A/N: This is the night of the party, Saturday night. Just sit back and watch the fireworks. Heh heh heh.

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The doorbell rang, and Allie jumped, smearing her mascara down her cheek. "Shit!" she swore under her breath, quickly grabbing a tissue to repair the damage with. She heard the front door open and her mother loudly welcome their guest. Straining her ears, Allie caught wind of, "Danny! She's still upstairs. Let me go tell her you're here."

Her eyes widened in the mirror and she quickly began retrying to apply the mascara. She was bound and determined to seem collected, at least in front of her mother. She had been restless for two days now, and the worst part was that she didn't even understand why herself. Danny was a friend. A very cute friend with the potential to ravish her any time he so wished, but still: a friend. There was no reason for her to have gone through eleven different outfits, four hairstyles, five pairs of shoes, and three consecutive hours of prepping for tonight's party. But she had. As much as she tried to convince herself that this was just a friend date, nothing more, she couldn't. This was a major marker on the high way of her and Danny's relationship. She had to admit, she had a thing for him. She wasn't quite sure what that "thing" would escalate into, but her end of it was pretty serious.

"Allison, your date's here." The stress Aileen O'Brien put on one word sent Allie's stomach into butterflies, and she grinned sheepishly at her mother in the mirror. "Thanks, Mom. I gathered from the welcoming committee at the front door." She screwed the mascara brush back into its bottle and ran her fingers through her hair one last time. Taking a deep breath and a final look, Allie swept past Aileen on a sea of nerves and made her way to the stairs, stopping at the landing for effect.

Danny had been lightly joking with Mikey, just to kill some of the tension in the room, but his mouth stopped functioning altogether when he saw her at the top of the stairs. She smirked at his stare and began her descent, hips swinging with every step. She was dressed modestly, in a black skirt and green tee shirt that slightly accented every curve and brightened her auburn hair and hazel eyes, but the way her hair framed her face and the sparkle in her eyes caught his attention, and Danny couldn't help but ogle. She reached the bottom step and leaned against the banister, taking him in. Even though he was just wearing jeans and a simple navy blue baseball shirt, his whole body screamed confidence, and damn her if that wasn't sexy.

"Lookin' good, Messer," she teased lightly, a smile playing about her lips. He grinned back cockily and she noticed that he wasn't wearing his glasses. "Likewise, O'Br- Allie." Don't call her by her last name tonight, man. You wouldn't call any other date by her last name. He caught Mikey's grin out of the corner of his eye and shoved his hands in his pockets.

Allie let a grin out at his compliment and grabbed her jean jacket and purse. She kissed her mother and brother, muttering goodbyes into their ears. "I'll be home by two at the very latest," she promised, and Danny held the door open for her. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to find a very stern Mikey.

"Don't do anything that would give me reason to kill you," Mikey warned, his eyes boring into Danny's, the promise of pain embedded in their usually warm depths. The younger man nodded, smiling. "Not a problem, Mike. I'll look after her." Danny waved goodbye to Aileen and followed his date (God, that's weird) to his car. Allie reached for the door handle, only to be stopped by the sound of Danny's voice.

"Ah, ah, ah, I got it." He jogged up behind her and opened the door, mock bowing gallantly. Allie rolled her eyes and slid into the vehicle, allowing her skirt to ride up briefly, giving Danny a good look at her well-toned dancer's legs. He cleared his throat nervously and shut the door, going around the back instead of the front. He didn't want her to see him praying. Dear God, let me keep it together tonight. I can't lose her over somethin' so stupid as my over-active imagination.

Allie smiled as he climbed into the driver's seat and turned the key in the ignition. "Well, that wasn't awkward."

His fingers slipped on the wheel. What? "What?" He cocked and eyebrow at her and pulled out into the street, still mostly studying her.

"My brother. He's way too overprotective." She pinched the bridge of her nose thoughtfully, trying to find a way to get Danny to agree with her. She didn't want tonight to seem like it was being ruled over by old beliefs and traditions.

Danny smirked and turned a corner. "Nah. If I were him, I'd kill me too." He paused, thinking. "Did that make sense?"

Allie laughed. "Yes, but your reasoning doesn't." She turned in her seat to face him and Danny clenched the wheel a little bit tighter. "I thought you were the kind of guy who acted first, then talked. So far, all we've done is talk."

