Chapter 4:

Warren stepped out of the Limo him and the other guys had arrived in. He felt odd in the tux he was wearing. He felt out of place being at this particular event as well. He could see older women and men entering wearing fancy clothes and nice jewelry. This was not his thing.

"Man come on." Will said patting his shoulder and they walked up the large steps and into the building. Yep definitely not his thing. Everything was brightly light upon from the massive chandelier that hung in the center of the room. The room itself was huge; many tables spread out around wear some people sat. There was a large instrumental band playing lined against the far wall and just in front of that was a good sized are of floor that was cleared for dancing, some couples having already found their way there.

Ethan and Zach scampered off the to the snack table, though there was some fancier word for it that Warren couldn't place. Will was waiting patiently inside the door for Layla and the other girls. Sue had told the men to go ahead because they were running a bit behind and with all the kids they'd have to take separate Limo's anyways. Warren decided to wait with Will. Johnny, Reed and Ben who had come in a separate vehicle were mingling already.

Twenty minutes passed and the doors opened to reveal Sue. She wore a long elegant white halter dress that pooled at the floor and her hair was done up into a nice bun. "Boys will you go get the girls please?" Sue asked them nicely.

Warren and Will nodded and motioned for Zach to join them. They headed out front and saw that Magenta was the last to step out of the Limo. Will immediately joined Layla at her side.

Her dress was a dark green almost black silk strapless empire waist dress that hung to just past her knees and she wore a pair of 2-inch high black evening pumps. Zach offered Magenta his arm. She wore a mid-thigh lace inset halter dress. Just below the bust was an inset of see through lace. And her feet were adorned with 2-inch high peep toe pumps. Both Magenta and Layla had done their hair and make-up in typical fashion as well.

Warren had to control himself from letting his jaw hang open when he looked at Dannie-Lynn. She looked uncomfortable much like him but he didn't think she knew how truly stunning she looked.

Dannie-Lynn wore a red braid-trim maxi dress with a v-neckline showing off her cleavage a bit, much to Warren's liking. The dress hung loosely around her ankles and showed off her figure nicely. Her feet were adorned in 3-inch high black sling back peep toe pumps. Her hair was pinned up with small flicks of blue sticking out. "Earth to Warren." Warren heard a snap and came back to.

"Yeah?" He asked her.

Dannie-Lynn just smirked at him. "Ready to go inside? The other's went ahead." She said.

Warren looked over and surely enough the others weren't standing where they had been moments ago. "You just look so different." Warren commented trying to explain away his lack of movement.

Dannie-Lynn looked down at herself and back at him. "I hate dresses."

"I hate tuxes." Warren said.

Dannie-Lynn smiled and held up her phone. "Mind if I barrow a pocket at least?" She asked nicely.

Warren took the phone and put it in his front pants pocket and offered her his arm. She linked arms with him and they started for the building. "By the way you look nice." Warren told her as they walked in to the room.

"Thanks." Dannie-Lynn said ducking her head a bit. It was hard to hide the blush on her cheeks cause her hair was pulled back in some kind of way on the back of her head and right as he said she looked nice he had unhooked his arm from hers and gently put his hand on her bare back urging her forward through the door. (AN: See the thing was Dannie-Lynn wasn't in her element so she could get slightly embarrassed by a look, compliment or touch)

The touch had sent sparks down her spine, the kind she felt when she flamed up. It was nice and yet so uncharacteristic for her. She had never before felt tingles for another person or funny butterflies in her stomach during conversation with a guy. She'd never felt so much like a girl until she had met Warren Peace. I can't like him. I've only known him a week. Dannie-Lynn thought to herself as they walked in. "So uh where's Sydney?" Warren asked.

"Coming with a friend." Dannie-Lynn answered.

"I didn't know she had a boyfriend. Weird Layla usually can't help but blab those things." Warren pondered.

"I said friend. Not boyfriend. Marco is gay, but his father doesn't know and so every know and than Sydney plays the role of his on again off again girlfriend. My aunt and uncle don't much care, cause Sydney's to shy to actually get out there and find a guy and just say 'hey I like you, you like me let's be an us and see how it goes.'" Dannie-Lynn said faking perkiness tilting her head back and forth like a valley girl and faking twirling her hair in her finger and chewing gum.

Warren laughed as they took up seats at a table. "Is that how you are?" He asked curiously.

Dannie-Lynn shook her head and grabbed a glass of water from the tray a waiter was holding by them, Warren took one too and set it on the table. "I don't date."

"What? But you said last week…"

"I never implied I was dating the guy I had sex with." Dannie-Lynn corrected. "You assumed."

