"Don't be afraid of your fears. They're not there to scare you. They're there to let you know that something is worth it."
―C. JoyBell C.
Danny and Lacey had managed to remain on the friend level for quite a few weeks. It wasn't that difficult spending time with her and her new friends, who were also becoming Danny's friends quickly.
Jo and Whitney weren't in their lives much at all. Even the dinner time that Danny and Whitney shared with their parents, the teens rarely spoke. Karen didn't notice as she was in her honey moon phase with Jack. He was making sure to keep her mind occupied with their new marriage. Besides, Jack's plan was working as Danny spent more and more time with Jack sailing and bonding. At least, Danny and Karen thought they were bonding. Jack had other plans that were coming together very nicely.
Rumor around Green Grove High School was that Jo and Whitney were in a relationship. It was true. Jo had went from worshipping and desiring Danny to making Whitney her all. Whitney was using Jo's feelings for later plans by her father just in case the one plan failed as other plans had before.
Tess Masteron and Danny were the only ones of the Mastersons and Desias that still remained in contact. That was mostly due to both visiting Charlie at the mental ward. Charlie was thriving and had addressed many issues. He and Danny had even began to bond as brothers. Jo stayed away as it was too much for her to take in.
Danny enjoyed most of his days with Lacey always around in the FRIEND capacity. However, when the school had a fund raising dance, things kind of came to light. Especially when Lacey accepted a date with Isaac Perry. Isaac and Lacey were going as friends due to Isaac dating Summer. Isaac's girlfriend was away with a church mission. However, Summer was fine with Isaac taking Lacey as a date. After all, Lacey was in love with the gorgeous Danny Desai. Calling themselves friends was almost comical to all those around them. However, Lacey was sticking to her new found relationship with Christ as well as trying her best to keep Danny friendzoned for the time being.
"Well, what do you think?" Lacey twirled around showing off her dress for the traditional Cheer Fund dance.
She pressed down the red silk material nervously awaiting Danny's critique of her attire. She then twisted the black satin bow that tied tightly around her waist.
Danny blew out air. "Pretty." He then laid his head on his forearms. "I thought you were friends with Isaac. Isn't he dating that Summer girl?"
"Yes. On both counts." Lacey grinned as she watched Danny's face tint a slight redder hue on his bronzed skin. She knew the signs of him being jealous. That was one of them. "But we are still great friends. I'm not dating anyone and Summer is gone on a mission trip so we thought we'd go as friends."
"Well, I'm not dating anyone either. Yet, you didn't ask me to go." Danny pouted as he twisted his hair up in his patented bun. "And I kind of asked you."
"I knew you were hinting at a date." Lacey walked away towards her bathroom. She shut the door and mumbled behind it. "That is precisely why I asked Isaac."
"Thanks. Way to make me feel rejected." Danny groaned as he continued to lay his head on the back of the computer chair he was straddling.
Lacey came out of the bathroom wearing a pair of gray sweat pants and a green Green Grove High t-shirt. "It's not that and you know it. We can't go to a dance as friends."
"Why not?" Danny shook his head as he watched Lacey hang her dress in the closet. "We're sitting here talking as friends."
"We just can't. You know why." It was Lacey's turn for her face to flush hot. It wasn't jealousy like Danny's earlier hot faced reaction.
"NO. I don't. Why don't you explain?" Danny rolled back in the chair slightly before pushing it forward again.
Lacey blew a wisp of hair from her face. "Because..well..it will be romantic music and dark lighting. Stuff like that."
"Oh. So you're saying at that dance, there will be temptation." Danny rolled his eyes at his FRIEND.
"Precisely. We can't act like friends there." Lacey finished hanging up her dress and turned to look at Danny. "I mean that we can't be like friends there."
"Really?" Danny stood up and pushed the chair across the room. "That is so stupid."
"What?" Lacey placed her hands on her hips in confusion. She thought it was self-explanatory .
Danny grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her towards her bed. Lacey pulled her hands back when Danny pushed her body on the bed.
Lacey frowned before biting her lip. She then raised an eyebrow as she asked. "What the heck, Danny?"
Danny never answered her as he pushed Lacey's body against the bed. His body immediately was on top of her body.
"Danny?" Lacey's eyes widened at the feeling of Danny's lean, muscular body being on top of hers.
Danny never answered her. Silence filled the room as their eyes became fixed on each other. Then Danny leaned in and allowed his lips to be centimeters from Lacey's. His breath heated her lips as he breathed rapidly in and out.
