Chapter 35: Thinking of the Future
Jo shoved at Danny's shoulder. "Danny….Danny.." She whispered but Danny didn't budge.
"Mr. Desai!" Mr. Lockhart slammed a book on Danny's desk. Danny jerked awake almost falling from his seat. The class burst into laughter causing Danny's face to redden. "Ms. Masterson was trying to warn you to wake up. Remain after class."
"But I have to see my…." Danny tried to explain but was interrupted by an irate Mr. Lockhart.
"Mr. Desai, I'm sure your girlfriend can eat lunch without you."
"No…I mean…I eat lunch with my son and her…" Danny rubbed his tired eyes as he stammered out.
Once again Mr. Lockhart interrupted this time exerting his authority. "YOU will stay. This is not open for negotiation."
Mr. Lockhart was a young single teacher. He felt no remorse for this young man who wasn't responsible enough to use protection. The bell rang and all students but Danny filed out of the class. Sarita and Archie stood by the door eavesdropping on the student -teacher conversation.
"Danny, this has been the third day this week you have fallen asleep during class." Mr. Lockhart walked around Danny encircling his desk. Danny started to stand but Mr. Lockhart told him to sit back down. Danny was an intimidating presence to all the staff at Green Grove due to his past. Thus, the illusion of authority would be stripped from him if Danny stood up.
"I'm sorry Ryker has his days and nights mixed up. He is four months old and wakes up to play. Lacey has been getting up with him but they still wake me." Danny yawned before finishing. "I have been working late evenings. Lacey can no longer breast feed so I have to buy formula." Danny didn't want Mr. Lockhart to feel sorry for him. However, he wanted Mr. Lockhart to understand it was not intentional to fall asleep.
"Mr. Desai." So antagonizing. "That isn't my concern. My class is my concern." Mr. Lockhart placed a stack of papers on Danny's desk. "You have went from straight A's to C- average. You need to pick those grades back up before the end of the semester. With your past, you will need scholarships because I highly doubt there will be grants handed out to an ex-convict. These are scholarships you need to work for. You may be interested in this one particular university." Mr. Lockhart pointed to a certain paper. "You're a junior in high school. This university offers a summer internship for junior and seniors. If you have enough credit hours, you can start the university after the summer and graduate early. This would be good for you. You need to quit slacking."
"I'll pick up my grade but I have to work." Danny was glancing over the papers as Mr. Lockhart spoke. "I can't go to this college anyway."
"I don't understand." Mr. Lockhart crossed his arms confused at Danny's lack of interest in this offer.
"The scholarship is for an summer internship then followed up by immediate entry to Metropolitan University. Lacey will only be a senior in high school when I am a Freshman at college. I have to attend a school in this area until she graduates." Danny fumbled through the papers. He really hated giving up this opportunity . It would help his mother so much and himself. However, what about his family?
"Danny, I can't believe you are throwing your future away for a girl." Mr. Lockhart leaned against his desk with arms still folded in front of him.
"No offense, Mr. Lockhart. Lacey is more than a girlfriend. She is my fiancé and the mother of my children. I can't just leave her to pursue a future without her. I can't just leave my children either." Danny bit his lip. "I thank you for the thought but Lacey, Ryker, and Hannah come first."
"What about your future, Danny? I know you want to be a writer. College will be expensive for even a well to do family. A single mother's son can't pass opportunities like this up. Most of the time the Bryce Foundation only offers this scholarship to New York City High School candidates. However, because Sen. Gason's wife is looking and researching more small towns at this time, the scholarship has opened up for students here. You are the only one the staff wants due to your mistreatment when you first returned. WE want the first candidate from Green Grove High to be a success. You're the only student we have that has such potential in your writing ability. You're not thinking of your future." Mr. Lockhart thought Danny would be celebrating not declining this offer.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lockhart." Danny stood up and grabbed his books. He walked to the door and turned back to look at Mr. Lockhart. "You are wrong about me not thinking of the future. Lacey and my children are my future." Danny left leaving Mr. Lockhart dumbfounded.
Sarita hid as Danny walked by. She then walked back into the class and up to Mr. Lockhart. "Mr. Lockhart, may I have that information?"
"No offense, Sarita. Danny Desai is the only one considered for this." He picked up the papers. "For some reason, the senator's wife wants to make up for Danny's false imprisonment and make a success story of Danny as a reformed delinquent. Everyone knows the Sen. Gason's wife chooses large cities in hopes of reformation of inner city kids. She only chose Green Grove because of Danny's history."
