"I have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which I sometimes so madly indulge. It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that I have periled life and reputation and reason. It has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories, from a sense of insupportable loneliness and a dread of some strange impending doom."

―Edgar Allan Poe

For Lacey, the rest of youth camp was spent having fun as well as getting closer to God. Lacey, Miriam, and Summer bonded more than expected. Isaac and Summer became an item over the few days at camp. Lacey was very touched by Adam's testimony. She couldn't hold back the tears as Miriam and other's warned her when ti came to how passionate Adam was with what he deemed his calling for Christ. That testimony or message made her have hope for Danny. She refused to give up on him. She did just as she said, she prayed for him and herself.

Back in Green Grove, Danny had tried but found himself still taking in the drug each night. He realized his problem but had no clue what do about it. Calling Lacey each night kept drugs at bay until he lay in bed after a nightmare of Tara or his dad. Sometimes both. Jo wasn't helping as she continued to bring Danny the drugs just to be around him. Their relationship was no longer boyfriend and girlfriend. It never really was. However, now it was more like a druggie and his pusher. The friendship once held to be so important to Danny and Jo was no longer there. It was strained and far from healthy.

It was Grandmother Lois who told Karen on her arrival back from her honeymoon the truth of the matter.

"Thanks for staying over, Mom." Karen said as she kissed her mother's cheek.

"It was my pleasure." Lois watched as her new son in law placed her luggage in the car. "By the way, Dear." Lois pushed a strand of hair behind Karen's ear. "Danny is in love with that Lacey girl. They have sex in your home. I wasn't sure your rules on that so I let it be. Things were definitely different in my time. He's dating Jo Masterson but is starting to despise her. I have no clue what the girl is holding over his head to make him stay with her. Unless my suspicions of him doing drugs is right. He's got real problems. And don't trust that new step daughter of yours. She is a sneaky one." Lois drew in a ragged breath. "Talk to him. He needs his mother."

With those words, Lois walked away leaving Karen completely befuddled. Maybe her mother was losing her mind. Karen didn't want to come home from two weeks of bliss in Italy to confront Danny about her mother's senile rantings. So she would let it go only to observe her son just in case. The Whitney remark threw Karen as she really had grown fond of the girl.

Lacey and Danny never got to see each other when she returned from youth camp. Her mother whisked her and Clara away to some youth rallies that Blake requested they attend. Clara and Lacey enjoyed the time with their mother. It was bonding similar to how things were before their dad left Green Grove. Lacey did call Danny every other night when time allotted. They were still unsure what they meant to one another or what to do with Jo still clinging to Danny. The uncertainty of Jo's threats of blackmail also lingered in the air.

Lacey leaned up against the school locker assigned to her. She watched anxiously down the hall for any sign of Danny. She had no idea how to act around him. She and he shared a secret relationship of many a midnight rendezvous in the past before Vikram's death. They'd rarely have chit chat after or during those times. But after youth camp, Lacey knew it was time to work on how she wanted her life to go. She hadn't seen Danny but a weekend during Spring Break. She had texted him but soon discovered that he was spending more time with Jo. Not because he wanted to but Jo had him convinced he needed the drugs thus he needed her to get those drugs. Lacey had heard via Whitney that Danny was always high when she was gone. Lacey hated not spending time with him to help him. But Lacey was biding her time praying that someday the Danny Desai she loved would be the one that showed up in her life again.

Lacey had glanced up and down the halls at Green Grove High School hoping to see Danny before he went to class. They were in a new class that was a sophomore requirement. It was Art Appreciation course. She heard that Danny, Jo, Sarita, Rico, Miriam and Matthew were all going to be in the class. It was kind of exciting to have a course full of people she knew.

Lacey and Miriam went to first period. It was the ditzy Ms. Colbert. She was so rattle brained that she'd not notice in three weeks who wasn't in her class. Lacey spotted Danny. He glanced up at her. Then back down just as quickly. Jo was giving him an evil glare for even looking Lacey's way. Jo saw Tyler by the doorway and stood up to speak to him before the bell rang.

"That wasn't obvious at all." Miriam noted sarcastically about the jealous look Jo gave Lacey. "I can't get over every inch of skin."

