Apparently the adults thought that Jo being stationed at the far end of the table sandwiched between her mother, Clara, and her little friend from school Reagan, was a good idea. Which was ridiculous especially since Danny and Lacey hadn't bothered to show up yet to take their seats across from her and so she was forced to sit there and listen to everyone's conversations.
In one ear she could hear the adults discussing everything from How delicious the appetizers were to missed Doctors appointments. And in her other ear the two middle schoolers sat rehashing bouts of childish slang to describe the current drama at school and Jo regretting her decision to come could not be more bored.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket for the 100th time that morning and knowing it was Tyler she just didn't have the stomach to answer it. The ordeal of hearing the sound of his low raspy perverted voice asking her to "go out" again threw Jo's head into a tailspin as she began massaging her temples.
"What's wrong honey are you feeling sick" Tess said in what seemed to Jo to be mock concern to draw everyone's attention at the table to her. "She probably gets the headache thing from me" she said trying to make light of it.
Jo already agitated by multiple factors and feeling what might actually be a headache coming on stated loudly enough for the entire table to hear "Well I for one hope its the only thing I get from you".
An audible gasp was heard from Mr and Mrs. Porter who had always pegged Jo as the most well behaved of the trio.
So Kyle who was exhausted from working long nights at the station, Kyle who only came because for some reason Tess begged him too, and Kyle who loved his only daughter and sensed somehow that something was going on with her and her mother, intervened by distracting everyone with a toast.
He stood up urging everyone at the table to join him as he held up his wineglass "First I'd like to say that I'm honored to be invited to this dinner" he said looking around for signs of Karen and Danny who was just making his way to the table with Lacey and Jo's friend Rico as the three teens walked arm in arm.
Kyle looked around again finally spotting Karen as she strutted flawlessly out the back door at the same time that Jo saw both Danny and someone who could possibly be Rico but who was way hotter, gallantly stroll up with Lacey, their arms protectively grabbing her.
Her father continued "I am especially pleased with how the facts have turned out in the Crane investigation absolving Danny of any guilt". "Let's try and keep it that way" he joked eliciting light chuckles from Danny and Karen. Jo however had already tuned him out. She could only see Rico who she had to do a double take in order to recognize.
He was dressed in a crisp white t-shirt under a Grey button up sweater with white sleeves and a pair of black relaxed skinny jeans. His hair was tousled up into a peak above his head accented by a large diamond stud in his left ear but the most surprising and irresistible detail of his new appearance was the large pair of black frames that rested on his turned and acknowledged her by nodding his head and then whispered something to Lacey making her giggle before returning his attention to her father who was finishing up his speech.
"Anyway Danny has been through a lot these past few months and he and his amazing mother Karen deserve a break". "So here's to friends" Kyle said lifting his glass and his gaze to Karen. A motion that wasn't lost on Tess "Old..and New". "CHEERS"
"Cheers" everyone said as they stood clinking their glasses together.
"Cheers" Jo said in her dismay rubbing her temple with her free hand at the prospect of this day getting any longer as she wondered if she could sneak something stronger into her cup.
With Kyles toast the guests figured the party had officially begun so before everyone became side tracked Karen sidled up next to Kyle giving him an impromptu hug and then tapped her glass signaling a speech of her own.
"Wow.. Before everyone tastes this beautiful spread that My Son prepared she emphasized while looking at Judy and Samuel "I'd like to say a few words".
"I'm not good at giving speeches but in honor of Lacey's Homecoming, Danny and I... as well as all of you here.. are relieved and grateful that she has made it back home to Green Grove to be with us again".
" So thank you all for coming together with us to celebrate". Karen smiled choosing her next words carefully "May she, our children, and our families always remain close". "To Lacey"
"To Lacey" they repeated.
"To Lace" Danny said dreamily gazing towards her, his eyes taking in her bare legs and imagining them wrapped around him as he lifted up his glass...
"To Lace" Rico said in a motion of solidarity as he grabbed her free hand rubbing his thumb across it.
"To Lacey" Jo said sadly as both Danny and Rico stared at Lacey each one oblivious to her standing there.
The parents dispersed looking for food and drinks as the teenagers settled down at the table.
Danny and Rico began jockeying for a space next to Lacey like two children playing a game of musical chairs.
Danny won by nimbly sliding into an empty chair at the end of the table forcing Rico to sit in the chair between Lacey and Samuel.
Samuel who was standing with Judith talking to Jo's parents while keeping his eyes firmly rooted on Lacey gave Danny a withering look when he noticed where it was he was sitting.
And Jo tried to hold back the feelings of insecurity and annoyance that kept fighting to form a grimace on her face.
Right now she needed her friends and it seemed like all the friends she had were fixated on the same person. That Everyone was always fixated on her.