"I know. I think his mother should be informed about what Danny is doing to his future for a girl." Sarita put on a mischievous smile.
"I see." Mr. Lockhart smiled and handed Sarita the packet of information.
"He is adorable." Jason picked up a giggling Ryker and bounced him on his knee.
"Thanks. He looks like Danny. Hannah looks more like me. " Lacey explained proudly. "I wonder where Danny is. He was supposed to be here for lunch."
"I never met him. I'm sure there is a good reason for his absence." Jason smiled at Lacey flirty.
Lacey smiled and rustled Ryker's hair. There was something about Jason that was refreshing. Around Danny, Lacey felt like a mom and a lover. Around Jason, she became the seventeen year old girl again. She wasn't attracted to him in any way romantically. No, that wasn't even a thought in her head. Danny was the only one she wanted to be that way with. However, Jason made her feel young as she was. He made her forget dirty diapers, costly formula, fading stretch marks, late night feedings, worries of sick little Hannah and even sexual rendezvous. Danny was a constant reminder that she had to grow up.
"Do you want to go to the carnival tonight?" Jason asked as he continued to bounce the boy on his knee.
"I…I can't." Lacey couldn't believe she hesitated but she did. "Danny has to work. I have Ryker and need to see Hannah."
"Bring him along. It could be fun watching him play. I can wait for you to see Hannah before we go. " Jason leaned over and brushed the hair from Lacey's face.
"I can't." Lacey said disappointed.
"Maybe some other time." Jason handed Ryker to Megan, the girl in charge of the nursery.
"Thanks, Megan." Lacey stated. Each girl was responsible to take care of the nursery. Lacey had just finished her shift. All girls had to take their child for lunch.
However, the last ten minutes of lunch was for down time for the mommies. Therefore, the girls had different lunch times. Megan walked away with Ryker in tow.
"So, do you ever get free time to spend with friends?" Jason lay back and leaned on his elbow staring up at Lacey.
"I don't really have friends." Lacey twisted her shirt between her fingers.
"Well, now you do." Jason flirted. Lacey giggled with her best school girl laugh.
"Hey." Danny walked over and plopped down. "Where is Ryker ?" Danny didn't like this stranger sitting so close to Lacey. However, he was sure it was innocent on Lacey's part.
"Megan took him already." Lacey explained. Why did she feel disappointed that Danny showed up?
Danny took Lacey's hand but she jerked it away. She didn't understand why she did that. Jason smirked at Danny. Danny felt the shame at his own fiancé jerking away from him.
"Oh…I'm sorry I missed him." Danny gulped trying to swallow the hurt he tasted in his throat. "I…I will see you at home." Danny stood up and left.
Lacey wanted to cry. She could kick herself for hurting him. "I have to go, Jason." Lacey jumped up to follow Danny.
Danny walked down behind a building that no one ever went. It was near the old cafeteria dumpster. Therefore, it stunk. Danny rubbed his temples trying to stop his oncoming anger. He was tired. A big future was tossed away by him. One of the reasons for this didn't seem to care to see him. He looked at the ground and kicked a gravel then a cigarette butt. Life was too hard. He just wanted to be seventeen at this moment. No girlfriend and no kids to muddle his thinking.
"Danny?" Lacey touched Danny's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that."
Lacey stepped closer trying to embrace him. Danny shrugged Lacey off. "Do you like him?"
Lacey giggled and rolled her eyes. "No." For some reason that sounded funny to her. "Not romantic. He's a friend. I just got embarrassed. I guess because of someone knowing what I did with you. You still fluster me, Danny. If Jason was a girl, I would have been embarrassed. I don't know why. It hit me how we're so young yet have such adult things in our lives."
"I love you. Do you still love me?" Danny stared at Lacey. "Please. Be truthful."
"Yes. With every part of me." The bell sounded but they both stood still staring into one another's eyes.
Lacey reached to caress Danny's face. Danny didn't know what he wanted to prove; something to himself, something to Lacey, or both. He just wanted her to know that she was his and he was hers. Soon Lacey found herself pushed up against the building with her skirt pulled up and Danny's pants down. Danny was panting heavily in her ear as he moved against her. Lacey wrapped her legs around his waist tightly. Perhaps, she too wanted to prove the same thing. Thus, she welcomed this sudden physical contact.
"Promise..me..NO ONE will touch you like this but me." Danny breathed out heavily.
"I.." Lacey took in a needed breath of air. "I promise." She stammered out.
