Just dropping a quick note. I don't do angst well. In fact, I hate it. But I had to put it in here, so here goes. I really don't know how long it will last, but I won't bombard you with too much of it. *Note: I do not own or have any rights to the song "Gone" by *NSYNC. Used strictly for entertainment purposes.
By the time Lacey arrived home, she was a complete wreck. And she was freezing. She wanted to get out of that building so fast, she completely forgot about getting her coat. As she walked home, she didn't even bother trying to make the tears stop. There was no use or reason to try to stop crying. She was unbelievably hurt. As she walked along, a woman pulled up beside her and asked her if she was ok and if she needed a ride. It took a minute for Lacey to realize that the woman was talking to her. The look on the woman's face was filled with motherly concern. Lacey lied and assured the woman that she was ok and that she'd make it home fine. The woman reluctantly and slowly pulled off. Lacey knew that the woman was just trying to be helpful, and she appreciated that. But Lacey knew she probably would have really fallen apart had she got in the car with the woman.
Lacey was especially grateful that her mother and Clara were not home to see her in this state. And she knew she would have to explain what she was doing home that time of day. She had completely ditched her last two classes and she did not care. And there was absolutely no way she would have been able to go to her English class. Danny would be there. Just the thought of seeing him made her hurt even more. She would be ok with never laying eyes on Danny again. But that was in no way realistic. She shared 3 classes with him. It was too late in the school year to change classes. She would just have to ask her teachers to switch her seats. Of course, she was going to do everything she could to ignore him. He probably didn't have anything to say to her anyway since his mission was accomplished.
How could I have been so stupid?
How could he do this to me?
Once she made it to her room, she collapsed on the bed, ready to shut the world out. She laid on the bed and realized that Dolly, the stuffed dolphin Danny bought her was staring her in the face. If she had the strength to get up, she would probably cut it up or set it on fire. When she felt up to it, she knew that everything he had given her would be destroyed. She didn't want any reminders of him lingering around. She hasn't made it official yet, but they were over.
Lacey laid in her bed for what seemed like hours to her when it had only been less than one. The thoughts running through her mind scared and unraveled her. She just could not wrap her mind around what was now her reality. It hurt her to think that he wanted to hurt her this badly. She felt that it was unfair. She thought that somebody higher up must really have it in for her. She didn't know why, though. She didn't intentionally try to hurt people. Why would he want to hurt her? First Timmy, now Danny. She started to cry again when she thought about what she told him about what she experienced with Timmy. She regrets that now. She regrets everything that has to do with Danny. When she started to think about him, she got a pain in her chest. She knew for certain what a broken heart feels like now. The pain was enough to kill her.
The chiming of her phone alerts her that her that she has a text message. It can't be nobody but Danny. He's probably wondering why she isn't in class. And sure enough, when she checks her phone she sees,
Where are you?
Why didn't you come to class?
Lacey lets out a sigh filled with hurt, anger, and frustration. She wonders what she should do. Should she reply and just lie and say she wasn't feeling well and had to leave school, or does she ignore him like she really wants to? If she replies, he'll think everything is ok. If she ignores him, he may come over to check on her. It seemed like an impossible decision to make. She did not want to see him. She has a feeling that he'll come over no matter what she does. She decides to lie so that he'll leave her the hell alone.
I wasn't feeling well so I came home to lay down.
I'll come over after practice to take care of you.
There's no way in hell she's letting that happen. Next to Timmy, he's the last person in the world she wants to see.
No, that's ok. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.
Are you sure?
Positive.
I love you.
Lacey stops herself from crying at how easily he can just lie and say that. Even though she did love him, she couldn't bring herself to say it back. Those words mean nothing to her anymore.
Lacey awoke hours later to Clara pounding on her door. As much as she loved and adored Clara, she just wasn't in the mood to interact with her. Or anybody for that matter. In less than a day, her whole world had been turned upside down. She was on top of the world that morning. That all ended when Rico showed her that video. Now she had to wonder just how many other people had seen it. She's pretty sure the whole football team has seen it. And that's just bad in itself. She wondered how she would hold her head up high after being humiliated and violated in that way. She decided she would walk with dignity. She did nothing wrong. She thought she was sharing a private and intimate moment with someone she loved. That wasn't the case, but she had nothing to be ashamed of. Her main problem was facing Danny. The anger and hatred she felt for him scared her. She didn't think she could ever feel that way about another human being, especially him. She loved him. And he betrayed her. She had no idea how she would recover from that. But she made the conscious decision to never put herself in that kind of predicament again. She would never, ever give herself to another boy as long as she lived. They seemed to want to hurt her, and she was not put here for that.
