said Danny, gazing at her. Gone was the smirk and the slight edge of teasing he had used on Archie. In its place was complete sincerity.
"Yeah, I'll see you later" Lacey answered, and left. Danny had hoped for some more conversation, but it seemed that Lacey was still conflicted and in denial. He watched her go, determined that next time he would not let her get away without a confrontation.
The next day at school, he sat next to Jo and Rico on the steps leading to the North hall of the school building. He noticed that Rico was not really speaking to him. He didn't really care but he knew that allies were important, so he asked "Rico, have I done anything to upset you?".
Jo answered for him "Rico's just really nutty about the PSATs". Danny asked if Jo had heard from Lacey lately since they hadn't all really talked since the Connecticut trip. Jo said Lacey was spending more time with Archie. Danny felt a flash of pain deep within. He knew he didn't feel emotions in the same way as other people but he did have an attachment to a very limited number of individuals. Jo and Lacey were two of them; his mother was probably the 3rd. That was pretty much it. And the thought of Lacey spending more time with that bastard Archie when she should rightfully be at his side was enraging. He knew there was some hurt mingled with the anger and jealousy, but that was a less useful emotion so he put it aside.
At soccer practice that day, the coach told the team that Danny would be back to being a Forward because Cole was in the hospital with food poisoning. Archie called attention to the fact that Danny was with Cole that morning and the rest of the team gave him suspicious glances. Danny was surprised but shrugged it off. He didn't wish Cole harm; Cole was useful to him. Right as practice finished, he got a text from Lacey: "Please meet me outside the school library at lunchtime but don't tell anyone." His heart leaped just a little. A secret meeting? Bring it on!