Both teens remained still as their breaths mingled together. Then Lacey leaned up closing the space between them. Their lips moved together slowly enjoying the feeling of touching again in a kiss. Then Danny slowly pushed his tongue against Lacey's lips. She opened her lips slowly allowing his tongue access to the inside of her mouth.
Lacey moaned as the joy and excitement of kissing Danny again taunted her with temptation. The twirling of Lacey's tongue on the roof of Danny's mouth made him pull back from the kiss.
Panting against one another, the teens again became still. Danny's forehead touched Lacey's forehead.
Finally the silence was broken by Danny's words. "Lace, it doesn't take a romantic dance to make me want you. The temptation is always there. I will never be completely satisfied as your friend. But I am trying so hard to be a friend. Shutting me out because of fear isn't doing anything to squelch how much I love you or how much I want you."
Falling in love had come easy for Danny Desai when it came to Lacey Porter. It was odd when looking back at his life as a child. After all, he was never really shown what love was. The only time that "I love you" was told to him in the past was when his dad wanted to manipulate him. His mother had tried since his return but it was still difficult having the real mother/son relationship both desired. But now, Danny was experiencing real love. He had with Lacey before but he was too young to realize what was happening. Now, that Lacey was on his side, love was felt deeper.
Watching Lacey dance with Adam and Isaac wasn't on Danny's agenda for the evening. The old manipulative him had decided to show her how it felt to throw another person in the face of the one you love. The ever so curvaceous blonde known as Candy Bellows fit the bill. Every male at Green Grove High agreed that Candy's name fit her well. She was very SWEET to look at. Not to mention, she was considered to be a treat to any good looking male. Easy should have been her middle name. She made Regina Crane look like a saint.
Eager to please was something that Candy wanted to do to Danny Desai. She was clinging to him like a horsefly on an old mare. It wasn't a surprise to Danny that Karen almost had a coronary when Candy showed up to pick him up at Blake's house. Danny decided Candy showing up in her own car was better. After all, she could go home or stay at the dance without him feeling obligated to her. She was known to drop one date for another at dances.
Not only did she show up in an expensive Corvette that screamed spoilt rich girl, she also had a dress on that left nothing to the imagination. Not that Candy planned on having Danny imagine too long.
Blake Simms frowned as he greeted Candy. He tried to hide his discomfort but failed miserable. Miriam rolled her eyes as she gave Danny a reprimanding look. She was there to be picked up as well. Cole,who was there to pick up Mariam for the dance, looked at his soccer friend with a smirk. Anna Perry felt the sudden need to grab her Bible up but refrained. Matthew…well Matthew, who seemed to still be going through his first bought of puberty…he kept staring at the low dipping part of the dress that showed off cleavage to belly button.
Danny ignored his half dressed date. Candy didn't exactly impress him. Besides, he figured girls like Candy were a dime a dozen. Lacey was the rare treasure.
The Perrys would be saying extra prayers tonight that the teen boy would not be enjoying what his date had obviously in mind.
When they got to the dance, Lacey noticed immediately that Candy was clinging to Danny. She had to get out of there so she went to the bathroom and blockaded herself in a stall. Lacey was afraid her old self would completely attack Danny for his choice in a date.
Miriam was the one to the rescue. "Lacey Porter, come out of there." Miriam shook her head as she imagined Lacey was in the stall steaming mad. "Danny is trying to make you jealous."
"It's working." Lacey stated angrily from behind the door. "She's the head cheerleader. She's dated half of Green Grove High. She's every guys dream."
"Honey, those kinds of dreams are not the kind of dreams we can share in …well anytime or anywhere. Porn is a sin." Miriam fixed her earrings as she studied herself in a mirror.
A slight giggle came from the stall Lacey was in. Finally, she opened the stall and walked out. "I look like Shirley Temple while she looks like…"
"Girls Gone Wild girl #13 or a Jersey Shore want to be. Not sure which fits her best." Miriam turned to lean backwards on the sink counter. She placed her hands in behind her. "Seriously, Lacey. Danny isn't going to do anything with her. He's already bored stiff because he wanted to see you. You came in here before he spotted you. He's acting like a lost puppy."
"Really?" Lacey grinned as she came up to the mirror and studied over her makeup. Her dimple displayed on her cheek as she felt victory knowing Danny was miserable. Served the boy right.
"What are you two doing?" Miriam glanced sideways at Lacey.