She got up out the bed to answer the door and to send Clara away. She needed to convince Clara that she was sick and to let their mom know she was so they would leave her alone. Lacey had to put on her best acting skills as she opened the door.
"Yes, Clar?" Lacey says as she opens the door slightly and makes no effort to move to let her in.
"What's wrong, Lacey? I was knocking for a long time." Clara says.
"I just don't feel so well. I'm gonna go and lay back down."
"Danny came past here. I told him you were asleep."
Lacey cringed at just hearing his name. "Thanks."
Clara notices the cringe and starts to question her about it. "Are you sure you're ok? You just looked like you were ready to cry after I said that."
"No, I'm fine Clara. I just really don't feel well, that's all. Don't worry about it too much." Lacey says as she hopes Clara will let it go and leave her alone with her thoughts.
"Do you want me to fix you anything like some soup or some toast or something?" Clara asks.
"Thanks Clar. But no, I'm fine. I just wanna lay down." Lacey says honestly because she doesn't really have an appetite.
"Ok. Feel better, sissy." Clara says.
"Thanks, sissy." Lacey says as she closes the door.
Lacey returns to her bed where she just lays in the dark in silence until she hears her phone ring. Ugh. Lacey thinks because she knows that it's him. And sure enough when she checks to see who it is, she sees that she's right. She lets it go to voice mail. She's wondering why he's doing all of this. Surely, he must know that she has seen the video by now. He should be celebrating with his teammates by now. Lacey takes this time to get up and go and take a hot shower, hoping it will relieve some of the stress that's affecting her. She gets into the shower and the tears and raw emotion just take over and she starts to bawl. It hurts too much.
Clara is sitting in her room doing her homework when she hears Lacey enter their shared bathroom. She doesn't think anything of it until she hears Lacey crying in the shower. Clara starts to get a little sad because she knew something wasn't quite right about Lacey and now hearing her cry confirmed it.
Why is Lacey crying? Clara thinks as she decides to call the one person who may have answers about why Lacey is upset.
Danny is just sitting in his room trying to do his homework when he hears his phone ring. He picks it up instantly assuming that it's Lacey.
"Hello?" Danny says, expecting to hear Lacey's voice on the other end.
"Hi, Danny. What's wrong with Lacey?" Clara asks in concern for her sister.
Danny sits up straighter when he hears that it's Clara and that she's worried about Lacey. "What do you mean, Clara?"
"Well, I just checked on her and she was acting strange. Now she's in the bathroom in the shower. I can hear her crying." Clara tells him.
A wave of uneasiness envelops Danny. "Well, she told me that she didn't feel well. Maybe she's crying because she's in pain." Danny offers as a suggestion. Even though he doesn't want Lacey to be in pain, he hopes that that's the case and there's no need for any of them to worry.
"I don't think that's it. Something else is wrong with her. I thinks she's saying she doesn't feel well as an excuse. She just looked funny. She wouldn't even let me in her room and now she's crying. Something is wrong and I'm worried." Clara says.
"Is your mom home?" Danny asks.
"No, she's working." Clara responds.
"I'm on my way." Danny says as he gets up to leave.
What in the hell is wrong with Lacey? Danny thinks as he makes his way to his car to head over to Lacey's house.
Lacey stayed in the shower until the water ran cold and the tears stopped flowing. She cried more that day than she had in her entire life. She was determined to get all of her crying out before she had to return to the real world. While she's in the privacy of her bedroom and bathroom, she would cry as much as she wanted and needed. Nobody would be the wiser. Lacey would become an expert in faking it. She wasn't going to let anybody see or know just how badly she was hurting. In time, the pain would fade.
Lacey threw on a pair of comfy pajamas and climbed back in her bed. She still didn't have an appetite, so there wasn't any reason ro leave her bed. Besides, she felt like she was at least entitled to sulk for the time being. She was just devastatingly hurt, so she deserved to have her own personally thrown pity party with only herself in attendance.
Lacey is laying in the bed when she hears a knock at her door. She's so not in the mood. Hopefully Clara and her mom will get the hint and leave her alone. She decided she is not going to answer it. Maybe she'll just think she's sleep. Why is it so hard for people to leave her alone? The knocking has become more persistent.
"Lace, it's me." Danny says.
What the fuck is he doing here?!
I'm gonna kill Clara for letting him in.
There's no way in heaven or hell she's answering that door. She does not want to see him. Especially with Clara home and her mother probably on her way. They didn't need to have the discussion she was going to have with him with anybody around. She doesn't want Clara or her mom knowing a sex tape was made with her in it. The knocking continues.
"Lace, what's wrong? Please open the door. Clara called me because she's worried about you. I am too." Danny says.
