"Face it, Messer. You're whipped." Tony Marza crossed his arms and leaned across the tabletop, feeling very much like the mob boss his father was. He surveyed his victim with cool gray eyes, chewing a stick of gum slowly. His friend and cousin, Vinnie Sabatorino, hid a grin behind his hand as he watched the scene before him unfold.
Danny leaned forward as well, clasping his hands in front of him. Only two months into the school year and the boys already had calluses from baseball bats. Danny absently picked at a piece of skin on his palm while studying Tony's eyes for signs of a challenge. Finding none, he decided to go along with the joke. "Nah, you're wrong. Truth be told, I got her eatin' out of the palm of my hand. She thinks she's got me wrapped around her little finger, but really, it's the other way around." He grinned at a group of passing junior girls, who began giggling and flipping their hair at the attention they were being given. The three of them watched the girls walk away until Danny looked away and began flexing his hands, warming up for pitching practice. Vinnie nudged Tony, who nodded.
"You know, Messer, that that's a bunch of bullshit."
Danny looked up in surprise at Tony' declaration. "Fuck you!"
Tony chuckled, holding up his hands. "Okay, okay. Sorry. But seriously, Messer," he ran a hand through his hair, thinking. "There's gotta be some way for you to prove, and I mean we all see it, that she is with you! I mean, it can't be that hard, a smooth guy like you." Tony looked up slowly from the peeling paint on the table to see clear blue eyes staring him down. Tony accepted the test, knowing it could be deadly to their "friendship" if he looked away. He had just inadvertently mocked Danny Messer's ability to attract a member of the female species, and that within itself was trouble. Pulling Allie into the mix was suicide. Tony knew that, no matter how much tough-guy smack Danny talked and the amount of time he spent flirting with other girls, Danny's heart belonged to Allie. Every breathing guy who wanted to keep his balls knew that. The only question was: Did Allie return Danny's affections?
Vinnie watched the two, his head shifting between the two boys like a spectator at a tennis match. There was no doubt in Vinnie's mind that Danny would agree to whatever Tony had in mind; Messer couldn't resist a challenge. Danny was a good kid, but he always had a tendency to need to prove himself: Girls, school, baseball – there was no doubt that Danny was gifted. It had been Vinnie's motley baseball team Danny had beat in the last neighborhood lot game. Thinking about it as he scanned his eyes across the school grounds, Vinnie suspected that it had a lot to do with Louie. Danny was constantly trying to get on his brother's good side, and Vinnie knew it was because Danny could never really get Louie's attention: the older Messer was too concerned with Tanglewood and Sonny.
"'Aight. What do I need to do?" Danny's voice was strong and he crossed his arms confidently, leaning back in his seat. Tony clapped his hands together and smiled. "With any luck, you won't have to do much. All's you gotta do is get her to say yes to the party tomorrow night. Get her there, dance a little bit, and turn on the charm. If she falls for it and everyone can see she likes you, you're set. Your reputation as a lady-killer is still alive and Allie gets to be the lucky girl on Danny Messer's arm."
Danny shook his head, not believing it was that simple. "C'mon, man. That's not gonna work. One: Allie would kill me if I ever thought of her as a trophy," Tony and Vinnie smirked at each other at his concern, "And two: no one's gonna believe that we're together. They're gonna say we're just friends, nuthin' more."
Vinnie nodded, suddenly concerned. "He's gotta point."
"I know he's gotta point, dumbass," Tony rolled his eyes. He's gonna blow this if he's not careful. "But all Messer has to do is make sure she doesn't lose interest." He looked pointedly at Danny. "If she really likes you, she shouldn't." He raised his eyebrows so they practically disappeared into his hairline. "Right?"
Danny took a deep breath before smiling confidently. "Right." He stood quickly, grabbing his baseball gear. "Now that that's finished, I'm gonna go warm up. See you guys in a few." He nodded a goodbye and strode away, nodding to the giggling girls on a bench a few feet away from where the cousins were now sitting alone.
"Shit." Tony slowly let out the breath he had been holding since Danny Messer had agreed, when they had accosted him during lunch period, to meet with them before baseball practice. Vinnie grunted his approval and rested his forehead against the tabletop. "Man, she finds out about this, and he's dead man." His voice was muffled by the position of his head and Tony nodded, biting his lip. "Psh, forget Allie. Louie Messer finds out we been anywhere near his brother, and he'll have us killed." He gulped. "He could do it, too."
