Chapter 1: Reunited and it Feels so- Wait What?
Danny couldn't believe his name was being cleared for the murder of Regina Crane. For months the town, heck even his own mom pinned Danny as the culprit and considering his murderous past and the fact that Regina was spontaneously found dead the day after Danny had returned home from juvie, he could not deny how guilty he must have looked. But there was new evidence, and the murder weapon did not contain Danny's DNA but someone's with similar genetic makeup. Anyway, this murder and all things pertaining to it were no long a concern of his and for that, Danny was relieved.
Finally he would be able to return to school, hopefully without the sociopath label. Danny had been expelled for allegedly poisoning Cole, a former soccer teammate and a friend of his, but it was anonymously brought to the attention of the school board that Danny did not poison Cole and after subsequent investigation, the school board decided to renounce his expulsion.
Danny knew that Cole would believe him about Archie being the one who had poisoned him, but he never expected Cole to defy his soccer captain by turning him in to the principal. It warmed his heart to know how good of a friend Cole was to him. Even when the rest of the team thought Danny was a complete psychopath, Cole had been nothing but kind to him.
Danny had been walking at a strenuous pace until he was near the entrance of Green Grove High School. He shifted nervously. He was pleased with himself for having gotten Lacey off of his mind for as long as he had. Twenty? Thirty minutes? That must be a personal record.
The past two months had been eventful and stressful to say the least, but Danny never ceased to envision Lacey's flawless auburn skin, her silky black hair, beautiful brown eyes and her model-like figure.
How he longed to hold her in his arms. He missed everything about her. The way she was able to read him when tried to deflect his emotions with the humor and charm. She never bought it. He missed the way she completely melted in his arms when he'd kiss her lips. For so long Lacey had tried to deny her feelings for him and he briefly did the same, but there was no denying the magnetic force that drew them to each other. It had been there since they were too young recognize the powerful bond they shared.
Their last interaction was disheartening. Danny replays the memory in his head.
"I wish you never came back here. I wish I never knew you."
He knew that in saying this Lacey was only trying to win back her narrow-minded friends, but for some reason he found her words to be sincere. Could she actually feel this way about him? That was the question Danny battled with everyday since he fled town and even since he has made his return. Lacey had called him a few times since then but Danny couldn't bear to answer. Not because he was angry, but because he was hurt, and afraid of what she would say to him. Thinking back, he did resent himself being so stupid, it was a jerk move not to respond to any of her calls. Still, Danny was hopeful that the two of them could talk things through. He thought about Jo too. She had also given Danny the cold shoulder. Danny knew there was not much he could do to mend his friendship with Jo without denying his feelings for Lacey. In the excitement of his returning, Danny had forgotten how complicated his life was.
He took a deep breath as he made his way down the hall. People were still whispering as he walked by just like they did w hen he returned from juvie. Danny hesitated, debating whose locker he would attend first. He looked at one end of hall where Jo was retrieving books for her next class, then at the other end of the hallway where Lacey was puckering her lips to apply lip gloss. Danny walked slowly towards her, anticipating their reunion with ever step. Lacey looked beautiful to him, as she always did. She wore a sleek black blazer with beige blouse. Her skirt was short but she wore stockings beneath, and her long black boots reached just above her knees. As he inched his way near her Lacey, Danny's stomach churned, his heart leaped, his mind raced. How would she receive him? Just as he approached her, Lacey turned the opposite direction where she was embraced by an unfamiliar male presence. Danny stopped. The guy held Lacey's waist and he was saying something to her, which Danny couldn't decipher. He was too embarrassed and disappointed.
Danny stumbled off, bumping slightly into a locker as he fled before being noticed.