Lacey is now livid. Clara fucking called him. She can't believe she did that. She had never in her life been madder at Clara than she is now. That felt like betrayal to her.
Danny starts knocking on the door harder. "Lacey. I'm really starting to get worried. I'm about to knock the door down if you don't open it." Danny says.
She can't let him do that. Her mother will lose it. "I'm ok. You don't have to do that. Please just leave." Lacey says.
"Why won't you open the door? What's wrong?" Danny asks.
"Nothing is wrong. I just want to be left alone." Lacey pleads hoping he will just respect her wishes and leave her alone.
"Come on Lace. Open the door. Why are you avoiding me?" Danny says as he makes pleas of his own.
"I'm not avoiding you." She lies. "I'll see you tomorrow, ok." Lacey says as her final statement to get him to leave.
"I'm not leaving until I know you're ok. Clara told me she heard you crying. I know something is wrong." Danny says as he continues to pound on the door.
Thanks, Clara. Thanks for selling me out.
"I'm ok, I promise." Lacey lies again as she feels the tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes. "You can leave now."
"Lacey, please. You're avoiding me. Did I do something?" He has no idea why she's acting like this. It's hurting him that she's refusing to see him and open the door. He has to admit defeat by just leaving. It's obvious that she isn't going to open the door for him, and he has no idea why. "Fine. I'll leave since you say you're ok. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you."
"Ok." Lacey says through the door. She hopes he doesn't hear that she's crying again.
Danny can't help but notice that she didn't say "I love you" back. He remembers that she didn't tell him she loved him earlier when they were texting either.
Lacey quietly walked over to her window to check and see if Danny really left. She can't exactly see the front of the house because her windows are on the side and back of the house. But she can see if a car has pulled down the street. When she sees that his car is gone for a minute, she makes her way to Clara's room. She pounded on the door. Clara reluctantly opens the door.
Lacey doesn't even give her a chance to speak. She harshly asks Clara, "Why did you call him?"
Clara just lowers her eyes to the floor. She's afraid to answer.
"Why did you call him, Clara?" Lacey asks again, harsher than the first time she asked. "And why did you tell him I was crying? You had no right to do that. "
"Because I was worried about you." Clara answers.
"Did I ask you to worry about me? Did I ask you to call him?" Lacey asks in the same harsh tone as before.
"No, but I was worried. I heard you crying. Mom isn't here and I thought Danny could help."
"I don't need you to worry about me. And I don't need Danny's help. Do you understand that, Clara?
Suddenly, Clara bursts out crying at the way Lacey is behaving and speaking to her. Lacey has never yelled at her. "Why are you yelling at me, Lacey? I was just trying to help." Clara says through sobs.
"I don't need you or Danny to help me. Don't you ever call him again and let him come to my room. Ever!" Lacey says in the same harsh tone before she turns and walks back to her bedroom and slams the door. Clara softly closes hers and goes over to her bed to sit down.
Now there were two Porter sisters crying in their bedrooms with nobody to wipe their tears.
The next morning, Lacey awoke to the sound of Judy pounding on her door. Lacey had a feeling she would speak to her about the way she talked to Clara the night before. She already convinced herself that she wasn't going to school, no matter what Judy said. She wasn't feeling well, which actually was the truth, and she couldn't go to school until she talked to Danny. Lacey just wonders what exactly Clara told their mother. She wasn't herself after Danny came over. She knew she had to apologize to Clara because it wasn't her fault. She was worried about her and just trying to help. Lacey regretted speaking to Clara that way. But she had to put on her poker face for Judy, if she was gonna convince her to let her stay home from school.
Lacey walks over to the door and slowly opens it to find Judy waiting for her. "Yes, Mom?" Lacey says in her fake sick voice.
"Why aren't you ready for school?" Judy asks.
"Because I don't feel well, and I need to stay home." Lacey says.
Judy places her hand on her forehead. "Well, you don't have a fever. What's wrong?"
"My stomach. I feel nauseous and it's hurting." Lacey says to her mother.
Judy looks at her suspiciously. "Your stomach? You aren't pregnant, are you?"
"Mom! No! No I'm not pregnant." Lacey says surely.
"Well, I guess you can stay home if you really think you need to. I'll call and check on you later. And this better not be a ploy to get your boyfriend over here to play house." Judy says.
"Danny and I will not be playing house, Mom. I promise. You can check up on me any time, and you won't find Danny here." Lacey says with conviction. She won't be doing anything with Danny any more.
"Fine, Lacey. Feel better." Judy says as she turns to go downstairs.
Lacey shuts her door and goes over to get her phone. She should have done this sooner, but she really doesn't even want to text him.
I'm not going to school today, so I don't need a ride.