"Shut up." Lacey giggled. "Remind me next time not to give details."

"Yeah right. Next time I want Polaroid's." Miriam teased. Lacey had found out that Miriam was actually strict with her beliefs but very fun to be around as a friend. She was similar to how she thought Phoebe may be without the over dramatics. Summer was very similar to Regina in personality sans the wild side.

Lacey sat down in the back of the class next to Danny's desk. Matthew and Miriam sat beside of Lacey. Danny looked slightly thinner and paler than when she left for youth camp.

Seniors got last row seating but the few that were there had opted to be in their own crowd in the corner of the room. It seemed students were back to migrating away from Danny. The class was a mixed class of sophomores and seniors, who hadn't taken the course yet but needed it to graduate. It was one of the arts classes required. Art Appreciation held very little interest to even Lacey, an art lover. It consisted of slides and notes. Most students either took it to get it out of the way Sophomore year. Or procrastinated until the last year of high school.

Danny leaned his head on his arms. He glanced up through the crack between his arm and the desk. Was he supposed to talk to her? He wasn't sure. He'd not want to embarrass her in front of her new friends. He was half strung out. Danny knew that wasn't something Lacey needed to see.

Lacey slid a pencil between her lips biting down on it. Did he want something? He kept staring. Maybe she should say something.

Before Lacey could speak. Jo made her way to the back of the room.

"Hey, Desai." She sat beside of Danny. "Here."

Danny took the black notebook. He opened it then closed it quickly. But not before Lacey and Miriam saw the pills stuck in the sleeve pocket of the notebook. Danny slid Jo an envelope. Money they presumed. He didn't need it anyway. He had plenty money. What Danny didn't have was relief from life.

"You better have paid extra this time. Tyler is getting a little worried about this." Jo tapped her foot to the music coming from her I-pod hidden under her hair.

"I need more than this." Danny whispered.

"NO. You're going to kill yourself." Jo gritted between clinched teeth.

"I thought that was what these were for so I wouldn't kill myself." Danny frowned. He turned to see if Lacey was looking.

Lacey and Miriam pretended to talk about youth camp. Neither wanted Danny to know they heard the conversation with Jo.

"I want to clean up my act." Jo leaned on her book. "I'm too intelligent for this. Rico was right ."

"Fine. Hook me up with someone else. I don't need you." Danny stuffed the notebook in his book bag. "And quit going to Rico with my business. He ratted my mom out over the necklace. He'll rat me out too."

"You're such a moron sometimes, Danny." Jo stood up and marched out of class.

"Come on." Lacey grabbed Miriam's hand.

Miriam followed without question until they got outside the classroom. "What are we doing? You think you can save the guy from himself. I saw it in your eyes this morning. You want to make the boy whole again."

"Jo is his supplier. Let's nip that in the bud." Lacey pulled Miriam along the hallway following after Jo. "I need you to be a witness. Jo can stretch the truth to fit her desires."

They watched as Jo disappeared into the girls' bathroom. Lacey followed her ready to give her a stern warning about Danny. However, what they found made her change their mind.

Jo was sitting against the concrete wall holding her knees under her chin. Her mascara was streaming down her face as she cried.

"Jo?" Lacey bent down beside her. "Are you okay?"

Jo glanced up at Lacey then to Miriam. She patted the tile bathroom floor beside her. "IF you don't think you're too good to sit on the dirty floor."

Lacey crawled to lean against the wall beside of Jo. Miriam grimaced. However, she did manage to sit on the other side of Jo.

"I know you saw me give him that stuff." Jo leaned her head back against the wall. She never bothered to dry her tears.

"Why?" Lacey leaned her elbows on her knees. "You're ruining him, Jo. I'm not going to allow that any more. Do you understand?"

"When I first started this. I didn't know it would go this far. I was doing it for him."

"For Danny?" Lacey interrupted. She shook her head. "Quit trying to make yourself look good, Jo. You were doing it for you."

"No." Jo tried to defend herself. "I was helping Danny."

"How can you say you were doing it for Danny? How can you say you were helping him? You're supplying him with drugs." Lacey was disgusted. She was going to listen to Jo thinking she would apologize for her actions. However, once again, Jo Masterson had to make herself look like the victim.

