Page 16 of Wallflower

"Are these for me?" he asked. "I thought you didn't know I was coming."

"I didn't," I said, blushing. "But I brought two just in case…"

"Ah flower, you shouldn't have." Dare grinned as he tore into the makeshift breakfast. "Now that you're giving me treats I may never leave."

For some reason, his words paired with the delight he seemed to take in eating set off butterflies in my stomach.

I shrugged. "I just don't like sharing."

"Yeah, sure," he said. "Whatever you say."

The drive went by in companionable silence except for the sounds of us enjoying our food. It was fast, and we got to Durham High in good time. Once we were outside of the car, Dare looked to me, but I waved him on.

"Well, bye," I muttered, noticing several people eyeing us again. Whitney, Ingrid and a couple other girls were a few cars down, and they stared at us while whispering back and forth. Whatever they were saying, I knew it couldn't be anything good. "Hope you have a nice day."

Dare shook his head in amusement. "You know, if you keep driving me, we'll have to walk in together at some point, right?"

Yeah, but not today, I thought.

"I have to go to the band room again."

Dare shrugged. "You do you. Catch you later."

Blowing out a breath, I walked in the opposite direction, my nerves releasing the further away I got from him. But after a few steps, I had the weirdest feeling. His parting words echoed in my mind.Catch you later. What had he meant by that—and why did he sound so certain?

Maybe I was just hearing things, I thought.

After all, people said that phrase all the time. No need to read anything into it.

I shook my head. Don't stress over it, Viola. You're simply giving him rides to school. And this is only day two. It's still new. If people want to do a little staring, that's their prerogative. It was only to be expected.

What was totally unexpected…was when Dare came and sat with me at lunch later.

I had my earbuds in, listening to music, and was deep into reading a new release from one of my favorite authors, when suddenly a tray plopped on the table in front of me. Looking up, I caught Dare's gaze as he stood there, watching me. My jaw dropped, and I pulled an earbud out.

Glancing around, I asked, "Did you need something?"

"Yeah." Dare's eyes were serious as he frowned. "Nobody puts Baby in the corner."

Oh my God, I thought. There really was something wrong with him. Dare Frost had totally lost it.

Seeing the concern on my face, Dare broke character, laughing out loud and gaining some curious stares. "God, I've always wanted to say that. And your reaction made it so satisfying."

"I'd never have taken you for aDirty Dancingfan," I mumbled, part of me glad he wasn't cuckoo, the other part still wondering why he was speaking to me at all.

"Said it before. There's a lot you don't know about me."

"Yeah well, your delivery could use some work."

"Noted." His laughter petered out as he took a seat.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Sitting with you," he said like it was obvious.

"But why?"

"Why not?" he said as he dug into one of the three burgers on his plate. He also ate some fries before swallowing, then added, "I would've been here yesterday if I'd known you had lunch this period. You're a hard one to find, Viola."

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