"Ok." Warren said.

"I prefer flings every once and a while."

"Is that wise?"

Dannie-Lynn frowned at him and then took a sip of water. "I'm not a slut I just don't like attachment."

"Why?"

"Like I told you fire is wild and being in a real relationship I feel smothered, like my oxygen has been taken away and I can't breath. I feel pinned down and I don't like it, but than again I haven't met anyone worth being pinned down." Dannie-Lynn said.

Warren Peace sighed very uncharacteristically to himself. She hasn't met anyone worth being pinned down. I wonder if that would include me?

God he's got that pensive silent look that I just want to ask what's on his mind. I never want to ask what's on a guy's mind, cause I never want to know, but he makes me want to know. Dannie-Lynn thought silently. You idiot he's only here for the summer than he'll be gone.

"Well hello babe." Dannie-Lynn looked up and realized Jimmy was hovering over her.

"Goodbye pig." She said angrily.

"Oh come on I just came to tell you about my plan." Jimmy said. When he didn't get a response he continued. "You see it goes like this I'm going to sue your friend here for assault."

"What?" Dannie-Lynn and Warren both said at the same time wearing scowls.

"However…I could be persuaded to not proceed with this plan." He said evilly.

Dannie-Lynn stood up almost to his height in her heels. "You even so much as think about pressing charges against him and I'll slap you with a sexual harassment charge and not to mention attempted sexual assault, so if you don't mind leave me the hell alone." She snarled lowly to him.

Jimmy's face had gone from a smug grin to a look of dread. He walked away without a word. Dannie-Lynn sat back down. "What is with that guy?" Warren asked watching him walk away bumping into people rudely without apology as he walked away.

"I wouldn't fuck him." Dannie-Lynn said bluntly. She looked over at Warren and saw the questioning look in his eyes. "We use to be on friendly terms. My sophomore year I attended a party he was having at his parents place. They were out of town, it was nice and all until Jimmy and I ended up alone in his room. He was a little drunk I was a little tipsy but nothing to bad and he started to make a pass at me…"

Dannie-Lynn felt his hand run up her thigh and his lips latch on to hers like a leech looking for oxygen. For a moment it didn't bother her, a kiss was a kiss and it could be forgotten. But soon she found his hand running up her shirt to her chest and he groped her. "Jimmy stop." She said breaking the kiss.

Jimmy chuckled faintly and kissed her again squeezing her breast in his hand aggressively. Dannie-Lynn thought he was joking around and broke away laughing a bit.

"I mean it Jimmy stop." She said with a tipsy smile on her lips. Jimmy didn't seem to get the picture and forced his hand back up her shirt as the other splayed on her back pulling her closer and his lips sucked on her neck. "Jimmy, knock it off! Stop it!" She pushed him back.

Jimmy grabbed her wrists and pushed her towards his bed, but before he could get any further Dannie-Lynn retaliated by grabbing his wrists and burning him slightly. "Ah fuck you bitch!" He yelled in agony.

Dannie-Lynn hauled ass out of his room and didn't look back.

"…he's bothered me ever since. I tried to be polite and tell him I didn't like him that way, but he usually just gets progressively worse, but he knows not to touch me." Dannie-Lynn said. She stuck her finger in the water and steam rose from the liquid surface and she removed her finger.

"Can I ask what make's you think anyone would believe you now?" Warren asked.

"The burn marks on his wrists and the documents of his hospital visit. Not to mention I have pages of derogatory comments on my myspace from him and messages asking for sex so I think I'd win." Dannie-Lynn said cockily.

Warren nodded casually. "Alright than." He said.

Dannie-Lynn glanced up at him and then looked passed and ducked her head down. "Shit."

Warren looked behind him and saw a man about their age walking towards them. He had spiked hair and glasses. "Who's that?" He asked softly as the boy was looking at them.

"Mayor's son. He has a thing for me."

"Ok…" Warren drawled not seeing the problem.

Dannie-Lynn turned to him and looked him in the eye. "He's grabby and he's always got a hard on if you get my picture. He's probably coming to ask me to dance, please dance with me?" She asked.

Warren chuckled and stood offering her his hand and she stood up. They were heading towards the floor when the young man in question stopped in front of them. "Oh damn Dannie-Lynn I was just coming to ask you to dance with me." He said smiling.

Dannie-Lynn forced a smile. "Oh darn, I'm gonna dance with my friend Warren though." She said.

"Save me a dance." Dannie-Lynn smiled and then pulled Warren to the dancing area brushing passed the kid.

