A Tale of True Confessions

Part II

"Danny, are you sure this can't wait until tomorrow?" Karen pulled up in front of Lacey's house. She placed her hand on Danny's thigh and squeezed. "I don't know what is happening between you two. But I do know I'm tired of seeing you hurt. You're my son. You deserve happiness."

"That's what I'm trying to get for myself, Mom." Danny opened the car door. "I can walk home. I need this. I need her."

"Don't walk." Karen nodded towards Lacey's house. "Go on. You're already breaking the rules of that ankle bracelet. Walking would get you in a lot more trouble."

"Fine. I'll call you when I'm done speaking to Lacey." Danny shut the car door as he said the words.

He watched his mother pull away then took in a deep breath of air. Danny stuck his hands deep into the pockets of his pants before heading to Lacey's front door. He knocked lightly hoping that Judy was away with Clara so Lacey and he could talk. However, when the girl with a tiny stature opened the door, Danny knew it wasn't in the cards for Lacey and him to be alone.

Clara didn't waste any time getting straight to the point. "I thought you broke up with my sister. Aren't you in love with basic Jo, now?"

"Excuse me?" Danny watched as Clara placed her small body in the door way to not allow him entrance.

"Sisters talk." Clara glanced up and down Danny looking smug as she did. "Truthfully, Lacey can do much better."

"Clara, can I just talk to Lacey?" Danny didn't want to go through Clara's insults.

Danny didn't know her that well but from what Lacey had told him. Clara could be a spitfire.

"Maybe my sister doesn't want to talk to you." Clara crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. She arched her eyebrow as she said the words.

"Please, Clara." Danny breathed out in frustration.

"Aren't you supposed to be in prison for offing your dad or something?" Clara bopped her head toward the road. Her tight braided pony tail bopped with her head.

At that moment, Judy walked up. "Clarabelle Louis Porter, let that boy in the house."

Danny smirked as he walked passed Clara. "Clarabelle? Isn't that a train's name off of Thomas the Train."

"Bite me, Danny." Clara answered back. "Isn't Thomas the Train too advanced for your viewing."

Danny chuckled as he walked up to Judy. He had to admit, Clara was definitely one that could go toe to toe with him. She was a lot like Lacey was when she was eleven. He figured that perhaps Lacey was also like Clara at age thirteen.

"Mrs. Porter, I'd like to talk to Lacey if you don't care." Danny nervously rocked on his heels. He had no idea how Judy was intimidating. He was never intimidated by anyone before.

Judy glanced questioningly at Danny. "Lacey told me what was going on with this boy Charlie and the Mastersons. Is everyone okay?"

"It will be awhile before that mess is okay. But we are all going to work on it." Danny shrugged slightly. For some reason, he hadn't thought of Lacey talking with her mother or her sister about him or other problems.

"I'll walk you up." Judy smiled noticing Danny's uncomfortable stature. "Besides, at least you're using the front door and not the window."

Danny's eyes widened in shock. Was she joking about the present or was she referring to the past when they were children? He hoped the latter. Soon Judy was opening the door to Lacey's room.

"Lacey, dear, Danny is here to see you." Judy stuck her head in the door.

Lacey sat up on her bed as she took off her headphones. She watched Danny walk in the room and casually sit on the bed. Judy purposely left the door open before walking away.

"Is something wrong?" Lacey asked as she watched Danny run his hands down the front of his jeans.

"Actually, there is." Danny turned to stare at Lacey. "Remember when you asked why I didn't want to be with you and I said I did. More than anything. Any way..."

"Of course, it was only a few days ago." Lacey rolled her eyes as she interupted. "But I'm not holding you to that. It isn't your fault that you love Jo and she's the one you want."

"Lacey, would you please let me get in a word in edgewise before you put words in my mouth." Danny chuckled. "You did this before and it kept me from telling you about my dad. First, I admit, when you said Jo has always been the one I've wanted, loved, or whatever you were hinting at, I was confused that maybe I did have feelings hidden away. Jo and I shared this huge dramatic event."

"Danny, I get it." Lacey felt a tear prick her eye and her throat tighten. "I've let you and Jo have your way. I don't have to let you rub it in and walk on my heart. I'm not going to throw a fit and tell you we can't be friends or whatever. But this is too much..."

"Listen, Lacey. Please. I was confused. As in past tense. I'm not anymore. I don't think of Jo like that. I can't imagine being with her like we've been together." Danny spoke quickly before Lacey put more words into his mouth.

"I kissed Whitney." Lacey confessed in a quick jabber. "Well, she kissed me then I kissed her."

"What?" Danny was the one feeling his heart breaking now. "Are you and she? I mean I didn't know you were..you never acted like."

"I was confused too, Danny." Lacey half smiled. "That is what I'm trying to say. I know what it feels like to be confused. You hurt me so much. I liked the attention she was giving me. But no, I don't want Whitney nor am I gay or bi-sexual. I wanted to feel wanted where you made me feel unwanted. Also, my dad being gay..well, I thought if I could understand him more maybe I could understand how my life had got so out of control with family and all."