Danny held back his pleasure allowing Lacey to be satisfied. He could feel Lacey gripping his shoulders and he knew he could allow himself pleasure as well. Lacey had become accustomed to Danny's lovemaking. Actually, she had become fond of it. She began to long for Danny as much as he longed for her…PHYSICALLY.
"I love you." Danny uttered huskily as he placed Lacey down on the ground.
"I love you too." Lacey straightened her skirt.
"Zip your pants, Mr. Desai. You and Ms. Porter follow me to the office." Mr. Lockhart stated vehemently.
Mrs. Fisk was standing there as well. Her face was flushed with embarrassment. However, Mr. Lockhart's was angry. Danny zipped up his jeans quickly. Lacey reached back to take Danny's hand as she struggled not to die of shame right then and there.
"You are throwing away your future for this." Mr. Lockhart gritted his teeth as he stared at the young lovers.
"Please follow us to the office." Mrs. Fisk stated. "Another student warned us about this. I had a difficult time believing that you of all people, Ms. Porter, would act like this at school. The school knows of you and Danny Desai's situation. However, your inappropriate behavior should be kept at home."
"Yes, Mam." Lacey felt tears flowing down her cheek. Danny wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her in to comfort her.
"Mr. Desai, we have a hand holding only rule at this school. Keep your hands to yourself. As a matter of fact, don't touch her. You both have done enough touching for a lifetime." Mr. Lockhart marched off along with Mrs. Fisk. Lacey and Danny followed behind ignoring Mr. Lockhart's words as their fingers entwined.
A few weeks later, the news about Hannah was once again bad. The baby still had to have oxygen and her legs weren't gaining strength as the doctor's hoped. Judy was heading back to Seattle to visit Clara. Karen had agreed to watch Ryker so Lacey could go out for an hour or so. She knew the girl was at her wit's end. Danny was putting in a late shift at work. Things didn't go as Lacey had planned. It seemed Jason had other plans to catapult himself into the hierarchy of Green Grove High.
"I feel funny." Lacey twirled around with her arms held up in the air. "I'm a ballerina." She slurred.
"What did you give her?" Sarita clenched her fists tightly.
"What makes you think I gave her anything? She may just be drunk." Jason furrowed his eyebrows as he insisted in protest.
"She never drinks this much. I haven't seen her drink in a long time. The deal was you would get her here so Danny would think she was moving on. YOU KNOW this is fake for Danny!" Sarita scowled at Jason.
Scott and Archie were laughing as Lacey continued her dance which had changed from childish twirling to more of a seductive manner. The laughing stopped when Lacey stumbled.
"I can't believe I talked her into coming to this stupid party." Archie threw a rock towards a gravestone in disgust with Jason.
"You didn't bend her arm and make her come." Scott came to his defense.
"May as well have. She told me no all day. I just kept using the 'have a little fun' routine. 'Lets be friends again and start over'. I can't believe I let you talk me into this , Jason." Archie walked over to Lacey trying to get her to stop her gyrating.
"I like it." Scott stated with a stupid grin, which Sarita knocked off his face quickly with a good harsh slap.
"Danny is going to kill us." Archie finally realized the depth of having Desai's girlfriend out in the middle of nowhere and intoxicated with something that Jason had spiked her drink with.
"It is just a simple drug. It'll wear off. But the fun I have while she is like this. Aw Man!" Jason winked at Lacey. "Come here, Sweet stuff."
"I'll break your arm." Archie stated between gritted teeth. "Danny is going to kill us all."
"You and what army?" Jason motioned to the five friends he brought with him. Burly friends that obviously were there to back Jason due to his money rather than friendship.
"It's okay, Archie. He is my friend." Lacey sluggishly stumbled up to Jason.
Jason grabbed Lacey into a kiss but she pushed back with a giggle. He then placed her hand on his lower region as he grasped at her skirt pulling it up to her thigh.
"That feels good, Lacey." Jason groaned. "You can be my girl."
"You're not Danny." Lacey pulled back her hand confused. "I only touch Danny like that. You're too tiny to be Danny."
The whole crowd burst out laughing. They got her meaning quickly as Jason was bigger than Danny in stature. Lacey definitely meant something else.
Jason angered as he pulled Lacey closer. "You have been playing this game with me for two weeks. Let me show you what you can have instead of that freak."
"STOP! I warn you, Jason." Archie lunged at him only to be grabbed by two of the burly guys.
Sarita then tried to jerk Lacey from Jason's arms but was met with the same fate as Archie. "LET her GO!" Sarita screamed.
"I'm going to get Danny." Jo warned as she walked up. She had received a call from Rico saying he saw Jason and Lacey headed to the party at the cemetery. Jo was coming to talk sense into Lacey before Danny got the wrong idea.