"Not if I can help it." She muttered making Warren laugh. They reached the floor and Dannie-Lynn turned to him and put her right hand in his left and her arm back around his mid section. Warren set his other hand on the small of her back. "Thanks."

Warren grinned. "No problem."

"Last year at a function similar to this he asked me to dance, so I did. He put his hand on my ass instead of where yours is currently and he had a hard on the entire time. I was so grossed out by the end of the dance I thought I'd vomit." Dannie-Lynn explained.

Warren chuckled softly as they continued swaying in a circle around the dance floor. "Let me guess mayors son?" Dannie-Lynn looked over and saw Sydney with her friend Marco.

"Yes and Warren this is Marco, Marco Warren." Dannie-Lynn introduced. "I didn't see you come in?"

"How could you? You were so engrossed in conversation with hothead and or ducking for cover that I was the farthest from your mind." Sydney teased her.

Dannie-Lynn smirked and out of the corner of her eye she'd swear she saw a small tinge of pink on Warren's cheeks. "Warren's good company and besides neither of us wants to be here." She said.

After a while an announcer told everyone that dinner was to be served and everyone took their seats at their rightful table. It took two medium round tables to seat everyone in the 'fantastic' party as the kids were jokingly referring to it as.

Plates of steak were brought out, the alternative being a poached salmon and everyone ate mingling with the people at their tables. Further into the evening the mayor went to the podium and began to give a speech dedicated to the fantastic four and how they save and kept New York city protected on a regular bases. They were awarded plaques and gave speeches of their own and then went back to their tables.

The small instrumental band started up again and people were back out on the dance floor and Dannie-Lynn saw the Mayors son, Trevor (AN: I'm using a fake mayor and son so if it's not the real mayor of New York don't beat me up please)…coming over.

"Warren you want to get some air with me?" Dannie-Lynn asked her lips pursed into a smile and her eyes gesturing over her shoulder as she looked at him intently.

Warren nodded and put his napkin up on the table and stood from his chair at the same time as Dannie-Lynn did. "Dannie-Lynn you ready for that dance?" Trevor asked stopping in front of her again.

"I'm sorry Trevor. I'm not feeling well and I just want to go get some air. Maybe when I come back in?" She offered fakely smiling through her teeth.

"Not feeling well want me to take you home?" He asked.

Dannie-Lynn shook her head. "No thank you I think I'll be fine."

"If you're sure."

"I'm sure." Dannie-Lynn wanted to beat her brain in with a frying pan. Obviously this kid didn't know anything about her. Dannie-Lynn wasn't the type to be taken care of.

Warren led Dannie-Lynn out of the building to the front steps. "Does he ever let up?" Warren asked as they sat on the top step looking out on the passersby and the cars.

"Not really. Not all functions include a dance area. He follows me like a starved puppy." Dannie-Lynn said in exasperation. "You wanna go get a coffee with me?"

Warren grinned at her way of diverting the subject. "Won't someone notice us missing?"

"Beats me." Dannie-Lynn had already started down the steps and was in the midst of hailing a cab. One pulled off for her and she opened the door and turned to look at Warren. "You coming hothead!" She yelled smiling though.

I've never liked that nickname more than when it comes from her lips. Warren thought bemused. He hurried down the steps and to the cab slipping along side Dannie-Lynn. "Do you even have money?" Warren asked.

Dannie-Lynn produced a decent size fold of twenty's from her bra and Warren smirked at her. "I always carry a little cash with me to these things." Dannie-Lynn grinned. She told the cabbie where to go and sat back to enjoy the ride.

"You know you aren't like girls I've met."

"I'll take that as a compliment. I prefer to stand out rather than fit in." Dannie-Lynn said as she looked over at him. His eyes captivated her because they like his power seemed to burn into her and she couldn't look away.

Neither realizing what was really going on started to move in a little closer till they were only an inch apart. But before they could seal the deal Warren felt buzzing in his pocket and was startled. He reached in grabbing the phone and handed it to Dannie-Lynn turning away quickly hiding his disappointment as he watched the shops and such pass by.

"Hello?" "Hey dad." "Oh we decided to get a coffee and head back to the apartment. I'm just tired and Warren just wasn't comfortable." "Can you blame him you don't like those events either. They aren't your style." "Ok. Love ya bye." Dannie-Lynn ended the call and set the phone in her lap and looked out her window.

Were we seriously going to kiss? They both thought simultaneously.

Later:

Dannie-Lynn and Warren walked in the front door of the apartment. Everything was still off so that meant the others hadn't left the party yet. "I'm gonna go to bed." Dannie-Lynn said and locked the front door before hurrying up the stairs to her room.

