Lace began stirring around 6:30 just as the sun was beginning to rise. Rico who wasn't sleeping, trying to keep an ear out for his parents sat thinking about how different Lacey was now that she was back
She had always had sex appeal but as Lace she also had an indescribable confidence and apparently like Rico she had a dark sense of humor.
Like last night when Danny feeling cocky got territorial with Lace she managed to smack him down and teach him a lesson at the same time.
Rico couldn't help being a little tickled by it, But he wondered how many times Danny would need a lesson after watching the single minded intensity in his eyes as he watched her walk away last night.
Danny looked like he was ready to do anything in his power to get her back. He just hoped that Lace was ready too.
Rico was pulled out of his musing when
Lace opening her eyes, jerked forward running her hands through her hair and exclaimed "Oh no". "What time is it"?
She jumped off the bed smoothing her dress down then asking Rico if she could use the restroom He directed her to the door next to his closet before she went inside.
When she came out her face was damp and her hair was pulled up in a girly ponytail she looked at him and said warmly "Thanks for letting me crash here".
"Its okay" Rico said "I enjoyed the company".
"I better get going then". Lace said walking toward the window her mind fast forwarding to the inevitable confrontation with her mother as she opened it.
Hey Lace" Rico said making her pause
"Yes Rico" she said as she turned her head to the side looking behind her to see him
Feeling strangely confident Rico knew it was now or never.
"You wanna go get some breakfast".
I feel like I've been thanking you all morning but, thank you again Rico" Lace said "For letting me borrow your clothes".
"Aww tweren't nothin" Rico said in his funniest southern accent, making Lace snort as she ate her home fries.
"How come you weren't this funny when I met you last time" Lace said smiling
"I was... in my mind" Rico said stifling a laugh. "but once I opened my mouth it came off as awkward".
"I know. The awkward thing is adorable" she said thinking about the last time him and Lacey teamed up "but I definitely like seeing this side of you". "Its fun". "You should let it out more often".
Rico pondered the significance of what she just said then replied thoughtfully " I don't Feel awkward around you which is strange because I don't really know you but you're so confident and open that I don't really feel the need to hold myself back".
"Now I have a question for you" Rico said smiling. Lace playfully tilted her head at an angle waiting for him to ask
"How come You weren't this playful when I met you last time"?
Lace chose her words carefully before responding. "I didn't have time to be playful I was too busy being perfect".
"Oh" Rico said sensing a double meaning.
"Well to steal something that a friend once said. "I like seeing this side of you".
"I mean you climbed a tree. "The old Lacey Porter would never have done that".
No, Lacey wouldn't have, Lace thought ...
"Look at me" a triumphant 10 year old Danny said from the top plank of the swing set as he wobbled precariously trying to balance himself.
"Noo". a frightened Jo said from below. "Danny get down or I'm gonna tell the adults" .
Danny his legs in a surfers stance began grinning mischeviously rocking left and right with his feet. The old swing set groaning lightly each time he did.
"I'm telling" Jo said running towards the house her voice echoing the whole way.
"Cmon Lacey" Danny said motioning up with his hands as he balanced himself. "Cmon its fun".
"I can't" Lacey said thinking of reasons why she shouldn't. Her mom, her dad, her new shoes, her deathly fear of heights. "I can't get my new shoes dirty"
"I'll help you okay" Danny said his eyes pleading with Lacey to join him as she looked up at him uncertainly.
When she continued to hesitate Danny suddenly looked at her smirking the way that always made her want to knock the grin off his face and said laughter and spite in his voice "You're probably just scared". "You know you couldn't do it even if you wanted to".
He began laughing doing a silly hula swaying motion, laughing and doing a silly hula swaying motion, laughing louder and doing a silly hula swaying motion...
Lacey began to feel anger well up inside her along with an overwhelming need to prove herself. She silently began an internal battle, Lace saying they should do it , just to push him off and Lacey arguing all the ways they could get hurt or dirty.
When Danny started singing "she's sca-red". "she's sca-red" . uh huh uh huh
uh huh uh huh while laughing And doing a silly hula swaying motion Lace exploded forward charging at the swing set ready to climb.
She managed to get her foot on the bar that connected the A frame using the posts to pull her up. Danny, now quiet, sidled towards her to help her, trying hard to keep his balance as the swing began swerving unstably with Lace's movements.
Lace looked up almost to the top as Danny's hand reached over for hers. Just as she was about to grab it thinking that she had finally conquered her fear of heights she lost her balance and fell forward to the ground skinning her shin badly as Jo led their parents outside.
"Lacey Danielle Porter"! Her mother yelled looking down her body reeking of alcohol. "What were you thinking"? as Karen helped Danny down the side of the swing and Tess and Jo ran inside to get bandages. "Look at yourself your jeans are torn and your new shoes are all dirty".
I told you we were gonna get hurt Lacey said to her miserably. As she held her knee. Now they're gonna fight again...
Lace tuning back in perked up when
the server walked up to the table to refresh Laces coffee and placed her second order of Breakfast Scrambler on the table.
"You want" she said pointing at her plate with her fork and then at him .Rico stared at the large omelette looking it up in down then looking at Lace wondering where she put it all.
They both spontaneously burst into laughter
"What"?she said "Climbing trees makes you hungry"! To which they both burst out into laughter again.
Finally able to talk without giggling Lace looked over at Rico who had gone quiet all of a sudden staring behind her. She turned around to see what he was looking at. She saw Jo Masterson her blue irises flashing green as she focused on Lacey, charging at the table with hell hath no fury in her eyes
-