"Here I am trying to live, or rather, I am trying to teach the death within me how to live."
―Jean Cocteau
Danny stared over at Lacey as he put the jeep into drive. He had rented a jeep for the day so that he could pull up to the makeshift beach by the lake without worrying about getting stuck in the sand.
"First, you can't drive at all. Now you can drive a stick shift." Lacey raised her eyebrows questioningly.
"As a matter of fact, I can. Jack has been teaching me how to drive a standard. He's also been taking me boating. I'm learning to sail." Danny grinned feeling carefree even if he knew deep inside, that feeling was temporary.
"That's good, Danny." Lacey grinned allowing her dimples to be revealed on her beautiful face.
"Now, I have an important question for you." Danny made sure there was nothing coming towards them before pulling out of his driveway.
"What is that, Mr. Desai?" Lacey teasingly asked.
"Are you wearing a one piece or a bikini under that tank and shorts?" Danny chuckled mischievously.
"Oh, you'll see." Lacey's voice came out in a sing song way as she allowed the light hearted atmosphere to wash over her.
Danny's eyes glinted with an impish spark as he chuckled in response to Lacey's answer. It was nice pretending that his life wasn't a mess. Especially when he was pretending with Lacey. The drive had them relaxing as they chatted about normal things. They made sure to steer away from the topics of Jo Masterson and drugs. It was refreshing to talk about school work, the picnic items his grandmother Lois had made up for them, the new movies coming out they both wanted to see. Things that teens talked about without conversations being laced with cheating on a girlfriend, murders, prison terms, and drugs.
Lacey was the first to make a move beyond simple conversation as she reached over to take Danny's hand in hers. Danny's thumb traced over Lacey's palm in circles. Lacey allowed her fingers to dance on the back of Danny''s hand. Tingles spread throughout their body at the mere touching of fingers. They continued to hold hands as they made their way towards the lake.
"You'll love this place, Danny." Lacey kept holding to Danny's hand as she leaned back to allow the bright sun to hit her face. "It is a man made lake commissioned by Mayor Rollins. They brought sand in to make it look like a beach front." Lacey opened her eyes slightly. "Turn right at McNally Road."
"I heard about it from Cole. I'm glad Andie had the fundraiser to rent out the place. I heard the private schools are attending." Danny turned the car right as Lacey told him to. "Do you think that means that Archie and Scott will be there?"
Lacey raised one eyebrow. "Never thought of that. Why are you worried?"
Danny laughed slightly. "What do you think?"
"That would be a no." Lacey sighed happily before sticking her arm out the jeep to allow the wind to cause it wave.
Danny squeezed Lacey's hand assuringly. "I was making sure you're okay with that."
"I am." Lacey glanced towards Danny. "We're kind of alone in this. You know?"
"What do you mean?" Danny didn't look at Lacey this time as he had to pay attention to the curvy dirt road. But he couldn't help but to take gazes at her.
"Well, I don't really have friends anymore. Accept the Perrys. However, I mean the past friends aren't really my friends. You never had too many friends but Jo, Rico, and Cole. Last I looked, they don't even hang out. You're stuck with Jo, which I don't want to talk about."
"Yeah. I guess I get what you're saying." Danny smiled. "I could care less about any of those friends compared to how I feel about you. I want you to know that."
Before Lacey could address Danny's statement. The jeep started making a funny noise from the rear tire.
"Uggh." Lana squeezed the jeep door handle. "You have a flat." Lacey glanced out the jeep. "Do you have a spare?"
"Yeah. I better considering how much it cost to rent this. I must've ran over something while I was busy staring at the gorgeous girl next to me." Danny edged the jeep to the side of the road.
Danny got out. He pulled the spare from the bottom of the jeep. "Don't worry. It's not that big a deal. I'll have this fixed in no time."
Lacey walked around the jeep and leaned against the side. "Thanks. You come in handy for a lot of things."
Lacey didn't mean the implications in her words. Danny jutted his eyebrow up. Lacey squirmed uncomfortably when she realized her words had a lacing of sexual inuendo. Although, the words were rather true even if Lacey wasn't sure where the whole Christianity thing stood on that topic, it made Lacey try to avoid the topic at all until she could figure it out.
