Page 113 of Wallflower

"This is about, Viola," Tyson said. "She inspired me to confess my true feelings. And God, it feels good to have that off my chest. I already feel better."

He looked over to Dare then, a hint of vulnerability coming into his eyes.

"We're still friends, right?" he asked. "I'm going to need someone I can talk to until I make new friends in Korea."

Dare pulled him into guy hug. "Of course, we are, Ty. Believe me if I swung that way, you'd be the first person I hit up."

"Ah, I'm flattered." Tyson shook his head. "But it would never work. And we both know why."

Dare gave him a hard glance, but Tyson threw me a wink.

"I believe you had something to say, Vi," he said.

I'd just opened my mouth—when my dad jumped into the conversation.

"Wait," he said and stepped in front of me. Dad grabbed both my hands. "Before you say anything, Viola, there's something you need to know. I asked Dare to be your friend. I know I should have never done it. God, I wish I could take it back. But I need you to know that I'm sorry, and I never meant to hurt you."

I nodded. "Thanks, Dad. But I knew that already."

"You did?" His eyes widened in surprise. "But how…"

"Dare told me at the end of the first week," I said. My father's eyes shot to Dare then came back to me. "He confessed everything almost from the beginning. And I was hurt. That you'd do something like that behind my back."

"I'm so sorry, Vi," he said again. "I just wanted you to have friends and be happy."

"You wanted me to spend less time at the shelter," I pointed out.

"Yeah, and that." Dad smiled. "But I was wrong there, too. I see now why you were happy there. I'm so sorry, honey."

"It's okay" I said. "I've been trying to get back at you for it ever since."

My father took a couple steps back, looking to Dare who nodded in confirmation.

"I even blackmailed Dare into helping me. I had this dumb idea about getting revenge on you by pretending we were together." I gulped. "All those times you walked in on us, the kissing, none of it was real."

Dad sighed in relief.

But Dare suddenly stepped forward.

"Actually," he said, coming over to stand beside me, "it was supposed to be fake, but it was real. At least for me it was."

His words and the look in Dare's eyes made it harder to breathe.

My father's brow furrowed. "But how could it be if she blackmailed you?"

"That wasn't really a factor." Dare grinned down at me, and I furrowed my brow. Was he still just pretending? "Flower, tell your dad what you blackmailed me with."

I shook my head. "I don't want to get you in trouble."

"It's okay. Just tell him."

My eyes shifted from him to my father. "Dare was the one who pulled that prank with your Mustang. You know the one you loved so much?"

Dad shrugged like it was no big deal. "Yeah, I know. Dare told me about it himself sophomore year."

"You did?" I asked and looked to Dare in confusion. "But I thought—"

"That you had something over me, and that was why I agreed to be your fake boyfriend?" he said. At my nod, he shook his head. "Like I said, that didn't even play a role in my decision."

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