Danny texted her for the rest of the day, obviously regretting that he had decided that temporarily letting go of his long term future in order to safeguard his shorter term goals would be the best way to handle Jack's threats.
He felt he couldn't have both without damaging Lacey's goals somehow and convinced himself that this was something selfless. As the day wore on, he knew he had just panicked and went with what was easiest without even giving Lacey a chance to help work it out.
Lacey wasn't having it. She responded to a couple of his texts to check in so he knew she was not in danger, but she didn't engage him beyond that. Part of her absolutely understood his reasoning but a larger part just felt painfully rejected.
She was pissed that her self confidence had seemingly dropped enough to make her feel this way. When did that happen? Is this what people meant when they would say they had lost themselves in a relationship?
Lacey decided this was a blessing. A chance to build herself back up before she fell further into that trap. She was here for school and to make the connections for her future. Danny was part of that, but so was Jack.
Part of this rebuild would also include standing up to Jack as well. Who was he to mettle in her life like this? Protecting an investment was one thing, but Lacey was ready to set him straight on the rest. She didn't need this art deal, but she'd be lying if she said it wouldn't help her tremendously at this stage of the game.
Monday morning Lacey got up early for her run. The football and spirit teams were all waiting with their luggage for the buses to arrive, lots of them shouting and waving at Lacey who, after their joyous Thanksgiving together, had now considered her a friend. Lacey waved back politely and smiled as she ran by, careful not to connect with one lone set of deep brown eyes that she could feel searing into her.
Danny took the hint and didn't text her for a bit. He let the day go for the most part, trying to stay focused on his teams' strategy for securing a play off spot. As Monday evening filtered in, he had to make sure she was safe.
Danny: Hey
Lacey: What's up?
Danny: Just wanted to check in
Lacey: I'm fine
Danny: I made a mistake
Lacey: You really did
Lacey and Phoebe ventured just off campus for dinner to that same pizza place where they had already collected so many memories.
"It's college Lace. You nailed down the biggest whore on campus. Of course he's going to try to run when it gets uncomfortable. He's never had to work shit out before. He never learned about growing together as a couple because he's never done it."
"So what are you saying, I'm the one who has to teach him or something?"
"No, but technically you already are. He's learning it right now and you'll either reap the benefits of those new skills or his next partner will."
"Our first disagreement and his thought process is to run. I deserve much more than that. I'm not letting it slide."
"I've got you and you shouldn't, I'm just saying—" Phoebe's eyes got huge and she froze in place.
"What's wrong?" Lacey wasn't sure if she was choking or what and began to panic a little, "Are you okay?!"
"Jo's here." Phoebe said, her face still made of stone.
Lacey made a move to turn around but Phoebe grabbed her hand.
"Don't look, don't look. What do we do? Do we call 9-1-1 like right now?!"
"Phoebe—"
"The detectives, I have their numbers—" Phoebe fumbled with her phone, completely hyperventilating at this point.
"Hey, look at me." Lacey reached out to squeeze her hand and hopefully pull her back into reality, "We're okay. Let's just see what she does."
"Do you think she knows we're here? Maybe she came to blow our brains out, we should call—" Phoebe began dialing 9-1-1, both of them panicked now.
Just as she hit send, Phoebe watched as Jo looked through the seating area and connected with her.
"Shit."
Jo smiled, just like in every goddamn horror movie that Phoebe had ever seen. Lacey turned around then and caught it too.
"9-1-1, what's your emergency? Hello?"
"Uh, yeah, I-I need—"
Phoebe couldn't find the words fast enough and her brain began collapsing as Jo remained in the food take-away area just staring at her.
"Ma'am? Police, fire or medical?"
That was somehow the hardest question Phoebe was ever asked. Lacey reached over and took the phone from Phoebe's hand.
"Hello, yes we need the police at the pizza place on the corner of Westcott and South Beech Streets. There is a customer here that is in violation of a protection order."
The operator requested that Lacey stay on the line until police arrived. The girls felt they could not leave safely because they would have to walk by Jo in order to exit.
Jo rolled her eyes when the cops stormed in. Lacey had given the operator the details and the responding officers knew exactly who they were looking for when they arrived. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, the officers let Jo continue to wait until her food was ready so she could take it with her when they arrested her.
Phoebe and Jo gave their statements to a very uninterested officer. He followed up by asking the girls if this was going to happen every time they crossed paths, like it was a huge burden in a college town to keep them all separated, like this was Lacey's fault.
"Yes, sir." Lacey shot back defiantly.
The girls called the detectives as they walked back to campus. They explained the situation and were comforted in knowing that Jo would be in jail at least through the night.
