Page 90 of Wallflower

"Not really," I said.

But Dare nodded. "Yes, it was. Flower, you're so talented."

"He's right, you know," Paris said. "Viola, you and that cello have been making these animals and myself very happy for a long time now."

I waved that off, and she turned to Dare.

"I've been telling her this forever," she said. "The fact that she won't accept how awesome she is can be so frustrating."

"I know, P," he said. "Trust me, I know."

I help up a hand. "Still here, you guys."

"Work on that for me will you, D?" He gave her a nod, and she added, "Why don't you and Viola take a couple of these guys out for a walk? It's such a nice, sunny day."

I shot her a frown for the wink she added at the end.

Once Hermione and Professor Snape were all set up, we headed out. Typically, Paris didn't let us walk outside of the yard behind the shelter, but when Dare asked and gave her puppy dog eyes, she gave us permission to take them around the block.

"I can see why you like him," she'd whispered to me right before we left. "He's nice with just a hint of naughty. And who can say no to those eyes?"

As we walked the dogs, our two charges marching at our sides, I glanced at Dare out of the corner of my eye.

I'd thought I was being discreet, but a moment later Dare grinned.

"What's up, flower?" he said.

"Nothing," I said, averting my gaze quickly, but it was too late.

"Uh uh." Dare stopped and gently turned me to look at him. This caused both Hermione and Snape to stop as well. They walked around our feet a bit in the shade of the tree we'd paused under. "What's on your mind?"

You are, I thought.It's you all the time now, and I can't seem to stop thinking of you.

"It's nothing," I said.

Dare's face filled with concern. "Did something happen with your parents? Do you want me to go and explain things to them?"

I cocked my head. "Would you do that?"

"Of course," he said. "For you, of course."

Did he even realize how the things he said affected me?

"No, that's okay." I smiled. "Mom was basically cool—though I feel bad for scarring her with the image of us having such a passionate kiss."

"Passionate, huh?" Dare said.

I quickly moved on. "And my dad hasn't spoken to me about it yet."

"You think we got through to him this time?"

"Oh yeah," I said, remembering his face as he and Mom had been discussing what happened when they thought I wasn't there. "The message was definitely received."

Dare nodded. "Great. So, where do we go from here?"

The truth was I didn't know. The point of this whole thing was to show Dad we were a couple, that his plan had backfired, and we'd done that—with Mom's help, of course.

"Not sure," I said.

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