"There comes a time. The pain of existence transcends the fear of change. There comes a time."
―Moshe Kasher,Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16
Lacey stood in the corner fanning her face. Her yellow dress clung to her perspiring body. She couldn't believe that Karen Desai had asked her of all people to stand with her as maid of honor. Karen had met Lacey at the dress shop a few days earlier and explained she wanted her for that person due to helping her son regain his life. The wedding was simple to everyone's surprise. Karen only invited very few people that were important in her life. Danny had even offered to pay for Karen an extravagant wedding. She denied wanting one. She had no interest in a flashy wedding. She had done that with Vikram. She refused to go that path again to show off for people that she didn't care about. Instead, she was given an elaborate honeymoon to Italy by her son. Karen's mother, Lois Patterson, agreed to stay for two weeks with Danny and Whitney while her daughter and her new son in law went on their honeymoon.
"Yellow like a canary." Whitney chuckled with a burp as she pointed to Lacey's dress.
The dress was actually a pale yellow and was very elegant. Karen did a good job picking out a dress to fit Lacey's beautiful figure. Danny and Lacey looked even more attractive as they walked linked arm in arm to the arch in McNally park. They had a few people awing at them. Jo was busy pouting angrily. However, Karen stole the show in her beautiful wedding gown.
"You're too young to drink." Lacey sighed out in exasperation. She realized that sounded hypocritical considering that she had taken in alcohol on more than one occasion. She no longer frequented that type of scene with teenagers. It was very odd that she didn't miss that at all. Her new church friends were much more interesting to hang around. Lacey could be herself more around them." Chief Masterson is here. Be careful he doesn't catch you."
Kyle Masterson was the only one of the Mastersons that Karen invited. Tess was no longer considered a friend due to the illicit affair with Vikram years earlier and Jo seemed to cause Danny more depression when she was around. Kyle came despite Tess's and Jo's protest. Finally, Kyle asked Karen if he could bring Jo along as his guest. Reluctantly, Karen caved to his request because she had hoped Danny would get to spend time with Lacey. Karen never saw her son smile genuinely since Lacey and he had broken up.
"So what. Masterson doesn't scare me. I'm hot. Let's go skinny dipping in Crater Lake and blow this popsicle joint."
"I can't do that. I go to church now, Whitney. I don't think swimming naked goes with that. Someone could see us. "Lacey joked because she still enjoyed being around Whitney. She winked. "Are you trying to get me naked?" Lacey glanced up to see Karen dancing with her new husband. Lacey had to admit Karen looked totally intoxicated with Jack Taylor. Jack seemed to be as equally infatuated.
"I'm not trying to get you naked. I do have someone else in mind for that." Whitney pointed to herself. "I brought some colored condoms." Whitney wiggled her eyebrows. "I thought I might get my step bro to really become part of the family."
"Gross. Not happening, Whitney. He's dating Jo. As you said, Danny is your step brother now." Lacey pushed back her sweaty hair that clung to her equally sweaty face. She wanted to change the subject quickly. "Karen looks gorgeous. Doesn't she?"
Whitney glanced back over her shoulder. "Yeah, for an old broad." Whitney slurred slightly. "Danny doesn't want Jo. I thought you knew that Danny only wants YOU. He's a junkie loving Lacey."
Lacey glanced towards Danny. He was loosening his yellow tie. At least he got to wear gray and not all yellow like Lacey was decked out in. Jack had made him best man. He looked as uncomfortable as she felt. However, when he loosened the top button of his gray shirt, Lacey gulped. He was so handsome. Lacey didn't understand why no girl at school with the exception of her, Regina, and Jo noticed him. Of course, it could be the girls were like her. They kept it hidden. Lacey felt that was what led to her and Danny's relationship being over. She had kept him hidden until it was too late to fix the hurt that had been done to their relationship.
Lacey wondered what Whitney meant about Danny not wanting Jo. Danny had told her the same on the phone less than a month ago. Jo and Danny had been best friends forever. Lacey was part of the trio again until Danny decided to date Jo. What happened to him not breaking up with Jo?
Lacey watched as Jo pulled Danny towards her table. He just seemed to do whatever Jo had in mind for him. Danny had became more introvert and mysterious since his father's death. If that was possible. He just wanted left alone.
Soon the day was ending. Karen and Jack were packing to head out on the honeymoon. Lois had already retired to the guest room with tv remote in hand. She didn't want to miss her nighttime soap operas. Lacey, Whitney and Danny sat in the living room in full wedding attire. Lacey was supposed to stay the night at the Desais due to her mother having to take care of a few things for Karen such as paying the caterer and tying up loose ends with the clean up personnel for the wedding. Judy also had to get Clara on a plane to Seattle to spend Spring Break with her father. Judy was going to stay the weekend with Anna, John, and Blake in New York at a Pastors meeting. Of course, Judy was staying in her own room. Lacey didn't protest as she didn't want to go to Seattle due to some church youth group activities she was supposed to attend in a few days.