Jo wondered how Lacey always managed to get what she had always wanted, People's attention, admiration and love, when Lacey never seemed like she either wanted or needed it.
She took a deep breath telling herself to hold it together . 'Cmon Jo your just being insecure' she thought as she stared at Rico and Lacey shoulders touching and hands still held fast.
All the while the feelings kept gnawing at her and a memory of her feeling excluded yet again flashed in front of her like the jolt of cold snow that hit her face when it happened...
"Okay we're gonna do eenie meenies for it" Danny said his nose turning red from the icy wind that whipped at them.
The trio was at McNally Park enjoying an unexpected snow day. Tess, stood over by the Playground watching the kids fight over who was going to sit in the front of the sled that Karen had bought for Danny.
"No were not numb nuts." Lacey said arching her eyebrow under her oversized purple earmuffs. She elbowed him in the rib and explained "because you always somehow pick yourself first and get out of being it".
"Ouch" Danny said rubbing his rib and laughing "Fine then, We'll do Rock, Paper, Scissors". and he pushed Lacey laughing even louder when she fell flat onto the snow.
Lacey got up easily, and dusting off her bottom she began throwing snow in Danny's direction.
It hit Jo squarely in the face as she was just about to give a suggestion. "Maybe we can... Jo said as she rubbed her face then faltered watching her two oblivious friends chasing each other around her before Danny put his hands up in defeat.
" Okay, Okay, you win" he said to Lacey out of breath and panting loudly as the cold air made clouds around his face. He extended his hand towards her to shake on it.
Lacey slowly began extending her hand back then out of nowhere a handful of ice met Danny right in the face.
" Now I win". she said triumphantly as Danny wiped away the mask of snow, trying to find a way to one up her.
"So were not doing Rock, Paper, Scissors right Danny". Lacey said triumphantly "You always cheat".
"Unh unh" he said, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his mouth."How can I cheat Lacey".
I don't know how you do it, but you always know what I'm gonna pick". "Like you can read my mind or something".
"Maybe I can read your mind" he said wiggling his fingers towards Lacey's neck which they all knew was her ticklish spot.
"Stop Danny" she said running around Jo and then behind her for cover.
As he stood in front of her trying to get to Lacey, Jo found that her stomach kept bubbling and cramping in tight little knots.
They always did this lately. Every game left Jo out or made her feel lesser in some way.
When they played House, Jo would be the baby and Danny and Lacey would spend the whole game arguing with one another and putting her to sleep.
When they played School Danny and Lacey would argue over who got to be the Principal or the teacher but Jo always had to be the student.
And when they played tag Danny would spend all his time chasing Lacey to make sure she got "it".
She hated the feeling they didn't hear her or couldn't because they were so busy playing with each other.
"I'LL DO IT" she yelled stopping both of them mid argument.
"You sure Jo, You don't have to" Danny said.
"Yeah I'm sure" she said thinking of how sure she was that she wanted them to stop ignoring her and for them to get back to playing instead.
"You don't have to". Lacey said "We could always take turns". "I have a better way to choose anyway" she said lifting her chin up at Danny defiantly. "We can flip a coin to see who goes first".
"Flipping a coin won't work" Danny replied because there's only two sides"
"Its better than your idea cheater" Lacey said sticking her tongue out.
Imagining the two of them beginning their antics again she said "No its fine, I want to".
They all agreed and Jo sat on the front of the sled becoming miserable again as they slid down the hill and Danny and Lacey began another argument about whether the hill was too small as snow flew up at her from all directions...
Coming back to the present Jo wondered how she had failed to see the difference in Danny and Lacey's relationship earlier on.
Maybe she was oblivious. One thing she was certain of was that she was definitely miserable.
Lace was the first one to speak to Jo.
"Hey Jo". "Are you okay"?
"I'm fine just thinking about when we were kids, and how much growing up we've done" she said a bit uncomfortably.
"Anyways you look great Lacey," she said admiring her. "and I love your hair ".
"Thank you" Lace said
"Yeah, You really do", Danny agreed softly catching the groups attention with the undercurrent in his voice.
While underneath the table he had shifted his leg so it was in front of Lacey's and he began rubbing against it slowly making sure to maintain eye contact with her as he did so
Lace bit her bottom lip, trying to focus away from his hypnotizing stare and the sensuously addictive feeling of his touch. She shifted her stance to the right towards Rico who was carefully watching Danny with an unreadable expression.
Clearing his throat Rico looked across the table at Jo and said " Ahem, Its Good to see you Jo,You look nice" he emphasized his statement by giving her a warm, appreciative once over.
Jo who was still awestruck at Rico's appearance took a moment to gather herself before she answered
"Yeah its good to see you too, You look amazing, but I wish you would've told me you were coming when we were together last night".
Sipping on water, Rico half coughed half choked and quickly looked at Lace who looked back at him and gently reached over rubbing his back in reassurance.
