Chapter2 : Sleepover #2

Danny walked out of the bathroom running a towel over his wet hair. Lacey tried to swallow the moisture that built in her throat at the sight of shirtless Danny. She kept telling herself. Do NOT drool.

"Umm. Here is a shirt." Lacey held up a t-shirt trying to advert her eyes from the left over beads of moisture on Danny's chest. Did I squeak that? Lacey popped her lips together feigning innocence.

"You know, Lace." Danny smirked as he brazenly checked Lacey out in her cotton tank and sleep pants. "You can do more than look if you want. I don't mind you touching."

Lacey picked up a pillow and smacked Danny upside the head. "Shut up."

That action caused Danny to proceed to tackle her on the bed. He began tickling her as she squirmed beneath him. Their laughter died down when they noticed how Danny's body was on top of hers. Lacey breathed out nervously. She reached up to push some strands of wet hair from Danny's face. Danny swallowed as he stared down at Lacey's lips.

"Although we only made out, people think we had sex." Lacey whispered as she felt her body heating up due to the close proximity of Danny's body.

"Do they?" Danny licked his lips before staring back up into Lacey's eyes. "Maybe we should squash those rumors."

"How?" Lacey whispered as she ran her hand up Danny's shoulder.

"Have sex so that it is true." Danny teased causing Lacey to giggle before shoving him off her.

She pushed hard as she said. "You're weird."

Danny's body collided with the floor. He looked up at Lacey. She had a satisfied smile on her face.

He winked as he stood up from the floor."I'm sixteen. I'm male. I think that wanting sex is normal when in the presence of a beautiful female."

"I'm not sure giving my virginity to a wanted man is wise." Lacey teased as she drew in her bottom lip.

"Really?" Danny crooked up his eyebrow. "We have a lot in common when it comes to that. Come on. Taking each other's virginity. Now that would be epic for me before I go to prison and Big Bubba tries to make me his b#%ch."

Lacey blushed despite Danny not noticing due to her dark skin. She started to flirt back when a knock sounded on her bedroom door. Judy yelled from the other side.

"Hurry, under the bed." Lacey pointed but Danny was already half way under as he scurried to hide.

Lacey straightened herself out as she walked to the door. She unlocked it. "Mom, what do you want? I was trying to sleep."

"Lacey Porter, why is your door locked?" Judy marched in and sat on the bed. "And what was that loud thud?"

Lacey noticed Danny's jacket sticking slightly out from the bed so she subtly walked over and kicked it back under before sitting beside her mother.

"I always lock my door when I want Clara to stay out. I'm tired. I tripped." Lacey pretended to yawn. "Exhaustion makes me clumsy. It has been a trying week with Danny getting expelled. Jo having her melt down in front of the whole school board."

"I heard about that." Judy shook her head. "Poor child. Do you think her and Danny have a thing?"

"No." Lacey answered almost too quickly. "I don't think Danny sees her like that. Why?"

"Well, it's all over the news. Danny Desai is on the run. They found Regina's murder weapon. His prints were on it. That kid will be going up for life this time." Judy patted Lacey's arm. "I'm glad you had a level head and never fooled with him. But I thought I'd warn you. The news is saying he's armed and dangerous." Judy stood up. "I'll let you sleep. Lock your window too. Not that he'd come here. But you never know when it comes to psychopaths."

Judy walked out leaving Lacey to follow behind her and lock her door again.

"I can feel the love. I take it she doesn't know about our famous acting debut." Danny said as he slid out from under the bed.

"No. I'm not about to tell her. If mom knew about that video, she'd go ballistic and dad.." Lacey shook her head side to side. "They'd blame each other and start yelling."

Danny saw that the subject of her parents made Lacey uncomfortable. Therefore, he deflected. "Didn't she used to say what a cute couple we'd make when we were kids? She teased us relentlessly."

"I guess a mother changes her mind when the cute little boy becomes a killer." Lacey wrinkled up her nose and giggled.

"This is true." Danny laughed as he plopped on the bed. "How did they get I'm armed and dangerous? I guess dangerous makes sense considering I'm framed for murdering Regina. But armed?"

Lacey crawled in bed beside Danny. "Danny..." She swallowed nervously. "Why would they say that?"

She feared she knew the answer but wanted him to make her see something differently. However, Danny didn't lie to her.

"That way if they see me, they can shoot first and ask questions later." Danny closed his eyes. "What am I going to do?"

"Stay here." Lacey suggested. "Until we can figure this out and figure out where you can go, you have to stay here. That fuss at the diner may help us after all. They won't think I'd help you. You'll be safe for now."

"Do you think it will be that easy hiding me considering you have a sister and a mother living here too?" Danny ran his hand through his hair.

"Believe me. It is a rarity that Clara is around. She has all these gymnastics practices and has friends galore. She spends a lot of time at their house. Mom is wrapped up in Clara's life too as well as her work. Not to mention, mom is on the prowl for a new man. They're not around much. You should know that by all the times you snuck in the window." Lacey settled back against a pile of pillows.

"Honestly, my goal wasn't to check out if your mom and sister were home." Danny winked as he stood up from the bed. "You really do look exhausted. Let me have one of those pillows. I'll make a bed in the floor."

"Danny..." Lacey bit her bottom lip. She hesitated as she stared at him for a while before speaking. "Can you sleep in the bed with me? Just sleep." Lacey breathed out trying to think of an excuse for her request. "I mean because what if mom comes back? It would be difficult to explain why there are pillows and blankets on the floor."

Danny crawled in bed beside her. "Yeah. That makes sense."

He wanted to thank her for the suggestion. Danny really felt alone and frightened. Having Lacey near him while he slept was less frightening.

They both settled down ignoring the fact that their bodies automatically migrated to each other. Danny spooned Lacey as he placed his chin on her shoulder. Lacey took Danny's hand pulling his arm around her. She entangled their fingers.

She whispered as she closed her eyes. "We're going to get through this."