Lacey walked into the studio Tuesday morning, looking over her shoulder the whole way. As she progressed through to her space she immediately noticed her collection was gone.
"Wha—where?!" She spun around looking for them everywhere, was this really happening again?
"Lacey, Lacey, it's okay—" Her professor scooted over to calm Lacey down, "I should have called you, Jack had the collection picked up this morning."
"Oh, wow, okay. I didn't need to authorize that?" Lacey was a bit wary of this process.
"Well, you kind of already did when you agreed to it. I mean, Mr. Taylor told you he would be sending someone to get them soon—"
"Yeah, no, you're right. I just, there wasn't anything I needed to sign?"
"It was the gallery that picked them up. I promise, it's okay. I'm sorry I didn't call you, I should have called you."
Lacey took a deep breath and carried on with her day. She couldn't shake Jo's energy and the concern she had about the officer's response from the night before. Jo was a captain's daughter after all, Lacey wasn't naïve to the fact that it probably would carry some weight in the police department's decision to respond in the future. She really did feel like they were all alone in this until the trial in February.
The Orangemen were a mess. They lost Thursday and Friday night's games. Lacey watched the games on her phone, knowing that pining over this man who waffled on her was not healthy.
"Ha ha ha! Listen to them try to figure out Danny's face!" Phoebe squealed as she lay beside her best friend.
The ESPN coverage was a scream, the announcers trying to decipher what the "LP" and the "#1" meant that were drawn on his cheeks.
"That man loves you."
Her heart ached a little at his not so private attempt at getting her attention.
Lacey hadn't responded to any of his texts and eventual calls since Monday. If he was so worried about Jack spilling the beans about his past, he had a funny way of staying "casual" about them.
She missed him.
Danny: I'm coming back tonight
The text came an hour after the game had ended. Danny saying he was coming home a week early seemed so final. Lacey knew he had sent it not expecting a response back, but she couldn't stay silent any longer.
Lacey: Did you get hurt?
Danny: My soccer coach is pulling me. He doesn't want to risk an injury now that I've made it through the bulk of the games, so my season is over
Lacey: I'm sorry
Danny: It's fine, I'm here to play soccer anyway
Lacey: You've mentioned that
Danny: So you're talking to me again?
Lacey: I wanted to make sure you were okay
Danny: Were you going to tell me about seeing Jo?
Lacey: Did Phoebe tell you?
Danny: My lawyer called me with an update
Lacey: I didn't want to distract you, you know, with you being focused on your dreams and all
Danny: I miss you
Lacey: I'm sure I'll see you around
Lacey tucked away her heart and answered the incoming call that she knew was from Jack. Time to handle this asshole.
"Hello?"
"Lacey, Jack."
"Hi."
"Listen, I'd like to go live with your collection this weekend, keep it up through the night of the gallery show. More exposure, you know—"
"Wait, like tomorrow?"
"Yeah, so, I'd need you to be here, meet and greet that sort of thing. Wear something nice—"
"I'm working Jack, I need more notice than this."
"Oh, no, that's all set. I already talked to Tim, he said it's fine."
"Excuse me?"
"I talked to him the other night, told him you wouldn't be in for the next two weekends, you're welcome by the way."
"Are you kidding me? That was completely inappropriate—"
"Hey why are you sounding so ungrateful, I'm getting you in earlier and keeping the collection up longer. You've gotta think big picture here, once these sell you won't need to suck drunk guy's dicks for money or whatever it is you do at the lounge."
"I—have you been drinking?" Lacey couldn't believe the bullshit running from Jack's mouth.
"Maybe a little. Anyway, the boyfriend, he's off campus right, so we shouldn't have any problems?" Jack almost groaned.
"Danny is not a problem whether he's in town or not and second, we're not together anymore."
Lacey would never normally divulge personal details like this, but this was the specific information that Danny had wanted Jack to know. If he felt it was important enough to end their relationship to save his future, then she sure as hell was going to pass it on.
"Aww, well, I'm sure he'll do just fine with all that hair. Girls love the hair, don't they? Tomorrow, 8 pm. Look nice."
Jack hung up.
Fucking Christ.
Danny: Let me take you out tonight?
Lacey: I can't tonight
Danny: Oh that's right you're working duh
Lacey: Actually I'm not
Danny: Hot date?
Lacey: I just have other plans
Danny: What about later tonight, sleep over?
Lacey: No, sir.
Danny: I had to try
Lacey: Well I'll make it real clear, causal Lacey does not roll around in your bed
Danny: Understood
He wanted her back. It was all he could think about, how he messed up, why he messed up and how he could get her back. He hadn't cheated on her, instead opting to straight up reject her without even trying to think of other options first. Now he sat here on the outside, seeing no way back in. What was she really doing tonight anyway? Danny decided to take a walk.