"Go ahead. Then he will see that Lacey and I are now together. Won't he?" Jason licked her neck.
"I feel dizzy. I don't like you touching me." Lacey whimpered. "I love Danny."
"You love him enough to move on with me." Jason whispered as he rubbed Lacey's thighs.
"I can't." Lacey tried to pull away but Jason caught her mouth with his own.
"Lacey?" The sound wasn't a loud shout but a soft questioning hurt snivel. Jason released Lacey and she fell back against Jo.
"Danny! It isn't what you think. She is high on something." Sarita pulled free from her captures.
Danny was holding a crying Ryker. His mother had a dinner date with Jack. Danny said he would watch Ryker because he was sure Lacey would be home soon. Danny's eyes were droopy and his hair a mess. He just glanced over at his son.
"Lacey, I can't get him to quit crying." Danny sounded apologetic. "He has a bad rash. I think diarrhea. I have to go back to work. Mom went to Manhatten. Jack had a special night planned. I told them to go. I thought you'd be home. I….I don't know what to do." Danny didn't care what any one thought of him. He was tired. He was agitated. He was broken hearted. For two weeks, he had muddled through facing the fact Lana no longer wanted him no matter what had happened behind the school. He had seen her with Jason more times than he liked. But he also saw her smile and laugh more with Jason than with him lately. Therefore, he felt broken.
"Danny! My sweet, Danny." Lacey even in her drunken state ran or stumbled to him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Then she vomited all over Danny. She looked up with sad eyes. "I love you."
Since the day they had sex behind the building, Lacey had not told him that. Danny could care less if he smelled putrid and she was out of it. He'd take the 'I love you.'
"Here let me have him." Jo took Ryker. "Come on , Sarita and Archie. Lets get these two back to their home. Archie, get Danny's car."
Danny took off his shirt. Then picked Lacey up in his arms. "Don't leave me, Angel." His voice was weak and begging. "I know you don't want me. I'm sorry."
Sarita bit her lip as they got in the car. Arche drove towards the Desai home. Jo calmed the baby. Sarita finally glanced back to stare at the couple.
"She loves you." Sarita interjected. "I told her about the scholarship a couple weeks ago. Her spending time with Jason was all a ruse to get you to drop her and take the scholarship."
"What?" Danny glanced at the now passed out Lacey. "I didn't even fill it out."
"She did. Lacey even wrote the essay. It was because she loved you so much. She cries over you every night. We've kind of rebuilt our friendship due to that scholarship offer." Sarita hated admitting it. However, Lacey and her had become friends again these last two weeks. Lacey came to her in tears many times hoping for support in her actions.
"I hear her cry. I thought it was because she wanted out." Danny inhaled as he wiped the hair from Lacey's face.
"Yeah, right." Archie laughed. "She thinks the sun rises and sets in you, Desai. Even I knew something was up with her always hanging with us again. She just sat there most of the time looking lost without you."
"She was thinking of your future, Danny." Jo touched Danny's hand. "She loves you beyond herself. She loves you beyond any love any one could have for you."
"I love her the same. She has to know that she is my future. I don't want a future without her." Danny pulled Lacey's body closer to her.
They arrived at the Desai home. Lacey had woken up during the ride to their house.
"We'll take care of the baby. You go get cleaned up." Sarita snarled up her nose. Danny was stinking from Lacey puking on him. Shirt or not…the smell was still there.
"Thanks." Danny started up the stairs. Lacey looked at him sadly. She had hurt him. She had hurt herself. It was for him but it was immature. "Are you coming?" Danny smiled. He wanted her to come up with him so much.
Lacey stood up and followed him. She could tell Danny was angry with her but he was still trying. Lacey started the water in the bath then turned to look at Danny. He had been staring at his hands, his calloused hands. She then looked at his shoulders. They were slumped tired shoulders. Lacey turned and began to brush her teeth. Silence was present in the room as the two young teens both feared speaking to one another. Two weeks of non conversation was playing games with their security with one another.
Danny pulled off his clothes. Lacey made sure not to look. For some strange reason, she suddenly felt shy and awkward about seeing him nude. Danny turned off the water as he stepped into the tub. He sat back and leaned his head against the wall. He closed his eyes relaxing in the deep warm water. Lacey turned to look at him then. She saw a tear escape his eyes and trickle down his cheek. He didn't try to stop it. Danny seemed too exhausted to do that. It was very sobering all the events of the day. Not to mention, Archie having to stop to allow Lacey to throw up at least five times on the way home. That helped rid her of the drugs in her system. All the teens kept thinking. When Danny finds out the whole story of Lana's drunkenness, Jason was a hurt boy. Or a dead one.
