After Regina basically fled the locker room, Danny understood that the only way to satisfy his longing for Lacey in his life was to actually have Lacey in his life.
Danny: You probably think I'm the biggest asshole
Danny: Last night was amazing, I just want to talk to you
Danny: Please Lacey
Lacey blocked his number after the second text. Danny received the rejection notification after he had tried to send the third one to her.
"Damn it." Danny sighed in frustration.
Lacey worked her ass off all day, catching up on school work, laundry and definitely not continually thinking about Danny Desai, mostly.
Phoebe: Where you at?
Lacey: Studio
Phoebe: Are you at a good stopping point?
Lacey: Depends on why you're asking
Phoebe: I need your help getting ready for the dance
Lacey: Nice try
Phoebe: I'm serious, I have a date :)
Lacey: I have a lot to do
Phoebe: Your dress is fire BTW, I'm wearing it right now
Lacey: It's yours
Phoebe: Come on Lacey, I'm not wearing your freakin dress. Get your ass back here and come to the dance with Cole and I
Lacey: Ooo, third wheel. Perfect
Phoebe: Maybe it's not about you, OK? I have short arms and need help curling my hair!
Lacey: Have Cole do it
Phoebe: Damnit Lace, wear that perfect dress and make that asshole regret every decision he's ever made
Painting was cathartic for Lacey. It had always helped to open her mind, keep her grounded and keep her consciousness flowing. Sometimes the broken pieces inside of her just needed a place to go, so she would paint them out onto the canvas.
It was a way to get them out and away while also reorganizing them and gluing them back together. Broken or not, they were still pieces of her and Lacey didn't want to lose them.
Painting was the one thing she loved to do knowing she could potentially connect with other people on a deeper level. Maybe someone else felt the same way, maybe she could help them, or at the very least just show someone else that they were not alone.
Lacey was standing in front of two very different canvases, contemplating if she should show up for the homecoming dance. She loved to dance, her roommate would be there—and so would Danny and his throng of girlfriends.
The canvas on her left was painted with grey, disjointed, monochromatic lines. All lines flowed vertically, no obstructions or turns, only straight paths. It was sad, but practical, calming.
The canvas on her right was bold with lots of reds, oranges and yellows. She painted in large shapes with finer details and interesting patterns. It was emotion. Love, terror, lust, happiness.
As she stood there and reviewed them, she realized that they fit together. One could stand alone without the other, but together there was balance. Both of them beautiful and chaotic by themselves, but wonderfully cohesive when sitting next to each other. Harmony.
Lacey decided then that she wanted Danny in her life in some capacity. What had they even fought about? A bullshit pact about where a few guys could stick their dicks? Surely he felt strongly enough about her to end that nonsense. They needed to talk.
She surmised that it felt like a much larger betrayal when it had been compounded by alcohol and her true jealousy watching other girls fawn over Danny. Lacey knew what his lifestyle was and had still gone there with him. Her jealousy was on her, but Regina being a lousy person was on Regina.
Lacey: I'll be home in twenty
Phoebe: OH SHIT
Lacey cleaned up the studio and stuck her paintings on the drying racks before heading to the diner across campus to grab some food. If she was going to this dance, she'd need some serious fuel.
Lacey placed her take out order and sat on one of the benches out front to wait. She scrolled through her phone mindlessly, trying to zone out and relax after such a crazy couple of days.
"Lacey, hey—"
Lacey sighed, almost angry that her me-time was being interrupted. When would she ever have the time again to check out the hair status' of her favorite celebrities?! She let her hand fall and thud against her thigh as she looked up at whomever was intruding with fiery eyes.
"Oh—whoa, I'm sorry—"
"Archie, hi—no it's fine, I'm just—" Lacey shrugged, "I'm working on some self care." She smiled up at him and his sweet face.
"Right, okay. I know how important that is—especially freshman year." He smiled back, "I'll leave you alone."
"Really it's okay, please, sit. I'm just waiting on some food."
Archie took a few steps and bent his long legs to sit on the bench across from her, exhaling in comfort when his ass finally hit the seat.
"How was practice?" Lacey tried to sound interested.
"Brutal. I'm not in the shape I should be." Archie shook his head, obviously disappointed in himself.
"You're theee—" Lacey scrunched her face up.
"Quarterback."
"Quarterback!" Lacey nodded her head, she had no clue.
"Yes." He laughed at her.
"Scouts talk to you at the game?"
"Nah, just to Cole and D."
Lacey could sense his disappointment.
"They'll be back, I'm sure."
Archie looked down, "Not for me."
"Hey, you going to the dance tonight?" Lacey tried to change the subject.
"Yeah, I think I will. I'm meeting up with Cole and your roommate actually. Are you not going? They didn't mention you coming with us."
"I was supposed to go with Danny."
"And now?"
"I don't know, I think I'm just going to go by myself."
"Hey, Lacey, I'm sorry about last night. I was so wasted."
Lacey cocked her head to the side, "Why are you sorry?"
"Hmm? Oh, just for the things I said to you, I didn't mean to—"
"Arch you told me you thought I was beautiful. You're seriously taking that back now?" She smirked at him.
Archie brought his fist up to his mouth to cover his smile, "Shit, I knew I was running my mouth, but I forgot about that."
"You were a total gentleman. You didn't mean it?"
Archie smiled, cheeks pink, "I meant it."
Lacey smiled back, "Save a dance for me tonight?"
Archie's smile fell and Lacey watched him swallow hard.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I can."
"You can. I'll handle Danny, okay? This is ridiculous and I want to dance with you."
"Okay." Archie smiled brighter, "I'd really like that."
"PORTER!" Someone yelled from the diner's take out window.
"See you tonight." Lacey winked and left Archie in a puddle on the bench.
"Shit." Archie said to himself, he knew he was in trouble.