Lacey told everyone she knew where she was headed and even Lacey's professor said she'd stop by. She basically just wanted eyes on her all night, someone, anyone that would be able to help her not have to deal with Jack all by herself. Everyone, of course, except for Danny.
"Wow, Lacey. I've never seen you in red like that. So hot."
Lacey adjusted her super short, deep red sheath before throwing on her black leather jacket and black heels. She wore a soft, smokey eye and bright red lips, her hair down and curly.
"Thanks! Thank you again for coming with me, Phoebs. You look beautiful, love that whole situation." Lacey waved her arms around Phoebe's own killer outfit.
Phoebe was much shorter than Lacey, rocking a fitted royal blue velvet jumpsuit that made her legs look longer than they were. The suit had long sleeves but with a deep plunging V in the front. She wore some strappy silver heels and a black leather jacket of her own.
"It's so comfy and it's the most artsy thing I own." Phoebe shrugged and finished curling her own hair, "Danny see that dress yet?"
"Nope." Lacey popped the p like he was never gonna.
The gallery was several blocks away and the girls decided they would walk. Tonight was one of those rare nights when the temperature had crept up and hovered just below 60°. It wasn't warm, but it was much warmer than it had been these last few weeks. They were not about to miss the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air before the deep freeze of a Syracuse winter set in.
It was already dark and despite trying to go about their lives, the pair looked around for Jo non-stop along the way. One of the blocks they had to pass was frat row, which was eerily quiet with the teams being away.
They passed Danny's place, Lacey unable to not look. The whole place was dark. She wondered if he had found someone else to take out tonight, or perhaps to stay in with. Maybe someone was up there right now experiencing what she knew she was missing. She didn't hear screaming so, maybe not. Lacey smirked to herself.
"He's probably just playing video games in the dark." Phoebe knew where Lacey's mind was at.
Danny wasn't playing video games. He had unknowingly walked the opposite path of the girls and had swung by the dorm before circling the quad and heading back. As he walked around the corner he saw them. They had just passed his place and were walking down the hill into town. He followed them, thrilled to see it was Phoebe that Lacey was out with.
As they progressed into town, Danny realized where they were going and now knew why he wasn't told. The art gallery was lit up, a live band playing outside in their outdoor sitting area. There were people everywhere.
Danny wondered if there was some sort of event or if Jack had asked her on a date? She was certainly dressed to kill. Danny stood across the street behind a large tree, like someone's little brother who tried to tag along somewhere he didn't belong.
"Lacey, welcome! Everyone! I'd like your attention. Allow me to introduce to you my newest find, Lacey Porter. Lacey has earned the center spot in our gallery for the month so if you have not yet seen her collection you simply must!" Jack gushed, his arm draped across her shoulders.
Lacey shrugged him off, "Thank you."
Danny recognized her tight smile. She wasn't into it and that was all he needed to see. Whether or not Jack had invited her as a date or not, she didn't want him.
He watched further as an ever-curious Phoebe happily introduced herself to Jack and let Jack's touchy hands stay. He wondered if that was an honest attraction on Phoebe's part or if she was doing it for Lacey.
Lacey walked into the gallery for the first time, finding her collection professionally lit in the main exhibition area with dozens of people milling between her six babies. It was very exciting to say the least.
"Lacey, I need numbers. What are you pricing these at?"
"Two."
"Each?"
"Yes."
Jack nodded slowly as he thought it through.
"I get ten percent so let's go three each."
"Three?"
"You spent weeks of your time on these. They'll sell at three grand a piece, don't be so modest—"
Grand?! Lacey had meant two hundred each, not two thousand and Jack thought three thousand was a better start?!
"Okay, fine, if they don't sell out before the show, I'll have you leave them here until they do. Happy?"
"Yes." She was.
This could mean eighteen thousand dollars for her, she was beyond happy. She felt a little guilty thinking that the cost for this opportunity was losing the happiness she had found in Danny. She knew she needed to address it, but she couldn't seem to find the right words yet.
Money and some notoriety were nice and a huge part of what she wanted to achieve in her career, but the peace was missing. Her art was being sold, not felt, and she very much felt the same way about herself just then.
"Hi Laceyyyyy—" Lacey's professor danced over to her, excited to see her student's work on display.
"Thank you for coming." Lacey smiled.
"I put a bid in for one of your pieces."
"A bid?"
"Yes, Jack is a dealer so he'll collect bids, vet them to make sure they're legitimate offers and then see who is looking for a what. His goal is to keep you sought after, so he'll be looking to sell these in the fewest transactions possible. But hey, if no one looks to buy them all at once then he'll definitely sell them separately. Whatever gets it done, you know what I'm saying?" She smiled big.