"Lacey, I'm sorry about making part of that mess. I can never apologize enough. So we were both hurt and confused. That's what you were saying. Right?" Danny raked his hand through his hair.

Lacey nodded. "But I was confused by all your Jo dedication when I had none from you. It seems to me that Jo is more important." Lacey bit her lip as she glanced down at her hands. She picked at the fingernail polish as she continued to speak. "I'm tired of being less important than Jo to you. I can't do that anymore."

Danny placed his large hand over Lacey's hands."You were never less important. The thing with you, Lacey, is that you are not weak. You don't need coddled or protected. You're so strong and ..."

"No." Lacey looked up at Danny. Her eyes showed the sheen of unshed tears. "I'm allowed to be hurt and I'm allowed to be weak. For instance, that video of us, it hurt. But all you were interested in was how Jo's feelings were hurt. What about me, Danny? I was the girl on the video you were having sex with. Sure, no one could see any nudity but it was obvious we were having sex. But you were more worried because Jo was in love with you. Why wasn't I important?"

Danny squeezed Lacey's hands. "You were important. You are important. The thing is when I tried to speak to you about it, you pushed me away like what happened between us was a mistake. Don't you think that hurts that you think making love to me was a mistake? It was everything to me. We were each others' firsts. Besides, I know you, Lacey Porter. I knew if I could make you feel bad for Jo, at least you were talking to me and not pushing me away."

"You manipulated me to go with you to Jo's house so you could be near me again?" Lacey blinked as a stray tear ran down her cheek.

Danny took his hand and cupped her cheek. He raked his thumb across her cheek wiping away the tear. "Don't cry."

"I've not been crying." Lacey bit her lip to stop the quivering. "I deserve to cry sometimes, Danny. I'm exhausted of being strong all the time. You hurt me. I can't ignore that it still hurts."

Danny licked his lips then pulled Lacey to him. At first, she tried to push away. Then she relaxed in his arms. "All I can say is I made a huge mistake. I messed up and jumbled up all these feelings inside me. The only thing I'm sure about is how I feel about you."

"What makes you so sure about that now when you weren't before?" Lacey exhaled as she allowed her head to lay against Danny's chest.

"When Jo was being held by knifepoint by Charlie, I...I..." Danny stammered hating to even admit what he was about to say. "..okay, all I could think of is what if he had Lacey like that? You were the first part of my life he went after. You weren't as gullible as Jo so he moved on. But you were the one that he knew meant so much to me. I had a journal that told him my life. He knew Jo was my friend and you were who I fantasized about being my girlfriend." Danny's heart thudded against his chest harshly. Lacey twisted her fingers in his shirt as she listened to his words. "So when Charlie had Jo, I was thinking what if that was Lacey. I was thankful it wasn't you. Then I knew. Right then and there I knew that the girl I loved was the one I was most concerned for. It was a selfish thought but it was there. It cleared up any notions of Jo being that way in my life."

Lacey pulled back. "What do you really want to confess to me, Danny?"

Danny closed his eyes then blinked a few times before staring directly into Lacey's eyes. "I love you."

Lacey breathed out but she had to tell him what she needed to say. "It is going to take me some more time, Danny. I'm sorry. You've hurt me too much."

"I understand." Danny felt Lacey pull from his arms.

Before he could say anything else, he heard Judy yell for him to come downstairs. Lacey followed Danny to the top of the steps then she watched him walk to the front door. The police officer, Eddie, stood by the door.

"Danny, you're not allowed to be here." Eddie raked his hand on the back of his neck. "Your ankle bracelet's alarm went off. I need to escort you to your house."

Danny nodded. "I understand."

"Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Porter." Eddie smiled at Judy. It was obvious the young man appreciated the beauty of the older woman.

"Oh. Please. Call me, Judy." Judy flirted. "I'm no longer Mrs. Porter."

Eddie smiled as he added. "I'll do that. I may have to contact you later for paperwork of Danny's whereabouts. Would that be okay?"

"Sure." Judy giggled.

Danny would usually laugh at such blatant displays of flirtation. However, he figured that people should be happy and free to explore love. Lacey was still standing at the top of the staircase staring down. However, she hadn't even noticed her mother's and Eddie's obvious flirting. Instead, she was noticing only Danny. When Eddie finally opened the door to escort Danny out, Lacey yelled.

"Wait!" She ran down the stairs. She threw her arms around Danny's neck before she finally kissed his lips. Once she pulled back from the kiss, she stared at him with assurance. "I love you too."

Danny smiled as he leaned his forhead against Lacey's forehead. "I thought you needed more time."

Lacey grinned until her dimples displayed on her cheeks. "I only needed five more minutes."

NOTE: There it is. My rewrite of the finale ending. I hope all enjoyed.