Lacey had a wonderful night's sleep. Maybe the kisses she shared with Danny had something to do with it. Though she should be very afraid, she isn't. Something about Danny relaxed her and calmed all of her fears. She had already fallen for him. She didn't at all mean to reveal that to him, but it is the truth. She had awoken from dreams of him and with a smile on her face. Danny made her happy. Blissfully happy. But he also made her sad. It made her sad to think about what she had to tell him, and the possibility of losing him. But somehow, she knew that Danny was a decent enough guy that wouldn't just leave her high and dry. But she really just didn't know what his reaction would be. She had no idea what he would do with that information. Truthfully, she could just keep it to herself and not say a thing. But it had the potential to rear it's ugly head in the future. So it's best to let it out now. Before she really fell for him. But who was she fooling? She was already in deep with her feelings for Danny.

She had no idea what it was that drew her to him. But there was definitely a connection.. It was like an invisible wire or magnet that connected them. She probably couldn't stay away from Danny if she tried. And she had no intention of trying. She wants to be near him and with him all the time. She can't wait to see him at school. And the thought of watching him at practice excited her. But she wonders what she will do. Just sit and watch? And what about after? What does she do? Go home? Wait for him to shower and change? She is really worried about something that isn't that big a deal. She would just ask Phoebe, but that brought about a whole new set of was possibly more excited about her relationship with Danny than she is. Which is seriously funny if you really sit and think about it. But she's glad that Phoebe will be there among the other girlfriends. And she wonders who else will be there. She thinks Sarita shouldn't be since she isn't dating Danny anymore. But who knows? Sarita appeared unhinged. She might come just to gawk at Danny. So now she wonders why Danny would invite her if he knew that Sarita would be there. Did he want Lacey there to make Sarita jealous? She hopes that isn't the case because she doesn't have time for that. Yet, somehow she knows Danny isn't about things like that. He probably just wants her there to watch him practice. That's all. And maybe he just wants to turn her on. To make her think naughty things.

Get a hold of yourself, Lacey.

Since there's no use in faking the funk, she decides to dress cute today. She had a reason to look cute, after all. So she decides on a black shirt dress and her black knee boots. She accentuates it with a fuchsia belt and head band, and black lace stockings. She heads downstairs where her mother and Clara have already started breakfast. She can hear them talking as she approaches the kitchen, the smell of bacon and eggs in the air. They stop talking once they notice Lacey is humming.

"Good morning Mom. Good morning Clara." Lacey says with a huge grin on her face.

"Good morning Lacey. You're in a good mood." Judy says.

Clara laughs. "I know why she's in a good mood."

Judy looks at both of her daughters and wonders what is going on.

"So why is Lacey in such a good mood, Clara? Or are you going to tell me yourself, Lacey?"

Clara and Lacey both smile.

"Ok Mom. I met a guy."

Clara burst out into a fit of giggles. "Oh my god Mom. You should see him! He looks just like Aladdin!" Clara says as she continues to laugh at her own joke.

"He does not look like Aladdin, Clara!" Then Lacey stops and thinks for a minute before joining Clara in laughing. "Well, he might look a little like Aladdin."

"How do you know what he looks like Clara?" Judy asks her youngest daughter while taking the bacon from the pan.

"Because he was here last night." Clara admits.

Judy looks surprised. "He was here last night?"

"Yeah. We had Biology homework to do. He's my lab partner. He brought us pizza. Clara supervised."

"Ok. So is he just a boy in your class or what?" Judy asks, trying to get information on the boy that has both of her daughters giddy.

"Yes. his name is Danny. He's on the football team. He asked me on a date Saturday night. Is that ok?" Lacey decides to leave off the part where Danny asked her to be his girlfriend. Her mom won't understand her agreeing to that so fast.

"Yes. It's ok with me. Are you ok with going out with a guy you just met?"

"Yes. Danny's a pretty good guy, Mom." Lacey says.

"Yeah he is Mom. He was really nice to me. He told me I was just as pretty as Lacey." Clara says while blushing, obviously harboring a little crush on Danny. Judy and Lacey just laugh.

"So where are you guys going Saturday?" Judy asks.

"I don't know. He hasn't told me yet."

"Well, I hope you guys have fun. And I want to meet him first. And you know I'm just a phone call away. And since you're going on a date, maybe Clara and I can do something after gymnastics practice. How does that sound?"

"Great! I wanna go to the movies. Maybe we'll run into Lacey and Aladdin while we're there." Clara says while stuffing a strip of bacon into her mouth. Lacey just laughs and shakes her head. They finish up breakfast and Lacey loads the dishwasher.

"Lacey, do you need a ride or are you walking again?" Judy asks while grabbing her things to leave.