He rolled his eyes, grinning sexily at her in the glow of the streetlights. "Ooookay, if you call two mind-numbin' kisses in the past six months 'talkin''." He turned another corner, pulling up in front of a house whose driveway was infested with automobiles. Danny risked a look at Allie and saw her staring out the windshield pensively, and he knew she was contemplating what he had just said. "Al, look at me." She obliged and he took a big breath. "I know I've got a rep longer than the ticket line at a Yankees' openin' season game," He offered an apologetic grin at his comparison, and she snorted, "But I really don't want this," he moved a hand back and forth, indicating the two of them, "to be all about 'talkin''." He moved his fingers in the hypothetical "quote-unquote" type way. Allie cocked an eyebrow at him and he realized what he had just said. "Wait…that didn't come out right…what I meant was…I don't want us to just kiss…I mean, kissin' would be good, yeah, of course, but we should talk to….and I mean, with words, not with our mouths….no, with mouths, but not connected…wait…hang on…"

Allie threw back her head and laughed at his confusion. She gently placed a finger on his lips, silencing him. "Messer, you talk too much."

He groaned. "Don't do that."

She grinned and bit her lip. "Sorry. I mean, you're over-thinking this." At his skeptic look she shook her head. "You know what, screw this whole prepping-ourselves-for-whatever-happens thing." She opened the door, sliding out gracefully. "I say we party."

Danny climbed out as well, straightening his shirt. He came around the car to stand beside her. "I second that motion."

Allie nodded confidently and began to walk, surprised when Danny's hand held her back. She looked over her shoulder at him with a question in her eyes and he bit his lip. Coming close enough to her to whisper in her ear, he let his lips brush gently against the outer shell, making her shiver. "You really do look amazin', Allie," he muttered, squeezing her hand once for effect. Allie's face grew red with pleasure and she opened her mouth to return the compliment. "Thanks, Danny. You—"

"GET A ROOM!" The voice echoed out over the yard and the pair of them jumped. Grinning sheepishly, they started winding their way through a maze of cars to the front door. Danny held her hand firmly in his, informing the small group of punks in the front yard who she was with. Allie smiled and waved at various people, keeping everything very casual so as not to seem too ruffled by the former outburst. I am so being hated by at least five girls right now. Boo-ya.

The door was open when the reached the front stoop, and the music blaring from the inside of the house was enough to make any self-respecting person cringe in horror. Steeling one another with a look, Danny and Allie cautiously crossed into the foyer of the house, immediately finding themselves swept off to opposite corners of the house by their best friends.

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"Ohmygod, you look amazing!" Erin Cavanaugh screamed into Allie's ear as she pulled her into a corner. Allie grabbed a can of Coke from a cooler on the table next to them and grinned. "Thanks, he seemed to think so too."

Erin snorted into her drink, causing Allie to re-think the idea that her best friend was completely sober. "I could tell. His heart just about broke when I pulled you over here." She took another swig of the liquid in the red plastic cup and studied her friend. "You're glowing," she informed Allie, swaying slightly with the effects of alcohol in her system.

Allie simply grinned and sipped her Coke. Erin giggled and turned to survey the crowd, leaving Allie to her own musings. Allie's eyes did a quick once-over of the room, scanning faces to see if she recognized anyone. Disappointed, her gaze became fixed on her date.

Danny was standing with a group of baseball players, hands in his pockets, laughing at something one of the guys had just said. He caught her staring at him and nodded his head in the stereotypical "Howyoudoin'?" gesture guys favored so much. She snickered and waved back, wiggling her fingers in just a way that made his mouth turn up in a half-grin. Allie bit her lip and took another sip of her drink, hazel irises still locked on blue pools. Danny's smiled broadened and he winked at her, turning back to the group quickly to avoid any mockery that might come his way. Allie laughed outright at his antics and bit the rim of the soda can. "Such a dork," she whispered under her breath, still staring.

"Shit. What the hell are those two doing here?" Erin's voice cut into Allie's thoughts and her head snapped around to look at her friend. Erin's face was etched with concern and Allie turned to see what was causing such grief.

Tony Marza and Vinnie Sabatorino, each with a girl on his arm, were smiling and talking with a group of admirers that had flocked around them. Allie's breath caught in her chest and she handed her drink to Erin. "I'm leaving. Get out of here as soon as you can." She hugged Erin quickly, and muttered, "You know that wherever he goes, they go. He'll be here soon, and you don't need to be." She pulled back in time to see Erin's head nodding, eyes wide with worry. Allie smiled half-heartedly. "I'll be fine. Go." She pushed her best friend into the next room and set off through the fray of bodies to find her date.

It didn't take her long. Danny was being handed a can of beer when Allie came up behind him. Smiling and pretending to enjoy her surroundings, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. "Can we go?" she whispered in his ear, still smiling beatifically at those around them.

Danny set the can down on the counter and turned to face her, suddenly uneasy. "What? Why?" He looked around to where her eyes were focused and saw Tony staring at him. He offered up a small wave and turned back around, confused. "Because he's here? Al, they're friends of mine. It's fine."