Danny finished replacing the tire. Lacey moved to the back of the jeep to be out of Danny's way. He grabbed the tire iron to place in the back of the jeep. She tried to get out of the way but they were dancing around each other. Danny grabbed Lacey's shoulders to stop her from moving. When he did, his eyes met hers. Danny didn't know where the two stood in their new relationship as friends or more. But the fact was, he knew what he wished for. He leaned in for a kiss. Lacey could feel his breath washing over her lips. She tiptoed just a little to meet him. Soon, they were joined in a slow kiss. It was different kissing Danny every time but the same. The kiss was slow and filled with passion. Danny didn't use tongue. He just enjoyed the sweet taste of Lacey's lips colliding with his own.
Lacey was the one to seductively inch her tongue along Danny's teeth. He opened his mouth slowly allowing her access. She was in control. Which was a rarity in this relationship so far this go around. Lacey's fingers went to the hair at the back of his neck. She pulled him closer to her as her tongue twirled on the roof of Danny's mouth.
Danny's hands went to Lacey's hips pulling her closer to meet his body. He squeezed Lacey's hips as his thumb played on the small sliver of skin between her tank and blue jean shorts. Lacey didn't know where this was going. But this was her Danny Desai! Not the Danny high on drugs. Not the Danny worrying about Jo Masterson. But the Danny she remembered from their first time dating. This was Danny wanting her and not Jo or a drug.
Her thoughts of contentment soon subsided when Danny pushed her away hurriedly. Lacey felt a nervous emptiness fill her stomach. Danny moved her out of the way and popped open the back of the jeep. Lacey was puzzled by his complete turn around until she heard the beeping of car horns.
"I heard them coming." Danny nodded over his shoulder.
Sarita was hanging out of Archie's truck. Whitney, Carman, and Patricia were also crammed into the truck as well. The girls were sitting on Scott's and Cole's lap. Obviously, Cole had forgiven Scott and Archie. Two other cars were in the line. Each filled with students from the private school or Green Grove High.
"Hey. Look it is my new brother." Whitney quipped as they pulled up. "Sorry, you got stuck with step bro, Lacey. Phoebe told us that you and Danny would follow us. I guess you beat us. I see you got Grandmother Lois's picnic she was packing."
"We had a flat. Danny fixed it." Lacey moved uneasily farther away from Danny. Of course, Danny noticed.
"I come in handy for some things." Danny closed the jeep. He wondered if Lacey wanted to alert Archie that they were no longer together. That was until he saw Jo with Rico and Andie in the another car that had pulled up.
Jo, Andie and Rico had pulled up in Andie's convertible. Andie stated cheerfully. "Hey, Danny. You want to ride with us? We have your girlfriend."
"You're dating Jo? " Scott quipped with a chuckle as the others in the truck laughed. "Leave the jeep. We can make room for you, Lacey."
"That's okay. We have the food." Lacey wanted to ask Danny to remain with her. But how was she going to do that with his girlfriend right there? Besides the fact she planned on making Jo a non girlfriend for Danny, she hadn't yet nor did she know exactly how to do that without Jo's threats coming to light.
"I can go ahead with Lacey. She'll need help unloading. No use changing it up now." Danny stuck his hands in his pockets.
"No. I'll ride with my boyfriend." Jo jumped out of the vehicle she was in and immediately climbed into the passenger seat of the jeep. "Lacey, you can ride with your friends."
Danny reluctantly climbed in the jeep. Lacey looked down at the ground. She glanced at Danny intensely before getting in the truck with the others. They all drove away towards the lake.
"What was that? What is happening with Lacey and Danny?" Andie asked as she leaned her head back while she drove.
"The Danny and Lacey-I want to eat you alive-take you beside the road-melt butter in an ice storm-lick your skin raw-stare- you mean?" Rico retorted.
"Yeah. Wouldn't have put it that way. But yeah." Andie laughed at her boyfriend's vivid description.
Rico shrugged feeling slightly bad for Jo. "My personal hypothesis is that they're doing it again."
Danny stepped uneasily from the jeep. On the last of the ride to the lake, Jo's hand kept finding its way into Danny's lap. Danny removed it. Lacey wouldn't like that. At least, he hoped she wouldn't. He was relieved to see Lacey pull in right behind the other two cars. He worried the entire 10 minute ride to the lake that Lacey felt uncomfortable with Archie and the others. He also kept thinking of pressing Lacey's beautiful body against the sands of the beach.
After all supplies were unloaded, students began to intermingle as they introduced themselves. Archie watched curiously as Jo clung to Danny. He noticed Danny's lack of excitement about Jo being all over him. Jo couldn't be more possessive of Danny.