Vinnie raised his head in skepticism. "Louie? Kill somebody? No way." He sighed. They both knew that Louie didn't like them very much, therefore not wanting the pair of them anywhere around his brother: that didn't mean he hated them enough to kill them. But the man they were working for, he was someone to fear. "Do you think it'll work?"
"Oh yeah," Tony nodded again, this time full of certainty. He looked to where Danny was swinging a baseball bat with practiced ease, taking his time to perfect his already flawless form. "I gotta admit, though; Messer's got some kind of steel balls."
Vinnie snorted, resuming his place on the plastic table. "No kiddin'."
---
Danny lounged against the wooden door leading into the fine arts wing with the air of someone who couldn't care less. In reality, he was having a small heart attack. Allie would be getting out of rehearsal any minute now and he had only a split second to grab her and ask her about the party before girls wanting to be his next girlfriend bombarded him. Are you insane? You don't want a bunch of hot girls desperately wantin' to be the piece on your arm? Are you nuts? He kicked the little voice inside his head, running a hand over his face. It was true that ever since Allie had kissed him that night, he hadn't cared about other girls: only her. Was he going soft? Or was it just time for him to face facts: Allie O'Brien could be the girl for him. Okay, officially one too many baseballs to the head, Messer. He checked his watch for the umpteenth time since he had grabbed his spot on the door. Three, two, one: show time.
A vast multitude of theater folk, dancers, singers, actors, and the like, swept from the auditorium in a blaze of noise. Danny searched for the familiar auburn hair in the crowd, ignoring the looks of surprise he was getting. It was rare for a super-star jock to be seen this far from the fields, especially during warm-ups. Pushing his way through the bodies, Danny was finally rewarded. There, talking to a blonde who looked familiar and an older, batty-looking woman who was probably the director: Allie. His stomach did flip-flops, much to his surprise. He ignored the feeling and quickly made his way over to where she was.
"All I am saying, Morgan, is that if we put you in back, Mica would have a better chance of getting downstage in time to do her number. It's for the good of the production." Allie's hands were moving in time with her mouth and she looked agitated. The blonde, Morgan, rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "Yeah, but I belong in front. I'm shorter than she is."
Allie pursed her lips. "That doesn't mean anything. The good dancers are the ones who need to be in front; not the glory-seekers." Danny winced at the tone of her voice: she meant business, and was not to be argued with. Unfortunately, Morgan was not that smart. She let out a shriek of indignation and looked Allie up and down as though judging how easily she could beat up the other girl. Morgan's eyes narrowed when she realized trying to fight the Irish-bred was not a good idea. "So, why are you in front then?" She smirked at her idea of a witty comeback and waited for a reaction: she was disappointed.
Allie spotted Danny out of the corner of her eye and smiled softly. "Talent and thirteen years of Irish dance and ballet. That's why." She nodded politely to the overwhelmed director and sauntered over to where Danny was standing and grinning at what he had just witnessed. Allie kept walking, motioning for him to fall into step with her. "I need a ride home. Now." Her lips barely moved as her pace quickened. He nodded mutely, still tickled by the way she had shot down the other girl. The two of them made their way out of the building and to the student parking lot without incident. It was when they reached the first row of cars that Danny noticed something was off. He looked back at the school and let out a strangled chuckle. "Allie? I think you should see this…"
The majority of the dancers had accumulated on the front steps of the school, all of them female. Morgan was at the head of the ranks, and Danny could feel the heat of her anger from where he stood. "Allie, I'm serious. Look…" He motioned helplessly towards the girls.
"Keep walking, Messer. She's just pissed off." Allie's head never turned and her face remained impassive.
"BITCH!" The curse echoed throughout the grounds and Allie smirked at the voice. "She better learn how to get over it. She's got a year left: I graduate in May." She smiled sweetly at Danny. "Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of Mister Messer waiting for me after rehearsal? Shouldn't you be prepping for baseball?" She stopped at his car to wait for him to unlock the doors and grant her access.
Danny slid across the hood of his car before placing his key in the lock. He flashed a sexy smile over the roof of the car and she rolled her eyes. "Danny, please. What do you want?" She threw her belongings in the backseat of the car, smiling as it landed on his baseball gear. Ignoring his attempt at an innocent face, she climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door and leaning her head against the headrest. She didn't look over at Danny until the sound of his door shutting and his keys in the ignition told her that he was in the car. Hazel eyes left the sky through the windshield and met blue irises head on. "So, what's up?"
Danny cleared his throat and grinned. "Allie. Baby."
She snorted. "Don't even try that baby act on me, Messer. You know it doesn't work." He widened the grin into the infamous crooked smile. "Neither will the smile. What do you want?"