She falls on her bed and stares at the ceiling. She hears her phone chime. "Shit." Lacey says out loud. She doesn't want to have a discussion about this with him.
Are you still sick?
Lacey soon understands that she needs to end this soon. She doesn't want to talk to him. About anything. And him faking concern is getting to her.
Yes. She lies. She isn't exactly sick, but she sure feels that way.
Want me to come over and take care of you?
Any other time, she would have gladly accepted his offer. Any time before yesterday, she would have swooned over him offering to take care of her. Now it just sounds wrong.
No. No need to fake it. She doesn't want to be anywhere near him.
Lace, what's wrong?
Nothing.
Why are you avoiding me?
I'm not.
Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?
I'm going back to bed. Ttyl.
Lacey turns off her phone before he has a chance to respond. She pulls the covers over her head as she readies herself for another cry.
Lacey woke up hours later, with her stomach alerting her that she needed to eat something, now. She hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday and she was starving even though she didn't have an appetite. She made her way downstairs to make herself a sandwich. She ate it without even tasting it. She returned to her bedroom and was surprised to see that it was after noon. Depression really makes you forget about the outside world. Twenty four hours ago, she was the happiest girl in the world. Now, she was so miserable, it hurt.
She decided to go ahead and take a shower and get dressed. She had something to do. She decided she would meet Danny at McNally park. She didn't want to do it at his or her house and definitely not at school. They didn't need an audience. She was especially grateful it was Tuesday and he didn't have football practice. The sooner she got it over with, the better. After she was freshly showered and dressed, she put everything that Danny had given her into the bag he brought her. It barely fit. She had to cram Dolly and his shirt that she slept in in there. She struggled to take off the ring. Even though it had only been on her finger a week, it was hard to get off. She cried again once it was off and back in the box. The ring was truly beautiful. But she didn't want it. She didn't want any reminders of him. Although her heart, mind and body betrayed her. She longed to kiss and touch him and to feel him inside of her. But that meant more to her than it ever did to him and that infuriated her. She was mad at herself for being so stupid. And she was mad at herself for still loving him.
Lacey did a bunch of nothing to pass the time by. At a little after 2, she texted him,
Meet me on the bridge in McNally park after school.
Ok. You feel better?
Yes. That isn't the truth, but eventually she will feel better.
Time heals all wounds.
She started walking towards the park. In spite of it being cold that day, the sun was still shining. She was glad she didn't have to deal with rain or snow. She walked slowly to give herself time to think. And to get out any residual tears. She didn't want to break down in front of him. Once she got to the park, she just sat on a bench for a little while. She tried to enjoy listening to nothing. Once she realized that he would be at the park soon, she got up to go to the bridge to wait.
Danny was happy to receive a text from Lacey. Maybe she wasn't avoiding him. Maybe she was just going thorough a little mood, and wanted to be by herself. Maybe it was a girl thing. He really didn't know, he was just glad she reached out to him. He couldn't wait for school to be over so he could see her. It felt like forever ago since he has seen her. He was used to spending all his free time with her. After school was out, he rushed to his car to drive to the park. When he got there, he strolled through. He saw her standing on the bridge. He got an instant smile on his face. That smile disappeared when she turned around and he saw the look on her face. A look he didn't like or understand.
What in the hell is wrong?
Danny slowly approached her because he had no idea what was going through her mind. Obviously something was because of the look on her face.
"Lace, what's wrong?" Danny says as he cautiously approaches her.
She takes a deep breath before she speaks. "Why'd you do it?" Lacey asks evenly.
What is she talking about? Why'd I do what? "Why'd I do what, Lace?" Danny asks in confusion. He has no clue as to what she's talking about.
Lacey exhales sharply. "Why'd you do it? I know it couldn't have been for the money, so why'd you do it?"
"Lacey, what are you talking about?"
"Please don't insult my intelligence. I need to know why. Why me? Was it just pick on the first fat girl you saw?"
Danny is starting to get frustrated because he doesn't know what she's talking about. "Lacey, I swear. I have no idea what you're talking about."
Lacey takes this time to reach into her pocket to get her phone and find the video. She presses play and hands the phone to him. Danny literally turns red and he almost loses it because he's looking at a video of him having sex with Lacey.
"Are you still unsure of what I'm talking about? I need to know why you made a bet with the football team about me. Why you recorded us having sex and showed it to people. Why you pretended to like me. FOR A FUCKING BET!" A whole new side to Lacey has taken over. Danny has stopped looking at the video and is now looking at Lacey. He sees how hurt she is and that nearly kills him.
"Lace, where did you get this?" Danny asks.
"Do not ever call me Lace. That's only reserved for people who really care about me. And don't worry about where I got it. I got it." She says harshly.