Warren did the same relieved he could get out of the uncomfortable ensemble from the night.

There was a knock at the door and Dannie-Lynn went to answer it after slipping into an overly large t-shirt to sleep in. She swung her door open and found Warren standing there. "Something wrong?" She asked.

"No." Warren shook his head.

"Then what do you want?" Dannie-Lynn asked him.

Warren stepped forward and abruptly crashed his lips down upon hers kissing her with passion and want. Dannie-Lynn could barely squeak in surprise before a moan of enjoyment rumbled from her throat. Warren kicked Dannie-Lynn's door shut behind him and turned her pressing her back against it pinning her.

Dannie-Lynn wanted to let her fingers get caught in his chin length dark hair as they kissed, but he pinned her hands above her head easily with one of his and his other ran up and down her thigh. It feels so good. Dannie-Lynn thought. To be wanted not needed. But it hit her Dannie-Lynn knew she didn't do relationships and broke the kiss untangling her tongue from his.

"What?" Warren asked breathlessly.

"I can't. I can't do this. I can't treat you like I would any other guy." Dannie-Lynn said sullenly. "I don't do relationships remember?"

"But I want you." Warren said looking in her eyes. He brought her arm down the other hand landing on his shoulder lightly. She watched as he sensuously let their palms come together and clasp shut entwining their fingers as flames encompassed them together.

Dannie-Lynn shot up in her bed eyes wide and she brought her hand in front of her and it wasn't on fire and Warren wasn't in her room. It was only a dream. It felt so good though. She thought. Dannie-Lynn let her eyes drift shut and she touched the fingertips of her right hand to her lips and it was like she could feel the heat from the kiss in the dream on her lips.

His lips had felt hot against hers and Dannie-Lynn could feel the heat pulsing off him in waves like a warm blanket having surrounded her.

It had been two weeks since the almost kissing incident and they had both ignored it. They went about the days like usual occasionally finding time to go to the bookstore together. Dannie-Lynn had been roped into going shopping with the girls a few times as well.

They never had made it to the club opening that Sunday, but Dannie-Lynn promised the teens that they would go before their summer in New York was over.

It was two a.m. and Dannie-Lynn couldn't take it anymore she needed a hot shower and a cool breeze. The hot shower came first lasting a mere few moments to soak her hair and wash off and then she got into some baggy jeans and a black faded Poison t-shirt and she went up to the roof.

"Mom?" Dannie-Lynn said as she sat on the ledge looking out on the city. "Some things wrong with me. I think I'm falling for someone. I keep telling myself not to, but it's like I wont listen to myself. I can't let myself love someone as much as dad loved you, cause I don't think I'd survive like he did if anything happened to him."

A soft breeze blew across her face and Dannie-Lynn smiled. "He's kind of like me in a sense. A real hothead. I've never met someone who could go rounds with me in sarcastic remarks. It just couldn't be done and then he shows up and turns everything around. He reads like me, he's smart but he doesn't care if people know it or not and we have similar interests. He's genuinely the best guy I've ever met, besides dad that is.

"I could just deny how I feel and he'll be gone by the end of summer, but what good would denying myself something that I obviously want do me? It wouldn't do a damn bit a good. Although what if I was just some summer fling for him and he went home and never cared about me again?"

"He wouldn't do that." Dannie-Lynn was so startled she slipped of the ledge and started to plummet.

"Flame on!" She yelled. Her entire body erupted into crackling flames and she soared towards her bedroom window well aware that her clothes were fried and she was now technically naked. She flew through her window and ended up slamming into the wall not being able to stop. She hit the ground and powered down.

She looked down at herself naked as the day she was born and scrambled into her closet to put some clothes on before Warren made it down to see if she was all right. What was he doing up there? She thought bewildered. Funny he'll probably ask you the same thing. Confessions of feelings to no one and all. She thought sarcastically with a mental roll of her eyes. Just as she was slipping her panties on under the long Guns n Roses t-shirt she heard a knock. Hopefully she hadn't woken anyone with her 'landing'.

Dannie-Lynn calmly walked to the door and opened it. Warren stood there looking concerned and she stepped aside and let him in. "I didn't mean to startle you right off the roof." Warren said softly as she shut the door.

It was awkward standing like this with him it was just like in her dream now. "It's ok. You were just trying to see if you could get me naked I understand." She teased him.

Warren let out a breath of what seemed like relief and then smirked at her. "And it worked."

