"Why would I want to help Danny and Lacey get back together again?" Cole shrugged nonchalantly as he made his way to his locker.

"Because," Jo tried to explain, as she followed him, "They need to be together, and I can't fix this on my own."

"Sounds like a personal problem." Cole grabbed a few books out of his locker. "Besides, I vowed not to take sides. If he wants to go after Justin's girl, that's his choice, I'm keeping my hands clean from it. "

"But she's not Justin's girl, they never even officially dated. I'm pretty sure she ended things anyway." She looked over at Justin who was already surrounded by a swarm of girls, then over at Danny who had been gloomily retrieving books from his locker with his headphones in.

"Fine," Cole conceded. "But only because I can't afford to have him slacking off on the team." Cole approached Danny and ripped out one of his earphones, putting it up to his ear to see what his melancholy friend was listening to. Bill Withers' deep, raspy voice was playing from his phone, "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone. It's not warm when she's away."

Cole shot him serious look. "I'm seriously judging your life right now." He ripped the other earbud from Danny's ear and threw Danny's phone into his locker. "Dude, I completely forgot to tell you, your initiation is today right after school."

"What initiation?" Danny looked irritated.

"New captain, new rules. Locker room. After school. The whole team will be there." Cole said choppily as he walked off.

Danny did not realize this the had not shut his locker entirely before he headed off to his last class of the day.

...

"Go to the boys locker room for what?" Lacey was still a little vexed by Jo trying to be all buddy-buddy again.

"I told you, one of the jocks stole Rico's favorite jacket."

"So why can't he go get it?"

"Because," Jo tried to think of a convincing story, "He's afraid that if he goes in the locker room, the guys will see him and try to beat him up."

"No one is in the locker room right now Jo, school is out, and the soccer team doesn't have practice."

"I know, but uh, he's paranoid." Lacey looked over at Rico who smiled and waved awkwardly.

"Fine." She agreed finally, rolling her eyes.
...

"What kind of initiation is this?" Danny asked Cole suspiciously. I thought you said the team would be here."

"Uh, they will be," Cole responded unconvincingly. "I had to get you here first," he lied. "They're waiting for my signal to come in." Cole hurriedly exited the locker room.

Danny sat down on the bench below the lockers. He cupped his temples with his palms. What had he gotten himself into? Several minutes passed before he heard the door open and someone came in. Danny stood up, and ventured around the corner where he expected the rest of the boys to be entering.

"Okay guys, whatever this little initiation thing is, can we just get this over with?" He stopped when he saw Lacey. "Um, hey." Danny had not spoken to Lacey since the moment they danced together at homecoming. He was unsure what he would say when he did see her again. Danny just looked at her, blessed by her beauty, but confused by her presence.

"I was, um, looking for Rico's jacket." She knew it sounded like a lie. "He said someone stole it from him."

Danny put his hands up in front of him, "It wasn't me. I may be many things, but I'm no thief." He tried to crack a smile.

"Maybe it's in one of these lockers." She proceeded to move past him, her knees trembling with her every step.

"Yeah, maybe." Danny pretended to look with her, though he really didn't believe her story. "Did he say what color it is?"

"Red." She said blandly.

Danny smiled, he thought of Lacey in the red dress she'd worn the night of the dance. "I'm really sorry," he offered while continuing his look for the jacket.

"You don't have to apologize, Jo already told me."

"Oh." He looked down at the floor, fighting the strong desire to touch her. "So I guess you and Justin-"

"Me and Justin are over." She said, unable to look him in the face, because she knew he would be able to read her. She was desperate to tell him how she felt, but Karen was right. Lacey was a major source of drama in his life. Danny didn't need that.

"Well," Danny put his hand on her shoulder, which caused Lacey to shiver from his electrifying touch. "I'm sorry."

Lacey lifted her head to meet Danny's eyes with her own. They stood searching each other's eyes intently, discerning each others thoughts. When they both came to the realization of the spark between them, their lips simultaneously collided. Lacey grabbed Danny by the back of is head and tugged on his hair gently. He pushed her back against the lockers, kissing her aggressively, first on the lips, then he traveled down to her neck, never ceasing to give her pleasure as he nibbled on her bare flesh erotically. Lacey tilted her head to allow him better access to her neck and her lips pryed themselves apart in response to him.

Danny was the first to pull away. He removed his shirt slowly to reveal his lean, fit body, and she did the same. He threw his arms around Lacey again, this time lifting her up as she wrapped her legs around him. He carried her over to a table in the corner of the room where the coach usually laid out copies of their plays and the players' stats for the team grab.

"Is this strong enough?" Lacey laughed seductively.

"I guess we'll find out." Danny propelled himself on top of her, suddenly becoming aware of his inexperience."I love you Lace." He managed to say between breathing heavily and passionately assaulting Lacey's nearly naked body with his lips. He stopped himself to gaze into her eyes once more before continuing his endeavors.

"Danny I-"

"Danny Desai," a tall muscular man in a uniform pulled the teens apart. You're under arrest for the murder of Archie Yates."

"What?" Danny exclaimed. "That's ridiculous!"

Lacey scrambled to put her clothes back on. "Archie's dead?" Lacey was at a loss for words, she was feeling disoriented and numb.

"I didn't kill Archie." He yelled while being handcuffed.

"It's okay, I believe you." Lacey mouthed. She knew there was no way Danny could have done this, and she vowed to stand behind him this time.

"Is this your cell phone?" A detective entered the room holding in a clear plastic bag, containing what was clearly Danny's phone. It was found at the scene of the crime."

Danny didn't say anything. He cooperated as the officer escorted him to the cruiser. Looking back at Lacey who shed a tear as they drug him away.

"I love you too Danny," she cried, but he was already gone.

To be continued...