Chapter 2

For 5 minutes Phoebe held Lacey without saying a word. During this time all Lacey could think of was how she felt lonely ever since she choose Danny over everything. Over everyone. she cried even harder. Lacey felt this wasn't the time or place to have a heart to heart with Phoebe. Lacey breaks away from the embrace. Lacey noticed Phoebe's blouse was drenched with her tears. She covered her mouth hiding her beautiful smile.

"What?" Phoebe smiled."Is there something in my teeth?" Phoebe made a funny face by picking her teeth with her tongue making Lacey laugh. "Aww Lace. You are so beautiful."

Lacey looked down playing with her fingers. "Phoebs. Thank you..for that. I really needed that."

Phoebe walked over to Lacey and grabbed her hands. "Lacey...during that whole thing with Regina...you weren't... mean. Aside from you going Hulk on me at the grief session." Phoebe and Lacey laugh." I don't know exactly how to put it, but I know a good friend...a good person when I see one."

"Phoebe I felt so alone and you have brought me great ...something" Lacey truly couldn't express how good Phoebe made her feel. Lacey felt there was a rock lifted off her shoulder. However, Lacey knew she had a long way to gain her confidence back. "I don't think I'm up for this evil place they call high school. My mom won't be home until late. Wanna ditch?"

"You betcha" Phoebe said while doing a little dance. She stop when she seen a 'what are you doing' look on Lacey's face."Too much." Lacey couldn't help but smile. She grabbed Phoebe's hand. "Let's go you fool."

The halls were quiet. Lacey and Phoebe share small talk while walking to Lacey's locker to get her car keys.
"Lacey we've missed you. Even though Sarita won't admit she does too." Phoebe was very giddy. Phoebe continued to ramble about all of the drama Lacey missed out on. Lacey was getting a very positive vibe from her. Something Lacey truly needed at this moment. Although Lacey was in a somewhat of good place, she was still afraid. She was afraid Sarita wouldn't accept her back. She was afraid the whole school would see her different. A bad different. Even though Danny is somewhat in the "cool kids", it is not because of his charm. People see dollar signs when they look at Danny. Lacey kissed her teeth. Quite frankly thinking of Danny pissed her off.

"Lacey are you OK?" Phoebe said interrupting Lacey's thoughts. Lacey turned to realized she was so deep in her thought she passed her locker where Phoebe was standing.

"Pfft. Sorry about that." Lacey walked over to her locker and began entering her combination code." So do you wanna get your stuff and meet me at my car? The last thing we need on our records is detention for skipping"

"Oh right. See you in 5." Phoebe jogged down the and made a left.

Lacey opened her locker and put her books in. While rushing to put everything in the locker her Economics text fell to the floor. "Crap." Lacey said under her breath. She decided to leave the book on the floor while she got her locker organized. Lacey looked at her watched. It was 10:14 am. Lacey and Phoebe had to hurry because at 10:25am, the security guards lock the parking lock gates to prevent students from going off campus for lunch. A new rule that Lacey thought was ridiculous. We all know how it goes 'It takes one to ruin it for everybody.'.

"Excuse me. You dropped your book."

"Oh Thank-." Lacey looked to right and immediately rolled her eyes.

"What are you doing here Archie? I thought you were expelled." She took the book from Archie and placed it in her locker. She grabbed her purse and closed the door to her locker.

"Well its nice to see you too." Lacey shot him a look.

'Um..my mom kinda made it happened" Archie said as he watched Lacey cross her arms and tilt her head to the right. "Lace you must really hate me right now-"

"I mean yeah considering you poisoned an innocent person to frame another." Lacey threw her hands up. She felt her temperature rise. "I gotta go. Welcome back to Green Grove."

Lacey walked away from Archie who looked troubled. A part of her felt justified for being short with Archie. Of course, why wouldn't she? He poisoned Cole to get at Danny.

Danny. Am I mad at Archie for poisoning Cole? Or am I mad because he framed Danny?

Lacey sighed. She felt conflicted. The ordeal with Danny is now clouding her judgement. Lacey made it to her car dodging 3 guards in the process.

Where in the hell is Phoebe?

Lacey walked to the passenger side of the car to see Phoebe kneeling. "Where have you been? Mr. Andrews almost wrote me." Phoebe said while fix her clothes. Lacey unlocked the doors and they both got in. Lacey turned on the car and they both put on their seatbelts.
"Sorry. How did you get away?" Lacey asked while pulling out of the parking space.
'Ugh don't ask." Phoebe said while fixing her make up in a mirror. Lacey laughed and headed home.