"He tried to take his life while you were away." Jo watched as Lacey's and Miriam's faces grew serious with concern. "The day after you left."

She then continued recanting the story to Lacey.

"Danny, Danny? Any one home?" Jo glanced around the empty kitchen. That was strange. The Porsche was parked in the driveway. Jo didn't find Danny home so she made her way to the old fort. They hadn't been there for months but she hoped he was there.

Jo made her way into the fort."Danny"

Jo couldn't believe the sight in front of her. Danny Desai was holding one of his arms. She'd never seen Danny cry before. But the strong boy was sobbing. Danny was covered in blood. Jo had never seen so much blood. The smell that filled the air stung her nostrils. Jo had never experienced it before. But for someone that witnesses it. It was obvious. It wasn't like when Tara was dead where there was no blood. The copper aroma filled the fort. Jo slowly made her way to Danny. Shock of the situation made her legs too heavy to lift.

Jo stared at Danny. "What did you do, Danny?"

"I tried for Lacey. I tried to give the feeling of the drugs. My body hurts. My head hurts. But mostly.." Danny closed his eyes. "My heart hurts without Lacey. As long as I'm hooked, I can never be worthy of her again. Never."

It was Danny's grandmother that had followed Jo to the fort and saved the day. She had someone come to the house to take care of Danny. It was as if Lois knew that if Danny were caught with drugs in his system, he'd go to prison. Therefore, Lois contacted a friend who stitched Danny up. Fortunately, Danny hadn't lost a lot of blood because he didn't cut deep enough due to being high on the drugs. Nor did he cut a vein or artery. His grogginess due to being high had actually deterred him from doing any real damage to himself.

Lacey was crying with Jo now. Mariam soon followed.

Lacey swallowed as her sadness turned to anger. "What does this have to do with Danny being on drugs and you keep supplying him.?"

"He hates the nightmares. I wanted to help." Jo pushed back her hair from her face. "If he is on the drugs, he doesn't have the nightmares. He doesn't want to die."

"We got to get him off those things. " Lana closed her eyes as she pushed off the wall. She then stood up. "You're going to stay away from him."

Jo stood up as she wiped away some stray tears. Miriam sat still on the floor watching. Jo stared at Lacey defiantly. "Excuse me?"

"YOU are not allowed in Danny's life anymore." Lacey stepped up to Jo. "Do you get that?"

"You can't tell me what to do!" Jo screamed back at Lacey. "Danny loves me! He's mine!"

"No. He's no one's!" Lacey squeezed her fists together as she stepped closer to Jo. "Danny isn't a piece of property, Jo. He's a boy, who needs help. You're making it worse. I know it is his fault he's on these pills. But you're only enabling. It stops today. YOU WILL NOT BE APART OF HIS LIFE ANY MORE! Do I make myself clear?"

Jo fidgeted with her hair. "You can't boss me around especially where Danny is concerned!"

"I just did." Lacey crossed her arms trying desperately not to hit Jo. "I want so bad to slap some of that self centered entitlement out of you. But I'm a better person than that. Instead, I am telling you to stay out of Danny's life."

"Is that a warning?" Jo arrogantly snarled at Lacey.

"No. Jo, that is a promise." Lacey stepped back still fighting the urge to knock the smug look of Jo's face.

"And what can you do if I don't listen? Are you going to beat me up?" Jo felt a little nervous with Lacey towering over her.

"What?" Lacey looked at Jo shocked at her audacity. "I have more class than that. But I will tell you what I will do. Do you know why Eloise and Doug weren't prosecuted and only had to leave school for child porn?" Jo and Miriam both looked at Lacey questioningly. "Because I begged mom to let it go for me. Their expulsion was enough. I was starting a new life and didn't want it brought back up. Doug and Eloise lost their standing in school and scholarships. I felt that was a lesson learned for them. But you know what, I'd be willing to go through all that shame to sue Green Grove Police Department due to not prosecuting. The Chief of Police knew and did nothing about it. And IF you try to make Danny go down for drug use, because I know that isn't beyond you, I'll make sure that you go down for supplying those drugs. Wouldn't your dad love to find out that his daughter snuck into police files to get drug dealers names? He'd lose his job and standing in the community. You'd probably not care being the narcissist that you are but that would make you look bad too. You're dad can't protect you and I'll make sure of it. Miriam and I both saw you give Danny the drugs. You, Tyler, and your dad will all go down if Danny does. Your family will go down if you don't stay away from Danny. Like I said, that isn't a warning, Jo. That is a promise."

