In the days leading up until prom, Danny and Regina didn't speak. They changed seats in their classes and Danny went out of his way to keep his distance.

Lacey and Karen dragged Danny to find a tux and finished the rest of the prom details. He wasn't excited for prom. He was feeling down, lost. Danny should have been having the time of his life right now, this wasn't what he wanted.

When prom day arrived, Lacey ran all over town to have her hair and makeup done. Danny got ready with his mom's help and had her snap a picture of him that he felt compelled to send to Regina.

Danny: Clean up nice?

Regina: Have a good time

Danny: I have your ticket

Regina: Lacey still going?

Danny: Yes

Regina: Good, have fun D

Danny: You should be there too

Regina: Was there something else?

Danny: I'm sorry, I'll leave you alone

Lacey arrived at Danny's house with her parents for pictures, something all involved had imagined for years. Karen was adjusting Danny's bow tie when Lacey walked into the living room. Danny's eyes grew two sizes and he pushed his mom's hands away as he moved toward her.

"Oh my god." Danny's face was full of admiration and awe, "You look so beautiful, Lace—wow"

Lacey wore an emerald green one shoulder dress. The shoulder strap was sheer mesh and had tiny sparkles dotted randomly. The soft light of Danny's living room made her twinkle. Her hair was down and curly, she was radiant.

Lacey and Karen had Danny fitted for a black tuxedo with a black velvet jacket. He wore a matching emerald green vest and bow tie. His hair was also down, his natural waves making him look like a pretty pony.

His hands shook slightly as he slid on Lacey's corsage made of delicate, miniature white roses. Lacey secured the matching boutonnière.

Would you look at these two, Judy? Sam? What do you think?!" Karen gushed as she posed them for a few shots.

"They're so beautiful together." Judy agreed.

"What's the plan tonight?" Samuel asked in full dad mode.

"We're headed to Johnny Cakes for dinner, then heading to prom and we're just coming back here after daddy, nothing crazy." Lacey tried.

"A sleepover?" Samuel shook his head, he knew what must be happening.

"Nothing more, sir." Danny promised.

After pictures Danny and Lacey left hand in hand to walk to Johnny Cakes for their pre-celebration dinner. It was a Green Grove tradition that the diner would close down and cater a private dinner for the entire senior class before prom.

As they neared the center of town, their dapper classmates could be seen trickling in from the surrounding side streets. Lots of cars honked for them and Danny had never felt more happy to be completing this milestone with Lacey by his side. Despite his recent depressed state, at this moment he was happy.

After dinner, the seniors grouped up and waited in line for their limos to take them to the banquet hall at the hotel on the other side of town. In Danny's group were Danny and Lacey, Tyler and Jo, Phoebe and Archie, and Cole and Scott who were both going stag. As they piled into the limo, Danny couldn't help but think of Regina. Lacey squeezed his hand, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"It's not her thing, you know? She's not missing anything if she never even wanted to come."

"Yeah, you're right." Danny kissed the back of her hand and did his best to let it all go.

Phoebe and Archie sat directly in front of Danny and Lacey in the limo. Lacey kept her eyes away from Archie's stare, engaging in conversation with Danny and Jo. Danny wasn't as strong, his eyes all over Phoebe and her short, skin tight electric blue dress.

"You see something you like?" Lacey leaned over and asked Danny.

"What? No—" Busted. He couldn't form complete sentences.

Lacey giggled at him, "I'm not mad, she looks amazing."

"Yeah?"

Lacey nodded and leaned in closer, "Maybe the three of us tonight?" She wanted to make him happy, she missed that.

Danny's mind raced at the possibilities. He cycled through a full rage of emotions before deciding against it.

"No."

"Okay, well then if you want it to be one on one I won't be upset if you pick her, okay? Tonight is yours for whatever you want." She squeezed his hand between hers.

Danny realized that Lacey just did not get it. He turned to face her a little more and stared at her like she was the sun.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" Lacey's eyes were huge, thinking about smudged makeup.

Danny giggled at her, "No, no. You look incredible. So incredible." His voice was like velvet.

Lacey squirmed a little, "D—"

"You're the one I want. The one, okay? Thank you for understanding how attraction works, I'm thankful for that, but Lacey—" He shook his head, "God—It's you who I want tonight—and always." He kissed her hand and looked down, he knew she didn't feel the same way.

Lacey squeezed his hand again and looked away, this time connecting with Archie.

"You look stunning." Archie smiled at her.

"So does your date." Lacey deflected.

"Danny thinks so." He shot back.

