"No mother, I think I can find a suit on my own, " Karen was urging her son to allow her to help him, but he really didn't feel like being bothered.

"Well at least let me drive you to the mall."

"The mall?" Danny looked at her with a puzzled glare. "I was just going to hit up the Salvation Army and see whatever bargains I can find," he said, clearly joking. He looked at his mother's face. It meant so much to her that he was going to this dance.

"Fine, you can take me, but I don't want you questioning my judgment. Whatever I chose, just smile, nod, and go along with it. Okay?"

Karen winced, "You're at least going to try on a few Armani's though, right?" She added with a hopeful grin.

"Mother."

"Okay, fine. I won't say anything." Karen grabbed her keys and the two of them headed to the mall.

They barely got their feet in the door when Karen spotted a shoe sale that desperate for her attention. Danny spotted Jo heading into Macy's to return a dress.

"Jo!" He called out as he chased after her. "Jo, hey. I've been looking for you."

"In the mall? Really Danny? I'm sure this wasn't a mere coincidence."

Danny searched her face for a sign that she was joking but Jo's face was hard and solemn. Her eyes were slightly red, and he knew that she had been crying.

"What's wrong?"

"Not like you care, she proceeded to walk towards the checkout.

"Hey Jo, remember me? Danny? Yeah we used to be good friends at one time," Danny replied condescendingly. "Just tell me what's wrong, please." He looked her directly in her eyes. Jo looked away.

"Tyler broke up with me. He um, got what he wanted from me, now he has other plans on his on his to do list."

"Oh wow," Danny caught himself sounding judgmental. "Do you want me to pay him a visit? All I need is a little red jump rope, and I'll have my way with him."

Jo couldn't suppress her laughter. "Danny you should really chill with the murder jokes."

"And you should really go to homecoming with me," he smiled.

"Danny I'm still-"

"Is that a yes?" He grinned.

"Of course," she conceded with a sigh. "Gosh Danny Desai, you never cease to woo me with your charm. They both laughed. "I'm really sorry for the way I acted when I found out about you and Lacey."

Lacey. She just had to mention that name. Now Danny couldn't stop thinking about her again.

"No, I don't blame you, I should have told you." Danny lamented on his earlier conversation with Lacey and how she was happier without him.

Noticing his overcoming sadness, Jo remarked, "Lacey has really missed you. She and I don't talk that much, but when we do she talks about you. It really hurt her that you didn't respond to any of her calls."

"I know, but I'll make it up to her."

Jo's eyes wondered away from Danny. She couldn't bear to look at him. He was so swoon, and it was obvious, but Lacey had told Jo that she was over him. She was trying to move on, and it would behoove him to try to win her over again.

"Lacey doesn't want you to make it up to her Danny," Jo blurts out. She seems to be happy with that soccer jock guy." Sometimes Danny hated Jo's honesty. He lowered his eyes.

"But I know she wants her friend back. I mean, you guys have been through so much together. We all have, but that's why we're such good friends." We can survive anything together."

Friends, Danny thought.

"You're right. Anyway, we should probably start looking for my attire. It's convenient that you have your dress along with you. You can find a tie to match.

Danny settled on a black pinstriped suit with a burgundy tie. He met back up with his mother who had accumulated a quite a few shopping bags of her own.

"I noticed you and Jo together. Is she going to be your date?"

"I wouldn't call it a date, but she and I are going together. She just had a bad break up," Danny responded.

"I always thought she had a crush on you," Karen just smiled.

Danny did not want to confirm his mother's speculations, so he just said, "Jo and I are to good of friends to even think about crossing that line."

"Well what about Lacey?" Danny stopped in himself in his tracks. How did his mother know about his past relationship with Lacey?

"Come on, I'm your mother. You think I didn't know?" Her face brightened with motherly omniscience.

"That's different," he reasoned.

"How?" His mother asked genuinely. "You Lacey and Jo were all the best of friends. How can you so comfortably fall for Lacey but you can't even fathom the thought of looking at Jo that way?"

Danny didn't know how to answer the question. It was an excellent question, and even he wasn't even sure of it himself. Just like Jo, Lacey had been his friend since childhood, but he never once felt remotely uncomfortable in expanding his relationship with Lacey beyond the realms of friendship. What was it about her that was so electrifying? So levitating? So addicting? He had never even posed that question to himself.