He also noticed Lacey and Danny were still sneaking looks at one another as they did when he was dating Lacey.
Danny tried to be nice to Jo. However, all he kept thinking was that under Lacey's outfit was some type bathing suit. He hoped for a turquoise string bikini just like in his dreams. The crowd began to start having fun. A few students had snuck in alcohol. However, most students were enjoying the unusually sunny weather sans partaking of an alcoholic beverage.
Lacey waved excitedly when she saw her friends unexpectedly approaching. "Miriam!"
"Hey, Girlie!" Miriam hugged Lacey as she nodded towards her three brothers. "We got an email from Andie Dang about this. Grandpa and Grandma agreed since Green Grove is only an hour and a half away, we could come join in."
Isaac immediately sided up to Lacey. They all sat on a blanket that Matthew and Adam rolled out. Even though Isaac and his siblings had been going to Green Grove High for a few weeks, introductions hadn't been made. After Lacey introduced her new friends to her old friends, they all began to enjoy the outing.
"Hello." Matthew immediately sat down next to Phoebe. He placed his hand over his heart. He rubbed his chest as if it were aching.
"Are you okay?" Phoebe asked in concern.
"I'm not sure. I think meeting you has made my heart beat too fast." Matthew winked before adding. "Or perhaps meeting God's choice of most beautiful girl in the world has my heart doing palpitations."
Phoebe's face turned a bright red as she playfully slapped Matthew's shoulder. "I think I like you."
"That was the worst line yet." Adam shook his head at his little brother.
"Phoebe liked it." Lacey laughed. "I'm glad you all came."
"Me too." Isaac flirted with a smile spreading across his face.
Scott yelled loudly. "Volley Ball! Team One will be the Sherwood Prep Varsity Soccer. Team Two will be Archie, the new boys from Green Grove , and Cole. Rico you can be back up!"
Rico smiled proudly that he was mentioned. Even though he'd not get in the game. It was obvious that Danny was being cut from the choices. Lacey glanced over to Danny to make sure he was okay. He smirked at her allowing her to know he could care less. He was more pleased that Isaac was getting ready to play rather than sitting by Lacey. The boys all stripped off their shirts.
The boys began to get into the competition of the game. Whitney winked at Lacey andSarita. "That Isaac boy is fine as h*!."
"I agree." Sarita stared over at Lacey. "He seems interested, Lacey. He'd make a good boyfriend. I bet he isn't even dating anyone. Or wouldn't cheat with someone else either."
Lacey shook her head towards Sarita still frustrated that the girl couldn't mind her own business.
"Hey,Danny. Don't you think it is too hot for that t-shirt? Are you afraid of turning to dust in the sun?" Carman batted her eye lashes then rolled over in her bikini to expose more of her skin to Danny.
Danny sat down on the blanket beside of Jo ignoring Carman's obvious flirtation. He addressed Jo quietly. "Do you think Isaac has more muscles than me?"
"You're kidding right? I mean you are not becoming superficial are you?" Jo whispered back. "Definitely. So does Archie, Cole, and the new kid, Matt. But your skinny is sexy. He is nothing compared to you as a hottie. Besides, you're all I want to look at and do things to." Jo made an obscene gesture that only her and Danny could see.
"Stop." Danny sighed at Jo. He knew she was trying to fit in with him as a girl who he'd want. She was trying all kinds of sexual advances. But she was getting more pathetic each day.
Lacey peeked up a couple of times at Danny. Why didn't he come sit with her? Then again, Jo was the one he was supposed to be dating. Oh what tangled webs we weave. Lacey had to think of something to do while sitting there wanting Danny to at least lick his dry lips or something. Lacey set herself a goal for today.
Hmmm. Mission get Danny wet. Hmmm. Mission revised. Shirtless and Wet.
"Golly Gee, Mam." Whitney walked up taking a sandwich from the picnic basket. "I'm from juvie hall. I was raised in a cell. So I don't know that I'm supposed to take off my shirt on a beach. Goollly. "
"Nice one there, Whitless." Jo scoffed. "Do you only do bad impressions of Gomer Pyle or do you do ones of an obnoxious jerk in the form of a high school teen with nymphomaniac propensities?"
Lacey chuckled at that. She couldn't help it. Jo's comeback was pretty good. Whitney had been picking at Danny since the wedding. It was about time someone said something to her. Sarita cocked her head sideways watching Whitney pick at Danny. That used to be her job.
"Why are you here on our beach any way?" Whitney sat down followed by a few other of her new cronies.