"No, I'm fine. I like walking through the neighborhood. I like how quiet and different it is here.''

"I totally understand. It's refreshing driving to work and not hearing a million horns honking. Huge difference from Baltimore mornings. Well enjoy your walk, Sweetie. And have a good day at school."

"Ok Mom. See you guys later." Lacey says as she heads out the door.''

Lacey is shocked to see Danny sitting in his car waiting for her.

"Good morning, Lace." Danny says with a huge grin plastered on his face.

"Good morning, Danny. What are you doing here?" Lacey asks while walking up to his car.

"What does it look like? I came to pick you up. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't drive you to school?"

Lacey doesn't know what to say to that as she gets into the passenger side of his car. "Well, you at least should've told me you were coming. I would've moved a little faster."

"You're worth the wait, Lace. And you look pretty today."

"Thank you, Danny."

Danny notices the black lace stockings she has on and gets caught in the moment and starts to stare at her legs. Lacey notices him staring.

"What?"

"Are those lace stockings, Lace?"

"Yes. Why?"

Danny grins and says, "Oh nothing."

"No, Danny. What's wrong? You don't like them?" Lacey asks, wondering what his problem is.

"Nothing's wrong, Lacey."

'Then why did you ask me that and why are you looking at me like that?"

'I'm just trying to figure out how I'm supposed to act today with you wearing those and sitting near me in three of my classes." Danny finally admits.

"So, you like my stockings?" Lacey casually asks.

"Yes, Lace. Maybe a little too much."

Danny and Lacey arrive at school excited about their new status as a couple. And while Lacey was happy being Danny's girlfriend, she knows that she might catch some shade for it. The new girl, one that isn't perky, slim and perfect, swooping in and stealing Green Grove High's heart-throb. She heard what Phoebe said about girls fawning over and throwing themselves at him. They might not like that she got him without having to do any of that. She also remembered what they said yesterday when Danny mentioned their date. For the most part, she isn't too concerned with what people will say, but she's really not in the mood for any bullshit. She knows that Phoebe will be happy, and that her main assholes will probably be Joe and Sarita. And she can handle her accordingly, but Joe is a different story. He's Danny's best friend. And while she would never want to come in between their friendship, she knows it might come to that. And who would Danny choose? He and Joe had been friends for so long, and she's just a newcomer. She had no way in knowing what would happen so she chooses not to dwell on things she has no control over.

They get out of Danny's car and walk towards the front of the school. As they're walking along, Danny grabs her hand. She looks over at him and smiles.

"What are you thinking, Lace?"

Lacey notices that all eyes are on them as he grabs her hand.

"Just thinking about what will be said about this." She says as she raises their linked hands.

"And what do you think will be said?" Danny says as he slows his pace and looks over at her.

"Lots of things. Wow, that's soon. When did that happen? Why her? What does he see in her? I could go on and on." Lacey says.

"And why are you worried about that, Lacey?" Danny asks with much concern in his voice.

"Because I'm the new girl here. I see the way these girls look at you, Danny. They're gonna wonder why you're dating me, and not them. Girls can be really catty sometimes, you know?"

"Well, what are you gonna do, Lacey?" He says with a huge smile on his face. "Are you gonna make yourself or everybody else happy? You are happy dating me, right?"

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Good. Then that's all that matters. I don't care what anybody else says or thinks. You shouldn't either. And for the record, the way you say you see girls looking at me, is the same way I look at you."

They continue on their way into school and run into Phoebe and Joe in the hallway. They both notice that Lacey and Danny are holding hands. Joe looks annoyed and Phoebe is grinning like she just won the lottery.

"I see you two are holding hands. What's going on?" Phoebe asks with an insane amount of hope in her voice.

"Well, we're officially a couple." Danny says.

"What?! You're kidding, right?" Joe states.

Lacey cuts her eyes at Joe. Fucking prick.

"I think you heard me, Joe. And no, I'm not kidding." Says Danny.

"When did this happen?"

'When I was over her house last night." Danny says.

Phoebe squeals.

"You were over her house last night?" Joe asks.

"Yeah. Is that a problem, Dad?" Danny asks clearly annoyed.

"No, it's not a problem." Joe says. He knows Danny is upset with him just by his tone. "You just could've said something to me, man."

"I didn't know I needed to tell you every detail of my life, but now you know."

"All right you guys, play nice." Phoebe says while trying to defuse the situation.

"I am playing nice." Danny says as he pulls Lacey into the classroom and Phoebe follows. Joe immediately pulls out his phone to text the She Devil.

Sarita, we have a problem.

A special Thanks to Kla1987 for the encouragement and kind words to keep me going with this story. I truly appreciate it. XOXO