Aggressive Danny
Lacey had always both feared and admired Danny's aggression. When they were kids, his pushiness had always gotten them the best toys on the playground, everyone too scared to go up against that Desai kid. He was bold enough to say what Lacey was thinking, but too shy and proper to say, always voicing her concerns without prompting. In these ways, she admired his aggressive nature. It was no easy thing to constantly stand up for yourself, demanding your just deserts, while also protecting and caring for those around you.
In the back of her mind, though, she always knew that one day he would go too far, making a mistake that would undoubtedly change all of their lives. There was a sparkle, more of a twinkle really, that would come to his eyes right before an argument or physical altercation. At first, Lacey thought she had been imagining it, but as he began to cause more and more trouble, the fights becoming more frequent and dangerous, she knew she was right. There was something not all together right about Danny.
She tried to talk to him, but he brushed aside her worry, reasoning that everything he did was in defense of himself, her and Jo. He stated that there wasn't anything wrong with him, that he didn't like fighting, and it was the other children's fault for going against him. Ending the conversation, he kissed her on the cheek, taking her hand to lead her to the swing set in his backyard.
"I'll swing you as high as you want to go," he promised her, hoping to distract her with her favorite activity. Lacey was one of his best friends, and he didn't want to lie to her anymore, knowing he could never tell her the truth.
Lacey allowed the change in conversation as she settled on the swing. She promised herself that she would talk to him about it later, not letting him out of the discussion as she just had. That was the week before his murdered his aunt.