Karen came down stairs followed by Jack carrying the last of their luggage. She stopped to say goodbye to the teens.
Whitney fiddled with her small bouquet of flowers that Karen gave her. She stated bluntly. "I hope Danny doesn't interrupt the sleepover you promised I could have. My new friends are coming over and some do not like Danny."
"I'll tell Danny to leave you alone. My mother won't bother you girls either. She'll be in the other guest room away from all of you. Lacey, there is a room for you as well. There are snacks left over from the wedding." Karen kissed Whitney's cheek.
"Nonsense. Whitney is just going to have to get used to the idea she now has a brother." Jack crossed his arms looking at Whitney.
"Technically. It would be a step brother." Whitney noticed Jack's warning stare. "But Karen being like a mother to me. I see your point."
"I knew you would." Karen kissed Whitney's cheek. Then she gave a hug to Lacey and Danny. Jack hugged Whitney and shook Danny's hand. Then off they went.
"Stay in your room and don't bother us." Whitney warned. She was tired of playing nice with Danny and Karen for her Dad's plan. She wanted to act like a teen girl for once. She was actually excited to have Lacey, Sarita, and a few other girls over. She hoped to mend fences with Lacey.
"Like I really want to be around your friends, Whitney. " Danny kicked a rock fighting the urge to kick Whitney to the curb. Since she gave him the drugs, Danny had realized Whitney wasn't such a great person like his mother thought she was. He wondered if Jack knew his real daughter or if Jack was like her. Even if Danny had been doing himself harm with the drugs, he was still intelligent enough to see that Whitney was trying to get him hooked. Danny realized she didn't have to try too hard. Danny hoped that Jack was the man he seemed. He wanted his mother happy. Besides, Jack was like a father figure to him now.
Whitney marched off to get ready for her school friends to come over. That left Danny with Lacey standing in the driveway.
"Why do you do that?" Lacey kicked a rock to match Danny's movements.
"Kick rocks?"
"No, Danny. Quit being so evasive. Why do you just give in to her without a fight? I see you do it with everyone lately. You could say..'this is my house too. I'll go where I want.' or 'Make me.' Something more than okay. What happened to the Danny who pushed back?"
"Why? It would only cause mom problems. Having Whitney in the family isn't my choice." Danny's shoulders slumped. "I won't bother you and your friends."
"Listen." Lacey chased behind Danny as he walked away. "I can help you clean up your room or work on school work. I don't really want to spend the night with those girls. I'm not exactly on their list of friends. I wanted to stay with Miriam Perry but they're gone for the weekend visiting their grandparents."
"I guess you want to spend time with Isaac. I already did my homework. It is only the beginning of Spring Break. I'm sure you'll get to spend plenty of time with Isaac." Danny tried to march off but Lacey grabbed his shoulder. Danny turned to Lacey. "What do you want from me, Lace?"
Lacey shrugged. "I didn't want to hurt your feelings. I wanted to stay with Miriam. She's my best friend now. Isaac is my friend too."
"You didn't hurt my feelings, Lace." Danny walked away defeated.
Lacey sighed out. She turned to see Sarita pulling up with the other girls.
"Hey, where is tall dark and dorky going?" Patricia, one of Sarita's new members to her entourage, climbed out of the SUV followed by two other girls. They were the popular girls. Lacey Porter was once the top of the list of popularity but thanks to her relationship with Danny, she wasn't on the list any more. Sarita Sanchez was second being Lacey's best friend at one time. Now Sarita took reign since Lacey fell from grace. Phoebe Lewis was there due to money. Patricia Fordman due to family association put her on the list. Last but not least was Carman Santiga.
"To his room." Lacey said. "He promised not to bother you all."
"Honey, that boy can bother me all he wants." Carman said.
"What?" Sarita turned to glare at Carman. "You're kidding right?"
"You're the one kidding yourself. Look at him. He might not be the popular crowd but his face is heavenly." Carman added. "I wonder what he looks like under all those clothes."
"Ask Lacey." Sarita quipped as she pulled her overnight bag from the trunk. "She's seen it all. Right, Lacey?"
Lacey ignored the girls as they began to giggle as they headed in to the living room. Whitney came bounding in as she was already dressed in casual sleep ware. They soon were stocked up with sodas and snacks. They huddled around the television set staring at a One Direction video that Patricia had brought over. They were debating on the best looking in the group. Zayn won out all but to Sarita, who chose Naill. The fire in the fireplace was all the light they had on.