Lacey shrugged.

"You're right." Danny replied to Archie while looking directly at Phoebe, "I do. I just feel bad that she will be left unsatisfied tonight." Danny just stared at her.

Phoebe smiled back, cheeks warm. She looked him over and then crossed her legs and licked her lips nervously.

Archie nodded at the burn, "This is how it's going to be?" He asked with more sadness than any of them expected to hear.

"Just keeping it real."

"Not everyone is perfect like you, Desai, okay? I get it."

Danny realized that this was a real sore spot for Archie. He pushed further.

"It's not about being like me, Arch. It's about giving a shit. If you paid attention you'd probably almost get them off." Danny finished with a smugness that made Lacey uncomfortable.

"Danny—"

He released her hand, frustrated.

"He's not good enough for you." Danny deadpanned, "Either of you." He looked between Lacey and Phoebe.

"Well my date was a living corpse who dumped me. Phoebe was just available." Archie said like the asshole he truly was.

"Wow." Danny wanted to punch his face in.

Archie smiled, "Regina, man, she's got a body. Her personality though, wow. You'll sleep with anyone." Archie said sarcastically, shaking his head.

"Leave her out of this." Danny warned.

"I understand Phoebe's appeal, I've hit that shit for years, and at least Lacey has some form of the standards and morals that I have—"

"Morals? What kind of person locks someone inside a pool house for hours as a joke? Oh that's right, you do." Danny was furious.

"You wanted her cherry that bad?" Archie was still dissecting Danny's choices in the bedroom.

Danny lunged forward and grabbed Archie by the throat, shocking everyone around them that were unaware of their conversation up until this point.

"Yo, D—what's going on over there?" Tyler tried from the back of the limo.

Archie stayed calm, "Phoebe was there too, I wasn't alone, we both locked her inside." He reminded him.

Danny squeezed tighter before releasing him and sitting back down, "Keep Regina's name out of your mouth."

Danny looked up at Phoebe as he sat back. He had forgotten about her being an accomplice. Why would she do that? Danny kept his eyes on Phoebe in anger, waiting for a response. Phoebe just stared back like she'd sleep fine tonight.

"Why?" Danny commanded.

Phoebe shrugged, "I was rolling, it was funny at the time."

"Are you fucked up now?" He wanted her to apologize.

"Not yet." Phoebe smiled.

Danny rolled his eyes.

The limo pulled into the line at the banquet hall and dumped them out at the entrance. The bass from the music playing inside could be felt in the parking lot. Danny and Lacey stood in line with their tickets, smiling for a few pictures, happy to be out of the limo.

"Oh my god." Danny heard Lacey say, her eyes caught on something off in the distance.

Danny followed Lacey's stare only to see Regina walking through the parking lot in a stunning short white leather dress and sky high black heels. He had never seen her look so sexy before, none of them had.

"Incoming." Cole said to the guys as Regina made it to their group and strolled up to Danny.

Her hair was down, curly and wild, her makeup bold and her skin like porcelain. She looked like an angel, a very naughty angel. The shape of her body and her mesmerizing curves were now known to everyone in that super tight dress. Danny watched her walk, her focus entirely on him.

"Hi Danny." Regina greeted like ice as she reached him, "Hey Lacey."

"Regina—hi, you look—" Danny tried to get his shit together.

"OW!" Tyler cat-called from the back of the line.

"That dress is next level, Reg." Lacey leaned and gave her a kiss on the cheek and rubbed her back in a brief hug.

"Thanks, sure it's not too much?" She rubbed down her side and held her hip as she posed.

Danny shook his head no.

Danny and Lacey tucked Regina in between them and protected her from everyone's searing eyes.

Once inside, the senior class melted into a mess of writhing bodies. Jo had absolutely spiked all open drinks and the majority of everyone was trashed by the fourth song.

Danny had kept himself near the refreshments and chatted with some of the chaperones about his fall plans. He hadn't danced with anyone yet, still trying to cool himself down from the limo ride.

"Danny!"

"Hey, Jo. You look beautiful." He complimented her truly horrific mustard colored gown.

"Thanks! Why haven't I seen you out there?"

"Well, I heard someone may have enhanced the beverages. I've been investigating." He smiled and held up his third drink.

Jo grabbed at her chest in shock, "Whaaaaaat?! Who would do something like that?" She smiled back.

"Surely not the chief's daughter—"

"You gonna tell me why you almost choked out Yates?"

"Nope."

"Dance with me then?"