"I do care about you. How did you get this?" Danny is racking his brain trying to figure out how first a video of them was made and how Lacey got a hold of it.
"Somebody that doesn't want to see me get hurt sent it to me. Now answer my question. Why did you do this to me?" Lacey responds.
"Lacey, I didn't do this. I wouldn't do this." Danny says.
Lacey scoffs. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe that. How else did somebody get a video of us? That was planted in your fucking room. Did you really have to go that fucking far? Did you really have to violate me in that way? I think it was clear that I believed you."
"Lacey, you have to believe me. I didn't do this. I didn't make a bet with anybody about you." Danny confesses as he begins to plead.
Lacey's face starts to contort as her anger and hurt take over. "I don't HAVE to do shit. I believe what my eyes are seeing. You needed proof to show to your teammates. I just wanna know how you managed to fake all of that."
Danny exhales in anger and frustration. "Lacey, just stop being angry and think for a minute. You know me. You love me. I wouldn't do this to you." Danny says as he steps closer to her and tries to touch her.
"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!" Lacey yells. Her outburst startles him and he jumps and steps back. He just looks Lacey in her face, and he doesn't recognize the girl he loves.
"Lacey, please..." Danny begs. He doesn't know what else to say.
Lacey feels the need to explode on him further. "God, I'm such a fucking idiot! I believed you! Even when I KNEW you were too good to be true. I fucking knew it!" Lacey says as she starts to cry. She couldn't stop if she tried. "I knew a guy like you would not have wanted to be my boyfriend that fast. Or at all. I knew. But I wanted to believe the fairytale."
Her tears have started to unnerve, unravel and hurt him. He can't believe this is happening. "Lacey. That was all true. Please stop this."
"Do you understand that I gave you something I can never get back? That I told you things I never shared with anybody? I told you about my past, and you still did this to me. I tried to kill the last person that hurt me, and you still did this. I don't understand. I don't understand how you could film that. I fucking told you that Timmy took pictures of me. I feel just as violated now as I did back then. Maybe this is my fault. It is. I should have known better. I should have. I did know better. But you manipulated me into believing you were real and true to me, and that you really liked me. Whose idea was it? Was it that asshole, Joe? I knew there was a reason he didn't like me." Lacey screams all of this until her throat is sore. Danny is just taking it. He can't believe she's this hurt. He can't believe she thinks he would do those things to her.
"Lacey, none of what you're saying is true. I would never hurt you like this. I love you." Danny pleads again, but it's no use. She doesn't believe a thing he's saying.
"The fact that you can just say that to me with a straight face, scares me. Tell the truth. Were you really a virgin? You might as well tell me the truth. You have nothing else you can lie to me about. Was Sarita really telling me the truth? Is that bitch your real girlfriend and in on it too?" Lacey takes more shots at him.
"Yes, I was a virgin. And Sarita isn't a factor. I told you that already." Danny states angrily. For her to imply that he worked with Sarita to hurt her, angers him. She's completely irrational. And he can't seem to find the words to defend himself. He wants to grab her and at the very least shake some sense into her, but he knows that touching her after she told him not to wouldn't be a bright idea.
"You know what? It doesn't even matter. What's done is done. I just have to dwell on the fact that you never forget your first. And I won't ever forget this as long as I live." Lacey says as the tears have finally stopped flowing.
"Lacey, I'm begging you, please stop being angry at me for something I didn't do. I don't know how you could think I would do that to you. I wouldn't hurt you like this. You've gotta believe me. I'm telling you the truth. I DIDN'T DO THIS!" Danny says as he starts to yell himself. He can't believe they are speaking to each other in this manner.
Lacey exhales again. She's done. There's nothing left to say. She extends both of her arms out to him to hand him the bag and so that he can return her phone to her. "Here. Even trade."
Danny looks at the bag and then back at her face in confusion. He hands her phone to her but makes no effort to take the bag. "What's that?" Danny asks.
"It's everything you ever gave me. Take it." Lacey says coldly.
"I gave you those things for a reason, Lacey. They're yours. I don't want it back." Danny says softly. He's seemingly defeated.
"Well, I don't want it at all. Take it." Lacey says in the same cold tone.
"I said I don't want it back." Danny replies.
Lacey suddenly lets the bag fall to the ground and she steps closer to him. "We're done." She finally says as she walks away.
Danny forced himself to turn and watch her walk away and out of his life forever.