He pouted, although his blue eyes were sparkling with amusement. "What the hell makes you think I want somethin''?"
Allie rolled her eyes again and he chuckled at her annoyance. "Please, Danny. You very rarely give me a ride without wanting something."
"That's not true! I've given you a ride to school every single morning this week and not wanted anythin'!" His indignation made his accent thick and Allie held up her hands, laughing. "Okay, okay! But what do you want now?"
Danny sighed and placed his hands on the steering wheel, finally turning on the car. "Well, now I don't feel like asking you." He flinched at the slap on his shoulder. "Ouch."
Allie giggled. "Don't be an antagonist. Just ask me!"
"Fine." Danny took a deep breath and looked straight out the windshield. "I was just wonderin' if you would do me the honor of comin' with me to the party tomorrow night." He held his breath, never once looking at her. She's gonna say no. I can feel it. Mentally bracing himself for rejection, Danny was surprised when he heard the sound of muffled laughter. He looked over, surprised, to see Allie cackling into her sweatshirt. Hey, that's my shirt. "What the hell is so damn funny?"
Allie looked up, hazel eyes shining. "It took you that long to get up the nerve to ask me to a party?" She snorted again and Danny couldn't help but grin. "Well, not exactly…"
She held up her hand, still laughing. "Man, I must really intimidate you, or somethin'. It's never taken a guy that long to ask me out." She swept her bangs back from her forehead, smiling. "I'm flattered, Messer."
"But?" Brace yourself, buddy, 'cuz here it comes.
Allie looked confused. "But what?" She stared at him for a moment before realization dawned on her pretty features. "Oh. No, I'd be happy to go. There is not but." She happily kissed his cheek and sat back in her seat, contented. "Now, get this bucket of rust home. I got a lot of homework."
Danny was so pleased by her consent that he didn't even care she had dissed his car. It was a small price to pay for their technical first real date. He gleefully engaged in the conversation about the "Dancer Fiasco," as Allie called it, that he had rescued her from and was disappointed when their respective houses came into view. Allie quickly climbed out of the car, grabbing her stuff from the backseat. "So, I guess I'll see you later?" She was walking backwards while talking, and he marveled at the ease with which she navigated around his trashcan and hers. He nodded deftly, letting out a long sigh. "Yup. Now I guess it's the resting period."
Allie smirked, still walking up her stairs backwards. "Thank God for Friday nights, right?"
Danny smiled. "Right. See ya."
She waved and pushed her way through the door of her house, calling a quick, "Bye!" before shutting the door. She dropped her bags and leaned against the heavy door, attempting to still her heartbeat. Did I just agree to a date with Danny Messer? Oh, my God. Bómánta cailín. She shook her head, clearing the thoughts there. Had she just spoken Gaelic? "He's even affecting my language!" she muttered to herself.
"Didja say somethin'?" Mikey's head peeked around the doorway leading into the kitchen, causing Allie to jump a mile. "Shit, Mike! Announce your presence, or something!" Allie pressed a hand to her chest, attempting to slow her speeding heart rate. He grinned at her and took another bite out of the sandwich he was holding. "Whatever. I live here too, ya know."
Allie picked up her stuff and trudged up the stairs to her bedroom. "Since when? I thought you moved out a year ago, dummy." She had to strain her ears to hear his response.
"Since I got kicked out of my apartment, that's when. Don't tell Ma. I told her I wanted to come home." Mikey disappeared into the kitchen once more and Allie shook her head as she made her way into her bedroom. Of course Mikey had gotten kicked out of his apartment; the super hated the Irish. "Lemme meet him, then we'll see what happens," Allie mumbled to the emptiness of her room. She looked out the window and her heart stopped. Danny's window was across the alleyway, challenging her. "Shit, shit, shit." She rushed back downstairs, grabbed the phone, and raced back to her room; ignoring the questioning look Mikey gave her. She slammed her door forcefully and dialed a quick number.
"Erin? Danny asked me out. Yeah, I know it's about time, but I don't know what to wear. Be here in five minutes, 'kay? Yeah, bye." She hung up and stared at the window. "Danny Messer, prepare to be stunned." Running a hand through her hair, Allie sighed. So much to do, so little time. Oy vey.
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A/N: Okay, so Allie says "Stupid girl" in Gaelic; I just thought I'd throw that in there, since Danny has been able to use his fangasmic Italian on us.
Sorry to cut you off, but there's some pretty intense stuff coming up and I want that to be a second chapter.