"Masterson—"

"C'mon bro, you're in high demand and you're being standoffish. That's not what a captain does." Jo dragged him toward the dance floor.

"Alright, alright."

Danny accepted this dance and tried to get into the festivities. He had been to school dances in the past, the same music boomed from the speakers for all the same people, but somehow, being all dressed up and dancing together in a banquet hall made everything seem so much more elegant. Fancy.

It was a slow song. Girls looked on in sheer jealousy as Danny slid his hands around Jo's waist and pulled her close.

"Okay?" He asked sweetly.

"Very." Jo smiled and rested her face against his chest. He smelled so good.

They swayed softly like this for more than half the song before Jo's balls grew in. She lifted her head and reconnected with Danny before she spoke.

"How come we never dated?" She half asked, half yelled above the music.

"Well first, you're probably going to be my sister soon. Second—" Danny turned them so Jo could see Lacey dancing with Charlie.

"Lacey." Jo said plainly.

"You're awesome, Jo, but my heart will always belong to Lacey."

"You say that, but then there's Regina and then Phoebe and me….who knows who else—" Jo wanted another round with him.

"What's going on with you and Tyler?" Danny wanted out.

Jo sighed, "He's a moron."

"He's in my AP classes." Danny defended.

"Well if there were an AP class for dating, he wouldn't be in it."

"And because you've sampled my knowledge, you think I would be in this AP class?" Danny wanted this song to end.

"You would be teaching the class."

Danny rubbed Jo's back, feeling her petite yet athletic frame. He was unable to stop imagining her body as the alcohol finally caught up to him.

"You'll find the right person, Jo."

Jo nodded, "Probably, but right now, all I want is for you to fuck me again until I scream."

Danny's mouth hung open a little at her even, serious tone as she basically begged for him. She pushed herself closer to him and hugged him tighter.

"You want your brother to make you scream?" Was all he could string together in an attempt to clarify.

"Shut. Up. about the brother shit. I talked to Ty after we—you know—and he hasn't cared to improve ." Jo shrugged. She was warm, hungry. Starving.

Danny involuntarily licked his lips, smiling at the absurdity that was his life.

"Trust me, he knows." Danny said softly.

"Knows what?" Jo shook her head.

"Tyler knows you're not getting there. You need to help him to help yourself. Keep telling him, show him. He excels when he knows what he needs to do." Danny shrugged.

The song finally began to wind down and Danny was the first to pull back, "Thank you for the dance." He spun her around and tried not to sprint away.

Lacey and Charlie were all smiles as they finished their dance. Danny walked up beside them and cut in before spinning himself and Lacey away, "Sorry bud, I need her."

"Danny, that was rude." Lacey giggled and wrapped her arms around him.

Danny mirrored her and held her tightly, "I almost got eaten, Lace."

"Well, that is what happens when you want to be a wall flower, the weeds will grow around you." Lacey scolded him, "Can I have my dance now, or where does the line start exactly?" Lacey searched around them.

"Very funny." He waited until her eyes were back on his, "You are the line. There is no one else." He said sweetly before leaning down and kissing her deeply.

They both pulled away smiling, "You fucked up my makeup." Lacey said softly.

"Can I do it again?" Danny smiled big and rested his forehead against hers, "God I love you." He breathed out against her nose.

The two of them swayed slowly in their own world together to the fast, obnoxious beat. They were so oblivious that a circle formed around them as they danced at the completely wrong tempo for the song.

Danny's eyes were fixed on Lacey's face the whole time, Lacey's eyes closed and body pressed tightly against his. This was heaven.

"Yeah, Desai! Woo!" Tyler shouted.

"Get it!" Cole threw out.

Lacey finally opened her eyes and grinned wickedly, "Yeah, Desai. Get this." She played.

"I'm fucking trying." He laughed back.

Danny spun Lacey around and the two of them picked up the pace, sending the crowd into cheers. When the song ended, Danny bowed to Lacey and kissed her hand before dragging her off the dance floor.

"May I?" Cole gabbed for Lacey's other hand. Lacey smiled and nodded, releasing Danny and winking at him.

Danny shuffled toward the refreshments, he needed to cool down.

"That was impressive." Regina said from the corner she had stuffed herself into.

"That's where you've been hiding. Drink?" Danny knew she'd prefer to be right where she was, he didn't push her.

"Sure."

Danny handed her some punch, "It's been spiked, just FYI."

"Mmm, I wouldn't expect any less from Green Grove's finest." Regina downed the drink and stood up before holding her cup out for a refill.

