AUTHOR NOTE: This is more of a filler chapter to introduce new characters into the story. These characters are important as they will become Lacey's new friends and confidants.
"I lived to be forgotten because I'd forgotten how to live"
―Joseph Meyering Sr
Lacey hadn't talked to Danny long before he became incoherent. They had established that they wanted to be friends again. However, Danny also confided he needed to talk to her about Jo. The way he said the words to Lacey made her hear his desperation. She let him off the phone with a promise that they would talk as friends, nothing more, about anything he wanted to.
Lacey asked Danny why he was slurring his words. She remembered he mumbled that he took some medicine because he was sick. Then he said the same thing their conversation began with. "You make me happy, Lacey."
That was how their conversation ended. Lacey had a restless night due to a deep feeling of fear for Danny but she wasn't sure where it was coming from. She finally went to sleep only to be woken by her alarm three hours later to get ready for school. With a smile on her face due to realizing that Danny and she were on some type of mended friendship, Lacey made her way down the hallway of Green Grove High School.
Lacey opened her locker feeling a strange sense of Danny giving her yet another tale to deflect the situation from himself. Yet, Lacey felt giddy when Danny said she was the one that made him happy. Unlike Jo, Lacey felt a slight smidgen of guilt for wanting to hear those words from Danny. Jo was his girlfriend after all.
Behind Lacey stood a group of new students. Four siblings all looking in her direction. Of course, she had no idea she was the subject of conversation. Her thoughts were on Danny. Once again, she was worried about him. Wasn't it okay to worry about a friend? Although, she had to admit that Danny and she would never really be friends as they were before. Too much emotional and physical had passed between them.
Moments before, Isaac Perry stood with his brother Adam anxiously awaiting their parents to finish up their talk with Principal Tang. The students had already been escorted around the school campus then told to mingle with students as their parents registered each of them. Their sister, Miriam, came walking up with arms folded defensively over her chest. Within seconds, Matthew, the youngest of the four came bounding up.
"So I've got the scoop, my dearest siblings." Matthew grinned mischievously.
"Pray tell what scoop is that." Miriam chuckled at her younger brother. He was only younger by three months but that was enough to taunt him with.
"The hottest girl in school." Matthew wiggled his eyebrows.
"Of course." Adam shook his head. "What else would you be concerned about, little brother?"
Cole Farrell had noticed the quartet of new students congregated near his locker. He was going to introduce himself but became more interesting in eavesdropping on the bunch. The curiosity came from their titles given to each other. After all, they were referring to each other as siblings. It sounded strange yet anyone could tell it was a joke amongst themselves. However, it was more interesting in the fact of their physical looks.
Isaac was a 6' 2 " black boy with a skin tone similar to Lacey Porter but not quite the darkness of the one referred to as Matthew. Isaac was never a lady's man due to his own doing. He respected the females and his goal was to show them. His handsome features rivaled that of many a boy his age. He knew it but never showed that in his mannerisms. He wore his hair cut closely to his head but not razor shaved. He had twirled designs mirroring on both sides of his head where the hair had been shaved to the scalp. He was in the middle of his senior year in high school. He was turning 18 within a few weeks. He was broad shouldered and thin waisted. It was obvious the boy had seen many days in the gym working out. Much like Cole, Isaac was proud of his body because he had worked hard for it.
Matthew probably stood approximately the same height as Cole. He and Miriam were fifteen and sophomores. Matthew was stocky but muscular. But he seemed confident in his stature and his looks. His hair was in dread locks which complimented Matthew's handsome face.
Mariam was an average in height girl, who was about 5' 5". It was her skin tone that caught Cole by surprise as well as her beauty. She was extremely dark skinned female reminiscent of Lupita Nyong'o. Miriam wasn't quite as beautiful as Lupita but she was very close. She even wore her hair short to her head similar to Lupita due to Lupita being her idol. Cole felt immediately attracted to her as her smiled flashed at her brothers. She definitely took his breath away. He wondered if that was how Danny felt when seeing Lacey. Danny had confided in Cole that Lacey Porter was the only girl to ever take his breath when he looked at her.
The strangest of the siblings was Adam. He was about the height of Danny. He was a junior but was supposed to be a senior. He had failed his ninth grade year. He was extremely skinny and extremely pasty in color. One of his arms had a full sleeve tattoo with various objects not really connecting to any them in particular. His flaming red hair was in a mohawk style with the tips of his hair colored a blue hue. His green eyes were strangely light in color. His face was speckled with freckles that seemed to cascade over his cheeks and to his neck.
Cole continued to listen to their animated conversation trying to gage each of their personalities.
Matthew was obviously the comedian. "As I was saying. By the consensus of those I've spoken to, this gorgeous female's name is Lacey Porter. Now, I have yet to lay eyes on said female but only a few named someone else as the most beautiful girl in school. I have suspicion one girl was naming her own girlfriend so she wouldn't get jealous. Any way, she is a sophomore and single. Single not long ago which is the perfect time for this fellow here .." He pointed to himself. "...to get to know her. Anyway, this lovely lady seems to have broken up with her long time boyfriend for some other person referred to as a loser. She broke up with him probably because he was a loser. No one said why but I got that."
Danny had joined Cole about this time causing Cole to chuckle under his breath. Now both Danny and Cole were listening to Matthew ramble on.
"But get this…" Matthew seemed proud of his investigative skills after only been on school property less than an hour. His good fortune was that it was lunch time for some students. "Her first boyfriend was expelled for poisoning some dude to frame the loser so he could keep this Lacey girl. So she must be one hot tamale."
"Seriously, Matthew." Miriam rolled her eyes. "One of these days some girl is going to smack your mouth for such sexist remarks."
