Lacey smiled in the company of her - she didn't know what to call him - a friend? Or was he something more? Lacey still couldn't decide. All she knew was that he'd asked her to accompany him at the Homecoming dance and she'd accepted his offer. Things were simple, light, fun; she didn't want to put a label on it just yet. Besides, there was something, Lacey couldn't determine what, that kept her from wanting to enter into any relationship since her boyfriend history consisted mostly of liars and raging jerks.

Lacey heard footsteps behind her and felt the presence of someone who seemed to be begging for her attention, but she turned around to see no one.

She shrugged and turned back to face her male counterpart.

"So I got my dress yesterday," she smiled.

"Really?" I can't wait to see you in it," he flirted, pulling her closer to him.

Lacey, suddenly aware of their near public display of affection, pulled herself from his grasp.

"Okay Justin, I've got to get to class."

He sighed playfully, "Can I get a kiss before you go?"

Lacey leaned in, their lips nearly met, but instead she offered her cheek. Justin tried unsuccessfully to hide his disappointed which caused Lacey to smile.

"Save that for Homecoming." With that, she walked off, headed for class with the hugest grin on her face as she passed the "Vote Lacey Porter Homecoming Queen" posters that decorated the walls. She couldn't believe that just two months ago she ostracized for her hook up with Danny. Danny, she thought. Lacey heard that the school board let him back in. She didn't even know he was back in town. Danny completely shut her out since their encounter at Johnny Cakes and Lacey knew why. He probably hated her. But it was better that way, she tried to convince herself.

She was completely and totally over- her thoughts were interrupted as she entered her English class.

"Danny Desai," the teacher called the roll.

Lacey stopped in her tracks; her eyes widened.

"Present," he glared snidely at Lacey who was still standing in the doorway, then turned away.

Lacey gulped as she took her seat not far from where Danny was sitting.

"Hi Danny," she forced herself to smile.

"You probably shouldn't talk to me." He responded hastily. "Your boyfriend might take it the wrong way."

Lacey's face grew warm, and she sank into her seat.

"Alright class, today we will be reviewing The Great Gatsby. Would anyone like to give a brief analysis of the character Daisy Buchanan?"

Danny raised his hand without thinking. He hadn't been in class to read the book, but he did get the opportunity to read it when he was in juvie a few years ago.

"Daisy is impatient, self-absorbed and indecisive," he said now staring directly at Lacey.

"Hmm, very well then." The teacher noted. "And Gatsby?"

Lacey blurted out, "I think he's pathetic."

"Care to elaborate Miss Porter?"

"He leaves Daisy to go better himself, which is great for him, but for five years? He couldn't have possibly expected her to wait for him indefinitely. So she moved on, she had to."

Danny shot back, "But Gatsby thought only of Daisy every second of every day. Every thing he did, from seeking wealth, to throwing those elaborate parties, was an effort to impress Daisy, to prove himself, that he's good enough for someone as beautiful and perfect as she." Danny began to raise his voice.

"Daisy never asked him to do any of those things! She loved him; she would have traded everything, the parties, and the money, anything just to have him there with her! Gatsby claimed to have loved her so much but he never called, he barely wrote. Daisy thought he was gone out of her life forever and she hated it but she learned to accept it. Gatsby wanted her back only after he had given her up, but you can't change the past, it's over."

"I don't want to change the past Lacey!" Danny was now standing up. "I just want you in my future."

Lacey had no idea he still felt that way about her. No words came across her mind, only shock, and a hint of embarrassment as she realized that everyone was staring at her.

"Enough of this nonsense," their teacher declared. Porter, Desai, detention, ten minutes after class."

…

"Rico, have you seen Jo? I've been looking for her everywhere."

"Oh hi Danny, nice to see you too," Rico replies awkwardly. "Gee, I don't know how to say this," he stumbles over his words, "but I think Jo is sort of, kind of trying to avoid you."

"What makes you think that?"

"She said verbatim that she's sort of kind of trying to avoid you. I'm not supposed to tell you that she just headed to the courtyard with Tyler, and I'm really not supposed to tell you that we're still meeting at the diner after school so if you were to conveniently drop by-"

Danny laughed. "Okay Rico, thanks man, but I can't today, I have detention."

"Already? I mean you just got back. Not that I would judge you, I mean you're a great guy." Rico is speaking too fast for Danny to listen.

"Yeah I just got into it with Lacey in English."

"Oh, do you guys still…"

"We're uh, working on it," Danny wasn't sure what would become of his relatioship with Lacey after the day's events. He was hoping she would at least be willing to speak to him.

"Anyway, let Jo know I'm looking for her." He heads to the detention room. Lacey was already sitting down in the back of the room. She seemed vexed to be there. Danny sat down beside her.

"So is this where the cool kids hang out?"

He looked around at the rest of the kids in detention. One boy was carving his skin with an eraser. There was a girl in the far corner who wore all black, and her hair covered her entire face.

Lacey glared at him and then took out her phone to text Phoebe. They had made plans to shop for jewelry for homecoming right after school, but Lacey now had to cancel.

Is that your boyfriend?" Danny asked genuinely.

"Lacey glared at him once again and rolled her eyes. "We're not supposed to talk."

"We're also not supposed to use literature to scorn each other in class," he joked.

Lacey couldn't help but crack a smile. "Yeah that was pretty stupid."

"It was," he admitted.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too."

White flags were waving already. Danny knew Lacey couldn't stay mad at him.

"So, that guy-" He began.

"Danny, I'm sorry about embarrassing you in class."

"You embarrassed yourself too," he giggled.

"But I'm happy now." Lacey's tone was now serious.

Danny looked confused. "I'm glad that you're happy, but Lace, come on, you appeared to be happy with Archie too."

Lacey's jaw dropped. "Are you really gonna go there? And Justin's not even my boyfriend, he just asked me to homecoming."

Danny was silenced by this revelation. Lacey wasn't even with the guy. He felt so stupid.

"Homecoming? I'm sorry Lace, I didn't know."

"No Danny, you didn't know, because you weren't here…again"

Danny heard a hint of pain and resentment in her voice. He reached out to touch her hand but Lacey moved it quickly.

"Forget it." She surrendered, putting in earphones for the remainder of their time in detention.