Danny shamelessly surveyed her again now that she was right in front of him. Regina smirked and got her own damn punch, downing the second just as fast.

"That dress," Danny stepped close and gripped her waist, "on this body," he pulled her in closer, "is—" Danny stalled for more than a beat.

Regina's cheeks turned pink at his lack of description, "Is what?"

"Fire."

"You can do better than that, being so advanced and all." She grinned.

"My brain is absolute mush, Miss Crane. One thing I know for sure is, you need to get out of that corner and tell all these losers no for the rest of the night." He bit his lip.

"Eh, sounds exhausting."

"You said you weren't coming tonight. You lied to me?"

"My mother said I could actually do something. I decided not to pass it up." She shrugged.

"I miss you."

"Looks like you're doing just fine."

"You're wrong. I live for your insight." Danny couldn't keep his eyes on her face.

"My insight is up here." Regina pointed to her head.

"You look amazing." He ignored her completely.

"You're drunk."

"Come back home with me and Lacey." He didn't form it as a question.

"It's just a dress, Danny."

The song changed, the pace slow and sexy.

"Dance with me?" Danny asked timidly, suddenly feeling way out of his league with her.

"I'm not needy like Jo, and I'm not old faithful either. Sure you want to do this?"

"Get your ass over here, Crane." He dragged her out and managed to hold her like he would have in middle school.

"Are we related? 'Cause I'm going to need more than this—"

Danny shut her up by pulling her against him, "Better?" He challenged her.

Regina nestled into his chest and he held her tight.

"Missed you too." She said softly.

"Sleep over." He tried again.

"You and Lacey have planned this night your entire life."

Danny shook his head no, "I want you there."

"Remember why I needed to step back?" Regina asked honestly.

Danny stared into her eyes with remorse before nodding yes.

"I'm the one who's going to get hurt here, Danny. Don't invite me somewhere my heart can't follow."

"Understood." He couldn't say what she wanted to hear.

Regina gently broke their embrace and left him standing there as she retreated to the drink station. Danny followed, a little unsure if he should. Regina poured herself a third drink and the two just stared out at their classmates in silence.

"Hey Regina, dance with me?" An usually nervous Cole appeared by her side to shoot his shot. Danny blamed the dress.

"Weren't you dancing with Lacey?" Danny looked around for her.

Cole shrugged, "Bathroom."

Regina regarded him carefully, "Why would I dance with an asshole?"

"C'mon, I didn't lock you in the pool house."

"No, but you think I'm a cold bitch." Regina folded her arms across her chest.

"Okay, maybe a little, you're never nice to me." Cole defended.

"I don't have to be nice to anyone."

"You don't want to dance at the prom?" Cole tried again.

"No."

"C'mon—"

"She said no, Cole, the fuck's wrong with you?!" Danny took a step forward.

Cole held his hands up, "Alright, Jesus." He walked away but not before adding, "Total bitch—"

Danny grabbed Cole by the arm and Cole braced for a punch that didn't come. He relaxed a little when he saw a calmness on Danny's face.

"Apologize. Right now."

"I don't want an apology from someone who thought it was okay to say such words only a second before. It's not your job to train him into behaving the way you feel he should. Let him feel the way he feels." Regina shrugged and pushed past both of them en route to the bathroom.

Danny released Cole's arm, "Why are you such an asshole, Farrell? Regina's amazing and you're too stupid to see it. Who's your date tonight anyway?"

"Fuck off. She didn't seem pleased with you either."

"Just leave her alone." Danny sighed.

"Damn, her pussy that good, huh?" Cole knew he shouldn't have said it, but he couldn't stop himself.

Danny wanted to slam Cole into the wall and then toss his ass across the dance floor, but he didn't want to ruin this night for everybody either. Instead he looked at Cole with an intensity neither of them knew he had.

"She knows what I like." He smiled wickedly.

"She's into bondage, isn't she? Does she tie you up?!"

"Easy."

"Okay, what about Lacey?"

"Dude, I'm not giving you details about the girls I'm with."

"It's okay, I'll just find out for myself." Cole shrugged.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, you're not exclusive—"

"They're not going to sleep with you—" Danny chuckled.

"We'll see about that."

"Hey guys!" Lacey hobbled over in between them and got herself a drink, "I need to get these shoes off!" She held Cole's shoulder and handed him her drink while she wrestled her shoes off.

"Another dance, Lacey?" Cole asked.

"Once these shoes are off I'll do whatever you want!"

Cole looked over at Danny, "You were saying?"

Danny sighed and watched as Cole pulled his heart back onto the dance floor.