"Damn straight too bad you didn't get to enjoy your efforts." Dannie-Lynn retorted playfully. Warren seemed to get serious and Dannie-Lynn picked up on the vibe. "How much did you hear?" She asked.

"All of it." He replied. "I honestly didn't mean to. I was lying down on the other side of the roof when you came out. I was watching the sky. I was going to make you aware of my presence, but I didn't want to interrupt." He said sheepishly.

Dannie-Lynn sighed and looked down and then back at Warren. "I-I…Oh my god." She groaned.

"What?" Warren asked looking her over. "Did you actually hurt yourself?"

"No I sound like a sixteen year old girl who's just made a complete idiot of herself. I have never been that girl in my life what have you done to me!" She shrieked.

"Shh…"

"Oh shh yourself hothead. My walls are sort of sound proof."

"Not everything. Your door isn't." Warren hissed.

"Well duh it's a door." Dannie-Lynn rolled her eyes. "I feel like that day when I shoved you off the roof. I don't know what's going on in my brain." She said softly. "But I can't just do to you what I do to other guys. I actually like and relatively care about you." Now she was rambling.

Warren couldn't help a small smirk at the fact that she cared. "Would you just shut up for a minute?" Warren grinned.

Dannie-Lynn looked up at him in shock for telling her to shut up and before she could react or think she was back against her wall held there in place with Warren's body pressed against hers and his lips working magic against her mouth. His lips were just like her dream. Heated and soft, tender, delicate, but filled with passion and fire.

As the kiss began to manifest itself into something more, hands roaming in places they probably shouldn't at the moment a knock came at the door. "Shit." Dannie-Lynn breathed heavily. She pushed Warren aside behind her door and flung it open and saw Sydney. "Sidders what brings you to my room at this ungodly hour?" Dannie-Lynn whispered making it look as though she hadn't just been making out and horny as all hell.

"I was getting water and I think I heard some noises coming from Wills room. You know what Mom and Dad said so, would you…" She trailed of whispering in a sheepish manner swaying slightly on the balls of her feet nervously.

"You really can be a prude sometimes." Dannie-Lynn said. "Just let me grab some paints."

Sydney looked at her funny. "Why were you sleeping without pants anyways?"

"I was hot." Dannie-Lynn said casually when in truth she hadn't had time to put pants on before Warren had come to her room after her incident on the roof. "I may be a Pyro, but I can get too hot occasionally."

"Alright whatever just hurry up." Sydney said.

Dannie-Lynn closed her door quietly as Sydney wandered back to her own room. She leaned back against it and let out the heavy pants of air she had been holding and saw Warren smirking at her all to smug about him at the moment.

"You know you're a really good actress." Warren said jokingly.

Dannie-Lynn glared at him, but it was in a playful nature and didn't hold quite the punch it should. "Shut up." She breathed. "I have to go separate the horny lovebirds." Dannie-Lynn moved quickly out of the way before Warren could make it any closer to her and she went to her closet and grabbed some flannel pajama shorts.

Warren stood leaning on the doorframe blocking her exit from the walk in closet. "Please Warren move?" Dannie-Lynn asked slight exasperated, but in a polite manor.

"Are you mad now?" He asked her softly.

Dannie-Lynn jerked her head up and looked at his eyes. "No. I just need…time…that's all."

"Dannie…"

"Warren I'm not use to this. Just go to bed." She shoved passed him and out of her room before he could say anything else. She wouldn't deny how much she loved that kiss and how she would like nothing more than to just ignore Will and Layla and kiss him like she needed him to live, but she had meant it when she said she didn't know what was going on in her brain.

Dannie-Lynn pulled herself from her thoughts and knocked on Will's bedroom door. "Will?"

"Hang on!" Came the soft holler.

Will swung the door open and Dannie-Lynn smirked at him sleepily. "Layla I know you're in there." Layla come from alongside the bed and looked at Dannie-Lynn sheepishly. "I'm all for late night romps but my aunt and uncle probably wouldn't appreciate it finding you two in the same bed tomorrow morning, so Layla let's go."

"Fine." Layla stood up completely heading for the door and on her way passed Will kissed her softly and said goodnight. Dannie-Lynn walked Layla back to her room and when the door was shut she went to her own, hoping that Warren had just quietly snuck passed her in the hall and gone to his own room as well.

Luckily her room was empty and nothing but the cool breeze coming in her window shimmying her curtains could be heard. She grabbed her I-pod and put her headphones on also snatching her laptop from her desk and sat on her bed. She needed to message Nessa and when that was finished she went to sleep in her bed alone and no dreams to wake her.