Jo's eyes widened. "Seriously! What about Whitney? She is just as bad to get the drugs for Danny."

"Don't worry about Danny or Whitney, Jo." Lacey breathed out. "You are no longer a concern to Danny or a part of his life. Consider yourself a non factor."

Miram stood up and dusted off her jeans. "I think that means you can leave now, Jo." Jo scurried away like a frightened pup. Miriam glanced at Lacey. "What now?"

Lacey shrugged. "We need to form a plan."

Miriam pulled out a notepad and pencil from her purse. Lacey looked at her and shook her head.

"What? Organization is the key to success." Miriam stated with sincerity.

"Fine. Step One in the detoxification of Danny Desai. Get rid of supplier. We did that." Lacey sighed.

She was going to save her lover. Yes. Lover because whether Danny knew it or not. She loved him and he loved her. The girls made it back to class. Jo was sitting up front with Rico. Lacey had definitely struck a nerve in Jo. Danny's head was lying on his desk.

The lights went out. Mrs. Colbert began pointing at slides. "This is Dali's Persistence of Memories…." Her voice began as the class took notes on each of the many slides she would show.

Lacey glanced to Miriam. She'd get her notes later. Now Danny was her main concern.

"I missed you." Lacey leaned and whispered in Danny's ear.

"Huh?"Danny turned his head sideways to look at Lacey. "I thought you'd be over me, Lace. I was sure that you realized what I was. You need better."

"Honestly, I did find better." Lacey smiled sweetly as she placed her own head on her desk. She slyly moved her desk closer to Danny's. "I found the best."

"Oh. Who?" Danny figured Lacey would find someone quickly. That must have been who she was spending the last two weeks with instead of him.

"You." Lacey winked.

"Lace." Danny could feel his breath catch in his throat.

"I wish you would kiss me." Lacey admitted. Good thing the lights were out.

"You miss our nights." Danny took his hand along Lacey's arm.

"Sure. But I miss kisses like when we got a flat tire more. I like the Danny without the drugs." Lacey inched closer until her nose was almost touching Danny's. "Can that guy kiss me?"

"Now?" Danny bit his bottom lip.

"Please." Lacey was only centimeters away from Danny's mouth.

Danny glanced around the room. Everyone was taking notes or sleeping. Therefore, he leaned in. He kissed Lacey sweetly. Just long enough to touch her lips with his own. Their noses bumped sweetly together. Then they rested their foreheads on one another's.

"Are we a couple?" Lacey giggled as she whispered. She knew without any doubt that Danny needed to feel wanted by her. She was doing just that.

"We can't tell anyone." Danny warned her. "Jo will .."

"Jo is a nonfactor, Danny." Lacey pushed Danny's hair back from his face. "Trust me."

"Really?" Danny glanced up to see Jo sitting up front. He frowned. "But Jo…"

"I don't care about Jo. I just care about you." Lacey stared into Danny's eyes. It was dark but she could still see his orbs flickering.

Danny wondered if the drugs were affecting his mind. Surely, this was a dream. Reality for him was never this good lately. Then the lights turned on. Danny jerked up to stare at Lacey. Dream over?

"Thanks for the kiss." Lacey mouthed.

It wasn't a dream. It was real. Danny wanted so much to grab her and carry her out of there. He wanted to hear her say she wanted to kiss him again.

His thoughts were interrupted by Ms. Colbert's voice. "I have to admit that I was disappointed in the first essays for this class. You remember the ones that you had to email me over Spring Break for your first grade." Ms. Colbert walked around the room passing out essays. "Let me remind the students of the assignment. You were to write an essay describing an art piece that meant something very personal to you. Most of the essays were put together with little thought. Even if well written, Ms. Masterson ."

