Grace never thought she'd be one of those girls.

The ones shamelessly playing backseat bingo in the car with their man. Drawing attention to their car during the movie at the drive-in. Interrupting the movie for those around them, if they cared enough.

But her emotions around him went completely bonkers. She didn't know how to act, how to think, or even how to breathe. It was a miracle she could still talk to him in his presence, let alone kiss him.

They were supposed to be watching "Roman Holiday". But as soon as Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn shared a kissed, Danny surprised her with a kiss of his own. Initially hesitant to kiss him in such a public space, she soon gave in, kissing him back with as much passion as he was giving her. She broke the kiss after a while to continue paying attention to the movie, but he continued his assault on her check, jaw and neck, making her giggle. "Danny, stop," she stifled her laughter. "Watch the movie."

""I don't know how to say goodbye...." Audrey's character, Princess Ann, sobs. "I can't think of any words."

"Don't try," Gregory Peck sadly responds. They both give each other heartbreaking looks before embracing each other tightly, ending their hug with one final kiss. Ann continues crying in his arms, not wanting to let go. But the look on Joe Bradley's face says it all.

It's time to let go.

Ann gives him one final look before getting out of the car, walking into the embassy, never looking back.

"Oh my god...how heartbreaking," Grace breathes. Danny almost scoffed at her, but seeing how invested she was, he kept his mouth shut. But one look at the screen and he too, was into it. And she was right, it was heartbreaking.

But he won't let her know that.

"Gracie, we should leave now," Danny whispered. The movie was winding down, and to avoid getting caught, they needed to leave early.

"Just a few more minutes-"

"No Grace. We have to go now-"

"Danny boy!" He heard a voice boom. Grace gasped and before Danny could even think, he shoved Grace the floor of the car and got out, standing in front of the window. It was Johnny and his crew again. This time, accompanied by Cece, Valerie, and Cheryl as their dates. "Are you here alone man?" He asked, looking into the car to see nobody. "Well ain't that a bite. You should've came by us," he said, wrapping an arm around Valerie.

"I️ didn't know you like romance movies Danny," Cece walked forward, giving him a sweet smile.

Danny simply shrugged. "Not really but I️ wanted to cut out the house a while, you know?" He replied, trying to relax.

"Well, the next time you want to leave...with no plans," her hands now running down the length of his leather jacket. "Give me a bell," she purred, making him even more antsy.

"Right. I'll remember that," he nodded towards her, turning to get into his car, but she stopped him.

"You do still have my number, right? From last time?" She asked, making him freeze.

"I...I️ gotta hit the road. Getting late," he excused. "Later gator," he nods over at Johnny.

"In a while crocodile," he waves off.

Danny turns on the car and backs out, driving out of the venue without another hitch. "Grace? Grace you can come up now," he says.

She slowly peeks her head over from the back before taking a seat in the backseat. Danny slows down and parks on the side of the road so she could get out and move to the front. She was silent the entire time, which worries him. Who knows what was running through her mind.

"You okay?" He asked her. "I'm sorry I️ pushed you, but-"

"Who was she?" She cut him off.

"Who, Cece? She's just a friend," Danny tells her. Grace looked over at him with an eyebrow raised. "And we went to a sock hop together once," he finished explaining. "But that's it!" he swears. Grace sighs and looked out the window somberly. Her silence was really worrying him. "Grace-"

"Danny just-" she lets out a frustrated sigh. "Just take me home. I'm tired," she tells him. He just wordlessly nods his head and starts the car again, driving back to their neighborhood in thick, uncomfortable silence. He wanted to say something, anything. But he didn't know what he could say that would smooth things over. He stops a block away from her house that was their usual rendezvous point, and cut the car off. He then leaned into her to kiss her, but she turns her head and opens the door instead, leaving him without so much as a goodbye.

"Grace!" He called out, getting out of the car and running over to her. She turned around and faced him. "Are...are we okay?" He asked.

"I️ don't know. Are we?" She frowned, looking up at him.

"You tell me? You're the one icing me out here! What's the problem?" He asked, coming on a bit too strongly.