Lacey blinked her eyes slowly as she watched the water barely move as Danny twitched. She gulped. She then pulled off her clothes. She slowly put one foot in the water. Then the other. Danny opened one of his eyes in a squint. Lacey then lowered her body on top of his. Danny just watched. Lacey leaned and kissed Danny's chest. Then ran her tongue down to his belly.
"I'm mad." Danny whispered when he popped open both eyes.
"I know." Lacey whispered then leaned up to lick Danny's neck.
"I want to be mad." Danny drew in a breathe.
"Go ahead. Be mad." Lacey kissed Danny's lips. She sucked in his bottom lip then lapped at his upper lip with her tongue.
"You don't play fair." Danny moaned as Lacey nibbled at his ear.
Lacey grinned as she continued her assault on Danny's body. As she slowly teased Danny with her touches, Lacey could feel Danny relaxing.
"I'm sorry." She pulled back. Lacey placed her fingers in Danny's thick hair and pulled him to look at her. "I wanted you to have that scholarship. I just wanted you to be happy."
"You make me happy." Danny placed his hands on Lacey's hips and lifted her. Soon they were making love. As the water from the tub sloshed on the floor, neither cared. They just wanted to feel one another. To reconcile the way the two had become accustomed to.
"Should we get them?" Sarita asked handing the diaper to Jo.
"No. I started to but the moaning coming from the bathroom…well, I'M NOT GETTING THEM." Jo exclaimed.
"His rash is really bad. He is throwing up." Sarita was getting worried. "Ryker has a fever too…I think."
"We should go get them. The baby wasn't this sick when they went up. We don't know what to do." Archie rubbed the little fellow's forehead.
"They have a handsome guy here. Don't they?" Sarita took the little boy's fingers in hers.
"Yeah. But he needs his Mommy and Daddy." Archie was getting anxious along with the rest of the teens.
"Go get Lacey and Danny then!" Sarita was practically begging.
"Not me! I'm not the best person to interrupt them." Archie picked up the feverish little baby and rocked him in his arms.
"I'll get them. Where are they?" Jack walked into the room carrying groceries in his arm. Karen followed. She took the baby from Archie's arms.
"He feels very hot. Where are his parents?" Karen kissed Ryker's forehead.
The young teens glanced at one another. Finally, Jo spoke up. "Taking a bath. I think." She cocked her head and frowned crookedly.
Jack handed the bag of groceries to Jo pointing to the kitchen. Karen and Jack decided to cook a meal at home and give Danny and Lacey some alone time. The kids hadn't been speaking for the last couple of weeks. Jack glanced at Karen and headed upstairs. Danny had Lacey backed against the hall wall. She was wrapped in a towel. Danny had a towel around his waist as well. He was kissing her furiously. Her legs were wrapped around his waist tightly.
"We already did this." Lacey purred.
"Round two. I've been deprived for two weeks." Danny answered her in a husky voice. He then leaned to kiss her again. He tried to reach for his doorknob to continue his quest in his bedroom.
"Danny, put her down." Jack's voice was ordering but not angry.
Danny pulled away from Lacey. Lacey's feet dropped quickly to the floor. "Jack! Shoot!"
"Son, you and Lacey need to get dressed. Ryker is sick. You have to take him to the hospital." Jack hadn't even got all of his sentence out before Lacey and Danny were scurrying into the room. The door slammed as Jack heard their frantic attempt to dress.
Jack headed back down stairs. He walked up to Karen. "How is he?" Jack kissed Ryker on the cheek.
"He is really sick. Are they coming?" Karen ran her finger over Ryker's cheek.
"We're here." Lacey ran up to her child. Danny did as well. "He's so hot." Lacey placed her lips on Ryker's forehead.
"Get his diaper bag. I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do. He wouldn't eat. He has had diarrhea all day. I didn't know what to do." Danny grabbed his keys from Archie.
"We'll take you, Danny. You ride in the back with Lacey and Ryker. He'll be okay. Babies get sick." Jack assured them. It didn't help much. It was the first Ryker had been this ill since his birth.
Archie, Sarita, and Jo said they would follow in Danny's car to the hospital.
Karen grabbed the baby's diaper bag and a few more diapers. "What were they doing?" She asked not really wanting to know.
"Put it this way. They are no longer ignoring each other." Jack laughed as he wrapped his arm around Karen.