Jo rolled her eyes when the essay was placed on her desk. She stuffed the essay into her book bag.

Ms. Colbert continued. "Some sophomores really worked hard on these. It was obvious the seniors are just wanting a grade. But none seemed to get what art appreciation was about. However, Ms. Porter did. Her essay on Cassatt's Mother and Child was very well thought out. Congratulations, Ms. Porter. The only A. However…." Ms. Colbert walked to the head of the class holding only one paper in her hand. "This essay deserves to be shared as this student seems to have completely forgotten the instructions of my assignment."

Danny sunk down in his seat. His essay was the only one not handed back. He silently wished . Please No…don't read it out loud.

Ms. Colbert cleared her throat. She began to read the essay to the class.

Upon my extensive research trying to find an artwork that truly grabs my attention or speaks to me personally, I failed. Perhaps it was due to seeing a masterpiece beyond any that could hang on a wall in a museum. The beauty of Michelangelo's David pales in comparison to that which I admire.

Once I was a happy son. Once a smiling child. However, most can say that has changed. I feel numb to the world around me. Art is an experience I don't dive into on a regular basis. However, when thinking of this assignment. When pouring through the internet sites to find a work that stood out , I found myself drawn to a more beautiful art. The art of real life. Thus, I describe.

Her Raven Hair in My Face. That sounds simple enough for a title of the art I speak of. However, this art is anything but simple.

That vista is beyond the most breathtaking of all sights to me. As her body moves with my hands pushing and pulling at her hips, I see through her dark chocolate tendrils the dark brown slither of her eyes. The same eyes that can pierce my soul with a simple glance.

Through the dark raven tresses, her pouting lips are formed into a perfect shape of ecstasy. The lips that form my name in a whisper entrance me.

The drugs that course through my veins are no match for the beauty that straddles my nude form. The drugs only serve as a means to get me to her. When on the drug, I momentarily feel worthy of her existence in my life. For she is my real addiction. She is my real drug.

Her tongue juts out to wet her perfect lips swollen from my ferocious kisses. Her skin moistens with sweat as I continue to move her beautiful body against mine. I perspire as well. With each droplet of sweat, the drug is fading from my system. Yet she is becoming more ingrained.

I look through her strands of hair that fall against my face tingling my senses with the smell of strawberries and cream. The same strands allowing me only a peek at the pure beauty of her face.

My eyes trail down to her shoulders. Her raven locks cling to her skin. I follow the sticky mane to her arms thus leading to her hands. Her fingers touch my chest as she pushes against me. She tries to dig her fingernails into me. She doesn't even realize she does this. But the intensity of our movements cause her to react this way.

I close my eyes momentarily. The sight of her sometimes is too intense. But I can't will myself not to look. Her beauty is too profound that I must gaze for I know this moment in time is fleeting. My eyes absorb her as she arches her body into mine. This causes her breasts to heave towards me. The same skin that I tasted only moments earlier now have small discolorations due to my zealousness. Knowing that I made the marks on her skin only adds to my adoration of the vision that I observe.

I concentrate on taking in every inch of her being . The same with the memories of tasting her skin,the canvas on which I admire. For I know that someday I will not be afforded the luxury of this rare and priceless art piece. Therefore, I etch her in my mind.

I wonder if she realizes that she is too good for me. Too perfect for the creature that lays beneath her. The creature that is joined with her as one. Feeling what is most human. Love. That is the art of reality.

Mrs. Colbert arched her eyebrow as she finished. She walked up to Danny and placed his essay on his desk. "Embarrass me, Mr. Desai. And I shall embarrass you. This is not creative writing class. This is Art Appreciation. Although I can see your appreciation for your girlfriend, I personally would rather not think about one of my students and that appreciation. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Danny sunk down into his seat farther.

One girl glanced at Lacey. "D*#n! Hot."

Miriam shook her head in agreement mouthing her own words to Lacey only with a tease. "Lucky girl."

The boys began to laugh. The girls began to fan their faces. The bell rung saving Danny and Lacey from any further embarrassment. He didn't know what possessed him to even write such a thing. Then Lacey turned to him as the class cleared.

"I love you, too."

Then Danny remembered.