"You shoved me to the floor of your car!" She yelled back.

Danny was taken back. "It was to protect you!" He says. "I️ said I️ was sorry!"

"Exactly! I️ don't- I️ don't want you to protect me!" She groans, shaking her head. This whole thing was getting ridiculous. Sneaking around, not being able to go out in public, it was all starting to take a toll on her.

"Grace," He called out to her. "I️ can't exactly introduce you to me friends," he reminds her. "They're not like me, Gracie. You have to understand that," he reaches out to grab her hand, but she pulls away.

"I️ know," she starts to tear up. "I know, I'm sorry," she wipes her eyes. "I'm sorry," she starts to sob. Daniel quickly rushes up to hug her. "I'm sorry," she cries into his shoulder.

Finally it clicked as to why she was so upset. "Don't be sorry. I️ should've realized..." he pulls away and holds her face in her hands. "Goddamn it Grace, why'd you have to go and make me fall for ya, huh?" He asked, making her giggle lightly through her tears.

"Don't curse God like that," she playfully scolded him. She then pulled away from him, grabbing his hand. "We can make this work, right?" She asked him, the worried tone in her voice almost made his heart hurt. She didn't sound confident in them, but she wanted to believe so badly that it work. That somehow, it could work.

"Yeah baby," he said, pulling her close once more, "we'll make it work."

The next morning, Danny arrived late to school, as he wasn't much of a morning to begin with, plus his late night with Grace. They both almost didn't make it back home in time, but luckily they did.

As he walked through the near empty hallway to get to his locker, he noticed Johnny standing nearby it, as if waiting for him. Danny furrowed his brows in confusion as he got closer. "John? What are you doing here?" He asked as he opened up his locker.

"Nothing. Just noticing you're on the hook," he smirked wickedly, making Danny look over at him with an unamused expression. "Black girls really razz your berries now a days Danny?" Johnny asks, making Danny accidentally slammed his locker door.

"What did you just say?" He asked, not meeting his eyes.

Johnny just shook his head. "Come on now Danny Boy. I️ never thought you knew better," he says disappointedly. Daniel was speechless. But Johnny, sensing his fear, starts laughing. "Don't worry friend. I'm here to help you," he pats his shoulder. "Listen, Cece's-"

"I'm not going steady with Cece, Johnny," he declined. "Forget about it."

"Then I️ guess you'll have no problem with me telling your folks who you've been laying with, huh?" Johnny spoke up, sounding more angry and annoyed. "Do you know what people will do if they find out?" He asked him.

Yes.

But he didn't want to think about it.

Best case scenario....

Who was he kidding? There was no best case scenario.

Danny lets out a shaky sigh before looking over at his "friend". "What do you want?" He hated the fact that he was being blackmailed.

Johnny smiled. "Now that's more like it!" He said. "First, you're gonna have to cut off all ties with that floozy," he ordered.

Danny glared at him. "Why do you care so much? You've never given a rat ass' about me and mines," Danny spat. "So why now?"

Johnny rolled his eyes. "If you really must know," he says, "I'm trying to get on Valerie's good side. But she won't even talk to me till Cece gets..." he paused so Danny could fill in the blanks, "You!" He points at him.

Danny rolled his eyes. "So you're helping yourself," he growled. "By blackmailing me?"

"Yeah!" Johnny shamelessly agreed. "Just my luck I️ found you and your floozy on the side of the street yesterday coming back from the flick," he laughed. Soon the bell rang, signaling the swirling of classes. "Now be a good boy, and ask Celia out on a date," Johnny ordered.

Danny just stood there, defiantly crosses his arms. Johnny just shrugged and then yelled, "HEY EVERY-"

Danny shoved him against a locker in front of everyone in an effort to keep him quiet. "Okay fine!" He whispered. "Just keep a lid on this!" He hissed.

"I️ knew you'd see things my way," Johnny smiled. Just then, Cece's laugh carried down through the hallway as she talked to Valerie and Cheryl on her way down to her next class. Danny sighed and walked up to her, pleasantly surprising her.

"Good morning Danny," she beamed at him.

"Hey Cece," he greeted somberly.

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