Jo little miffed at the interaction between the two commented. "Whoa slow down Rico. "You're kinda thirsty aren't you"?
Danny laughed covering it by coughing into his hand.
Jo's display of jealousy prompted Lace to respond smartly by saying "Trust her Rico". "Jo's an expert at knowing the symptoms".
"Come again" Jo said bristling at her rebuttal
Danny was smiling silently entertained by the verbal spar between the girls and the clear displeasure Jo had at seeing Lace with Rico.
"So are you guys hungry" he quickly injected to steer the conversation into a neutral place. "I know I am" he added suggestively as he rubbed his leg against Lacey's.
She led her heel up to his crotch toeing it slowly before giving it a gentle kick as a warning.
Danny smirked to himself and then resumed the conversation.
"In honor of Laces return I cooked some of her favorites". He pointed at some of the dishes at the buffet describing them to everyone
"This all looks great Danny. I can't believe you did all this". She said a note of awe in her voice
"Well the truth is I did it to impress you" he said looking into her.
Lace closed her eyes weighing the honesty of his words then opening them she coyly looked up locking eyes with him and for a moment they forgot that anyone else was there.
Rico was a little unnerved by the way Danny and Lacey sat staring at one another so he rubbed his thumb against hers bringing her attention back to him.
She turned smiling a brilliant smile at him which he responded to by kissing her palm.
"Well it shouldn't be hard to impress her Danny". Jo snarled glaring at her "Lacey seems to like a little bit of everything".
Clara who appeared to be quietly talking to her friend was actually listening to the older teens and seething inside at Jo's behavior.
Coming out of nowhere she said "Well at least when she likes something it likes her back". "You might want to figure out why that is".
"Cmon Lacey, Reagan" Clara said.
Motioning for them to get up and follow her she could be heard cursing "Before I do a forward roll on her a..." as the three girls walked away.
Jo swallowed nervously, suddenly very aware of the two remaining pairs of eyes watching her.
"Why did you do that"? Rico asked his tone accusing
"What did I do"? Jo said playing innocent
Rico didn't respond. Getting up gave her a disgusted look before getting up to follow Lace.
"Rico Wait"! Jo called out her eyes clouding over. She looked at Danny who was still observing her and said defensively "Go ahead, Go after her"". I'm sure you're angry at me too because I dared to insult Queen Lacey's sensibilities".
"I'm not mad at you Jo, I'm just...".
"You're just what Danny"?
I'm just realizing how deep your insecurity about Lacey goes". "Its at the point where you're so stuck on the friendship you two lost in the past that you're missing the chance to be friends with her now".
"Seems like she's got plenty of friends already, but of course you would be on her side. You always take up for her, everyone does".
"Actually Jo if you weren't so jealous you would see that I usually take up for you, but the way you're acting, maybe Lacey was right when she said you're "always the victim", cause right now you're clearly in the wrong".
"How am I playing a victim Danny". "My life is in ruins and all everyone cares about is whether or not Lacey's food is seasoned properly". "What I don't understand is why she keeps leaving us behind and you're so intent on following her". "I've been here this entire time for you ... and Rico and all she has to do is show up and everybody drops me like I'm nothing". Completely exhausted Jo dropped her head.
For a while her and Danny sat in silence. She fully expected him to comfort her and when he didn't she raised her head to look at him.
"Do you know how selfish you sound right now"? He said his eyes reflecting a dark dangerous glint. "Do you realize the hell Lacey has gone through since I came back. "Do you know anything about what she went through when we were kids"?
"How could I"? Jo replied "When you two were so busy, running off to pull pranks and finding ways to exclude me""Now you're doing it again. "I guess the more things change the more they stay the same".
"No Jo", Danny said sick of finding ways to bring his friends together when it was becoming obvious that Jo was dead set against it happening.
"You don't know what's happening with anyone besides you, because you never ask, and because you know that no matter what Lacey's going through she'll always puts other people's feelings including yours before herself".
"I mean, You could've asked her why she left or how she felt knowing the entire school saw us having sex'. "You didn't have to suffer the backlash and humiliation, she did and unlike you she never asked anyone for any thing not even their pity". "And she still doesn't ask for anyone's love or protection which is why she deserves it so much".
"So you're right about one thing the more things change the more they stay the same and after all these years you haven't grown up or changed a bit".
"But I have and i know that in order for you and I to be friends you're gonna have to accept that I love Lacey, I always have". "She is going to be a major part of my life and from the looks of it Rico's too", he added glancing over at Lace trying to teach Rico how to dance.
"Danny we've been friends since we were in diapers" Jo said "You're gonna let Lacey ruin that".
"No Jo you are" he said and with that he got up walking over to where Lacey was, leaving Jo to decide as she sat abandoned and ashamed how much more she was willing to lose because of her pride.