Lacey had a pretty somber walk home. She felt like she had left a piece of herself back at that park. She didn't mean to implode like that. And she didn't at all feel better about unleashing her anger. She was more hurt than angry. She hated that her life had come to this. But in the back of her mind, she knew that her happiness was short-lived. She believed that Danny was too good to be true, and she discovered that she was right all along. She reverts back to when he first asked her out. She knew it was a joke. But he charmed and manipulated his way into her heart and her body. She should have seen it coming beforehand. She never should have agreed to any of it. She should have stood her ground and told him to beat it. But now she knows. She now knows that if something appears to be too good to be true, it probably is.
Once she reached her house, she returned to her bedroom to wait for Clara. She had gymnastics practice, but she would be home shortly. Their practices during the week aren't that long because of school. She had to apologize and make it up to her somehow. Lacey was really beating herself up about yelling at and speaking to Clara the way that she did. Clara didn't deserve that. She was looking out for her best interest. It made Lacey a little bit happy to know that her sister would always have her back. She was still miserable, heartbroken, and devastated, but she would get through it with Clara's help. Clara really helped her with the Timmy situation. The exercises their therapist had them do strengthened their bond. They were more than sisters, they were best friends.
Lacey wasn't going to tell Clara the real reason she broke up with Danny. Clara doesn't need to know that. Lacey just prays that the video doesn't really get out and kids at the middle school see it. If that happens, she's moving back to Baltimore, whether Judy likes it or not. Honestly, she wanted out of Green Grove immediately. She's seriously considering transferring. She doesn't really have a strong friendship base. The only people she truly considered her friends are Phoebe and Rico. She liked Regina, but they weren't friends. They were always cordial with each other because there wasn't any reason not to be.
Lacey watches tv until she hears that Clara is home. She waits for Clara to get to her room before she goes to talk to her. Lacey slowly walks out of her room and to Clara's and takes a deep breath before she knocks at the door. Clara opens it, but avoids eye contact with Lacey.
"Clar Bear. I'm sorry for yelling at you and making you cry last night. I didn't mean it. You were trying to help me and I love you for that. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." Lacey pleads to her little sister and best friend.
Clara slowly look up at Lacey. "I accept your apology, Lace Face." Clara says.
Lacey exhales in relief. "Good. I won't yell at you like that ever again. I wasn't myself last night."
"So what was wrong?" Clara asks in concern.
"I was hurt and upset about something Danny did. I broke up with him." Lacey says.
"Oh." Clara says. Lacey is happy that Clara knows her well enough not to ask her why. "Are you ok?" Clara responds.
Lacey starts to tear up again. "Not really." She says as Clara gives her a hug.
Danny seemed to drive home in a daze. He's extremely lucky he got home in one piece. He kept replaying the conversation he just had with Lacey over in his mind. He couldn't believe she was that angry and that hurt. He couldn't believe that she thought he would actually do that to her. He thought she knew how much he loved her, cared about her, and needed and wanted her in his life. She just broke up with him and just completely walked away.
In spite of not wanting to be seen carrying a purse, he picked up the bag she dropped on the ground. She just discarded it and him like it was nothing. He grabbed it and his backpack as he got out of his car and walked into his house. He silently wished that his mother wouldn't see him coming in. He knew his father was at work, so that wasn't a concern. He was good at masking his emotions, but he doesn't know what he'll do if Karen questions him about the bag. He could always say that Lacey just left it in his car. But for some strange reason, he knew that Karen wouldn't buy that.
He's relieved when he walks into the house to see no one and quickly walks up to his room. He lays down on his bed and just thinks of how they got here and what he would have to do to get her back. He reached over and grabbed the picture of her that he had on his nightstand. He looked at her gorgeous face and her beautiful dimple. He thought of her laugh, how good she smelled, and how good she felt. He thought of how much he loved her and how his heart ached at her telling him they were done and walking away. He willed himself not to cry, because that wouldn't be a manly thing to do. So he instead focused on something else. Something that wouldn't make him feel emasculated.
Danny thought of how he would kill whoever was responsible for this.
The next morning, Lacey awoke with an agenda. She would put on a façade as best she could while she was at school. She wasn't as good of an actress as Phoebe, but she would fake it. She was not going to let anybody at that school see just how hurt and miserable she was. If she did, then they win. She wasn't going to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing that they had succeeded in breaking her spirit. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that she wouldn't let Sarita get any satisfaction out of knowing she and Danny had broken up. She knew that bitch would be happy to know that they were over, but Lacey would gladly and surely remind her that she broke up with him. He didn't dump her, although she thinks him dumping her is less extreme than what he did to her. But Sarita is the least of her worries. She had to deal with being in 3 classes with Danny. She prayed that he would never have to be her partner in any of their classes for the rest of the year. And if he did, she would just refuse. Or switch with one of the girls in the class. They all loved and want him. Finding somebody to switch with wouldn't be that hard.