"Your beach? I'd laugh at that if it wasn't so ignorant that it is more pathetic than funny. This is lakeside just in case you don't understand the meaning of a beach." Jo stood and took off her sundress. She had on a navy blue bikini, which made her very pale skin paler in contrast. However, Lacey noticed that Jo was built better than she had imagined her to be. It seemed that Danny didn't even notice though. Jo handed Danny a bottle of sun tan lotion. "Oil me up, Superstud."
Danny took the bottle and began to put lotion on Jo. Danny slathered on the lotion rather quickly before he leaned back on his elbows.
"Take of your shirt. I'll do you." Jo turned to face Danny.
"I've heard you already do him." Carman stated then gave a high five to Patricia.
"What's wrong?" Jo squinted slightly at Carman. "Jealous?"
Carman crossed her arms defensively. "You wish!"
"Actually." Jo grabbed Danny's shirt. He allowed her to pull it off of him. "You do."
She turned to face Carman's blushing face. Danny shook his head at Jo uncomfortable. He had to admit that Jo was fun at time but not as a girlfriend. Why couldn't she just be his friends and nothing more?
"Man, dude." Cole plopped on the blanket next to Miriam. It seemed the game was over for now. He addressed Isaac."How much do you lift? Those are some serious pecs and biceps going on."
"You think." Sarita laughed.
Danny frowned feeling jealousy knowing that Isaac was interested in Lacey. Isaac only thoughts were. What a weird bunch of people Lacey hung out with.
"Seriously, Dude. I'm into all the weight lifting competition. We have competition with Granville High and Sherwood Prep. You should think about joining the weightlifting team." Cole stated.
"They probably all do steroids. Maybe Danny does too as he's been getting some muscle with that scrawny build of his. But he has a long way to go. I'd be careful with the steroids, Danny." Whitney interjected. "I heard they shrink other things."
The crowd laughed. Even Isaac.
Jo leaned over and whispered to Lacey. "Maybe you should set them straight on that one. Oh right. You aren't privy to that information any longer."
Lacey's eyes bugged out. The crowd hushed wondering what Lacey was told by Jo. Everyone stared. It was obvious by the look on Lacey's face that she was angry and ready to slap Jo's face.
"Chill, superior ones." Jo stood up and pretended to bow throwing her arms out in exaggeration behind her. "For I just told the fair young maiden the truth of our gallant Danny and his mighty sword."
Luckily, Jo had got the best of Whitney with her teasing of Danny. They all began to ignore her and Danny. They opted for eating instead of teasing. Danny almost choked on his sandwich when Lacey stood up to pull of her shirt and shorts. It wasn't a turquoise suit but it was a choral colored halter bikini. Danny decided his dreams would now consist of that bathing suit. Because Lacey's body in that bikini surpassed his dreams. Soon the boys were putting suntan oil or sunscreen on the girls. Isaac was definitely putting sunscreen on Lacey different than Danny did Jo. He was enjoying touching her skin.
"I want to go. You can catch a ride with Andie and Rico." Danny whispered to Jo. He was having the familiar craving of the drugs but he was getting angry at the scene before him much more. He figured he'd better go before he made a fool of himself. "I think I ate something and it didn't set right with my stomach."
"What makes you think that I don't know that you're wanting to go snort ?" Jo questioned with a roll of her eyes. "I know you, Danny. Better than anyone here." She glanced at Lacey then back to Danny. "Remember that."
"Oh you know me so well. Well, then you must know that I'm ready to pull Isaac's freakin' hand off from his wrist." Danny clinched his fist tight.
"Well, isn't that great. You're with your girlfriend but want Lacey. How very Danny Desai always wanting what he can't have. I'm not going anywhere yet and you're not either. Face reality and chill. Lacey seems to be enjoying it."
"But she's letting him touch her." Danny moaned not caring Jo was obviously getting jealous. He was in dangerous territory with her but he was getting agitated with the lack of drug in his system. Therefore, he was ready to hit something preferably Isaac Perry.
"She let you touch her too." Jo rolled her eyes. "A lot more than that. Your touching would be illegal on a public beach. And you don't see me getting ready to tear into her knowing you're jealous of her new boy."
Tyler Lewis walked up placing a large cooler down in front of him. He started mingling with the crowd of teens. He had his own posse with him as well.
"Hey, stepbro." Whitney leaned over. She whispered for Jo and Danny to hear but made sure no one else could. "Isn't that your new supplier?"