"With her lips…." Matthew kissed the back of his hand with a loud pop.
Adam nudged Isaac as Lacey Porter came walking up to her locker across from them. "Wow. I like the new school already."
Isaac wasn't usually one to dwell on the superficial things. However, this girl was like an angel sent from heaven if looks accounted for anything. She hadn't noticed the siblings as she seemed preoccupied.
Matthew suddenly lost all his cockiness as his voice lowered. "Dang a lang. I think I'm in love."
The slamming of Lacey's locker caused the three to jump realizing they were staring. Miriam laughed at her brothers' obviousness. Danny smirked as he walked by the four.
"Hey, Lace." He grabbed her into a friendly hug. After all, they had established they would try to be friends.
"Danny!" Lacey giddily hugged him back. "I was so worried about you. I see you're feeling better."
"Yep." Danny reluctantly relinquished the embrace with Lacey. "I think your talk helped. Sorry the medicine I took made me groggy. I really want to finish our conversation. Maybe later?"
"Okay." Lacey breathed out trying to hide the fact she felt tingly having Danny near her. He smelled so good. She always loved his vanilla and leather smell. "But I have to go right now. I'm so late for music class. See you, Danny. Bye, Cole." She waved as she hurried away.
Danny turned to smirk at Matthew. He walked up to the four new students. Cole followed wondering what remark Danny may make. This was going to be interesting.
"Hi." Danny smiled charmingly. "You all must be new to Green Grove. I'm Danny Desai."
"Hi." Isaac spoke first as he extended his hand to shake Danny's. "These are my two brothers, Matthew and Adam. This is my little sister, Miriam."
The three brothers were used to their sister catching a guy's eyes. Therefore, when Cole swallowed nervously introducing himself, they knew he was smitten like most males in the vicinity of their sister. However, Danny seemed unfazed. The brothers ,as well as Miriam , realized it was due to his infatuation with the gorgeous girl he had embraced.
"The girl that left was Lacey Porter." Danny was ready to make a barb at Matthew. It would be fun to be his old manipulative and intimidating self. "The most gorgeous girl in school along with your sister now." Danny winked at Miriam but turned his attention back to Matthew. "Cole is also known as the dude who her ex poisoned to get rid of the loser chasing after Lacey. Which makes me the loser."
Isaac tried not to laugh at his little brother's stepping closer to him. Danny shrugged his shoulders. "Do you think Lace broke up with me because I'm a loser, Cole?"
"Nah." Cole chuckled enjoying Danny's fun. "She dated you already knowing what others thought."
"Oh you mean the fact that I killed my aunt at age eleven?" Danny rubbed his neck. "Yeah. But that is understandable her forgiving me for that. I spent my time for that in juvie. Crime done. Price paid. Maybe it is because I recently killed my dad."
Cole was caught off guard by Danny's cavalier attitude. Everyone already knew about Vikram's death by Danny's hands. It was ruled accidental homicide and self defense.
However, Cole composed himself long enough to add to Danny's words. "Could be it."
"Nice meeting you all." Danny smirked. "Welcome to Green Grove. A safe haven from the big city. It you don't count the town having its own teen murderer among us."
With that, Danny sauntered off. Isaac's brow furrowed in confusion as he looked at Cole. "Matthew didn't mean anything by it."
"Don't worry about, Danny. He's usually a great guy." Cole bit his lip. "Really. Despite the ummm murdering thing."
"He was serious?" Adam cursed after he asked. He was given evil glares by his siblings. "Sorry. God forgive me but dang. I thought he was trying to scare Matthew from gossiping."
"He was." Matthew rubbed down his chest nervously. "It worked too. I guess I shouldn't have called him a loser."
"Danny could care less about that. Believe me, he has been called much worse. Since you already know the gossip. Well, part of it." Cole tried to make amends for Danny's snipey remarks. "Danny is really protective over Lacey. She means a lot to him. They broke up but they still care for each other. I'm sure that Danny was taking up for Lacey in his round about way."
"It's okay, Cole." Miriam smiled genuinely. "My brother is a jerk at times. We know how it is."
"Hey." Matthew protested. When all looked at him, he shrunk his shoulders slightly. "Okay. I was a jerk. I shall apologize to him if ever we're in a public place full of witnesses." He noticed their continued glaring. "What, he said he was a murderer. I ain't apologizing in no dark alley."
Even Cole had to laugh at that. Seconds later, the parents of the Perry siblings walked up. The man looked demure and classy. The female looked nothing like any of the other children. The children introduced their new friend. The mother was a tall black woman with a large build. Her smile radiated as she introduced herself.
"I'm Anna Perry." She hugged Cole unexpectedly. "This is the nicest place."
The father stuck out his hand to Cole after the boy was released by his very friendly wife. "I'm Reverend John Perry. It is nice to meet you, Cole."
Little did Green Grove know that the Perry family was about to become very important people in some of their lives especially the Porter family.
In my imagination this is what each new character looks similar to. This is who I picture when I write them. Clara Porter is not new but this is the face I give her. LOL Maybe it will help you visualize my characters better. And Isaac Perry..lord have mercy! He's gorgeous. Blake Simms isn't introduced yet but this is how I imagine him to look. I'll put it this way, the Perry family is blessed with good looks!
Clara Porter: Amandla Stenberg
John Perry (father): Laurence Fishburne Anna Perry: Kim Coles Isaac Perry: Younger version of Nathan Owens Matthew Perry : Leon Thomas III
Miriam Perry: Looks like Lupita Nyong'o (Younger less beautiful version) Adam Perry: Adam Hicks
Blake Simms (Brother to Anna Perry) Uncle to the Perry children: Blair Underwood