Lacey also decided that this breakup wouldn't be an excuse for her to let herself go. She would continue to look her best. She was certainly not trying to attract anyone, but she wasn't gonna let her devastation and humiliation stop her from being Lacey Porter. She decided on a red sweater dress with a black belt, red, black, and white geometric print leggings, and black knee boots. She loved that the dress showed off her curves. She headed downstairs to fix herself a bowl of cereal so she could be on her way. She chose to walk to school instead of getting a ride with her mother. The walk and fresh air could do her some good. She hasn't told her mother about her and Danny yet, because she doesn't want to talk about it. Her mother will really want to know what happened and there really is no easy way to tell your mother you were videotaped having sex with your boyfriend without your consent or knowledge.
Lacey beat her mother and Clara out the door so she could get started with her new schedule. She walked to school with her iPod playing in her ears. She didn't know what to expect when she got there.
Has the whole school seen that video yet?
Will I get harassed because of the things in that video?
Will I get teased for not knowing my "boyfriend" only went out with me as a joke made by his teammates?
Even though it is January and cold out, some kids are still standing outside before the school day starts. Nobody looked at her oddly. Nobody pointed. Nobody whispered when she walked by. Nothing seemed to be amiss. That was a good sign. She makes it to her locker to hang up her coat and she has to stuff it in there because of the coat she left the other day.
She then makes her way to her first period class. She can see Danny, Joe and Phoebe talking as she walks up. Danny instantly locks eyes with her. She doesn't even flinch. Joe has the same expression on his face that he always does. Phoebe smiles when she sees her.
"Hey Lacey. Feeling better?" Phoebe asks. She has no idea what went on and she doesn't know that Danny and Lacey broke up.
Lacey smiles at Phoebe and completely ignores Joe and Danny. "Yes. 100% better, actually. Thanks for asking." Lacey says as she walks into the classroom. Phoebe looks at Danny and wonders why Lacey didn't acknowledge him.
They must've had a fight.
Phoebe goes into the classroom to get the dirt from Lacey. She leaves Joe and Danny standing outside in the hallway. Neither Danny nor Phoebe noticed the grin that started to form on Joe's face.
Phoebe walks over and sits in her seat next to Lacey. Their seats returned to normal after their couples project was done.
"What was that all about?" Phoebe asks.
"What was what all about?" Lacey rebuttals.
"Why did you completely ignore Danny and Joe?" Phoebe wonders.
"Oh. Because Danny and I broke up. And since Joe is his friend, there's no reason for me to say anything to him." Lacey states matter of factly.
Phoebe's eyes almost pop out of the socket. "What?! Why did you two break up? You're joking right?" Phoebe questions rapidly.
"Yeah, we ended things yesterday. And it was just beneficial that we end things. And no, I'm not joking." Lacey states. " I need to see your notes from yesterday." Lacey says as she tries to change the subject.
"Oh my god Lacey. What happened? And I see that you aren't wearing your ring." Phoebe says.
"It just didn't work out, so it's time to move on. And I gave him the ring back. I know it wasn't an engagement ring, but I don't want it. So I gave it back to him."
"So you aren't gonna tell me why you really broke up? Who broke up with who?"
"It's not even worth discussing. But, I broke up with him." Lacey states.
"Are you ok?" Phoebe asks.
"I'm fine." Lacey lies as she smiles. Just then Danny and Joe walk into the classroom. Danny's eyes are on her the entire time. She's not gonna let him intimidate her, so she looks away slowly. But she feels his eyes on her. She shifts slightly in her seat.
Joe is trying to get Danny's attention, but there's no use. His eyes are completely focused on Lacey.
When they got to Biology, Mr. Jackson informed them that it was time to pick lab partners again. Lacey almost lost it. Just the thought of him maybe becoming her lab partner again, rattles her. She doesn't want him to be her partner. At all. She wonders how Mr. Jackson will have them pick this time. He always comes up with different ways for them to pick.
"Ladies and gentlemen. I decided that I'll only have the males pick their female partners this time. Gentlemen, come forward. Call out your partner's name and join her." Mr. Jackson says.
Lacey looks over at Phoebe and cringes. Phoebe smiles back at her. The guys all line up and they start picking names. Lacey is just waiting to hear hers and she prays that Danny does not pick her. And as if by some unforeseeable twist of fate, when Lacey hears Danny say "Lacey Porter", she curses out loud.
"Fuck!" Lacey says as the class looks at her. She can't believe this shit. But she's not taking this laying down. "Mr. Jackson, I really, really need another lab partner." Lacey says as she almost begs. Danny is looking at her with hurt eyes. She refuses to look at him though.