Danny tried to walk quietly down the steps so he didn't bother them. Whitney winked at the rest of the girls. She shook up her soda drink vigorously.
"Watch and learn, Ladies. Watch and learn." She stated.
"I'm sorry." Danny said when all the girls turned to stare. "I was just getting something to eat."
"No problem, Danny." Lacey leaned on her elbow. She had no idea why she was even hanging in the living room with these girls.
"Uuuum, Danny." Whitney beckoned him with her finger. "I can't get the top off my soda. Will you?" Sweet and flirty.
"Sure." Danny walked over and took the bottle.
Lacey wanted to warn him. But it was too late. Danny popped off the top soaking his shirt in the spray of soda. The girls were ready to laugh. Instead, silence filled the room. An occasional swallow was heard.
There stood Danny Desai with soda causing his white t-shirt to stick to his chest. The lights of the fire cascading over every glorious muscle. He had thinned some earlier due to the drugs but now was still nicely built due to vigorous workouts he had been doing trying to keep his mind off things. Danny ran his sticky hand through his sticky hair causing all the girls to lick their lips. Danny looked up embarrassed.
Lacey was the first to come to her senses. She thought the girls looked like a pack of ravenous dogs and Danny was a juicy steak. Even Sarita couldn't take her eyes off of Danny.
"Danny!" Lacey jumped up. "You should get that shirt off."
Lacey wasn't thinking as she pulled off Danny's shirt without his permission. She was just thinking of the clinging material. Little did she realize she was leading the pack of dogs to more thoughts of devouring Danny. What lies beneath was even better than the sticky shirt. Sticky skin.
"I better go shower." Danny could feel his face burning red. They must all think he was a moron. No wonders Lacey wanted to stay away from him. Since killing his dad, Danny had became a laughing stock so he thought.
Danny walked up the stairs slowly until his feet hit the fourth step. Then he sprinted.
"OH my!" Patricia was the first to speak. "A killer with a body of Adonis. That boy needs a serious girlfriend makeover. No wonders Masterson is constantly all over him. I bet she's had a piece of that man candy."
The girls giggled in unison. They settled down. Sarita glanced at Lacey. "We all know Lacey has."
"Lacey, why are you still in that yellow dress?" Whitney asked trying to give Lacey an out from Sarita's jeers.
"I don't know. Things happening too fast. I meant to bath before the video was on. I'll take a quick shower and be back." Lacey stood and headed upstairs.
"If I were her…" Carman waited until Lacey was out of earshot. "I'd conserve water and take one with Danny."
Sarita practically growled out. "She's probably been there and done that."
Lacey walked up the stairs. She peeked into Danny's room as she passed by. She noticed he had already taken a quick shower and was wrapped in a towel. She also noticed Danny had a bottle in his hands. He poured out a few pills. Lacey's mouth dropped open when she saw Danny pop it into his mouth. He then flopped on the bed with a blank look on his face.
Lacey couldn't believe the her Danny was on drugs. Perhaps, that was just medicine for sickness or something. But Lacey felt in her gut that there was something wrong when she saw Danny swallow the pills.
Danny looked up from his bed. "What are you looking at?"
"Sorry. I just…" Lacey stammered. "I want to shower but my zipper is stuck. It is at the top. Could you?"
What was she doing? She hadn't thought of a very good excuse. She definitely didn't want Danny to know she was watching him. Lacey walked into the room and stood with her back to Danny. He grinned as he stood from his bed. He lightly touched her shoulder.
"Uuum." Lacey gulped. "It is just the first part. A piece of material caught. If you could just take it down an inch, I'd appreciate it."
"I'm sure you would." Danny smirked.
Lacey could see him in the mirror. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing, Lacey." Danny unzipped Lacey's dress slowly. He took the zipper all the way to Lacey's waist. Her eyes grew big as she peered in the mirror.
Danny looked up to meet her stare. He slowly pushed the yellow material off her shoulders.
"Danny!" Lacey felt her breath catch in her chest.
"I always thought you wore lace rather than cotton. Was that just for me before?" Danny ran his finger under her bra strap.
"I…" Lacey could feel her face flush hot. She knew in her new Christian belief, she should stop him. However, she felt weak to his touch.
A simple graze of his finger across her shoulder under her bra strap had her chest heaving. Danny kept his eyes centered in on Lacey's in the mirror. He leaned and whispered into Lacey's ear.
"Are you going to tease me anymore, Lacey? You and your friends think it's funny teasing me?" Danny's hot breath burned Lacey's inner ear.
"No." Lacey swallowed. "I wasn't trying…"
"I know what you were trying to do." Danny pushed her dress to her waist. Lacey stood exposed in only her bra from waist up. "Now guess what I'm trying to do."