Chapter Three: Lemons Don't Always Make Lemonade
The fall leaves crunched beneath her suede boots as Lacey made her way across McNally Park. She hesitated long enough to see a squirrel retrieve an acorn before scurrying up a nearby tree. That small acorn seemed like such a treasure to the grayish brown animal. Lacey's mind flitted to wondering how many more acorns were hidden away in the hollowed out living space in the tree.
Lacey flipped back her raven locks of hair to better see things around her. She had opted to dress up for no particular reason besides the fact that she had cried all night. Thus, she needed something to concentrate on the following morning instead of the reason for her tears.
Her cerise colored sweater hugged her upper torso nicely as well as accentuated her black legging pants. The dyed suede boots touched the bottom of her knees that led down to her three inch high heel. The boots caused her already long legs to look longer. If any one saw her, they would swear that she was a page ripped out of a fashion magazine.
The rumbling in her stomach reminded her she hadn't eaten yet. However, she feared taking in food as it seemed to come right back up. She didn't want her mother hearing her vomiting on another morning. Truth be told, Lacey didn't want to feel the nausea that came with food. Eating was her favorite pastime at one time. Now, she loathed the thought of biting into any thing.
She hadn't seen Danny in four days. Charges had been pressed against him for Regina's murder. Lacey hadn't been back to school having convinced her mother she had a stomach bug. Judy wanted to take Lacey to the doctor's office but she refused. Her words to her mother were stated matter of fact. She would get over the virus.
Lacey sat down on a nearby bench staring out over the wooded area. It was here that Danny had tried in vain to have a first date. Lacey closed her eyes remembering how he wanted nothing more but to be hers for that night. She realized all he wanted was normalcy. She had failed to give that to him. Now, it may be too late for Danny Desai to ever have a normal life. Guilt plagued her mind as she thought of being the one person that told him that he could find happiness. She realized she had ripped that happiness away only days after. When she ripped the happiness away from Danny, she also ripped it away from herself.
Her mind raced with memories of his touches and his kisses. She thought of the pureness in each moment they spent with one another. Then Lacey thought of her ignorance in those situations as well. They never used protection. It was never brought up not once. Although, Lacey had told Danny the moment after their first sexual encounter that she was on birth control. That was true. She felt like she was safe. After all, Danny Desai and she were both virgins.
Lacey glanced down at her purse where the plastic stick lay hidden. She picked up the piece of plastic grasping it tightly. Lacey walked over to the small bridge that crossed over McNally Lake. She closed her eyes as she held her breath. Lacey pulled back her arm before harshly throwing the white plastic into the murky water. After all, wasn't that water where all evidence of things needed hidden were to go?
She turned to go not really understanding why she chose to throw the offending object away there. Her mind raced to almost being caught buying that detestable thing.
There were so many choices. All she wanted was to put her fears to rest. That's all. But nothing ever came easy for Lacey. Life had to keep throwing lemons at her. One can only make so much lemonade until they are sick of it. She closed her eyes tightly trying to stop her heart from palpitating too quickly. She cursed her nerves as well as her emotions. Was she really going to start to cry in public? NO. She refused to cry in private. There was no way strangers would see her tears.
"Did Socio knock you up?" The familiar voice caused Lacey to cringe.
She looked back over her shoulder to see Archie, Sarita, Janna, and Scott all standing behind her. Lacey quickly grabbed up an object to deflect them. One would call it luck that condoms sat right beside of pregnancy tests. Or one would call it bad luck. It was difficult to tell which it was in this case.
"What?" Lacey stood up straight holding a box of condoms. "What did you say, Archie?"
"Oh. I wasn't aware they allowed congeal visits at Green Grove Police Department." Archie teased causing the others to follow suit. All but Sarita who had her patent scowl on her face.
"Danny may make bail." Lacey straightened her shoulders realizing that she had grabbed condoms. What was she thinking? Anything but the obvious.
"Seriously?" Sarita snapped. "Are you willing to make that mistake twice with that killer?"
Lacey bit her lip before trying desperately to redeem the situation. She held her breath before stating with a straight face. "Oh, you're right, Sarita." Lacey placed the condoms back on the shelf. She swallowed before picking up another box. "Danny needs extra large. Those were way too small."
The four gave Lacey a deplorable look before walking away from her. Lacey closed her eyes before grabbing the nearest pregnancy test. She marched to the counter after making sure that the snarky bunch were no longer in the drug store. She realized that the older clerk never checked I.D. They were probably in there to purchase alcohol.
Lacey placed the items on the counter as she tried to avoid eye contact. The pudgy female with greasy hair chortled slightly.
"Well, we don't take returns of these items."
"What?" Lacey frowned at the woman.
"If your pregnant, you can't return the condoms." She shrugged as she popped her gum. "Just sayin'. "
After paying, Lacey grabbed up her the plastic bag and marched away quickly.
Life was always throwing lemons at her. She was too exhausted to make lemonade this time around.