"Why, Ms. Porter?" Mr. Jackson asks. Like he doesn't know. Lacey doesn't appreciate him being an asshole about this.
"I just do, Mr. Jackson. Please let me have another lab partner." Lacey says near tears.
"Ms. Porter, that wouldn't be fair to the rest of the students. If I let you switch, then I'll have to let everybody switch." Mr. Jackson responds.
"I'm ok with that." Lacey says.
"Ms. Porter, I'm not doing that. Sorry. You're just gonna have to deal with it, unfair as it may seem."
Lacey exhales out of frustration and anger as she folds her arms across her chest. When Danny walks over to sit next to her, he sits closer to her than she likes. She scoots her stool in the opposite direction.
"Lacey, please stop being angry with me. I didn't do what you think I did." Danny says.
Lacey just sits there fuming. She doesn't want him sitting close to her or to talk to her.
"Lace, please." He says as he reaches out to put his hand on her arm. She stiffens and shakes his hand off of her arm.
"Don't fucking touch me. Don't say anything to me." Lacey states angrily.
Danny winced and revolted like he had been kicked in the gut. Lacey being this cold and mean to him would take some getting used to. He might not ever get used to Lacey treating him like this.
Several people in the class watch the exchange, including Phoebe. They're all wondering what happened between them. They used to be all over each other, now Lacey acts like she hates even the sight of Danny. Phoebe's partner Tyler, leans over and whispers to Phoebe, "Trouble in paradise?" Phoebe doesn't say anything, but she wonders what the hell happened between her two friends.
Why is Lacey this angry at Danny?
When they get to lunch, Lacey internally debates whether she should sit in her normal seat as as usual. Or if she should find somewhere else to sit. She ultimately decided to sit in her regular seat. She didn't have a reason to hide. Even though the football players and Danny sat right next to them. She wanted them and him to see that she wasn't gonna crawl into a hole and die. Phoebe is still deep in thought wondering why Lacey is so angry at Danny. She kind of picked up on her being mad because he did something.
But what though?
What had Danny done to make Lacey act this way towards him? They were so in love just a week ago.
Phoebe decides to throw caution to the wind and ask, even though she's afraid to. She's afraid Lacey will snap at her too.
"Lacey, what happened between you and Danny?" Phoebe asks timidly.
Lacey slightly frowns. "I don't want to talk about it." She says. "Maybe I'll tell you later, when I'm not as angry or emotional about it."
"Ok." Phoebe says.
The girls start to eat their lunch when Danny, Joe, Cole, and Archie walk in. Danny is uncharacteristically quiet. And so is Cole. Archie is normal, but Joe seems to be on top of the world. And he should be. He did it. He got Lacey to break up with Danny. Seeing his best friend hurt meant nothing to him. And Sarita is happy too. She's happy she isn't the only one that's miserable. Regina doesn't really care. And Phoebe is deeply concerned. They all notice how down Danny is, and they can't stand it. All he's doing is looking at Lacey. To some other people, it would seem a little creepy the way he's staring at her. But for him, it's normal. He just hates that she's that close and he can't reach out and touch her.
After some very trying and depressing days and nights and a tortuous practice, Danny makes his way home. He has nothing to do but sulk. Lacey hated him. She broke up with him and wanted nothing to do with him. He turned on his iPod to listen to songs that reminded him of her. He was just laying face up in his bed, with his hands behind his head,staring at the ceiling when "Gone" by *NSYNC came one. The lyrics pretty much conveyed exactly what he was feeling.
There's a thousand words that I could say
To make you come home
It seems so long ago that you walked away
And left me alone
I remember what you said to me
You were acting so strange
And maybe I was too blind to see
That you needed a change
Was it something I said to make you turn away?
To make you walk out and leave me cold
If I could just find a way
To make it so that you were right here
Right now
I've been sitting here
Can't get you off my mind
I've tried my best to be a man and be strong
I drove myself insane
Wishing I could touch your face
But the truth remains...
You're gone...
You're gone...
Baby you're gone
Girl, you're gone,you're gone, you're gone
You're gone...
Gone...
After listening to the word "gone" repeat excessively, Danny didn't think he could stand it any more. He reached over and snatched his iPod off the docking station and hurled it across the room. He threw it just like a football. His coach would have been proud. It hit the wall and shattered in a thousand pieces. Now that he was completely in silence, he finally heard the whimpering at the door. Sadie was trying to get into his room to Lacey. She was used to her being there. Danny listened to her scratch and whine at the door until he was convinced she wasn't gonna leave. He got up to open the door and Sadie ran in looking for Lacey. He finally picked her up and started to rub her. She surprisingly didn't try to bite him.
"She's gone, Sadie." Danny said to the only other living thing that knew how much pain he was in.