She shook her head quickly, anxiety growing in her eyes. "No, Danny. Don't be friends with him, or Vinnie." She looked up into his blue eyes, begging now. "They're working for Sonny. He'll be here soon, and I don't want to be when he gets here."

Danny's brain stopped functioning completely. "They work for Sonny Sassone—"

She cut him off with a quick kiss. "Yes, shh." Still pretending like she was having fun, Allie grabbed his hand and pulled him through the living room, past the place where Vinnie and Tony were congregated. Danny looked back once to see Tony nodding his approval at where he thought the pair of them were headed, and Danny did the only logical thing: he shoved his middle finger up in the air, directing the action at the other male. That's what I think of you pinheads doing Sonny's dirty work for him.

Tony merely smirked at the action and watched the pair of them go. Inside, however, the Hallelujah chorus was in full swing. Thank God she knows what's good for her.

---

Danny pulled into the parking lot of the laundromat, taking a deep breath as he surveyed his shell-shocked date next to him.

"Allie. Allie. Allie!" Danny didn't take kindly to being ignored, and when she wouldn't answer him, he had to yell to get her attention. She started as though he had hit her and stared at him with big eyes. "Now that I've got your full and un-divided—"

"Are you really friends with those guys?" Her voice was flat and his grin fell from his face faster than if someone had erased it for him.

"Umm…define friends…"

"You said you were friends with Tony. Were you serious?" Allie turned to face him in her seat and Danny wished he had never opened his mouth. "Kinda… it depends on…"

"Yeah, okay, deals that you make with Tony Marza concerning me and your masculinity does not make you two friends." Allie crossed her arms and fixed him with such a severe look that he winced. "You knew about that?"

She snorted. "Of course I knew. The Fioretti sisters were right behind you when you made the deal, and they told Erin, who told me." She smacked his shoulder. "Asshole."

Danny thought back, trying to remember. "Oh yeah. The juniors." He smiled crookedly. "I'm really sorry, Al."

Her gaze softened. "You're still a jerk, despite the fact that you were unwilling to think of me as a trophy." She held up her hand, silencing his stuttered defense. "I don't need to know the whole story: the Fiorettis are good at what they do. But if you ever," she jabbed a finger into his chest, "bet on me again," jab, "I'll kick your ass." A final jab and she grabbed his hand. "You didn't know that they're working for Sonny, did you."

Danny shook his head, relieved that she wasn't too angry. "No. I swear, if I had known, I never woulda talked to 'em."

Allie tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. "Really?"

Danny's jaw dropped at her question. "Yeah, really! Allie, I don't mess around with punks like that. You know me," he gave her a pleading look, "right?"

Allie shrugged and turned to look out of the windshield. "Yeah, I know." She sighed. "Mikey's gonna try to get out of Tanglewood," she mumbled, not looking at Danny. "He's gonna resign next week, he says. Gettin' out for good, to make somethin' of himself. He told me not to be around Sonny, just in case somethin' goes wrong." Her breath caught and she forced herself to hold back tears. "I'm scared for him, Danny."

A hand came up behind her head, softly stroking her neck. She turned and was immediately comforted by his lips, pressing gently against hers. She whimpered and clutched the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. Danny's arm snaked around her and held her tight. He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. "Nothin's gonna happen, Al. I promise."

She bit her lip, feeling one tear trail its way down her cheek. "God, I hope you're right."

His thumb came up to swipe gently across her cheek, taking the tear with it. Me too, he thought, but he simply smiled and kissed her again. This time the action was so filled with passion that Allie nearly succumbed to all the dirty thoughts roving in her head. She was just about to suggest they go find somewhere to be alone when Danny pulled away and sat back in his seat, licking his lips. She stared at him, annoyed and confused, and he chuckled when he saw her face. "It's almost two. Shouldn't we be headin' home?"

Allie rolled her eyes. He's un-fucking-believable! "I guess so."

The ride home was uneventful, although Allie noticed that he never once let go of her hand, not even when navigating some of the more tricky streets in their neighborhood. Pulling up in front of her house, she sighed and smiled at him. "Some first date, huh?"

Danny smirked and nodded. "No. Kiddin'." He closed his eyes in mock tiredness. "I'm beat."

Allie giggled and kissed him lightly on the lips. "See ya tomorrow, nerd."

"Not if I don't see you first," he muttered, puling one of their childhood banters out of the trunk. She smiled at his eyes still being firmly shut and turned to go.

"Danny." The tone was urgent and he looked up in surprise. "What?"

Allie's eyes were full of dread. "The lights are still on."

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Somewhere, a cliff hates me for letting it hang… This was by far the longest chapter I've written… comments, concerns, funny jokes? Let me know!