"What are you talking about?" Lacey sighed as she too leaned in the same position as Miriam.
"You're both in love. Yes, Danny messed up bad. REAL BAD!" Miriam added with an exaggerated pronunciation. "But you stuck by him despite that. Besides, he is really dedicated to you now. No drugs. No Jo Masterson."
"Coming to this dance with Candy proves his dedication how?" Lacey sighed out as she twisted her finger in a lock of her hair.
"She asked him. He said yes." Miriam stated. "Any other girl was too nervous to ask Danny out. Even if Danny is known to be a mental case at this high.."
"Danny is known to be a mental case at Green Grove High?" Lacey's eyes moistened with pity for Danny. "I thought that was over with."
"Don't feel sorry for him. Let me finish. Even though Danny is known to be a mental case…and yes he is known for that…the females still would slit their wrists to be with him." Miriam frowned. "Oh. Sorry. Bad choice of words. Okay, every girl in this kingdom would give Danny the key to their chastity belts. You know if those were still around."
Lacey rolled her eyes but couldn't help but to laugh at Miriam's assessment of Danny. "I guess. Shoot even I want him. But, you know..gotta wait."
Miriam shook her head. "What I was trying to say is you two need to just get back together. Quit playing like you are friends. Besides, it doesn't mean you and him have to start strong like before. That is the beauty of it. You can go slow and experience the world as a couple with God now. Danny is new to this believing stuff. And I can tell you the boy is starting to think about this God thing by what I've seen. You can help him along with the whole living for God and being changed thing. Life has a lot of changes, Lacey. Danny is a perfect example of change. However, the feelings you and Danny have for each other haven't changed. Don't let some girl like Candy show Danny he is wanted. Show Danny you want him but you won't sacrifice yourself to have him." Miriam smiled broadly. "Besides, I happen to love my best friend very much. I want to see her happy. And Danny is kind of like a cousin now. I love him too. I want to see that boy happy more than anyone."
"So this is more about Danny than me." Lacey arched her eyebrow as she glanced over at Miriam.
"Most certainly." Miriam laughed as she nodded towards the door. "Now let's go enjoy this social gathering of our peers."
The little talk from Miriam did the trick. Lacey was out on the dance floor with Isaac enjoying herself. She decided that after the dance, she would head to Blake's house. She was invited by Miriam so it would work. Cole was invited as well. The dance only lasted until 9 pm. It was a weekend so everyone's curfew was at midnight. That gave them at least two hours to spend time together.
Unusual being Danny Desai, Candy was pawing all over him. Unusual for a teen boy, he was pushing her hands away.
"What's wrong?" Candy bit Danny's earlobe. "I know you've been around the block a time or two with Lacey. I just want to enjoy the ride like she has."
"No offense, Candy." Danny eyed her up and down before adding. "You're hot. I'd do you in a heartbeat if things were different."
"What's different?" Candy leaned back as she stared at Danny "You're not dating Lacey now. So that isn't it."
"I've changed." Danny's face tightened as he thought of his words. "I'm dedicated to Lacey. I always have been. Things are different for us in that way but that doesn't make my commitment to her less."
"Oh." Candy frowned slightly. "Wow. I guess I can appreciate that. But I don't think having sex is a sin. I think it is fun."
"I think it is fun too." Danny winked. "A lot of fun. But I want to be different. I want to be a person who Lacey wants me to be. Besides.." Danny glanced up at Lacey, who was now dancing with Adam.
"You're in love." Candy laughed before brushing her hand through her long blonde tresses. "She is the girl I can see taming you."
"I've already been tamed, Candy. But Lacey definitely can help me stay that way." Danny stuck out his hand to Candy. "Do you want to dance?"
"That would be nice." Candy placed her hand in Danny's.
The dance ended with Lacey and Danny having fun with their own dates. They concentrated on their friendship and let the jealousy go to do so. Candy ended up being fun for Lacey and Miriam to talk to. They felt guilty for judging the girl due to the rumors of her even if they were true. Candy was still a teenager with feelings. Lacey and Miriam both noted to do better with not judging.
Jo and Whitney came to the dance together. Jo actually seemed happy, which made Danny and Lacey both happy for her. Jo always wanted to be the center of attention. It seemed Whitney was giving her that. Rico still had feelings for Jo but he ignored the nagging hurt due to having Andi there for him. There was a false sense of security at the dance as the teens acted like teens for once in a long time.