Lacey had no idea how this worked. She hadn't fully realized what networking on this level meant. Jack could and was literally influencing the art world around her. She didn't like thinking that a single person could make or break who wanted to search for or own her work. Especially not an asshole like him.
Phoebe stayed by Jack's side, talking his ear off and drinking too many glasses of complimentary champagne, Jack feeding them to her one after the other. Lacey continued on into the gallery, admiring the pieces that hung before her. She was drawn to one in the corner, it was cold, dreary. She couldn't explain it, but she really liked it.
"I like that one too. It's mine."
Lacey whipped around at the sound of the familiar voice. It was Jo, standing several feet behind her. Lacey had been so afraid of this happening but as she finally faced her, she felt an overwhelming sense of calm and control.
"You shouldn't be here."
Jo ignored her and walked closer, eventually standing beside Lacey, eyes forward on her own painting.
"It's dark, right? This was last year, I worked on this during the time I was being constantly rejected by Danny. Right after I finished it, our professor introduced me to this gallery, as I'm sure she did for you as well. Had to fuck Jack for three weeks straight to get him to hang this piece."
Lacey was disgusted, Jo's story sounding horrifically true.
"You need to leave." Lacey tried again.
"At the end of my show, Jack told me he had no buyers for it, so he offered to keep it on display here until he had one. He normally charges rent for that, but I didn't have money so I would stop by a few times a week and we'd fuck in his office instead."
Lacey looked back at the painting, the two haunting candles painted delicately and resting on an old farmhouse table making the two of them feel sick for very different reasons.
"Just thought you should know." Jo added quietly.
"Why is it still here?"
Jo shrugged, "He makes sure it doesn't sell."
"You're still sleeping with him?"
"At first, I was too stupid to realize what was happening. Jack's an exciting man and I felt lucky. I definitely felt like I owed him. This piece in particular was during a very dark time for me, and Jack, he knows art. He knew where my head was. I kept getting rejected by the one I wanted but Jack, he always wanted me. So I keep coming back and he keeps not selling it."
Lacey watched a typically emotionless Jo push out a few silent tears. Was this bullshit? It felt like bullshit.
"Gross."
"I knew you'd judge me."
"You and Jack playing some back door art prostitution game is gross."
"Well seeing as how you're broke and Jack has spontaneously hung an entire collection of your work in the main hall, I assumed you already knew all about this process, as does everyone else in the building right now." Jo smiled smugly, "They all know what Jack charges."
"I didn't sleep with Jack." Lacey scowled.
"Don't be upset, you're obviously good at it. I bet he loves this dress."
Jo made a move as if she were about to reach out and touch Lacey's dress. Lacey slapped her hand so quick it made Jo laugh.
"I bet he likes that too, Jack's always up for a good slap. Speaking of that, I should probably tell you that he was leading a tipsy petite brunette into his office before I came in here, she yours? The one that's dressed like a muppet?" Jo smiled again.
Lacey stormed past Jo, shoulder-checking her and sending her back several steps.
Danny had decided, while standing by the tree in the dark by himself, that he'd never fully move on with his life if he tried to disguise parts of it or try to leave the bad parts in the past. Danny's history was his and in order to move on, he'd have to drag every bit of it along with him. He wasn't scared anymore.
Danny paid for a ticket to enter the gallery and made small talk with Lacey's professor. He watched a very upset Lacey stomp past all of them, her eyes obviously searching for something, but not registering anyone as she marched down the main hall.
Danny didn't immediately run after her, his eyes trailing along the path she had just come from and landing on Jo Masterson standing at the entrance to the south wing of the gallery, arms wrapped around herself, condescending smile in place. She was staring right at him.
Danny stepped away from the crowd and discreetly called 9-1-1. Jo knew he would so she took her chance and walked up to him, no time to lose.
"Hi Danny."
"What did you do?"
"Just trying to help." Jo shrugged.
"I called the police."
Jo rolled her eyes, "Yeah, fine. Whatever. You should be thanking me—"
"For what? Killing my best friend?"
"No, for being an ally for Lacey. You'd want that right? Someone looking out for her? You'd want that?"
"I'll never want you, Jo."
Jo's nostrils flared, "No? Well, maybe you'd like to know that Jack extorts women and takes his compensation in pussy. Or that our art professor recruits women and directs them to Jack and also likes to make porn in her supply closet—" She rambled out quickly, "Know anything about that?"
Danny's stomach dropped at the last part. This all sounded too familiar. He looked around and didn't see Lacey or Phoebe anywhere.
"Where are they?"
Jo smiled, "Oh now you want me, huh?" She giggled.